GETTING TO MV DISCOVERY HARWICH INTERNATIONAL PORT (ex-Harwich cruises)
Harwich International Port has excellent passenger and luggage handling facilities and long experience of efficiently managing cruise ship operations. The most easterly of Britain’s main cruise ports, Harwich is ideally positioned for our cruises to Scandinavia, the Baltic, Greenland and Iceland. Whether you arrive by car, coach or make arrangements to get to Harwich, your luggage will be taken care of. From the moment you arrive at the port terminal your luggage will be taken to the secure luggage handling area where it will be screened before delivery to your cabin.
GETTING THERE BY COACH
Exclusive cruise coaches to Harwich from Birmingham and Manchester will be available, for our no-fly cruises only, at the following return fares: Birmingham £35; Manchester £45. Coaches will depart and return approximately 6 and 8 hours respectively before/ after Discovery’s sailing/arrival time. Depending on numbers, coaches may route via Stansted and/or Luton Airports.
CRUISES WHICH FLY ONE-WAY
For cruises which begin in Harwich and return by air, or vice versa, special parking and coach transfer arrangements apply. Details will be given on request or at time of booking.
PASSPORTS AND VISAS
All British citizens require a full 10-year passport valid for at least six months after the date of travel for all countries to be visited and with spare pages. Passengers travelling to South Africa must have at least one set of blank consecutive left and right hand pages.
At the time of publishing, British citizens with a United Kingdom machine readable passport require visas if visiting Mozambique and India, and should make appropriate arrangements; if this situation changes we will let you know as soon as possible. Other nationalities intending to visit these countries should consult their travel agent or embassy/ consulate regarding visa requirements.
Any British passengers transiting the USA without a machine readable passport will need to obtain a visa; this involves making an appointment to attend the United States Embassy in person for an interview, finger scans etc. British passengers with a British Citizen passport with full right of abode are permitted to transit the USA under the US Visa Waiver Scheme (I-94W). Other nationalities please check with your respective embassy.
All passengers visiting Cuba, whether by air or sea must have obtained and completed a Cuban Tourist Card (Tourist Visa) in advance of their arrival. These cards cost £15.00 and can be arranged through Voyages of Discovery, or directly through a Cuban Consulate. If you were born in Cuba you will not be allowed ashore in Cuba if arriving by sea, irrespective of any of the passports you hold.
For tourist cards purchased through Voyages of Discovery, passengers will have the charge applied to their invoice and receive a blank card with instruction on how to complete this approximately 2 weeks before departing for their cruise. Those wishing to purchase the Tourist Card directly with the Cuban Consulate should contact their nearest Consulate.
Passengers with full United Kingdom passports joining our organised excursion programme in Russia do not at the present time require individual visas. However, if regulations should change in either country and individual visas are required, it will be the responsibility of each passenger to obtain and purchase their own visa. Currently, any passenger wishing to proceed ashore independently at any time in Russia will require an individual visa purchased and issued prior to arrival in that country. We can provide details of any easy-to-use visa application service at a cost of approximately £85 including consular fee, service charge and VAT. Please contact us at least 8 weeks prior to departure should you wish to obtain your own visa.
Any passenger with an Israeli visa or entry permit or with either a visa for Egypt or Jordan issued at an Israeli border crossing in their passport (whether valid or not) may not be permitted to disembark in some Arab countries. A new passport should be obtained before travelling on the cruise.
Where visa charges are payable locally these must be paid by the passenger. Advice will be given with your final details when this is necessary. To avoid queues at the airport, if our local agents are able to obtain these on your behalf in advance, they will do so and the cost will be added to your final invoice or on-board account (for example there is currently a £10 visa payable by UK citizens arriving/departing by air in Turkey and US$15 when you fly into or out of Egypt).
Passengers joining our organised tours in Libya and Russia do not at the present time require individual visas. However, if regulations should change in any country and individual visas are required, it will be the responsibility of each passenger to obtain and purchase their own. Currently passengers who wish to go ashore independently at any time in Russia or Libya will require a visa purchased and issued before arrival in the country. The procedure for obtaining a visa for Libya is very complicated and costs about £100; for Russia we can provide details of an easy-to-use visa application service at a cost of £85 including consular fee, service charge and VAT. Please contact us at least 8 weeks prior to departure should you wish to obtain your own visa for either of these countries.
For cruises visiting Libya, passengers with an Israeli stamp already in their passports must obtain either a replacement or a second passport before boarding mv Discovery. Please note that entry requirements are subject to change. For further information prior to travel visit www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo. Where visa charges are payable locally these must be paid by the passenger. Advice will be given with your final details when this is necessary. To avoid queues at the airport, if our local agents are able to obtain these on your behalf in advance, they will do so and the cost will be added to your final invoice or on-board account (for example there is currently a £10 visa payable by UK citizens arriving/ departing by air in Turkey and US$15 when you fly into or out of Egypt.)
Any non-British passengers will require full passports valid for the countries visited. It is the responsibility of each passenger to check with the various embassies or consulates involved for their particular cruise, ensuring that they have the necessary documentation/visas to enter all countries. Any passenger arriving at the departure port/airport without a passport will be refused permission to board the ship/aircraft. Failure in this respect is not covered by the insurance and no refund can be claimed. The ship’s purser on board deals with all immigration formalities.
HEALTH, VACCINATIONS, AND MEDICAL INFORMATION
As health regulations are everchanging, we recommend that you consult your G.P., or telephone MASTA (Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad) on 0906 822 4100 to check the latest requirements of the countries you will be visiting, 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. At time of publishing there are no mandatory vaccination requirements for destinations featured in this website, except Yellow Fever vaccinations which are required for visits to Brazil. 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. We ask you to advise us on the Booking Form of any disability or illness so that we can advise our on board medical team.
Some countries that we visit during our winter cruises, such as Brazil and Venezuela, require an original yellow fever vaccination certificate that is in valid date, or an exemption certificate. Other countries recommend that precautions are taken against malaria and other diseases. Please note that conditions of entry set by a country can sometimes be contrary to the yellow fever advice given by the World Health Organisation, doctors and yellow fever centres in the UK, especially when arrival is by sea. We must comply with the local authorities of each country in order to carry out the cruise as planned.
Any passenger arriving at the port without the correct vaccination certificates or exemption certificate will be refused permission to board the ship. No passenger refund is applicable.
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. We ask you to advise us on the Booking Form of any disability, illness or special needs so that we can advise our on-board medical team.
FURTHER ADVICE
For further information prior to travel visit www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo or call the ABTA Information Line on 0901 201 5050 (calls are charged at 50 pence per minute).
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 requires special treatment or medical apparatus must be reported to the company’s Reservations Manager 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 in any case.
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 wheelchairs. However, they must 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 their booking. 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. Otherwise getting about once on board the Discovery is relatively easy, although certain parts of the ship may be inaccessible. However, 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 very limited. If you require wheelchair assistance at airports, you need to advise us in writing at least 8 weeks prior to your departure, and give full details of your medical condition.
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. Please indicate any requests at time of booking. We will make every effort to satisfy your request, although this cannot be guaranteed.
Note: 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 or 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.
WINTER CRUISES – HOTELS, EXCURSIONS & LAND TOURS
The land packages featured on our cruises can only be purchased in conjunction with the cruises offered. To book, we require the request in writing along with an additional 10% deposit. The company reserves the right to assign your hotel based on pre-reserved space at hotels contracted, details will be advised with your final travel documents. In most cases, rooms are not available until 3.00pm on day of arrival. Certain land packages and excursions will not operate without minimum numbers, and others may have a maximum capacity. The sequence of escorted land tours may vary from the brochure. If, for any reason, a hotel, sightseeing or entertainment feature is cancelled or otherwise unavailable, the company reserves the right to cancel, make substitutions or omissions and is under no obligation except that in the event of cancellation you will receive a full refund of any payments received for that service. Please note that the terms for cancellation by the passenger of any pre-booked land stays and excursions are as per our general cancellation terms as detailed our brochure. Please note that some tours may visit high altitudes and may not be suitable for those with certain medical conditions such as respiratory or high blood pressure.
OPTIONAL SHORE EXCURSIONS
Details of the Shore Excursions where finalised are available on the individual cruise pages of this site. All summer cruise excursions can be pre-booked although it is possible (subject to space) to book your tours on board. Full details and booking form will be sent approximately 10 weeks before departure.
