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Cruise Ship Vacations Part 1
VACATION CRUISING
How to save money without sacrificing fun!
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Introduction
A Word About Travel Agents
Doing It On Your Own
Finding the deal
Let’s Go Cruising
Making the reservation
A Simple Plan
What to know before you board
Paperwork
Medical Records
Packing
Budgeting
Welcome Aboard!
What to do once on board
To Insure Proper Service
Proper tipping procedures
Charge It!
Shopping
Location, Location, Location
Ports of Call
More Than Bus Trips
Shore excursions
Food, Food, Food
Getting Your Drink On
Beverages
Mama Needs A New Pair ‘O Shoes
Gambling in the casinos
Sports and Such
Calgon, Take Me Away
Spas and massages
Oh My Aching Tummy
Sea sickness
Smile for the Camera
Pictures on your cruise
Phoning Home
Keeping in touch with home
Wash Day
The ship’s laundry
No Money, No Money, No Money
Getting freebie
In General
Wrapping It Up
INTRODUCTION: “Baby let me take you on a sea cruise”
The lyrics to Frankie Ford’s song “Sea Cruise” seem to echo the
sentiments of many people when planning a vacation. Some think it’s
out of the realm of possibilities when considering a vacation on a
budget, but not anymore!
Many people, including myself, think that cruising the open seas on
a luxury ship is a vacation we can’t even dream of. However, with
some careful planning and saving, a cruise is definitely within the
realm of possibilities!
The cost of cruising has dropped dramatically over the last few
years, and it's become affordable for almost everyone as a vacation
alternative. But many of us could afford to cruise even more often
if we could just cut down on all the extra onboard and on-shore
costs, above and beyond the actual cruise fare.
There are hundreds of tips out there on how to save money on your
cruise. Whether you get advice from family and friends, the
Internet, or your local travel agent, they all are valuable. The
only problem is how do you remember them all? This book has taken
the best tips from several sources and put them in one convenient
place – HERE!
Almost anyone can take a cruise vacation that’s everything depicted
in the movies and on television. You can enjoy The Bahamas, Hawaii,
Mexico, and even Alaska aboard luxury cruise ships with all the
amenities of a resort on land.
The key to making the most of your cruise vacation is to know where
you can save money without sacrificing fun or rest and relaxation.
Many cruises are all-inclusive, but that doesn’t necessarily mean
“ALL inclusive”. There are extra charges for items on board as well
as activities and shore trips.
You deserve to enjoy your vacation and all that comes with it, and
you can do it on a budget! What could be better than that?
So sit back and read up on the best ways to save money on your
cruise. Gopher, Julie, and Doc from “The Love Boat” won’t be there,
but YOU will be!
A WORD ABOUT TRAVEL AGENTS
If you decide to use a travel agent, know whom you are dealing
with! Some cruise agents are very competent; others may have been
selling stereos or aluminium siding over the telephone six months
ago. The problem is, for the most part, you will have no real way of
discerning which is which.
Local travel agents or otherwise self-appointed cruise experts
frequently read the cruise ship line PR veneer right out of the
catalogue. Often this turns out to be nothing more than selling you
the standard discount for booking that is available to virtually
anyone off the so-called brochure rate.
The result is that you think you're getting one of Kathie Lee's
fantasy cruises. What you find yourself on is a garish neon
nightmare of a ship filled with people whose idea of a good time is
drinking, partying, and then waking you up at 3AM as they
boisterously announce their arrival back to their room--all right
outside of your cabin.
For sure, this is the idea of a roaring good time for some--but the
point is KNOW WHAT YOU ARE REALLY BUYING! There are many significant
points and nuances that can differentiate between an OK trip, and
one that falls short for the money you spend.
Many travel or cruise agencies often offer "special discounts". This
is a common travel agency ploy to offer promotional deals that
frequently focus on a special "cruise night." You may get a mailing
or perhaps there is an ad in the local newspaper. You go in, are met
and greeted, enjoy punch and free cookies, and view a dreamy cruise
video.
Keep in mind that this is intended to appeal to a strong emotional
purchase decision. Experts about the Psychology of selling relate
this experience to what any top car salesperson knows. In the
dealer's showroom, if you can get the potential customer behind the
wheel to experience the "smell of the new car" and the fantasy of
pulling it into the driveway--you've likely already made a sale!
However when you go to one of these get-togethers to preview a
cruise often they don’t try and tailor your needs to a cruise that
will fill those needs. They’ll provide you with general information
trying to sell as many of the same cruise as possible. You deserve
to have your considerations met.
Travel agents are certainly the easiest way to go when booking a
vacation, but if you do use a travel agent, have them one-on-one
instead of in a group situation. Be sure they listen to what you are
saying, and if you have any hesitancy, address it immediately. Most
agents are professional enough to take a step back and make
adjustments based on what you tell them.
There are many good deals you can find on your own, however. All it
takes is a little time and knowing what you’re looking for.
DOING IT ON YOUR OWN
Start with research. We’re assuming you don’t have a particular
cruise line in mind, but if you do, start with their web site. If
you don’t care whether you cruise on Carnival or Ambassador, do a
quick web search for cruise deals and you’ll find tons of places
that will give you information on what they have to offer. There are
three web sites we have found that might help guide you:
cruise-addicts.com,
cruisestateroom.com,
cruisecritic.com
You will have a lot of options to consider when deciding on your
cruise, which we will outline in this chapter.
One such option is taking a theme cruise. What exactly is a theme
cruise, you ask? It is a cruise booked around a certain theme that
could focus on a particular interest such as murder mystery, sports,
music styles, etc. The cruise line may provide special events and
lectures for you to attend revolving around the theme. Some theme
cruises have celebrities along for the ride giving you the chance to
rub elbows with the rich and famous. If you can think of a theme
that interests people, they probably have a cruise to match it.
A theme cruise can be great fun if you pick the right theme for you.
Check to see if a cruise line offers a theme cruise that matches
your interest. You’ll also want to see if the cruise you are going
to book has a theme or possibly a large group joining your cruise.
You might not want to spend your vacation being the odd man out
because you don’t like the theme or because you’re not part of the
large group.
You may want to check out a group cruise. This isn’t necessarily you
getting together a bunch of people and planning a cruise with them.
There are some groups out there that have secured special, low rates
for large groups of people. You don’t even have to know the people
you’re cruising with.
You can find these group cruises in various places. Try looking at
an Internet chat board for cruisers. They often have postings on
there for groups who have secured such rates, and you can save a lot
of money by booking with them instead of on your own.
Check out the ports of call your ship will be docking at. Since
these will also be a major part of your cruise, you want to know
where you’ll be going and what you can do there. You’ll want to ask
about the types of the shore excursions available. What do you
enjoy: shopping, nature, sports, historical sites or exotic culture?
You’ll want to pick ports of call that have activities that interest
you.
You can easily get tourist information about the ports of call at
www.towd.com The Tourism Offices Worldwide Directory web site. This
site provides a collection of addresses, phone numbers, and web
links to many foreign governments’ official tourism offices. It also
contains a search feature that lists contact information and web
links for official U.S. State Tourism Offices, regional, city, and
convention and visitor bureau sites.
Next, check out air/sea packages available. An air/sea cruise is
when your cruise has been booked with airline tickets to get you to
the ship’s port and back home again. The cruise line buys its
tickets in bulk from the airlines. They find out where you are
coming from and book you passage from a nearby airport to one close
to the ship’s home port. Each cruise line has its own policy on how
they deal with the sale of airline tickets, so you’ll want to ask
some important questions.
· What is the cost of the tickets if I book them with my cruise?
· If I need to cancel, are the refund policies different for the
plane tickets than for the cruise?
· Is there a service fee charged to have the Cruise Line issue my
Airline tickets?
· Do I have any choice in which Airline is used?
· Can I get credit for my frequent flyer mileage membership?
· Can I fly non-stop or have any control over the route that is
taken, or do I just get what ever they find?
· How do I get from the Airport to the ship’s port?
· Is there a shuttle service available from the airport where you’ll
be arriving? Is there a charge for this service or is it included?
Is the service included if you don’t book your flight through the
Cruise Line?
· How and when do I meet up with Cruise Line personnel?
· How is my luggage handled, do I have to pick it up at the airport
or is it automatically sent to the ship?
· What accommodations, if any, are made if the Airline they use
causes me to miss the ship?
There are many advantages to booking an air/sea package. The cruise
line takes care of the airline reservation. Since cruise lines buy
in bulk and usually provide a discount package rate, the ticket
price is generally lower than what can be found in the general
market. The transfer of luggage is easier, and a free shuttle will
take you from the airport to the docks.
The cruise line will have your flight information and will be able
to track your flight in case of a delay. Others on the cruise might
be on the same flight and they might just hold the ship waiting for
you to board. The biggest advantage is that if anything goes wrong
to delay you, the cruise line will generally become more involved to
help you make it on board the ship.
There, of course, are disadvantages as well to booking an air/sea
package. You might be able to find a better deal on your own, but
you may have to fly an airline you don’t like. You will probably not
get credit for frequent flyer miles by going through the cruise
line, and you might not be able to fly non-stop. Finally, you might
end up flying a longer route than you’d pick for yourself.
You could book your own airline tickets, but only do so if you can
get a better deal. The strongest consideration should be how
confident you are in being able to make it to the ship on your own.
If you are already flying in a few days early, know you’ll be there
on time and you can save over the air/sea on plane tickets and
shuttle costs, then you might just consider going it alone. But,
remember you are going it alone.
The cruise lines will be more likely to make accommodations and work
with the airline if their booking didn’t get you to the ship on
time. They will be better able to track your late flight and might
even delay the ship if they know you’ll only be slightly late. They
might pay for you to stay in a hotel or pay for flights so you can
catch up with the ship at the first port.
Depending on the circumstances, they might even rebate some of your
cruise or give you a discount toward your next cruise with them.
However, the airlines are independent contractors. Most cruise
conditions of carriage state that since the airlines are independent
contractors the cruise line makes no warranty and assumes no
responsibility for any failure or delay in their contractor’s
services. This is another reason to purchase a strong trip insurance
package. We’ll get to the topic of trip insurance a little later.
When you book your own airline tickets, if the route you picked to
make it to the ship fails, you are on your own. Don’t risk missing
the whole cruise over a few frequent flyer miles. Sure you can
probably get on if you can catch the ship, but will you be able to
find a flight and transportation to the ship. Will it be worth it,
considering how much you’ll have to pay in last minute travel
arrangements? No matter how you get there, try to avoid this
situation by booking a flight that leaves you plenty of time to get
you to and from the port to the airport.
Paying the brochure rate for a cruise is like paying the full
sticker price for a car. You should be able to easily find a good
discount off those rates, if you can’t, keep looking around.
It’s a good idea to book early. The booking rates become more
expensive the closer to sailing. Although some people report that if
you’re able to wait until the last minute, there are deals that can
be had on under-booked ships. The objective of the cruise line is to
have a full house before sailing. If they find themselves with some
empty cabins, they may reduce the rate just to fill them. Just keep
in mind that you will be limited on your choices as far as where
your room is located, whether you have a balcony or not, etc.
Booking early on a cruise line generally refers to 120 days prior to
sail date. If you book early you will have a better chance of
getting exactly what you want and at a discounted price. However, if
the ships have low occupancy rates close to sailing, you can still
find great deals. With all the new large ships that are being
launched, last minute deals are still a possibility. But, these
deals can be limited and many people don’t have the flexibility to
leave or at least book in an instant.
Shopping the Internet can be the quickest and easiest way to compare
many different cruise rates. Be flexible about your travel plans. As
with every other travel industry, cruising during the off season
will also help you save money.
Apply any coupons or special discount programs for which you are
eligible. Discounts may be available for associations, corporations,
seniors, children or even large groups or family reunions.
Memberships in loyalty clubs like the Elks or the Moose often
include offers of discounts and upgrades. Some credit cards will
have special discounts available to their cardholders.
Package deals often include a discounted cruise price along with pre
or post-cruise activities. Most cruise lines will also give
discounts to the military, so if you or someone in your party is or
has been in the military, ask for their discount.
2 for 1 deals are popular sales incentives where two cruises are
offered for the price of one. However, airfare is usually not
included in the two for one rate. Cruise lines have also offered
discounted or free airfares, free post or pre-cruise hotel stays,
free cabin upgrades, extra days free or free shore excursions.
Some cruise lines will offer a first time cruiser discount to
encourage you to give their cruise line a try. It probably won’t
have to be your first cruise, just your first cruise with that
particular line.
The bottom line with discounts is….ASK! They may not offer you the
discounted rate up front, but if you ask, they will certainly tell
you if any would apply. The goal of the cruise line is, after all,
to gain your business.
The cruise line you choose is another important factor to consider
when picking your cruise. The cruise ship is your hotel, restaurant
and entertainment for your whole vacation. It is a package deal that
is different from a traditional vacation.
You’ll want to spend some time and do your research to make sure you
pick the right cruise for you. The perfect cruise for some might be
a miserable one for others. Make sure you find the best match.
You’ll want to find the best rate on the right cruise for you, not
just the cheapest rate.
Cruise lines cater to certain groups and their whole ship is meant
to entertain and please that crowd. Some cater to certain age
groups, singles, or families. Some are calm, elegant and feature
haute cuisine. Some have lots of loud, exciting activities to
attract the active crowds. Others have lots of family activities
planned, so the ship will be filled with kids. Some will have shore
excursions that are right up your alley, while others might be a
real snooze for you.
Like many other industries, cruise lines "target" their product or
cruise ship experience to hit certain markets. There are basically
five categories to cruise lines.
THE ULTRA LUXURY MARKET
These are upscale ships (often much smaller than the mega-liners)
that generally cater to wealthy people. Silverseas would be one
example. Service and food is truly gourmet (the only real gourmet
food you'll get at sea, by the way). Some of the ships and cruise
lines are known to be more "snooty" while others are less
pretentious.
THE UPSCALE MASS MARKET
These do a wonderful job and provide a cruise experience on a
larger ship and, of course, at a higher price than any category,
except for the previous one. Crystal would be counted toward the top
of this category and probably Celebrity toward the bottom.
THE MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD MASS MARKET
All of the big lines would fall in this category, including Royal
Caribbean, Carnival, Holland American, Princess, etc. These offer a
great deal of value for the price.
THE BARGAIN/SMALLER LINES
This is the most varied category. In this category, Majesty
Cruise Lines can give a great experience for short cruises, and it
includes the ultra-budget Dolphin Lines, along with lesser-known
cruise lines. You must be careful, however, when choosing a company
in this category.
There is a projected over-capacity glut of cabins in the industry,
already well underway. As in any other industry, be aware that the
more financially strong lines will survive, and the smaller ones
(with limited financial resources, older ships, etc.) will continue
to fall by the wayside as the industry consolidates. You must make
absolutely certain that you determine if you're sailing on a cruise
line that is not in somewhat shaky condition, financially speaking.
SPECIALIZED LINES
These include a wide variety also, including barge cruises in
Europe and smaller ships (maybe 150 passengers or so) that ply the
inside passage to and from Alaska, as well as "adventure" cruising
that lines like Renaissance targets.
We want to remain unbiased in this book, so we will not tell you one
cruise line is better than another one is. We can make a few general
comments, however, about specific cruise lines based on passenger
feedback.
Many have an exceptionally strong preference for Royal Caribbean
because it is the hands-down winner on value. Their newer ships are
said to be spectacular, and their service is reportedly as good as
it gets for the price. Their food vendors rival some of the
ultra-luxury ships.
If you can afford to go on Silverseas and pay $1,000/day per diem or
more, the experience will be out of the stratosphere for luxury. You
will get a 1:1 crew/passenger ratio for the ultimate in service and
pampering. Their food is said to be gourmet and the amenities you
will enjoy will definitely provide you with a trip you won’t forget.
Princess is also a very popular choice. Celebrity can be pricier but
with outstanding food. Carnival still has the get-down &
party/younger (once in a while, drink & drown) market where the food
is pretty ordinary and the ship decor is super neon glitz. Many
previous passengers say that what they do, they do VERY well if
you’re interested in a party-type atmosphere with the glitz of Las
Vegas.
Pride of America cruise lines offers an excellent cruise around
Hawaii with exceptional food and terrific service. The middle-of-the
road cabins are actually quite spacious. The entertainment and
amenities make for a wonderful experience.
Another factor should be the cruise line’s reputation for the
quality of its cuisine, its menu, and its reputation for customer
service. What is the ship’s previous safety and cleanliness record?
How are the facilities on board the ship? What do the cabins look
like? A lot of this information can be found online, but if you ask,
most cruise lines will send you brochures free of charge for you to
look at.
When considering what type of cabin you want, generally, the more
desirable cabins (i.e., more expensive) are on the top decks of a
ship. They almost always sell out first.
The old adage used to be, don't worry about your cabin; you won't
spend much time there to begin with. Actually, that's not true.
Since cruise lines have shifted to the concept of thinking of a ship
as a self-contained resort, more emphasis has been placed on making
your cabin as comfortable (and larger) as possible.
For example, some people wonder about getting an outside cabin with
a balcony. This, of course, is almost entirely dependent on the
cruise and the weather. If you’re cruising the Caribbean with
wonderfully warm weather, you’ll want that balcony! If the weather
is somewhat temperate, you can sit outside and enjoy splendid
scenery. On the other hand, if it is blustery weather as sometimes
happens to and from Alaska, you probably won't think that a balcony
is such a good deal.
You may want to seriously consider having a cabin with a balcony.
Springing for a balcony gives you your own piece of paradise when
the decks get crowded.
Selection of your cabin may also affect whether you feel the ship
"rock & roll”. If you’re prone to seasickness (which we will address
later), your best bet is to book a cabin near the middle of the ship
to minimize the wavy feeling as the ship moves across the water.
You might want to study the ship's diagram in the brochure or
online, and book space in a category that has fewer cabins than
others on a guarantee basis. The upside to this little trick is that
with fewer cabins in the category booked, your chances of being
upgraded to a nicer cabin/higher deck is better. With an actual
cabin number assignment, the chance of an upgrade lessens (unless
one is a repeat customer, but that's another story). The downside,
of course, is that with a full ship, the guaranteed category could
result in a cabin assignment in that category, so one must be
prepared to be satisfied with it.
Another great bargain opportunity for cruises involves
repositioning. Twice a year, you might clean out the garage. Maybe
you visit relatives in the winter and summer. Some of these things,
no matter how mundane, fall into consistent schedules all their own.
If you run a cruise line, you must reposition many of your ships
twice a year, too.
Because there isn't big demand for cruising the fjords in January,
your ship that spent the summer in Scandinavia might find more
profitable waters in the eastern Caribbean during the colder months.
Alaskan cruise liners might winter in San Diego, a base from which
to explore the Mexican Riviera as Sitka shivers. Come spring, the
process reverses. They're known as repositioning or "repo" cruises
in the travel industry.
Trivia, you say? Perhaps. But you can bet the people who move those
ships want as many paying travellers aboard as possible. Savvy
travelers book those cabins and take trips they otherwise could not
afford. Maybe it's time for you to "reposition" your thoughts on
cruising.
Consider a typical repositioning cruise that took passengers from
Genoa, Italy, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 16 days. During the
first week, ports-of-call included Genoa, Marseilles, France, and
St. Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands. Not bad! But four of the first
seven days on that cruise, there were no stops. This is not standard
fare for most traditional itineraries. Bring reading material and an
appreciation for the open sea. Make sure you REALLY like your cruise
partner too!
The ports you do visit might not see cruise ships at any other time
of year. You'll find rare opportunities to visit African or South
American cities off the usual tourist paths.
Because the trips are longer in duration, the total price might
equal or exceed what you'd expect to pay for a standard cruise. But
when you begin to divide money into days, the per diem costs are
attractive. The repositioning trip just described started at $2500
USD/per person. That's about $156/night, including airfare from New
York to Genoa and Fort Lauderdale to New York. A three-night cruise
to the Bahamas can cost that much per night without airfare.
Once you’ve considered all these factors, you’ll be ready to book
your trip. Take a deep breath and enjoy. You won’t be dreaming of a
cruise vacation anymore. You’ll be doing it!
LET’S GO CRUISING
Congratulations! It’s time to make your reservations! There are a
few things you’ll need to know next. They’re just housekeeping
items, but it’s always good to be prepared!
First, you’ll need a list of the names of the passengers that will
be going on the cruise. You’ll have to bill your trip to a major
credit card, so have the card type, number, and expiration date on
hand. They may ask for that little three-digit number on the back of
the card. Why, I have no idea, but it seems anymore almost everyone
asks for that number!
Obviously, you will need to have selected a ship and cruise date,
and have in mind any pre or post-cruise activities that you are
booking through the Cruise Line. You’ll need to have decided how you
are getting to the port so you can book an air/sea package, check on
shuttle services or parking policies.
They will ask you for your choice of cabin and you need to have
already selected your meal seating and the names of any other
passengers you wish to have join you at your table for those meals.
If you have special requests such as dietary needs, inform the
cruise line when booking. As a note, many ships do not allow smoking
except for in very specific designated areas, so don’t be surprised
if you request a smoking table for dinner and they have none
available.
This is also the time to book any shore excursions, if you are
already sure you plan on going on a particular one. If you’re not
sure, that’s all right too. You can book them once you board and
have had the chance to look through the multitude of activities that
will be available to you.
If you have discount or coupon information you want to use, do so at
booking. This is a great time, as well, to ask for any discounts
they may be offering that you don’t know about. If you’re not paying
for the trip completely, ask when the last payment will be due and
how you will be receiving your tickets.
You will also have to decide about trip insurance. What is trip
insurance? This is also often referred to as trip cancellation
insurance, but most policies do more than protect you if your
vacation is cancelled. Policies are sold that will refund your
losses if you have to cancel your cruise beyond the time you could
get a full refund from the cruise line. They can also offer
protection if a delay causes you to miss the ship. Policies may
extend coverage to protect your luggage or other personal
belongings.
Many offer a very important extension of medical coverage to protect
you if you become ill or are injured while on your vacation. As with
any insurance, each policy will vary in its cost, deductible,
protections and exemptions. You’ll need to read the individual
policy yourself to find the best coverage for you.
Purchasing trip insurance is certainly worth your strong
consideration. With most cruises, you book far in advance and
although we don’t like to think about it, many things can happen in
a year’s time that would cause you to miss your cruise. Most
airlines and cruise lines state very low liability limits. If they
lose or damage your luggage, you’ll probably not receive enough to
cover your losses.
You should look closely at your own personal medical coverage. You
may not have any coverage at all outside the United States. If
something would happen on your trip, you might not only be stuck
without coverage, but also be in a place that cannot offer
sufficient medical aid. The cost of a medical evacuation back to
proper medical care is extremely high.
When you do consider the trip insurance, be sure to read the fine
print. As with any insurance, there are exceptions and in many cases
pre-existing conditions are not covered. You want to make sure the
policy you buy is a good one for you
If you book a cruise directly on the Internet, find out if you will
receive confirmation in the mail physically or virtually through
e-mail. I know of a person who recently took a cruise and was
waiting for their information packet to arrive. When he called to
find out where it was, they were to have sent it to him in his
e-mail. They re-sent the info and he had everything he needed right
there printed off on his home computer including boarding passes!
Once you get this information, read through it thoroughly. It is
filled with most everything you need to know about your trip. Forms
will be included that you should fill out in advance, so you don’t
keep people waiting in line. It should also have a section on the
travel documentation you'll need to go on the cruise. If you get the
packet in the mail, there should be tags for your luggage inside the
packet.
You will also get instructions on how, when and where you will meet
the ship. You’ll want to get the ship’s satellite communications
telephone number so you can leave it with someone in case of an
emergency. You should also check your booking to reconfirm all your
plans.
It never hurts to confirm your reservation directly with the cruise
line, especially if you depended on someone else to book your cruise
for you. Be sure to verify all your booking information and make
sure that the cruise line has the correct contact information in
case they need to contact you before the cruise.
Now that the reservation has been made, you’ll need to prepare for
your trip. This involves much more than just packing up your clothes
and getting traveller’s checks! The next chapter focuses on that.
A SIMPLE PLAN
Knowing what type of information you’ll need to have before you
board and what to pack isn’t an exact science. However, it does help
to know in advance what to expect and how to plan your cruise.
Paper Work
Your ticket packet information will give you specific instructions,
but most cruise lines will require at least a state issued picture
ID, even if your cruise will stay in U.S. territorial waters. If
your ship is going to another country, you’ll probably need to bring
a passport or a birth certificate with a raised seal and a
governmentally issued I.D. such as a driver’s license.
Whether you need a passport or not depends on where you are going.
Foreign travel often requires a passport. However, you may be able
to enter some countries with just a notarized birth certificate with
a raised seal and your driver’s license. Although, some countries
may not require much to enter, you’ll still need proof of
citizenship when you re-enter the United States. You’ll need to find
out if any of the foreign travel you are planning will require a
passport or visa.
If you don’t have a passport, apply for one at least 3 months before
travel. If you already have a passport, make sure it will still be
valid for your entire trip. If your passport will be within six
months of expiration while you’re traveling, you may want to get a
new passport since some countries now require that your passport
must be valid six months after your return to the U.S.
You can get a passport at a State Department Passport Agency, a
clerk of any Federal or State Court of record, designated municipal
or county official or a designated U.S. Post Office. They usually
run around $100 for an adult, so be sure and figure this expense
into your cruise budget.
To get your passport, you will, most likely, need to appear in
person at the issuing facility. If you are a first time applicant,
you’ll need to appear in person at one of the official locations
listed above. You will also need to appear in person if it has been
more than 12 years since your last passport was issued or you were
under 16 years of age when your last passport was issued. Applicants
under 13 are not always required to appear in person since a parent
or guardian may execute the application on the child’s behalf.
You will need to provide one of the following to prove United States
citizenship:
1. A certified copy of your birth certificate with a U.S. State or
county embossed seal. Hospital certificates are NOT accepted. OR
2. Your naturalization/Citizenship certificate. OR
3. Your previously issued and expired passport. If your name has
changed from the one listed on your previous passport, you must
submit the sealed legal document showing the name change. (Marriage
certificate, divorce decree, etc.)
You will also have to provide two identical recently taken 2x2inch
front view facial, from the bottom of your chin to top of head,
photographs. No hats or dark glasses can be worn in the photographs.
Have them taken at a passport shop since snapshots and machine
photos are not acceptable. You may also want to get several extra
copies of the photograph since they can also be used for
international driver's permits and other documents. Travelling with
extra photographs will also make it easier to replace your passport,
if yours is lost.
Also bring your driver’s license or Military ID issued over six
months ago. State ID cards are only acceptable with several other
forms of ID. Temporary or altered documents are NOT accepted.
Parent’s ID will be used for that of a minor child. Have a completed
official passport application form. There will be a small fee for
your passport, but it will be listed on your application form.
A visa is an endorsement on your passport that will allow entry into
the country you’ll be visiting. It states that your passport has
been inspected and that everything is valid. It will usually give
permission for you to visit a country for a specific time period and
purpose.
Many countries you’ll be visiting on a cruise do not require a visa.
You’ll want to ask your travel consultant or the cruise line in
advance and consult your cruise packet just to make sure you’ll have
the papers you’ll need. Visas often take several weeks to process.
All travel documents are the responsibility of the passenger.
To find out if you need a passport for your cruise, go to The U.S.
State Department, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ Foreign Entry
Requirements web page located at travel.state.gov/foreignentryreqs.html.
This site lists the entry requirements of foreign countries. It also
includes the addresses and telephone numbers of foreign embassies
and consulates in the United States. This web site is a good
starting point, but since the information presented is subject to
change, you should also check directly with the embassy or consulate
of the country you a planning to visit.
Medical Records
Complete and take with you a personal medical history. Your
doctor should be able to help you complete the history. It should
include:
· Your insurance company’s name and address.
· Trip insurance contact information.
· Contact person in case of emergency.
· Your blood type.
· A copy of your eyeglass prescription.
· A list of current medications with their generic names. Brand
names can vary in foreign countries.
· A list of allergies, including any known food or drug allergies.
· A list of immunizations with their dates.
· A basic description of your past and present medical condition,
including past hospitalizations and any current problems.
It’s always good to be safe rather than sorry. If anything
catastrophic should happen while on your cruise, you’ll want to be
as prepared as possible.
No one wants to contemplate getting sick or having an accident
during their cruise, but unfortunate things can happen. Most group
insurance policies do not cover members when they are out of the
country and Medicare assuredly does not. Check your coverage before
leaving home and consider purchasing travel insurance, as we have
advised, for peace of mind and unexpected contingencies. It can be a
wise investment because the cost of a typical policy may run about
the same as a trip to the ship's doctor.
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Cruise Ships: Activities for Seniors
Cruise Ships: A Romantic Getaway for Couples
Cruise Ships: Preparing For Your Voyage
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Popular Cruise Ship Destinations and Ports of Call
Popular Cruise Ship Travel Options
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Selecting a Cruise Line: What to Consider and Where to Look
Staying Safe aboard a Cruise Ship
Vacationing Aboard an Overseas Cruise Ship |