Answers:
Will I save money by booking
directly with the cruise line?
This is a common misconception.
The reality is that in most cases you are likely to
end up spending more! It is true that travel agents
are paid a commission by the cruise line when you
book through them. Traditional logic would suggest
that if the cruise line does not have to pay a
commission, then they can pass those savings along
to you the consumer, however this is simply not the
case. In fact, a professional travel agent can
often get you a BETTER price than the cruise line
offers. Plus, the travel agent can make you aware of
special promotions that might exist on another
similar cruise line sailing to the same destination,
something a cruise line salesperson will never do.
There are a few cruise lines out there that will not
let travel agents sell below what they sell for,
however these cruise lines sometimes have specials
that only travel agents can offer.
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How safe and secure is a
cruise?
Ever since 9/11 cruise lines
have increased on board security. Every piece of
baggage that is placed on board is scanned by an
X-Ray for dangerous items. As passengers and crew
members board, all carry-on items are also scanned
before they are allowed to board. Whenever
passengers or crew disembark the ship (at any port),
they are required to show proper identification when
re-boarding and, on most ships, packages are
scanned. Cruise ships have their own on board
security staff on every sailing as well. The
instances of crime aboard cruise ships is small
compared to that of hotels and resorts. On most
cruise ships sailing today, every stateroom is
equipped with a safe for your valuables. Always
remember that you must pay attention and travel
smart, don’t leave valuables lying around
unattended.
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Will I get seasick?
Most passengers never
experience sea sickness on today's larger cruise
ships. Cruise ships have specially designed
stabilizers that help to minimize the rocking motion
of the ship in rough seas. In the unlikely event
that seas do get rough and the motion does bother
you, there are several preventative medications
available on board the ship.
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Is there anything for kids to
do on the ship?
Many cruise lines provide
programs for children of all ages. Some offer
pre-teen and teen activities. The larger ships
include a video arcade, teen disco and other areas
of the ship designated as "kids only". On the other
hand, there are some cruise lines that are geared
more toward adult passengers, therefore, you should
consult with your cruise professional before booking
a cruise for your family. Cruises are a great way
for families to travel and see a variety of
countries and ports while keeping everyone happy.
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How much does it cost?
Cruise vacations can range in
cost from as little as $40 per person/per day to as
much as $500 per person/per day or more. Prices will
vary based on:
·
the cruise destination
·
the cruise line
·
the type of cabin you choose
(suites are more expensive than a regular stateroom
and ocean view staterooms are more expensive than
inside staterooms with no windows)
·
the services provided for the
cruise fare
·
the time of year you choose to
cruise
·
In any case, a cruise vacation is a
great value because whatever you pay, it includes
all of your meals, accommodations, taxes,
entertainment, and in some cases your airfare.
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What types of activities are
included?
There are literally dozens of
activities going on all over the ship every day. You
can participate in as many as you like, or none at
all. Most activities are included in your cruise
fare, however, a few may require a small additional
charge (i.e. wine tasting, bingo, spa). You can
watch or participate in a game show, karaoke, you
can go to one of the many lounges for dancing or
just listening to music. There are also nightly
broadway type shows as well as comedians on many
sailings. Of course, one the best activities can be
"doing nothing at all." Relaxation is what attracts
many people to cruise travel. Every ship has one or
more pools where you can enjoy a good book, most
have a library and several lounges where you can sit
and relax by yourself or with friends.
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What about tipping?
Tipping policies can vary from
one cruise line to another. In any case, tipping is
always up to you. Some cruise lines now
automatically add $8 to $12 per day/per person to
your onboard account to cover all gratuities. Of
course, you can request that these charges be
adjusted, or removed altogether. Generally
speaking, $10.00 to $12.00 per day/per person should
take care of your waiter, assistant waiter, cabin
steward(ess). Gratuities for bar service are
typically automatically added to your bar tab (15%).
Other gratuities are at your discretion.
Some cruise lines have adopted
a 'no tipping required' policy. Your travel agent
can give you more information regarding gratuities
if you need it.
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Will I need a passport?
All U.S. and Canadian citizens
must travel with proof of citizenship in one of the
following forms:
·
A valid passport that is valid at
least 6 months after the sailing date of your
cruise, or
·
A government-issued birth
certificate with raised seal (not a photocopy) plus
a government-issued photo identification (i.e.driver's
license), or
·
A certified naturalization
certificate with a government-issued photo
identification (i.e.driver's license).
·
Non-U.S. citizens who are residing
in the United States are required to travel with
their Alien Registration Card (Green Card) and valid
passports. All others must have valid passports and
necessary visas at embarkation. You can always
consult with your travel agent for more information.
·
It is best to check on the current
requirements for your cruise. For the most current
information go to www.travel.state.gov
.
Note: Due to heightened
security after 9/11, cruise travel outside the
United States, Canada and the Caribbean will require
a U.S. or Canadian passport. To be safe, your
passport should not expire within 6 months of the
date of embarkation.
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Can I bring liquor on board?
In most cases, no. Most cruise
lines do not allow passengers to board the ship with
liquor. If you do bring liquor with you, it will be
held for you by the cruise line onboard the ship
until you disembark the ship. The same is true for
liquor you purchase in port. When you board the
ship, the ship will hold the liquor for you and
deliver it to your stateroom the night before you
disembark. There are exceptions to this rule,
however. Some cruise lines will allow you to have
liquor in your stateroom if you purchase the liquor
at the ship's liquor store. Some cruise lines allow
you to bring a bottle of wine at embarkation. You
should check with your travel agent if you need
further information about this.
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Is there television on the
ship?
Virtually every cruise ship
today will have a television in your stateroom. The
ship's satellite system will usually offer a few
stations like CNN, CNN International, ESPN and
perhaps a movie channel. There will usually be
several channels of ship programming, as well, such
as port information, information about the ship,
replay of activities on board, etc. Some ships even
offer the ability to order shore excursions from
your television and check your on board account
balance.
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What is the smoking policy?
Every cruise line will have
different policies regarding smoking. However, below
are some general rules that apply to most cruise
lines:
·
No smoking in dining rooms or
restaurants.
·
No smoking in the main theatre.
·
Smoking in lounges on port or
starboard side only (depending on ship).
·
Smoking is permitted in staterooms
(depending on the ship).
·
On the outside deck areas (i.e.
pool area), smoking is permitted on either the port
or starboard side of the ship.
·
Smoking is not permitted in the
Internet cafe (if one is available).
·
Smoking is not permitted on tender
boats.
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Can I call home from the
ship?
Most ships now offer you the
ability to make ship-to-shore phone calls from
within your stateroom. Newer ships also have
Internet and email capabilities which are much more
affordable than phone calls. A typical ship-to-shore
phone call can cost from $7.95 per minute to $15.00
per minute.
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Can I receive and send e-mail
while onboard the ship?
All ships now have an Internet
Cafe complete with computers connected to the
Internet. Fees will vary for hourly computer time
where you can get your e-mail or surf the web.
Check with your travel agent for specific
availability of these services.
If you have taken your own
laptop onboard, you can make a ship-to-shore call to
dial into your Internet provider, rates will vary
per cruise line.
There are also Internet Cafes
in most ports and they are much more affordable.
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Are medical services
available?
Virtually every cruise ship has
a licensed doctor on board to handle emergencies. If
you suffer from a medical condition, check with your
travel agent before booking to make sure the ship on
which you are cruising can handle your needs. There
are additional charges by the doctor for visits,
and/or medications administered on board the ship.
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Will I get bored?
It is not likely that you will
get bored on a cruise. However, if you have concerns
about having enough to do, or enough activity
options available, you should consider one of the
larger ships (40,000 tons or above). Larger ships
will typically have more available activities due to
the larger number of passengers aboard.
Most ships have dozens of
planned and spontaneous activities taking place from
sunrise to way past midnight. There are pool
activities, sports, bingo, casino, wine tasting,
dance lessons, dancing, karaoke, live entertainment,
movies, television, fitness centers, shore
excursions, talent contests, masquerade parties,
Captain's party, country western night, just to name
a few!
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What do I need to pack?
Traditionally, cruise travel
has been very casual during the day and casual to
formal in the evenings. During the day, you can
wander the ship in your shorts, t-shirts and even
your swimsuit (ladies should wear a cover-up inside
the ship). In the evenings (after 5), the dress code
usually falls into one of the following two
categories:
·
Resort Casual - slacks and collared
shirts for gentlemen and casual dresses or pant
suits for ladies. Jackets and ties are optional.
·
Formal – suit and tie for gentlemen
or Tuxedo if you want to be really dressy (can be
rented onboard ship) and dressy clothes or formal
wear for ladies.
The dress codes vary from one
cruise line to another, and can also be influenced
by destination. A Mediterranean cruise may be more
'formal' than a Caribbean cruise, for example. Even
on ships that do have formal nights, there are
usually optional dining venues where you can dress
casual and still feel comfortable.
There is a popular trend away
from rigid formal dress on cruise ships. Cruise
ships today are generally more casual than they were
just 5 years ago.
Here are some other items to
make sure you pack for your cruise:
·
A pair of comfortable rubber-soled
shoes to wear while on deck
·
Swimwear and coverup
·
A camera and plenty of film
·
A video camera
·
Binoculars
·
30 SPF sun block (or higher). The
sun on the ocean is extremely bright and can cause
severe sunburn. Even on an Alaska cruise, sun
reflecting off of snow or a glacier can cause
sunburn.
·
Names and addresses of friends so
you can send postcards from various ports.
·
Any necessary medications,
vitamins, supplements, etc.
(For
more packing ideas click here)
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What is included in the price
of the cruise?
On most cruises, all of the
following are included in your total cruise fare:
·
Your accommodations
·
All shipboard entertainment
·
All taxes and port fees
·
All meals are included*
·
Most, if not all, onboard
activities
There are some items for which
you will pay extra:
·
Liquor
·
Soft drinks
·
Shore excursions
·
Gratuities
·
Photos
·
Gambling
·
Incidentals
·
Medical services
*Some ships may offer optional
dining venues which charge a per person cover
charge. These are purely optional and are at your
discretion. You are never 'required' to purchase a
meal in an alternate dining venue.
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If I have to cancel my
cruise, can I get a refund?
Every cruise line has a
different policy regarding cancellations and
refunds. Generally, if you cancel 90 days or more
from the sailing date, your cruise fare is
refundable. However, you should check with your
travel agent for details.
We highly recommend the
purchase of trip insurance when you book your
cruise. You can purchase this insurance from your
travel agent and it will protect you from loss of
the money you've paid for the cruise in the event of
a medical emergency. For example, assume that you or
a member of your immediate family are hospitalized
the week before your cruise. A travel insurance
policy could refund the entire portion of your
airfare and cruise fare! Insurance policies vary
from one carrier to another. This is another reason
to use a qualified travel agent who can recommend
the proper policy to protect your vacation
investment.
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