Crime & Safety
Do you need a passport for a cruise? P&O and Fred Olsen rules
With a variety of destinations available for travel via cruises, you can travel from the UK to your holiday spot, or you might even fly to the starting point where you’ll board your ship.
To help you out, here’s what we know about cruises and whether you need a passport to travel, including advice from P&O Cruises and Fred. Olsen Cruises.
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Do you need a passport for a cruise?
Southampton Cruise Centre says it is regularly asked whether cruise passengers need a passport.
It says: “The answer is Yes.
“You will need a passport to go on a cruise from the UK, regardless of your international destinations, or even if you’re not planning on leaving the ship.
“A passport is an essential travel document that serves as your proof of identity and nationality when crossing borders.
“Cruise itineraries from the UK often include stops at foreign ports, and require travellers to have a valid passport for entry.
“Your passport will be checked during initial embarkation, final disembarkation, and will be advised at each port of call if required to ensure compliance with immigration regulations.”
P&O Cruises says passengers will need a passport to travel: “P&O Cruises guests can only board and travel to EU or Schengen area countries if their passport was issued less than 10 years from the cruise embarkation date.
“The passport must have at least three months left before the date of expiry when you disembark (regardless of whether or not the passport has an extension period).
“For cruises that travel outside the EU or Schengen area, in line with the requirements of many of these countries, guests are required to have six months validity left on their passports from the date of final disembarkation.
“All passports should have sufficient blank pages for entry and exit stamps (applicable to the length and ports of call in your itinerary).”
Passengers who book with Fred. Olsen Cruises will need a passport too.
The cruise company shares its advice for UK nationals: “All Guests, no matter the cruise, must hold a full and valid passport which conforms to the entry requirements of each destination visited.
“For cruises around the British Isles, your passport will need to be valid for a minimum of 3 months from date of disembarkation and be less than 10 years old.
“Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland).
“If you renewed your current passport before the previous had expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date.
“Please note that any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.”
Royal Caribbean says it “strongly” recommends that passengers use a passport as their form of ID for boarding its ships.
The cruise line says: “Everyone will need to present an accepted form of identification to board the ship.
“We strongly recommend that all guests present a passport as their form of ID on boarding day, and for some guests a passport is required.”
It reminds passengers that passports must have six months left on them, after the day the cruise ends and the name on the document needs to match the name on the reservation.
Royal Caribbean warns: “Guests who do not bring required documents may be denied boarding.”
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It adds: “UK & ROI Citizens must ensure that their passports are valid for at least 6 months after the cruise.”
What are some ‘unspoken’ rules on a cruise?
People who travel on cruises will most likely be aware of the rules on board, but Reddit users have shared some “unspoken” ones to consider.
One person said: “Let people get off the elevator before you walk in.”
Someone else commented: “Respect the crew.
“They’re working their tails off for your vacation.
“99% of the time, English isn’t their first language, so have patience and listen.”
This person also suggested being patient: “Practice patience.
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“Working yourself up over trivial things ruins your vacation, others vacations and is not fair to the people working to make your vacation amazing.”
Another traveller said: “Don’t leave your balcony lights on.
“Better yet, don’t turn it on if you don’t need it on.
“Many of us enjoy sitting out at night and just enjoying a drink or listening to the sea and watching the stars.”
Tell us your ideal cruise destinations in the comments below.
Callum Hunter, of Goldsmiths Lane, Wallingford, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Friday, April 17.
The defendant was charged with multiple offences committed in Wallingford on Wednesday, February 4.
Hunter pleaded guilty to breaching a restraining order, intentional strangulation and driving a vehicle without insurance.
The court heard the victim in the case was the defendant’s mother.
Alexandra Bushell, prosecuting, told the court that Hunter had a restraining order to not contact his mother after being convicted of harassment in December last year.
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Therefore Hunter had been living with his grandmother. However his mother would sometimes visit.
Ms Bushell told the court that on one occasion, Mrs Hunter saw her son had been taking drugs and there was an argument.
The barrister said: “He grabbed her round her throat with both hands. He threw her into the living room.”
The court heard that Mrs Hunter had to shield her mother and her sister from the defendant.
Ms Bushell added: “He slammed the front door and kicked it in frustration. This caused fear and anxiety.”
Judge Ian Pringle KC said: “You have had a number of court appearances for matters relating to your mother.
“There was an altercation between you and you strangled her. That is wholly unacceptable behaviour, that really is appalling.”
Hunter was jailed for 18 months and was given a restraining order to not attend his grandmother’s address.
He was also given six penalty points.
John Kibugi was travelling near Welford, Newbury when he was clocked at 53mph.
The 60-year-old, of Somerset Road, New Barnet, was on the eastbound carriageway at the time of the incident on June 6, 2024.
He was also caught speeding at 50mph on the same stretch of road on August 9, 2024.
Kibugi was found guilty of two counts of exceeding a temporary speed restriction at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court on March 9.
The court heard how there has been a 40mph speed restriction in place at the time of both incidents due to roadworks.
Kibugi was banned from driving for 12 months and received three penalty points.
He was also ordered to pay a £220 fine, £85 court costs and an £88 surcharge.
The money must be paid in full by April 27 at the latest.
Gentleman’s Relish is a traditional, salty and savoury Victorian-era spread made from anchovies, butter, herbs, and spices, typically used on toast or to elevate meats.
It was first created in 1828 and later marketed to the public in 1849 when it was launched at the Paris Food Show.
However, now it is set to disappear from shelves altogether, but fans of the condiment have issued a rallying cry to keep it around.
Gentleman’s Relish axed after 177 years as petition launched to save it
The parent company of the food, AB World Foods, has revealed that it has ceased production of the beloved English spread, The Spectator reports.
A spokesman for AB World Foods said: “We can confirm that after some 20 years as custodian of the Gentleman’s Relish brand, we are no longer making Patum Peperium.
“While we recognise that this Victorian relish has a niche and loyal following, it sadly does not have wider commercial appeal and, despite our best efforts, retailer distribution has dwindled.
“With Gentleman’s Relish no longer commercially viable and unable to secure a buyer for the brand, we regrettably stopped production earlier this year.”
When English grocer John Osborn created the spread, he described it as a ‘quintessentially English delicacy’.
It became a staple British food, with James Bond author Ian Fleming a particular fan of the condiment.
Celebrity chef, Nigella Lawson, also previously ranked Gentlemen’s Relish in her top 10 British cooking staples in 2018.
Following the news, a petition was launched, titled ‘Reverse the decision to discontinue The Gentleman’s Relish’.
It has nearly been signed 1,000 times, with other fans of the spread taking to social media to ask for its return.
It said: “The decision to stop producing The Gentleman’s Relish affects not just those of us who love it, but the cultural tapestry of British cuisine.
“AB World Foods, we urge you to reconsider this decision.
“At the very least, selling the brand to another food company or individual willing to continue its production is a viable solution.
“Let’s preserve this unique element of our culinary heritage.”
AB World Foods ‘in early discussions’ to reverse decision to axe Gentleman’s Relish
Following the outcry, the decision to discontinue Gentleman’s Relish may yet be reversed.
AB World Foods has now said it may still be “taking the brand forward”, The Telegraph reports.
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A spokesman said: “We have been blown away by the response from Gentleman’s Relish fans since we confirmed our decision to stop production.
“We are grateful to everyone who has taken the time to get in touch.
“Given this strength of feeling, we are pleased to say that we are at the early stages of exploring options with several third parties who have expressed an interest in taking the brand forward.”
Are you a fan of Gentleman’s Relish? Let us know in the comments.
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