General Information

• Special rates for singles in selected cabin categories
• Combination savings – the further you go, the greater the saving

AND WHAT'S EXTRA

• Transport to or from the UK port or airport unless otherwise stated
• Shore excursions and shuttle buses
• Insurance
• Drinks and personal expenditure on board
• Hair and beauty treatments
• Visas, and airport taxes where these are payable locally
• £15 supplement for return flights to Manchester (£7.50 one-way) on Summer 2010 cruises; £20 supplement for return flights to Manchester (£10 one-way) on Summer 2011 cruises
  

BEFORE YOU GO

Passengers who have never cruised before, or who have not cruised with Voyages of Discovery, will no doubt have many questions to ask about the ship, our operation and many other matters. This section has been written to give you some general information about cruising with us, and we feel sure you will find it useful both before and during your voyage. Please note that instructions contained in this section form part of our Fair Trading Conditions.

Our aim is your complete enjoyment of the cruise and our staff, together with the ship’s crew will do all that they can to ensure this. The information given here is correct at the time of printing, but is subject to change without notice. If you have any queries about your booking we will always be pleased to help you. Please feel free to telephone us on 0844 822 0800 or e-mail us at precruise@voyagesofdiscovery.com

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office produces up-to-date travel information to help British travellers make informed decisions about travelling abroad. For further information please visit www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo or telephone 0845 850 2829 (4p per minute from BT lines). Alternatively, you can contact ABTA’s Travel Information line on 0901 201 5050 (UK calls only) (calls are charged at 50p per minute).

PASSPORTS AND VISAS

All British citizens require a full 10-year passport valid for at least six months after the date of return travel for all countries being visited, with spare pages. We also recommend that you take photocopies of the personal details page of your passport with you (i.e. the page with your photograph) as this is sometimes required by local immigration authorities.

Any passenger with an Israeli visa or entry permit in their passport (whether valid or not) may not be permitted to disembark in some Arab countries. The relevant Embassies can provide further guidance in this respect.

In some ports, group visas are available and we will take care of these for you. Group visas will allow passengers on our shore excursions to go ashore. In some ports it may be necessary for passengers to obtain individual visas and you may be required to obtain these prior to travel. To avoid queues, if our local agents are able to obtain visas at the airport on your behalf they will do so and the cost will be added to your on board account. There is for example a visa charge for passengers flying in and out of Egypt and Turkey. UK passport holders joining our organised tours in Russia do not at the present time require individual visas. If however the situation changes, it will be the responsibility of the passenger to obtain and purchase their own visa. Currently passengers who wish to go ashore independently at any time in Russia will require a visa purchased and issued before arrival. Advice regarding all aspects of visa requirements and payments will be included in your pre-cruise information.

Please note that it is the responsibility of each passenger to check with the various embassies or consulates of those countries to be visited on their particular cruise to ensure that they have the necessary visas/documentation to enter all countries to be visited. Any passengers arriving at the departure port/airport without a passport or correct visas (if required) will be refused permission to board the ship/aircraft. Failure in this respect is not covered by insurance and no refund can be made. The ship’s purser deals with all immigration formalities on board.


HEALTH, VACCINATIONS, AND MEDICAL INFORMATION

Your pre-cruise information will advise you of all current mandatory vaccination requirements for the countries you will be visiting. As health regulations are subject to change, we recommend that you consult your G.P. or telephone MASTA (Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad) on 0906 822 4100 at least 12 weeks before your intended departure. In addition, an information leaflet is published by the Department of Health and can be obtained free of charge by calling 0300 123 1002 or online at www.orderline.dh.gov.uk.

If you do not normally enjoy good health, you should consult your doctor regarding the advisability of taking a cruise and being away from the usual medical and hospital facilities.

Your insurance company must be advised of any pre-existing condition at the time of booking and of any condition arising subsequently prior to departure, otherwise your insurance may be invalid. You must advise us on the Booking Form of any disability, illness or special needs so that we can advise our on-board medical team.

MEDICAL ATTENTION

We hope you will find it unnecessary to use the ship’s medical facilities during your voyage. If, however, the occasion does arise, it is comforting to know that we do carry a fully qualified doctor and nurses. The National Health Service does not cover treatment on the ship and the doctor or nurse will make a charge for their services as well as requiring payment for any medicines or drugs needed. Such charges are normally reclaimable under your travel insurance, less any excess. In the unlikely event that you require urgent medical attention ashore, we will assist by contacting your insurer who will make the necessary arrangements for your treatment and repatriation.

CHILDREN

There are no recreational facilities for children aboard the mv Discovery and reservations for those under the age of eleven are not advised.

PASSENGERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Voyages of Discovery will always try to accommodate passengers with special needs However, the following conditions apply:

Medical Situations: Any physical disabilities or medical conditions that require special treatment or medical apparatus must be reported to the company’s Reservations Supervisor in writing along with the first deposit, which is due at time of booking. These include but are not limited to wheelchairs, oxygen therapy, dialysis, etc. Failure to disclose a medical situation at time of booking may result in you being denied boarding at port of embarkation.

Health Care Companions: All passengers with special needs must be self-sufficient and must be accompanied by a passenger who will take full responsibility for any assistance needed during the cruise and in the event of an emergency.

Pregnancy: Regulations vary from airline to airline, but some will refuse to carry women who will be 28 weeks pregnant on the date of return travel. If you are in doubt, please check with the airline concerned and we would recommend that you consult your doctor.

Disabled Passengers: We feel we should point out that we are not specialists in catering for the disabled. If you or any person travelling with you suffers from a disability, you must contact our office for advice before you make your booking.

Wheelchairs: We regret that we cannot accommodate mobility scooters, although we do welcome passengers who use manual standard sized wheelchairs. Passengers must however provide their own collapsible chair and must be able to walk up or down the gangway when embarking or disembarking the ship. If they are not able to do so we will be unable to accept a booking and/or allow embarkation. Please note that in cabins aboard the Discovery there is a 5” riser to bathrooms except in cabin no.’s 4140 and 4144 on Bali Deck, which have been adapted for wheelchair use. Once on board, moving around Discovery is relatively easy, although certain parts of the ship may be inaccessible. Please note that some ports require tenders to go ashore and conditions may preclude passengers with wheelchairs leaving the vessel; under such circumstances a decision would be made by the Captain and would be binding. Please also note that facilities for the handicapped in some destinations may be limited. If you require wheelchair assistance at airports then you need to advise us at the time of your booking enquiry and may be required to complete a medical questionnaire and/or accept additional Fair Trading Conditions before your booking is accepted.

Special Diets: We can usually make provision for special diets provided that sufficient notice is given. A good vegetarian choice is available on board ship and vegetarian meals are also available on flights. Other diets e.g. gluten-free and diabetic, can usually be accommodated, although Kosher and Halal options are not available. Please indicate any requests at time of booking. We will make every effort to satisfy your request, although this cannot be guaranteed.

Note: Please read the “Medical and other conduct” section of our Fair Trading Conditions carefully. The company has the right to refuse or revoke passage to anyone who, in its judgement, is in a physical or mental condition unfit for travel, or who may require care beyond that which the vessel can provide. Passengers are expected to conduct themselves in a proper manner throughout the cruise, and if it appears that a passenger’s conduct, behaviour or health is likely to endanger the passenger’s own health or safety, or that of any other passenger, employee or member of the crew, or may make Voyages of Discovery liable for the costs of any medical treatment or repatriation, Voyages of Discovery and/or the Master reserve the right to take appropriate action. This may include disembarkation, confinement to a particular cabin, and through the ship’s doctor the administration of any drugs or medicines and/or confinement to a hospital or similar institution at any port. Under those circumstances no refund or compensation will be payable.


ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

Voyages of Discovery is committed to protecting the environment at all times and especially by the proper disposal of waste matter generated on board. This is achieved by adhering to stringent regulations and procedures on board and complying with various applicable legislation.

OPTIONAL SHORE EXCURSIONS

At the time of going to print the exact content and costs for the shore excursions programme have not been finalised. All cruise excursions can be pre-booked although it is also possible (subject to availability and at a higher onboard price) to book your tours onboard. Full excursion details and a booking form will be sent approximately 8-10 weeks before departure.


ONBOARD

CURRENCY AND PAYMENTS

On board mv Discovery all prices are in British Pounds.

Foreign exchange facilities on board are very limited, so we would recommend that you purchase any currency requirements before you travel. There is little opportunity to visit banks whilst on tour, although guides will normally help exchange small amounts if necessary. For purchases ashore, many shops accept most Travellers’ Cheques and major credit cards. A cashless system operates on board with passengers settling accounts at the end of the cruise.

Visa, MasterCard and American Express (2% surcharge applies to Amex) credit cards, cash and Travellers’ Cheques are accepted for payment of shipboard accounts. We also accept UK debit cards bearing the VISA or MasterCard logos. Personal cheques are not accepted.

GRATUITIES AND SERVICE CHARGES

Unlike many other cruise operators, gratuities and service charges are included within the prices shown for UK passengers on mv.Discovery, however, you may wish to recognise special service at your discretion.

BARS AND ALCOHOL

Only alcohol purchased in the ship’s bars and restaurants may be consumed on Discovery. The serving of alcohol may be restricted in certain countries.

DINING ARRANGEMENTS

Breakfast and lunch are arranged on an open sitting basis and may be taken in the Seven Continents Restaurant or ‘alfresco’ at the Lido Buffet on Sun Deck. Continental breakfast is also available in your cabin.

In the evening, there are two sittings for dinner in the Seven Continents Restaurant. The timings will depend on the day’s programme, but usually early sitting is 6.15pm, main sitting is 8.30pm. Your preference should be indicated at time of booking, and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis, but cannot be guaranteed.

On selected evenings the Yacht Club, situated forward on Sun Deck, offers an alternative dinner menu at no extra charge. You will be able to dine here at least once per cruise and reservations must be made on board.

A limited room service menu is available most days from 7.00am to 10.00pm.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS/IT

Our on board telecommunications systems mean that you are never more than a phone call away from home or office. All cabins feature direct-dial telephones, whilst fax facilities are available at the Purser’s Desk and computer facilities in the Internet Centre. Wi-Fi connections are available at two locations on board (charges apply), however, connection difficulties can occur in some areas of the world and internet speeds may be significantly slower at sea compared to on land. Mobile phones usually get a signal but only via satellite.

ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES

Cabins and suites feature 110 and 220 volt current. Plug sockets are European two pin format and you may require adaptors. Any questions regarding the use of electric rollers, curling irons, electric shavers and other small appliances should be directed to reception. For safety reasons the use of travel irons and any tea/coffee making equipment is definitely not allowed. Each cabin is equipped with a hair dryer.

LAUNDRY & DRY CLEANING

A service is available for laundry, dry cleaning and pressing. A laundry bag and order form are provided in your cabin. For passengers taking two or more consecutive cruises, there is a 50% discount for laundry and pressing (but not for dry cleaning).

WHAT TO WEAR

As a general rule, for days on board and ashore, summer clothing/sports wear is the order of the day. It should be light, casual and easy to care for. A sweater and jacket for cooler evenings and a light raincoat are also advisable. In certain countries, shorts, short skirts, bare arms and shoulders will not be appreciated locally and you may be prohibited entry to certain sites. Advice will be given on board.

For trips ashore and for getting into and out of the ship’s tenders, comfortable, sturdy footwear is recommended. You may also want to bring with you a camera, binoculars, umbrella, sun hat and insect repellent.

In the evening, there is a recommended dress code. Passengers may wish to dress in ‘black tie’ and evening dresses for formal nights such as the Captain’s Welcome Cocktail Party and Dinner, however, a lounge suit or blazer and tie would be fine – the choice is yours. On other evenings the dress code will be semi-formal or smart/casual. Details will be given in the daily programme on board.

SMOKING

Passengers are not permitted to smoke inside mv Discovery, or on Sun Deck when food is being served, and are requested to smoke only in designated areas of Sun Deck and other open decks, subject to national government laws when in port. Smoking is not permitted on excursion coaches.

EMERGENCY DRILL

Before the ship sails or early in the cruise, there will be a full muster stations drill. This exercise is to give all passengers precise information on the correct route from their cabins to the places where they should muster in an emergency, together with instructions about life jackets and emergency procedures.

ALL passengers must attend for each and every cruise.

TRANSPORT 

FLIGHTS

You may wish to make your own flight arrangements and receive an air credit (see price panel). No airport transfers will be provided in this instance. Certain travel arrangements (in particular flights) may have to be paid for in full at the time of booking and, if so, are non-refundable. In the event of a cancellation, non-refundable payments are included in the calculation of the cruise cost and the cancellation charge due.

We use a mix of scheduled and charter flights, however, we are not in a position to confirm full flight details at time of booking. Any provisional information given at the time of booking may change significantly. Baggage allowance is usually 20kg per person on charter and most scheduled flights, although it may vary according to the carrier and class of travel Please note that your baggage allowance may not be the same for each part of a multi- sector flight schedule. The provision of in-flight meals and refreshments also varies between airlines. All flights are non-smoking. Voyages of Discovery recommended travel insurance includes cover for travel delays and lost or damaged luggage and we recommend that you have similar cover if making different arrangements. In some countries, local airport departure taxes cannot be included as part of your air ticket and must be paid locally by the passenger. To avoid queues at the airport, our local agents will pay these on your behalf in advance if possible, and the cost will be added to your on board account.

You must check-in at airports at least two hours before your departure. If you do not check-in on time, the airline may not allow you to board the flight. We cannot accept responsibility if such situations arise and whilst we will do our best to arrange alternative transport, any resulting costs will be your responsibility.

The airlines likely to operate our flights are Thomson Fly, Thomas Cook, EasyJet, Viking, Correndon, Saga, BMI, Jet2, Astraeus, Titan, BA, Iberia, Air France, Flybe, Virgin, and Monarch Airlines using Boeing 737, 747, 757, 767, Airbus A300, A319, A320, A330 and A321. Other airlines and aircraft may also be used. In some cases it may be possible to upgrade your flight. Please contact us to discuss availability and supplementary costs.


FLIGHT DELAYS

Regrettably flight delays do sometimes occur. In this event, it is the responsibility of the airline to provide refreshments, meals, and depending on the length of the delay and time of day, overnight accommodation. Under EU Regulation 261/2004 you may be entitled to claim compensation in the event that your flight is cancelled or delayed, and it is your responsibility to pursue the airline in this respect. Your travel insurance provider may also provide a payment in respect of a flight delay.

Subject to airlines’ own restrictions, please ensure that all medications are packed in your hand luggage.

NOTES ABOUT FLIGHTS

You will be notified of flight options with any fly cruise itineraries at the time of booking. Please note that Voyages of Discovery reserve the right to change carriers when necessary and that sometimes you may travel out and back on different carriers. For all flights, Voyages of Discovery reserve the right to determine the flight routings, which may not be direct or non-stop and may involve different London airports

Important: We recommend a minimum of four hours between any connecting flights, to allow for potential flight delays and increased airport security. If you have an early morning flight departure, you may want to consider taking a connecting flight the day before and stay overnight at an airport hotel. We can suggest reduced rate accommodation and parking.


INDEPENDENT AIR ARRANGEMENTS

The Company will have no responsibility, financial or otherwise, in regard to air, hotel, transport or any other arrangements made by passengers with third parties. Passengers should ensure any such arrangements are transferable or refundable, or covered by their travel insurance, in the event of delay, amendment or cancellation of any of these independent arrangements, or of your cruise.

MISCELLANEOUS

SPECIAL REQUESTS

We are unable to accept ‘conditional bookings’. Please note any special requests clearly on your Booking Form and we will do our best to comply with your wishes. We must point out that failure to fulfil a special request cannot be considered a breach of Contract on the part of the company.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

We ask you to notify us in writing immediately of any alterations to your address before departure. In all communication, please state the cruise on which you are travelling.

DATA PROTECTION ACT 1998

Please be assured that we have methods in place to protect the personal booking information held by us. This information will be passed on to the principal and to the relevant suppliers of your travel arrangements. The information may also be provided to public authorities such as customs or immigration if required by them, or as required by law. Certain information may also be passed on to security or credit checking companies. If you travel outside the EU, controls on data protection may not be as strong as the legal requirements in this country. We will only pass your information on to persons responsible for your travel arrangements. This applies to any sensitive information that you give to us such as details of any disabilities or dietary/religious requirements. (If we cannot pass this information to the relevant suppliers, whether in the EU or not, we will be unable to accept your booking). In making your booking you consent to this information being passed on to the relevant persons. Full details of our data protection policy are available upon request.

CHANGES TO YOUR CRUISE

The information in this brochure outlines details of our carefully planned programme. Should any subsequent events cause us to change our plans or affect the published itinerary in any way, we shall let passengers know. Please read the section entitled “Cancellation or alteration by the Company” in our Fair Trading Conditions carefully before you make a booking. Please note that all ship arrival and departure timings are approximate and are subject to change. No-fly cruise departure times will be confirmed with your tickets.

OVERSEAS STANDARDS

It is a fact of life that when we travel to different countries, we often find that the customs, traditions and general pace at which things are done can be very different from those at home. So as far as standards of safety are concerned, the suppliers of services must comply with the rules and regulations of their own country and these are not always as strict as they are in the UK. Please read the “Shore Excursions” section of our Fair Trading Conditions.

DANGEROUS GOODS

It is an offence to carry on board aircraft or ship any goods of a dangerous nature. Please read Section 10.10 of our Fair Trading Conditions.


WEBSITE ACCURACY

The information contained on this website is checked for accuracy by our UK staff, our overseas staff and our agents. Nevertheless, we would ask you to bear in mind that things can change and often these things can happen without our prior knowledge. Should we become aware of anything that we consider will have a permanent impact on your enjoyment of the cruise, we will do our utmost to advise you before you sail.

Photo Credits: Bahamas Ministry of Tourism; Margaux Daher, Barbados.org; Brazil Ministry of Tourism; Hector Roldan, fotosdeguatemala.com; StLucia.org; LimaTours, Peru; VisitChile.org; ItalianTourism.com; Fototeca ENIT; Bergen Tourist Board/Per Eide; VisitÅlesund.com; Faroe Islands Tourist Board/Absalon Hansen; visitcopenhagen.com; visitdenmark.com; Innovation Norway; VisitBergen.com; photo © artsandprints.net