Faq

CRUISE FAQ'S

• 1CAN I AFFORD A CRUISE?

  If you can afford to take a hotel-based vacation, you can afford to take a cruise vacation. There are cruises available at all price ranges – from budget to luxury – and all represent perhaps the best value for your vacation dollar.

• 2WHAT DO I GET FOR MY MONEY?

  Your cruise price includes your cabin, all meals (including the midnight buffet!), entertainment, parties and, of course, all transportation between all the ports on your itinerary. On most ships, optional shore excursions are not included in the basic price.

• 3ARE THERE ANY MEALS INCLUDED?

  See itinerary for the meals that are included for your destination.

• 4WHAT IF MY SON OR DAUGHTER NEEDS MEDICAL ATTENTION?

  Professional medical services are available at every trip destination.

• 5WILL I FEEL BORED OR CONFINED ON BOARD?

  Never! Think of a cruise ship as a floating resort on par with any Las Vegas mega hotel. On-board activities begin at dawn and go into the wee hours of the night. The scenery is constantly changing, and every port is filled with new and exciting opportunities for exploration.

• 6WHAT CAN I DO ON A SHIP?

  That depends on the ship, but generally the larger ships will have the most activities. You may wish to lounge on deck by the pool with a good book, sign up for exercise or cooking classes, swim, play bingo or bridge, gamble in the casino, take in a Broadway-style floor show or a magician’s act, enter a talent show or a putting contest, take a dance class, play basketball, climb a wall, get a massage or attend a lecture.

• 7HOW LONG DO CRUISES LAST?

  They range from 3-night weekend escapes to 110-night, around-the-world voyages. It’s your choice.

• 8IS AIRFARE INCLUDED IN MY CRUISE PRICE?

  We offer both a cruise-only price and an AIR/SEA price that includes connecting airfare, transfers between the airport and ship and baggage handling. In some instances, only the cruise-only fare is available. The prices shown on our site are typically cruise-only, but our cruise counselors will gladly provide an air-inclusive price if requested.

• 9ARE ALL CRUISE SHIPS THE SAME?

  Absolutely not. They range from yacht-like vessels with 100 passengers to towering mega ships with huge atriums and a maximum capacity of over 3,000 people.

• 10WILL I NEED A PASSPORT?

  All cruises now require proof of citizenship. A passport is required. Visas may also be required on the more exotic itineraries. Your cruise counselor will advise you on documents you will need depending on your itinerary.

• 11IS A CRUISE SUITABLE FOR FAMILIES WITH KIDS?

  Not just suitable, they’re perfect! Large cruise ships are now designed with kids-only facilities, counselors, daytime activities and nighttime baby-sitting. Children of all ages are welcome on most ships. Your cruise counselor can advise you of the dwindling number of ships that are not kid-friendly.

• 12ARE CRUISES REALLY THAT POPULAR?

  You better believe it! More than ten million people will cruise in the next year, and cruising routinely earns the highest ratings in customer satisfaction among all vacation categories. Once you try it, you’ll be hooked.

• 13WHAT IS A DAY AT SEA?

  A Day at Sea is a full day spent sailing between two ports. Most cruises include one or more Days at Sea. There are many options you’ll have to enjoy this time between port calls.

• 14HOW MANY SUITCASES CAN I BRING?

  Each person is allowed up to two pieces of personal luggage on board, with each piece weighing a maximum of 50 pounds. However, if passengers are traveling by air, they need to check with the airline for specific restrictions. Since your suitcases are collected the night before we return home, don’t forget an overnight bag for prescriptions and need-to-have items.

• 15WHAT SHOULD I PACK FOR A CRUISE?

  When it comes to what to wear, you can go resort casual or get decked-out and look your best – it’s your call. That’s the freedom of Freestyle Cruising. We even have special “Dress-Up or Not Night.” It’s the perfect opportunity to get your portrait taken with your family, that special someone or even with the ship’s Captain.

  Dress cruise casual anytime during the day, in the buffet and in most specialty restaurants. For women, it includes summer and casual dresses, skirts, regular or Capri pants, shorts, jeans and tops. Khakis, jeans, shorts and casual shirts are fine for men. Swimwear is acceptable at the buffet and outdoor restaurant, but a shirt or a cover-up and footwear are required. Cruise casual is also allowed day and night on embarkation day.

  Wear smart casual if you are eating dinner in the aft main dining room (our more formal dining room) and in Le Bistro on cruises over longer than five days. For women, it includes slacks or jeans, dresses, skirts and tops. For men, it’s jeans or slacks with a collared shirt and closed-toed shoes. There is one formal night on all cruises for those who wish to participate.
  We want you to be comfortable, but tank tops for men, flip flops, baseball caps, visors and jeans that are overly faded, with holes or tears and worn below the hips are not permitted in main dining rooms or specialty restaurants. Kids 12 and under are welcome to wear nice shorts in all our restaurants. You may want to pack a sweater too—air conditioning can be chilly.

• 16WHAT ABOUT TIPPING?

  Guests should not feel obliged to offer a gratuity for good service. However, all of our staff is encouraged to “go the extra mile,” and so they are permitted to accept cash gratuities entirely at the discretion of our guests who wish to acknowledge particular staff members for exceptional or outstanding service. In other words, there is genuinely no need to tip but you should feel free to do so if you have a desire to acknowledge particular individuals.

  Also, certain staff positions provide service on an individual basis to only some guests. We encourage those guests to acknowledge good service from these staff members with appropriate gratuities. For example, for guests purchasing bar drinks the recommended gratuity is 15 percent. For guests purchasing spa treatments the recommended gratuity is 18 percent.