Before You Go

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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.