SEYCHELLES DISCOVERY CRUISE - Mercury Holidays

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SEYCHELLES DISCOVERY CRUISE - Mercury Holidays
YOUR TOUR DOSSIER

                                 SEYCHELLES DISCOVERY CRUISE

TRIP OVERVIEW
Cruise from palm-fringed beaches to uninhabited island reserves as you sail amongst the 115 islands of the Seychelles archipelago. Visit giant
tortoises on the mangrove-clad island of Curieuse and the bird sanctuary of Cousin Island, snorkel through colourful coral reefs teeming with
life and soak in dazzling sunshine and scenery as you embark on this relaxing island-hopping adventure.

ITINERARY & DETAILS
­­­­
This document aims to give you all the information that you require for a smooth            DAY 5: Anse Lazio to Praslin Island B/L/D
and comfortable trip to the Seychelles. Please take the time to read this dossier           Journey to the island of Aride, home to numerous seabird colonies and the
to familiarise yourself with all the aspects of our tour. It includes important             unique Wright’s gardenia. Take a scenic walk to the top of the island and soak
information such as flight details, visa requirements and travel insurance.                 in breath-taking views of ocean and isle before sailing onward to St Pierre Island.
                                                                                            Snorkel amongst the resplendent reefs found in these waters then cruise into the
Your included meal guide:                                                                   sunset as you travel to Praslin Island where you’ll anchor for the night. Enjoy a
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner                                                        lively evening dinner with a Creole night on board with musicians and dancers.
DAY 1: UK to Mahé                                                                           DAY 6: Praslin Island to La Digue B/L/D
Depart London on your scheduled, overnight flight to the Seychelles, via Dubai.             After a morning of cruising through the emerald expanse of ocean surrounding
DAY 2: Mahé to St Anne Island D                                                             the Seychelles, arrive in Felicite or Grand Soeur this afternoon and encounter
On arrival, you will be met and transferred to the cruise terminal in Port Victoria.        vibrant marine life on a snorkelling excursion, with the option to go scuba diving
Board your ship and set sail while you sip on a welcome cocktail. Cruise towards            (at a fee). Continue onward to the laidback isle of La Digue, arriving in the evening
St Anne Island where you will stop for a refreshing swim in the sparkling waters of         and docking overnight in the port.
the Indian Ocean. Enjoy dinner on-board and anchor for the night, with the chance           DAY 7: La Digue to Moyenne Island B/L/D
to take advantage of the ship’s amenities which include a bar and mini spa.                 Enjoy a morning at leisure to explore La Digue and its outlying beaches.
                                                                                            Alternatively, a half-day optional excursion travels to L’ Union Estate for a tour
DAY 3: St Anne Island to Curieuse B/L/D
                                                                                            of the coconut plantation then visits magnificent Anse Source D’ Argent beach
After breakfast with a view, set sail for Curieuse, distinctive for its dramatic red soil
                                                                                            and the village of La Passe, before returning to the ship. Weigh anchor in the
and swaying coco de mer palm trees. Look out for turtles and the island’s rare
                                                                                            afternoon and journey to Moyenne Island for your overnight stay.
black parrot as a park guide leads you through lush mangrove forests. Return to
the beach for an oceanfront barbecue and time to swim, with your ship anchoring             DAY 8: Moyenne Island to Mahé B/L/D
offshore for the night.                                                                     Explore the small island of Moyenne as you wander past towering mahogany
                                                                                            trees and giant tortoises on a short, guided tour. After a beach barbecue, soak
DAY 4: Curieuse to Anse Lazio B/L/D                                                         in your last rays of sunshine as you swim and snorkel off these shores. Set sail
Cruise to Cousin Island, an uninhabited nature reserve teeming with colourful               in the afternoon, reaching Mahé’s Victoria port in time for a festive night of music
birdlife, giant tortoises and turtle-nesting grounds. Keep your binoculars handy            and dancing at tonight’s farewell dinner.
as you walk amongst the 250,000 birds which breed in this avian sanctuary.
After lunch, sail to world-renowned Anse Lazio Beach where you’ll have the rest             DAY 9: Mahé to the UK B
of the afternoon to relax on the powder-soft sands ringed by palm trees and                 After breakfast, disembark and transfer to the airport for your return flight to the
azure waters.                                                                               UK, via Dubai, or continue on to your chosen extension.

  For any further enquiries or for more information call us on 0843 224 0723                                                                                                     1
SEYCHELLES DISCOVERY CRUISE - Mercury Holidays
SEYCHELLES DISCOVERY CRUISE TOUR DOSSIER

ACCOMMODATION DETAILS & MAP
                                                                                          1   Number of nights
   Vessel information                                                                                                   Anse Lazio
                                                                                                                                           1
                                                                                                                                               1   Curieuse
   4H M/Y Pegasus (7 nights)
                                                                                                                            Praslin Island     1
                                                                                                                                                      1   La Digue
   Outside cabins are located on the Sun Deck, Upper Deck and Main Deck.
   All cabins feature large windows and offer en-suite bathrooms with a                                             1       St Anne Island
   shower, TV/VCR units, music channels, hairdryers, individually controlled                                            1
   A/C and safe deposit boxes. They are large and comfortable and all are
   equipped with twin or queen size beds; two cabins feature triple bedding.                                                  Moyenne
                                                                                                          Mahé      1
                                                                                                                              Island
   Life on board
   During the day, life on board centres around the indoor lounge, outdoor                                                        Indian
   lounge and the bar on the Upper Deck. Al fresco dining, a sun deck, mini
   spa & massage services are also available (some at a fee).
                                                                                                                                  Ocean
                                                                                          Boat

Accommodation                                                                          Meals
Mercury Holidays has visited and inspected all cruise ships to ensure that they        Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served daily on board the ship. Any dietary
meet the high standards of service which we require for our clients. If the ship       requirements and dislikes should be made known to our reservations staff at the
detailed is not available, an alternative will be used of a similar standard.          time of booking.
Final confirmation of your accommodation will be sent in a document, along
with your final flight information, approximately 10 days before you travel.

ON YOUR ARRIVAL
On your arrival in Mahé you will be met by a representative from our local agent in the Seychelles, Mason’s Travel, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”.
The Mercury Holidays/Mason’s Travel representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your guide will be able to answer any queries.
However, if you need to contact Masons Travel during your stay the details are:
Mason’s Travel (Pty) Ltd                                                               Emergency contact information
P.O. Box 459, Victoria                                                                 Mason’s Travel After Hours Duty Officer
Mahé, Seychelles.                                                                      Contact number: 00248 252 4665
Contact number: 00248 428 88 88                                                        Emergency contact information for the cruise ship:
                                                                                       M/Y Pegasus captain’s mobile number: 00248 2547032
                                                                                       24-hour emergency customer service: 00248 4288888 / 00248 2516488
WHAT YOU NEED FOR YOUR TOUR
Visas                                                                                  Tipping
A visa is not required for your trip to the Seychelles. Further advice should be       Tipping is a common practice in the Seychelles and it is customary to tip
sought from the applicable tourist authority for other nationalities and for general   approximately USD$11-$13 per person per day which is split between the whole
queries. We strongly advise you check your destinations’ Tourist Board or Embassy      crew. Tips can be given at the end of the cruise. Tips are accepted in Euros, US
for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding passport validity.                        dollars and local currencies.
Insurance                                                                              Group Size
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably              The minimum number of travellers in your group will be 2 and the maximum will
insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you        be 42. In the unlikely event there are fewer than 2 passengers booked on your
must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel          tour date, you may be asked to change to a different date. A full refund will be
insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may       made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.
undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we
have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras. To arrange          Currency Exchange
your travel insurance with Holiday Extras, please call 0800 781 4237 and quote         The currency in the Seychelles is the Seychelles Rupee, but Euros are also widely
‘WK830’ for preferential rates. Please ensure you provide us with the name of          accepted in major cities. Smaller denominations are preferred. Cash machines will
your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as              be available throughout the tour in order to withdraw money in the local currency.
soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you
                                                                                       Personal Expenses
due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
                                                                                       You will need to take some extra money with you to cover any meals where these
Health and Vaccinations                                                                are not mentioned on your itinerary and personal purchases, such as souvenirs,
It is your responsibility to check any health & vaccination requirements applicable    extra drinks and snacks. Approximately £200-£300 per person should be sufficient
to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about             for the duration of your tour. All expenses on board such as drinks are charged to
this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country.    your cabin and paid for on check-out.
You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in
sufficient time before your departure. Sources of information include:
                                                                                       Credit Card Information
                                                                                       As normal practice you will be asked for your credit card details on check-in at
www.fco.gov.uk, www.travelhealthpro.org.uk, www.hpa. org.uk, your General
                                                                                       the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have
Practitioner or a specialist clinic.
                                                                                       a credit card you may be asked for a cash deposit. American Express, Diners
Physical Accessibility                                                                 Club, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels.­­
This tour is accessible to most people with a good level of fitness and normal
mobility. It involves climbing of steep stairs and getting on and off coaches and      Itinerary Changes
boats. This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties.                 The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for
                                                                                       operational purposes. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes
Tour Guides                                                                            as they are informed of them. Some road construction and/or weather conditions
An English-speaking tour director will be on board your boat with you for any          may lengthen the travelling times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day
queries that you may have. Staff members of Variety Cruises will accompany             itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according
you on land during guided excursions. Airport transfers will be led by an              to local conditions. The Captain reserves the right to alter/modify an itinerary at
English-speaking driver.                                                               any time, should safety, external circumstances or tides make this necessary.

 For any further enquiries or for more information call us on 0843 224 0723                                                                                            2
SEYCHELLES DISCOVERY CRUISE - Mercury Holidays
SEYCHELLES DISCOVERY CRUISE TOUR DOSSIER

WHAT TO PACK
• Sunscreen, insect repellent and hat                                                • Camera and charger
• Waterproof lightweight jacket                                                      • Lightweight/travel towel
• Sunglasses                                                                         • Binoculars
• Ruck sack or light bag per person                                                  • A travel plug adapter: The vessel is equipped with European (2 pin)
• Comfortable walking shoes                                                            power sockets
• Lightweight clothing (jeans are not recommended)                                   • Personal toiletries
• Sweater                                                                            • Personal first aid kit containing travel pills, rehydration powder, plasters,
• Swimwear                                                                             stomach settlers, antiseptic creams, aspirin etc

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Your initial flight is to Seychelles International Airport (Mahé) with Emirates (EK) via Dubai, departing from London Heathrow Terminal 3.

IMPORTANT: Please note that final flight details will be confirmed on your e-ticket and final documentation which will be sent to
you approximately 10 days before departure.
Baggage Allowance                                                                    Airport Extras
Baggage allowance (per person): Each passenger is entitled to 30kg of hold           If you wish to arrange airport car parking, lounges or accommodation at
luggage plus 1 item of hand luggage not exceeding 7kg. Weight restrictions will be   preferential rates, we recommend you book this in advance with Holiday Extras
finalized on your e-ticket receipt. Check-in should be at least three hours before   on 0871 360 2000, quoting HX313.
your departure.

WEATHER AND CLIMATE
Weather can vary quite considerably throughout the year, so please familiarise yourself with the climate charts below.

                         Average temperature: Mahé

  For any further enquiries or for more information call us on 0843 224 0723                                                                                           3
SEYCHELLES DISCOVERY CRUISE - Mercury Holidays
YOUR TOUR DOSSIER

                       SEYCHELLES BEACH STAY EXTENSION
 If you have not yet booked this fabulous extension, there is still time to do so. Please contact 0843 224 0723

                                                                                                                                             4H AVANI Seychelles Barbarons

TRIP OVERVIEW
Soak in pristine beaches, lush mangroves and dramatic mountains on the Seychelles’ biggest island, Mahe. This 3-night extension is the ideal
way to combine the cultural offerings of the island with its natural and coastal delights.

ITINERARY & DETAILS
This document aims to give you all the information which you will require              Please note: the hotels listed are provided for guidance only and final
during your extension to the Seychelles.                                               confirmation of your accommodation will be sent in a document, along
                                                                                       with your final flight information, approximately 10 days before you travel.
Hotel (3 nights)
Your stay in the Seychelles will take place at the following hotels:                   Tour guides
                                                                                       Your stay in the Seychelles is not escorted by a tour guide. All internal transfers
4H AVANI Seychelles Barbarons Resort & Spa on Half Board.                              are included.
Located on the west coast of Mahé within easy reach of Barbarons and Grand
Anse Beaches, this 4H hotel offers excellent guest facilities including a spa and      Personal Expenses
on-site restaurant. All rooms are air-conditioned and feature en suite facilities, a   You will need to take money with you to cover any personal purchases such as
balcony with garden or ocean views, flat-screen satellite TV, minibar, desk & safe.    souvenirs, laundry, and any additional meals, snacks or drinks you may wish to
Hotel Information                                                                      have.
Address: Barbaron, Grand Anse, Mahé Island, Seychelles
Contact number: 00248 4 673 000                                                        Please note
                                                                                       This extension stay in the Seychelles will take place at the end of your main tour.
Any alternative hotels or board basis will have been confirmed at booking.
Please speak to our reservations department if you are unsure.

                          Average temperature: Mahé

                                                                                                                                             4H AVANI Seychelles Barbarons

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Please note: Final hotel and flight details will be confirmed on your e-ticket and final documentation which will be sent to you approximately 10 days before departure.

  For any further enquiries or for more information call us on 0843 224 0723                                                                                            4
SEYCHELLES DISCOVERY CRUISE - Mercury Holidays
YOUR TOUR DOSSIER

                                       DUBAI CITY STAY EXTENSION
 If you have not yet booked this fabulous extension, there is still time to do so. Please contact 0843 224 0723

TRIP OVERVIEW
An extension to Dubai and its Emirates is the perfect place to relax and soak in the Arabian sun which shines out of a clear blue sky day after
day. The United Arab Emirates offer a kaleidoscope of attractions from bustling city centres to rugged mountains and idyllic beaches.

ITINERARY & DETAILS
This document aims to give you all the information which you will require             Personal Expenses
during your extension in Dubai.                                                       You will need to take some extra money with you to cover any personal purchases
                                                                                      such as souvenirs and laundry plus any meals and drinks that are not included.
Hotel (3 nights)
Your stay in Dubai will take place at the following hotels:                           Tour Guides
                                                                                      Your stay in Dubai is not escorted by a tour guide. All internal transfers
4H Marco Polo on Bed & Breakfast.
                                                                                      are included.
Centrally located in the leisure district of Deira, the Marco Polo offers a great
range of guest facilities including a roof top pool, plus an excellent selection of
                                                                                      Currency
restaurants featuring several speciality eateries. The hotel is provides a free
                                                                                      The currency in Dubai is the UAE Dirham.
shuttle service also operates to one of Dubai’s beaches.
Hotel Information
Address: Al Mateena St, Al Muteena, Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates                Festivals
Contact number: 00971 4 272 0000                                                      Ramadan will fall between 27th May and 25th June in 2017 and 16th May and
                                                                                      14th June in 2018. Please be advised that restaurants, bars and facilities may
Any alternative hotels or board basis will have been confirmed at booking.            close during this period.
Please speak to our reservations department if you are unsure.
                                                                                      Tourist tax
Please note: the hotels listed are provided for guidance only and final               The Emirates of Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah have introduced a compulsory tourist
confirmation of your accommodation will be sent in a document, along                  tax on all hotel accommodation, to be paid by guests at the hotel before
with your final flight information, approximately 10 days before you travel.          departure. Please ask Reservations for details.

Visas                                                                                 Please note
All UK passport holders do not require a visa.                                        This extension takes place after your main tour.

                         Average temperature: Dubai

                                                                                                                                                         4H Marco Polo

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Please note: Final hotel and flight details will be confirmed on your e-ticket and final documentation which will be sent to you approximately 10 days before departure.

  For any further enquiries or for more information call us on 0843 224 0723                                                                                             5
SEYCHELLES DISCOVERY CRUISE - Mercury Holidays
YOUR TOUR DOSSIER

                                   DUBAI BEACH STAY EXTENSION
 If you have not yet booked this fabulous extension, there is still time to do so. Please contact 0843 224 0723

TRIP OVERVIEW
With lovely beaches of powdery white sand and an azure sea which is crystal clear and warm, a relaxing stay in the United Arab Emirates is
the perfect way to round off your main tour.

ITINERARY & DETAILS
This document aims to give you all the information which you will require             Personal Expenses
during your extension in Dubai.                                                       You will need to take some extra money with you to cover any personal purchases
                                                                                      such as souvenirs and laundry plus any meals and drinks that are not included.
Hotel (5 nights)
Your stay in Dubai will take place at the following hotel:                            Tour Guides
                                                                                      Your stay in Dubai is not escorted by a tour guide. All internal transfers
4H Smartline Beach Resort Ras Al Khaimah on All-Inclusive.
                                                                                      are included.
Overlooking its 800m private, sandy beach, this hotel is located along the Arabian
Gulf in Ras Al Khaimah. Just 2 minutes’ drive away is a choice of restaurants,
                                                                                      Currency
leisure activities and shopping. Air-conditioned cabana rooms are set around a
                                                                                      The currency in Dubai is the UAE Dirham.
tranquil landscaped garden and overlook the pool or garden.
Hotel Information
Address: Jazirah Al Hamra Road, Ras Al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates                  Festivals
Contact number: 00971 7 244 6644                                                      Ramadan will fall between 27th May and 25th June in 2017 and 16th May and
                                                                                      14th June in 2018. Please be advised that restaurants, bars and facilities may
Any alternative hotels or board basis will have been confirmed at booking.            close during this period.
Please speak to our reservations department if you are unsure.
                                                                                      Tourist tax
Please note: the hotels listed are provided for guidance only and final               The Emirates of Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah have introduced a compulsory tourist
confirmation of your accommodation will be sent in a document, along                  tax on all hotel accommodation, to be paid by guests at the hotel before
with your final flight information, approximately 10 days before you travel.          departure. Please ask Reservations for details.

Visas                                                                                 Please note
All UK passport holders do not require a visa.                                        This extension takes place after your main tour.

                         Average temperature: Dubai

                                                                                                                                                4H Smartline Beach Resort

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Please note: Final hotel and flight details will be confirmed on your e-ticket and final documentation which will be sent to you approximately 10 days before departure.

  For any further enquiries or for more information call us on 0843 224 0723                                                                                          6
SEYCHELLES DISCOVERY CRUISE - Mercury Holidays SEYCHELLES DISCOVERY CRUISE - Mercury Holidays SEYCHELLES DISCOVERY CRUISE - Mercury Holidays SEYCHELLES DISCOVERY CRUISE - Mercury Holidays
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