Prior to Cruising
When can I expect to receive my final documents?
Cruise vouchers will be sent to you via mail or email 2-3 weeks prior
to departure.
When will my airline itinerary be made available?
Air arrangements purchased through the cruise line are generally
made available about 3 weeks prior to departure. Please note that
air schedules are booked at the discretion of the cruise line and
cannot be changed. Anyone requiring special itineraries/air carriers
must arrange for custom air prior to final payment. The minimum charge
for custom air itineraries is $35-$50 per person and additional charges
may apply. Custom air should be booked as early as possible to insure
flight availability. It is the traveler's responsibility to confirm
seat assignments and other special services, such as special meals
or wheelchair assistance directly with the airline.
Do
I need travel insurance?
Travel insurance can be purchased through the cruise line or Travel
Guard prior to final payment with Cruise.Com. The price will vary
depending on the cost and length of your cruise. It is strongly suggested
that you purchase travel insurance. Once you are within the final
payment period the cruise lines will impose strict cancellation penalties
as outlined in their brochures. These penalties will not be waived
even for medical reasons. Please contact Cruise.Com for further details.
Do I need a passport?
AIR TRAVEL
All U.S. citizens including children must present a passport or other
approved travel document when entering the United States by air.
U.S. citizens can present a passport, NEXUS card at airports with
NEXUS kiosks, U.S. military ID with travel orders, or a U.S. Merchant
Mariner Document when on official business.
CRUISE TRAVEL
U.S. citizens returning home from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Bermuda, by
land or sea, will be required to present one of the travel documents listed below.
U.S. Passport – This is an internationally recognized travel document that
verifies a person’s identity and nationality. It is accepted for travel
by air, land and sea.
U.S. Passport Card – This is a new, limited-use travel document that fits
in your wallet and costs less than a U.S. Passport. It is only valid for travel
by land and sea.
Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) – Several states and Canadian provinces/territories
are issuing this driver’s license or identification document that denotes
identity and citizenship. It is specifically designed for cross-border travel
into the U.S. by land or sea.
Trusted Traveler Program Cards – NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST enrollment cards
can speed your entry into the U.S. and are issued only to pre-approved, low-risk
travelers. The cards are valid for use at land or sea; the NEXUS card can be
used in airports with a NEXUS kiosk.
Note: Cruise Ship Passengers: U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises (cruises that
begin and end at the same U.S. port) will be able to enter or depart the country
with a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID. Please be aware that
you may still be required to present a passport to enter the countries your cruise
ship is visiting. Check with your cruise line to ensure you have the appropriate
documents.
U.S. and Canadian citizen children under age 16 arriving by land or sea from
contiguous territory may also present an original or copy of his or her birth
certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, a Naturalization Certificate,
or a Canadian Citizenship Card.
U.S. and Canadian citizen children under age 19 arriving by land or sea from
contiguous territory and traveling with a school group, religious group, social
or cultural organization, or sports team, may also present an original or copy
of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, a Naturalization
Certificate, or a Canadian Citizenship Card.
The group should be prepared to present a letter on organizational letterhead
with the following information:
• The name of the group and supervising adult;
• A list of the children on the trip, and the primary address, phone number,
date of birth, place of birth, and name of at least one parent or legal guardian
for each child; and
• A written and signed statement of the supervising adult certifying that
he or she has obtained parental or legal guardian consent for each participating
child
These rules, requirements and regulations became effective on June 1, 2009 and
replace all previous requirements. Cruise.com is not liable for any fees or penalties
if passengers are denied boarding for failure to provide adequate documentation
of citizenship.
OUR RECOMMENDATION
Cruise.com strongly recommends that all guests travel with a valid
passport during their cruise. This greatly assists guests who may
need to fly out of the United States to meet their ship at the next
available port should they miss their scheduled embarkation in a U.S.
port; guests entering the U.S. at the end of their cruise; and guests
needing to fly to the U.S. before their cruise ends, because of medical,
family, personal or business emergencies, missing a ship's departure
from a port of call, involuntary disembarkation from a ship due to
misconduct, or other reasons.
Guests who cruise after January 8, 2007, and need to fly to the United
States before their cruise ends will likely experience significant
delays and complications related to booking airline tickets and entering
the United States if they do not have a valid U.S. passport with them.
All Non-U.S. citizens: Any non-US citizen who has previously been
admitted to the United States for permanent residence must carry their
passport and Alien Registration Receipt Card. All other non-U.S./non-Canadian
citizens must have valid passports and any necessary visas. Such guests
should verify carefully the existing identification requirements for
their particular travel situation, as these requirements may change.
IMPORTANT: ALL guests should carefully verify the existing identification
requirements for their particular travel situation DIRECTLY WITH THE
CRUISE LINE OR THEIR LOCAL CONSULATES OR EMBASSIES, as these requirements
may change. Guests arriving for embarkation without proper documentation
may be denied boarding and will not be entitled to a refund.
What should I pack?
First and foremost, dress for comfort. Daily life aboard ship and
in ports of call is laid-back and casual. You are encouraged to wear
whatever makes you feel most comfortable: sportswear, shorts, slacks,
sundresses and so on. Warmer temperatures call for clothing made of
lightweight, breathable fabrics. For cooler temperatures we suggest
casual clothes that can be layered easily. On some days you may need
a raincoat and waterproof hat or umbrella. Gloves are a good idea
as well. Footwear should include comfortable walking shoes for visits
ashore and sandals or rubber-soled shoes for strolling on deck.
In the evening, ships vary as to dress. There are three types of "evenings"
on board - casual, smart casual and formal. On casual nights, sport
shirts and slacks are suggested for men; sundresses or pants for women.
On smart casual nights, dresses and pantsuits for women; jackets and
ties for men. For formal nights, women should wear cocktail dresses;
men should wear suits and ties or tuxedos (optional). But 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 the dressiest occasions. Generally,
three and four-night cruises consist of one formal night and two or
three casual nights. Seven-night cruises include two formal nights,
one smart casual night and four casual nights. Ten, 11 and 12-night
cruises consist of two formal nights, three smart casual; all other
nights are casual. 14 & 15 night cruises usually have three formal
nights, four semi-formal nights and the remainder are casual. Again,
these are guidelines and your evenings attire is left up to your discretion.
In addition, most cruise lines offer alternative casual dining for
anyone who may prefer not to dine in the main restaurant.
Embarkation Day
Should
I reconfirm my airline reservations?
Since arrival and departure times are subject to last-minute changes
by the airlines, we recommend that you call your airline(s) 24 hours
before your initial flight departure to verify all the flight numbers,
departure and arrival times shown on your ticket. (Reconfirm international
flights 72 hours prior to your departure from home.) Plan to be at
the airline counter at least 1-1/2 hours before flight time for domestic
flights and 2-1/2 hours before flight time for international flights.
Is parking available at the pier?
Parking available at most of the piers, for a minimal fee (usually
about $10/day). At some piers only cash is accepted.
How
do transfers work?
Most cruise lines include transfers between the airport and the pier
on embarkation/disembarkation day if you have purchased an air/sea
package directly with them. Passengers providing their own air must
get their own transportation to/from the pier. Prepaid transfers can
be purchased separately from most cruise lines. Flight information
must be provided to the cruise line with final payment if separate
transfers have been purchased.
What
are the boarding procedures?
Generally, you will be allowed to board two or three hours before
the ship sails. Keep in mind that you must be on the ship at least
one hour before departure, and the gangway will be pulled thirty minutes
before sailing.
Upon completion of check-in, you will receive a guest identification
card. This card will serve as your identification on-board. It will
also serve as your identification for security procedures when embarking
and disembarking the ship and when making purchases on board.
As you walk up the gangway, a member of the cruise staff will welcome
you aboard. Your luggage will be delivered to your cabin shortly after
it arrives at the ship. You carry nothing but your hand luggage. Once
you are on board you are free to explore the ship. Refreshments are
available during embarkation and most cruise lines offer a nice buffet
lunch (depending on the departure time).
What
is the visitor policy?
For security reasons most cruise lines have implemented a "no
visitor" policy aboard their vessels.
During
Your Cruise
Can I use my
hair dryer or shaver?
Most ships have 110-volt outlets in the staterooms. Many ships even
feature hair-dryers in your cabin.
Can
we stay in touch with the outside?
Quite easily. Most ships have a daily newsletter with news, headlines,
selected stock quotes and sports scores. Staterooms on many ships
are even equipped with televisions. While most ships now have telephones
in passenger cabins, you can also call someone on shorethrough the
ship's radio operator while at sea. And, you can make phone calls
from most ports. In addition, many ships have fax capabilities and
internet access.
What about tipping?
Tipping is a matter of individual preference. A general rule of thumb
is to plan for about $2.50 to $3.00 per person per day each for your
room steward and dining room waiter, and about half that amount for
your busboy. (A few cruise lines include tipping in the price and
will so inform you.) Gratuities are customarily given on the last
evening of your cruise. On many cruise lines it is now possible to
prepay the above gratuities.
Other personnel such as bar waiters, bellboys and deck stewards may
be tipped as service is rendered. On most cruise lines a 15% gratuity
is automatically added to your on board account for beverage purchases
which you may adjust according to services rendered.
Are
there laundry services aboard?
Almost all cruise ships have laundry facilities and a great many provide
dry-cleaning services. There is, however, an additional charge for
professional laundry and dry-cleaning services. Most ships also have
self-service launderettes.
Can
we celebrate a "special" day?
All cruise lines will make your "special" day special. Most
will even treat you to a complimentary cake and a chorus of Happy
Whatever to honor the occasion.
Are
there medical services onboard?
Virtually every cruise ship (except for some smaller vessels operating
in coastal waters) has a fully-equipped medical facility and staff
to handle almost any emergency.
Your prescription medication should be kept close at hand in your
purse or carry-on bag rather than in your checked luggage. Be sure
to bring a sufficient supply of medication and transport it in the
original container. It is also a good idea to carry a written list
of your medications in case they are lost. The list should include
the name of the drug, dosage, and times taken.
Will
I have a shipboard account?
Most cruise lines have set up a “cashless” system designed
to make your life on board as simple as possible. You simply sign
a receipt for each of your on-board purchases and then settle your
shipboard account at the end of the cruise. Cash, VISA, American Express,
MasterCard, Discover, and personal or traveler's checks are accepted
as payment on most cruise lines.
What
is the shipboard check cashing policy?
Most cruise lines will cash traveler's checks. Personal checks cannot
be cashed and cash cannot be drawn from your shipboard account.
Do the cruiselines offer shore excursions?
All cruise lines offer extensive shore excursion programs designed
to enhance your cruise experience. Shore excursions will help you
make the most of your time in port and provide you with the best transportation
and guide services available. For certain destinations, such as Europe,
tours can be pre-requested by completing the form found in the shore
excursion brochure sent to you 4-6 weeks prior to departure. On other
cruises you can book your tours through the shore excursion office
once you are on-board. |
