Cruise FAQ's
Are there activities for children on a cruise?
Will I get seasick?
Do I have to participate in scheduled activities or can I just relax?
Do I have to tip? If so, how much?
Will I need a passport?
Can I call home from the ship?
Are medical services available?
Will I get bored?
What should I pack?
How much will it cost and what is included in the price?
What about sightseeing when in port?
Can I get/send e-mail while onboard the ship?
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. Some cruise lines even have special shore excursions just for kids.
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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. One of the more effective medications is Meclezine, but whatever medication you take, it is important to start prior to boarding the ship so it has time to get into your system before you need it.
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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.
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Do I have to tip? If so, how much?
While tipping is generally up to the individual passenger, generally ship’s personnel rely on tips to supplement their salaries. Depending on the ship, $11.00 to $13.00 per day per person is the standard recommended gratuity to cover your stateroom attendant, assistant head waiter, waiter and waiter’s assistant. Some cruise lines automatically charge the aggregate tips the cruise length to the passenger on board accounts. The passenger generally has the right to adjust or remove the tips if service is less than acceptable. Generally, a 15% gratuity is automatically added to bar and wine purchases. There are a few cruise lines that have a "no tipping" policy.
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Will I need a passport?
Unless changed again, effective June 1, 2009, all persons entering the United States from another country will be required to have a passport or other accepted proof of citizenship. Even though an alternative proof of citizenship may be acceptable for a cruise, a valid passport is required for all air travel into the United States from another country.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. For up to date information regarding the need for a passport please click here.
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Can I call home from the ship?
Virtually every cruise ship now provides Ship to Shore telephone service and one can call from his/her stateroom. Ship to Shore rates per minute can be very expensive. Most ships also provide cell phone service with certain public rooms blocked from receiving or sending calls. The cost of cell phone calls is dependent upon one’s own cell service provider’s rates.
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Are medical services available?
Virtually every major cruise ship will have a modernly equipped medical facility to handle emergencies and are staffed with a physician and one or more nurses or physicians assistants. 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.
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Will I get bored?
That is very unlikely! However, if you are concerned about having enough to do, choose one of the larger ships (50,000 tons and above), that 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 tasting, dance lessons, dancing, karaoke, live entertainment, movies, television, fitness centers, shore excursions, talent contests, masquerade parties, Captain's party, country western night, just to name a few! If possible boredom is a real concern, look for an itinerary that is more port intensive with less sea days.
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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, South American, 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. 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.” One 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 formal night on most 3 or 4 night cruises, 2 formal nights on a 7 night cruise and 3 or more on longer cruises. The rest of the time typically is either informal or “resort” casual. Even on truly “casual” nights, men should wear a collared shirt to dinner and slacks or skirts for the ladies.
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How much will it cost and what is included in the price?
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 $100,000 for a suite on a World Cruise! No matter how much you spend, you pay one price that covers almost everything: meals, accommodations, taxes, on-board entertainment and in some cases, airfare and gratuities and all beverages! On most cruise ships, the extras are shore excursions, soft drinks and alcohol, gratuities and incidentals (photos, etc.). In almost all situations, a cruise is the most affordable way to travel.
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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 take one of the cruise lines' shore excursions, enjoy a privately arranged excursion, or go off on your own to do some shopping, sightseeing, swimming, scuba diving, etc. Check with your cruise agent to discuss taking a cruise line excursion or a privately arranged one.
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Can I get/send e-mail while onboard the ship?
Most of the newer ships do have a business center complete with computers connected to the Internet. Some charge for each email received or sent and/or allow one to purchase blocks of internet time so a passenger can get send and receive e-mail using AOL, HotMail, Yahoo, or Gmail, etc. Many new ships today are set up with wireless hot spots around the ship, including in some cases the staterooms. So, if you want to stay connected check with your cruise agent about the internet capabilities on your ship.
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