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Cruise Luggage Restrictions


Luggage

On cruises sailing from and returning to UK ports e.g. Southampton, Dover etc, you can take as much luggage as you wish - but remember there is often limited wardrobe space in cabins unless you have booked a suite.

Cruise LuggageOn fly/cruises the luggage restriction is likely to be between 20 - 25kgs depending on the Airline. We would advise that you check out the luggage allowances for the airline you will be flying with, as the restrictions will vary from airline to airline. Charges for excess weight may cost you around £5 per kilo.

The security arrangements at airports, particularly in the USA, have been significantly increased in recent years since the events of 9/11. The airport authorities will open luggage to check the contents and they will break locks in order to do so. If your checked bags are locked you will be asked to wait in the check-in area for them to be searched or scanned before you will be allowed to proceed. Travellers are often advised to leave their luggage unlocked on flights to or from the USA.

Golf Clubs

Cruise LuggageIf you're planning to join one of the various golf excursions offered then you can hire golf clubs at the course. However, if you would prefer to bring your own clubs you can - but please note that they will be included as part of your baggage allowance.

If the total weight of your checked baggage (including your golf clubs) is over the 25kg limit then you will be charged for the excess baggage.

Please note that the various cruise lines cannot guarantee that space for golf clubs will be available on all flights.

Booking Details


Amendments to your booking

If you need to make any amendments to your booking, please contact us to make any changes. Please remember if you wish to amend your booking you may be subject to charges as detailed in the cruise lines terms and conditions.

Cancellations

All cancellation requests must be sent in writing to: Planet Cruise Limited, Unit 4, Petersfield Office Park, Bedford Road, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU32 3QF. Please remember that should you wish to cancel or amend your booking, cancellation and amendment charges may apply as detailed in the cruise lines terms and conditions. Cancellations can only be accepted based on the arrival date of your cancellation letter.

Confirmation Documents

We check through all the details on your confirmation before sending to our clients. However, we recommend that you also check the details of your confirmation documents with care. Should any of the details be incorrect please contact us immediately.

Credit Card, Debit Card, Cheques

Visa, MasterCard and Diners Club credit cards have a fee of 2.5% (American Express has a fee of 2.8%). Delta, Switch and Solo (debit cards) have no fee. All cheques should be made payable to Planet Cruise Limited, and sent to: Planet Cruise Limited, Unit 4, Petersfield Office Park, Bedford Road, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU32 3QF.

Cruise Line Invoices

The cruise lines invoice can be used to check that your travel arrangements have been booked correctly. Please disregard all of the cost shown on this invoice. Any applicable Planet Cruise discounts will not be included and the cost may therefore vary from the actual price you pay. Please refer to your Planet Cruise confirmation documents for the price you will pay.

Deposits & Final Balance Payment

Deposits are payable at the time of booking and the amount varies between cruise lines. In accordance with ABTA rules, the final balance is due 20 weeks prior to departure, please check your Planet Cruise confirmation documents for exact date and amount.

Tickets

Approximately two weeks before departure you will receive your tickets by first class post. We check all the relevant details on the tickets as soon as we receive them from the cruise line before forwarding them on to our clients. However, it remains your responsibility to check all the details are correct before departure. Should any of the details be incorrect please contact us immediately.

Refunds

Any necessary refunds made back to your Credit or Debit Card will take place once we have received the Cancellation Invoice from the relevant cruise line. This takes a minimum of 14 working days.

Currency Exchange


Cruise Currency

Most ships operate a Bureau de Change onboard, where foreign currency can be purchased or sold subject to local currency restrictions.

All major currencies will be stocked based on the countries visited. For British cruise lines (namely Cunard, Cruise & Maritime, Fred Olsen, P&O Cruises, Swan Hellenic and Voyages of Discovery) currency transactions are converted through sterling, and for American cruise lines (Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean International) currency transactions are converted through US dollars. Costa Cruises & Star Clippers currency transactions are converted through Euros.

Most cruise lines charge a premium either on the commission charge or exchange rates for the convenience of using the onboard service. However, Fred Olsen do not charge commission on the transaction and state they set competitive exchange rates.

Depending on the port of call you are visiting, it is often easy to find a Bank, ATM machine or Bureau de Change very near the pier, at more competitive rates.

Passports & Visas


A full British Citizen passport is required

A full British Citizen passport is required and your passport must have at least six months validity after your date of return. Children and infants are also required to hold their own passport.

We recommend that you take a photocopy of the photograph page of your passport with you on your cruise. When applying for a new passport or visas, you may find the government's Identity and Passport Service website (External link. ABTA protection will not apply) to be useful. www.ips.gov.uk

Non British Citizen/European Passport holders may require different visa/travel documentation, further information can be obtained from the relevant Embassies of the countries listed within the itinerary.

For the lastest visa requirements and travel advise please vist www.fco.gov.uk/en/

US Entry Requirements

Important information at time of booking

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the Interim Final Rule for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), a new online system that is part of the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP). ESTA is an automated system used to determine the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the VWP and whether such travel poses any law enforcement or security risk. Please note that you will be unable to enter the United States under the VWP unless you have already obtained an ESTA prior to travel. You may check to see if you are eligible for the VWP programme by visiting the US Embassy website in the UK at www.usembassy.org.uk or by contacting them on (+44) 090 4245 0100 (premium call rate). All VWP travellers, regardless of age or type of passport, must possess a machine readable passport.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you comply with all the US entry conditions. Failure to meet these conditions will make you responsible for any repatriation costs or airline fines you may incur. If you are uncertain please contact the US Embassy helpline. You will also be able to check if you require a visa for the USA at www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/visa_wizard.html

ESTA

Obtaining ESTA approval, for most travellers, is simple and easy. To apply for your ESTA, please visit the ESTA website at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov. A third party, such as a relative or us at Planet Cruise (minimal cost), is permitted to submit an ESTA application on behalf of a VWP traveller. The ESTA requirement became mandatory on 12th January 2009 and all nationals or citizens of VWP countries who plan to travel to the United States under the VWP will be required to hold an ESTA prior to boarding a US bound aeroplane or vessel. The ESTA travel authorisation is NOT a visa. It does not serve in lieu of a US visa when a visa is required under US law. Individuals that possess a valid visa will still be able to travel to the United States on that visa for the purpose it was issued. Individuals travelling on valid visas will not be required to apply for an ESTA.

An ESTA approval only authorises a traveller to board a carrier for travel to the United States under the VWP. In the same way that a valid visa does not constitute a determination of admissibility, an approved ESTA is not a guarantee of admissibility to the United States at a port of entry. Once a traveller's ESTA application has been successfully completed and submitted online, the application will be queried against appropriate law enforcement databases . In most cases, ESTA will provide an almost immediate determination of eligibility for travel under the VWP.

As part of your ESTA application, you will be required to provide (in English) biographical data including name, birth date, and passport information, as well as travel information such as the flight number and destination address in the United States.

For the purposes of this application, you will need to complete your address in the United States as follows:

  • Address Line 1: Ship name/hotel or address in the US
  • Address Line 2: Leave blank/hotel or address in the US
  • City: Point of entry into the US, for example first port or airport visited
  • State: Select correct state from dropdown list

    • You will also be required to answer VWP eligibility questions regarding communicable diseases, arrests and convictions for certain crimes, and past history of visa revocation or deportation, among others.

An approved ESTA travel authorisation is:

  • Valid for up to two years or until the traveller's passport expires, whichever comes first
  • Valid for multiple entries into the US

If any part of your stay in the US is affected by a change after your authorisation has been approved, you will need to update that information through the ESTA website. If you do not receive an ESTA approval, you may be denied boarding, experience delayed processing, or be denied admission at a US port of entry. Please note that if you have acquired a new passport or have had a change in name or other identifying biographical information, a new application must be submitted.

ESTA will provide validity dates upon approval of the application.

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has recently announced the Interim Final Rule for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), a new online system that is part of the Visa Waive.

Which passports are machine-readable?

All passports issued in the UK in the last 10 years are machine-readable and are valid for visa free travel to the US until the passport expires. A machine-readable passport has biographical data entered on the photo page according to international specifications. To see if a passport is machine-readable, check there are two lines of machine print underneath the holder's photo, like the example below.

Passport Photo ID

What if my passport is not machine-readable?

Everyone must now obtain a replacement machine-readable passport.

What if I hold a MRP and my children are included in my passport?

All children must obtain a new machine-readable passport.

Information Required by US Authorities

Starting 4 October 2005, when you travel to the USA (or spend more than 8 hours in transit to another country), in addition to the details in your passport you will be obliged to disclose the country of your permanent residence and the street address where you will be staying while in the USA (including state and ZIP code). This address must be identical to the one you will enter on your US arrival form.

Leaving the USA

US authorities require the collection of your I-94W (green) or I-94 (white) immigration form to confirm your departure from the USA. If you have left the USA with your immigration form still attached to your passport then your departure was not recorded properly and you may face problems when you next return. It is recommended that you take steps to have your departure record corrected.

Visa- St. Petersburg, Russia

For cruises calling at St. Petersburg, the cruise line will expect to be able to arrange block visas for passengers travelling on organised shore excursions, however, if this is not possible they will advise you in good time to obtain a visa yourself. If you intend to go ashore independently in St Petersburg, a Russian Tourist Visa is required. This MUST be obtained before leaving home as visas cannot be granted during the cruise. Should you wish to obtain an individual Russian Tourist Visa, you will need to be sponsored by a licensed Russian Tour company. This company will provide you with the necessary documentation to obtain your individual Tourist Visa. After obtaining this information, you will need to contact a visa service or the Russian Embassy at www.rusemblon.org for the visa. You must bring a photocopy of the photograph / personal details page of your passport if you are intending to go ashore with an organised excursion or independently.

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Visa - China

Double entry Chinese visa is required. For more information, please visit www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/eng/. A visa will need to be purchased prior to travel, by yourself whether you are embarking, in transit or staying on board. Information on how to apply for your visa will be sent to you with your pre-cruise information, 8-10 weeks prior to departure.

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Visa – India

A visa will need to be purchased prior to travel, whether you are embarking, in transit or staying on board. Information on how to apply for your visa will be sent to you with your pre-cruise information, 8-10 weeks prior to departure. Please visit hcilondon.in/ for more information.

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Australian ETA (Electronic Travel Authority)

You are not required to complete a paper application form or send your passport to the Immigration Office in London if you are eligible to apply online.

www.immi.gov.au/e_visa/visitors.htm The ETA allows people to visit Australia for short term tourism or business purposes of up to three months. There is an AUD20 service fee only for an online application for each ETA applicant. An ETA is available to passport holders from over 30 countries, including the United Kingdom. All you need to do is supply the details from your passport and your credit card information. The application is processed immediately. Approved applications are electronically recorded on Australian Government systems and airline check in staff can electronically confirm that you have authority to board the flight. All applications processed are subject to a Service Charge of AUS$20.00.

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Vietnam, Cambodia and Papua New Guinea

A visa for these countries will need to be purchased (approximately £20.00). These can normally be obtained on board and the fee will be charged to your on board account. Full details, including any changes or updates to this information, will be sent to you 8-10 weeks prior to departure. A Libyan visa will be required. Generally this visa can be organised on board for an additional fee. Everyone needs to buy a visa whether or not they are going ashore. Full details will be advised in the pre-cruise mailing 8 to 10 weeks before departure.

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Libya

Libya chooses to apply rigidly to the Arab League rulings regarding the boycott of Israel, and therefore does not recognise the state of Israel. As a result the following categories of person are not permitted to enter Libyan waters:-

Israeli Nationals

Persons travelling on other nationality passports containing Israeli stamps

United States of America passport holders

At the time of writing, we are advised that all visitors to Libya, regardless of nationality, will require a certified translation of their passport into Arabic to allow them entry into the country. This will incur an additional charge of appoximately £30 per person. Further, updated information about this requirement will be provided in the pre-cruise information.

Non-European passport holders

Non-European passport holders may require a Schengen visa for entry into Continental Europe. Please ensure you check your entry requirements for Europe prior to embarkation. The United Kingdom is not a Schengen State member. British Citizen passport holders will not need to obtain a Schengen visa. Schengen member states are; Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

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Egypt Visa Requirements:

Everyone must complete a landing card, whether they are applying for a visa or not. These are often given out on the plane but one can obtain them in the Arrivals Hall.

If you don't want a visa, then simply fill in the card & write "SINAI ONLY" on the back (anywhere). Please read on to see if you will need a visa:

Because Sharm as well as some other tourist resorts such as Taba and Dahab are on the Sinai Peninsula, a Visa is required in order to:

  • a) Travel out of Sinai - to Cairo, Luxor, The Ras Mohammed trip by boat, quad (taking in the blue lagoon & BBQ lunch), car or bus.
  • b) to leave the immediate beach area and go further out to sea. The latter means that if you want to go to some dive sites - you will need a visa.

One can buy a single entry visa on arrival in Sinai or Egypt. It's valid for 30 days. One can obtain multi-entry visas from the Consulate in London, prior to travel. They are valid for 6m & allow a maximum single stay of 90 days. This is usually done by post (allow 7 days) or in person (allow 2 days)

Website: www.egyptianconsulate.co.ukOpening hours: Monday to Friday 9.30 am to 12.30 pm (lodging applications), 2.30 am to 4.00 pm (visa collection). Email: info@egyptianconsulate.co.uk

You do not need a visa to visit Mt. Sinai, St. Catherine's Monastary, sunset quad biking, seascope boat trip, Tiran Island boat trip, jeep safari, Stargazing in the desert, Coloured Canyon, Dahab, Nuweiba or Petra in Jordan (further Jordanian visa required on landing there) or Jerusalem & Dead Sea. You will need to carry your passports for the usual road checks though.

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TOURIST VISA FOR UK PASSPORT HOLDERS - TURKEY

Entry Requirements - Visas

A visa is required for British nationals to enter Turkey unless they are cruise ship passengers who enter the country for a day trip and return to the ship the same day. British citizens may obtain a multiple entry visitor's visa valid for 90 days at the port of entry on payment of ten pounds sterling in cash (Scottish currency is not accepted). If you are a BN(O) passport holder and you arrive at Istanbul airport without a visa obtained from a Turkish mission abroad, you may be refused entry to Turkey

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CHANGE IN PASSPORT RULES FOR DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Entry Requirements - Visas

With immediate effect, people visiting the Dominican Republic will now need to be in possession of a passport that is valid for at least six months after their return date. Please ensure your website and literature is updated. Customers who have already booked to travel to the Dominican Republic, that have previously been issued with the former passport information, should be contacted in accordance with the new requirements.

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NEW ENTRTY REGULATIONS FOR SRI LANKA

Entry Requirements - Visas

From 1 January 2012, all foreign nationals visiting Sri Lanka must obtain an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization). The ETA is issued online and no passport copies or photographs are required. ETAs are only valid for three months from the date of issue so tell your customers not to apply too early, however, they will need to apply a minimum of 24 hours prior to departure.
The cost to obtain an ETA is US$50 for tourists staying up to 30 days. This fee is payable online using Visa, MasterCard & American Express. To apply, please visit www.immigration.gov.lk

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TOURIST VISA FOR UK PASSPORT HOLDERS - OMAN

Entry Requirements - Visas

British passport holders can obtain an entry visa upon arrival at any land, sea or air entry port in Oman

There are two options:

  • A one-month combined tourist/business visa costing 20 Omani Rials (OMR). This can be extended for one month for a further OMR20;
  • A one year multiple entry visa, which is valid for three weeks, after which nationals must leave Oman for at least three weeks before returning
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TOURIST VISA FOR UK PASSPORT HOLDERS - CUBA

Entry Requirements - Visas For Cuba

British nationals require a tourist card to enter Cuba. You need a tourist card before you travel and you should contact theCuban Embassy in London for further information on entry requirements in good time.

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Tickets

Approximately two weeks before departure you will receive your tickets by first class post.

We check all the relevant details on the tickets as soon as we receive them from the cruise line before forwarding them on to our clients.

However, it remains your responsibility to check all the details are correct before departure.

Should any of the details be incorrect please contact us immediately.

Vaccinations

Depending on the region of the world you are visiting, the cruise line will specify the vaccinations you require for your trip and the Department of Health will also recommend certain vaccinations.

We would advise that you contact your local GP in good time before departure to discuss your specific cruise itinerary. Alternatively, you may wish to use the Department of Health's website www.dh.gov.uk (External link. ABTA protection will not apply).

Travel Insurance

All passengers are required to have sufficient travel insurance to cover the duration and value of your trip. It is your responsibility to ensure that your travel insurance is valid at the time of booking. If you would like Planet Cruise to help with a competitive quotation for travel insurance, please contact us

Pre Cruise Registration

Depending on the cruise line booked you will be able to view your booking and register all your pre-cruise information on their website before departure.

Simply pre-register your immigration and embarkation documents on-line prior to your cruise by providing your reservation information. By pre-registering will expedite the boarding process and enable the cruise line staff to get you onboard faster and easier.

Alternatively, cruise lines endeavour to provide this information via the post approximately six weeks before departure.

Cruise Extras


Once you have chosen your particular ship and sailing it is likely that you will require help with travel insurance for your cruise or may simply like to pre-book an airport lounge or car parking.

Simply click through on any of the links provided and you will be able to book any of these services online in minutes and make significant savings.

Alternatively, please contact us to discuss your specific requirements.

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