Cruise: Foreign Office issues passport travel warning to Britons on cruises to Russia

This rule applies to a number of destinations in Russia, including the hugely popular city of St Petersburg – a common stop on a Baltic cruise.

Other places with this red tape-free arrangement are: Vyborg, Kaliningrad, Sochi, Novorossiysk and the cities of Korsakov and Vladivostok in the Far East of Siberia.

It’s key cruise passengers keep their UK passport on them at all times, however as random checks can be carried out by officials.

However, should the important travel document be lost or stolen during a cruise passenger’s 72-hour stay, life could be made very difficult for the holidaymaker.

The FCO explains: “If your passport is lost/stolen while ashore, you need to obtain a police report, travel to the British Embassy in Moscow for a replacement Emergency Travel Document, get an exit visa and pay a fine to leave Russia.

“If it is not done within the 72-hour visa-free regime, you will be facing a court hearing, fine, deportation and a possible ban from re-entry.”