Remember, everyone travelling including infants and children need a passport valid for at least six months after your return date. It is your responsibility to ensure that you meet all visa requirements and comply with health formalities required for your holiday.

It’s best to check the up-to-date requirements with your travel agent, embassy or consulate as appropriate. This is important stuff to remember because guests who are denied boarding by local immigration officials for lack of proper documents are not entitled to a cruise refund.

Passports

A full British passport presently takes approximately 2 to 6 weeks to obtain. If you or any member of your party is 16 or over and haven’t yet got a passport, our recommendation is that you should apply for one at least 6 weeks before your holiday. The UK Passport Service has to confirm your identity before issuing your first passport and will ask you to attend an interview in order to do this.

If you or any member of your party is not a British citizen or holds a non British passport, you must check passport and visa requirements with the Embassy or Consulate of the country(ies) to or through which you are intending to travel. Requirements may change and you must check the up to date position in good time before departure.

Entry requirments for the USA

All visitors to the United States (U.S.) (including children) who are eligible for the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) must apply for authorisation to travel to the U.S. in advance in accordance with the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA).

You must complete an online application for authorisation to travel on the ESTA website https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta at least 72 hours before your fl ight or sailing to the US departs but you are recommended to apply earlier. Providing the application is accepted, you will be provided with approval via the website. Approval is usually provided very quickly but can take up to 72 hours if data needs to be checked. You should make a note of the ESTA approval number when you receive it.

It is your responsibility to obtain ESTA approval or a U.S. visa if required. If you fail to obtain authorisation to travel through the ESTA website or a U.S. visa in advance of travel, you will not be allowed on your outbound fl ight or sailing to the U.S. Full cancellation charges will then apply.

Important note
Not all visitors to the U.S. will qualify for the ESTA. You cannot apply for the ESTA and will require a visa if you do not have a machine readable passport. All new style, burgundy coloured U.K. passports are machine readable. You will also need to apply for a visa if you have ever been arrested (even if you were not convicted of an offence) or have a criminal record of any description. Other exemptions also apply. If you are in any doubt as to whether you may require a visa, please contact the US Embassy, Consular Information Unit, 24 Grosvenor Square, London W1A 1AE or visit the website www.usembassy.org.uk before making your booking with us. Visa requirements may change.

St Petersburg

If you are travelling to St. Petersburg on one of our organised shore excursions we will obtain a visa on your behalf. If you wish to go into Russia independently, you will be responsible for obtaining an individual tourist visa before you leave the UK.

Turkey

A visa is required for most guests traveling to Turkey. Guests who embark the ship in Turkey can obtain a visa upon arrival at Istanbul's airport. However, because of the possibility of lengthy delays, we recommend guests obtain a Turkish visa before leaving home. Further, there are certain nationalities whose visa must be issued by the Turkish Embassy. All guests are encouraged to go to the following web site (http://www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-information-for-foreigners.en.mfa) for a listing of restricted nationalities and information whether your specific nationality can obtain a visa at the border.

Subsequently, guests belonging to nationalities that require a visa issued by the embassy will be denied boarding if they do not possess such a visa. For guests who can obtain a visa at the border, on cruises that end in Turkey, the Clearance Officer can arrange visas for guests on board with the visa cost plus a $15 service charge being applied to on board accounts accordingly. The cost for Turkish visas varies greatly and is based upon a person's citizenship.

PLEASE NOTE: Turkish visas are not required for voyages where the Turkish port falls in the middle of the voyage (the requirement is only for guests embarking/debarking in a Turkish port).

Health Requirements

It is your responsibility to ensure you are aware of all recommended vaccinations and health precautions in good time before departure. Information on health is contained in the Department of Health leaflet T7 (Health Advice for Travellers) available from the Department of Health by telephone on 0870 1555455 or via http://www.dh.gov.uk and from most Post Offices. For holidays in the EU/EEA you should obtain an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) prior to departure from the Department of Health (see leaflet T7 and http://www.dh.gov.uk . Vaccination and other health requirements/recommendations are subject to change at any time for any destination. Please therefore check with a doctor or clinic not less than six weeks prior to departure to ensure that you have met the necessary requirements.

It is the party leader’s responsibility to ensure that all members of the party are in possession of all necessary travel and health documents before departure. All costs incurred in obtaining such documentation must be paid by you. We regret we cannot accept any liability if you are refused entry onto any transport or into any country due to failure on your part to carry correct documentation. If failure to have any necessary travel or other documents results in fines, surcharges or other financial penalty being imposed on us, you will be responsible for reimbursing us accordingly.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office may have issued information about your holiday destination. Please visit http://www.fco.gov.uk for further details.