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WHAT TO WEAR & PACK
As a general rule, for days on board and ashore, summer clothing/ sportswear is the order of the day. It should be light, casual and easy to care for. A sweater and jacket for cooler evenings and a light raincoat are also advisable. For trips ashore and getting into and out of the ship's tenders comfortable walking shoes are a must. As the weather will usually be suitable for sunbathing (except in Antarctica ), don't forget your bathing suit, wrap, sunglasses and sunscreen. In the evening, there is no strict dress code although some passengers may wish to dress traditionally in ‘black tie' and evening dresses for formal nights such as the Captain's Welcome Dinner. However, a lounge suit or jacket and tie would be fine - the choice is yours. On other evenings the dress code will be semi-formal or smart/casual. Details will be given in the daily program on board. In Antarctica , wearing several layers of lighter clothing is more effective than one or two heavy garments. We'll issue you with a complimentary expedition parka perfectly suited to the task and the environment. And, long before you travel, we'll send you tips and information on exactly what else you'll need to bring, including suggested sources, from sun visors and woolly hats to UV sunglasses and sunscreens, windcheaters and waterproofs, right down to walking shoes and boots.
LAUNDRY
A laundry, dry cleaning and pressing service is available on board.
PASSPORTS AND VISAS
All US Citizens will require a full passport valid for the countries visited and which must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your return date. At time of printing, no visas are required for any of our cruises if you hold a US passport, except for Brazil . US citizens taking the optional extension by air to Sydney will need an Australian visa. Should this change, you will be notified.
Any non-US passengers will require full passports valid for the countries visited. It is the responsibility of each passenger to check with the various embassies or consulates involved for their particular cruise, ensuring that they have the necessary documentation/visas to enter all countries visited. Any passenger arriving at the departure port/airport without a passport or necessary visas will be refused permission to board the ship/aircraft. Failure in this respect is not covered by the insurance and no refund can be claimed. Zierer Visa Service will be happy to obtain any necessary visas for you and can be contacted by e-mail on: cruise@zvs.com. At least 60 days prior to departure we must have the following information relating to each passenger: name in full (as it appears on the passport), address, nationality, date and place of birth; plus passport number, expiration date, and date and place of issue. Passengers cannot be included on group visas if this information is not supplied in time.
HEALTH, VACCINATIONS AND MEDICAL INFORMATION
As health regulations are ever-changing, we suggest you consult the Center of Disease Control in Atlanta or your local public health department. Please check the requirements of the countries that you will be visiting at least 8 weeks before your intended departure. 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. The company must be advised of any pre-existing condition at the time of booking and of any condition arising subsequently prior to departure.
CHILDREN
Aboard the MV Discovery there are no recreational facilities for children and reservations for those under the age of eleven are not advised.
PASSENGERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Discovery World Cruises 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, service animals, etc.
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 during the cruise and in the event of an emergency.
Pregnancy: We will not accept reservations for women who will be 24 weeks pregnant or more at the time they travel.
Disabled Passengers : We feel that we should point out that we are not specialists in catering for the disabled or those with serious medical conditions. If you or any person traveling with you suffers from a disability or serious illness, you must contact our office for advice before you make your booking.
Wheelchairs: Passengers confined to wheelchairs must provide their own collapsible chair and may find certain areas of the ship inaccessible. Please note that in cabins aboard the Discovery there is a 5" riser to bathrooms except in wheelchair-accessible cabins, no.'s 4140 and 4144. 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 handicapped in some exotic destinations may be very limited.
Special diets: We can usually make provisions for special diets provided that sufficient notice is given. A good vegetarian choice is available on board ship. Please indicate any requests at time of booking. We will make every effort to satisfy your request, although this cannot be guaranteed. 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.
VOLTAGE ON BOARD
110 volts A.C., but you will need a continental two-pin adaptor, available in electrical shops.
AT SEA CURRENCY AND PAYMENTS
US Dollars are used on board. There is little opportunity to visit banks whilst on tour, although guides will normally help exchange small amounts if necessary, and there are not always foreign exchange facilities on board. For purchases ashore, many shops accept most Travelers' Checks and major credit cards. A cashless system operates on the ship (except for the casino) with passengers settling accounts at the end of the cruise. Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club, Discovery cards and Travelers' Checks are accepted for payment of shipboard accounts but personal checks are not.
DINING ARRANGEMENTS
Breakfast and lunch are arranged on an open-sitting basis and may be taken in the Seven Continents Restaurant or ‘al fresco' at the Lido Buffet on Sun Deck. Continental breakfast is also available in your cabin. In the evening, there are two sittings for dinner in the Seven Continents Restaurant. The timings will depend on the day's programme, but as a general rule main sitting is 6.30 pm , late sitting is 8.30 pm . Your preference should be indicated at time of booking, but cannot be guaranteed. On selected evenings the Yacht Club, situated forward on Sun Deck, offers an alternative dinner menu at no extra charge. Reservations must be made on board.
TIPPING ON BOARD
We are often asked for guidance on this personal matter which is entirely at your discretion. We suggest about $7.50 per person per day which would basically cover cabin and dining room staff. For your convenience, we automatically add 15% service charge to bar and wine orders, plus beauty salon and spa services.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Our sophisticated on-board telecommunications systems mean that you are never more than a phone call away from home or office. All cabins feature direct-dial telephones, whilst fax facilities are available at the Purser's Desk and computer facilities in the Internet Centre.
MEDICAL ATTENTION
We hope you will find it unnecessary to use the ship's medical facilities during your voyage. If, however, the occasion does arise, it is comforting to know that we do carry a well-equipped medical center staffed by a fully qualified doctor and nurse. A charge is made for their services and we will require payment for any medicines or drugs needed. Such charges are normally reclaimable under your travel insurance, less any policy excess.
SMOKING
Passengers are requested not to smoke in their cabin or in the restaurants, and only smoke in designated areas of the main lounges. Smoking is not permitted on excursion coaches.
EMERGENCY DRILL
Before the ship sails or early in the cruise, there will be a full muster stations drill. This exercise is to give all passengers precise information on the correct route from their cabins to the places where they should muster in an emergency, together with instructions about life jackets and emergency procedures. ALL passengers must attend.
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