NEW PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS
Please be advised that while originally the U.S. Department of State regulations stipulated that passports would be needed by January 8, 2007 for land and sea travel, recently passed legislation has deferred this date until at least January 1, 2008. However, all passengers traveling by air between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will still be required to present a valid U.S. beginning January 23, 2007. Even if your cruise does not involve air travel outside the U.S., should you be required to unexpectedly depart a vessel prior to the end of the sailing, a passport would be required to re-enter the U.S. by air. As such, Cunard continues to strongly recommend that all passengers are in possession of a passport by January 23, 2007. Information regarding the passport requirements is available at www.travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html. Foreign nationals should contact their governments for further details. Many countries require your passport to be valid for six months from the completion of your travel. Check your passport to ensure it will be valid for this period of time. Please ensure the name on the passport matches the name on the booking. Additionally, ensure your passport contains blank pages for entry and exit endorsements and any visas that may be required. If necessary, allow sufficient time to renew your passport and/or obtain additional pages. A valid passport is required of all non-U.S. and non-Canadian citizens for all itineraries. It is also required of all U.S. and Canadian citizens sailing on non-domestic itineraries including Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Europe, India, Central and South America, South Pacific and Tahiti. For itineraries ending in 2006 in which a passport is not required, U.S. and Canadian citizens who do not have a valid passport must provide the following proof of citizenship: A naturalization certificate or an original certified birth certificate from the state of their birth (a hospital certificate will not suffice) together with a valid, government-issued photo identification, such as a driver's license. Although recommended, photo identification is not required for those 18 years and younger at the time of printing. U.S. Resident Aliens are required to present, in addition to a valid passport, a valid Alien Resident card. Canadian permanent residents are required to present a valid Permanent Resident card in addition to a valid passport. On domestic cruises, ensure your travel documents are valid through the completion of travel. All Cunard Line guests must present a valid passport at embarkation on applicable voyages. Failure to provide the required documentation will result in denied boarding and no refund will be issued. In compliance with the U.S. Government mandate, Cunard Line will strictly enforce this requirement. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), once implemented, will require all travelers entering or re-entering the United States to be in possession of a valid passport, even when traveling from certain countries in the Western Hemisphere for which passports previously were not required. The unforeseen possibility of a medical disembarkation or early cruise termination may require that you have a valid passport to enable you to continue travel. Implementation of the WHTI is presently expected to be on the following schedule:
Please check back on our web site for future updates. Latest U.S. State Department announcement concerning passport use: Effective June 26, 2005, travelers from the 27 countries participating in the United States' Visa Waiver Program (VWP) must have a machine-readable passport to enter the United States. If you are in possession of a passport issued by any of the 27 countries listed below, please contact the passport issuing authority to ensure that you are in possession of a machine-readable passport. Please note that boarding will be denied to travelers from VWP countries that do not have machine-readable passports. The 27 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program include: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Additional information regarding the Visa Waiver Program is available on-line at www.dhs.gov. †VISAS Visa and documentation requirements vary by destination and change from time to time without prior notice. For assistance, U.K. and European guests may contact: The Cunard Visa Department on 00 44 (0)845 071 0307 or e-mail info@zvs.com. Australian guests may contact 1300 725 417. Additionally, ensure that you check with the consulate of each country you will visit at least three months prior to departure to verify current regulations. It is your obligation to have complete travel documentation. Please reconfirm visa requirements 5-7 days prior to departure to verify current regulations. †Visa information provided is current as of date of posting and is applicable to the above mentioned areas only. Please refer to your local government agency for additional visa enquiries, and to verify this information remains current. Visitors to the U.S. – For non-U.S. citizens or non U.S. legal residents disembarking in a U.S. port, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security requires you to provide your address while in the United States after your voyage. VACCINATIONS Wherever you are travelling, it is recommended that you have a minimum of Influenza (seasonal), Hepatitis A and Tetanus/Diphtheria vaccinations. However, requirements vary by destination and change from time to time. Therefore, please check with your Travel Agent/Professional, consult your doctor/physician or visit the World Health Organisation (WHO) website at www.who.int/ith. Health advice is also available from MASTA ONLINE at www.masta.org or their helpline on 090 6550 1402. |