|
Cruise Frequently Asked Questions
Are there activities for children on a cruise?
Most cruise lines offer programs for children. Many
offer special teen and pre-teen scheduled activities. The larger ships almost always
include a video arcade, kids disco or other designated "kids area".
Cruises are a great way for families to travel and see a variety of countries and ports.
Some ships also offer babysitting services and daycare centers.
Will I get seasick?
It is unlikely that you will notice any motion on a large cruise
ship, even if you are sensitive to motion in automobiles or airplanes. All ships
today have stabilizers to smooth the ride. Some cruises sail calmer waters than others.
Caribbean and Alaska cruises enjoy smoother sailings than say Bermuda. If
seas do get rough, there are many preventative medications available on board.
Do I have to participate in scheduled activities or can I
just relax?
There are dozens of activities going on all over the ship every day.
One the best ones can be "doing nothing at all". Relaxation is what
attracts many people to cruise travel. Every ship has one or more pools that you can
lay around with a good book, most have a library and several lounges where you can sit and
relax by yourself or with friends.
Do I have to tip? If so, how much?
Tipping is up to you. Generally speaking, $7.00 to $9.00 per day/per
person should take care of your waiter, bus boy and cabin steward. Other ship
personnel can be tipped at your discretion. There are a few cruise lines that have a
"no tipping" policy.
Will I need a passport?
All U.S. and Canadian citizens must travel with proof of
citizenship, which is a valid passport, or birth certificate (complete with raised seal,
not a photocopy) with a picture identification, or a certified naturalization certificate
with picture identification. Any state government issued drivers license or other
form of picture identification should be acceptable.
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 should consult with your travel agent for more information if
necessary.
Can I call home from the ship?
Many of the newer or recently refurbished ships provide Ship to
Shore telephone service. On some ships you can call from your stateroom. Ship to
Shore rates apply so you may want to limit your conversations.
Are medical services available?
Virtually every major cruise ship will have a staffed medical
facility 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.
Will I get bored?
That is very unlikely! However, if you are concerned about
having enough to do, choose one of the larger ships (40,000 tons and above), they will
typically have more activities due to the sheer numbers of people on board.
Most ships have dozens of planned and spontaneous activities
going from sunrise to way past midnight. Pool activities, sports, bingo, casino,
wine tastings, dance lessons, dancing, karoake, live entertainment, movies, television,
fitness centers, shore excursions, talent contests, masquerade parties, Captain's party,
country western night, just to name a few!
What should I pack?
Generally speaking, cruise travel is very casual during the
day and casual to formal in the evenings. This can vary depending on the itinerary.
Caribbean, Hawaiian, Alaskan cruises are more informal while Transatlantic, Mediterranean
and European cruises tend to be a little more formal. This can also vary from cruise line
to cruise line and ship to ship.
Princess Cruise Line would probably lean toward formal whereas Carnival will tend to be
more informal and casual. There is no real hard and fast rule, however, here's a try.
Men should always pack one dark suit which will usually suffice even on "formal
night." You can take a tuxedo, but we recommend that you rent one on board the ship
(most ships offer this service) unless you own one and just want the extra baggage.
Tuxedos are generally not "required".
Ladies can take cocktail dresses or a full length formal.
There are usually 1 to 2 formal nights on a 7 night cruise, only 1 on 3 & 4 night
cruises. The rest of the time is typically very casual. Even on "non-formal"
nights, men should wear a collared shirt to dinner and slacks or skirts for the ladies.
How much will it cost?
One of the most attractive features of a cruise vacation is
the price. Even more expensive cruises are a good value for the money. You can spend
anywhere from $400 for a 3-night Bahamas cruise to $30,000 for a suite on a 30-day cruise
to Africa!
No matter how much you spend, you pay one price that covers virtually everything: meals,
accommodations, taxes, on-board entertainment and in some cases, airfare! The only extras
are shore excursions, liquor, tips and incidentals (photos, etc.).
Undoubtedly, a cruise is the most affordable way to travel. Compare a 7-night cruise to
the Caribbean at around $1300 pp (including airfare) with a 7-night trip to Hawaii.
In Hawaii, a hotel comparable to your cabin on the ship will be at least $150 per night
(that's $1,000 right there!), your airfare from most cities will be at least $600, and
meals in Hawaii to rival that of the cruise ship will easily be $100 per day per person
(another $700!). That is $2,300 per person compared to $1,300 and we haven't even
talked about entertainment!
What is included in the price of the cruise?
Just about everything! All your meals are included (and there
are usually about 7 or 8 per day from which to choose), all accommodations, all shipboard
entertainment, all taxes and in some cases your airfare and ground transportation to and
from the port is included.
You must pay for extras such as liquor, shore excursions, gratuities, photos, incidentals,
gambling, etc.
What about sightseeing when in port?
Your ship will typically arrive in port early in the morning
at which time you are free to go ashore. In most cases, you will be back on board the ship
by 5:00pm to 7:00pm. This gives you more than enough time to enjoy one of the
cruise lines' shore excursions, or, go off on your own to do some shopping, sightseeing,
swimming, scuba diving, etc.
We highly recommend the cruise ship sponsored tours and excursions. In some ports,
when you debark from the ship, local sightseeing companies (in some cases a local with a
van) will be waiting to temp you with their own tour. Take our word for it, while these
tours may be safe and in some cases quite good, it is always a safe bet to stick with your
cruise ship's recommendation.
Can I get/send e-mail while onboard the ship?
Many of the newer ships do have a business center complete
with computers connected to the Internet. Some charge as little at $16 an hour for
computer time and you can get your e-mail using Microsoft HotMail or Yahoo Mail. Check
with your cruise line for availability of these services.
If you have a laptop onbaord, you can make a ship-to-shore call to dial into your Internet
provider, but at $8 to $10 per minute it can get very expensive.
ICS Corp Travel
2701 Dashwood Ave
Troy, MI 48083-4461
Phone: 248.589.3838
Fax: 720.294.5131
Email: travel@comevisitus.com
|