Very important! Please read the following information regarding changes to passport requirements. These changes impact US Citizens and non-US Citizens. For more information, please see the U.S. State Department website for passport information. Expired passports are not acceptable.

IMPORTANT

All of the requirements, instructions and information below could change at anytime. It is you responsibility and yours alone to keep up-to-date on these rules, requirements and regulations. Contact your cruise line for the latest information. Failure to have the proper identification, proof of citizenship,  a visa if required and any immunizations necessary, will result in denied boarding and you will not get a refund for your cruise.

YOU MUST CARRY A PASSPORT VALID FOR SIX MONTHS BEYOND THE DURATION OF YOUR TRAVEL FOR ALASKA CRUISES AND CRUISETOURS.

U.S. and Canadian citizens: Beginning on January 23, 2007, with the implementation of the first phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, all persons, including citizens of the United States, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Bermuda and the rest of the world. You will be required to have and carry a valid passport to enter or re-enter the United States by air.

This is an important new requirement for cruise guests booked on Alaska cruise or cruisetour itineraries. In addition, this new requirement will also impact Canadian guests that travel by air to or from any of our U.S. embarkation ports.

All Alaska cruise and cruisetour guests must travel with a valid passport during their cruise. Having a passport also enables guests to fly from the U.S. to meet their ship at the first port should they miss their scheduled embarkation and allow guests that must disembark the ship before their cruise ends due to an emergency to fly back to the U.S without significant delays and complications.

By January 1, 2008, with the implementation of the final phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, all persons, including citizens of the United States, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Bermuda and the rest of the world will be required to have and carry a valid passport to enter or re-enter the United States by air, land or sea.

For more information and implementation dates, please visit www.travel.state.gov/passport or call the National Passport Information Center toll free at 1-877-487-2778 or TDD/TYY at 1-888-874-7793.

Non-U.S./non-Canadian citizens: You must have and carry a passport valid for six months beyond the duration of the cruise. Please carefully verify the existing identification requirements for your particular travel situation. In addition, non-U.S. citizens who have previously been admitted to the United States for permanent residence must carry their Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551), commonly known as a Green Card. Resident aliens not in possession of this must obtain one at the nearest office of the U.S. Immigration Service.

Visas

Some countries require that you obtain official authorization (called a visa), before entering their country. Usually, there is a fee required. You are responsible for obtaining any necessary visas if your itinerary requires a visa prior to boarding,  You should contact the nearest representative embassies or consulates for the proper information. All guests should keep themselves advised of changes in government requirements. If you have questions about visa requirements, call Zierer Visa Service at 866-788-1100 or 202-745-4470. You may also choose to send an E-mail message to: info@zvs.com

Non-US or -Canadian citizens may be required to hold a Canadian Visa when traveling to Alaska or Canada. Please visit the Canadian government website at http://canada.gc.ca to verify your nationality's requirements.

Schengen Visa holders (applies to those EU-Member citizens only): New requirements pertaining to proof of medical insurance coverage have been adopted for all Schengen Visa holders. This requirement does not apply to US or Canadian citizens. All guests should keep themselves advised of changes in government requirements. If you have questions about visa requirements, call Zierer Visa Service at 866-788-1100 or local (202)745-4470. You may also choose to send an E-mail message to: hollandvisainfo@zvs.com or visit their website at: www.zvs.com.

Machine-Readable Passports
Effective June 26, 2005, travelers from the 27 countries participating in the United States' Visa Waiver Program (VWP)must have a machine-readable passport to enter the United States.

If you are in possession of a passport issued by any of the 27 countries listed below, please contact the passport issuing authority to ensure that you are in possession of a machine-readable passport.

The 27 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program include: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Additional information regarding the Visa Waiver Program is available online at www.dhs.gov.

Please note that boarding may be denied to travelers from VWP countries that do not have machine-readable passports.

Immunizations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that you contact your local physician ideally 4-6 weeks prior to departure. Immunizations may be recommended or required for countries visited on your cruise itinerary. You may also check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for details on which countries require immunizations. It is also a good idea to bring along a record of your immunizations, as requirements for immunizations may change.

IMPORTANT

All of the above instructions and information could change at anytime. It is you responsibility and yours alone to keep up-to-date on these rules, requirements and regulations. Contact your cruise line for the latest information. Failure to have the proper identification, proof of citizenship,  a visa if required and any immunizations necessary, will result in denied boarding and you will not get a refund for your cruise.