You are responsible for obtaining all necessary travel documents and for complying with Customs and Immigration requirements. Guests 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.

Travel documents
You will receive a travel pack containing the following documents:
•Cruise ticket
•Boarding form
•Baggage tags
•Flight tickets (where applicable)
•Vouchers for ground services (where applicable)
In the travel pack you will also find personalised information on your cruise and related services such as how to get to the embarkation port, car parking and garage services and the ship’s telephone numbers. There will also be details on the onboard services you can book prior to departure, and a full list of the excursions with descriptions and prices. You will be sent your travel documents about three weeks before departure as long as your final payment has been made. If payment is not made within the deadlines stated in the contract between you and Costa, or if the booking is made within two weeks of departure, Costa Cruises will send you or the travel agency a booking summary by fax or e-mail, in place of the travel documents. 


Passports & Visas
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 Benmar Passport and Visa Service on 020 7836 5638 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 withheld 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.

• USA - To avoid any inconveniences at departure, please check the expiry date of your passport and that it is compliant with the new entry procedure for the United States. If you require assistance please contact your travel agency.
You must be in possession of a machine readable passport.
Each child must have their own machine readable passport: registration in the parents’ passport 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:
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.
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.
3) Visitors who have a machine readable passport, which was issued or renewed on or after 26 October 2006, require integrated chip with information from the data page (e-passport). Visitors whose passports do not meet these requirements will be required to obtain a visa to travel to the United States
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, 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.
Please note - Under US Law and in accordance with an International Agreement between the European Union and the United States, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will receive certain travel and reservation data (PNR) about passengers flying between the European Union and the United States.
DHS has undertaken that it uses this information primarily for the purposes of preventing and combating terrorism and other transnational serious crimes. These and other data may also be used for checking against lists of passengers raising aviation security concerns.
The PNR information will be retained for at least three years and six months and may be shared with other authorities.
Further information about these arrangements, including measures to safeguard your personal data can be obtained from your airline or travel agent.

• 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 cruises calling in Singapore an infant photo is required if included in parent’s passport.
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.
Far East cruises
Shanghai to Shanghai - document - Multiple visa for China - passport validity 6 months after the end of the cruise
Tianji to Tianjin - Multiple visa for China - passport validity 6 months after the end of the cruise
Shanghai to Tianjin - Multiple visa for China - passport validity 6 months after the end of the cruise
Tianjin to Shanghai - Multiple visa for China - passport validity 6 months after the end of the cruise
Hong Kong to Hong Kong - passport validity 6 months after the end of the cruise
Hong kong to Shanghai - single or Multiple visa for China - passport validity 6 months after the end of the cruise
Hong kong to Tianjin - single or Multiple visa for China - passport validity 6 months after the end of the cruise
Tianjin to Hong Kong - single or Multiple visa for China - passport validity 6 months after the end of the cruise
Shanghai to Hong Kong - single or Multiple visa for China - passport validity 6 months after the end of the cruise


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

• Mauritius and Indian Ocean - for all cruises to and from Mauritius and Indian Ocean guests require a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond period of intended stay. For Kenya a Transit Visa is requested: 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.
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS: Vaccinations are not required. Antimalarial treatment is recommended for stops in Kenya, Mayotte, and Madagascar.

• 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. 

Children under 16 years old
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.