P&O Cruises Offers 5% Deposits to Spur Early 2026 Bookings
Wave season is turning into a battle for early commitments, with cruise lines leaning on loyalty perks and smaller upfront payments to lock in 2026 demand and support agents.
P&O Cruises has introduced two limited-time booking promotions, a loyalty-only “payday” discount of up to £400 ($546) per cabin and a separate offer that cuts the required deposit to 5 percent, as part of its wave season push for early 2026.
The incentives are available across the cruise line’s fleet on sailings of up to 23 nights, provided bookings are made outside the balance-due period. Ruth Venn, associate vice president of sales and distribution at P&O Cruises, said the offers are intended to encourage early commitment from both returning guests and new customers, while giving travel agents additional tools during a key booking window.
Key dates and what’s included in the limited-time offers
P&O Cruises is running the two promotions on slightly different booking windows, with both ending on March 3, 2026:
- The “payday” savings offer runs from January 26 to March 3, 2026, and is available only to past guests, including travelers currently onboard their first P&O Cruises sailing.
- The 5 percent low-deposit offer runs from February 3 to March 3, 2026, and applies more broadly to eligible bookings on sailings up to 23 nights.
Across both promotions, P&O Cruises said the offers apply to Select Price and Early Saver fares, and require that bookings be made outside the balance-due period.
“Payday” savings targets past guests with up to £400 off per cabin
The payday promotion is positioned as a loyalty reward, offering savings of up to £400 per cabin on sailings of up to and including 23 nights. P&O Cruises said the discount is available across all cabin types, with the level of savings varying by cabin grade, and can be used on both Select Price and Early Saver fare types (outside the balance-due period).
Venn said: “Our new payday offer is designed to reward customer loyalty while giving agents another compelling reason to engage past guests.”
She added: “By combining meaningful savings with our Wave incentives and flexible deposits, we’re making it easier for customers to commit early, secure great value and plan ahead with confidence.”
5 percent low-deposit option aims to reduce barriers to booking
Separately, P&O Cruises is offering a 5 percent deposit on bookings made between February 3 and March 3, 2026, again covering cruises up to 23 nights when booked outside the balance-due period. The low-deposit promotion is available on Select Price and Early Saver fares, and P&O Cruises said it can be combined with the line’s onboard spending money offer on qualifying departures.
Venn framed the low-deposit deal as a practical tool for travel advisors. “We’ve designed this offer to support travel agents at a crucial booking period by reducing barriers to purchase and reinforcing the strong value that sits at the heart of a P&O Cruises holiday,” she said.
Venn also said: “This offer creates another compelling reason for customers to book early, and we know agents are perfectly placed to maximize this demand.”
Other wave-season incentives tied to the March 3 booking deadline
Alongside the payday and low-deposit promotions, P&O Cruises highlighted additional time-limited benefits available on applicable holidays booked by March 3, 2026.
These include onboard spending money of up to £400 on qualifying departures, which P&O Cruises said is based on a 14-night balcony cabin booked on applicable Select Price holidays. The line also referenced an “additional guests sail” offer on selected cruises, with extra guests priced from £49 per person when booked by March 3, 2026.
Ships covered and conditions travelers should note
P&O Cruises said the offers apply across its fleet, including:
- Arvia
- Iona
- Britannia
- Azura
- Ventura
- Arcadia
- Aurora
For travelers weighing the promotions, the line emphasized a set of shared conditions: sailings must be up to 23 nights, bookings must be made outside the balance-due period, and eligibility varies by offer, with the payday savings limited to past guests while the 5 percent deposit is available as a broader booking incentive.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who qualifies for P&O Cruises’ payday savings of up to £400 per cabin?
P&O Cruises said the payday discount is available only to past guests, including travelers who are currently sailing on their first P&O Cruises voyage.
When can travelers book the payday offer and the 5 percent deposit offer?
The payday savings run from January 26 to March 3, 2026. The 5 percent low-deposit promotion runs from February 3 to March 3, 2026.
Can these promotions be combined with other P&O Cruises incentives?
P&O Cruises said the payday savings can be combined with its Wave campaign promotions. The 5 percent deposit offer can be combined with the cruise line’s onboard spending money offer on qualifying departures.
What sailings are eligible, and which ships are included?
The promotions apply across P&O Cruises’ fleet on sailings of up to 23 nights, as long as the booking is made outside the balance-due period. The ships listed by P&O Cruises include Arvia, Iona, Britannia, Azura, Ventura, Arcadia, and Aurora.
With both booking windows ending March 3, 2026, P&O Cruises is encouraging eligible guests and travel agents to book within the defined timelines and to confirm their sailing falls outside the balance-due period to access the stated discounts and deposit terms.
