Before you sail

Baggage storage on your cruise

There is no restriction on the amount of luggage that you may bring on board the cruises which depart from and return to the UK. As there are no separate Baggage Room facilities aboard Marco Polo, it should be noted that all baggage must be stored within the cabin. Maximum depth of suitcases should be no more than 23 cm in order to assure under bed storage.

However for the winter 2008/2009 cruise programme that involves flights, your baggage allowance will be subject to the conditions imposed by the airline. On scheduled flights used in conjunction with the pre- and post cruise land packages the free baggage allowance per person is normally 20kgs in economy class. For passengers joining or leaving the ship directly and utilising the special Transocean charter flight from/to Dusseldorf/Frankfurt, the baggage allowance is a more generous 30 kgs per person.

The Transocean Tours cruise brochure

The information contained in this brochure has been checked for accuracy and is correct at the time of printing in April 2008. Worldwide events subsequent to this date may necessitate unavoidable alterations to our planned schedules. Any such changes deemed to be significant or fundamental to your booking will be advised to you accordingly

It should also be noted that the destination photography and maps are generic to the locations depicted and may not be a specific representation of sights or images to be viewed in a particular port of call on the cruise booked.

Children and teens on your cruise

There are no dedicated recreational facilities for children aboard Marco Polo, but nevertheless accompanied children and teenagers under the age of 17 at the date of sailing are of course welcome aboard and, when occupying a third or fourth berth in a cabin with two full fare paying passengers, travel at a beneficial rate as shown under the Fares box on each cruise page. Children and teens under the age of 17 at the date of sailing but occupying a twin cabin with just one accompanying adult are charged at the full adult fare.

Dress code during your cruise

During the day, attitudes are very relaxed and informality is the key. Casual clothing is quite sufficient during the days at sea and for time spent ashore. On certain shore excursions and at some religious sites, discretion should be used so as not to cause inadvertent offence with inappropriate clothing. Advice will be given on board in such cases. Every day, the Daily Programme suggests, as a guide a mode of dress for that particular evening’s events.

There are generally two ‘formal’ or gala nights planned on each cruise when many gentlemen wear a dinner jacket, although a lounge suit is quite acceptable. The ladies on these occasions have a chance to dress up and often opt for evening or cocktail dresses.

On evenings proposed as ‘informal’, a suit or smart jacket and trousers, with or without a tie, for the men is suggested and the ladies have further opportunities to look elegant in a cocktail dress, trouser suits and stylish co-ordinates. A ‘casual’ recommendation often covers evenings spent in port or when a special event such as a deck party is scheduled. In these cases, the choice of dress is left entirely to you. Passengers travelling on our Antarctic itineraries will have the complimentary use of ‘parka’ jackets and rubber boots for their landfalls on the ice continent.

Electrical appliances on-board

All cabins feature 110v and 220v current and have an electrical socket to allow small appliances such as electric shavers, electric rollers and curling tongs and to be used. Each bathroom is equipped with an integral hair dryer.

Arrangements for embarking/disembarking your cruise

For the summer sailings the embarkation procedures at the London Cruise Terminal, Tilbury normally commence 4 hours prior to the published sailing time. At final disembarkation, you should allow approximately 90 minutes from the scheduled arrival time before disembarkation.

For our winter programme of cruises, where embarkation takes place in Rio de Janeiro, Ushuaia, Valparaiso or St. John’s, Antigua, the timing of the check-in procedures will be arranged with the incoming flight arrival times taken into account. Passengers that have booked on a cruise-only basis should arrive at the port approximately 2-3 hours prior to the published sailing time.

Full embarkation procedures and timings will be confirmed when tickets and cruise documentation is despatched usually 14 days prior to sail date.

Flight information and availability

All flights are subject to availability and based on economy class scheduled/low cost/charter services and fares and are subject to the carriers’ terms and conditions of carriage and baggage restrictions (normally 15-20 kgs per person). Flight supplements may also apply and upgrades are available on request. Full details of the flight arrangements for all the featured fly-cruises will be advised nearer to the holiday departure date. It should also be noted that international departure taxes are not included in the fares as they must be paid locally by you prior to the return homeward flight. More details more will be provided nearer to the holiday departure date.

Gratuities on your cruise

For your greater convenience we operate an automatic system whereby gratuities to your crew on-board have already been included in your cruise fare.

Health requirements for your cruise

As at the time of printing, the Brazilian authorities require that passengers travelling on Cruise T901 sailing from Tilbury on 5th November 2008 obtain a Yellow Fever inoculation in advance of their cruise. There are no mandatory vaccinations for visiting any of the other ports of call of the cruises in this brochure. The publication Health Advice for Travellers produced by the Dept of Health provides useful information and is also available on their website: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Healthadvicefortravellers/index.htm

Holiday and cruise accomodation information

We have endeavoured to provide as much information as possible about Marco Polo, the cruise holidays and the hotels used in the optional pre- and post- cruise land tours of the winter season. However, please bear in mind that from time to time, certain facilities, activities entertainments and shore excursions may be altered or withdrawn due to such reasons as adverse weather conditions, lack of demand, essential maintenance work or other reasons beyond our control.

Cruise itineraries

It should be noted that the cruise itineraries published in this brochure are subject to amendment. Should major changes to the ports of call, other than timing adjustments or the order in which they are visited, become necessary we shall endeavour to notify you in advance.

In respect of the winter cruises to Antarctica, it must be stressed that the landfalls shown as planned in the itineraries of cruises T907, T913, T918 and T922 are entirely dependent on favourable ice and weather conditions. Whilst every effort will be made to fulfil the calls, local conditions may deem it necessary to cancel, substitute or make the visits in a different order.

Medical declarations for your cruise

In the interest of your own safety and wellbeing, you must be fit and healthy to take your cruise and all other travel arrangements that you book with us. Therefore, the company must be advised at the time of booking of any pre-existing medical condition and of any change to a passenger’s condition that occurs between booking and the sailing date. Medical Declarations, on the Company’s official form, will be required by all passengers including those who a) are pregnant or b) have a mental or physical disability, including mobility limitations. The Declarations are part of the Passenger Cruise Information Form (see below) which are sent to passengers once bookings are confirmed. Transocean Tours reserves the right in its absolute discretion to refuse boarding to persons who in the opinion of the Company’s Medical Consultant are unfit to undertake the cruise or who have failed to make full disclosure of the nature of their condition.

The Company regrets that it cannot accept bookings from passengers who will be twenty-eight weeks pregnant or more by the end of their cruise. Please note that a failure to disclose a specified medical condition may additionally invalidate your travel insurance.

Medical services on-board

The services of our qualified medical staff are available to you on board in the event of ‘mal de mer’ or an emergency. It should be noted that the NHS does not cover treatment on the ship and there is a scale of charges for surgery visits and medical treatment. Such charges are usually claimable under your travel insurance policy, less any excess amounts.

Mobility and special needs on your cruise

A cruise is quite unlike a land based holiday and the ships of our fleet are not ideally suited to prospective passengers in wheelchairs or those who have limited mobility. It is therefore essential that you contact our office to discuss your requirements before you make a booking. It should be noted that the layout of the ship could considerably restrict such passengers’ movement around the vessel and indeed preclude access to some of the ports of call, where gangway conditions are not conducive or passengers are conveyed ashore by tender. Passengers with mobility limitations, or who have special needs, that are accepted for travel must be accompanied by at least one able-bodied companion who will be responsible for general care and assistance throughout the cruise.

On-board payments

On cruises T950 to T960 which are sold exclusively on the UK market, all prices on board are quoted in Sterling and a cashless system is in operation for all your on board purchases. On all other cruises, the on board currency is the €uro. In any event, an account is opened for you at the start of your cruise and you sign a debit when purchasing goods and services on board. This is charged to your shipboard account and a final invoice is presented at the end of the cruise itemising all charges. This can be settled by Sterling Travellers’ Cheques (Cruises T950 to T960 only), Visa or MasterCard credit cards, and of course, cash. It is not possible to use debit cards or personal cheques to settle on board accounts. The Reception staff also offer a facility to purchase small amounts of foreign currency for use in most of the ports of call.

Passenger cruise information form

Once your booking is confirmed, you will receive a Passenger Cruise Information Form. An important feature of this form is the Medical Declaration, which needs to be completed by each person travelling. The other sections of the Passenger Cruise Information Form will enable us to record your precise requirements for Car Parking at Tilbury, any Coaching Arrangements, Restaurant Seating and any dietary preferences, plus other pertinent information that you feel we should know before you cruise.

Passport information required for your cruise

A passport is essential for all cruises and British Citizens must hold a full ten year passport. Many countries, including most of those visited during the winter cruise programme, require visitors to hold passports that have at least six months validity beyond the return date of the cruise. It is the responsibility of holders of non-British passports to check with the relevant consular authorities of the countries to be visited to ascertain if there any specific restrictions or requirements for their planned itinerary. Any passenger arriving at the departure port (or airport) without a passport, or with the incorrect documentation, will not be allowed to embark. Such circumstances are not covered by insurance and no refund claims will be entertained.

On-board restaurant and table reservations

The well appointed Waldorf restaurant is an elegant setting for breakfast, lunch and dinner. In addition, breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets are served in Marco’s Restaurant for those who prefer more casual meal times. Whilst breakfasts and lunches are generally served in the restaurant on an open seating basis, two sittings are operated for dinner in the evening. On days at sea, these sittings are normally timed at 18.30 and 20.30hrs. You will have the opportunity to state any preferences for a particular sitting and/or table size on the Passenger Cruise Information Form, sent to you once your booking is confirmed.

Safety and security on your cruise

For your complete security and peace of mind, there are stringent security measures in force at UK ports and particularly so at Tilbury. All cabin baggage will be electronically screened, hand baggage may be examined and you will be required to pass through an X-Ray arch prior to boarding the vessel. At embarkation you will be issued with a personalised ID card which is used for gangway control purposes and validates you as a bona-fide passenger.

Shore Excursions during your cruise

An attractive programme of tours is offered at each of our ports of call. At the time of going to print, the exact content and pricing of the programme has not been finalised, but you will be sent full details and a booking form with your pre-sailing information around two months prior to sailing. We shall operate a pre-reservation service and, availability permitting; you will also be able to book on board with our Shore Excursion staff who will be pleased to assist you in selecting the tours most suitable for your requirements. On our winter cruise programme, some of the optional overland excursions will not be available for sale on board and must be pre-booked. Full details will be advised with the pre-sailing information.

Smoking restrictions on-board

As a consideration to all passengers, there are designated smoking and non-smoking areas around the ship. Should international maritime legislation subsequently affect this policy, passengers will be informed accordingly. In any event, the Waldorf Restaurant and the bistro will operate a non-smoking policy at all times.

Special diet arrangements for your cruise

Passengers with certain dietary requirements may be catered for and further enquiries should be made at the time of booking. Dietary preferences should be entered in the relevant section of the Passenger cruise information form.

Travel insurance for your cruise

It is a condition of booking that adequate travel insurance is held by all passengers. Details of the policy we offer are shown on page 66. If you opt not to purchase this insurance, you must give details of the alternative cover that you have in place, including the name of your insurer, policy number and most importantly the telephone number of the insurer’s Emergency Assistance service. Read more about travel insurance on your cruise.

Looking after your valuables during your cruise

Each cabin has the facility of a personal safe for your valuables and important papers.

Visas required for your cruise

At the time of printing, no individual visas are required to be obtained in advance for the cruises listed in this brochure by British nationals who hold a passport that show that they are a ‘British Citizen’. Passengers on the Baltic Cities & St Petersburg cruise at the time of writing will not be required to obtain individual Russian visas if they only go ashore as participants in the official shore excursion programme.

Ship's photography

We would like to extend our appreciation to Marco Polo’s owners for supplying and granting permission to publish the ship’s photographic material on this website. Some of the images have been re-touched to take account of Transocean Tours livery and during the ship’s summer 2008 season new and updated material will be taken for publication in the future.