Japan Odyssey Cruise via Kobe

The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Holland America will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them during your cruise. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according to the local conditions.

Have It All Cruise Package

For one simple fare, you can save with Have It All, a package available for pre-cruise purchase and specially designed to give you the best possible experience. By purchasing this package, you will receive the below:

• Up to 3 nights speciality dining (dependant on length of cruise)
• Up to $300pp shore excursion credit (dependant on length of cruise)
• Signature beverage package (15 drinks a day up to $11 per drink)
• Surf Wi-Fi package
• Pre-paid crew appreciation

Price: from £60.00 per person per day

This package upgrade can be added to your booking exclusively through Mercury Holidays and not directly with Holland America. To upgrade, please contact our Customer Experience team anytime, up to 14 weeks before departure.

If booking more than 14 weeks before departure a deposit of €580.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 14 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 14 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.

All guests must bring a photocopy of their passports which will be collected at check-in. Guests should keep a photo of the passport photo page on their personal device as a backup. Copies should be clear, good quality images on letter-sized or A4 paper.

Japan

UK passport holders do not require a visa to enter Japan however you must have a valid passport which is valid for at least six months from the date you are due to leave Japan.  Departure requirements are subject to change and obtaining a visa is the responsibility of the traveller and not Mercury Holidays. We recommend you check with your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy prior to departure for the most up to date guidelines regarding these.

South Korea

To enter South Korea as a tourist for up to 90 days, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ after the date you are leaving South Korea. Visa requirements state you can enter South Korea for up to 90 days for tourism.

Please note your final documentation will be sent to you approximately 21 days before departure. Check in baggage is included with your flight. Weight restrictions will be finalised on your final documentation. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay extra at check-in. Check-in should be at least 3 hours before departure. If you wish to arrange Airport car parking or accommodation at preferential rates, we recommend you book this in advance with Holiday Extras on 0333 188 0407, quoting HX313.

IMPORTANT: A printed E-ticket is no longer required at check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you. Please note that you should carry your invoice with flight details on it as you will need to show this at the airport.

We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.

It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, www.travelhealthpro.org. uk, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.

Medical Facilities & Emergencies

Remote regions lack advanced medical facilities, including intensive care and surgery. Ship doctors and nurses provide basic care, but serious cases may require evacuation, which depends on weather conditions, distance from a port and feasibility for medical evacuation to travel the distances required for evacuation.

Medications & Motion Sickness

The ship’s medical facility stocks a limited supply of both regular and emergency medications, so bring extra supplies of your regular and any necessary medications in your hand luggage. In case of unexpected delays, bring extra medication for beyond your cruise and a list of your medication in case you need refills. Seas can be rough—if you are prone or concerned about motion sickness, we advise you to consult your doctor and bring medication.

Health, Vaccinations & Insurance

Travellers should be in good health; those with medical conditions should consult their doctor before travel. Up to date vaccinations are strongly recommended. Comprehensive travel insurance, including emergency evacuation (minimum $100,000 coverage), is strongly recommended due to high costs and limited evacuation options.

Special Medical Needs & Age Requirement

If you need medical assistance (e.g., oxygen, mobility aids), inform the team when booking. Children must be at least 12 months old to sail to remote destinations.

This cruise is accessible to most people with an average level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves moderate days of walking on uneven paths and small hills and getting on and off the cruise ship. This tour may not be suitable for anyone with walking difficulties.

The currency in Japan is the Japanese Yen, and for South Korea it’s the South Korean Won, we recommend that you exchange some of your currency before you leave the UK.

On board the Holland America ships, U.S. dollars is the only currency accepted. They also accept U.S. traveller’s checks. In most ports of call you may easily exchange your U.S. dollars into the local currency at banks, airports and major hotels.

All onboard purchases and services in US Dollars are charged to your account by using your stateroom keycard. Cash is not accepted for individual transactions, e.g. bars, the shops, spa, shore excursions. Cash is accepted in our casinos.

If you do not want to use a credit card, on the day of boarding, you will need to visit Guest Services and deposit $30 cash per person per cruise day (applies to all guests 18 years of age and over). Any excess deposit will be refunded to you at the end of the cruise. Traveller's checks may be cashed at Guest Services. Personal checks are not accepted on board.

Please note, there is not an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) available on board.

It is normal practice to present a Credit / Debit Card upon check -in to your cruise ship, to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. You can also pre-register your card via this link: https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/gb/my-account/log-in/sso-log-in

You will need to take some money with you to cover any extras not mentioned on your itinerary such as the Spa and excursions and personal purchases, such as souvenirs, extra drinks, and snacks.

The Crew Appreciation

Tipping is customary on many cruise lines. Holland America recommend approximately $17 per person per day, known as the Crew Appreciation, daily and this is added to your onboard account. This charge is paid to Holland America Line team members and represents an important part of their compensation. An 18% service charge is automatically applied to all beverage purchases, bar retail items, specialty restaurant cover charges, all for-purchase a la carte menu items, and all Spa & Salon services. Local sales taxes are applied where required.

*The charges are subject to change without notice.

The maximum number of travellers on your cruise will be dependent upon the Cruise ship capacity. Please note: your cruise is shared with international clients from other companies.

Transportation to and from the airport will be provided by private transfers for your group.

Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character, and can range from business hotels to leisure hotels. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist compared to what you might expect in the UK. The final confirmation of your hotels and the details of your Cruise cabin booked will be sent 21 days before travel.

In addition to breakfast, lunch and a multi-course dinner, you can enjoy afternoon tea, hearty salads, comfort classics, global cuisine, an ice cream bar, hot hors d’oeuvres during the cocktail hours, and the traditional late-night snack. Complimentary In-Room Dining is available 24 hours a day. Drinks are payable onboard, however there are beverage package options available to pre book. Vegetarian and Vegan meals can be catered for onboard. Please advise Customer Experience about other dietary requirements or allergy information.

If you are travelling within the below Japanese Public Holidays please note that celebrations can last a couple of days and during these times some businesses will be closed and coach, air and train travel may be affected. Tourist attractions will be open but may be crowded. Golden Week is usually between late April and early May. Obon Holiday is between usually in the middle of August

• Shirts/cover-ups and footwear are always required indoors.
• During daytime, dress is casual.
• Most evenings smart casual attire is appropriate.
• Shorts, pool and beachwear, distressed jeans, and men’s tank tops are best left to the daytime and are not permitted in table service restaurants.
• Dressy Nights evoke the grand traditions of cruising as guests dress to impress for special events on board, including our five-course gourmet dinner in the Dining Room.
• For gentlemen, collared shirts and slacks are required in all fine dining restaurants.

The dress for each evening is listed in the Daily Programme and on the Navigator App.

On your arrival in Tokyo, you will be met by a representative from our local agent in Japan, JTB, holding a sign displaying ‘Mercury Holidays’. The Mercury Holidays/JTB representative will show you to your transfer vehicle.

Boarding Procedures

Guests are encouraged to complete the Online Check-in process at hollandamerica.com and, if possible, download the Holland America Line Navigator App. Once Online Check-in is complete, travellers should either print their Boarding Pass or access the electronic version via the Navigator App.

At the pier, guests must present their Boarding Pass, have their passports and applicable visas verified, and have their photo taken if one was not uploaded through the app. Stateroom keycards will be delivered directly to staterooms.

Important Notes:

• Online Check-in must be completed prior to the sail date. • Required documents for check-in include: o Boarding Pass (available via Express Docs) o Proof of citizenship o Applicable visas

To comply with U.S. security regulations, Holland America must submit guest information to law enforcement at least 60 minutes before departure. This requires all information to be submitted no later than 90 minutes before the ship’s departure. Guests who do not complete Online Check-in beforehand or arrive late to the terminal risk being unable to board. Costs incurred to join the vessel at the next port will be the guest’s responsibility.

Ship Identification Card:

Upon completing check-in, guests will receive a ship ID card, which serves as identification for embarkation, disembarkation, onboard purchases, and access to staterooms. When boarding or leaving the ship, guests should carry their ship ID card along with a government-issued photo ID. Terminal security may also require a valid picture ID.

Embarkation Details:

Boarding begins at 12:00 p.m., and all guests must check in no later than 90 minutes before the published sailing time. Passports will be collected during check-in for secure handling by staff, as some ports require face-to-face immigration inspections. Guests are encouraged to bring photocopies of their passport pages as a precaution.

Although embarkation may start as early as 11:30 a.m., preparation of staterooms will be underway, with readiness anticipated by approximately 1:00 p.m. Guests are welcome to relax in bar, lounge, or pool areas while waiting. Checked baggage will be delivered to staterooms later in the afternoon.

Holland America ensures an organised and seamless embarkation process, allowing guests to start their cruise stress-free.

If you need to contact your representative during your stay the details are as follows:

For your Cruise:

please call Holland America 24 hr contact number: 001 206 626 7382

Email address: Holland America Line Groups UK groups@hollandamerica.co.uk

For your transfers and hotel:

JTB Global Marketing and Travel on +81 (0) 3-5796-5431 (office day on Mon-Fri 09:30-18:00 apart from Saturday & Sunday and public holidays)

Address: Tokyo Front Terrace 6F, Hisgashi Shinagawa, Shinagawaku, Tokyo 140-8604

Emergency contact number: +81 (0) 70-2264-2119

Email address: kg01@gmt.jtb.jp

• Sunglasses, Sunscreen and hat in summer
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Camera and charger
• Antibacterial hand gel
• Binoculars
• Personal first aid kit containing travel pills, rehydration powder, plasters, stomach settlers, antiseptic creams, aspirin etc
• Small day pack for excursions
• Waterproof, lightweight jacket
• Lightweight clothing
• Sweater and jacket for the cooler months
• A plug adaptor - the voltage is 110 V