P&O Cruises has written to guests to inform them that, from 30th May 2024, cancellation charges will now apply for The Reef, the kids’ clubs onboard.

During popular cruise times, especially in cruise holidays, The Reef clubs get full quickly, and so parents are asked to reserve places for a session in advance – you need to be ready at 10 am the day before to book.
It’s free to reserve a session, but they often reach capacity quickly, which means some parents are unable to let their kids enjoy the clubs.
And a long-term problem has been parents who book spaces at the clubs but then cancel at the last minute, or who no-show completely, meaning that there are empty spaces that could otherwise have been taken by other children.
Now, cancellation charges will apply to help prevent these issues. Anyone who cancels less than 24 hours before a session’s start time will have £5 added to their onboard account, and any no-shows will be charged at £10.
This only applies to The Reef for children aged 12 and under. The H2O teens club doesn’t require advance booking.
Suggested read: Kids’ Club Age Groupings Guide
While the move might disappoint some parents who like to be more flexible with plans, it will ultimately be fairer and will hopefully mean there are more spaces for children on busier days, as people are less willing to book without being sure they’re going to use the space.
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- 10 Handy Tips for Cruising With a Baby or Toddler on P&O Cruises

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
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