Find out how to get up to date advice on your destinations plus passport, insurance, visa and inoculation requirements.

Receiving your tickets

You will receive your tickets 2 to 3 weeks before your departure date, unless you book your holiday within 14 days of departure.

If you book your holiday within 14 days of departure you will be able to collect your tickets at the First Choice desk at your departure airport on the day of your departure.

Advice on your destinations

We are working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to do all that we can to help British travellers stay safe overseas.

Before you go overseas, check out the FCO website at www.fco.gov.uk/travel. It is packed with essential travel advice and tips, and up-to-date country-specific information.

In addition we will send you a FREE holiday guide with your tickets, containing useful information about passports, visas and health matters.

Further information is available from The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Advice Unit on 0845 8502829.

Passports

We, or the airline, may refuse travel if you do not have a valid passport, visa and entry permit.

We are not obliged to help you if you are refused travel. Your passport and travel documents must be intact: you may not be able to travel if they are damaged or have been tampered with.

If you have any doubts about the validity or condition of your passport, please contact the Passport Advice Line on 0870 5210410 or visit www.passport.gov.uk.

For travel to most countries, a British passport must remain valid for at least six months after your scheduled return to the UK. Some countries apply different rules. Contact the Embassy of your destination country for current information.

The initials on your flight tickets must exactly match those on your passport.

Children's passports

From 5 October 1998 children under 16 have been required to hold their own passport.

Children already included in parents' passports are not affected by this change and can continue to travel on these passports until they reach the age of 16 or the passport expires.

If during the validity of a passport on which a child is included a new document is required, a separate passport for the child would need to be applied for.

There is no facility to add a child to a passport after 5 October 1998.

Lost or stolen passports

To find out what to do about a lost or stolen passport in the UK call the Passport Advice Line on 0870 5210410 or visit the UKPS website at www.passport.gov.uk.

To find out what to do about a lost or stolen passport when abroad call the local Foreign and Commonwealth Office Consulate or visit www.fco.gov.uk

Please note that the information in this section is valid for British Citizens only.

Insurance

You must have adequate insurance cover before you travel.

Visas

Currently full 10-year British passport holders do not need a visa for Mediterranean and Transatlantic cruises.

However, we do ask that you check with the Brazilian Embassy before departing on a Transatlantic itinerary.

Health

General standards of hygiene and safety in other countries may differ from those in the UK.

You should therefore exercise greater care, particularly with the choice of food and drink.

We recommend that you drink bottled water and avoid ice in drinks, uncooked food (especially shellfish) and food from street vendors. Only buy ice cream from hotels and reputable shops.

In hot climates, limit your exposure to the sun and drink lots of fluids.

Currently no compulsory vaccinations or other health precautions are required for British Citizens visiting any Mediterranean destination featured on this website.

For Transatlantic cruises please check with your doctor for recommended health precautions and inoculations. These may vary according to your proposed itinerary.

If you are not a British Citizen, or require any advice on recommended health precautions for your holiday destination (and please remember that health regulations are subject to change), you should consult your doctor at least two months before your departure, for up-to-date advice.

Please note there is not a dentist on board our ships.

If you are less able-bodied, please check with us before you book, that the holiday you have chosen is suitable for you.

Help with wheelchairs is available at most airports, but you must request it when you book.

Please note that in ports where tender boats are in operation customers must be able to walk down the pontoon and into the tenders to disembark.

Unfortunately crew are unable to carry passengers on to the tenders.

For any special needs you may have please call our Special Needs Helpline on 08707 500414