By Anne Cambell
Here are some of the most frequently questions asked by cruisers, especially when taking their first voyage. We also suggest that you check the articles in "First Time Cruisers", which cover many items like packing, going ashore, what to wear, how much money to take, insurance and other topics. Please click on any of the questions below.
1. WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF MY TICKET?
Practically everything! Your price includes your accommodations; the transportation between ports of call; three meals,a day plus other snacks;(and on most ships, afternoon tea, late-evening buffet and room service); use of the ship’s facilities; entertainment and a myriad of special activities. Plus,when you travel on a special SoloCruiser.com™ hosted trip, additional activities and parties. Your only additional expenses will be what you spend in the ship’s casino and gift shops, money spent on shore and (in most cases) gratuities. On most ships, you will also have to pay for alcoholic and soft drinks, although even these are included on many luxury vessels))
2. IS CRUISING A SAFE VACATION?
Cruising is probably the safest type of vacation that you can take. On the ship, you are in a very controlled environment.. Naturally, one should always be sensible when on shore (don’t wear flashy jewelry or flash large amounts of cash, especially if you are alone), but one of the great things about traveling with SoloCruiser.com™ is that you probably will have another Solo passenger with whom to do things.
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3. CAN I CARRY ALCOHOL ABOARD?
No. Today, most cruise ships have airport-type x-ray equipment and when the staff finds a bottle of spirits in a passenger’s carry-on bag, it is taken away and returned at the end of the cruise
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4. WILL I GET BORED?
The simple answer is “No.” There is as much or as little to do as you wish aboard your cruise. While one of the greatest pleasures in cruising is lazing in a lounge chair on the open deck, watching the world go by, and perhaps reading that book you never have time for at home, the fact of the matter is that you probably won’t find enough time to do everything aboard the ship. There is a wide variety of exercise equipment aboard your cruise, plus swimming pools, saunas and whirlpool. You might want to splurge and treat yourself to a massage. Lectures and enrichment classes abound (on some ships, you can even take piano lessons). Visit the well-stocked library; join in a Scrabble or other game; attend the fabulous shows found aboard. Watch a movie (even an outdoor movie on some ships). Listen to the music constantly being offered in a variety of lounges (or even in an English pub aboard some ships). Of course, on port days, you’ll want to go exploring, either on your own or with one of the many shore excursions offered by the ship. The activities are limit-less. Just do as little or as much as you want for your own personal enjoyment!
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5. WHAT ABOUT EXERCISE?
If you want to maintain (or start) a fitness regimen, all cruise ships have gyms where, at no extra cost, you’ll have access to state-of–the–art exercise equipment and most of the pushing and pulling machines you use at home. Expect to find exercise classes, and lessons in yoga and Pilates (occasionally with a modest charge) plus a jogging/fast walking track on the ship’s top deck. The ship’s spa offers massages, facials and all sorts of beautifying treatments at an extra charge.
6. WHAT ABOUT SPECIAL DIETS?
Most cruise ships offer enough variety to please every palate and every special dietary need. Most ships now offer vegetarian and health–conscious food choices on every menu. It is common to find “light” salad dressings and great salad offerings. Most ships even offer sugar-free desserts Low–carb and low–fat items are common on cruise ship menus. Kosher food is available on most ships, but this will consist of frozen entrees heated up in the ship’s kitchen and presented to you with the foil still intact. If you have any special items you’d like to enjoy, most cruise ships will try to accommodate you. But if you have special dietary needs, do not wait until you are on the ship to discuss them. Please advise your Cruise Counselor so that we may contact the Ship’s Services department with your request.
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7. WHAT’S IN MY STATEROOM?
Your stateroom is generally very well–equipped. On most cruise ships, you will a comfortable air–conditioned room with individual thermostat; a bath, shower or combination thereof; basic toiletries (soap, shampoo, etc.); television with remote control; closets and drawers for clothing storage; a writing desk and more. On some ships, you may also find a refrigerator-bar, although there is usually a charge for beverages. In larger staterooms on some ships, you will also likely find a sofa or settee and a small cocktail table. On some ships, you might also find a robe and slippers for use aboard the ship, or even an umbrella. Many ships now feature hair–dryers in the staterooms, but you generally cannot use an iron or curling iron in the stateroom. Many ships have complimentary self-service laundry facilities, and some offer ironing facilities in those facilities.
8. WHEN WILL MY TICKETS ARRIVE?
Most often, your tickets will be sent by the cruise line to our offices about two weeks prior to departure. Our documentation department will then check your documents for accuracy, after which we will immediately send the tickets to you. Tickets may come via Airborne Express, Federal Express or U.S. mail. Please note that we need an actual street address, as most courier services are unable to deliver to a post office box address.
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9. SHOULD I BUY MY OWN AIR TRANSPORTATION?
You can arrange your own air transportation or SoloCruiser.com TM can arrange for your air transportation through the cruise line. You may find that you can arrange your own air arrangements for a price lower than that offered by the cruise line, but very often, the cruise line’s air program also includes transfers. Be warned that if you make your own independent air arrangements, and your flight is delayed, the cruise line can be of no assistance unless they provided the air transportation.
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10. WHAT ARE CANCELLATION PENALTIES?
Cancellation penalties apply to all canceled cruise reservations. The amount of the cancellation penalty varies, depending on the specific cruise and on the date of cancellation. Specific cancellation penalties are listed on your cruise confirmation. The closer to the sailing date that you cancel your cruise, the higher the cancellation penalty -- up to 100% of the amount paid. There are NO EXCEPTIONS to these rules.
If you do need to cancel your cruise, and if you have a refund coming to you, it will be returned in the same form as your payment. In other words, if you paid for your trip by credit card, your refund, if any is due you, will be to that same credit card. If you paid by check, your refund, if any, will be paid by check. Processing refunds can take up to 60 days beyond the original sailing date.
The only way to protect yourself against cancellation fees is with Trip Cancellation Insurance, which we highly recommend. Your SoloCruiser consultant will explain the cost and specifics of coverage.
11. WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT TIPPING?
Many of the higher-end luxury cruise lines include gratuities in your fare, and no additional tipping is expected. Some cruise lines make tipping envelopes available at the end of the cruise, and you can simply place the appropriate gratuity in the envelope and personally deliver it to your stateroom and restaurant personnel. A number of cruise lines now automatically add the standard tipping amount to your shipboard account; in every case except Norwegian Cruise Line, you are free to adjust the suggested amount uπ or down, depending on the level of service. If no gratuities are automatically added, we suggest $3- $4 per day for your room steward/stewardess, the same amount for your waiter, and half that amount for the assistant waiter (or busboy), if appropriate. You may adjust these amounts depending on the quality of service rendered. It is also appropriate to tip someone delivering a room service order (about one dollar). If the headwaiter or maitre d’ performs special services for you, you may also want to tip him a few dollars at the end of the cruise. Remember, also, that the personnel who handle your baggage at the dock are not employees of the cruise line and therefore do not receive automatic gratuities, so plan on one dollar per bag for these personnel.
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12. WHAT DOCUMENTS DO I NEED?
If you are flying to the cruise ship, you will need your airline ticket, or more likely, your e-ticket (most airlines have done away with paper tickets).. Of course, you should have your cruise ticket to board the ship and you must have valid identification. We recommend you carry your passport with you, as passports will soon be required for ANY travel outside of the United States, even to Canada. The passport must generally be valid for up to six months beyond your return date and you should NEVER pack your passport in your luggage. If you do not already have a passport, you should obtain one as soon as possible. They are valid for ten years and provide the best form of identification. During the rest of 2006, travel to Canada and many Caribbean islands only requires a passport or a birth certificate (with raised seal) AND a government-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license. But soon, passports will be required for travel anywhere, so you should start arranging for one as soon as possible. Note that if you are a married woman traveling under your married name, and your identification is in your maiden name, you should also bring a copy of your marriage certificate. You must have a valid credit card to check in for most cruise ships, and virtually all of your expenses on board the ship (except the casino) will be posted against your shipboard account, which is then billed to your credit card at the end of the cruise. You should carry a small amount of cash in small denominations for incidental expenses such as tipping or buying a snack or newspaper at the airport. If you have an ATM card, you might want to bring that along, but first ask the issuer of the card if your card can be used in foreign countries. It is very important to remember that if you are traveling with a minor child (even your own child), you should have a letter signed by the parent or legal guardian of the child, or by your ex–spouse, granting permission to travel out of the country as well as a separate letter authorizing you to obtain any medical treatment for the child. When traveling to some countries, a visa may be required in addition to your passport. Your pre-documentation packet will advise you of the procedures for obtaining any necessary visas and/or inoculations.
13. WHAT ABOUT DINING RESERVATIONS?
If you are traveling on a hosted “SoloCruise™, you will probably be participating in our exclusive Dine-Around program, which allows you to dine with other solo passengers every evening. If you are traveling independently, please advise your cruise counselor if you prefer early or late dining; smoking or non-smoking; or table size.. Generally, ships that do not have assigned seating (e.g. Norwegian Cruise Line) are not the best choice for solo passengers, although the ultra-luxury lines (e.g. Seabourn, Regent Seven Sea, Silversea, etc.) do a fine shop of catering to solo passengers, usually arranging for invitations to hosted tables every evening
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14. DO I NEED A ROOMMATE?
You can travel with a friend or relative. But if you are traveling “solo,” a cruise is the best vacation for you. Of course, if you are on a hosted SoloCruise™, you will participate in our exclusive Dine-Around program. And many of our sailings offer the cruise with no or a low single supplement. If you are cruising “solo,” please advise the maitre d’ as early as possible, so that you may be seated at a dining table with other solo passengers.
HOW DO I FIND A ROOMMATE? Start talking to your friends, family and co-workers about your upcoming cruise, and you’ll almost always find someone who wants to be your roommate. But if you don’t want a single room, and you can’t find a roommate on your own, be sure to use our exclusive Roommate-Finder. If you are traveling on one of our hosted group departures, please try our roommate finder, and if that doesn’t work for you, SoloCruiser.com™ can usually assign a roommate of the same gender and smoking (or non-smoking) preference.
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15. DO I NEED TO ARRANGE TRANSFERS BETWEEN THE AIRPORT & SHIP?
You don’t have to make such arrangements, but it is recommended for peace of mind. Many cruise lines include transfers if you purchase the cruise line’s air transportation program. Most cruise lines will sell you airport transfers if you make your own air arrangements, but only within restricted time limits. Purchasing the cruise line’s transfer arrangements simply makes your life easier. You are usually met at the airport by a cruise line representative, who then works with you to obtain your luggage and find the transfer vehicle (taxi, motorcoach, etc.), and then you are brought directly to the ship. You don’t have to worry about finding transportation, particularly in some areas without a large number of taxis, and you don’t have to worry about getting into a taxi whose driver does not know where the cruise terminal is located. In some cases, the cruise line’s transfer are less expensive than arranging your own transportation, such as in Rome, where the ride to Civitavecchia (cruise port for Rome) can cost up to three hundred dollars. If you have not made arrangements to purchase the cruise line’s transfers, some cruise lines will sell you the return transfer at the end of the cruise aboard the ship. If you wish to avail yourself of the cruise line’s transfers, please advise your Cruise Counselor.
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16. WHEN SHOULD I BOARD THE SHIP?
Most cruise ships sail late afternoon (around 4om – 5 pm), and you can usually begin boarding as early as 1 pm. But be sure to check your tickets, as times can vary. We recommend that your flight to the departure point arrive before 1 pm, to allow sufficient time for baggage handling and transfers between the airport and ship. If you are arranging your own air transportation, do not schedule your flight home before 1pm, to allow sufficient time for disembarkation, baggage claim, immigration and customs formalities, transfer to the airport and airline check-in formalities.
17. WHAT HAPPENS IF I'M NOT FEELING WELL?
Almost every ship is well-equipped with doctors and nurses who can treat most minor illnesses. Emergency surgery can even be performed on some ships. There is a charge for personal medical care. Remember to bring an adequate supply of medications that you take on a regular basis, just in case the one you want is not available from the infirmary or hospital.
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18. SHOULD I WORRY ABOUT HURRICANES?
SoloCruiser selects ships and itineraries that generally avoid hurricane-prone areas. But if you’re aboard a ship that is scheduled to visit a port threatened by a hurricane, the ship’s Captain can change ports and head in a direction far away from a pending storm. Unlike a hotel, which cannot move, your “floating hotel” has the option of re-directing itself into smooth seas. Most ships are connected to the U.S. Weather Service and have all the information the Captain needs to make choices that insure the safety and comfort of passengers.
19. CAN I CARRY ALCOHOL ONBOARD?
No. Today, most cruise ships have airport-type x-ray equipment, and when the staff finds a bottle of spirits in a passenger’s carry-on bag, it is taken away and returned at the end of the cruise.
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20. DO I NEED A PRE-CRUISE HOTEL STAY?
You don’t need to come in earlier than the day that your cruise departs, but you may want to consider doing so. If you simply fly into a city, and then leave the same day on your cruise, you don’t actually get to visit that city in any detail. While this may not be as important to you on Caribbean cruises, more exotic destinations such as Europe or Asia or South America usually depart from cities well worth visiting. Indeed, you may want to come in two, three or even four days early to see everything there is to see. The same suggestion holds true for post-cruise hotel stays. Your SoloCruiser.com™ Cruise Counselor can make arrangements for you using hotel programs offered by the cruise line. And most pre-cruise hotel programs offered by the cruise line include all taxes (and sometimes even breakfast daily or sightseeing), and very often also include transfers between the airport, hotel and ship. Coming in a day or two early also gives you a chance to rest and relax after a long flight, so that you are in tip–top condition when you begin your cruise. Particularly in the winter season, you could encounter some flight delays due to weather, and having an extra day or two before the cruise begins makes it unlikely that weather conditions will interfere with your cruise.
21. SHOULD I BUY TRAVEL INSURANCE?
Yes! No member of our staff would ever think about going on a cruise without getting Travel Insurance. Just like homeowner’s insurance or automobile insurance, you hope you will never need it, but obtaining Travel Insurance gives you peace of mind. And SoloCruise.com TM has a special arrangement with Travel Guard that offers you special pricing on comprehensive insurance, with NO surcharge based on age. With most policies, the older you, are, the more you pay. With our policy, whether you are 8 or 80, you pay the same low price. Coverage includes cancellation due to illness or death of you or a family member; trip delay; baggage insurance; medical care; even emergency evacuation by medical airplane. And as long as you obtain your travel insurance within two weeks of making your reservation, the normal exclusion for pre-existing illness is waived. Your cruise counselor can provide further details and arrange for your insurance.
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22. HOW DO I BOOK A CRUISE WITH SOLOCRUISER.COM™?
It’s simple. Just choose the cruise you want from our website, then call our offices toll-free at 888-765-6278 (1-800-SOLOCRUISER) and your Cruise Counselor make all the arrangements. You may also e-mail your request to info@solocruiser.com.
