SOME HELPFUL HINTS BEFORE YOU GO
Passengers who have never cruised before, who have not cruised with Swan Hellenic, or are regular passengers will no doubt have many questions to ask about our ship, our operation and many other matters. This section (which forms part of our contract with you) 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 cruise. Our aim is your complete enjoyment of the cruise holiday, and all of our staff, ashore and afloat, together with the ship’s company will do all they can to ensure this. The information given here is correct at the time of printing, March 2010, but is subject to change without notice. If you have any queries about your booking, we will always be pleased to help you. Please telephone us on 0844 209 9000.
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. Alternatively, you can contact ABTA’s Travel Information line on 0901 201 5050 (calls are charged at 50p per minute).
PASSPORTS AND VISAS
British Citizens require a full 10 year passport valid for at least 6 months after the date of return travel for all countries to be visited and with spare pages. For British citizens, when joining or departing the ship in some ports, individual visas may need to be obtained prior to the cruise departure. At the time of printing March 2010, you will need to purchase and obtain the following visas if your cruise includes the countries indicated: India multiple entry visa, China visas (for pre and post tours). This information is subject to change and it may be necessary for other visas to be obtained and purchased.
In some ports Swan Hellenic is able to obtain group visas for UK passport holders on arrival which will enable you to go ashore. Swan Hellenic may not always be able to obtain group visas for non UK passport holders. In some countries group visas are restricted to allow passengers to participate in shore excursions organised by Swan Hellenic only. If you wish to explore independently in the countries indicated it will be necessary for you to obtain and purchase an individual visa prior to the cruise departure: St Petersburg, Russia. This information is subject to change and it may be necessary for other visas to be obtained and purchased.
Other nationalities should consult their travel agent/embassy regarding visa/entry requirements.
Passengers with an Israeli visa or entry permit or with a visa for Egypt or Jordan at an Israeli border crossing in their passport (whether valid or not) may not be permitted to disembark in some countries. At the time of printing this includes Libya and Syria. A new passport must be obtained before travelling on the cruise.
Some countries place restrictions on certain nationalities obtaining group or individual visas. In such ports you will not be permitted to disembark. At the time of printing March 2010, Libya is not granting visas (group or individual) and denying disembarkation to US citizens and Schengen passport holders. At the time of printing passengers covered by the group visa for Libyan ports do not need to obtain an Arabic translation. This information is subject to change.
Any British Citizen Passport holders transiting the US without a machine readable passport will need to obtain a visa from the United States Embassy. British Citizen passport holders with a full right of abode are permitted to transit the USA under the US Visa Waiver Scheme (1-94W) and must register their intention to travel on www.esta-online.co.uk. Other nationalities please check with your respective embassy.
All the information stated is correct at the time of printing, March 2010 and is subject to change. Swan Hellenic will endeavour to inform passengers of any mandatory requirements and changes in the pre cruise documentation which is sent approximately 8 weeks prior to the cruise departure.
Please note that it is the responsibility of each passenger to check with the various embassies or consulates involved in their particular cruise to ensure that they have the necessary visas and correct documentation to enter all the countries visited. Any passengers arriving at the departure port/airport without a passport, correct visas (if required) or correct documentation will be refused permission to board the ship/aircraft. Failure in this respect is not covered by insurance and no refund can be made.
HEALTH, VACCINATIONS AND MEDICAL INFORMATION
As health regulations are ever changing, we recommend that you consult your G.P. or contact MASTA (Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad) www.masta-travelhealth.com at least 12 weeks before your intended departure to check the latest requirements for the countries you will be visiting. At the time of confirmation of your booking, we will advise you of any mandatory vaccination requirements. Any passenger arriving at the airport/port without the correct certificate will be refused permission to board aircraft/ship. No passenger refund is applicable. Depending on the itinerary, passengers should consult their GP regarding the possibility of taking a course of anti-malarial tablets prior to their departure.
In certain countries Yellow Fever inoculations are mandatory for each passenger whether or not you intend to proceed ashore. You will be required to obtain and carry an original Yellow fever certificate stamped by an authorised Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre. The certificate itself is valid from 10 days after vaccination for a period of ten years. If you are excused on medical grounds you will be required to obtain and carry an original Yellow fever exemption certificate stamped by an authorised Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre. Certificates will be inspected at your departure airport/upon embarkation. You will not be able to travel or embark the ship without a valid certificate as stated. Regulations requiring mandatory Yellow Fever Vaccinations and certificates are laid down by the local Port and Health Authorities and the vessel will be unable to obtain entrance to certain ports if the correct paperwork as stated above is not available. This requirement may differ from the advice given by the World Health Organisation and your local doctor. Swan Hellenic will advise you at the time of booking (or as soon as possible if regulations change), if Yellow Fever is a mandatory requirement on your cruise.
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.
CHILDREN
There are no recreational facilities for children aboard Minerva and reservations for children are not advised.
PASSENGERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Swan Hellenic will always try to accommodate passengers with special needs. However, the following conditions apply:
Medical Situations: Any physical disability or medical condition 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 at all times 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: Passengers using wheelchairs must provide their own collapsible chair. Please note that in cabins aboard Minerva there is a 5” riser to bathrooms and some door sills, except in cabin nos A38, A37, S9 and D11, which have been adapted for wheelchair use. However, please note that at all ports of call featured in this cruise programme, passengers are required to walk up or down the gangway when embarking or disembarking the ship. Some ports require tenders to go ashore and conditions may preclude a wheelchair passenger from leaving the vessel; this decision must be made by the ship’s Captain and is binding. Passengers should also be aware that facilities for the disabled in some destinations may be very limited. Getting about once on board Minerva is relatively easy; however, you may find certain parts of the ship inaccessible.
Special Diets: We can usually make provisions for special diets provided that sufficient notice is given, although we cannot cater for Kosher and Halal diets. A 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. Under such circumstances, no refund or compensation will be payable. Please also refer to Section 10 of the Fair Trading Conditions.
