Visa information - all cruises

Visa requirements for British Citizens in possession of a full British Citizen Passport The below is correct at time of publishing and pertains to UK and Republic of Ireland (ROI) passport holders and should be used for guidance only. Please note, some "British Isles" passports issued in the Isle of Man or the Bailiwicks of Jersey or Guernsey, do not have the same visa exceptions as a full UK passport and guests holding either of these passports should check this with CIBT specifically for the countries they are visiting on their itinerary. CIBT are experts in visa and passport arrangements and can provide visas online at www.cibtvisas.co.uk/cunard or by phone 0207 620 6487. Any visa that is obtained on board are charged in dollars, this will be converted to Pounds Sterling (and charged at the conversion rate of the day) to your on board account. Visa information - your responsibilities Please note that there may be a visa requirement for your cruise and it is the responsibility of each guest to ensure that they are in possession of all travel documents required for their itinerary. Guests who do not possess the proper documentation may be prevented from boarding their flight or ship or from entering a country. In some cases this may lead to large fines which you will be required to pay and/or immediate repatriation to your home country at your own expense. Please ensure you check your requirements carefully before you travel to avoid unnecessary expense and inconvenience. Important information When applying for your visa you must ensure that all guests' full names are exactly the same as they appear as in their passport . If there is any difference, you may be refused entry onto your flight/cruise. Passport and visa requirements may change and vary by destination. We regret we cannot accept any liability if you are refused entry onto any flight, cruise or into any country, or otherwise suffer any difficulties or incur any costs as a result of not having the correct passport and/or any required visa(s). It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of all necessary travel and health documents before departure . You must pay all costs incurred in obtaining such documentation. Certain Port Authorities may require photo identification when you depart the ship during the cruise. We strongly suggest that you take photocopies of your passport information page with you in addition to but separately from your passport itself and that you carry the photocopy with you each time you depart the ship in order to minimise any inconvenience this may cause and to provide an official means of identification whilst ashore in case it is required or due to loss/theft of your passport. The information is correct at time of publishing and is subject to change at any time. UK passport information applies to British Citizens, holders of another UK passport must check with the relevant authority. There is often a stipulation on having a minimum amount of validity left on your passport and a number of clear pages in order to gain entry, which can be up to a 6 month requirement. Again, please check with the relevant authority If there is requirement to obtain a visa prior to travel for a particular country, and a guest chooses to not disembark the ship, then the guest is still required to obtain the necessary visa .

We strongly recommend all guests to check with their GP to ensure they get all vaccinations required to travel to countries on their cruise itinerary. For advice on vaccinations, bringing medical equipment on board, and other medical information, visit our webpage .

A smiling female Cunard crew member works at the on board reception desk

Visas, passports and travel documents

Correct as of 13 November 2024

It is the responsibility of each guest to meet all the entry requirements for each country at the time of sailing. Please check the government website of the country you are travelling to and ensure you are aware of the most up-to-date country requirements, as we can’t accept responsibility if you are denied entry to a country because you don’t meet the entry requirements.

Passport requirement

All guests are required to have a valid passport in order to travel.

Although domestic cruises may not strictly require a passport (please check the local government website for your home country in these cases), we strongly recommend a passport is used.

UK World Voyage guests can use visa provider CIBT for a simple online solution to all your visa requirements, at www.cibtvisas.co.uk/cunard.

Passport validity

Cunard guests can only board and travel to EU or Schengen area countries* if their passport was issued less than 10 years from date of embarkation.

The passport must have at least three months left before the date of expiry when you disembark (regardless of whether or not the passport has an extension period).

For cruises that travel outside the EU or Schengen area, in line with the requirements of many of these countries, guests are required to have six months validity left on their passports from the date of final disembarkation.

All passports should have sufficient blank pages for entry and exit stamps (applicable to the length and ports of call in your itinerary).

*EU countries include: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. Additional countries in the Schengen area include: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Visit https://www.gov.uk/government/news/be-travel-aware for more information on passport requirements.

Electronic passports

Please note that as of 1 April 2016, guests cannot enter the US without an electronic passport. If your passport was issued after October 2006, it should have an electronic chip. Any ESTAs issued prior to 1 April 2016 will have been made invalid, if you do not hold an electronic passport.

Visa requirements for British Citizens in possession of a full British Citizen Passport

The below is correct at time of publishing and pertains to UK and Republic of Ireland (ROI) passport holders and should be used for guidance only. Please note, some "British Isles" passports issued in the Isle of Man or the Bailiwicks of Jersey or Guernsey, do not have the same visa exceptions as a full UK passport and guests holding either of these passports should check this with CIBT specifically for the countries they are visiting on their itinerary.

CIBT are experts in visa and passport arrangements and can provide visas online at www.cibtvisas.co.uk/cunard or by phone 0207 620 6487.

Any visa that is obtained on board are charged in dollars, this will be converted to Pounds Sterling (and charged at the conversion rate of the day) to your on board account.

Visa information - your responsibilities

Please note that there may be a visa requirement for your cruise and it is the responsibility of each guest to ensure that they are in possession of all travel documents required for their itinerary. Guests who do not possess the proper documentation may be prevented from boarding their flight or ship or from entering a country. In some cases this may lead to large fines which you will be required to pay and/or immediate repatriation to your home country at your own expense. Please ensure you check your requirements carefully before you travel to avoid unnecessary expense and inconvenience.

Important information

When applying for your visa you must ensure that all guests' full names are exactly the same as they appear as in their passport. If there is any difference, you may be refused entry onto your flight/cruise.
Passport and visa requirements may change and vary by destination. We regret we cannot accept any liability if you are refused entry onto any flight, cruise or into any country, or otherwise suffer any difficulties or incur any costs as a result of not having the correct passport and/or any required visa(s).
It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of all necessary travel and health documents before departure. You must pay all costs incurred in obtaining such documentation. Certain Port Authorities may require photo identification when you depart the ship during the cruise. We strongly suggest that you take photocopies of your passport information page with you in addition to but separately from your passport itself and that you carry the photocopy with you each time you depart the ship in order to minimise any inconvenience this may cause and to provide an official means of identification whilst ashore in case it is required or due to loss/theft of your passport.
The information is correct at time of publishing and is subject to change at any time. UK passport information applies to British Citizens, holders of another UK passport must check with the relevant authority. There is often a stipulation on having a minimum amount of validity left on your passport and a number of clear pages in order to gain entry, which can be up to a 6 month requirement. Again, please check with the relevant authority
If there is requirement to obtain a visa prior to travel for a particular country, and a guest chooses to not disembark the ship, then the guest is still required to obtain the necessary visa.

In late 2025, British nationals travelling to the EU will be required to obtain an ETIAS travel authorisation prior to sailing with Cunard for all itineraries that include an EU port. This travel authorisation is a new EU regulation and will be proactively enforced. As with all visa and passport requirements, applying for the ETIAS travel authorisation is the responsibility of the travelling guest. The current time frame for this new regulation to come into effect is the latter half of 2025 and for any guests sailing to the EU in 2025, further information will be communicated as it becomes available.

For more information please visit https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en.

International travellers, who are nationals of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries, may enter the USA without a visa after completing an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) – please see the instructions for how to apply at the end of this section. You may check to see if you are eligible for this programme by visiting https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/. Some of the conditions for entry into the VWP are listed below, however if you do not hold a full British Citizen passport or a passport from another country eligible for the VWP, your situation may be different and you should check to ensure you have the correct documentation for your holiday.

Obtaining ESTA approval, for most travellers, will be simple and easy. To apply for your ESTA, please follow the link to the ESTA application website at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta. A third party, such as a relative or Travel Agent, is permitted to submit an ESTA application on behalf of a VWP traveller. The cost of obtaining an ESTA is currently USD$21, this is subject to change at any time. All payments must be made directly to the official Department of Homeland Security ESTA website above using a credit card or debit card. Please do not use any other website as they may charge you a higher fee for the same service.

Please note a biometric passport is required when applying for an ESTA. Kindly present at check-in a copy of your ESTA confirmation as evidence for Immigration purposes. Please ensure the information on your ESTA confirmation matches your passport information.

British Subject* passport holders are required to obtain a full US visa prior to travel.

*These are mostly people who were born in British India before 01/01/49 and did not become citizens of India, or who were citizens of Eire and British subjects before 01/01/49 and have made a claim to retain British Subject.

An eTA is an Electronic Travel Authorization issued by The Government of Canada. British citizen passport holders who travel to Canada by air will need an eTA.

The request and approval are linked to your passport. You will need to travel with the passport you used to apply for your eTA. Once approved, an eTA is valid for multiple entries for up to five years or until the passport expires, for guests arriving by air only.

The confirmation is usually received a few minutes after the request is processed however, some requests may take longer to be approved.

For further information on eTAs please visit the dedicated website at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/apply-how.asp.

Guidance for non-British or non-Irish passport holders travelling to the UK

From 2025, if your Cunard voyage enters or transits through the UK and you are an eligible EU or eligible non-EU citizen, you will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) from the UK Government – in advance of travel – to be granted permission to enter the UK.

Please note: an ETA is required for all EU and non-EU citizens, including babies and children aged under 18 who do not require a visa for short stays or do not have any other UK immigration status. British and Irish citizens who travel on a British or Irish passport, or a passport showing an eligible certificate of entitlement, do not need an ETA to travel to the UK.

For all other travellers, an ETA will be required from the following dates:

Non-EU nationals
ETA applications for eligible non-EU nationals are now open and will be required for travel to the UK from 8 January 2025.

EU nationals
ETA applications for eligible EU nationals open on 5 March 2025 and will be required for travel to the UK from 2 April 2025.

ETA applications can be made online at the official ETA website or via the UK ETA app (available on the Google Play and Apple app stores). Please carry proof of your ETA status (either a printout or a screenshot) for the duration of your voyage, as you will need to present this when asked.

A decision on an ETA is usually granted within 3 days, however, to avoid disruption to your journey, and being denied entry into the UK or boarding at the terminal at your own expense, please allow plenty of time to submit your application as a decision may take longer. Please note, ETAs cost £10 per person and are valid for a period of two years (or until your passport expires).

All information correct at time of publication For the most up to date information on obtaining an ETA for your voyage please visit the official UK Government website or watch more about ETA.

Together with our preferred visa provider CIBT we are pleased to provide you a simple online solution to all your World Cruise visa requirements at www.cibtvisas.co.uk/cunard.

Details of required documentation needed to support your applications
Application forms available for you to print out and send to CIBT

Please note the online portal will replace our previous postal information pack and this information applies to British passport holders who reside in the UK at the time of the application. Your visa requirements may differ if you do not hold a British Citizen passport, should this be the case, you can contact the relevant embassy or consulate for advice. Alternatively you can contact our recommended visa service CIBT on 0207 620 6487. Be sure to advise that you are travelling by sea, as your visa requirements may be different to the standard advice supplied for air travel.

Fines may be imposed if you travel without the correct documentation and it is important we point out that it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct documents prior to travel or when in transit to the countries included in your itinerary. Failure to have the correct documents will result in denial of boarding or repatriation, in line with government regulations. Please be sure to check your itinerary and obtain the visas required for the specific countries you will be visiting during your cruise. Visas are required when embarking/ disembarking or staying on board.