Travelling between Holland and the North of the UK means one of two things. Option one is a long drive South to use the Channel tunnel ( now rebranded as Le Shuttle) or cross channel ferries.
Option two is an overnight sailing into a Northern port. Book a cabin, treat it like a little mini-cruise and enjoy the journey. That’s the preferred option, and it’s what we did recently sailing from Rotterdam- Hull with an upgrade to a Club cabin.
The Club cabin comes with some extra perks, but at a bit of a premium price point. Is it worth it? I think so. Here’s everything you need to know about taking the overnight crossing in a P&O five berth Club Cabin.
What is Included in A P&O Club Cabin?
Every cabin with P&O will get you a made up bed and an ensuite, but the Club Cabins just give a little more. You can expect:
- A spacious cabin that sleeps up to five people, featuring a full size double bed & three single bunks.
- In cabin air conditioning
- Hospitality tray with kettle, cups & a range of hot drinks
- Fully stocked mini bar, included in your fare. No additional charge for the selection of cold drinks and savoury snacks.
- En-suite shower room with a range of toiletries from Clarins and/or The White Company
- Hair dryer, bathrobes and piles of hotel style fluffy towels.
The Double bed.
A spacious cabin features a full size double and is made up with hotel quality linen and pillows, as all the bunks are. We slept like babies until the morning wake up call.
P & O Club Cabin:The Plug
Never did I ever think I’d get excited over a plug, charger or anything of that nature. I do get frustrated with remembering charging wires and squabbling over whose turn it is to use the plug.
The plug set up in the cabin is a definite plus point: A British socket, a Continental socket and a USB point….all in one unit. Genius.
The Tea & Coffee Tray
Coffee? Or herbal tea? And maybe a biscuit to go with it? It was bags down, kettle on because our cabin came with a kettle and hotel-room style hospitality tray complete with a selection of hot drinks and Border biscuits.
And proper mugs. Who wants half a brew in a teeny half a cup? I do appreciate a proper mug. Top marks there, P & O.
P & O Club Cabin: Complimentary Mini Bar
Always five o clock somewhere, right?
Club cabins come with a well stocked, complimentary mini bar. Beer, wines red and white plus a range of soft drinks and bottled waters. And a couple of bags of crisps because, just like its nice to have a biscuit with a brew, its nice to have a nibble with a drink.
As the Club Cabins are all outside cabins, it is possible to relax in your own space with a drink (from the bar or the hospitality tray, up to you, I’m not judging!) and watch the sail away.
It’s another highlight of this cabin; everything you need to relax so you can chose to stay in or go off exploring the ship.
Club Cabin Ensuite Facilities.
On previous crossings with P&O, we’ve been perfectly happy with the basic en-suite facilities provided in standard cabins. And although there is complimentary shampoo/body wash in other cabins, there is something lovely about having that little bit extra.
A shower with a bit more space, a hair dryer, piles of fluffy white towels and a range of Clarins products for some onboard pampering. And when your done, if you want to lounge in comfort for a while, there are bathrobes provided. Bliss.
Note: As of 2024, toiletries in Club Cabins may be Clarins and/or White Company. Both Lovely!
P&O Club Cabin: Is it Worth the Upgrade?
Final Thoughts…
Yes, I think the Club Cabin represents great value for money and is a nice way to bring a touch of luxury to an overnight sailing.
The cabins have been thoughtfully designed to be a calm and relaxing space with calm tones, black out blinds and crisp white bedding almost guaranteeing a restful nights sleep.
The Club Cabin is also the bets option if travelling with young children as there’s plenty of space for a travel cot, plus a fridge and kettle for bottles/snacks. The ability to sleep five makes this cabin perfect for larger families.
The Club Cabin has taken all the elements of a good hotel stay and woven them into the design of a cabin designed for an overnight sailing. It’s a winner.
I did not pay for this trip personally but all opinions are, as always, one hundred percent honest and my own.
Our P&O club cabin experience was very enjoyable and certainly an experience we’d repeat if sailing this route again. If you’re interested in seeing how it works when you don’t have a nice cabin on an overnight sailing, read this post next.
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