Passengers who have never cruised before, or who have not cruised with Voyages of Discovery, will no doubt have many questions to ask about the ship, our operation and many other matters. This section has been written to give you some general information about cruising with us, and we feel sure you will find it useful both before and during your voyage.
Our aim is your complete enjoyment of the cruise and our staff, together with the ship’s crew will do all that they can to ensure this. The information given here is correct at the time of printing, but is subject to change without notice. If you have any queries about your booking we will always be pleased to help you. Please feel free to call us Toll-Free at (866) 623-2689, email us at customerservice@voyagesofdiscovery.com or visit www.voyagesofdiscovery.com/alreadybooked
BEFORE YOU GO
PASSPORTS & VISAS
All
(as of May 2011)
I: Visa required for independent travelers only. Please inform us if you are making your own arrangements.
V: Visa required for all travelers prior to travel.
G: Visas will be arranged to cover those booked on shore excursions only. Charges may apply.
A: Passengers with an Israeli passport stamp wishing to go ashore may require a replacement or second passport.
E: Entry requirements will be dealt with by our ground agent for everyone. Charges may apply.
N: No visa required for
Entry requirements
Hong Kong N
Jordan E
Sri Lanka E
Notes: The above advice applies for short visits.
Any passenger with an Israeli visa or entry permit in their passport (whether valid or not) may not be permitted to disembark in some Arab countries. The relevant Embassies can provide further guidance in this respect.
In some ports, group visas are available and we will take care of these for you. Group visas will allow passengers on our shore excursions to go ashore. In some ports it may be necessary for
passengers to obtain individual visas and you may be required to obtain these prior to travel. To avoid queues, if our local agents are able to obtain visas at the airport on your behalf they will do so and the cost will be added to your on board account. There is for example a visa charge for passengers flying in and out of
Contact Zierer Visa Service for assistance with obtaining necessary visas by email: info@zvs.com or call (866) 788-1100.
Non
At least 60 days prior to departure we must have the following information relating to each passenger: name in full (as it appears on the passport), address, nationality, date and place of birth; plus passport number, expiration date, and date and place of issue. Passengers cannot be included on a group visa if this information is not supplied in time.
HEALTH, VACCINATIONS AND MEDICAL INFORMATION
Your pre-cruise information will advise you of all current mandatory vaccination requirements for the countries you will be visiting. As health regulations are subject to change, we recommend that you consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in
If you do not normally enjoy good health, you should consult your doctor regarding the advisability of taking a cruise and being away from the usual medical and hospital facilities. Your insurance company must be advised of any pre-existing condition at the time of booking and of any condition arising subsequently prior to departure, otherwise your insurance may be invalid.
MEDICAL ATTENTION
We hope you will find it unnecessary to use the ship’s medical facilities during your voyage. If, however, the occasion does arise, it is comforting to know that we do carry a well-equipped medical center staffed by a fully qualified doctor and nurses. All health and medical services and personnel are provided for the convenience of the passengers and work directly for the passenger and are not under the control of mv Discovery. A charge is made for their services and we will require payment for any medicines or drugs needed. Such charges are normally reclaimable under your travel insurance, less any excess. In the unlikely event that you require urgent medical attention ashore, we will assist by contacting your insurer who will make the necessary arrangements for your treatment and repatriation.
PASSENGERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Voyages of Discovery will always try to accommodate passengers with special needs. However, the following conditions apply:
Medical Situations: Any physical disabilities or medical conditions that require special treatment or medical apparatus must be reported to the company’s Reservations Supervisor in writing along with the first deposit, which is due within 3 days of booking. These include but are not limited to wheelchairs, oxygen therapy, dialysis, etc. Failure to disclose a medical situation at time of booking may result in you being denied boarding at port of embarkation.
Health Care Companions: All passengers with special needs must be self-sufficient and must be accompanied by a passenger who will take full responsibility for any assistance needed during the cruise and in the event of an emergency.
Pregnancy: Regulations vary from airline to airline, but some will refuse to carry women who will be 24 weeks pregnant on the date of return travel. If you are in doubt, please check with the airline concerned and we would recommend that you consult your doctor.
We will not accept reservations for women who will be 24 weeks pregnant or more at the time of their travel.
Disabled Passengers: We feel we should point out that we are not specialists in catering for the disabled. If you or any person travelling with you suffers from a disability, you must contact our office for advice before you make your booking. However, we must respectfully point out that at all ports of call featured in this cruise program, passengers are required to walk up or down the gangway when embarking or disembarking the ship.
Wheelchairs: We regret that we cannot accommodate mobility scooters, although we do welcome passengers who use manual standard sized wheelchairs. Passengers must however provide their own collapsible chair and must be able to walk up or down the gangway when embarking or disembarking the ship. If they are not able to do so we will be unable to accept a
booking and/or allow embarkation. Please note that in cabins aboard the Discovery there is a 5” riser to bathrooms except in cabin no.’s 4140 and 4144 on Bali Deck, which have been adapted for wheelchair use. Once on board, moving around Discovery is relatively easy, although certain parts of the ship may be inaccessible. Please note that some ports require tenders to go ashore and conditions may preclude passengers with wheelchairs leaving the vessel; under such circumstances a decision would be made by the Captain and would be binding. Please also note that facilities for the handicapped in some destinations may be limited. If you require wheelchair assistance at airports then you need to advise us at the time of your booking.
Special Diets: We can usually make provision for special diets provided that sufficient notice is given. A good vegetarian choice is available on board ship and vegetarian meals are also available on flights. Other diets e.g. gluten-free and diabetic, can usually be accommodated, although Kosher and Halal options are not available. Please indicate any requests at time of booking. We will make every effort to satisfy your request, although this cannot be guaranteed.
Note: The company has the right to refuse or revoke passage to anyone who, in its judgement, is in a physical or mental condition unfit for travel, or who may require care beyond that which the vessel can provide. Passengers are expected to conduct themselves in a proper manner throughout the cruise, and if it appears that a passenger’s conduct, behavior or health is likely to endanger the passenger’s own health or safety, or that of any other passenger, employee or member of the crew, or may make Voyages of Discovery liable for the costs of any medical treatment or repatriation, Voyages of Discovery and/or the Master reserve the right to take appropriate action. This may include disembarkation, confinement to a particular cabin, and through the ship’s doctor the administration of any drugs or medicines and/or confinement to a hospital or similar institution at any port. Under those circumstances no refund or compensation will be payable
CHILDREN
There are no recreational facilities for children aboard the mv Discovery and reservations for those under the age of eleven are not advised.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
Voyages of Discovery is committed to protecting the environment at all times and especially by the proper disposal of waste matter generated on board. This is achieved by adhering to stringent regulations and procedures on board and complying with various applicable legislation.
OPTIONAL SHORE EXCURSIONS
Shore excursions are not included in the price of your cruise. At the time of going to print the exact content and costs for the shore excursions program have not been finalized. All cruise
excursions can be pre-booked although it is also possible (subject to availability and at a higher onboard price) to book your tours on board. Full excursion details and a booking form will be sent approximately 17 weeks before departure.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
The following provisions apply to the booking of your cruise and are the terms and conditions that apply upon the acceptance of your deposit by the company. They also cover the company’s air travel arrangements made as part of your cruise and the land tour packages with cruises offered by the company. This is neither an offer of, nor a contract of, carriage except that by making a reservation and paying your deposit you agree to be bound by the provisions contained herein and to accept the terms and conditions of the company’s contract of carriage (cruise ticket), a copy of which may be obtained from your travel agent or Voyages of Discovery. The provisions herein contain important information on cancellation by the passenger or by the company, changes in the itinerary, the limitations and exclusions of liability on the part of the company and of independent contractors, health and immigration requirements that are your responsibility, and other relevant terms and conditions. You must be a resident of the US, Canada or Latin America to book your cruise from this brochure. The terms and conditions that apply to residents of other countries are available on request.
RESERVATIONS AND PAYMENTS
Effective June 1, 2011
The per person, per cruise deposit required to secure your reservation is:
• $500 Deposit is due within 3 days of booking
• Final Payment is due 121 days prior to departure.
American Express, MasterCard, Visa, travel agency checks and personal checks are accepted for deposits and final payment. Passengers who do not make final payments at appropriate times may be subject to cancellation without notice. In most cases, we are able to provide you with travel documents, including your contract of carriage and airline tickets (where applicable), approximately 30 days prior to sailing.
Travel documents are issued only after final payment and completed Required Passenger Information (RPI) form has been received by the company.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Effective June 1, 2011
Cancellation fees per person are as follows:
121 + days prior to departure Refund of Deposit
120-91 days prior to departure 25% of the fare*
90-61 days prior to departure 60% of the fare*
60-0 days prior to departure 100% of the fare*
*Fare is defined as the cost of any cruise, land or air element purchased from the company.
Voluntary or involuntary termination by the passenger of a cruise in progress will result in no refund. Cruise contracts are non-transferable. Name changes and departure date changes are considered reservation cancellations and are subject to the above cancellation fees.
CHANGE CHARGES
Changing your itinerary after reservations have been made may have disadvantages. To cover administrative costs, a charge of up to $100 per person will be made each time you request a change in your travel arrangements between 59 and 30 days prior to sailing. The passenger is responsible for costs incurred as a result of such changes. In addition, no refund will be made for unused or partially used portions of the air/land/ cruise package. Once airline tickets are issued, any changes resulting in additional costs are at the passenger’s expense. Any cancellation penalties imposed by the carrier will be deducted from your refund. Airline tickets cannot be changed on board ship. Change charges are not assessed for cabin upgrades or for the addition of services, unless air reservations are altered and/or travel documents must be reissued.
SHUTTLE BUSES
Fares for local shuttle buses at ports visited are not included in the cost of your cruise.
FLIGHTS
You may wish to make your own flight arrangements and receive an air credit (see price panel). No airport transfers will be provided in this instance. Certain travel arrangements (in particular flights) may have to be paid for in full at the time of booking and, if so, are non-refundable. In the event of a cancellation, non-refundable payments are included in the calculation of the cruise cost and the cancellation charge due.
We use a mix of scheduled and charter flights, however, we are not in a position to confirm full flight details at time of booking. Any provisional information given at the time of booking may
change significantly. Baggage allowance is usually 44 lbs per person on charter and most scheduled flights, although it may vary according to the carrier and class of travel. Please note that your baggage allowance may not be the same for each part of a multi- sector flight schedule. All flights are non-smoking. Voyages of Discovery recommended travel insurance includes cover
for travel delays and lost or damaged luggage and we recommend that you have similar cover if making different arrangements. In some countries, local airport departure taxes cannot be included as part of your air ticket and must be paid locally by the passenger. To avoid queues at the airport, our local agents will pay these on your behalf in advance if possible, and the cost will be added to your on board account.
You must check-in at airports at least three hours before your departure. If you do not check-in on time, the airline may not allow you to board the flight. We cannot accept responsibility if such situations arise and whilst we will do our best to arrange alternative transport, any resulting costs will be your responsibility.
FLIGHT DELAYS
Regrettably flight delays do sometimes occur. In this event, it is the responsibility of the airline, at their discretion, to provide refreshments, meals, and depending on the length of the delay and time of day, overnight accommodation. Passengers will be responsible for hotel rooms accommodations and transfers. Subject to airlines’ own restrictions, please ensure that all medications are packed in your hand luggage.
NOTES ABOUT FLIGHTS
Specific air routings will be determined approximately 30 days prior to sailing. Passengers traveling with passengers from other gateways may not be routed on the same flights. Please note that Voyages of Discovery reserve the right to change carriers when necessary and that sometimes you may travel out and back on different carriers. For all flights, Voyages of Discovery reserve the right to determine the flight routings, which may not be direct or non-stop and may involve different London airports. Airlines do not provide paper tickets and instead an e-ticket number will be provided and confirmed in your final documentation mailed at 30 days prior to embarkation. Voyages of Discovery has no control over seat assignments on board an aircraft. Passengers will need to contact each individual airline for advance seat assignments, luggage allowances and/or restrictions.
INDEPENDENT AIR TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
The Company will have no responsibility, financial or otherwise, in regard to air, hotel, transport or any other arrangements made by passengers with third parties. Passengers should ensure any such arrangements are transferable or refundable, or covered by their travel insurance, in the event of delay, amendment or cancellation of any of these independent arrangements, or of
ON BOARD
HOTELS, EXCURSIONS AND LAND TOURS
The land packages contained in this brochure can only be purchased in conjunction with a Voyages of Discovery cruise. Hotels are determined by the cabin category purchased, and in most cases, rooms are not available until 3.00 pm on day of arrival. Passengers booked in cabin categories G - O will be accommodated in first class hotels: passengers in categories A - F in deluxe or superior first class hotels. You can upgrade at supplementary cost, details on request. Special upgrade promotions are limited to shipboard accommodations only.
Certain land packages and excursions will not operate without a minimum participation, and others may have a maximum capacity. The sequence of escorted land tours may vary from the
brochure. If, for any reason, a hotel, sightseeing or entertainment feature is cancelled or otherwise unavailable, the company reserves the right to cancel, make substitutions or omissions and is under no obligation except that in the event of cancellation you will receive a full refund of any payments received for that service. Please note that the terms for cancellation by the passenger of any pre-booked land stays and excursions are as per our general cancellation terms as detailed.
BAGGAGE POLICY
A reasonable amount of clothing and personal effects may be taken on board the ship without charge. For your own comfort and convenience, we recommend no more than two suitcases per passenger. However, the airlines may charge additional fees based on the size, weight or number of pieces of baggage carried aboard the aircraft. Some carries only allow 44 lbs per person. Please contact individual airline for allowance and restrictions.
Porterage is included at the pier on embarkation and disembarkation. Please ensure your luggage is labeled with your name and cabin number, as your bags will be taken directly to your cabin. Hand baggage, travel documents, breakables, medicines and valuables should be carried personally. the company strongly recommends baggage and medical insurance. The liability of the company for lost or damaged baggage commences only when the baggage arrives alongside the vessel and is strictly limited as provided in the contract of carriage.
GRATUITIES
We are often asked for guidance on this personal matter, which is entirely at your discretion. We suggest $7.50 per person per day which would cover cabin and dining room staff.
CURRENCY AND PAYMENTS
On board mv Discovery all prices are in British Pounds. However, U.S. passengers will be able to settle their account in US dollars at the rate of exchange advised at the start of the cruise.
Foreign exchange facilities on board are very limited, so we would recommend that you purchase any currency requirements before you travel. There is little opportunity to visit banks whilst on tour, although guides will normally help exchange small amounts if necessary. For purchases ashore, many shops accept most Travelers’ Checks and major credit cards. A cashless system operates on board with passengers settling accounts at the end of the cruise.
Visa, MasterCard and American Express (2%surcharge applies to Amex) credit cards, cash and Travelers’ Checks are accepted for payment of shipboard accounts. We also accept debit cards
bearing the VISA or MasterCard logos. Personal checks are not accepted.
BARS & ALCOHOL
Only alcohol purchased in the ship’s bars and restaurants may be consumed on Discovery. The serving of alcohol may be restricted in certain countries. Free tea and coffee is available
throughout the day and night on the Lido Deck.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS/IT
Our on board telecommunications systems mean that you are never more than a phone call away from home or office. All cabins feature direct-dial telephones, whilst fax facilities are available at the Purser’s Desk and computer facilities in the Internet Center. Wi-Fi connections are available at two locations on board (charges apply), however, connection difficulties can occur in some areas of the world and internet speeds may be significantly slower at sea compared to on land. Mobile phones usually get a signal but only via satellite.
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES
Cabins and suites feature 110 and 220 volt current. Plug sockets are European two pin format and you may require adaptors. Any questions regarding the use of electric rollers, curling irons, electric shavers and other small appliances should be directed to reception. For safety reasons the use of travel irons and any tea/coffee making equipment is definitely not allowed. Each cabin is equipped with a hair dryer.
LAUNDRY & DRY CLEANING
A service is available for laundry, dry cleaning and pressing. A laundry bag and order form are provided in your cabin. For passengers taking two or more consecutive cruises, there is a 50% discount for laundry and pressing (but not for dry cleaning).
WHAT TO WEAR
During the day, the general atmosphere onboard is informal and light, casual clothing, including shorts, is perfectly acceptable. However, just as a land-based resort, we ask that swimwear be
For trips ashore and getting into and out of the ship’s tenders, comfortable, sturdy walking shoes are a must. You may wish to bring a camera, binoculars, umbrella, sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and insect repellent. In certain countries shorts or short skirts and bare arms/ shoulders will not be appreciated locally, and you may be prohibited entry to certain sites. In such cases, advice will be provided onboard.
Dress codes vary according to your chosen restaurant – the choice is yours – and below are recommended guidelines: (1)
Casual: Comfortable, relaxed clothing and sportswear, including shorts, athletic footwear and sandals.
Country Club Casual: For ladies dresses or blouses with skirts or long trousers (no shorts). For gentlemen buttoned shirts or golf/polo shirts with collars and long tailored trousers (no jacket or tie required), and closed shoes (no shorts or sandals). In the evening after 6:00pm, a blazer or sports jacket is suggested (but not required) for gentlemen.
Semi-Formal: For ladies dresses or blouses with skirts or trousers. For gentlemen a jacket is required (tie optional), suit with long tailored trousers, and closed shoes.
Formal: There are usually two formal evenings per cruise on the occasion of the Captain’s Welcome Cocktail and Dinner. For ladies evening gowns or cocktail dresses. For gentlemen a tuxedo (“black tie”) or dark suit with tie, and closed dress shoes.
|
Restaurant Venue |
Breakfast |
Lunch |
Dinner |
|
The Lido Buffet |
Country Club Casual |
Country Club Casual |
n/a |
|
Seven Continents Restaurant |
Country Club Casual |
Country Club Casual |
Country Club Casual / Formal Attire on Select Evenings |
|
The Yacht Club |
n/a |
n/a |
Semi-Formal / Formal Attire on Select Evenings |
SMOKING
Passengers are not permitted to smoke inside mv Discovery, or on Sun Deck when food is being served, and are requested to smoke only in designated areas of Sun Deck and other open decks, subject to national government laws when in port. Smoking is not permitted on excursion coaches.
EMERGENCY DRILL
Before the ship sails or early in the cruise, there will be a full muster stations drill. This exercise is to give all passengers precise information on the correct route from their cabins to the places where they should muster in an emergency, together with instructions about life jackets and emergency procedures. ALL passengers must attend for each and every cruise.
GENERAL
DINING ARRANGEMENTS
Breakfast and lunch are arranged on an open sitting basis and may be taken in the Seven Continents Restaurant or ‘alfresco’ at the Lido Buffet on Sun Deck. Continental breakfast is also
available in your cabin.
In the evening, there are two sittings for dinner in the Seven Continents Restaurant. The timings will depend on the day’s program, but usually 1st sitting is 6.15pm, 2nd sitting is 8.30pm. Your preference should be indicated at time of booking, and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis, but cannot be guaranteed.
On selected evenings the Yacht Club, situated forward on Sun Deck, offers an alternative dinner menu at no extra charge. Dining reservations must be made on board.
A limited room service menu is available most days from 7.00am to 10.00pm.
SPECIAL REQUESTS
We are unable to accept ‘conditional bookings’. Please note any special requests at time of booking and we will do our best to comply with your wishes. We must point out that failure to fulfila special request cannot be considered a breach of Contract on the part of the company.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
We ask you to notify us in writing immediately of any alterations to your address before departure. In all communication, please state the cruise on which you are traveling.
DATA PROTECTION ACT 1998
Please be assured that we have methods in place to protect the personal booking information held by us. This information will be passed on to the principal and to the relevant suppliers of your travel arrangements. The information may also be provided to public authorities such as customs or immigration if required by them, or as required by law. Certain information may also be passed on to security or credit checking companies. If you travel outside the EU, controls on data protection may not be as strong as the legal requirements in this country. We will only pass your information on to persons responsible for your travel arrangements. This applies to any sensitive information that you give to us such as details of any disabilities or dietary/religious requirements. (If we cannot pass this information to the relevant suppliers, whether in the U.S. or not, we will be unable to accept your booking). In making your booking you consent to this information being passed on to the relevant persons. Full details of our data protection policy are available upon request.
CHANGES TO YOUR CRUISE
The information in this brochure outlines details of our carefully planned program. Should any subsequent events cause us to change our plans or affect the published itinerary in any way, we shall let passengers know.
Please note that all ship arrival and departure timings are approximate and are subject to change.
OVERSEAS STANDARDS
It is a fact of life that when we travel to different countries, we often find that the customs, traditions and general pace at which things are done can be very different from those at home. So as far as standards of safety are concerned, the suppliers of services must comply with the rules and regulations of their own country and these are not always as strict as they are in North America.
DANGEROUS GOODS
It is an offence to carry on board aircraft or ship any goods of a dangerous nature.
WEBSITE ACCURACY
The information contained in this website is checked for accuracy by our staff, our overseas staff and our agents. Nevertheless, we would ask you to bear in mind that things can change and
often these things can happen without our prior knowledge. Should we become aware of anything that we consider will have a permanent impact on your enjoyment of the cruise, we will do our utmost to advise you before you sail.
©2012 - Voyages of Discovery (Part of All Discovery Cruising) - All Rights Reserved