PASSPORTS AND VISAS

British Citizens require a full 10 year passport valid for at least 6 months after the date of return travel for all countries to be visited and with spare pages. For British citizens, when joining or departing the ship in some ports, individual visas may need to be obtained prior to the cruise departure. At the time of printing August 2010, you will need to purchase and obtain the following visas if your cruise includes the countries indicated: India multiple entry visa, China visas (for pre and post tours). This information is subject to change and it may be necessary for other visas to be obtained and purchased.

In some ports Swan Hellenic is able to obtain group visas for UK passport holders on arrival which will enable you to go ashore. Swan Hellenic may not always be able to obtain group visas for non UK passport holders. In some countries group visas are restricted to allow passengers to participate in shore excursions organised by Swan Hellenic only. If you wish to explore independently in the countries indicated it will be necessary for you to obtain and purchase an individual visa prior to the cruise departure: St Petersburg, Russia. This information is subject to change and it may be necessary for other visas to be obtained and purchased.

Other nationalities should consult their travel agent/embassy regarding visa/ entry requirements.

Passengers with an Israeli visa or entry permit or with a visa for Egypt or Jordan at an Israeli border crossing in their passport (whether valid or not) may not be permitted to disembark in some countries. At the time of printing this includes Libya and Syria. A new passport must be obtained before travelling on the cruise.

Some countries place restrictions on certain nationalities obtaining group or individual visas. In such ports you will not be permitted to disembark. At the time of printing August 2010, Libya is not granting visas (group or individual) and denying disembarkation to Swiss Passport Holders. At the time of printing passengers covered by the group visa for Libyan ports do not need to obtain an Arabic translation. This information is subject to change.

Any British Citizen Passport holders transiting the US without a machine readable passport will need to obtain a visa from the United States Embassy. British Citizen passport holders with a full right of abode are permitted to transit the USA under the US Visa Waiver Scheme (1-94W) and must register their intention to travel on https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov. Other nationalities please check with your respective embassy.

All the information stated is correct at the time of printing, August 2010 and is subject to change. Swan Hellenic will endeavour to inform passengers of any mandatory requirements and changes in the pre cruise documentation which is sent approximately 8 weeks prior to the cruise departure.

Please note that it is the responsibility of each passenger to check with the various embassies or consulates involved in their particular cruise to ensure that they have the necessary visas and correct documentation to enter all the countries visited. Any passengers arriving at the departure port/airport without a passport, correct visas (if required) or correct documentation will be refused permission to board the ship/ aircraft. Failure in this respect is not covered by insurance and no refund can be made.

HEALTH, VACCINATIONS AND MEDICAL INFORMATION

As health regulations are ever changing, we recommend that you consult your GP or contact MASTA (Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad) www.mastatravel- health.com at least 12 weeks before your intended departure to check the latest requirements for the countries you will be visiting. At the time of confirmation of your booking, we will advise you of any mandatory vaccination requirements. Any passenger arriving at the airport/ port without the correct certificate will be refused permission to board aircraft/ship. No passenger refund is applicable. Depending on the itinerary, passengers should consult their GP regarding the possibility of taking a course of anti-malarial tablets prior to their departure.

In certain countries Yellow Fever inoculations are mandatory for each passenger whether or not you intend to proceed ashore. You will be required to obtain and carry an original Yellow fever certificate stamped by an authorised Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre. The certificate itself is valid from 10 days after vaccination for a period of ten years. If you are excused on medical grounds you will be required to obtain and carry an original Yellow fever exemption certificate stamped by an authorised Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre. Certificates will be inspected at your departure airport/upon embarkation. You will not be able to travel or embark the ship without a valid certificate as stated. Regulations requiring mandatory Yellow Fever Vaccinations and certificates are laid down by the local Port and Health Authorities and the vessel will be unable to obtain entrance to certain ports if the correct paperwork as stated above is not available. This requirement may differ from the advice given by the World Health Organisation and your local doctor. Swan Hellenic will advise you at the time of booking (or as soon as possible if regulations change), if Yellow Fever is a mandatory requirement on your cruise.

If you do not normally enjoy good health, you should consult your doctor regarding the advisability of taking a cruise and being away from the usual medical and hospital facilities. Your insurance company must be advised of any pre-existing condition at the time of booking and of any condition arising subsequently prior to departure, otherwise your insurance may be invalid. We ask you to advise us on the Booking Form of any disability or illness so that we can advise our on-board medical team.

CHILDREN

There are no recreational facilities for children aboard Minerva and reservations for children are not advised.

PASSENGERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Swan Hellenic will always try to accommodate passengers with special needs. However, the following conditions apply:
Medical Situations: Any physical disability or medical condition that requires special treatment or medical apparatus must be reported to the company’s Reservations Manager in writing along with the first deposit, which is due at time of booking. These include but are not limited to wheelchairs, oxygen therapy, dialysis, etc. Failure to disclose a medical situation at time of booking may result in you being denied boarding at port of embarkation.
Health Care Companions: All passengers with special needs must be self-sufficient and must be accompanied by a passenger who will take full responsibility for any assistance needed at all times during the cruise and in the event of an emergency. Pregnancy: Regulations vary from airline to airline, but some will refuse to carry women who will be 28 weeks pregnant on the date of return travel. If you are in doubt, please check with the airline concerned and we would recommend that you consult your doctor in any case.
Disabled Passengers: We feel we should point out that we are not specialists in catering for the disabled. If you or any person travelling with you suffers from a disability, you must contact our office for advice before you make your booking. Wheelchairs: Passengers using wheelchairs must provide their own collapsible chair. Please note that in cabins aboard Minerva there is a 5” riser to bathrooms and some door sills, except in cabin nos A38, A37, S9 and D11, which have been adapted for wheelchair use. However, please note that at all ports of call featured in this cruise programme, passengers are required to walk up or down the gangway when embarking or disembarking the ship. Some ports require tenders to go ashore and conditions may preclude a wheelchair passenger from leaving the vessel; this decision must be made by the ship’s Captain and is binding. Passengers should also be aware that facilities for the disabled in some destinations may be very limited. Getting about once on board Minerva is relatively easy; however, you may find certain parts of the ship inaccessible.
Special Diets: We can usually make provisions for special diets provided that sufficient notice is given, although we cannot cater for Kosher and Halal diets. A vegetarian choice is available on board ship and vegetarian meals are also available on flights. Please indicate any requests at time of booking. We will make every effort to satisfy your request, although this cannot be guaranteed.
Note: The company has the right to refuse or revoke passage to anyone who, in its judgement, is in a physical or mental condition unfit for travel, or who may require care beyond that which the vessel can provide. Under such circumstances, no refund, assistance or compensation will be payable. Please also refer to Section 10 of the Fair Trading Conditions.

HOTELS & LAND TOURS

The land packages contained in this brochure can only be purchased in conjunction with the cruises shown in this brochure. The company reserves the right to assign your hotel based on pre-reserved space at hotels contracted. Hotel rooms are not usually available until approx. 3.00pm on day of arrival. Certain land packages and excursions will not operate if minimum numbers are not met, and others may have a maximum capacity. The sequence of escorted land tours may vary from the brochure. If, for any reason, a hotel or entertainment feature is cancelled or otherwise unavailable, the company reserves the right to cancel, make substitutions or omissions and is under no obligation except that in the event of cancellation you will receive a full refund of any payments received for that service. Please note that the terms for cancellation by the passenger of any pre-booked land stays and excursions are as per our general cancellation terms as detailed in our Fair Trading Conditions.

SHORE EXCURSIONS

Shore excursions are included in your cruise fare in every port of call, where available. Please note that the company reserves the right to amend, cancel or substitute an included shore excursion and in these circumstances is under no obligation to make a refund. Additional excursions, including some as mentioned in the brochure, may be available at supplementary cost.

At the time of going to press, August 2010, the exact content of the shore excursion programme has not been finalised. All excursions should be pre-booked although it may also be possible (subject to space) to book your excursions on board. Shore excursion details will be sent to you approximately 8 weeks prior to departure. Please note that it is not possible to credit the non-use of an included shore excursion against the cost of a supplementary shore excursion.

ITINERARIES

Cruises transiting the Gulf of Aden may be subject to change, according to UK government advice.

JOINING YOUR CRUISE

All our coach transfers to join or leave Swan Hellenic cruises are complimentary. For passengers flying from London and returning to Portsmouth there will be a coach transfer from Portsmouth back to your departure airport in London at the end of the cruise. For passengers departing from Portsmouth and flying back to London, there will be a coach transfer at the start of the cruise from the airport to Portsmouth.

For cruises departing from and returning to Portsmouth there will be return coach transfers from London Victoria coach station, Poole railway station, Bournemouth railway station and Southampton airport.

Checking in at Portsmouth

Check-in at Portsmouth will generally begin 3 hours before the ship is due to sail. For details of car parking at Portsmouth please see page 20-23.

Travelling to the Airport

Approximately 8 weeks prior to departure we will send you details of long-term parking at your departure airport.

FLIGHTS

Summer Cruises

For our summer cruise programme, Swan Hellenic will operate a dedicated flight from London, and where possible we operate a direct aircraft-to-ship luggage transfer at most airports. This means that, once you have checked in your luggage at the UK departure airport, you will not see it again until you reach your cabin. However, with increased security concerns, it may not always be possible to operate this system. In these circumstances you will be required to collect your luggage and proceed through immigration and arrivals. We will have porters waiting to collect your luggage, load it onto lorries and transfer it to the ship where it will be delivered to your cabin. We aim to advise you which system will be in operation when you check in at the airport.

For the return journey a partial checkin will be completed on board ship. However, for security reasons, it may prove necessary to operate a normal check in at the overseas airport.

Winter Cruises

For our winter cruises, we use a mix of scheduled and dedicated charter flights, however, we are not always in a position to confirm full flight details at time of booking and any information that may be provided at that time is subject to change.

Flights to the Middle East, the Indian sub-continent and Far East usually depart the UK in the afternoon or evening, arriving the following day. The departure may differ for flights back to the UK depending on airline schedules. They may depart in the morning arriving back in the UK the same day or depart late evening arriving the following morning.

On our dedicated charter flights from the UK, where possible we will operate a direct aircraft-to-ship luggage transfer. This means that, once you have checked in your luggage at the UK departure airport, you will not see it again until you reach your cabin. However, with increased security concerns, it may not always be possible to operate this system.

On all scheduled flights you will be required to collect your luggage and proceed through immigration and customs. We will have porters waiting to receive your luggage and transfer it to the ship where it will be delivered to your cabin.

On long haul routes flights may be indirect, necessitating a change of aircraft during the journey. On direct services it may be necessary for the aircraft to stop en-route for operational reasons.

Baggage allowance is usually 20kg on our dedicated flights and most scheduled flights, although it may vary slightly according to the carrier.

For long haul flights we recommend that you check-in a minimum of 3 hours before departure to allow for increased security checks. We regret that on-line check-in is not always available for scheduled flights booked through Swan Hellenic. If you do not check in on time, the airline may not allow you to board the flight.

We cannot accept responsibility if such situations arise and, whilst we will do our best to arrange alternative transport, any resulting costs will be your responsibility. Swan Hellenic’s recommended travel insurance includes cover for travel delays (see page 109).

The airlines likely to operate our flights are Thomson Fly, Thomas Cook, Viking, Jet2, Astraeus, Titan, BA, Iberia, Air France and Monarch Airlines using Boeing 737, 747, 757, 767, Airbus A300, A320, A330 and A321. Other airlines and aircraft may also be used including local airlines for internal flights. If you wish to upgrade your flight, please contact us to discuss availability and supplementary costs.

NOTES ABOUT FLIGHTS

1. All flight times, air carriers and flight routings are subject to change. Flights will not necessarily be direct or nonstop. Swan Hellenic will inform you of any changes.

2. Swan Hellenic will determine the city airport i.e. for London, either Heathrow, Stansted or Gatwick may be used. Where a choice of UK departure airport is offered, this is subject to availability.

3. All flight upgrades are on request and are subject to price and availability. Please contact our reservations department to request an upgrade.

4. Please note that for all pre and post-cruise tours and stays, travelling to join or return from your tour or stay will be by scheduled carrier, to or from London.

5. Airlines reserve the right to refuse travel on medical grounds. You must notify us of any medical conditions or other requirements for airport assistance (only available after check in) or special arrangements on your flight. You may be required to provide additional information to the airline in order that they can assess your fitness to fly. Several airlines are unable to carry passengers who require oxygen during part or all of the flight. If you do require oxygen then advance arrangements need to be made at additional cost.

6. If you have any special dietary requirements, please advise us at the time of booking or at least 7 days prior to departure. We are unable to guarantee that all requests can be met.

7. Only fully fit and mobile passengers may occupy exit row seats. These seats will only be assigned at the discretion of the airline at check-in.

8. Due to the configuration of aircraft, it may not always be possible to obtain seats together.

9. All flights are non-smoking.

10. We do not pre-allocate seats.

LOCAL CONNECTING FLIGHTS

Connecting flights to/from London can be arranged at a supplementary cost for cruises where scheduled international flights are used (subject to availability and routing, prices on request). Connecting flights are not available on cruises where we are operating a dedicated charter flight.

Important – It is strongly recommended that you leave a minimum of 4 hours between any connecting flights, to allow for potential flight delays and increased airport security. If you have an early morning flight departure from London, you may wish to consider taking a connecting flight the day before and staying in an airport hotel.

Any hotel accommodation and transfers to make connections will be at passengers’ own expense.

FLIGHT DELAYS

Unfortunately, it is impossible to guarantee that flights will take off exactly on time, as delays can occur for any number of reasons. EU legislation places the responsibility on airlines to provide minimum standards of care to passengers. When there is a delay, we will ask the airline to ensure that you are provided with regular updates and, where necessary and practical, refreshments as follows: 3-5 hour delay - light refreshments: over 5 hours delay – a main meal. Please ensure that all medications are packed in your hand luggage.

INDEPENDENT TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS

The Company will have no responsibility, financial or otherwise, in regard to air, hotel, transport or any other arrangements made by passengers with third parties. Passengers should ensure that any such arrangements are transferable and refundable, or covered by their travel insurance, in the event of delay, amendment or cancellation of any of these independent arrangements, or of your cruise.