Essential Information for the Caribbean Cruise voucher

Visas
The vast majority of Caribbean Cruises depart from Miami which means that the travellers need to clear USA immigration. In the majority of cases this means that they can simply complete a Visa Waiver form but it is important to make sure that you are eligible to use this form prior to travelling or entry into the USA may be refused. So please read the following paragraphs prior to filing in your holiday request form.

Acceptance of this holiday offer is subject to the traveller being eligible to travel to the USA. Below are the current requirements to enter the USA under the Visa Waiver scheme. If the traveller is not eligible to enter under this scheme they will need to hold a valid Visa and provide evidence of such at the time of holiday acceptance.

If the traveller is re-fused entry into the USA they will forfeit their security deposit and will be liable to any costs involved in repatriation.

Requirements:

• The traveller is travelling on a valid, individual machine readable passport. Note: A passport indicating that the bearer is a British Subject, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Overseas Citizen, British National (Overseas) Citizen, or British Protected Person does not qualify for travel without a visa. A passport which states holder has Right of Abode or indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom does not qualify for visa free travel;
• Travelling for business, pleasure or transit only;
• Staying in the United States for 90 days or less;
  Plus, if entering the United States by air or sea is,
• Holding a return or onward ticket. If travelling on an electronic ticket, a copy of the itinerary must be carried for presentation to U.S. immigration at the port of entry. Note: Travellers with onward tickets terminating in Mexico, Canada, Bermuda or the Caribbean Islands must be legal permanent residents of these areas;
• Entering the United States aboard an air or sea carrier that has agreed to participate in the program. This includes aircraft of a U.S. corporation that has entered into an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security to carry passengers under the Visa Waiver Program. Note: Other private or official aircraft or vessels do not meet this requirement; and
• In possession of a completed form I-94W, obtainable from airline and shipping companies;
  Or, if entering the United States by land from Canada or Mexico,
• Is in possession of a completed form I-94W, issued by the immigration authorities at the port of entry, and a $6.00 fee, payable only in U.S. dollars.

Important: Some travellers may not be eligible to enter the United States visa free under the VWP. These include people who have been arrested, even if the arrest did not result in a criminal conviction, those with criminal records, (the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply to U.S. visa law), certain serious communicable illnesses, those who have been refused admission into, or have been deported from, the United States, or have previously overstayed on the VWP. Such travellers must apply for special restricted visas. If they attempt to travel without a visa, they may be refused entry into the United States.

Pre-Cruise Hotel Accommodation

Flights from the UK to the US tend to depart in the morning but arrive in the US too late to embark the cruise ship on the same day.

Also, USA Immigration currently require anyone entered the USA to be able to provide an address for the first night of their stay.

This necessitates an overnight stay in a hotel prior to the embarkation the following day.