CURRENCY AND PAYMENTS
£ Sterling is used on board for the Europe and World Season. There is little opportunity to visit banks whilst on tour, although guides will normally help exchange small amounts if necessary, and there are limited foreign exchange facilities on board. For purchases ashore, many shops accept most Travellers’ Cheques and major credit cards. A cashless system operates on board – except for the casino – with passengers settling accounts at the end of the cruise. Visa and MasterCard credit cards and Travellers’ Cheques are accepted for payment of shipboard accounts but debit cards and personal cheques 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 early sitting is 6.15 pm, main sitting is 8.15 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. You will be invited to dine here at least once per cruise and reservations must be made on board.
BARS & ALCOHOL
Please note that bars may have to be closed for the sale of alcohol and cigarettes in Libyan waters. Only alcohol purchased in the ship’s bars and restaurants may be consumed on Discovery.
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 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.
PASSENGERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Discovery Cruises will always try to accommodate passengers with special needs. However, the company’s Reservations Manager must be advised prior to a deposit being paid and 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. Failure to disclose a medical situation at time of booking may result in your being denied boarding at port of embarkation.
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: Regulations vary from airline to airline, but some will refuse to carry women who will be 28 weeks pregnant on the date of return travel. If you are in doubt, please check with the airline concerned and we would recommend that you consult your doctor in any case.
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 travelling 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. Please note that in cabins aboard the mv Discovery there is a 5" riser to bathrooms except in wheelchairaccessible 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. Getting about once on board Discovery is relatively easy, however, you may find certain parts of the ship inaccessible.
Note: 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.
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 directdial telephones, whilst fax facilities are available at the Purser’s Desk and computer facilities in the Internet Centre.
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES
Cabins and suites feature 110 and 220 volt current. The use of hair dryers, electric rollers, curling irons, electric shavers and other small appliances should be checked with reception, but for safety reasons travel irons and any tea/coffee making equipment are definitely not allowed. Each cabin is equipped with a hair dryer.
LAUNDRY & DRY CLEANING
Valet service is available for laundry, dry cleaning and pressing. A laundry bag and order form are provided in your cabin wardrobe. For passengers taking two or more consecutive cruises, there is a 50% discount for laundry and pressing (but not for dry cleaning).
WHAT TO WEAR
As a general rule, for days on board and ashore, summer clothing/sports wear 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.
On cruises to northern latitudes warmer clothing will be necessary. In certain countries, shorts, short skirts, bare arms and shoulders will not be appreciated locally and you may be prohibited entry to certain sites. Advice will be given beforehand on board.
On more southerly cruises the weather will usually be suitable for sunbathing, so don’t forget your wrap, bathing suit, sun glasses and sun screen. For trips ashore and for getting into and out of the ship’s tenders, comfortable, sturdy walking shoes are a must. You may also want to bring with you a camera, binoculars, umbrella, sun hat and insect repellent.
In the evening, there is a recommended dress code and some passengers may wish to dress traditionally in ‘black tie’ and evening dresses for formal nights such as the Captain’s Welcome Cocktail Party and Dinner. However, a lounge suit or blazer 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 programme on board.
SMOKING
Passengers are not permitted to smoke in their cabin or in the restaurant, or on Lido Deck when food is being served, and are requested to smoke only in designated areas of the main lounges and open decks. Smoking is not permitted on excursion coaches.
NB: New Smoking Policy for all sailings from 08 December 2006
Passengers are not permitted to smoke inside any part of mv Discovery, or on Sun Deck when food is being served, and are requested to somke only in designated areas of Sun Deck and other open decks. 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.
SHIP’S REGISTRY
The mv Discovery is registered in Bermuda.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
The information in this brochure is subject to change without notice. If cost factors dictate the need for fare increases, the company may do so prior to departure and without notice. Fully paid or deposited passengers will be protected at the published fares.
