Foreign currency exchange You may exchange your money into local currency for most ports of call. There are however certain ports when the ship is unable to carry the currency. In such cases, the ship will advise which currency is best to take ashore. Please remember that we can only accept back the currencies we sell on board and only in the denominations that we sell. Foreign currency can be charged to your account if you have a credit card registered or if your account has suffi cient cash credit to cover the transaction. There is a daily limit on all currency transactions of £250 against a registered credit card. We are unable to accept either personal cheques or travellers cheques. We are also unable to accept €100, €200 & €500 notes at any time for currency exchange transactions.
Please note that, as part of the fi ght against terrorism, international crime and money laundering, EU regulations require all passengers entering or leaving the European Union with €10,000 or more in cash (or its equivalent in other currencies or easily convertible assets – e.g. bonds, shares, traveller’s cheques etc.) to declare the sum to the customs authorities of the Member State which he/she is entering or leaving. If you are likely to need to make a declaration under this regulation please contact the HM Revenue & Customs National Advice Service on 0845 010 9000 or visit
www.hmrc.gov.uk for further information on how to comply.
Cash on board If you require cash for any reason whilst you are on board you may charge this to your account. There is a daily limit of £250 against a registered credit card.
On board spending money If you have any on board spending money this can be used during your cruise in most of the ships’ outlets. On board spending money cannot be used. For the following: medical charges (including services, prescriptions and supplies) cash back, purchase of foreign currency, international visas, charity donations, on board gaming (including the Casino) and as full or part payment against a future cruise. All on board spending money is non-refundable. If you have purchased, or have received a gift credit then please be advised that the same limits as above apply. All gift credits are non-refundable.
Settling your account If you have a credit card registered all you need to do is to check your fi nal statement on the morning of disembarkation. If you are happy with your account you need take no further action. The fi nal amount will be settled to your registered credit card. If you do have any queries you should raise these with the Reception prior to your fi nal departure from the ship. If you choose to settle your account with cash and you have a credit card registered you should call at the Reception no later than 6.00pm the day prior to disembarkation. If you have a credit card registered you have the ability to charge to your account on the day of disembarkation until you fi nally leave the ship. If you make any purchases on the day of disembarkation these charges will show as a second settlement on your credit card statement.
For passengers who travel on two or more consecutive cruises, your account will be settled at the end of each cruise.
Avoiding Issues with your credit card Whilst you are on board we run an authorisation against your credit card on a daily basis to cover your spend for the previous day. This amount is not taken from your account until it is fi nally settled on the day of disembarkation or at the end of a segment on a World Cruise. These authorisations can remain on your account for up to 28 days, you may therefore wish to contact your card provider on your return to release these authorisations. Prior to leaving for your cruise it is recommended that you advise your credit card provider of your trip away and that you will be on board a ship and visiting different countries. This will help avoid raising a security alert and your card being declined.
Going ashore
Information about the ports In some countries we’ve listed the main destination in the itinerary and shown the port in brackets e.g. Cork (from Cobh). In these circumstances we take you to the port advertised and then offer shore excursions to reach the main destination. Where the ship berths some distance from the port centre, passengers who wish to go ashore independently will usually fi nd local public transport connections and private taxis close to the ship.
At certain ports where taxis may not be available close to the ship and public transport connections may not be accessible on foot, we will arrange for a bus service between the ship’s berth and a reasonably convenient location close to the port entrance (depending on the local circumstances). This service will be offered free of charge.
Getting from ship to shore Wherever possible, your ship will dock at a quayside allowing you to come and go as you please via the ship’s gangway. Sometimes, in smaller ports, the ship will anchor at sea and tenders will offer a free and frequent service ashore, such ports are represented by symbol. Depending on the number of people wishing to go ashore, you can normally expect to be ashore about an hour after the time of arrival. The symbol indicates ports that we usually berth alongside but at which, in exceptional circumstances, we may need to anchor the ship at sea. While the ship is in port, naturally the restaurants, bars and other facilities (except the shops) are available.
Time in port The time the ship will be in port will vary from cruise to cruise and port to port. For each cruise in this brochure we have indicated under each port whether our port call will be a morning, an afternoon, a full day or longer. In this summary you will fi nd a guide to how long the ship will usually be in port in each case.
Morning – A morning call will be a minimum of 4½ hours and a maximum of 6½ hours with the ship usually arriving between 8am and 9am and normally departing between 1pm and 2pm.
Afternoon – An afternoon call will be a minimum of 4½ hours and a maximum of 6½ hours with the ship usually arriving between midday and 2pm and normally departing between 5pm and 7pm.
Full Day – Normally a full day call will be a minimum of 7 hours and a maximum of 10½ hours with the ship generally arriving between 7am and 10am and departing between 3pm and 6.30pm. However in certain cases where the main destination is further away than normal from where the ship calls (eg Cairo), the call will be longer – up to 15 hours.
Full Day & Evening – A full day call with an evening in port will be around 15 hours with the ship usually arriving between 7am and 8.30am and normally departing between 11pm and midnight.
Full Day & Morning – A full day call with an overnight and following morning in port will be around 28 hours with the ship usually arriving between 8am and 9am and departing between midday and 1pm the following day.
Afternoon & Evening – A minimum call of 9½ hours and a maximum of 11 hours with the ship usually arriving between 12.30pm and 2pm and normally departing between 11pm and midnight.
Afternoon & Full Day – A minimum call of 27 hours and a maximum of 29 hours with the ship usually arriving between 1pm and 2pm and normally departing the following day between 5pm and 6pm.
Two Full Days – A minimum call of 33 hours and a maximum call of 35 hours with the ship usually arriving between 7am and 8am and normally departing the following day between 5.30pm and 8pm.
Please note that the timings given above are guidelines only and the actual times may vary. We will provide you with information on board so you are able to stay informed about our estimated times of arrival and departure each day. In addition to the above call timings, there are occasions where our ships cruise past scenic points such as cruising in fjords, off the North Cape or through the Panama Canal. In these cases we have given an approximate time of day that we would expect this to take place.
Destination safety The Foreign and Commonwealth Offi ce Travel Advice Unit may have issued information about your holiday destination. You are advised to check this information on BBC2 Ceefax page 470 onwards, on the internet under the address:
www.fco.gov.uk/ knowbeforeyougo, or by telephone on 020 7238 4503/4504. Alternatively, you can contact the ABTA Information Department on 0901 2015050 (calls are charged at 50p per minute).
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