Essential travel information

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.

Will I Need a Visa?

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.

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. Please also ensure you read the Important Information below:

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.
• With the exception of Russia (St Petersburg), please note that 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.

Schengen Visa - Non-European passport holders may require a Schengen Visa for entry into Continental Europe. The United Kingdom is not a Schengen State member*. British Citizen passport holders do not require a Schengen Visa. Please ensure you check your entry requirements for Europe prior to embarkation.

* Schengen State members are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

For all other countries, please contact the relevant embassy for details.

Visas obtained on arrival:

Country - Approximate cost (where applicable)

Egypt - No charge
UAE - No charge

Visa application time scales

Visa time scales may be longer during periods such as Christmas and/or when embassies are closed.  In addition, your own personal circumstances may affect timescales quoted.  We recommend that you obtain your visa as early as possible.

Disclaimer

Visa and passport information can change so it is important that you recheck your passport and visa requirements no later than 3 weeks prior to your holiday departure.  The information provided on this site was correct at the time of publishing and is subject to change at any time.  It is your responsibility to travel with the correct travel documentation.

Australia

If your itinerary includes Australia, you will be required to obtain an e Visitor or Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). Whether you are staying on board, going ashore, in transit, embarking or disembarking. You must ensure your Australian visa is valid for your entry into Australia.

Please note - the Australian Government require the majority of guests over the age of 75 years to partake in a medical before issuing any visa. Our recommended visa service, CIBT are unable to assist you in your application if you fall into this age group and you will therefore need to send your passport and medical reports directly to the Embassy.

Canada

British citizen passport holders who travel to Canada by AIR will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).

Entry requirements for other methods of travel (land, sea) have not changed.  If you are travelling by land or sea, you won’t need an eTA when you enter Canada, therefore this will not apply to our guests calling at Canada on one of our cruises.

However, if you are joining in Canada and arriving by air you should visit the dedicated website (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp) to check if an eTA will be required.

Cape Verde

If arriving by sea no visa is required for the visit to Cape Verde as the ship is classed as 'in transit'. If you are embarking/disembarking in Cape Verde you must obtain a visa prior to travel.

China

A 15 day free visa stay is available to all in transit guests (guests who sail in and out of Shanghai on the same vessel). Please note that restrictions apply:

• Guests have to participate in a tour (at least 2 people) organised by travel agencies that are legally registered in China. These can be ship organised tours or independent tour agencies. The ship will apply for the 15 day free visa stay for tours booked on-board. If you have booked an independent tour please ensure your travel agency applies on your behalf. Please note: guests are not allowed to leave the tour group (even to join another vehicle) and special approval will have to be obtained in case of an emergency.
• The visa free stay is valid for the duration of the tour(s) and you will have to leave Shanghai on the same day with the vessel.

If you wish to go ashore independently in Shanghai a Chinese visa is required. Guests without a valid Chinese visa and without an organised tour booking will be detained on-board for the duration of our stay in China.

Please note: China has introduced the collection of fingerprints for those guests wishing to obtain a Chinese visa, therefore a visit to the Chinese Embassy is required when obtaining a Chinese visa.

Those guests (of 51 different nationalities) starting their cruise or ending their cruise in Shanghai are entitled to make use of the 144 hour Chinese visa exemption but only if the following conditions are met:

• Your stay in China is within Shanghai city, Jiangsu province or Zhejiang province, and not exceeding 144 hours (6 Days). You either have an onward flight confirmation to a 3rd country (outside China) or a cruise ticket confirming that the next port of call is outside China
• Your arrival/departure is via one of the below mentioned entry/exit points and you are able to hand-over a copy of your onward travel arrangements to the Chinese Officials on arrival or the Ship staff when finally disembarking (Ship staff are required to present documentation 48 hours in advance to our Shanghai agents)

·     Shanghai Pudong international airport

·     Shanghai Hongqiao international airport

·     Shanghai railway station

·     Shanghai Wusongkou international cruise terminal

·     Shanghai port international cruise terminal

·     Nanjing Lukou international airport

·     Hangzhou Xiaoshan international airport

Remember that the 144 hours is from the moment you arrive in China to the moment you leave Chinese Territories. If you have any pre or post cruise hotel stays booked in China or your onward itinerary includes additional Chinese ports, you will need to make sure that your time shoreside, and on board does not take you over the 144 hour limit, if it does you will require a visa.

Please note: If you are not staying in one of the above mentioned areas or not arriving/leaving from the mentioned exit/entry points you will need to obtain a Chinese visa.

Also this exemption does not apply to guests travelling in and out of Shanghai on the same vessel. (In transit guests) as those guests will be able to make use of a 15 day free visa stay, but only when booked on an organised tour.

Dominican Republic

If entering Amber Cove by sea there are no visa requirements. If entering the Dominican Republic via air, a tourist card must be obtained on arrival at the airport.

Egypt

A Quick Stamp visa for Egypt will be issued upon the ship’s arrival in Egypt. Therefore, you are not required to obtain an Egyptian visa in advance of your cruise. There is currently no charge for the Quick Stamp Egyptian visa.

India

Guests visiting India by ship are required to have a valid Indian visa, whether you intend to go ashore or remain on board the ship. India has introduced electronic visas (E-visas) which are now accepted at the ports visited by Cunard. To obtain your E-visa, please visit https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html.

Please bring a print out of your E-visa confirmation showing ‘GRANTED’ at check-in for immigration purposes. You will also be required to show the print out when attending immigration checks on arrival into India. Please ensure the information on your E-visa confirmation matches your passport information. Guests who arrive without a valid Indian visa will be denied boarding.

 Please note: Cunard requires all guests visiting India to obtain a visa in advance whether they intend to go ashore or remain on board the ship. This position has been taken to protect guests from any restrictions that are imposed by the Indian authorities, in the unlikely event of having to disembark the ship in India due to an emergency or for any other reason.

 An Indian tourist visa (sticker in passport) is also acceptable should you wish to obtain this instead, however the E-visa is easier to obtain and less expensive.

 Please be aware that visas will be processed by Indian Immigration officials on arrival into your first Indian port which may delay going ashore. Please allow time for this when planning your day.

Indonesia

Guests travelling to Indonesia are required to obtain an electronic visa on arrival (e-voa) prior to entry into Indonesia. Please visit https://molina.imigrasi.go.id/ to apply. Please note applications for the e-voa can only be made 90 days prior to arrival in Indonesia.

New Zealand

International travellers, who are Visa Waiver nationals, may enter New Zealand without a visa after obtaining an approved New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA).

Please note that all guests travelling with an NZeTA must present a print out of a successful NZeTA application at check in

Obtaining NZeTA approval, for most travellers, will be simple and easy. To apply for your NZeTA, please follow this link to the NZeTA application website  https://nzeta.immigration.govt.nz/.The cost of obtaining an NZeTA is currently NZ$12.00 (however this is subject to change at any time) and payable during the application using a credit or debit card.

Approved NZeTA applications are valid for a period of two years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first, and multiple trips to New Zealand without the traveller having to reapply for another NZeTA.

When applying for you NZeTA, a tourism levy of NZ$35 must also be paid which is valid for the same length of time as the NZeTA.

Should you require assistance applying for your NZeTA, our preferred Visa provider, CIBT are available on 0207 620 6998.

Oman

Visa stamps for Oman are compulsory and will be issued upon the ship’s arrival by the local Port Authorities, whether you are staying on board or going ashore. There is currently no charge for the visa stamp.

South Africa

Although visas are not required please note that your passport should contain two blank passport pages for the South African entry and exit stamps. Prior to applying for visas for other countries, please ensure you have adequate blank pages to allow for these stamps. Should you have limited blank pages, Cunard strongly suggest you obtain a replacement passport before applying for your visas.

Parents travelling with children into or out of South Africa will be asked to show the child’s unabridged (full) birth certificate. Where only one parent is accompanying, parental or legal consent for the child to travel (e.g. an affidavit from the other parent, a court order or – if applicable – a death certificate) will be required. Further requirements for children travelling unaccompanied or with adults who are not their parents may apply, for more information; contact the South African High Commission or the South African Department of Home Affairs.  

Please see the question - What are the regulations for travelling to South Africa with children?

Turkey

Cruise ship guests who are joining the ship in Turkey or are leaving the ship in Turkey to travel home are required to obtain an e-visa prior to travel. If you are visiting Turkey as part of your cruise itinerary but are not joining the ship in Turkey or disembarking to travel home, a visa is not required.

To obtain an e-visa for Turkey please visit https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/ for further information and the official channel for applying for the e-visa

Guests of all nationalities are required to have at least 60 days validity on their passport from the day they enter Turkey. Guests who are either embarking or disembarking (beginning or ending) their cruise in Turkey and therefore require a visa, need to ensure their passports have at least 180 days validity otherwise the visa will not be issued.

United Arab Emirates

Transit Visa stamps for Dubai are compulsory and will be issued upon the ship’s arrival, whether you are staying on board or going ashore. You do not need to obtain these visas in advance of the cruise. If you are joining your cruise in the United Arab Emirates you may need to purchase a visa on arrival at the airport.

United States of America (and territories)

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$14.00, 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

Complimentary parking

If you are booking a cruise on the Cunard Fare promotion, you can, subject to availability, choose from either complimentary car parking or coach transfers at the time of booking.

If you are eligible for complimentary car parking and this has been confirmed by Cunard at the time of booking, you must confirm the reservation of your parking space a minium of 35 days prior to departure with Cruise and Passenger Services directly (see below section "How to book."). 

Bookings can be made 72 hours after making your cruise booking, and must be made a minimum of 35 days prior to your departure date. We advise that you book early as otherwise availability cannot be guaranteed and you may not be able to secure a booking.

Please note that Cruise and Passenger Services do not offer complimentary parking for blue badge holders and there are no such facilities offered at each of the terminals in Southampton.

Once booked, you will be sent a confirmation pack with all the details and a parking sticker for your car.

How to book

If you do not have parking included in your cruise fare, you can book directly with our partner, Cruise and Passenger Services (CPS).

To arrange car parking in Southampton

Please call Cruise and Passenger Services (CPS) on 0345 071 3939 a minimum of 35 days prior to your departure date. Please note you can secure your space 72 hours after you have booked your cruise holiday. We advise that you book early as otherwise availability cannot be guaranteed and you may not be able to secure a booking.

If you intend to take a trailer on your car, you will need to book two spaces and be charged appropriately.

To arrange car parking at the airport

You can arrange car parking at many UK airports through Holiday Extras via My Cunard. Once you have booked, Holiday Extras will email a booking confirmation confirming the car park details, directions, dates and times booked.

Cancelling or transferring your booking

If your booking has complimentary car parking then there is no charge for the parking services to be cancelled and your car parking booking will automatically be cancelled along with your cruise booking.

If you have booked your car parking directly with Cruise and Passenger Services and paid them directly, then a cancellation charge is applicable if cancelled more than 48 hours prior to embarkation. If the booking is cancelled within 48 hours prior to embarkation, then the full amount of your parking costs are taken as a cancellation fee with no refund.

Should you transfer your cruise to an alternative sailing then you will need to rebook your parking with Cruise and Passenger Services whether you are booking independently with them or if your new cruise has the complimentary offer applied to it.

Please note: If the cruise you are transferring from has a complimentary car parking offer applied to it this may not necessarily be available on the cruise you are transferring to.

Coach Transfers

For guests booking a cruise on the Cunard Fare promotion, where available, complimentary coach transfers are one of the benefits available to choose from at the time of booking.

Return coach transfers are available for other fare types on all Southampton roundtrip cruises of seven nights or more (with the exception of Full World Voyages).

Coach transfers are available to all guests on the booking. Please let us know at the time of booking if you wish to use this service and then contact Intercruises on 0344 3388 690 no later than 30 days prior to departure.

Coach transfers for Transatlantic fly-cruises operate differently. Please contact our Customer Contact Centre or your local Travel Agent for assistance with transfers for these voyages.

If you do have any disability or medical requirements, please let us know at the time of booking or as soon as the need is known via the online form on My Cunard.

We ask that you complete and submit the online questionnaire as soon as possible and ideally, no later than 14 days before departure; this is to ensure there is sufficient time to be able to contact you should we need to discuss any of the information that has been provided.

Our full mobility scooter policy, and other information, can be found on our on board needs webpages.

Please inform our Customer Contact Centre of any special dietary requirements or food allergies by phone on 0344 338 8641, either when booking or as soon as possible before your sailing date, and we'll take care of you.

To help our chefs prepare your meals in a timely and safe manner according to your dietary needs, you'll be provided with menus in advance for pre-ordering.

Vegetarian and vegan options are available as standard across our fleet in all restaurants. You only need to tell us about vegetarian or vegan requirements if you’ve booked a flight through Cunard that includes a meal, so we can ensure the airline caters to you.

Find out more about dietary requirements on board.

My Cunard is an online portal for personalising your voyage, available as soon as you have booked.

Logging in to My Cunard is simple, you’ll just need your booking reference, name, and date of birth.

You can use My Cunard to view a whole host of essential information relating to your upcoming voyage, including:

• Full voyage itinerary, which will incorporate any pre-purchased products and services.
• Visa and vaccination requirements.
• Embarkation and disembarkation arrangements.
• Shuttle bus information.
• Details of on board gift packages.

You can also:

• Change your bed configuration.
• Amend your evening dining preference (Early Saver and Cunard Fare only).
• Provide us with the necessary passport, next of kin and travel insurance information.
  
• Check in online (from 21 days before departure), and print boarding passes and luggage labels.
• Print and complete the child registration form, required for parents travelling with children who would like to use the children’s facilities.
• Pre-purchase products and services, which are available to book at the approximate dates below: 
  • Drinks packages and wine collections – Any time.
  • Shore Experiences – Up to 1 year prior to departure.
  • Mareel Wellness and Beauty – 180 days (just under 6 months) prior to departure.
  • Alternative dining venues (not all venues are available to pre-book) – Up to 4 months prior to departure.

Please note that the pre-purchase window closes 3 days prior to sailing. After this time, all further bookings, modifications, and cancellations must be handled on board.