Before your cruise with Cunard

Now that you have made your booking, if you have not already done so please visit our website and create an account at cunard.com/myaccount. My Account is a simple and easy way to update your details, join our loyalty scheme, the Cunard World Club, and tell us how you'd like to hear about all our news, offers and latest cruises by managing your contact preferences.

You can now visit my.cunard.com, to provide us with the details we need from you before you sail, and tailor your voyage. Book shore experiences, dining experiences or drinks packages, or browse spa and gift options. You will also be able to check and update your travel documents, and print luggage labels and boarding passes.

Voyage Personaliser

You can now manage your Cunard booking and check your details online instantly at any time using Cunard's Voyage Personaliser.

For your convenience please use your Cunard Booking Number to access your account:

Go directly to Cunard's Voyage Personaliser

Shore Excursions

Cunard shore excursion are available on Cunard My Cruise approximately 52 weeks prior to your departure. Please note all shore excursions should be booked online to guarantee your place and these can only be booked up to 5 days prior to your sailing.

For your convenience please use your Cunard Booking Number to access your account:

Go directly to Cunard's Voyage Personaliser

You will receive a booklet from us with a link to your personalised pre-travel information form which will contain all your important information that will relate to you and your cruise. Please check this information and correct any information that may be incorrect. If everything looks okay, then you won't need to do anything!

Please note that this information is for our purposes only and you may still need to complete your cruise operators website with similar information.

PASSPORTS

Extensive passport information for the destinations on your trip can be found on our Visa & Vaccination Requirements page, however more specific information can be found in the your cruise documentation booklet that we send you as part of your booking.

If you have any questions about the passport requirements, don't hesitate to contact us on 01246 819 819 or via the Contact Us page.

VISA REQUIREMENTS

Where we anticipate visas being required to travel, the relevant details will be included within this document, but this only applies to BRITISH CITIZEN passport holders. Bolsover Cruise Club is unable to provide any advice on passport and visa requirements for passengers who hold any other passport (including BRITISH SUBJECTS) and you should refer to the relevant consulate authorities for guidance.

VIA A CONSULAR SERVICE

It is our experience that obtaining individual visas for certain countries can be very difficult and, therefore, we advise that you make your application through a Consular Service, CIBT & The Travel Visa Company are two such agents but there are others available. As you can't actually apply for your visa until much nearer to your departure and as the rules and forms are constantly changing, we would recommend you don’t apply until approximately four months before your departure. 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Extensive Visa information for the destinations on your trip can be found on our Visa & Vaccination Requirements page, however more specific information can be found in the your cruise documentation booklet that we send you as part of your booking.

If you have any questions about the visa requirements, don't hesitate to contact us on 01246 819 819 or via the Contact Us page.

WHAT ABOUT VACCINATIONS?

The Department of Health generally recommends that all travellers are vaccinated against Typhoid, Tetanus, Hepatitis A and Polio, but these are not compulsory.

It is possible to obtain a detailed report on health requirements for the journey you are to undertake by visiting the NHS fitfortravel website, this is a public access website provided by the NHS (Scotland). It gives travel health information for people travelling abroad from the UK. Alternatively, the latest Department of Health guidelines, including a country by country disease and immunisation checklist, is published on their website www.gov.uk by entering "Travel Advice" in the search field.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Extensive vaccination information for the destinations on your trip can be found on our Visa & Vaccination Requirements page, however more specific information can be found in the your cruise documentation booklet that we send you as part of your booking.

If you have any questions about the vaccinationrequirements, don't hesitate to contact us on 01246 819 819 or via the Contact Us page.

COVID VACCINATIONS

For the latest Cunard vaccination and testing requirements then please visit the Cunard website, please note the destination of your voyage could alter these.

For your convenience, Cunard Line operates a 'cash-free' system on board their ships. When checking in for your cruise you will be asked to register a credit or debit card. This will automatically be charged the balance of your on board account at the end of your cruise. Cunard Line accept Visa, Visa/Mastercard Debit, Mastercard, American Express & Diners Club.

Please be advised that, when registering your credit or debit card at check in, you will be required to enter your 4 digit pin number for verification. Cards issued outside of the UK that do not use a pin number will not be accommodated. At this point, a $100 pre-authorisation will be applied to the card in order to open an account for your on-board purchases. Once your on-board account statement totals more than the $100, plus any on-board credit you have, authorisations will continue throughout the cruise as per our current process. Please see the back of the brochure for details.

Please note that Cunard Line cannot accept cheques, travellers cheques, Switch/Maestro, corporate cards, Solo, Visa Electron or prepaid credit cards.

If you are travelling on consecutive cruises, you must settle your on board account at the end of each individual cruise.

You may be able to purchase local currency on board your cruise ship. However, ships only carry a limited amount so there is no guarantee that cash will be available.

Your on board account will be charged in US$. Should you wish for this to be converted into UK Sterling, please notify the Purser's Desk on board. A 3% conversion charge will be applied to your account if you wish your on board account to be displayed in sterling. If you decide to be charged in US$ your credit card issuer may charge a fee.

Introducing the on board drinks options offered by Cunard, adding an extra layer of convenience and flexibility to your voyage. Guests can choose from an extensive range of soft drinks, hot beverages, wines, and more, catering to individual tastes. Cunard allows passengers to cover their bar tab in advance, including service charges, permitting them to order at their leisure without fretting over the bill.

For more information about Cunard Drinks Packages, please visit the Cunard website.

Cunard Line no longer issue traditional cruise tickets. Instead, an information pack will be sent to you directly by Cunard Line approximately 6-8 weeks prior to departure, or shortly after booking for late reservations. Enclosed will be a letter advising of Visa & Passport requirements, a cruise answerbook, your luggage labels and any other relevant information including instructions on how to print your own travel documentation.

An email will then be sent you approximately 6 weeks prior to departure to confirm that your ticket is available for you to download from the Cunard website. It is therefore very important that you complete the pre-cruise information form we are sending including your email address as failure to provide this information could lead to a delay in your travel documentation being available.

Please call our Sales Support Department on 01246 819819 (option 2) should you have any queries with regard to ticket dispatch.

Foreign travel advice is available from The Foreign & Commonwealth Office by visiting www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, where a list of countries can be viewed in respect of which the FCO has issued advice. It is designed to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information to help British travellers better prepare for going overseas.

It is a condition of the contract with your chosen cruise operator that you must obtain travel insurance to cover the risk of you needing medical care on board or in a foreign country. Your insurance must include cover for all pre-existing medical conditions and must cover emergency evacuations from the ship, hospital medical costs and repatriation costs. You should ensure that you have adequate travel insurance at the time of booking and that it is valid for the full duration of your proposed travel arrangements.

We have partnered with award-winning travel insurance specialists, Holiday Extras, to offer you a comprehensive travel insurance policy that will cover you for cancellation, medical expenses, personal belongings, missed cruise departure, unused shore excursions, cabin confinement and cruise itinerary changes, as well as covering 97% of all customers with pre-existing medical conditions.

Holiday Extras insurance fully meets the requirements set out by your operator in the terms and conditions of your booking. You'll find further details by calling 0800 042 0219 quoting BOL07 or visiting www.holidayextras.com.

If you have a serious physical disability, use a wheelchair or are undergoing ongoing medical treatment, we recommend that you let us know in writing, including full details of any current medication. A copy of your letter will then be forwarded to the cruise operator, who in turn will pass on the relevant details to the ship's medical team to enable them to help you in the event of an emergency. Please note that all travel insurance policies have strict regulations with regard to pre-existing medical conditions. Therefore, it is essential that you read your own policy in full to ensure you are able to meet the relevant criteria.

In partnership with Holiday Extras, we offer superb value on a variety of pre and post-cruise accommodation and transport products to minimise inconvenience and provide peace of mind.

Increasing numbers of our customers are taking up the option of secure car parking and pre or post-cruise hotel stays at the port or airport - an ideal option for early morning departures or late returns. You can also start your journey in the luxury of an airport lounge.

All these packages are bookable via our affiliated Holiday Extras page or via our Reservations Team. Other options include rail or coach travel to/from your departure/arrival point and there is now the facility to hire a car to and from many UK airports.

Visit our affiliated Holiday Extras page or call our Reservations Team on 01246 819819 and ask your Cruise Expert about any of these packages.

Cunard advise that you must inform them of any mobility or accessibility requirements when making a booking or as soon as possible after your booking is made. This is still applicable if a carer or companion will be supporting you during your time on board. Failure to notify them of these requirements may result in you being denied boarding at your own expense at the cruise terminal.

It's vital to inform them if, for example, in the unlikely event of an emergency, you would need:

a) An evacuation chair – this is a mandatory requirement for anyone who is unable to use the stairs due to mobility or other circumstances, or for anyone bringing a wheelchair or mobility scooter.

or

b) One-to-one assistance – this is a mandatory requirement for anyone who requires someone to guide and steady them on the stairs, due to mobility or other circumstances. For anyone who uses a mobility aid, such as a walking stick or walker, this is the recommended level of assistance.

Please visit My Cunard Cruises for more information and, if necessary, to complete the questionnaire (or send them a new one if things have changed since your booking). Please note that you must complete a new questionnaire each time you sail with us, so this applies for all future bookings that you have.

Cunard Line are pleased to offer on board spending money to:

• Current serving personnel
• Retired and disabled Veterans

for the following service divisions:

• British Army
• Royal Navy
• Royal Air Force
• Reserves
• Royal Marines
• Merchant Navy
• Home Guard

Not combinable with Early Savers, Savers, Onboard Bookings or Thank you for cruising offers or Partnership benefits, available on a Cunard Select Fare only.

If you are eligible to receive these benefits please call us on 01246 819819 and speak to a Cruise Expert.

This offer is available to Military guests who are members of the Defence Discount Service (the official MOD discount scheme) and have a Defence Privilege Card. This is a paid for membership, the cost for which is £4.99 for 5 years membership. The offer is available to those that are currently serving in the HM Armed Forces and those that have previously served within the HM Armed Forces. Guests will need to quote their Defence Privilege Card membership number for the Military Onboard Credit to be added to their booking.

In order to apply the Military Benefits you would need to supply your Defence Privilege Card Number at the time of booking along with the promotion code HMU.

If you do not yet have a Defence Privilege Card you can apply for membership through www.defencediscountservice.co.uk. Alternatively call Defence Discount Services directly on 01509 233446 ( Open Monday – Friday 09.00 – 17.00) where they can arrange for an application form to be sent out in the post (Option 1) or speak to a member of the DDS Team to arrange (Option 3)

The amount of on board spending money is applicable for the 1st and 2nd passengers in a cabin only and depends on the grade of cabin booked and the duration of the cruise.

Please note the latest this benefit can be applied is 7 days before departure and it is not possible to apply the Military benefit once you are on board.

We hope you do not have to, but if for any reason you do, you must advise us in writing, stating the precise reason for cancellation, in order that the cruise operator can be formally notified. Should your departure be imminent, you should also inform us by telephone, but it will still be necessary for you to write to us confirming the cancellation. The date of cancellation in relation to the date of departure, will determine the level of cancellation charges that will be applied by the cruise operator. Kindly refer to the Booking Conditions section in the brochure from which you have made your holiday selection, which gives precise details of cancellation charges that will apply. In the majority of cases, where cancellation is beyond your direct control, it may be possible to recover the cancellation charges through your travel insurance and we will be happy to advise you further on this point.

CRUISE CLUB DISCOUNTS: Please note that if we have applied a Cruise Club discount to the basic cruise package on your booking, this does not apply to any cancellation or amendment charges that arise. Cancellation charges are therefore calculated on the cruise operator's full invoice value and not, where appropriate, the reduced Cruise Club cost. We strongly advise that you ask us how much these charges will be before you make any amendments or cancel your booking.

Please call us on 01246 819819 to discuss your options.

Please note that parent(s)/legal guardian(s) travelling with a child who has a different surname to the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) may be required to produce official proof such as a birth certificate/divorce papers etc to prove that they are the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) of the child concerned.

Whilst it is not compulsory to have one, we do highly recommend that adults who are not the parent or Legal Guardian of any minor/child travelling with them present an original letter signed by at least one of the child’s parents along with the child’s valid passport and visa (if appropriate).

The letter from the child’s parents must authorise the travelling adult to take the child on the specified cruise and must also authorise the travelling adult to supervise the child and permit any medical treatment that may be administered to the child.

The original letter should accompany the child during his or her cruise.

Please refer to the government website for important information.

CUNARD CRUISE CONNECT - JOINING YOUR CRUISE

For the convenience of their guests, Cunard operate a Cruise Connect programme which features competitively priced regional connections providing easy access the port of Southampton or London airports:-

Coach Connect: Coach services link various regions directly with the cruise terminal in Southampton and return. All coaches are modern, air-conditioned and non-smoking with comfortable seating and WC’s. Convenience stops are also made en-route. Please note that the provision of this service is subject to a minimum of 20 guests per route and should this minimum not be reached, Intercruises will offer alternative arrangements to guests previously booked on the service.

To book the above Cruise Connect services contact Intercruises direct on 0344 3388690, quoting Cunard CruiseConnect or e-mail [email protected].

Please note that the above services do not form part of the holiday arrangements that you have made with Cunard under the terms and conditions of their brochures. These services are independently operated by the above companies under their terms and conditions, are subject to change and may not be available on every Cunard Cruise.

ATOL certification confirms that your money is protected by the ATOL scheme if your travel company collapses. You will recieve an ATOL certificate in your Bolsover Cruise Club Travel booklet.

Cunard Line ATOL: 6294

Bolsover Cruise Club ATOL: 11481

Your Protection

You are protected from when you are given your ATOL certificate to the end of your trip.

If Cunard Line stops trading, the passengers named above will either:

1. take and complete their trip; or
2. receive a refund.

Your protection depends on the terms of the ATOL scheme and the specifics of the ATOL holder failure (available at www.atol.org.uk).

If Cunard Line stops trading, you must follow the instructions at www.atol.org.uk (where there will be details of repatriation arrangements, and information on how people can claim their money back) or you can call (+44) 333 103 6350.

The time the ship will be in port will vary from cruise to cruise and port to port. For each cruise in the Cunard brochure they indicate whether the call will be a half day, a full day, an evening, two full days or a combination of these descriptions.

Half Day - A half day will usually be a minimum of 4 hours and a maximum of 7 hours

Full Day - Normally a full day will be a minimum of 7.5 hours and a maximum of 11 hours

Evening - Will usually follow a full day in port and the ship will depart after 9pm

Two Full Days - Normally will be a minimum call of 32 hours and a maximum of 40 hours.

Please note the timings above are based on the ship's arrival and departure times, not the length of the time you have ashore and are intended as guidelines only as the actual times may vary. Cunard will keep you updated on arrival and departure times whilst you are on board.