Passports and Visas
Please check that you possess the required passport for the chosen cruise before departure and check its validity. If guests do not possess the required documentation they will not be allowed to board the ship or be entitled to a refund for their cruise tickets.

In order to avoid problems at departure, we kindly ask you to carefully check the validity of your documents and to be in possession of what is required for the cruise. If any guest doesnot possess the required documentation they will be deniedboarding their cruise and cancellation penalties will be applied.

Passports
Passengers applying for a new passport, or renewing anexpired one, should allow at least two months for theapplication to be processed and up to three months ifapplying between February and June. It is also importantthat name changes for newlywed wives must be notifiedto us immediately so that the name stated on the passportmatches the name on the ticket. The names on cruise andairline documents must be the same as those shown on passports. Any discrepancies (including nicknames andabbreviated names) may prevent travel and also makeinsurance policies invalid. If any guest does not possess therequired documentation they will be denied boarding theircruise and cancellation penalties will be applied.It is strongly recommended that you contact your local Consular Authority in order to ascertain passport and visarequirements. If any guest does not possess the requireddocumentation they will be denied boarding their cruiseand cancellation penalties will be applied. We recommend that you check your visa requirements with your travel agent or the appropriate embassy at least two months prior to travel. In addition to the cost of any visa you will becharged an administration fee to use this service.

Please note - Passports may be retained by Costa staff onembarkation and withheld for the entire duration of the cruiseso they can be presented to the various port authorities.Passports are then made available only when guests requirethem to go ashore.

China - A Single or Multiple visa is compulsory for positioningcruises between:
Hong Kong (or Singapore) to Tianjin
Hong Kong (or Singapore) to Shanghai
Shanghai to Hong Kong (or Singapore)
Tianjin to Hong Kong (or Singapore)
Multiple China visa is compulsory for positioning/regularcruises:
Shanghai to Tianjin
Shanghai to Shanghai
Tianjin to Tianjin
Tianjin to Shanghai
A special visa for China will be provided on board only foritineraries from Hong Kong (or Singapore) to Hong Kong (orSingapore) stopping at Sanya. For UK pax it is free of chargefor guests participating in a Costa excursion, however it mustbe purchased (RMB 469) in case guests want to disembarkindividually. In case of embarkation and disembarkationduring any planned stops in all ports* of China, a visa isrequired and guests will have to request it in advance fromthe Chinese Consulate (*The only exception is Sanya transit -see above).

Dubai and the Emirates - For cruises to and from Dubai andthe Emirates guests require a passport valid for at least 3months after the date of your return to the UK.However, should this situation alter, guests will be advised atthe earliest possible opportunity.

Libya -– For the cruises that include a stop in Libya, a valid passport is required. Minors are requested to have their own passport or be registered in their parents’ passport. On arrival in Libya the local authorities will stamp your Passport. Please note that your Passport should not have any Israeli stamps or visas (even if expired). Holders of passports with such stamps or visas and Israeli born will not be allowed to board.
If onboard staff find such stamps or visas when checking documents prior to the stop in Libya (all passports will be with held on embarking) the guests concerned will be told by the on-board management that they will have to disembark before the stop in Libya. In this case all costs relating to the guest’s trip home will be paid for by the guest. Costa Cruises will arrange for the group visa required to disembark in Libya by sending the relevant authorities all Passport information at least two weeks prior to scheduled call in Libya.
For those who decide to go on our excursions, the cost of the visa is included in the excursion price. For all other guests, the cost of the visa will be added to your cabin account. For those who plan to go ashore independently, the group visa will enable you to visit the city of Tripoli only.

Egypt - Cruises that stop in Egypt require a passport or ID card(accompanied by 1 passport photo, without which an entryvisa will not be issued) valid for foreign travel for at least 6months after the cruise. Paper ID cards with over 5 years'validity as verified by a stamp on the back are accepted, butnote that the Egyptian authorities do not grant entry totravellers holding electronic ID cards with certificates ofextension (paper slips that extend the validity of thedocument more than 5 years); in this case we recommendthat you use another type of document (a new ID card orpassport).

Asia - For India a Tourist Visa Multiple Entry is required: thisvisa is not obtainable on board, so our guests must get it inadvance before departure, contacting the Indian ConsularAuthority.
For cruises calling in Singapore an infant photo is required ifincluded in parent’s passport.For Vietnam a Transit Visa is required: Costa will take care ofthe necessary formalities to obtain it upon arrival in thecountry. You will be charged onboard for the relevant cost. However, should this situation alter, guests will be advised atthe earliest possible opportunity.

Mauritius and Indian Ocean - For all cruises to and fromMauritius and Indian Ocean guests require a passport valid forat least 6 months beyond period of intended stay. Costa will take care of the necessaryformalities to obtain it upon arrival in the country. You will be charged onboard for the relevant cost. However, should thissituation alter, guests will be advised at the earliest possible opportunity.

United States - Before departure, please check the expiry dateof your passport with your travel agent and/or nationalauthorities, and that it is compliant with the new entryprocedure for the United States. For cruises featuring stops ortransit in the United States, all passengers must hold amachine-readable passport. Children must also have their ownmachine-readable passport: inclusion on their parents'passports will not be considered valid.According to the rules provided by the US Department ofHomeland Security, which refer to the regulations of the VisaWaiver Program, Costa Cruises reminds you that:1) Visitors who have a machine-readable passport which wasissued or renewed before 26 October 2005 may enter theUnited States of America without a visa.2) Visitors who have a machine-readable passport which wasissued or renewed on or after 26 October 2005 and which hasa digital photograph printed directly on the passport, mayenter the United States of America without a visa.3) Machine-readable passports issued or renewed on or after26 October 2006 must contain an integrated chip containingbiometric data and a digital photograph. Visitors whosepassports do not meet these requirements will be required toobtain a visa to travel to the United States.In addition, electronic travel authorisation is required forcitizens of the countries covered by the Visa WaiverProgramme, including Italy.
At least 72 hours prior to departure, visitors to the UnitedStates under the Visa Waiver Programme must obtain travelauthorisation through the ESTA (Electronic System for TravelAuthorization) website (https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov). The authorisation number will be requested at departure forthe United States. All Guests in possession of a valid passportissued prior to the introduction of machine-readablepassports, or passports that do no meet the aboverequirements, require a non-immigrant entry visa for theUnited States.This requirement also applies to children. You can find all theinformation on how to obtain a US visa on the embassywebsite http://travel.state.gov/visa

Around the World cruise: - Machine-readable passport valid for at least 6months after the end of the cruise, and visas for Australia andIndia to be obtained prior to departure.

Red Sea itinerary (Egypt/Israel/Jordan) - Machine-readable passport valid for at least 6 months after the end of the cruise.

Children under 15

Youngsters under 16 need to have their own valid passport orto be registered on their parents’ passport. However, if thecruise calls at or transits the United States, all children arerequired to have their own machine-readable passports. Forcruises that call at Singapore, the parents’ passport needs toinclude a photo of any child registered on their passport.Where youngsters are travelling without their parents, legalguardians, or anyone registered in the child’s documentation,Costa requires you to verify what documentation is requiredfor the child to travel with the relevant authorities.