You are responsible for obtaining all necessary travel documents and for complying with Customs and Immigration requirements. Guest without proper travel documents will not be allowed to board the vessel and no refund of cruise fare will be given to any guest failing to bring such documentation.

 
In order to avoid problems at departure, we kindly ask you to carefully check the validity of your documents and to be in possession of what is required for the cruise. If any guest does not possess the required documentation they will be denied boarding their flight/cruise and cancellation penalties will be applied. 

Passports
You must be in possession of a valid passport and any visas(if required). British citizens must be in possession of a 10-year passport (five years for children) valid for at least six months after the date of your return to the UK. Each child(including infants) must be in possession of its own passport. Passengers applying for a new passport, or renewing an expired one, should allow at least two months for the application to be processed and up to three months if applying between February and June. It is also important that name changes for newlywed wives must be notified to us immediately so that the name stated on the passport matches the name on the ticket. The names on cruise and airline documents must be the same as those shown on passports. Any discrepancies (including nicknames and abbreviated names) may prevent travel and also make insurance policies invalid. If any guest does not possess the required documentation they will be denied boarding their flight/cruise and cancellation penalties will be applied.

Other Nationals - It is strongly recommended that other nationals contact their local Consular Authority in order to ascertain passport and visa requirements. If any guest does not possess the required documentation they will be denied boarding their flight/cruise and cancellation penalties will be applied. We recommend that you check your visa requirements with your travel agent or the appropriate embassy at least two months prior to travel. Alternatively, for full passport and visa requirements you can contact CIBT on 0844 800 4650 for advice. In addition to the cost of any visa you will be charged an administration fee to use this service.

Please note – Passports may be retained by Costa staff on embarkation and with held for the entire duration of the cruise so they can be presented to the various port authorities. Passports are then made available only when guests require them to go ashore.

Children under 15
Youngsters under 16 need to have their own valid passport or to be registered on their parents’ passport. However, if the cruise calls at or transits the United States, all children are required to have their own machine-readable passports. For cruises that call at Singapore, the parents’ passport needs to include a photo of any child registered on their passport. Where youngsters are travelling without their parents, legal guardians, or anyone registered in the child’s documentation, Costa requires you to verify what documentation is required for the child to travel with the relevant authorities.

United States - Before departure please check with your travel agent and/or national authorities the expiry date of your passport and that it is compliant with the new entry procedure for the United States. For cruises featuring stops or transit in the United States, all passengers must hold a machine-readable passport. Children must also have their own machine-readable passport: inclusion on their parents' passports will not be considered valid. According to the rules provided by the US Department of Homeland Security, which refer to the regulations of the Visa Waiver Program, Costa Cruises reminds you that: <br/>
1) Visitors who have a machine-readable passport which was issued or renewed before 26 October 2005 may enter the United States of America without a visa. <br/>
2) Visitors who have a machine-readable passport which was issued or renewed on or after 26 October 2005 and which has a digital photograph printed directly on the passport, may enter the United States of America without a visa. <br/>
3) Visitors who have a machine-readable passport which was issued or renewed on or after 26 October 2006 require an integrated chip containing biometric data and a digital photograph. Visitors whose passports do not meet these requirements will be required to obtain a visa to travel to the United States.
Effective January 12, 2009 all nationals or citizens of VWP countries (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) who plan to travel to the United States for temporary business or pleasure under the VWP will be required to receive an electronic travel authorization through ESTA prior to boarding a U.S.-bound airplane or vessel. Guests, no less than 72 hours prior to travel, have to log onto the ESTA Web site at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov and complete an on-line application. All guests who are in possession of a valid passport that was issued prior to the introduction of the machine-readable passports, or passports that do no meet the above requirements, or not part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), require a non-immigrant entry visa for the United States. This requirement is also applicable to children. In any case, all guests who are already in possession of a passport are requested to check their documentation with their travel agent or national authorities.
This requirement also applies to children. You can find all the information on how to obtain a US visa on the USA embassy website.

Libya - For the cruises that include a stop in Libya, a valid passport is required. Minors are requested to have their own passport or be registered in their parents’ passport. On arrival in Libya the local authorities will stamp your Passport. <br/>
Please note that your Passport should not have any Israeli stamps or visas (even if expired). Holders of passports with such stamps or visas and Israeli born will not be allowed to board. If onboard staff find such stamps or visas when checking documents prior to the stop in Libya (all passports will be withheld on embarking) the guests concerned will be told by the on-board management that they will have to disembark before the stop in Libya. In this case all costs relating to the guest’s trip home will be paid for by the guest.
Costa Cruises will arrange for the group visa required to disembark in Libya by sending the relevant authorities all Passport information at least two weeks prior to scheduled call in Libya.
For those who decide to go on our excursions, the cost of the visa is included in the excursion price. For all other guests, the cost of the visa will be added to your cabin account. For those who plan to go ashore independently, the group visa will enable you to visit the city of Tripoli only.

Asia - For India a Tourist Visa Multiple Entry is required: this visa is not obtainable on board, so our Guests must get it in advance before departure, contacting the Indian Consular Authority. For China a multiple (valid for at least 2 entries) Tourist Visa is required : this Visa is not obtainable on board, so our Guests must get it in advance before departure, contacting China Consular authority. For Sanya (China) only, turist transit Visa is required: Costa will take care of the necessary formalities to obtain it upon arrival in the country. You will be charged onboard for the relevant cost.
For cruises calling Singapore infant photo is required if included in parent's passport.Please double check contacting the Singapore Consular Authorities to see if you are amongst those nationalities which require a Tourist Visa.
For Vietnam a Transit Visa is required: Costa will take care of the necessary formalities to obtain it upon arrival in the country. You will be charged onboard for the relevant cost.However, should this situation alter, Guests will be advised at the earliest possible opportunity.

Dubai and the Emirates - For cruises to and from Dubai andthe Emirates guests require a passport valid for at least 3months after the date of your return to the UK. However, should this situation alter,guests will be advised atthe earliest possible opportunity.

Mauritius and Indian Ocean - For all cruises to and fromMauritius and Indian Ocean guests require a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond period of intended stay. Costa will take care of the necessary formalities to obtain it upon arrival in the country. You will be charged onboard for the relevant cost. However, should this situation alter, guests will be advised at the earliest possible opportunity.

Egypt - For all cruises to and from Egypt, a passport valid for at least 6 months after the ending date of the cruise is required. Passports for children under 15 years oldFor all cruises requiring a passport, children under 15 years old must travel on their own passport or be registered on that of their parents, except for cruises calling at or transiting inthe United States (see “United States" section). For cruises calling at Singapore, the parents’ passport must include a photograph of any child registered there in.
For cruises requiring an ID card valid for foreign travel, children under 15 years old must travel on their own passport or be registered on that of their parents.
You must check with the relevant authorities whether your child can travel. Acceptance of this document by the local authorities depends on the current regulations in force in the countries at which the ship calls.If the child is not travelling with both parents, or is accompanied by people who are not his or her parents or by his or her guardian or by anyone else registered on his or herdocument, please check with the relevant authorities what documentation is required for the child to travel.

Around the World cruise - Machine-readable passport valid for at least 6 months after the end of the cruise, and visas for Australia and India to be obtained prior to departure.

Red Sea itinerary (Egypt/Israel/Jordan)* - Machine-readable passport valid for at least 6 months after the end of the cruise.

* VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: for particular visa details aboutyour country, you need to contact your local consulate or askyour travel agent.

Travel documents

After buying your cruise, you will receive the following documents:
• Cruise ticket
• Boarding Form
• Baggage tags
• Flight tickets (where applicable)
• List of purchased services
In these travel documents you will also find information ondocuments and visas, embarkation and disembarkation andemergency telephone numbers. You will be sent your traveldocuments around three weeks prior to departure, once yourtravel agent has confirmed your payment. For furtherinformation about the procedures and timing of sending yourtravel documents, please contact your travel agent. You canalso access the personalised section of our websitewww.costacruise.com by entering your name, surname andbooking reference number. Here you can view the followinginformation:
• Booking memo including all purchased services
• Booking Conditions
• Insurance Conditions (if purchased)
• Services booked online
• Tour Order Form (to be filled in only if you do not bookyour excursions online)
• Form authorising Costa to charge your credit card for youronboard expenses
• Information on how to reach the ship
• Information on parking at the port or airport
• Other useful information