Helpful hints before you go
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 other matters. This 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 the voyage.
Our aim is the complete enjoyment of your cruise vacation and all of our staff, both ashore and afloat, together with the ship’s crew, will do all they can to ensure this. The information given here is correct at the time of printing (May 2009), 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 telephone us toll-free on 1-866-623-2689.
WHAT TO WEAR & PACK
As a general rule, for days on board and ashore, summer clothing/sports wear is the order of the day. It should be light, casual and easy to care for. A sweater and jacket for cooler evenings and a light raincoat are also advisable.
On cruises to northern latitudes warmer clothing will be necessary. In certain countries, shorts, short skirts, bare arms and shoulders will not be appreciated locally and you may be prohibited entry to certain sites. Advice will be given beforehand on board. On Mediterranean,
Other suggested things to pack:
Binoculars
Camera
UV Sun Screen
PASSPORTS AND VISAS
Visa information provided for US citizens only:
INDIVIDUAL VISA
GROUP VISA – obtained aboard mv DISCOVERY, charged to on board account
Libya - Free of charge - All passengers joining organized tours offered by Voyages of Discovery will be covered under group visa.
For additional visa information contact Zierer Visa Services
E-mail: info@zvs.com or Telephone: 1-866-788-1100
VACCINATIONS
Yellow Fever vaccination or Exemption Certificate required for
Malaria medication recommended as precaution for
Updated visa and vaccination information will be sent with pre-documents (approximately 90 days prior to departure)
Please Note:
Contact Zierer Visa Services for assistance with obtaining necessary visas by e-mail on: cruise@zvs.com or by telephone at 1-866-788-1100.
Any non-US passengers will require passports valid for the countries visited. It is the responsibility of each passenger to check with the various embassies or consulates involved for their particular cruise, ensuring that they have the necessary documentation/visas to enter all countries visited. Any passenger arriving at the departure port/airport without a passport or necessary visas will be refused permission to board the ship/aircraft. Failure in this respect is not covered by the insurance and no refund can be claimed.
The ship’s purser on board deals with all immigration formalities. Where visa charges are payable locally these must be paid by the passenger. Advice will be given with your final details when this is necessary. To avoid queues at the airport, if our local agents are able to obtain these on your behalf in advance, they will do so and the cost will be added to your final invoice or on-board account. 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 group visas if this information is not supplied in time.
HEALTH, VACCINATIONS AND MEDICAL INFORMATION
As health regulations are everchanging, we suggest you consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in
VACCINATIONS
Yellow Fever vaccination or Exemption Certificate required for
Malaria medication recommended as precaution for
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. The company must be advised of any pre-existing condition at the time of booking and of any conditions arising subsequently prior to departure.
CHILDREN
There are no recreational facilities for children aboard the mv Discovery and reservations for those under the age of eleven are not advised.
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 disability or medical condition that requires special treatment or medical apparatus must be reported to the company’s Reservations Manager in writing along with the first deposit, which is due at time of booking. These include, but are not limited to, wheelchairs, oxygen therapy, dialysis, guide dogs, etc. Failure to disclose a medical situation at time of booking may result in your 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: 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 or those with serious medical conditions. If you or any person traveling with you suffers from a disability or serious illness, 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 (with the exception of Harwich), passengers are required to walk up or down the gangway when embarking or disembarking the ship.
Wheelchairs: Passengers confined to wheelchairs must provide their own collapsible chair. 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. Some ports require tenders to go ashore and conditions may preclude a wheelchair passenger from leaving the vessel; this decision must be made by the ship’s captain and is binding. Passengers should also be aware that facilities for the handicapped in some exotic destinations may be very limited. Getting about once on board Discovery is relatively easy, however, you may find certain parts of the ship inaccessible.
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. 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 judgment, is in a physical or mental condition unfit for travel, or who may require care beyond that which the vessel can provide.
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. The company must be advised of any pre-existing condition at the time of booking and of any condition arising subsequently prior to departure.
