TIPS BEFORE YOU GO BOARDING AND ON BOARD TIPS
Documents
In order to check in for your cruise, you must have two (2) forms of ID. You must have at least a certified birth certificate or a passport. You will also need a government issued photo ID. The name on your ID MUST exactly match the name on your reservation. If it does not, contact your travel agent and have this corrected. Passports are HIGHLY recommended! I suggest you get yours before cruising. Once you have applied for your passport, it can take several weeks before it arrives. Click here to go to the U.S. Department of State for more information on passport requirements and to obtain a passport application. The cruise lines are also requiring that passengers complete immigration and pre-boarding information online prior to the cruise. You will need to print off these documents after your final payment has been made and take them with you to the dock when checking in.
Your Flight
We always try to fly in the day before the cruise departs. This is not necessary but, in our experience, it saves a lot of worry about flight delays or cancellations and lost or delayed luggage concerns. If you do fly in the same day as the cruise, allow yourself sufficient time to get from the airport to the dock. You must be checked in at least one and a half hours prior to the ship's departure. You also need to allow sufficient time for your return flight. Most cruise lines suggest you book your departing flight no earlier than 1:00 PM. Remember - Check with your airline regarding their size, quantity and weight limits for your luggage. Also check what the charges are to check your luggage. Many airlines charge a fee now for all checked luggage.
Choosing a Cabin
Accommodations on board the ship are referred to as either a "Stateroom" or "Cabin". Both of these terms mean the same thing. Be sure to choose your cabin carefully. If you are at all claustrophobic, you will want to avoid an inside cabin. These staterooms are very small and have no windows. Cabins with a port hole or a window might suit you better. The best option is a balcony cabin. They are usually larger than other rooms and have a balcony you can go out on. The balcony cabin usually has at least two chairs and a table on them. If you are traveling with a family, most newer ships have larger cabins designed for families. These are larger in size and sometimes have a separate sleeping area. For a much larger cabin, you might want to choose a Junior suite, a regular Suite or an Owners Suite. If you have any accessibility concerns, there are also handicap accessible cabins. There are few of these types of cabins available onboard the ship. If you need an accessible cabin, book early and be sure to request one with your travel agent. You will be required to fill out a form showing the need for this type of cabin. All cabins will include a private bath with a shower, closet space, a phone, and television. Some cabins also include a refrigerator, mini bar and a bath tub. If you have a good travel agent - there should also be a "special gift" waiting for you!
Alcohol Policies
Check with your cruise line about their policies on bringing alcohol on board with you and the age limit for purchasing and consuming alcohol while on board. Most will not allow you to bring your own alcohol on board. Some cruise lines allow you to bring a bottle of wine on board, if you are celebrating something. If you purchase alcohol on board or on shore, the cruise line will retain your purchase until the end of your voyage. Your purchases will be delivered to your cabin on the last night of the cruise. The age limit for purchasing and consuming alcohol on board is generally determined by the age you are when you board, not the age you might be turning while on the cruise. The age limit ranges from 18 to 21 years old.
Sea Sickness
Sea sickness should not be a concern for you. The newer ships now have stabilizers that keep the ship from rocking side to side. If this is a concern, pack sea sickness medication in your carry on bag. However, if you should experience sea sickness (or any other illness) and have no medication with you, there is an infirmary on board. There is a charge for using this service which will be billed to your sail and sign card. You can also purchase over the counter medicines in the Sundries store on board, after sail away.
AccessibilityOn modern ships, nearly everything is handicapped accessible. However, this is not the case on shore and with some shore excursions. Some destinations require you to step from the ship onto a small tender boat to get to shore. When the ship docks, some locations on shore have narrow, broken sidewalks. You may also encounter uneven terrain. If you have questions prior to sailing, you should check with the special needs or accessibility department of the cruise line. They will be able to give you a more detailed description of the area. On board, the Purser should be able to answer questions about the ports you will be visiting and help you with any special needs you have while on board. If you have questions before you book your cruise or prior to your sailing, please email us. We have years of experience cruising with mobility limitations. We use a mobility scooter while on the ship and can give you some first hand advise. We can ALWAYS help you in booking your cruise and answering questions about your cruise.
Packing
There are several tips we can give you on packing. For a convenient packing list, click here. Make sure you pack both casual and dressy clothes. One of the most important things to pack is comfortable shoes. You will do a lot of walking and comfortable shoes are very important. If you take any kind of medication, be sure to pack it in a carry on bag. Your luggage may not be delivered to your stateroom for several hours after you have boarded the ship. If you are flying, be sure to check with your airline regarding weight limitations, fees for checked luggage, number of bags allowed, the allowable size of your carry on and restriction of carry on items. Soft sided luggage is best. There is very little room to store your luggage in your cabin. Remember, there is usually room under your bed to place empty luggage. It is a good idea to use brightly colored luggage. If you do not have brightly colored luggage, tie colorful ribbons on your luggage or use some kind of distinguishing marking. At the end of your cruise, EVERYONE'S luggage is placed in a large room, grouped by deck floors. It is very difficult to pick yours out of the 3,000 plus pieces of luggage.
Transportation
You may book your transportation to and from the airport with the cruise line when booking your cruise. There is a fee for this service and it varies depending on which port you are departing from. A representative of the cruise line will meet you either at the gate or at baggage claim and direct you to their transportation busses. If you do not book this ahead of time, you can also purchase the cruise line transportation at the airport. Just ask one of the cruise line representatives about doing this. You will find a representative either at the gate or baggage claim area. Another option is to take a taxi to and from the airport. This is usually much quicker than waiting on the cruise line busses to fill. However, it may be more expensive, depending on the port you are going out of.
Embarkation & Check-In
When you arrive at the ship's dock, Porters will take your luggage and place it aboard the ship. Be sure you do not give them your carry on bag. Be sure you have not packed your documents in your checked luggage. The porters do not work for the cruise line. Always tip the porters directly, at least $1.00 per bag (we tip $2.00 per bag). Have your documentation ready as you go to the check-in desk. At this desk, you will be asked for: two (2) forms of ID (passport or certified birth certificate and Government issued photo ID), your pre-boarding pass, (which must be completed online prior to arriving at the port), and a credit card for your sail and sign card. You will be issued a "credit" card from the cruise line. This is your charge card for all onboard purchases, including beverages and onboard shopping. This will also be your room key and your ID to get on and off the ship. It is important that you do not lose this card. It is encoded with your credit card information and it is your ID to get on and off the ship at shore. If you do misplace this card, check with the Pursers desk to obtain a new one or to see if anyone has turned your lost card into them. At check-in, you will be assigned your table number and dining time. This information usually is written on your sail card. If you do not already have a cabin assigned to you, this is when you will be given your cabin number. You may be given a ship Deck Plan. Keep this handy at all times. It guides you to all various facilities on the ship. It's easy to get lost and this will help you find your way. You will be allowed on the ship approximately 3 hours prior to sailing (check with your cruise line). There will be a buffet set up for your enjoyment while you wait to for the ship to set sail.
Muster Drills
Before the ship sets sail, every passenger is required to attend the Muster Drill. An announcement will be made over the loud speaker instructing you to go to your cabin, put on your life jacket and go to your muster station. Every passenger must do this. The crew will search cabins to make sure everyone is at the drill. This is required by the Coast Guard. This drill is designed to show everyone what to do in the unlikely event you have to abandon ship. This drill will take approximately 15 minutes. Your assigned Muster Station is located on your cabin door and on the life jackets inside your cabin. If you have any question about where your Muster Station is, ask your cabin steward or any of the crew during the drill.
Daily Newsletter
Each evening you will have a "Ship Newsletter" delivered to your cabin. This will detail the times and places for all of the ships activities. It will also tell you what time each of the dining areas, bars and pools open and close. Here's a TIP - Carry a Hi Liter with you to mark the activities you are most interested in.
On Board ActivitiesThere is always something going on! Most ships offer a spa, a fitness center and a jogging track. There are usually several swimming pools and hot tubs for public use. Some ships have movie theaters, rock climbing walls, skating rinks, mini-golf courses and driving ranges. For those who want more relaxing activities, the ships have a library where you can check out books. There is also a card room which will have table for playing cards and it offers games to check out for playing on board. Most cruise lines offer an internet cafe. For a charge you can log on to the internet. Some of the newer ships have Wi Fi throughout the ship and in the cabins. The crew also organizes various activities throughout the cruise. They host talent contests, trivia games, bingo games, gambling tournaments, swimming pool games and a variety of other activities. Get your bingo cards early! Bingo is very popular on board! They do a "Jack Pot" Bingo game on every cruise. Every evening, there are Las Vegas style shows in the main show rooms. Each lounge on the ship offers it's own entertainment ranging from live bands, to DJ's to Piano players. Some evenings, a midnight buffet is offered. The Grand Buffet should not be missed!
Shopping
If you plan to do some shopping on shore, you should attend the Cruise Director's talk about shopping. These talks are informational and entertaining. They will give you guidelines on where to shop for the best bargains and their recommended stores. Some cruise lines offer guarantees on your purchases, but only at specific stores. You can bargain with the street vendors on price. Almost everyone speaks fluent English in the stores. All shops take U.S. currency and prices are usually in U.S. dollars. However, should you purchase from a shop that does not take U.S. dollars, use your credit card to get the best exchange rate. There are several shops on board the ship as well. These shops sell cruise line logo items, alcohol, tobacco products, sundries, jewelry and much more.
Shore Excursions
Shore excursions are a wonderful way to experience the sights, culture, and arts of the ports of call. There are several ways to purchase shore excursions. The cruise line offers a large variety of on shore activities. You can book these either prior to your cruise (these must be booked no later then 10 days prior to your sail date), or on board. Either way you book them, book them early as they do sometimes sell out. The best part about booking excursions through the cruise line is, the crew will guide you to and from the transportation for the excursion. Also, if the tour is delayed, the ship will not sail without you! You can also purchase tours on shore through local tour companies. Sometimes, this is less expensive. Another option is finding a taxi on shore and have them take you where you want to go. The taxis are always at the end of the dock. You can bargain with the taxi drivers on price. Make sure you agree on a price before you get in the cab. Have exact change for the cab or the driver may try to make you believe they can't make change. The disadvantage to booking excursions on your own is, if you are delayed and do not get back to the ship on time, the ship could leave without you!
Dining
You have several choices for dining on board. The main dining room is a real treat. You are assigned a specific table and dining time, which you may dine at each night. You can choose from several items on the menu. The same waiters will be serving you each night. Depending on the length of your cruise, there are both formal dress nights and casual dress nights. Your daily newsletter will tell you the type of dining dress code is recommended each evening. Most cruise lines require you do not wear shorts, bathing suits, tank tops or t-shirts when eating in the main dining room. If you want a more casual dining atmosphere, there are buffets and specialty grills available in different areas of the ship. You can also order room service 24 hours a day. Room service menu options sometimes are limited to a few select items. Some cruise lines are offering "any time" dining. With this option, you will eat in a dining room but are not required to eat at a specific time. You will be seated at a different table each night. There are also "Specialty Dining" rooms available on some ships and on some cruise lines. There is a fee for this type of dining, ranging from $15 to $30 dollars per person. These meals are served in several courses and are worth the extra money.
On Board Tipping
Tipping is optional but highly recommended. Most cruise lines allow you to prepay your gratuities. Ask your booking agency (hopefully us) about this. This is a real time saver. It eliminates the hassle of coming up with cash at the end of your cruise for tips. The charges are based on the suggested tipping guidelines for that cruise line. Some cruise lines also automatically charge your tips to your on board account. You can at any time, prior to the last night of the cruise, increase or decrease these tips on your account. You will be given envelopes on the last night of the cruise to place either your tips in or the vouchers for your pre-paid tips. Printed on the outside of the envelopes are the department name you are tipping. You can hand these envelopes directly to the person who served you throughout your cruise. FYI - When purchasing beverages on board, the gratuities are automatically charged to your sail and sign card and are included on the bill they hand you at the time of purchase!
Traveling with Children
If you are traveling with children, there are many activities especially designed for your children. Each cruise line has their own children's programs. These activities are age specific. The children are usually grouped by age and are in separate area of the ship. For a fee, baby sitting services are available on board the ship. Check with your cruise line or with the Pursers desk for information about these services. If you need a crib in your cabin, either arrange for this with your cruise line prior to your cruise or ask your cabin steward to deliver a crib to your cabin. Children in diapers are NOT permitted in the pools or hot tubs. This is a health issue and the cruise line will ask you to remove a child wearing diapers from the pool or hot tub.
Debarkation
On the last night of the cruise, you will need to prepare for debarking the next morning. You will be given forms to fill out for customs. You will also have to pack and have your luggage sitting out side your stateroom by a specified time. You will be given color coded luggage tags to place on your luggage prior to setting your bags out. Don't forget to keep clothes and toiletries out for the next morning. On the morning of debarkation, everyone will be told what area they are to gather in while waiting for customs and immigration officials to clear the ship. In order to facilitate an orderly debarkation, passengers are called to leave the ship according to your deck or your color coded luggage tag. If you have an early flight scheduled, be sure to let the Purser and your cabin steward know in advance. You will be permitted to disembark earlier than your normal deck assignment. Some cruise lines now allow "Self Debarkation". If you can carry all of your bags off the ship with no assistance, you can debark the ship at any time after the ship has been cleared. If you plan to do this DO NOT place your bags outside of your cabin the last night of the cruise.
If you have additional questions, please e-mail Karen at: karen@cruisesnyou.com
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We have experience in getting the BEST cabins available. Call Karen or Glenn today at 419-293-2276!! We run this from our home and are available many more hours of the week then most travel agencies!
If you have a group of at least 8 cabins, please contact Karen. She can set your group up. It is free! Take advantage of some great prices and perks for your group! Call early for the best prices and cabins!
We have experience in getting the BEST cabins available. Call Karen or Glenn today at 419-293-2276!! We run this from our home.