Passport/Visas

Security and Safety Precautions

Ship-Safety Issues

Medical Preparedness

Travel Insurance

Currency

Tipping

What To Bring On The Cruise

Reference Books On Cruising

It is important as a first step to decide what size vessel you want to travel on. Ships are broken down into three size categories.

A large ship holds more than 1000 passengers and can go as high as 3,900 passengers with upper and lower berths accounted. On a large ship, there are more facilities and different types of entertainment, but passenger traffic will be heavier and there will be fewer areas for quiet pursuits.

A medium-size vessel holds between 500 to 1,000 passengers but will feature less activities and facilities than a large ship. Waiting lines are shorter and passengers can maneuver more easily on board.

A small ship carries 50 to 500 passengers, which offers a quieter vacation. Usually casinos and Broadway-style entertainment will not be featured. Instead, guest lecturers, recitalists and an emphasis on food and the culture of the regions visited are the highlights. Small ships are also able to dock at ports too small to accommodate large vessels

The smaller ships as well as some larger ones do offer a fine roster of guest lecturers on board to talk on the areas being visited or give talks on the arts, food, or say, the history of navigation depending on the theme of the cruise.

If this is your first time on a ship, a general cruise may be a good introduction to cruising. Another consideration is children’s facilities/activities should you be traveling with youngsters. Are their facilities and programs to interest them? What about babysitting services or a day camp at sea?

Types of cruises could include transatlantic crossings, theme-based cruises, special-interest or exploration cruises specializing in unique destinations, lazabout cruises to the Caribbean or Mediterranean, or round-the-world cruises, of which segments can be taken instead of the entire three-month-plus length of the voyage.

Unlike ship travel of the past, there is only one class of ship. All public facilities are open to all passengers on board. However, on many ships, the price of your cabin determines where you dine and entitles guests to other amenities such as concierge services.

Initially, it is advisable to use an official ASTA travel agent, or one approved by the Cruise Line International of America (CLIA). Usually the services of a travel agent are free but check first.  Some cruise lines also handle direct bookings.

 In the UK, use a member of the Guild of Professional Cruise Agents or a PSARA (Passenger Shipping Association of Retail Agents. Certified cruise-travel agents are knowledgeable and helpful in booking the right cruise suited to the passenger’s requirements.

Beware of Internet travel agencies or discount cruise sellers. Although they may provide a better rate, in the long run if something goes wrong with your booking, or you are unhappy with the cruise or the cabin, your complaints may go unheeded. Talking with a personable experienced agent will answer your questions. The agent can also make special dietary/medical arrangements if needed. In contrast, emails to an impersonal web travel agency that often hypes the cruises they sell, can often lead to a great deal of frustration if the web agency fails to respond.

When booking a cruise, the rate quoted in the ship’s brochure usually is the starting point for a bottom-grade accommodation, such as an inside cabin. Once you have determined the type of cabin you want, the price will reflect the upgrade. When booking, the normal deposit is between 10 and 20 percent depending on cruise length with the balance payable 45 to 60 days before departure. However, booking a cruise just a month or two before departure usually requires a full payment at booking.

The price of your ticket includes, your cabin, meals and snacks on board, most recreational activities, parties and entertainments. Extras could be shipboard purchases, spa treatments, the casino, bar beverages and land excursions. Wine at lunch or dinner is usually extra though with some luxury lines, it is included. There is also a port fee and tipping is customary. Your air ticket is usually extra unless the cruise line is offering “free air”—a fee that is usually factored into the price of your cruise ticket.

At the time of booking, make sure to stipulate any requirements such as special dietary menus, handicap-accessibility needs, or nonsmoking requests.

Cruise rates are based on two or more people sharing a cabin. For solo cruisers, there is a single supplement, which can vary widely by line, ship, cabin class, itinerary, and travel dates. These cruise lines usually tack on an additional 25 to 100 percent surcharge. But some new ships have solo cabins, such as NCL’s Norwegian Epic or P&O’s Azura, both launched in 2010. Costa also sells limited solo cabins but to its European trade, so Americans may be out of the picture. On dome small cruise lines, the solo supplement is minimal or nonexistent. So it is best to check with the cruise line you are dealing with to see if there is a solo cruiser’s fare offered or a discounted rate off the regular double cabin rate if no solo cabins exist.

If you want to save money, take advantage of cruise lines' "guaranteed share" programs.

Consider sharing a room with another solo traveler of the same sex and pay only the per-person cabin rate. Most lines try to match singles, taking into account such factors as age and smoking preference. (Generally, under most guaranteed share programs, if cruise lines are unable to find you a partner, most will allow you to cruise solo without charging an additional fare.)

Almost every line offers organized singles events throughout the cruise: cocktail gatherings, games and other social activities. At your first meal, ask the person in charge of the dining room to seat you with other single travelers. (Some lines make an effort to do this automatically.)

 Several lines set sail with an onboard social host or hostess. Their sole purpose is to offer conversation at dinner, fill in as a fourth at bridge and dance the night away with singles.

Unless you happen to reside in the city or area close to your departure, you will need to book a roundtrip air flight to your embarkation port. This can be done with the travel agent at the time of booking.

A fly/cruise vacation package includes your cruise ticket, usually reduced—or sometimes free—airfare to your embarkation port from major North American cities. The package deal includes ground transfers between the airport and ship as well as baggage handling. If you book independently from your cruise ticketing, you are on your own if the flight is cancelled or delayed. Usually, with air included in your cruise ticketing, the cruise line will make every effort to get you to the ship in time for departure.

Your luggage on an air/cruise ticket will be forwarded at the airport of departure to your cruise-ship cabin. However, it is essential that each piece of luggage is properly identified with the luggage tag bearing the cruise line’s logo, which correctly lists your name and home address, as well as the cruise line name, ship name, cabin number, date of departure and port of departure. Note:  Don’t pack your legal and air/cruise documents and other pertinent information. Carry them with you.

Also, check your travel documents before trip departure to make sure the information is correct. Your cruise documents should include air/cruise tickets, transfer vouchers (for transportation from airport to ship and back), boarding forms, and luggage tags.

NOTE: Several major cruise lines are now asking that passengers check in online to speed the process of boarding. Several steps are involved in the process to be able to print out your boarding pass. They include give passenger information such as name, reservation number and other information requested; registering a personal credit card to set up an onboard expense account; other information such as cruise ticket contract. Once the information is typed in correctly, you will be able to print your boarding pass.

The cabin or stateroom you book on a cruise has a determining effect on your experience. Remember that an inside cabin has no window and you will be staring at a wall instead of the sea. An ocean-view cabin is just that with usually one porthole or large window to look out. Ideally, a cabin with a balcony is the preferred choice, as at times you will want to just commune with the sea from the privacy of your stateroom.

And if price is no problem, most modern ships have exclusive suites that usually feature two bedrooms, two baths, a living/dining area, a small kitchen and a large balcony area—a setup that is good for families or a small group traveling together.

Cruise lines now require photo identification for all its guests and crew. This includes a picture ID card issued by a federal, state or local government agency, such as a valid drivers license and/or passport. (Non-US citizens will need a valid passport and possibly a visa. In addition an Alien Registration Card (Green Card) is required if an individual is a resident alien living in the US.

Passport applications are available at local post offices in the US or on line at the Department of State (DOS)’s website http://travel.state.gov/passport/.

In Canada, check the government website http://www.ppt.gc.ca/; in Australia click http://www.passports.gov.au/Web/index.aspx; and for the UK, http://www.ukpa.gov.uk/. (The UK site also lists passport information for all foreign countries under its Foreign and Commonwealth Office informational section.)

Many countries require a visa for extended stays and the information on how to obtain the application is available on the above websites.

Heightened security measures are standard for cruise ships today and include passenger screening procedures similar to those found at U.S. airports including the use of metal detectors. Security procedures in the U.S. include the 100 percent inspection of all passengers, their carry-on baggage and luggage. Once a ship is underway, only documented employees and fare-paying passengers are on board. Cruise lines employ security experts and advisors and train onboard personnel in security procedures. Many additional security techniques are routinely utilized by both port and cruise line security but remain invisible to the passengers' eye.

In the U.S, the cruise industry works closely with federal, state, and local agencies. These agencies include the U.S. Coast Guard, the US Department of Transportation, Customs and Border Protection, Office of Naval Intelligence, the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, among others.

The International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, has a set of measures that enhance security of ships and port facilities globally, adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) (an agency under the United Nations) as an amendment to Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) regulations. Key security elements contained in the ISPS Code include security plans, screening measures, access control, waterside security and communications between ships and ports

With safety in mind, consult with your travel agent about the ship you are to travel on. Are there sufficient lifeboats on board in case of evacuation? How equipped is the vessel to handle emergencies such as a fire on board. Are sprinkler systems installed in the cabins? (Note: When you reach your cabin, take note of where the exits are in case of fire and also count how many cabins there are from yours to the exit in case of darkness or heavy smoke. And if there is a fire, be sure to first put on your life jacket before leaving the cabin.

All cruise ships have a mandatory boat drill usually held just before the ship leaves the dock. Take the drill seriously for if the ship has an accident and evacuation is called for, you will know exactly how to reach the assigned lifeboat for your cabin. And be sure to learn how to put on a lifejacket properly. It could save your life.

Most cruise ships have 24-hour medical services with staff operating under procedures suggested by the American College of Emergency Physicians (AECP). In addition, it is advisable for passengers to bring along adequate supplies of medical prescriptions and devices; and a letter from your personal physician if you are bringing along narcotic medication or syringes or need a prescription refill in another country. When booking a cruise, disclosing pre-existing medical conditions is also advisable.

For disabled passengers, most modern cruise vessels have special cabins for the handicapped as well as special ramps into public areas and restaurants onboard.

Do remember to bring a high PH (30) sun block to prevent sunburns. Not only can you get a terrible burn from the sun’s reflection on the sea; but also if the cruise is going to warm areas such as the Mediterranean or, the Caribbean or the snow-covered arctic regions, the sun’s rays are more intense.

For travel to certain foreign destinations, where guests will be sightseeing or spending an overnight, it is advisable to find out if medical inoculations may be required.

Available from the US Government Printing Office is Health Information for International Travel by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which gives a global rundown of disease and immunization advice and other health guidance, including risks in particular countries. The CDC maintains the international travelers hotline at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747), an automated faxback service at 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299) and a website at http://www.cdc.gov.

For detailed information on physicians abroad, the authoritative reference is The Official ABMS Directory of Board Certified Medical Specialists published for the American Board of Medical Specialists and its certifying member boards (www.abms.org).

(If you go to the Who's Certified section of the website, you can do a

search by specialty/location. But you must register first by clicking on the Register link on the Who's Certified page and follow the instructions, Once your username—your Email address and password—is approved within 24 hours, you will be allowed five free searches per 24-hour period.)

The printed Official ABMS Directory of Board Certified Physicians is also available in your local library. U.S. embassies and consulates abroad maintain lists of hospitals and physicians. Major credit card companies also can provide the names of local doctors and hospitals abroad.

Some countries require foreign visitors to have inoculations or medical tests before entering. Before traveling, check the latest entry requirements with the foreign embassy of the country to be visited.

For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad as well as medical inoculations, consult the World Health Organization’s (WHO) website at http://www.who.int/en. The WHO also provides travel health information at http://www.who.int/ith.

One great thing about cruising is that money is not usually exchanged during the length of the cruise. Except perhaps in the Casino where US or other currency is accepted. Passengers when checking in at embarkation, usually are asked what credit card will be used to cover additional costs during the cruise such as beverages, special dining rooms, purchases, spa treatments and other services not included in the cruise ticket. A copy of the credit card to be used during the cruise is recorded and a ‘ship credit card’ with your credit-card information imbedded on it is given to the passenger to use for all cash transactions—and, in most cases, it doubles as your cabin-door entry key.

If you lose the card, proceed directly to the Purser’s Office (Guest Services) located in midship to cancel it out and a new card will be issued. At the end of the cruise, the passenger reviews his/her account at the Purser’s Office or in newer ships, on the television inside the passenger cabin. The charges incurred during the cruise are charged to the credit card submitted at the time of the cruise check-in.

If currency is used on board the ship you are take, US dollars and Euros are the norm though some ships may accept other currencies.

Many cruises lines are adding a daily fee (around $10 to $12) to cover gratuities on board so that at the end of the cruise, there is no scrambling to find out what to tip the cabin steward, your dining room wait staff or other personnel. Gratuities are often included in the cruise fare on smaller luxury ships

However, on some ships, tipping is still done by passengers on the last day of the cruise.  Suggested gratuities on trips of two weeks or under, the cabin steward is $3.50 to $5 per day; the dining room waiter is about the same or higher, depending on quality of service and the assistant waiter up to $2.50 per day. If you have a concierge-area cabin, the butler gets about $5 to $6 daily. For the bar bill, a 15 percent gratuity is usually added automatically.

For trips running more than 15 days in length and where tipping is still done by the passengers, it is suggested that half the tip be presented mid-way through the cruise and the remainder at the end of the trip.

Where the ship cruises determines what type of clothing to bring. If the cruise is headed for warm waters such as the Caribbean or where summer is in effect, light clothing is recommended. For colder climes, such as Alaska, the Baltics, or where winter is in effect, heavier clothing is recommended including a warm jacket or parka and a rain jacket.

Usually several nights on board a cruise are formal so a tuxedo or a dark suit is the norm for men while for women a cocktail outfit or gown is de rigueur.

While men can make do with fewer clothes than the fairer set, having interchangeable outfits can lighten the load for women. During the daytime at sea or in port, dress is casual, so, yes, bring the sneakers and shorts along with other casual attire. 

On informal nights, dresses or pantsuits are usually the dress code for women and a suit or blazer for the men. On some ships, dress down is the norm in the evening. In this case, a suit shirt and long pants for men and similar attire (skirt, sundress or pants) for women is the rule.

Note: To alleviate over packing, remember that cruise vessels have laundry services. Some also feature dry cleaning service as well. On newer ships, there are self-service laundry facilities.

Guidebooks can be very helpful in answering questions you might have about cruising. There are several publications that ShipsandCruises recommends highly to give you the basic groundwork for taking a cruise. The guidebooks answer most questions first-time cruisers have and provide information for seasoned cruisers as well.

Top of the list is the Berlitz annual guide to cruising—Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships—available in North American and UK bookstores, and on the Web. Written by veteran traveler Douglas Ward, it offers in depth information not only on cruise preparation but extensive reviews of 285 cruise ships and rates them on their accommodations, food, service, entertainment and the overall cruise experience. ($24.95 US); $35.95 (Canada).  In the UK, the book is available in bookstores for £16.99.                

Another annual cruise guide is The Unofficial Guide to Cruising. Written by travel writer Kay Showker, the book also offers a wealth of practical information on the cruise lines, their ships, and how to take a cruise. ($23.99 (US); $32.99(Canada) and £15.50(UK).

Other helpful cruise guides include Fodor’s Complete Guide to European Cruises ($23.99); and Stern’s Guide to the Cruise Vacation 2011 ($26.95).

The Cruise Lines International Association (www.cruising.org ) also publishes a very informative Plan Your Cruise in their vacations section Just click http://www.cruising.org/vacation/welcome and read away