Vacations To Remember
Cruise Tips
By Sheryl Stypul, One Stop Cruise Shop & Vacations
Feb 21, 2007 - 10:02:01 AM

CRUISE TIPS TO GET YOU STARTED

Choosing a Cabin

  If you are at all claustrophobic, you’ll want to avoid an inside/interior cabin. They have no windows. A n oceanview cabin makes your cabin seem so much bigger. It's amazing what natural light will do for a room. It also gives you some perception of time. When you wake up at 7:00 am in an interior cabin, you can't tell if it's 2 in the morning or 2 in the afternoon.   Want to know what the weather's like? Open your curtain. With an inside cabin, there’s no way of knowing until you leave your cabin.  There are also balcony cabins, where you have your own private deck. This is the ultimate in cruising!  All cabins include a private bath, closet space, phone, and television. Most cabins have twins beds that can be pushed together to make a king size bed. If your beds are not arranged in the way that you would like, ask your cabin steward to rearrange the beds.

Documents

Passports are highly recommended. Although, a passport is not required for cruise travel until January 2008, a passport is required for air travel as of January 2007.   If an emergency should arise and you need to fly back to the US instead of arriving by ship, you WILL need a passport. If you want to risk travel without a passport then you must have an original or certified copy of your birth certificate, and a Government issued picture ID to board the ship.   These will be needed at check-in.   Speed up the boarding process by going to your cruise line’s website and filling in your boarding information on line.

Embarkation & Check-In

If you are driving to the pier, drop off your luggage before you park the car. Porters will take your luggage and place it aboard the ship, where it will be delivered to your cabin.  These porters do not work for the cruise line.  Always tip the porters directly, at least $1.00 per bag (if you’d like your bags again!).   Inside the terminal at the check in desk, you will also be asked for your passport and a credit card for your sail and sign card.  This is your "charge card" for all on board purchases, such as beverages, onboard shopping and shore excursions. If you don’t have a credit card, you will need to visit the information desk (Purser’s Desk) aboard the ship to leave cash, which will be applied to your purchases. This card is your ID to get on and off the ship. It also serves as your cabin key. Your dining time and table number will be noted on your card. If there is an error on the dining time, proceed to the Maître’d upon boarding the ship. Most ships have dining room personnel stationed in a specified lounge to assist with problems and special requests.

A welcome buffet will be awaiting you on the Lido deck. Let the eating begin!

Muster Drills

Before the ship sets sail, every passenger is required to attend the Muster Drill.  An announcement will be made over the loud speaker instructing you to go to your cabin, put on your life jacket and go to your muster station.  This is required by the Coast Guard. This drill is designed to show everyone what to do in the unlikely event you have to abandon ship.

On Board Activities

Each day you will have a "Ship Newsletter" delivered to your cabin. This will detail the times and places for all of the ships activities. It will also tell you what time each of the dining areas, bars and pools open and close.

There is always something going on!  Most ships offer a spa, a fitness center and a jogging track.   If the spa is your thing, try to make your appointments on the first day, as the most popular treatments and times fill up fast. There are usually several swimming pools and hot tubs for public use.  Some ships have movie theaters, rock climbing walls, and art galleries.  For those who want more relaxing activities, the ships have a library where you can check out books and games.  Most cruise lines offer an internet cafe.  For a charge, you can log on to the internet.  The crew also organizes various activities throughout the cruise.  They host talent contests, trivia games, bingo, gambling tournaments, swimming pool games and a variety of other activities.  Every evening, there are Las Vegas style shows in the main show rooms. There are also several lounges offering different types of music such as disco, piano sing-a-longs and easy listening.  Don’t forget about the casino—maybe you’ll be one of the lucky ones

Many cruise lines offer soda fountain packages. Instead of purchasing a soft drink at $1.50 a can, you can purchase a package that entitles you to unlimited beverages. The cost is approximately $6 per day based on the length of your cruise. You can purchase these cards the first day or the cruise at one of the bars.

Alcoholic beverages are additional. If you tend to drink quite a bit, your bar bill can really add up. Contact me for advice.

Shore Excursions

There are several ways to purchase shore excursions.   Cruise lines offer a large variety of shore activities. You can book excursions ahead of time on line from your cruise line’s website or wait until you board the ship. Book early, as they do sometimes sell out.   You can also purchase excursions on shore through local tour companies. Sometimes this is less expensive. Another option is to find a taxi on shore and have them take you where you want to go. The taxis are always at the end of the dock. You can bargain with the drivers on price, but make sure you agree on a price before you get in the cab. ALWAYS know what time your ship departs.

Tipping  

 So that you can thank those who have made your cruise vacation better than you could have imagined, most cruise lines use the following guidelines:

Cabin Steward           $3.50 a day per guest

Dining Room Waiter   $3.50 a day per guest

Assistant Waiter        $2.00 a day per guest

Head Waiter              $1.00 a day per guest

Some cruise lines add these gratuities directly to your onboard account, while others leave envelopes in your cabin on the last day of the cruise.

Debarkation

On the last night of the cruise, you will need to prepare for debarking the next morning.  You will be given forms to fill out for customs.  You will also have to pack and have your luggage sitting out side your room by a specified time.  Don't forget to keep clothes and toiletries out for the next morning.  On the morning of debarkation, everyone will be told what area they are to gather in while waiting for customs and immigration officials to clear the ship.  In order to facilitate an orderly debarkation, passengers are called to leave the ship according to your deck.  If you have an early flight scheduled, be sure to let the Purser know in advance.  You will be permitted to disembark earlier than your deck assignment.

Sheryl Stypul is the owner of One Stop Cruise Shop & Vacations. She has been in the travel industry since 1995 and has had the good fortune to sail on over 30 cruises and visit various resorts. Sheryl promises her clients personal attention at internet prices. " You Deserve A Vacation"