Planet Cruise FAQs

Here are our most frequently asked questions. Please scroll to the section your query concerns as below:

  • Sales and Customer Care Opening Hours
  • Customer Contact Form
  • What is ‘My Booking’?
  • Can I upgrade my cabin or flight?
  • Can I cancel my cruise within 24 hours?
  • Can I arrange to park my car at the cruise ship terminal?
  • Can I add a drinks package to my booking, who to contact and how to add?
  • Vaccination requirements by destination
  • How will I receive my tickets and boarding passes?
  • How can I pay my balance?
  • Booking Onboard

1. Sales and Customer Care Opening Hours

For Sales please call 01 517 6250Sales Opening Hours:

Mon 9:00 - 22:00
Tue 09:00 - 22:00
Wed 9:00 - 22:00
Thu 9:00 - 22:00
Fri 9:00 - 22:00
Sat 9:00 - 21:00
Sun 10:00 - 21:00

For Customer Care enquiries please fill in this form

Customer Care Opening Hours:

Mon 10:00 - 17:00
Tue 10:00 - 17:00
Wed 10:00 - 17:00
Thu 10:00 - 17:00
Fri 10:00 - 17:00
Sat 10:00 - 17:00
Sun 10:00 - 16:00

Please note that the above opening hours may differ during Holiday periods. 


2. Customer Contact Form

We have created a Customer Contact Form for our customers.

You can also access the form by logging in to your own cruise booking via My Booking. A member of our team will review your request and will be in contact with you in due course.

If you are travelling within  1 month, or for more complex changes/requests please speak to a Customer Care advisor. For more information on how to contact our team, please visit our Contact Us page and chat with one of our friendly Customer Care advisors. 


Changes you can request by filling out the Customer Contact Form are as follows;

  • Upgrade cabin or flights

  • Change sailing date. itinerary

  • Change flights

  • Change transfers/hotels

  • Change dining times/dietary requests

  • Change bed configuration

  • Update information (name, date of birth, contact details, other)

  • Add/remove a guest from booking

  • Link bookings

  • Add extras (drinks packages, car parking, excursions, luggage)

  • Cancel booking


Please use the links in this article to directly access our Customer Contact Form. Or view your holiday details through 'My Booking' where you can also access the form. One of our Customer Care Team will be in contact with you.


3. What is ‘My Booking’?


'My Booking' is where you can view and manage the booking that you have made with us. 

 

Click here to access our 'My Booking'

 

To access 'My Booking' you will need the following information;

- The email address that was given at the time of booking

- Your postcode (that was provided at the time of booking)

- Your date of birth

Once you have logged into your booking you will be able to view the following information:

  • Your booking summary

  • Payment information

  • Passenger details

  • Itinerary

  • Ticket & Documents

  • Cruise, cabin, and dining information

  • Flight details

  • Tours and excursions

  • Additional information such as Visa, and Covid travel advice.

 

Things you can do in 'My Booking':

  • Contact Customer Care Team.

  • Make a Payment

  • Book additional extras such as airport parking and lounges

  • Print your ATOL certificate and travel documents

  • Amend your booking using our Customer Contact Form


4. Can I upgrade my cabin or flight?

Yes, of course, you can upgrade your cabin or a flight if there is availability with the cruise line/the airline.


Cabin Upgrades

Cabin upgrades are based on the price of the cabin when you booked your holiday, to ensure you receive consistent pricing. It's also worth noting that cabins can't be upgraded after the balance due date with some cruise lines as they now use a 'Bidding System'. This is where you make a bid for your cabin upgrade at a lower reduced rate instead of the market rate.


Flight Upgrades

Please be advised that once you have received your flight details you will be able to upgrade your flights. We will notify you by sending a revised booking confirmation showing your full flight details. Full flight details will include your flight number/s, flight times, and PNR reference. You can also view your flight details by logging into My Booking.
Once you have received notification from us, please follow the procedure and links below to request your upgrade.

You can submit an upgrade request to your cabin and/or flight by visiting My Booking and completing a Customer Contact Form.

One of our advisors will then be in touch directly to assist you with this.


5. Can I cancel my cruise within 24 hours?

There is no cooling-off period if you confirm your reservation. The exact timeframe you have to cancel an existing booking and rebook an alternative cruise depends on numerous factors such as which cruise line you are sailing with, when, and what kind of package you have. Please see our flexible cancellations page for more details of your options by the cruise line.

 Should you require further assistance, please contact our Customer Care Team.


6. Can I arrange to park my car at the cruise ship terminal?

Often parking arrangements (and sometimes hotel stays) are included as part of your booking. In this case, we will provide you with the details in good time before you set sail.

In this case, you should see your Planet Cruise Booking Confirmation for details on how to book it and who with. There will be a deadline, normally 35 days prior to arrival, by which you must get this done, so please look for this information carefully.

In other cases, this is not initially included as part of your booking but can be arranged through us as an add-on. For further details, please see below.

 

Southampton Cruise Parking and Hotel Stays

If you are sailing from Southampton cruise terminals, you can enjoy the convenience of driving to a nearby hotel, with an overnight stay prior to departure day and parking for the full duration of your cruise, or use Southampton port parking with a free shuttle bus to your embarkation point at the cruise terminal.

You can arrange a car parking or a hotel stay near the port prior to your cruise via our partner Holiday Extras.

 

Other UK Port Parking

If sailing from a regional port, we recommend Cruise & Passenger Services which offers parking for the following ports and cruise lines: 

  • Southampton - Princess

  • Liverpool - MSC Cruises

You can also book car parking in the cruise terminals via ABParking.


7. Can I add a drinks package to my booking, who to contact and how to add?

You can add drinks packages to your booking with the majority of cruise lines. Prices and types of alcoholic and soft drinks packages will vary depending on the supplier. You can add these packages to your booking by visiting the cruise line's website, logging into your Manage My Booking/Cruise Personaliser, and paying the cruise line directly for them.

We recommend pre-booking these packages as they are great value for money. Please note that the cruise lines may offer special promotions for adding drinks packages depending on the sailing and sometimes these need to be added via us (your Travel Agent). If you are travelling with Fred Olsen, please contact us via our Customer Contact Form in My Booking to add the drinks package to your booking.


8. Vaccination requirements by destination

Cruising is a brilliant way to travel, as it allows you to visit a variety of countries in a short period of time. 

However, it is always a good idea to check with your doctor or qualified pharmacist before you travel to learn about the health requirements for the countries on your itinerary and to check whether you will need any vaccinations prior to travel such as Yellow Fever, Hepatitis, Diphtheria and Tetanus.

For Covid-19 specific vaccine and travel guidance please visit our Covid-19 Travel Information section.

For a list of destinations and vaccine requirements for your cruise, please see below.

For individual cruise lines’ vaccination policies, including Covid-19 immunisation requirements, such as Princess and MSC Cruises, rather than the destination, please see their official websites.


Africa

There are a number of ports that have both mandatory and advisory measures.

Holiday vaccinations for Hepatitis A, Tetanus, and Yellow Fever certification are required if you have visited areas where Yellow Fever transmission is possible. Yellow Fever risk areas, as defined by the World Health Organisation, can be found below. Other recommended vaccinations include Hepatitis B, Diphtheria, Rabies, and Typhoid, though these vary depending on your destination.

The following ports have specific health requirements: 

  • Algeria

  • Angola

  • Benin

  • Cameroon

  • Cape Verde

  • Comoros

  • Republic of the Congo

  • Côte d’Ivoire

  • The Democratic Republic of the Congo

  • Djibouti

  • Egypt

  • Equatorial Guinea

  • Eritrea

  • Gabon

  • The Gambia

  • Ghana

  • Kenya

  • Liberia

  • Libya

  • Madagascar

  • Mauritania

  • Mauritius

  • Mayotte

  • Morocco

  • Mozambique

  • Namibia

  • Nigeria

  • Reunion

  • Saint Helena

  • Sao Tome and Principe

  • Senegal

  • Seychelles

  • Sierra Leone

  • South Africa

  • Sudan

  • Tanzania

  • Togo

  • Tunisia

 

Asia

Asia is another destination with a number of ports that require specific vaccinations and health requirements.

Hepatitis A, Tetanus, and Yellow Fever vaccinations are required for visitors from countries where the disease is spread. You can find out which countries are designated risk areas below, which will give you an idea of the conditions required to enter the country. Other injections may be required, such as Hepatitis B, Rabies, Diphtheria, and Typhoid, depending on where you are cruising.

Ports, where vaccinations and health requirements may be required, include: 

  • Bangladesh

  • Brunei

  • Cambodia

  • China

  • Timor-Leste

  • Hong Kong

  • India

  • Indonesia

  • Japan

  • Macao

  • Malaysia

  • Maldives

  • Mongolia

  • Myanmar

  • Philippines

  • South Korea

  • Singapore

  • Sri Lanka

  • Taiwan

  • Thailand

  • Vietnam

 

Australasia

Within Australasia, you have Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. 

Hepatitis A and Tetanus are the major vaccinations to consider, and people who have travelled to certain high-risk areas for contamination must also obtain a Yellow Fever certification. In addition, Hepatitis B, Diphtheria, Rabies, and Typhoid immunisations are recommended.

We highly recommend that you check the health requirements for the following ports in Australasia: 

  • American Samoa

  • Australia

  • Christmas Island

  • Cook Islands

  • Federated State of Micronesia

  • Fiji

  • French Polynesia

  • Guam

  • Kiribati

  • Marshall Islands

  • Nauru

  • New Caledonia

  • New Zealand

  • Niue

  • Northern Mariana Islands

  • Palau

  • Papua New Guinea

  • Pitcairn

  • Samoa

  • Solomon Islands

  • Tokelau

  • Tonga

  • Tuvalu

  • Vanuatu

 

Caribbean

By far one of the most popular areas to cruise in, with many ports to explore. Hepatitis B and Tetanus are the two main vaccines for Caribbean cruises, while neither is essential. Depending on whether you have travelled to dangerous areas, you can also be required to hold a Yellow Fever certificate at specific ports.

Many locations in the Caribbean have specific health criteria or vaccines to assure your safety and well-being while you're there. These consist of:

  • Anguilla

  • Antigua & Barbuda

  • Aruba

  • Bahamas

  • Barbados

  • Bonaire

  • British Virgin Islands

  • Cayman Islands

  • Cuba

  • Curacao

  • Dominica

  • Dominican Republic

  • Grenada

  • Guadeloupe

  • Haiti

  • Jamaica

  • Martinique

  • Montserrat

  • Puerto Rico

  • Saba

  • St Barthelemy

  • St Kitts & Nevis

  • St Lucia

  • St Martin

  • St Vincent and the Grenadines

  • Saint Eustatius

  • Saint Maarten

  • Trinidad and Tobago

  • Turks and Caicos

  • US Virgin Islands


North America and Central America

North and Central America don’t have quite as many health requirements as some other areas in the world. Hepatitis A and Tetanus are the most common injections. In some places, you may also be required to carry Yellow Fever certification, especially if you have visited high-risk countries. 

Injections for Hepatitis B, Diphtheria, Rabies, and Typhoid are also options. We recommend that you consult your doctor before visiting the following ports: 

  • Belize

  • Costa Rica

  • El Salvador

  • Guatemala

  • Honduras

  • Nicaragua

  • Panama

  • Bermuda

  • Canada

  • Greenland

  • Mexico

  • Saint Pierre and Miquelon

  • USA

 

Europe

Europe continues to be one of the most popular areas to explore whilst on a cruise holiday. There aren't many vaccinations that are absolutely necessary before travelling to Europe and Russia, but we would recommend that you speak with your doctor just in case. Tetanus, tick-borne encephalitis, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, diphtheria, and rabies are some of the immunisations which may be required.

There are several European countries, some of which require more health and travel precautions than others.

  • Albania

  • Belgium

  • Bosnia Herzegovina

  • Bulgaria

  • Croatia

  • Cyprus

  • Denmark

  • Estonia

  • Faroe Islands

  • Finland

  • France

  • Georgia

  • Germany

  • Gibraltar

  • Greece

  • Iceland

  • Ireland

  • Italy

  • Latvia

  • Lithuania

  • Malta

  • Monaco

  • Montenegro

  • Netherlands

  • Norway

  • Poland

  • Portugal

  • Romania

  • Russian Federation

  • Slovenia

  • Spain

  • Sweden

  • Turkey

  • Ukraine

  • United Kingdom

 

Middle East

The Middle East is certainly increasing in popularity with cruise guests. We strongly advise that you check the health restrictions including immunisations for entering its ports. Tetanus and Yellow Fever certificates are essential needs. Whether they apply to you depends on other locations you have been and whether they are regarded as danger zones. These regions, which are classified as Yellow Fever risk areas, are seen below.

It's usually important to discuss your trip plans with your doctor before booking a cruise that stops at ports in the Middle East to find out what health requirements are necessary for destinations like the following:

  • Bahrain

  • Iran

  • Jordan

  • Oman

  • Qatar

  • United Arab Emirates


South America and Antarctica

There are some amazing places to cruise in South America and Antarctica! Tetanus and Yellow Fever certification are required for sailings to Antarctica and South America, though this varies depending on the risk areas visited, including those highlighted below.

Hepatitis A, B, Diphtheria, Rabies, and Typhoid are among the other advisory requirements. To ensure that your trip is as enjoyable as possible, the following ports have specific health requirements that you must follow:

  • Antarctica

  • Argentina

  • Brazil

  • Chile

  • Colombia

  • Ecuador

  • Falkland Islands

  • French Guiana

  • Guyana

  • Peru

  • Uruguay

  • Venezuela


9. How will I receive my tickets and boarding passes?

There are a few different ways that you can receive your tickets. In most cases, you will be able to download or access your tickets via your cruise lines app or by logging into your booking on their website.


10. How can I pay my balance?


The easiest way to arrange payment of your balance is by opting into our Payment Plan or via other options in My Booking.

To log in, use your Planet Cruise Booking Reference and your personal information. 

Once logged in, you will find details of how to pay by either:

  • Payment Plan

  • Bank Transfer

  • Debit/Credit Card

Please note that if you’ve booked last minute or the sailing is within 16-19 weeks of booking, you must pay all amounts upfront.

 

Bank Transfer BACS

Please use your booking reference number as the payment reference. Please do not include your name or any other details in the payment reference field.

 

Simple Secure Bank Transfer powered by American Express

  • Pay directly from your UK bank account.

  • It's quick, simple, and extra secure, as your payment credentials are kept entirely between you and your bank.

  • There's no account setup needed and no need to enter any card details.

  • It's powered by American Express, but open to everyone no matter the bank you use.

 

Our Account details:

Account no.: 80116965

Account name: Planet Cruise

Sort Code: 60 - 16 - 26

Bank: Natwest 

SWIFTBIC: NWBKGB2L

IBAN: GB21NWBK60162680116965

Payment reference: Booking reference

 

Pay your balance by card

You can also make a payment by card by logging into My Booking.




11. Booking Onboard

What is a BOB?

BOB stands for Book On-Board and is used to describe the programme in which guests can book a future cruise whilst they are onboard a current cruise. Some cruise lines may refer to this as Future Cruise Booking but we refer to this collectively as B.O.B.


How does Booking On-board (BOB) work?

When you book another cruise whilst on your cruise you can take advantage of discounts and offers available exclusively to those who book on-board (BOB). Discounts and offers are available from the cruise line and are combinable with the special offer provided by us. Whilst the cruise line offer is applied at the time of booking on-board, the exclusive offer provided by Planet Cruise is added upon your return when the booking is sent to us by the cruise line. In this way, we can continue to serve as your booking agent for the next cruise so you can continue to take advantage of all the benefits of booking with the UK’s #1 Cruise Travel Agency.


How do I Book On-board?

At the Future Cruise Desk On-board. On every ship there is a Future Cruise desk or office which is specially set up to help you find and book your next cruise. There is a Future Cruise Officer at the desk who will help apply any of the cruise line’s special on-board booking benefits to your booking and arrange for the booking to be sent to us. We will then apply any additional Planet Cruise discounts to your booking.


What can I book on-board?

Any cruise with the same cruise line. You will be able to choose from any future cruise that is available with the same cruise line, as you would booking a cruise on land. This can be a different ship, destination, or duration. You won’t be able to add any additional agent holiday extras like pre or post cruise stays, parking, or custom land tours onboard but if you call us after you return from your cruise then we will be able to arrange these for you and add them to your booking as another benefit to booking with the UK’s #1 cruise agency.


What are the benefits to Booking On-board?

On-board booking benefits vary from cruise line to cruise line and may depend on the next cruise that you are booking onto. Benefits can be in the form of discounts, on-board spending money, reduced deposits or reward points. You will have an offer from the cruise line and an offer from Planet Cruise directly. These are combinable offers. We will send you an email detailing exactly what benefits are available to you ahead of your cruise.


When will I get my BOB booking confirmation?

Usually within 10 days of returning from your cruise. We will email you your booking confirmation once the cruise line sends us your booking. The time taken to send and process this varies from cruise line to cruise line but is usually up to 10 days after you return from your cruise. There may be additional processing times at our end depending on the discount or benefits applied to the booking. The email confirmation will be sent to the email address provided with the new booking at the Future Cruise Desk.