UK cruise passport validity

daveyjp

There's also the possibility that not all passengers will use a British passport so having a single rule makes things much easier.
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MattMattMattUK

7781Caro said:

Thanks to those who have taken the time to reply 

We are travelling with MSC, who when speaking with directly have confirmed that 6 months passport validity is required for all passengers. They helpfully said they recently refused a baby bording for this reason. 

Perhaps not a surprise given the situation we find ourselves in I continue to be shocked that this is deemed something we should of known and the implication that the Travel Agent has no duty of care or liability to inform us of a policy that if not adhered to prevents us from boarding! 

This is a UK cruise stopping at UK ports only ... if I was to fly to Edinburgh I would need ID but no passport, if I was to get a train to Liverpool I would need nothing at all and if I got a ferry to Belfast I would again need ID and a birth certificate for my children. The requirement of a passport with 6 months validity is either a genric Cruiseline policy or an MSC one, so how and why would I know that without being advised by the "cruise specialist" I booked via?!
I have never done a UK only cruise before (as I advised the agent) .... why would I google this, I struggle to understand how I am liable to know such a policy. I wouldn't of thought to search "things I should know about UK cruises" before I booked. 
Neither the agent or MSC have proactively advised information that without our knowledge prevents us from boarding ... although this post suggests otherwise I feel lost for words! 

There could be a whole bunch of reasons, ultimately if it is their rule an is not discriminatory in the legal sense then they can enforce it.

My only speculation on the reasoning might be that MSC cruise ships are not registered in the UK, the company is Swiss and their ships are registered in Malta, although my understanding of maritime law is limited so I do know how that would have an impact with regards to passports, with ships travelling outside of UK waters even if not docking elsewhere etc. 

Aylesbury_Duck

7781Caro said:

Thanks again for your replies 
Just to add that the Home Office Boarder Agency and DFT have advised it is not a requirement of theirs, it is either a cruise industry decision or MSC policy ...  again this means I should of been advised prior to booking

You may well have been, the information perhaps being available on their website or in the terms and conditions when you booked?

Anyway, all of that is academic.  At this stage, what practical steps can you take to accelerate the passport process?  How short on time are you?  It is possible to get a new passport within three weeks.

sheramber

Did  the cruise line  not have  terms and conditions of travel advising of what you can and cannot  take on board and what you need to travel?.


A passport is universally recognised as proof of identity. it is  more efficient for staff to check these than to decipher different forms of ID.

7781Caro

sheramber said:

Did  the cruise line  not have  terms and conditions of travel advising of what you can and cannot  take on board and what you need to travel?.


A passport is universally recognised as proof of identity. it is  more efficient for staff to check these than to decipher different forms of ID.

You would think so however neither the travel agent or MSC proactively referred us to or shared their terms and conditions....

7781Caro

Aylesbury_Duck said:

7781Caro said:

Thanks again for your replies 
Just to add that the Home Office Boarder Agency and DFT have advised it is not a requirement of theirs, it is either a cruise industry decision or MSC policy ...  again this means I should of been advised prior to booking

You may well have been, the information perhaps being available on their website or in the terms and conditions when you booked?

Anyway, all of that is academic.  At this stage, what practical steps can you take to accelerate the passport process?  How short on time are you?  It is possible to get a new passport within three weeks.

No terms and conditions were shared by the travel agent or MSC ... only a booking confirmation 

As you say its academic... we have submitted a standard passport application which can take up to 10 weeks, we are meant to travel in 3. We may get them back ...who knows. No fast track appointments available 
Regardless we now face 3 weeks of stress in the interim ... 

Aylesbury_Duck

7781Caro said:

sheramber said:

Did  the cruise line  not have  terms and conditions of travel advising of what you can and cannot  take on board and what you need to travel?.


A passport is universally recognised as proof of identity. it is  more efficient for staff to check these than to decipher different forms of ID.

You would think so however neither the travel agent or MSC proactively referred us to or shared their terms and conditions....

So did you agree to the contract and make payment without them being provided?  Serious question.  If your preferred course of action is a full refund you need to be sure that you weren't provided with the necessary information or given the opportunity to view it.

If you want to proceed with the cruise, and it's in at least three weeks' time, you are able to get passports in time.

7781Caro

MattMattMattUK said:

7781Caro said:

Thanks to those who have taken the time to reply 

We are travelling with MSC, who when speaking with directly have confirmed that 6 months passport validity is required for all passengers. They helpfully said they recently refused a baby bording for this reason. 

Perhaps not a surprise given the situation we find ourselves in I continue to be shocked that this is deemed something we should of known and the implication that the Travel Agent has no duty of care or liability to inform us of a policy that if not adhered to prevents us from boarding! 

This is a UK cruise stopping at UK ports only ... if I was to fly to Edinburgh I would need ID but no passport, if I was to get a train to Liverpool I would need nothing at all and if I got a ferry to Belfast I would again need ID and a birth certificate for my children. The requirement of a passport with 6 months validity is either a genric Cruiseline policy or an MSC one, so how and why would I know that without being advised by the "cruise specialist" I booked via?!
I have never done a UK only cruise before (as I advised the agent) .... why would I google this, I struggle to understand how I am liable to know such a policy. I wouldn't of thought to search "things I should know about UK cruises" before I booked. 
Neither the agent or MSC have proactively advised information that without our knowledge prevents us from boarding ... although this post suggests otherwise I feel lost for words! 

There could be a whole bunch of reasons, ultimately if it is their rule an is not discriminatory in the legal sense then they can enforce it.

My only speculation on the reasoning might be that MSC cruise ships are not registered in the UK, the company is Swiss and their ships are registered in Malta, although my understanding of maritime law is limited so I do know how that would have an impact with regards to passports, with ships travelling outside of UK waters even if not docking elsewhere etc. 

As you say could be a maritime ruling ... personally I wouldn't expect Joe Public to be offay with this but seemingly I am in a minority 
I am fine with any rules if they are shared so you can make an informed decison ...they weren't 
Thanks for coming back and assisting in navigating this 🙂

MattMattMattUK

7781Caro said:

MattMattMattUK said:

7781Caro said:

Thanks to those who have taken the time to reply 

We are travelling with MSC, who when speaking with directly have confirmed that 6 months passport validity is required for all passengers. They helpfully said they recently refused a baby bording for this reason. 

Perhaps not a surprise given the situation we find ourselves in I continue to be shocked that this is deemed something we should of known and the implication that the Travel Agent has no duty of care or liability to inform us of a policy that if not adhered to prevents us from boarding! 

This is a UK cruise stopping at UK ports only ... if I was to fly to Edinburgh I would need ID but no passport, if I was to get a train to Liverpool I would need nothing at all and if I got a ferry to Belfast I would again need ID and a birth certificate for my children. The requirement of a passport with 6 months validity is either a genric Cruiseline policy or an MSC one, so how and why would I know that without being advised by the "cruise specialist" I booked via?!
I have never done a UK only cruise before (as I advised the agent) .... why would I google this, I struggle to understand how I am liable to know such a policy. I wouldn't of thought to search "things I should know about UK cruises" before I booked. 
Neither the agent or MSC have proactively advised information that without our knowledge prevents us from boarding ... although this post suggests otherwise I feel lost for words! 

There could be a whole bunch of reasons, ultimately if it is their rule an is not discriminatory in the legal sense then they can enforce it.

My only speculation on the reasoning might be that MSC cruise ships are not registered in the UK, the company is Swiss and their ships are registered in Malta, although my understanding of maritime law is limited so I do know how that would have an impact with regards to passports, with ships travelling outside of UK waters even if not docking elsewhere etc. 

As you say could be a maritime ruling ... personally I wouldn't expect Joe Public to be offay with this but seemingly I am in a minority 
I am fine with any rules if they are shared so you can make an informed decison ...they weren't 
Thanks for coming back and assisting in navigating this 🙂

Not exactly, technically a ship registered in Malta is under the law of Malta for example, what I do not know is if that means you would legally need a passport. However that is immaterial really, if they say you need a passport then you need a passport, they could in theory make an exception if there is no legal requirement for a passport, but they are under no compulsion to do so. 

MattMattMattUK

7781Caro said:

Aylesbury_Duck said:

7781Caro said:

Thanks again for your replies 
Just to add that the Home Office Boarder Agency and DFT have advised it is not a requirement of theirs, it is either a cruise industry decision or MSC policy ...  again this means I should of been advised prior to booking

You may well have been, the information perhaps being available on their website or in the terms and conditions when you booked?

Anyway, all of that is academic.  At this stage, what practical steps can you take to accelerate the passport process?  How short on time are you?  It is possible to get a new passport within three weeks.

No terms and conditions were shared by the travel agent or MSC ... only a booking confirmation 

As you say its academic... we have submitted a standard passport application which can take up to 10 weeks, we are meant to travel in 3. We may get them back ...who knows. No fast track appointments available 
Regardless we now face 3 weeks of stress in the interim ... 

For what it is worth, my mum renewed her passport last month, it had expired last year, the new one came through in six working days. It was an online application.