Cruise Basics

Is a cruise a good value for my vacation dollar?
Absolutely! There are cruise vacations to suit every budget, from the cost-conscious to the most luxurious. Even more important, a cruise offers the best travel value for your money. Your fare includes all meals, your cabin, onboard daytime activities, nighttime parties and entertainment. So for once, you'll know what your vacation will end up costing you before you go. You'll be amazed at the value.

Are all ships and cruises fairly similar?
Cruise ships can range from under 200 feet to over 1,000 feet. You can sail with anywhere from fewer than 100 fellow passengers to over 3,000. Experience atmospheres ranging from casual to formal, classically simple to ultra-deluxe. You can even choose between traditional propeller-driven craft, sail-assisted cruise ships, Polar ice-breakers, or even a paddle-wheel river boat.

What does my cruise fare include?
Your cruise fare includes shipboard accommodations, meals, and most entertainment aboard the vessel.

What does my cruise fare not include?
Your cruise fare does not include organized shore excursions, alcoholic beverages or carbonated soft drinks, photographs, gratuities, spa and beauty treatments, medical services, casino expenditures or other miscellaneous items you may purchase on board.

What is the difference between an outside and an inside stateroom?
An outside stateroom or "Oceanview" will have a balcony, window or porthole. An inside or "No View" stateroom will have artwork or draperies on the walls. On some ships there are inside staterooms that have a view to a Central Atrium or Promenade.

Will I get bored or feel confined?
Not likely. Cruise ships are like floating resorts and offer just as many options as a fine resort. It usually takes a couple of days to fully explore all the onboard possibilities. In addition, you have the opportunity to explore new and exciting ports of call. You can take time to yourself lying poolside on a deck chair or you can join a dance class or sports activity. Later, catch a movie or play backgammon. The choices are endless.

Will I get Motion sickness?
Motion Sickness or "Seasickness" is rare on larger cruise ships because they are equipped with stabilizers which are designed to minimize the feeling of movement. If you should feel queasy, medicine is available from your stateroom steward or the ship's doctor. If you are prone to motion sickness, you may want to consult your physician prior to travel.

What are my dining options?
Most cruise lines offer two seatings for the main dining room: Main Seating and Late Seating. Dining preferences may be requested at the time of the booking. No requests are guaranteed. Your seating and table assignment will be confirmed at embarkation. Either seating will allow you to see all the shows and experience everything your cruise has to offer. For your convenience, in addition to breakfast, lunch, dinner, and midnight buffets, many ships also offer complimentary room service. Special dietary meals are often offered at lunch and dinner. In addition to the traditional seatings, some cruise lines now offer "freestyle" dining. This provides guests with the flexibility to dine when they wish. You may also choose your dinner companions and request specific table sites rather than being assigned to a particular time and table for the duration of the cruise.

Is there a dress code, what should I pack?
Day wear includes shorts, pants, blouses, t-shirts, knit tops or polo shirts. Your attire will depend on that day's activities. For cooler days or evenings, pack a sweater or lightweight windbreaker. For Alaska cruises, sweaters and raincoats are also suggested. Bring a pair of sneakers or rubber-soled shoes for deck sports and a swimsuit cover-up for cool areas on the ship.

Will I need a tuxedo?
On some cruises, formal dinners or parties are part of the fun. However, don't buy a tuxedo just for the trip. If you do want to dress to the nines, many ships offer tuxedo rental services. Even on the most formal of ships, a dark suit and tie are fine for even the dressiest occasions.

What if I am celebrating my birthday/anniversary?
If you'd like to celebrate an anniversary or birthday on the ship, we can add that to your reservation in advance or you can let the maitre d' know. The cruise lines love to celebrate with you.

When can I board the ship?
Embarkation normally begins approximately 2-4 hours prior to departure. Passengers must be aboard no later than 30 minutes prior to sailing.

Do cruise lines have activities for kids?
More and more cruise vacations are booked by families with children. Most cruise lines make a special point of providing supervised activities for youngsters, especially during school holidays. If your children enjoy swimming, sports, games, movies and the adventure of new places, they'll love a family cruise. You'll find the kids adapt to shipboard life with ease, and you won't have to wonder what they're up to every minute. Most kids programs are custom designed for each individual age group, and the children will stay within their age group. The cruise staff will help keep them busy and entertained. Best of all, children generally travel at a substantially reduced rate.

What do I do about money?
Most cruise lines allow you to establish an onboard credit account that permits you to charge purchases to your stateroom. You will need to present a credit card, cash or travelers checks to open this account. This can be done at the designated sign-up area onboard the ship, or during the check-in process. In most ports, U.S. currency may be accepted or easily exchanged. It is best to bring cash in small denominations, since it is easier to get change for these bills. It is also advisable to carry a limited amount of cash, since it is irreplaceable if lost. Travelers checks and/or credit cards are also recommended. Exact conversions rates fluctuate on a daily basis.

What types of activities can we expect once we get there?
Activities and entertainment will vary depending on the destination and cruise line. Many cruise lines offer a variety of activities and entertainment onboard. Shore excursions and land tours may also be available by independent companies, at an additional cost to passengers. Information pertaining to the shore excursions and land tours, if available, may be found at the ship's excursion desk.

Can we stay in touch with the outside?
Most ships have televisions in the rooms plus a daily newsletter with headlines. There are either phones in the rooms or you can have the ship's radio operator contact the mainland for you. Also many ships offer fax capabilities or internet lounges. There are charges to contact the mainland in any form. Please check with the purser to find out exact amounts.

Is there a benefit in purchasing trip insurance?
Absolutely. In life, we never know what is going to happen. Trip insurance offers you protection if you have to cancel due to injury, sickness, or death of you, a traveling companion, or immediate family member. It does not cover unstable, pre-existing conditions. Additionally, it provides emergency assistance while you are on your vacation.

What does a category guarantee mean?
This guarantees you to have at least the category that you have purchased, with the possibility of an upgrade. If you have chosen this option, you will not receive an exact stateroom number at the time of booking. Typically, the stateroom assignment is made at the pier. However, you may occasionally find out a couple of weeks in advance.

How do I get a passport or birth certificate?
You may apply for a passport at your local post office. Many cities also have local passport offices. To acquire a copy of your birth certificate, you would need to contact the city hall from your place of birth. Please keep in mind that your birth certificate should be an original with a raised seal. There are costs associated with acquiring either of these documents, and it is important not to wait until the last minute as this often takes some time.

How much are gratuities on a cruise?
The following guidelines are suggested by the cruise lines: Stateroom attendant - $3.50 per person, per day. Head Waiter - $3.50 per person, per day. Assistant waiters - $1.75 per person, per day. Gratuities for the Headwaiter/Maitre D and other service personnel are at your discretion. For your convenience onboard the ship, a 15% gratuity is automatically included on all beverage tabs. In some cases, the cruise line will automatically add the recommended gratuities to your onboard account. The recommended gratuity is $10.00 per adult per day, $5.00 per child (3-12 years old) and $0.00 for children under 3 years old. If you would prefer to offer gratuities to each staff member personally, you may remove the gratuities from your onboard account by visiting the information desk. Some cruise lines will add a mandatory service charge onto your bill for each passenger per day, this covers any basic gratuities that you may normally leave on your own.

Do they have babysitting on board?
Most contemporary cruise lines cater to families with children and almost always offer babysitting services; however, availability can depend on the destination and time of year. Cruise lines with limited facilities for children may not provide a children's program or babysitting services unless a certain number of children are onboard. Cruise lines that do not cater to children may not offer any babysitting services. Ask your Cruise Consultant to check with the cruise line about the policy in place for the specific cruise you are considering. Most contemporary cruise lines offer babysitting in a group-style format in the children's room. These are conducted by the Children's Program Counselors. Toddlers and older children often have playtime before retiring to individual, sheet-covered mats while watching videos with the other children. Infants are rocked and placed in individual cribs. Some cruise lines offer this for free while others may charge a small fee. Babysitting services are offered during certain evening hours when the children's program is not in operation, but generally not on the first or the last night of the cruise. Babysitting during daytime hours is usually offered only while at sea, but a few may have more flexible hours

What are the deposit and final payment requirements?
If you are booking your cruise early (outside of four months prior to travel) the cruise line typically requires a deposit ranging from $100 - $250 per person for a 3- or 4-night cruise, $200 - $500 per person for a 7-night cruise, and $500 or more for longer cruises. Your cruise must be paid in full on the designated final payment date, which is provided at confirmation of the reservation. Your Cruise Consultant will discuss payment terms for your particular cruise. You will receive a final payment reminder to keep you on top of your payments. If you would like to make periodic payments on your trip, you may do so provided all payments are completed prior to the final balance due date.

When will I receive my cruise documents?
You should receive your travel documents no later than 7 days prior to your departure; in some cases, you will receive them sooner. If you have a cruise-only reservation, it may be necessary to pick your travel documents up the day of departure at the pier. For reservations that include airfare, you can make arrangements to set up an overnight delivery. The cruise line may arrange your reservation to be e-ticketed; in this instance, an email confirmation with your itinerary will be sent to you. Many cruise Lines require that you fill out an advance registration form prior to embarkation.