legal and travel documentation required for a cruise holiday
.Passport
A passport is the most crucial document if you are going on a cruise. Any international travel requires you to have a passport, and so does a cruise holiday. You not only need a passport but also must ensure that it has a validity of 6 months from the date of the last day of sailing. Moreover, there should be at least two blank pages for visa stamping. You will have to show your passport each time you embark and disembark on the cruise ship.
Visa
If you are visiting a foreign country on your cruise holiday, you will need to check whether you need the visa for the same. In case you are visiting multiple countries, you will have to get visas for all of them. Many think that the cruise liners would take care of the visas when you book the cruise. But this is not the case. The job of applying for a visa lies with the passengers. You will have to check if you are eligible for a visa on arrival or e-visa of the countries you are visiting. If not, you will have to apply for one before your trip begins.
Boarding Pass
Just like flights, cruises also issue boarding passes. In recent years, it has become mandatory for cruise travelers to do a web check-in before they reach the port. Once you do a check-in, you will receive your boarding pass with all your boarding details, including the time you need to report at the cruise terminal. While it is not mandatory to have a hard copy of your boarding pass, it is always better to carry a printout of the boarding pass along with the other documents for ease.
Proof of Vaccination
Depending on the countries you are traveling to, you may have to take some vaccinations. For instance, several cruises have made it mandatory for their passengers to have certificates of Covid-19 vaccinations. You may be asked to take malaria and typhoid vaccinations when traveling to certain countries. Yellow fever vaccinations are required for those who have traveled to countries (this includes 13 Central and South American countries and 47 African countries) with a risk of this disease, in the recent past.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance may not be mandatory for all cruise travel, but it would be pragmatic to buy one. Just like all other travel plans, you may face emergencies while on the cruise as well. There could be delays, cancellations, and even medical emergencies. In each of the cases, having insurance would be helpful. Take a printout of your travel insurance that includes your policy number as well as the number of your insurance company.
Travel Permissions
As a cruise passenger, you may need to have some permission to embark on the cruise. Here are some of the travel permissions you may require:
- If you are a single parent traveling with your minor child, you will require written and signed permission from the other parent.
- Grandparents or guardians traveling with minor children must get a signed consent form or letter from the parents (if the parents are not traveling on the cruise).
- Pregnant women will have to get a health certificate from their doctors approving your holiday. Note that almost all cruises have a policy where pregnant women over 24 weeks are not allowed to go on the cruise.
International Driver’s License
If you are planning to explore the cities you are visiting in foreign countries by renting a car, you need to have an international driver’s license. If you do not have it, apply for one before you leave for your cruise.
Conclusion
Apart from the documents mentioned above, you may have to produce additional documents as per the rules of certain cruise lines. Once you book the cruise, enquire about the documents you are expected to carry with the cruise line, to ensure a smooth and successful cruise holiday.
