Embarkation & disembarkation.

We want you to start enjoying your holiday as soon as possible, and for embarkation to be effortless. We therefore encourage all guests to manage their travel information through the online check-in process, as it will reduce the time you spend at the terminal check-in desk.

You can access online check-in via the My Cunard portal 21 days before your departure date. 

Using online check-in, you can enter your passport details, pre-register a payment card for on board purchases and upload a passport-style photo of yourself (for identification purposes) in advance of your voyage. After completing online check-in, you will be able to download your boarding pass, which you should bring to the terminal on your departure date.

You don't have to complete check-in in one visit. You can log in any time to add details and continue the check-in process, until 10pm GMT the day before your holiday.

If you have not completed online check-in before your arrival at the terminal, you will be asked to register the required personal information at the check-in desk. 

To ensure that you spend less time in the cruise terminal, and more time on board the ship, please get to the terminal at the arrival time detailed on your boarding pass. Have your printed boarding pass ready to present as soon as you arrive, and we will show you to the nearest check-in desk.

If you get to the terminal earlier than your specified arrival time, you may be asked to wait until such time that we are able to check you in.

If you are travelling by coach with a Cunard travel partner, you may find that the arrival time on your boarding pass is different to your coach arrival time. Do not worry, in this case, your coach arrival time will supersede the arrival time on your boarding pass. 

Your luggage will be delivered to your stateroom, once you have dropped this off outside the terminal, so please ensure you have attached a Cunard luggage label to each item. Personalised luggage labels are also recommended but not essential. Your passport and any valuables or medication should be kept in your possession.

Our check-in desks are inside the terminal.

If you have completed online check-in, including registering a payment card, passport information and a photo, and printing your boarding pass,  you’ll be asked for the following at the check-in desks:

• Present your passport and boarding pass for validation
• Present proof of any required visas
• Show proof of your Covid-19 vaccination status, if required*
• Show proof of a negative lateral flow/antigen test, if required*

If you have not completed online check-in ahead of your arrival, you'll need to:

• Present your passport for validation
• Present proof of any required visas
• Have your photograph taken for identification purposes
• Register a credit/debit card for on board purchases
• Receive your printed boarding pass
• Show proof of your Covid-19 vaccination status, if required*
• Show proof of a negative lateral flow/antigen test, if required*

*Requirements to travel vary. Check the requirements for your voyage here

Once you have completed check-in you will be directed through security before embarking the ship. In some instances, you may be seated to wait for embarkation to commence. You will be able to proceed on board only once the ship is ready for embarkation to begin. 

If you did not check in online or forgot to bring your boarding pass, we can print this off at the terminal. Your boarding pass is required to board the ship and can also be presented when attending your muster station upon initial boarding.   Your boarding pass can also be used for purchases on board until you are able to collect your voyage card from outside your stateroom/suite. After receiving your voyage card, your boarding pass may be discarded. 

You’ll receive your voyage card on board, once your stateroom or suite is ready. Your voyage card is required to open your stateroom/suite door, purchase items on board and for disembarkation/embarkation at your ports of call. Please keep it safe. 

We will take your luggage off the ship for you, ready to be collected in the terminal (luggage will be ordered by the colour-coded labels provided with your disembarkation details).

If you choose self-help disembarkation, you will be required to carry all of your luggage off by hand without assistance.  If you plan to take advantage of self-help disembarkation please keep this in mind when packing your luggage.

If you have purchased a Cunard ship-to-airport transfer, a land tour or a hotel, you will be directed by Cunard representatives to the transfer departure point.

Assisted travel

For guests who require mobility assistance embarking and disembarking the train, Southampton Central Station operates a pre-bookable assisted travel service.

To pre-book assisted travel for your journey please call Southampton Station assisted travel team on 0800 52 82 100 or 0800 6920 792. 

Please be aware that the railways operate restrictions on the size and number of luggage items carried as a condition of travelling. For further information please go to http://www.nationalrail.co.uk.

Customs and immigration inspectors will review your customs declarations form. It is recommended that you keep your sales receipts handy for declaring these purchases.

Please note that, EU regulation (EC) No 1889/2005 requires all passengers entering or leaving the European Union with €10,000 or more in cash (or its equivalent in other currencies or easily convertible assets – e.g. bonds, shares, traveller’s cheques etc.) to declare the sum to the customs authorities of the member state which they are entering or leaving. If you are likely to need to make a declaration under this regulation please contact the HM Revenue & Customs National Advice Service on 0845 010 9000* (+44 208 929 0152 outside UK), or visit https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs for further information on how to comply. For further customs information, we recommend that you attend the Entertainment Director’s disembarkation talk during the last days of the voyage.

*Calls cost 3.19p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge.

Final details will be delivered to your stateroom towards the end of your voyage. Please also refer to your final travel documents for flight times.