Important Information

The following pages give information relevant to certain products and services in this brochure. Please read it carefully as it forms part of your contract with us.

Additional Deposits & Cancellation Terms

Some cruise lines and other suppliers, such as but not limited to, car and motorhome rental, rail journeys, wildlife lodges and viewing tours, escorted tour companies, specialist activities may require an additional deposit in order to confirm a booking. Where this is the case, we will advise at the time of booking. Some of these suppliers may also have different cancellation conditions to ours and we will advise these to you at the time of booking.

Flight Information

Flight tickets: All airlines now issue e-tickets for your flights, which are electronic paperless tickets. An itinerary will be issued with your documents showing all your flight arrangements that you can present at check in.

Checking in: You must check in for your international flights approximately 3 hours prior to departure time on your e-ticket. Please note that due to increased security measures, some airlines may request personal information on check in such as home address or address for your initial stay.

Special Requests: Unfortunately, we have no control over the allocation of seats on a flight and cannot guarantee that you will be sitting with your travelling companion. If you require special seating for medical reasons, please let us know. Some airlines allow you to pre-book your seats for a small charge, please call us for more information.

Airlines/Aircraft: Airlines reserve the right to substitute carriers, aircraft types, seat configuration and cabin classes on their flights. Some airlines may still consider an intermediary touchdown on a flight as a ‘direct’ flight.

Alcohol Policy: All airlines operate a zero-tolerance policy for excess consumption of alcohol on board their flights. Some airlines may or may not serve alcohol on their flights, and some will charge for alcoholic and soft drinks.

Delays: Liability for flight delays are as per the airline’s own conditions of carriage. Please see our terms and conditions or call for more information.

Schedule Changes: Flight schedules are arranged many months in advance, and although rare, some flight rescheduling does occur. A schedule change may range from five minutes to a day or more. If a schedule change does occur, and we are told about it before departure, we may offer a revised itinerary and holiday cost to reflect that change. Please note that the holiday price could be higher or lower, depending on the flight affected. Notwithstanding the above, the provisions of paragraph 10 of our Booking Terms & Conditions apply. Please note that schedule changes are made by the airline, not by First Class Cruise. We cannot accept liability for any extra charges incurred as a result of a rescheduled flight.

Meal Requests: Most international flights include a meal service; however domestic and internal flights may not include meals. Your Airline will provide any special meals that you may require (vegetarian, diabetic etc.). Please request your special meal with your consultant at the time of booking.

Baggage Allowance: Flights: Each airline imposes its own baggage allowance, so please check the information for your flights. Airline allowances are strictly adhered to, and charges will be imposed for excess baggage. For the carriage of special items, like golf clubs, skis, wheelchairs etc, there may be an additional charge as this is extra to your normal baggage allowance. Some airlines will require to be told if you intend to take such items, so please check at the time of booking. Your airline baggage allowance may differ to that of your cruise company, please check this when booking.

Passports, Visa & Health

You must hold a passport which is valid for at least six months following the return date of your trip. It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct documentation and visas for all sectors of your journey. Failure or inability to obtain all required visas for whatever reason does not entitle you to cancel without paying the applicable cancellation charges.

Please check the documentation requirements for any country you may be visiting, including any cities your flight routing may make a touch down at. It is the traveller’s responsibility to ensure they hold the correct legal documentation for all destinations visited. First Class Cruise cannot be held responsible if you are not in possession of the correct documentation.

Visit https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice for more information.

Health Requirements: Details of any compulsory health requirements applicable to British Citizens for your holiday can be found at https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. Please check with your GP / local travel clinic with regards Malaria precautions and medications. Travellers should ideally arrange an appointment with their health professional at least four to six weeks before travel. However, even if time is short, an appointment is still worthwhile. This appointment provides an opportunity to assess health risks taking into account a number of factors including destination, medical history, and planned activities. For those with pre-existing health problems, an earlier appointment is recommended. It is condition of your booking that adequate insurance is taken for the duration of your holiday.

Yellow Fever Certificate Requirements: A Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is required for travellers arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever or who have transited for more than 12 hours through an airport of a country with risk of yellow fever.

Foreign Office Advice: The safety of our customers is our priority and as such we work in line with the advice provided by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. We recommend that you keep up to date with this advice, which can be accessed via the Foreign & Commonwealth office website at www.fco.gov.uk. Alternatively, you can contact ABTA at ABTA.com or their consumer helpline on 0203 117 0599.

Embarkation & Disembarkation

Embarkation times vary from cruise line to cruise line and will be advised in your cruise documents. Disembarkation instructions will be provided onboard towards the end of your cruise. Disembarkation is usually complete 2-4 hours after the vessels arrive but will vary depending on the cruise line. Please note that any times given are approximate and may vary due to customs regulations. Pre-booking departure transfers is recommended as taxi lines at ports can be long. Outbound flights must be scheduled to allow plenty of time from the ship to the airport.

What’s Included

Each cruise line is different, and your booking will confirm what is included within your cruise package. Additional purchases are usually charged to an onboard ship account and settled at the end of your cruise.

Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi is available on most cruise lines and is either available to purchase as a package or included in your fare. Please note onboard Wi-Fi is not guaranteed at all times and can be affected by weather and the ship’s location. Guests on expedition cruises should expect to be out communication range for some or all of their cruise.

FAQs: Each cruise line has their own set of FAQS (Frequently Asked Questions) which will usually cover any questions you have.

Dress code: Each cruise line will have a guide to clothing suggestion. Casual resort wear is usually appropriate with more elegant attire for evenings. Expedition cruises to the Arctic and/or Antarctica will often provide outerwear for off-board excursions. Your cruise company will be able to provide specific information as to what is required.

Gratuities: Cruise gratuities are either included in your cruise fare or added to your onboard account distributed amongst the crew.

Cultural Awareness

Many of the cruise ports of call will visit destinations steeped in tradition and etiquette and it is recommended that you research these before your visit. Visitors to holy sites and temples will be required to wear long trousers, dresses, or skirts below the knees with shoulders covered.

Hotels & Accommodation

Depending on the country/countries visited there will be a wide range of accommodations as part of your pre and post cruise itinerary. Size of room and style may vary depending on where you are. Please note that there is no international classification system for hotels and differences in facilities and quality will exist between the UK and countries around the world. We use our own gradings and they are based on location and are purely for guidance purposes, they are not official ratings.

Excursions & Shore Excursions

Any excursions or tours that you book or pay for whilst on holiday are not part of your package holiday provided by us. For anything that you do book in this way, your contract will be with the operator of the tour or excursion and not with us. We are not responsible for the provision of these excursions or tours or anything that occurs during them.

Holiday Insurance

We consider adequate travel insurance to be essential. It is a condition of your contract with us that you should take out insurance to cover you in the event of illness, personal injury, or death during your holiday and for cancellation. Please read your policy details carefully and take them with you on holiday. It is your responsibility to ensure that the insurance cover you purchase is suitable and adequate for your requirements. Please check that your travel insurance policy has cruise cover.

Data Protection Statement: Please be assured that we have measures in place to protect the personal booking information held by us. This information will be passed on to the principal and to the relevant suppliers of your travel arrangements. The information may also be provided to public authorities such as customs or immigration if required by them, or as required by law. Certain information may also be passed on to security or credit checking companies. If you travel outside the European Economic Area, controls on data protection may not be as strong as the legal requirements in this country. We will only pass your information on to persons responsible for your travel arrangements. This applies to any sensitive information that you give to us such as details of any disabilities, or dietary/religious requirements. (If we cannot pass this information to the relevant suppliers, whether in the EEA or not, we will be unable to provide your booking. In making this booking, you consent to this information being passed on to the relevant persons.) Full details of our data protection policy are available upon request.

Documentation: Once your booking is confirmed, you will receive a confirmation invoice which will detail all the arrangements made on your behalf. On receipt, please check all details thoroughly, including the spelling of all names and advise your travel agent immediately if you have any concerns. Your final travel documents will be sent to your travel agent 2 to 3 weeks before departure and may include airline e-tickets, hotel and travel vouchers, maps, tourist information and a day-by-day personalised itinerary. Many cruise lines have a mobile App which enables you to pre-book shore excursions, spa treatments and dining at your convenience.

Image Copyright: Reproduction of the images within this brochure is not permitted. We do not own the rights to the images used.

Brochure Validity: This brochure was printed in February 2025 and is valid until replaced by a newer edition.