Cruise confusion as firms invent their own rules on passport validity

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. One of the leading UK cruise lines, Fred Olsen, currently asserts on its website: “EU countries consider the expiry date of a passport as the date 10 years after it was issued.” This is not true, and never has been. Clare Ward, commercial and product director at Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “We ask our guests to ensure that, when travelling to Europe with us, their passport issue date is within 10 years of the date they will arrive into any European country. We are happy to review our phrasing online to make sure the travel requirements can be understood by all looking to travel to Europe with us.” Last week, the UK’s biggest independent cruise agent, Iglu, updated its online advice to align with EU rules. P&O Cruises says that for voyages outside Europe, “guests are required to have six months validity left on their passports from the date of final disembarkation”.