| What should I
wear? |
| Day wear includes shorts, pants,
blouses, t-shirts, knit tops or polo shirts. Your attire will depend
on that day's activities. For cooler days or evenings, pack a sweater
or lightweight windbreaker. For Alaska cruises, sweaters and raincoats
are also suggested. Bring a pair of sneakers or rubber-soled shoes for
deck sports and a swimsuit cover-up for cool areas on the ship.
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What do I do about money? |
| Most cruise lines allow you to
establish an onboard credit account that permit you to charge
purchases to your stateroom. You will need to present a credit card,
cash or travelers checks to open this account. This can be done at the
designated sign-up area onboard the ship, or during the check-in
process. In most ports, U.S. currency may be accepted or easily
exchanged. It is best to bring cash in small denominations, since it
is easier to get change for these bills. It is also advisable to carry
a limited amount of cash, since it is irreplaceable if lost. Travelers
checks and/or credit cards are also recommended. Exact conversions
rates fluctuate on a daily basis. |
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If I don't purchase airfare through the cruise line,
how can I get to the ship from the airport? |
| Many cruise lines offer
transportation from the airport to the pier for their guests. The cost
for this service varies, and in most cases, may be paid in advance.
Reservations for this service are typically accepted up until
approximately 3 weeks prior to your departure, and you may often
choose a one way or round trip service. The cruise line will need to
know your flight itinerary at the time of purchase so that they may
coordinate the transfer service. If purchasing the transfers in
advance is not an option, you may typically purchase them at the
airport on the day of the cruise's departure. To do this, proceed to
the baggage claim area and see the cruise line's representative to
inquire about being added to their transfer manifest. Guests who do
not purchase the transfer service through the cruise line are
responsible for their own transportation to and from the pier. |
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If I'm on the bottom deck, am I below the water? |
| All passenger staterooms are
located above sea level. |
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What is a fuel surcharge? How much is it?
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| Due to the increased cost of fuel,
many airlines are charging a fuel surcharge. We will do everything
possible to get your tickets at the lowest price. However, we cannot
be responsible for vendor surcharges. These additional charges, which
typically range from $20.00 - $60.00 per person, need to be paid in
cash at the airport on the day of your departure. In some cases, these
may be collected in advance. |
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What is the average age group? |
| Carnival Cruise Line - 0-35 years
of age. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line - 25-54 years of age. Celebrity
Cruise Line - 35-64 years of age. Crystal Cruise Line - 60+ years of
age. Holland America Line- Mixed, 40-60 generally with some younger
guests. Norwegian Cruise Line- 25-54 years of age. Princess Cruise
Line- 35-64 years of age. Windstar Cruise Line- 40-50 years of age,
some honeymooners as well. Keep in mind that the above information
involves rough averages. Typically, on any cruise, you will find a mix
of all age groups. |
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How will I know when my final payment is due? |
| Your final payment due date will
be reflected on your invoice and confirmation. Additionally, when the
due date approaches, we will send you a payment reminder via mail. For
your convenience, you may authorize us to automatically charge the
final payment for your reservation on the date that it is due. Simply
fill out the form and fax it to us. |
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Why do I have to submit a medical release form for
diabetes, I'm bringing my own insulin, etc.? |
| The cruise lines require all
guests with special medical needs to submit this information to them
prior to travel. This is to ensure that they have the necessary
information to give you the proper care in the event of an emergency.
Passengers who carry syringes for medical use must also carry a letter
from their physicians indicating this. |
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What types of activities can we expect once we get
there? |
| Activities and entertainment will
vary depending on the destination and cruise line. Many cruise lines
offer a variety of activities and entertainment onboard. Shore
excursions and land tours may also be run by independent companies, at
an additional cost to passengers. Information pertaining to the shore
excursions and land tours, if available, may be found at the ship's
excursion desk. |
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Can I fly the night before? |
| Most cruise lines offer pre-night
packages that you can purchase at an additional cost. The space is
limited for these, so it is best to book them early. Should you not be
able to book a pre-night through the cruise line, you may also reserve
a room on your own and customize your flight schedule. There is a
non-refundable fee to do this, in addition to any increased airfare
cost. Purchasing a pre-night benefits you since it will provide you
with extra time to make it to the cruise if you experience inclement
weather. |
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What is an air deviation? What is the benefit of
purchasing an air deviation? |
| An air deviation, also referred to
as customizing your flights, allows you to request specific dates,
times, airlines, air cities, or nonstop flights. The cruise lines
charge $35-$75 per person, plus any additional airfare costs to make
this request. The benefit of an air deviation is that it confirms you
on a preferred flight schedule. Without an air deviation, we are
unable to guarantee specific flight times, schedules, or nonstop
flights. In addition, if people from two or more staterooms are
traveling together, we are unable to guarantee that they will all
share the same flight schedule unless an air deviation is requested.
Also, without an air deviation, you will not know your flight schedule
until approximately 21-30 days prior to your departure. |
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What are the taxes/port charges? |
| The port charges include taxes and
fees assessed by governmental and other agencies, costs incident to
entering and leaving ports such as pilotage, costs incurred while in
port such as stevedoring, waste removal, and payroll for port-related
functions. Taxes associated with flights, if you have purchased any,
would also be included. |
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What if another person wants to come along later, can
I add them on after making payment? |
| All rates are based on the present
occupancy and availability. While in most cases, it is possible to add
an extra person, providing the room permits this, your present rate
will not be protected and could possibly change. The person you are
adding could pay a different rate as well, and there may be change
fees involved. In addition, in some cases, changes will not be
permitted. |
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Why is it so expensive for one person to go alone? |
| Cruise Lines and resorts base
their rates on double occupancy. Therefore, when traveling alone, you
will be charged a supplemental fee. Please note that this fee only
applies to the room rate. Taxes and airfare costs do not increase for
this reason. |
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Is there a benefit in purchasing trip insurance? |
| Absolutely. In life, we never know
what is going to happen. Trip insurance offers you protection if you
have to cancel due to injury, sickness, or death of you, a traveling
companion, or immediate family member. It does not cover unstable,
pre-existing conditions. Additionally, it provides emergency
assistance while you are on your vacation. If you have specific
questions regarding the insurance policy. |
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What does a category guarantee mean? |
| This guarantees you to have at
least the category that you have purchased, with the possibility of an
upgrade. If you have chosen this option, you will not receive an exact
stateroom number at the time of booking. Typically, the stateroom
assignment is made at the pier. However, you may occasionally find out
a couple of weeks in advance. |
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What does run of ship mean? |
| Run of ship means that your
stateroom could be literally anywhere on the ship. This could be from
the lowest deck to the highest, inside or outside staterooms, front,
back, or mid-ship. You will not receive your stateroom number until
you arrive at the pier. |
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How do I get a passport? |
| You may apply for a passport at
your local post office. Many cities also have local passport offices.
For further information regarding obtaining a passport. Please keep in
mind that you will need to allow 6-8 weeks for your passport to be
processed. |
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How much are gratuities on a cruise? |
| The following guidelines are
suggested by the cruise lines: Stateroom attendant - $3.50 per person,
per day. Head Waiter - $3.50 per person, per day. Assistant waiters -
$1.75 per person, per day. Gratuities for the Headwaiter/Maitre D and
other service personnel are at your discretion. For your convenience
onboard the ship, a 15% gratuity is automatically included on all
beverage tabs. In some cases, the cruise line will automatically add
the recommended gratuities to your onboard account. The recommended
gratuity is $10.00 per adult per day, $5.00 per child (3-12 years old)
and $0.00 for children under 3 years old. If you would prefer to offer
gratuities to each staff member personally, you may remove the
gratuities from your onboard account by visiting the pursers desk.
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My passport has my middle name printed on it. Do I
need to have my middle name on my tickets? |
| Your tickets will be printed to
reflect your first and last name only. Middle names and suffixes are
not necessary. |
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I am planning my honeymoon. Since I'll be newly
married at the time of travel, should I use my married name or my
maiden name when making a reservation? |
| Depending on whether or not you
can obtain a copy of your marriage certificate prior to departure, you
may do one of two things: You may reserve your vacation in your maiden
name and carry Proof of Citizenship that reflects your maiden name. OR
You may reserve your vacation in your married name and carry Proof of
Citizenship that reflects your married name. Please note that if you
carry several types of identification reflecting your married and
maiden names, it is suggested that you also carry a copy of your
marriage certificate to document your name change. |
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What happens if my flight is delayed for the cruise?
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| Both the cruise line and airline
will work to assist you in getting to your cruise. In the event of
minor scheduling delays or flight cancellations, speak to the airline
first to find out when you will be able to depart. Then, contact our
Customer Service Department; we will alert the cruise line to your
situation. If your delay is only minor, we may be able to have the
transfer shuttle meet you as planned. For major delays and flight
cancellations, the resolutions are determined on a case-by-case basis.
In some instances, the airline will fly you to the next port of call.
In other instances, the airline may provide hotel accommodations or
other options. If you purchased airfare independently of the cruise
line, you will need to work directly with the airline. In either case,
we recommend advising the airline that you are on your way to meet a
cruise ship. The airline may then prioritize you above other
passengers. Please consider the purchase of travel insurance, as there
may be times when the airline and cruise line cannot help you, but the
insurance can. |
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What's the best time to take a cruise? |
| Anytime is the best time to take a
cruise, but it also depends on where you'd like to go. The Caribbean
is fantastic year round; however, some of the more exotic destinations
are seasonal. For example, you can only cruise to Alaska between May
and September; to Europe between April and November; to Bermuda,
between April and October; the Panama Canal, between September and
April. So you see, no matter what time of year it is, it's a perfect
time to cruise. |
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When is Hurricane Season? |
| Officially, the U.S. National
Hurricane Service states that hurricane season starts on June 1 and
ends November 30th. That's 6 months of the year. However, history has
shown us the greatest concentration of hurricane and tropical storm
activity tends to be between late August and mid-October. |
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When is the most affordable time to take a cruise? |
| If you are looking for the very
least expensive time to take a cruise, then consider sailing between
the end of August and the sailing before Christmas, but not over
Christmas or Thanksgiving. Most families have children that are back
in school, folks begin saving vacation time for holiday travel, and
everyone's saving money for the holiday season. If you're looking for
a senior citizen rate, a regional promotion, a past passenger
promotion, or a last minute deal, you'll likely find it during this
period (not Winter, Spring, or Summer). |
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Why should I book with your company? |
| There are a number of reasons to
book with us. Among them: fast, courteous, service with the best rates
in the country. |
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What Proof of Citizenship do I need for my vacation?
Do I need a passport? |
| The U.S. Department of State and
Homeland Security has announced that U.S. Citizens will soon be
required to present a valid passport to exit or re-enter the United
States. The requirement will be implemented in stages, as follows:
December 31, 2005: U.S. citizens will now be required to present a
valid U.S. passport for all air and sea travel to or from the
Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America. December 31, 2006: U.S.
citizens will now be required to present a valid U.S. passport for all
air and sea travel to or from Mexico and Canada. December 31, 2007:
U.S. citizens will now be required to present a valid U.S. passport
for all air, sea and land border crossings. Please keep in mind that
you will need to allow 6-8 weeks for your passport to be processed.
For further details regarding the Western Hemisphere Travel
Initiative, as well as further information regarding obtaining a
passport,
Non-U.S. citizens should contact the
consulates or embassies of the countries visited regarding the proper
documentation necessary for travel. We recommend all travelers confirm
the entry requirements for all countries prior to departure. The
following website may assist you in verifying the required
documentation for travel: Please be advised that knowing,
securing and bringing the required identification is solely the
responsibility of the passengers. We are unable to provide refunds for
clients who do not possess the necessary documentation. |
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Will I need a tuxedo? |
| On some cruises, formal dinners or
parties are part of the fun. However, 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 even the dressiest occasions. |
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Are there medical services onboard?
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| 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. |
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Do they have babysitting on board? |
| Most contemporary cruise lines
cater to families with children and almost always offer babysitting
services; however, availability can depend on the destination and time
of year. Cruise lines with limited facilities for children may not
provide a children's program or babysitting services unless a certain
number of children are onboard. Cruise lines that do not cater to
children may not offer any babysitting services. Ask your Vacation
Consultant to check with the cruise line about the policy in place for
the specific cruise you are considering. Most contemporary cruise
lines offer babysitting in a group-style format in the children's
room. These are conducted by the Children's Program Counselors.
Toddlers and older children often have playtime before retiring to
individual, sheet-covered mats while watching videos with the other
children. Infants are rocked and placed in individual cribs. Some
cruise lines offer this for free while others may charge a small fee.
Babysitting services are offered during certain evening hours when the
children's program is not in operation, but generally not on the first
or the last night of the cruise. Babysitting during daytime hours is
usually offered only while at sea, but a few may have more flexible
hours. |
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What are the deposit and final payment requirements? |
| If you are booking your cruise
early (outside of four months prior to travel) the cruise line
typically requires a deposit ranging from $100 - $250 per person for a
3- or 4-night cruise, $200 - $500 per person for a 7-night cruise, and
$500 or more for longer cruises. Your cruise must be paid in full on
the designated final payment date, which is provided at confirmation
of the reservation. Your Vacation Consultant will discuss payment
terms for your particular cruise. You will receive a final payment
reminder to keep you on top of your payments. If you would like to
make periodic payments on your trip, you may do so provided all
payments are completed prior to the final balance due date.
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What is the United States Border Security Act? How do
I need to prepare? |
| The United States Border Security
Act is legislation, signed by President George Bush in May 2002, that
requires all airlines and cruise lines to collect immigration
information from each passenger prior to their cruise to or from the
United States. As of March 1, 2003, all cruise lines must
electronically report a manifest of all passengers on each cruise
prior to their arriving at the port on embarkation day. This manifest
includes personal information about each passenger including name,
gender, birthday, residence, citizenship, and passport data. Any
passengers who have not submitted all the required information before
they get to their ship can expect very long delays at the pier. If a
passenger does not supply any piece of required data, he may be denied
boarding without a refund. The Advance Passenger Information System
(APIS) will be standard for all airline and cruise reservations. Your
cruise line will include additional information about APIS with your
cruise documents. You'll be asked to send or fax this information
prior to your cruise. |
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Should I buy travel protection? |
| We recommend the purchase of
travel insurance, as some things cannot be anticipated. Travel
protection will cover you if you have to cancel due to injury,
sickness, or death to you, a traveling companion, or family member. It
does not cover unstable, preexisting medical conditions. It will cover
you should a medical emergency occur on your trip. If you cancel your
vacation for a covered reason, or incur medical expenses while on your
trip, you would need to pay these fees in advance and then file a
claim for reimbursement. If you have specific questions about the
travel protection policy and its coverage. |
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What is your Satisfaction Guarantee? |
| After departing on your cruise, if
you are not satisfied, call us immediately from the ship. If the
cruise line or we are unable to resolve your concern, we will REFUND
the unused portion of your cruise and the cost to fly you back to your
port of origin. Guaranteed!! To qualify for a refund, you must call
the satisfaction guarantee desk within 24 hours of sailing and MUST
disembark the ship at the first non-U.S. port. This program is not
available on all sailings. |
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When will I receive my cruise documents? |
| You should receive your travel
documents no later than 7 days prior to your departure; in some cases,
you will receive them sooner. If you have a cruise-only reservation,
it may be necessary to pick your travel documents up the day of
departure at the pier. For reservations that include airfare, you can
make arrangements to set up an overnight delivery. The cruise line may
arrange your reservation to be e-ticketed; in this instance, an email
confirmation with your itinerary will be sent to you. |
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Should I purchase the cruise line's Air/Sea Package? |
| A cruise line's air/sea package
works very well for most passengers. Booking airfare with your cruise
package provides two important advantages: 1. In the event of a flight
delay or cancellation, the airline is responsible for your
transportation to the next port of call. 2. Your airfare cost includes
roundtrip transfers from the airport to/from the ship (except for all
Princess cruises and select Holland America cruises). |
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When will I get my Air Schedule? Can I pick my own
flights? |
| Cruise lines assign flights
approximately 21 days prior to departure. Only then will you know your
airline and flight schedule. You may request to customize your flights
for an additional fee, plus any additional airfare costs. Without
doing so, we are unable to guarantee seat assignments, non-stop
flights, specific flight times, or a specific airline. In addition, we
are unable to guarantee the same flight schedule if more than one
cabin is booked and are traveling together. If these are important to
you, we recommend customizing your flights. In some cases, custom
flight itineraries may not be an option. |
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What if I have to cancel? |
| Cancellation policies vary between
cruise lines. When you book your cruise, you will be advised of the
cancellation policy applicable to your cruise. Our Customer Service
Department is always available to answer any questions regarding these
policies. It is the sole responsibility of the passenger to be
familiar with the penalties assessed for cancellation. In addition to
any fees assessed by the cruise line, we will apply a $75.00
administrative fee for all cancellations. To protect yourself from
penalties for canceling due to medical reasons, we highly advise that
you purchase Travel Protection, as described above. |
