The affected cruises are round trips to Greenland and Canada and both require all guests to have valid passports, while some guests may also require appropriate visas.
Documentation clarification for carnival legend
Carnival Cruise Line emailed guests who booked on August 13, 2023 and September 2, 2023 Spirit class carnival legend to make them aware of the documentation required for these particular cruises.
Both departures depart Baltimore, Mdfor 14 nights round trip Cruises to Greenland and Canada. Unlike other departures from United States home ports, all guests on board must have a valid passport.
“We look forward to welcoming you on board this unique Carnival Journeys cruise calling at Greenland and Canada. In preparation for this memorable journey, we have some important news.” the email explained. “All guests must have a passport with a minimum validity of 6 months after the last day of the cruise.”
This differs from the documents required for most other round-trip cruises from US homeports, when guests can use a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID, or other documents such as a passport or US certificate of citizenship.
Also Read: Do You Need a Passport for a Cruise?
However, Greenland requires all guests – of all ages – to carry a passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond the last day of the cruise.
This means that for August 13 departures returning to Baltimore on August 27, guests’ passports cannot expire before February 27, 2024. Passports must be valid until March 16, 2024 to depart on September 2 (return to Baltimore on September 16).
In addition, the email notes that some guests may require an appropriate visa depending on their nationality. Visas are not required for citizens of the United States or Canada, but guests of other nationalities are responsible for making all necessary visa arrangements.
Similarly, some cruise guests may also require a visa to enter Canada. Visas are not required for US citizens to enter Canada, but are required for travelers from many other nations.
No compensation available
All guests are responsible for checking the specific requirements according to their nationality and if they do not do this they will not be allowed to set sail and there will be no refunds or other compensation.
“While we will do our best to provide you with as much information as possible, guests should always ensure they meet all travel and documentation requirements for this cruise.” said the email. “Unfortunately guests who do not have the required documentation will not be able to sail and no compensation will be given.”
By making guests aware of these documentation requirements nearly five months prior to sailing, Carnival Cruise Line is attempting to ensure that all travelers have adequate time to complete any necessary paperwork, if required. New passports can take several months to be processed, although expedited processing can be purchased for an additional fee.
About these Special Journeys cruises
These unique cruises offer guests not only a longer cruise with the convenience of round-trip transportation from the United States, but also the opportunity to visit unusual ports of call. Both itineraries are identical and include five ports of call and eight days at sea.
Ports of call are Nanortalik and Qaqortoq in South Greenland and St. Anthony, Corner Brook and Sydney in Canada. Both cruises begin with five days at sea and end with two more days at sea. The remaining day at sea separates port visits in Greenland and Canada.
Many travelers are looking for unusual itineraries and new destinations to visit, and Greenland is on the bucket list for many cruisers. Originally, Carnival only offered one cruise, but then this cruise Sold out in just 24 hours, a second departure was added.
Due to the distance – the Greenland ports are about 2,500 miles (4,023 kilometers) sailing distance from Baltimore – most cruise lines do not regularly serve the destination.
Cruises from Europe have more opportunities to visit Greenland, but that would sometimes mean expensive and complex air travel for cruise lines from North America.
Carnival Journeys cruises are longer itineraries curated to offer travelers unique destinations and greater cultural immersion. The cruise line offers Journeys cruises to many destinations including Hawaii, Alaska, Australia, New Zealand, the Southern Caribbean, the Panama Canal, Singapore and more. Carnival’s transatlantic and transpacific cruises are also generally Journeys cruises.
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