WHAT’S THE REAL COST OF A CRUISE?
SOME READERS REPORT BEING SURPRISED by all the extras that are not covered by their cruise fare: items like beverages on board, spa services, photos taken by the ship’s photographer, shore excursions, wine tastings, specialized cooking, exercise or computer classes, and even designer ice-cream treats. Although all these things add up to a hefty sum, we don’t consider them to be “hidden” charges. Except for port charges (if the cruise line doesn’t include them in the fare), such purchases are optional. Any travel provider will try to sell you stuff; it’s like the popcorn or beer vendors at the ballpark. You know they’ll be there and that what they sell will be expensive. Buy or not as you see fit, but don’t be surprised by their presence. The cruise lines find these services to be very lucrative profit centers, which help them keep basic cruise prices down. Also, these multiple options increase guest choices onboard, which attracts different types of customers to cruise ships. Because most folks don’t like to scrimp on their vacation, however, it’s wise to anticipate these expenditures. Even the little stuff like beverages and photos can tack on $200 to $400 to a weeklong cruise. So be forewarned.
Concerning port charges, after some lawsuits in Florida seeking to redress the less-than-forthright ways that certain cruise lines represented port charges, almost all cruises from Florida to the Caribbean now include port charges in the cost of the cruise rather than tack them on as a separate charge. Still, watch out for port charges, particularly for Europe and Asia.
PREPARING for Your CRUISE
A CRUISE MAY BE ABOUT THE EASIEST vacation you can take when it comes to making preparations, because so much is done for you, particularly when you buy an air/sea package. During the cruise, entry formalities are handled by the ship for its passengers in most cases, sparing you the need to fill out immigration forms or clear customs in each port of call.
In most ports you can simply walk off your ship after it has been cleared by local authorities, spend the day sightseeing, shopping, enjoying a sport or other pleasant pursuits, and return to your ship without having to do anything more than pass through metal detectors and put your purchases through an X-ray machine for security reasons, and show your boarding pass.
The destination of your cruise will make some difference—the more exotic the location, the more you may have need for planning, perhaps for inoculations, visas, and the like. And of course, the weather during your cruise will determine the wardrobe you select. Such advice may seem obvious to those who have traveled, and if it does, let this information serve simply as a reminder or checklist. Even the most seasoned travelers have been known to pack their cruise tickets and passports in their checked luggage or leave their traveler’s checks at home.
CRUISE LINE BROCHURES
THE EASIEST PLACE TO START YOUR PREPARATION is by reading the brochures from the cruise line you selected for your cruise. These have a wealth of useful information. To be sure, much of it is glossy pictures and promotional puff to entice you to take a cruise, but almost all materials contain several pages, usually toward the back, aimed at answering the questions people ask most often. These include the specifics about dining hours, smoking/nonsmoking provisions, paying for incidentals on board, embarkation and sailing times, and similar tips. In this book, too, each of the major cruise line profiles in Part Two includes a chart entitled Standard Features, which will answer similar questions pertaining to a specific cruise line and its ships.
CRUISE LINE VIDEOS/DVDS
MOST CRUISE LINES HAVE VIDEOTAPES or DVDs of the cruise you are taking that they would be happy to send you—for a fee. Most cost about $15 to $20. Essentially, it is a promotional video, but it will give you an idea of what to expect, particularly if your cruise is to an area of the world in which you have not traveled previously. You will probably receive a flyer from the cruise line to order the tape directly from a distributor. Some cruise line Web sites allow for purchasing the video online; some sites feature virtual ship tours and shore excursions.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
IN 2005, THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT began phasing in a new border-control program that will ultimately require a valid passport to both enter and leave the country. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) brings an end to decades of travel to Mexico, Canada, and the majority of Caribbean nations with only a birth certificate as proof of citizenship. Implementation dates for WHTI have been postponed several times and several exemptions are currently under consideration.
As of January 23, 2007 ALL persons, except as described below, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable.
As early as January 1, 2008, but not later than June 2009 ALL persons, except as described below, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries. Exceptions
U.S. Territories The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory. U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the United States and do not need to present a passport. U.S. territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Youth Travel Under a Department of Homeland Security proposed rule, U.S. and Canadian children ages 15 and younger, with parental consent, would be permitted to enter the United States with a certified copy of their birth certificates. The same would be true for U.S and Canadian citizens ages 16 through 18 traveling with public or private school groups, religious groups, social or cultural organizations, or youth athletic teams. The proposed rule notwithstanding, some cruise lines may require that passengers under 18 years of age have a passport in order to board.
Aliens residing in the United States need to have valid alien registration cards and passports. All non-U.S. citizens must have valid passports and necessary visas when boarding any cruise ship departing from and returning to U.S. ports.
Passengers on some cruises visiting Europe, former Soviet bloc countries, Asia, Africa, and South America may also be required to have a visa. A valid passport usually means one that will not expire for at least six months. If yours has less than six months left, it may be rejected by either the cruise line or ports of call.
Often, on cruises to these destinations, ship authorities will ask you to surrender your passport when you check in and will keep it until the end of your cruise. This enables them to clear the ship more quickly in foreign ports. In such cases, you do not need to worry about giving over your passport to the ship. The passports are locked away securely and are taken out only if local authorities ask to see them. Finally, never pack your passport in your suitcase; carry it with you at all times.
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR PASSPORTS, visas, and vaccinations will be provided by your cruise line or travel agent. However, obtaining the necessary visas and any other documentation required for embarkation, debarkation, and reentry into the United States is your responsibility; if you do not have the proper documents, you will be denied boarding. If you buy your cruise on the Internet or from a seller not located in your city, the seller may neglect to inform you of required travel documents and other pertinent information. Even when you purchase from your local travel agent, however, it’s a good idea to independently confirm document, visa, and vaccination requirements for the countries you’ll be visiting. Nobody likes a last-minute surprise. Documents that will be accepted as proof of identification vary with each cruise line. You will need to inquire in advance if the information is not provided in the cruise line’s brochure, which it usually is—in the fine print.
Children traveling with anyone other than their parents or legal guardian must have permission in writing for the child to travel. Failure to comply with this requirement can also result in denial of boarding.
DRESS CODES AND PACKING
WHAT TO PACK WILL BE DETERMINED by your ship, its destinations, and, to some extent, the itinerary. An adventure cruise might be three weeks long, but not a single night will be formal or even very dressy. The dress code is usually explained in the cruise line’s brochure; we also note it in the Standard Features in each cruise line’s profile in Part Two.
There are no limits on the amount of luggage you can bring on board, but most cabins do not have much closet and storage space.
More importantly, because you are likely to be flying to your departure port, you need to be guided by airline regulations regarding excess baggage. All airlines have weight restrictions. Buy too many souvenirs and you will pay. So pack light on the outbound journey with that in mind.
As a consequence of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, all checked and carry-on luggage is carefully screened before being allowed on board. Even if you pack something in your checked baggage as seemingly innocuous as a corkscrew, knitting needles, or a pair of small scissors, these items might possibly be confiscated and not returned until you disembark. Moreover, none of your checked luggage will be delivered in the normal fashion to your cabin. After an hour or two of panic, thinking your baggage is lost, you’ll be summoned to ship security. There, you will be asked to identify the offending luggage and objects and to sign forms acknowledging that you brought such items aboard, and that they have been impounded for the duration of the cruise. While on your cruise, be aware also that purses, bags, and packs that you carried ashore will be searched before you’re allowed back on board. Ditto for anything you purchased while ashore. Despite the image you may have about fancy parties and clothes, the reality is that shipboard life is very casual. You will spend your days in slacks, shorts, T-shirts, and bathing suits. Lightweight mixand- match ensembles with skirts, shirts, blouses, shorts, and slacks are practical. For women, colorful scarves are another way to change the look of an outfit. Cocktail dresses or dressy pantsuits are appropriate for evening wear.
Men usually are asked to wear a jacket at dinner in the dining room. A dark suit and white shirt work fine in place of a tuxedo if the evening is black tie. Add a selection of slacks and sport shirts, and one or two sports jackets. If you are heading for a warm-weather cruise (Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, Tahiti), pack as you would for any resort destination. Lightweight, loose-fitting clothing is ideal, and cotton or cotton blends are more comfortable than synthetic fabrics for the tropics. Include two bathing suits if you are likely to be spending much time in the sun and at the beach. Don’t forget a coverup and flip-flops for the short jaunt between your cabin and the pool or other outside decks, as cruise ships ask passengers not to wear bathing suits or go barefoot in the public rooms.
Bring cosmetics and suntan lotion, but don’t worry if you forget something. It will most likely be available on board or in portside duty-free shops. Sunglasses and a hat or sun visor for protection against the sun are essential. A tote bag comes in handy for carrying odds and ends, as do plastic bags for wet towels and bathing suits on returning from a visit to an island beach. You might also want to keep camera equipment in plastic bags as protection against the salt air, water, and sand.
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For a one-week or shorter cruise, you should be able to fit everything you need into one suitcase.
The first and last nights of your cruise are usually casual, and the nights your ship is in port almost always call for informal dress. At least one night will be the captain’s gala party, where tuxedos for men and long dresses for women are the norm, but a jacket and tie for men and a cocktail dress for women are also just fine.
Bring your most comfortable walking shoes for shore excursions. Tennis, deck, or other low-heeled rubber or nonskid shoes are recommended for walking about the ship, up and down gangways, getting in and out of the ship’s tenders, and for sightseeing. And you will need a sweater for breezy nights at sea or for the air-conditioning in the dining room or shore-excursion bus. A small flashlight, a fold-up umbrella, and a light jacket are often handy.
Pack lightly. But most of all, be comfortable. You do not need to rush out and buy an expensive wardrobe. Obviously, if your cruise is in a cool or cold climate, you will need to plan accordingly. A Baltic or Scandinavian cruise in summer is likely to encounter colder temperatures than you might think—similar to a New England fall—but then can quickly turn to a hot summer day. Plan for layers when the weather is uncertain.
As we mention elsewhere, it’s a sound practice to have a small carry-on bag for your medications and cosmetics and to include a change of clothing for your first afternoon aboard your ship, in the event of a delay in the delivery of your luggage. Also, bring a foldaway bag to carry all those souvenirs, gifts, and duty-free bargains that probably won’t fit in your suitcase.
Every evening, an agenda for the following day is delivered to your room; it states the dress code for the following evening. It may be: CASUAL Comfortable day wear, such as slacks, shorts, or jeans, but some cruise lines will state specifically that T-shirts, tank tops, or shorts are not allowed in the dining room for dinner. INFORMAL Dresses and pantsuits are suggested for the ladies; jackets for the men, but ties are optional.
FORMAL Cocktail dresses or gowns for the ladies, and tuxedo, dinner jacket, or dark business suit for men; jacket and tie are required. It varies greatly by line, but as a general rule, the lineup might be like this:
3- to 4-night cruises One formal, one informal, and one or two casual.
7- to 8-night cruises Two formal, two informal, two or three casual.
10- to 14-night cruises Three or four formal; four or six informal; four or five casual.
You are asked to comply with the ship’s stated dress code, if for no other reason than out of respect for your fellow passengers. Generally, the suggested attire is respected throughout the evening or at least until after the shows in the main showroom and the late-night buffet, when it is a gala event. Often, those who want to stay up late for the disco or casino change to more comfortable dress, if they prefer.
COSTUMES
A FEW SHIPS STILL HAVE ONE NIGHT as a masquerade party, and others have theme nights for which some people bring an outfit—a 1950s and 1960s night or a country-and-western night, for example. It’s entirely up to you whether or not to participate. The cruise line’s brochure usually tells you about theme nights, or you can ask your travel agent for theme nights featured on your cruise, if you want to join in. If you don’t have space for a costume, the cruise staff can help you make one.
SPORTS EQUIPMENT
IF YOU PLAN TO PLAY GOLF or tennis frequently, you might want to bring your own equipment, and of course, you’ll need the appropriate clothes and shoes. Ships that have golf practice facilities and shoreside golf programs sometimes supply the equipment for a nominal fee. Inquire.
Fins and a snorkeling mask (particularly if you have one fitted with your eyeglass prescription) are bulky, but might save you a $10 to $20 fee each time you go snorkeling on your own. If you buy the ship’s shore excursions, the snorkeling equipment is included. Scuba gear is usually included in dive packages, too, and except for your regulator, is impractical to bring on a cruise.
Hiking boots, jogging shoes, riding attire, and other sporting gear will depend entirely on you and the nature of your cruise. For adventure or expedition cruises, such as to Antarctica, your cruise line will give you ample information about dress and the equipment you need; some supply guests with winter parkas and boots.
MONEY MATTERS
DOLLARS ARE READILY ACCEPTED throughout the Caribbean and in some other regions, as are traveler’s checks and major credit cards. In Europe or Asia, the ship’s purser or front office usually offers foreign currency exchange facilities, or the ship brings someone aboard to provide the facility in each port of call. If you do exchange money (it’s a great opportunity to teach kids about other currencies—euros in Martinique, Dutch guilders in Curaçao, pesos in Mexico), exchange only small amounts for your immediate use. Seldom will you have time to exchange the money back before returning to your ship, and you lose money every time you make the exchange. An exception is a European cruise. If you are visiting multiple European countries, say France, Italy, Spain and Greece, simply exchange a lot of dollars in advance for euros, which can be used in many countries.
Even with U.S. dollars, always carry small denominations—ones, fives, tens. Chances are, if you are owed change, it will be returned in the local currency. Incidentally, U.S. coins are seldom accepted in foreign countries and are impossible to exchange except in quantity at foreign-exchange banks. Likewise with foreign coins when you want to exchange them back into U.S. currency. Most become souvenirs. Some travelers report problems cashing traveler’s checks in foreign cruise ports, especially on the weekend. Major credit cards have become the currency of travelers worldwide and are accepted in most places. On a cruise, you will often find them the most convenient method of payment for settling your account aboard ship, for shopping at duty-free shops, and for payment of local restaurant or hotel bills. However, do not expect to use them in select off-the-beaten-track locations. The Cuna Indians of the San Blas Islands—an exotic stop on Panama Canal cruises—want your greenbacks. After you return home and receive your credit card bills, review them carefully. The theft of credit card numbers is a worldwide problem and cruise passengers, who are normally in for only a day, are easy prey.
PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE AND OTHER MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
AS WITH ANY TRIP, whether on land or sea, you should have all your required medicine with you and carry it in original bottles and in your hand luggage, not packed in your suitcase. As a further precaution, bring copies of your medicine prescriptions—and for your eyeglasses, too. If you have dietary requirements, you or your travel agent should communicate them to your cruise line at the time you book your cruise. Most ships can accommodate normal requirements of low salt and low fat, but more complex ones that require special stores be carried aboard require planning. Do not take anything for granted. Inquire. For example, many ships do not normally stock skim milk. In each of the cruise line profiles in Part Two under Standard Features, the amount of advance notice a cruise line requires to handle special diets is indicated.
Cruise ships that travel beyond coastal waters are required to have a doctor on board; most large ships have nurses and adequate medical facilities for normal circumstances. The doctor and nursing staff have limited daily office hours, which are printed in the ship’s daily agenda, and they are always on call for emergencies. There are charges for most medical services.
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