TIPS
FOR THOSE WHO CRUISE
- What to bring ?
- Extra tips when
packing ?
- Travel Documents ?
- Embarkation ?
- Your money?
- Telephone calls?
- Staff & Crew ?
- Tipping guidelines ?
- Cruise etiquette ?
- Bon Appetit ?
- Health & beauty?
- Casino?
- Activities &
entertainment?
- Onboard
Shopping ?
- Photographers
& Photographs ?
- Port & Shore
Excursions ?
- Shopping ?
- Renting a Car ?
- Playing it
safe in Port ?
- Ship Safety?
- Security ?
- Medical Care ?
- Preventing
seasickness ?
- Preventing
sunburn ?
- Packing Up ?
- Disembarkation ?
- After Your Cruise ?
A]
They say that half the fun of going on a
vacation is anticipating and planning it.
Preparing your wardrobe and packing for the
cruise are part of that fun! The bottom line:
Don't get carried away! (Typically, first-time
cruisers pack at least twice as many clothes as
they need). One or two bathing suits, a couple
of shorts and shirts, a few sets of nice casual
wear, and a couple of more dressy outfits should
work out just fine. Don't overpack! Think in
terms of essentials. Save room for the stuff
you'll be buying (inevitably) on your trip!
Once you finalize your list of things to
take, stick to it. Too often people develop a
superb list, only to ignore it during the actual
packing. Caught up in the heat of the moment,
they start tossing things into the suitcase with
abandon. Usually these items are never used on
the vacation.
Bring an attractive cover-up that will
carry you elegantly from pool to cabin. Pack
workout gear if you plan to take advantage of
the health-club facilities onboard. On most
cruise ships, the formal dress code for men
requires a suit or tuxedo. Don't go through the
expense of buying a tuxedo if you don't have
one... a suit works just as well.
People often get carried away when it
comes to shoes, which take up a lot of luggage
space. Try to bring just one pair of walking
shoes, one pair of versatile casual shoes, and
one pair of dressy shoes.
Pack some moisturized wipes. They will
always come in handy, especially when cruising
with children and while on shore excursions.
Because of the variety of food offered
onboard the ship, you may be tempted to try
different types of spicy foods for the first
time. Pack an antacid, just in case!
On a cruise, women can get a lot of use
out of leggings. Not only can they be dressed up
or down very easily, but they can also be
hand-washed.
Bring a night-light to place in the
bathroom or a small flashlight for use in the
middle of the night. This will be especially
useful for passengers with inside cabins.
If you wear glasses or contact lenses or
take prescription medicine, pack extras, along
with the prescriptions.
Pack clothing with elastic waistbands. You
will feel more comfortable at the end of the
cruise, when it is likely you have gained a
pound or two.... or five!
Don't bring more than a couple of
T-shirts. You will probably buy some in the
ports of call or in the shops onboard the ship.
Surely don't forget to bring sunblock or
sunscreen and sunglasses!
Men will find nylon swim shorts with
pockets to be very versatile. They can be used
as walking shorts, and they dry quickly.
Pack some toiletries and a change of
clothing in one of your carry-on bags. In the
event your check-in luggage is lost or stolen
and does not arrive at the ship, you will have
some essentials to keep you fresh for a couple
of days.
Pack
wrinkle-free clothing in the event the ship does
not have an ironing room. Otherwise, you can
give your clothing to your cabin steward to send
to the laundry onboard the ship (but there is a
cost for this service). If all else fails, hang
your clothes in the bathroom, turn the shower to
hot, and close the door. The steam will help
eliminate the wrinkles
A] Tie
a closed identification tag with your name,
cruise line and ship, and address and phone
number to the handle of each piece of luggage,
including your carry-on bags. As an additional
means of identification, tape the above
information inside of each piece of luggage in
case the outside luggage tag gets torn off.
In most cases, you will be taken directly
to your cabin when you embark on the ship. Your
luggage may not arrive for two or three hours.
Don't panic. The crew members on the ship have
nearly 3,000 pieces to sort and distribute--- it
takes time. If the ship is ready to sail and you
have not yet received your bags, contact the
purser's desk or the housekeeping department to
ask for assistance.
A]
Never pack cash, traveler's checks, travel
documents, prescription medicine, or other
valuable items in your check-in luggage. Keep
these with you in a secure carry-on bag.
A] Embarkation
is a very busy time for the staff and crew
members. When checking in at the cruise-ship
terminal, have all of your cruise documents
filled out and ready to hand to the staff. This
will help to speed up the embarkation process
immensely.
After your cruise documents have been
checked, you will be told where to go to walk
onto the ship. There is usually a photographer
standing at the entrance of the ship, ready to
snap a picture of you with your windblown hair,
faded makeup, wrinkled clothing, and exhausted
smile. Don't worry, you can use that photograph
as your "before" cruise picture!
If the ship's crew members escort you to
your cabin, it is always nice to tip them, but
it is not a requirement. Just like hotel
employees, these ladies and gentlemen are
accustomed to receiving a couple of dollars for
their service.
Once you have unpacked your clothing, get
a small map of the ship and start exploring!
As soon as you get onboard, your cruise
experience begins in a most welcome way: You
will be offered a light meal or sometimes large
buffet lunch in one of the restaurants.
A] Your
onboard "cruise card" is like a charge
card (as well as your identification when you
leave and board the ship). Don't forget ---- as
with any charge card, this bill has to be paid
at the end of the cruise! If you are on a
budget, check your balance daily to monitor how
much you are spending.
Personal checks are rarely accepted
onboard a ship, so be sure you have enough
traveler's checks and credit on your personal
credit card to pay for your onboard purchases.
Some cruise lines now have ATM machines onboard
in the event you need extra cash, but don't
depend on this, because some don't.
At the end of your cruise, you will
receive an itemized statement for all of your
onboard purchases. After checking it over to
make sure everything is correct, you can use
your credit card to pay your account. If you
give the purser's staff an imprint of your card
the first day of the cruise, they will
automatically transfer your charges, and you
will not have to wait in a long line the final
night to pay your bill.
If you disagree with anything on your
bill, discuss it with the purser's staff on the
final night or the final morning.
A]
Most cruise ships have telephones and
voice mail in each cabin. Those without
individual phones will have message centers, so
you can be reached in case of an emergency.
Remember to leave the Emergency Contact
Information (which will come with your tickets)
for your relatives, etc.
Before making telephone calls from the
ship, find out how much it will cost. Sometimes
a call may cost up to $15.00 per minute! Thus,
if you need to reach someone at home, wait until
the ship docks in port and call from a pay
telephone. If you do not have a calling card, in
many cases there will be a calling booth nearby
where you can buy one.
On some ships you can make calls from your
own cellular phone. If it's important for you to
be easily accessible by phone, ask your local
cellular dealer for details about cell phones
with a "roam" feature.
When using a calling card at a pay phone
that has a push-button system and you want to
make more than one call, don't hang up the
telephone when you have completed your call. If
you press the # (pound) key after the other
party has hung up the telephone, you will get
another dial tone and won't be charged an
additional connection fee.
A]
The cruise staff are the fun people onboard
the ship, or they should be. Whenever they are
involved in an activity or event, you can expect
a good time. If they ask for a volunteer to help
them out, do it! You'll be glad you did and will
have a lot of fun!
Get to know the staff early in the cruise.
They can give you some wonderful inside
information regarding the ports of call,
excursions, activities, and so on.
At the end of the cruise, you will be
asked to fill out a comment card. If you
received particularly good service from any
staff members, be sure to note their names. This
is how many employees on cruise ships get their
promotions and raises.
If you are going to criticize something or
someone on the comment card, suggest how the
problem might be solved. Cruise lines are more
receptive to complaints if they are accompanied
by a solution.
A] Some
cruise lines include tipping in the price of the
cruise fare; others do not. If gratuities are
not included in the fare, give what is
recommended by the cruise line directly to the
people who are supposed to receive the tip.
The majority of the cruise lines recommend
the following gratuities: Cabin Steward - $3.00
per guest per day; Waiter - $3.00 per person per
day; Busboy - $1.50 per guest per day. For your
convenience, a 15% gratuity will be
automatically added to your bar bill each time
you order a drink! Tipping your Maitre D' and
Head Waiter is at your discretion, not
mandatory.
A]
Use the right nautical terminology. The ship
is called a ship - not a boat. And the port side
of the ship is on the left and the starboard
side is on the right. (It is easy to remember
this because port and left both have four
letters.) The front of the ship, or pointy end,
is called the bow; the blunt end the aft.
To mail postcards and letters from the
ship, take them to the reception desk. The
receptionist will have them posted in the next
port of call. In most cases, of course, you will
have to pay the postage.
There should be complimentary stationery
and postcards in your cabin. If you do not find
any, contact the information/reception desk.
A]
Since meals are included in the cost, a cruise
ship is a good place to try different kinds of
foods. Be adventurous - you might fall in love
with an entirely new kind of cuisine.
By all means indulge in the midnight
buffet, but take small plates. You'll be able to
sample everything, but in smaller portions.
You'll sleep better for it!
Very often, table mates in the dining room
start the cruise as strangers and finish as
good, life-long friends. But if you sense a
personality clash early on, don't hesitate - be
pleasant during the meal, and later on
discreetly arrange with the head waiter or the
maitre d' to be moved to another table.
Most often you will share a table with your own
group.
A] Make
your hair and beauty appointments early in the
cruise. Even if the ship is large, the days at
sea are extremely busy in this department.
Massages are especially popular on cruise ships,
so make an appointment early.
When you get a haircut or other beauty
treatment from one of the salon attendants,
proper etiquette is to tip at the end of that
service, as is standard practice on land.
If you are interested in keeping your
daily workouts going, consult with the sports
instructor onboard the ship to develop a program
to follow during the cruise.
Don't sit in the Jacuzzi more than twenty
or thirty minutes at a time, especially during
the day. In the evening, under the stars,
is ideal!
Back to Top
A]
Budget your gambling money carefully
each day, unless you want to find yourself
washing dishes at the end of the cruise! Take
only the amount of money you are willing to
lose.
Casino chips can be charged to your
onboard credit account -- but, of course, at the
end of the cruise, you do have to pay for them!
Activities & entertainment ?
A]
Carry a copy of the daily program with you so
that you know what time the activities are and
where they are located.
Many cruise ships offer vegetable-carving
and ice-carving demonstrations. People who like
to cook especially enjoy these.
Sea air makes many people especially
hungry and sleepy. Take a power nap in the
afternoon so that you have reserves of energy to
enjoy all the wonderful things available to do
on the cruise in the evenings!
Most activities are free, but a few are
not. Be sure to ask the staff in advance if you
will have to pay to participate. Trapshooting,
wine tasting, and some craft activities may
require a nominal fee. Of course, Bingo and the
Horse Races also cost money, so budget
accordingly!
Some
cruise ships offer art auctions. If you collect
art --- and even if you don't --- stop by to see
what is available. Many times the prices of
these pieces are a fraction of gallery prices.
(If they serve complimentary
champagne at these auctions, be careful how much
you drink. You may end up buying something you
later will wish you hadn't!)
If you love the entertainment, reward the
performers with a standing ovation. It's not
easy to sing and dance on a ship that is moving
about!
If you would like to sit close to the
stage during the evening shows, skip dessert to
arrive earlier and nab the choice seats. You can
always satisfy that sweet tooth at the midnight
buffet!
Most engine rooms are off limits to
passengers, but you can sign up for the galley
and bridge tours. These will give you a good
look at the behind-the-scenes-operations of a
cruise ship.
When performers ask for volunteers to come
up on the stage and participate in the show, do
it. You may feel silly at first, but it will be
the first thing you talk about when you get
home!
A]
Most cruise lines provide duty-free specialty
shops onboard their ships. (Duty-free means
there is no tax on the item.) Daily sales often
sprout up, so stop in and see what is discounted
each day.
Compare the prices of the merchandise sold
onboard the ship with the same items sold in the
ports of call. In some cases, you will find
better prices onboard the ship.
A]
There is no obligation to purchase any of the
photographs taken by the photographers onboard
the ship. Give them a smile wherever they may
be!
A] Reserve
shore excursion tickets early in the cruise. The
most popular tours often sell out on the first
couple of days.
Find out as many details about the shore
excursions as you can. If the staff doesn't have
the answers, ask them to find out for you. This
will help prevent unpleasant surprises, such as
going on an excursion that involves a half-mile
hike up a waterfall --- when you twisted your
ankle two days before!
Use the rest room before leaving the ship.
You never know when Mother Nature will call or
how long it will be before you find a facility
in port --- or what shape it will be in!
Before going into port, check the time
that you must be back onboard. (Usually it is
thirty minutes before sailing time.) If you miss
the ship, you will be responsible for getting
yourself to the next port of call to rejoin the
cruise ---- a very expensive mistake!
Ask
the shore excursion staff about the tipping
policy in the ports you will be visiting. For
example, in many places, tips for waiters are
included in the restaurant check. If you have a
bus driver and tour guide on your
excursion, proper etiquette is to tip each
person a couple of dollars when the tour is
complete.
When riding on a tour bus, try to sit in
the front section so you can see more easily and
have a smoother ride.
Carry a small bottle of water with you in
case you become thirsty. But don't drink too
much, unless there is a rest room nearby!
Collect a postcard from each port of call
and make notes on the back, recalling your
experience there.
Be aware that people may badger you for
handouts as you walk around some ports and
tourist spots. If this would bother you
excessively, you will be probably be happier
taking a guided bus or taxi tour of the port of
call.
If you decide to hire your own taxi for
sightseeing or to go into town, make sure you
agree on the price with the driver before you
get in. The cruise director will advise you
during the talks on the different ports as to
what the going price is, so it is important to
attend any of these talks for the ports you will
be doing on your own!
It is very exciting to be outside when the
ship is approaching or leaving any port of call.
Walk around and take in the view.
A] If
the cruise line provides one, use the
recommended shopping map. Not only will you be
getting some good deals, but if anything should
break or stop working when you get home, you'll
have the guarantee from the cruise line that it
will replace it. In addition, the recommended
shops have your "lucky cabin number"
posted in their shop, which would give you a
complimentary gift.
Some of the ports are terrible tourist
traps. Ask the port lecturer or shore excursion
staff where the bargain places are in town.
Before you start to buy things in the
first shop you see, look around and find out
what the prices are in some of the other shops.
You'll be very upset if you find out the bag you
paid $70 for was only $50 at the store down the
street!
In many parts of the world, bargaining is
a form of shopping etiquette, especially in
street markets. In these situations, never
accept the first price offered. Make a
counter-offer of less than half what the vendors
ask, and go from there to the price you are
willing to pay.
Have fun while you are bargaining. This
isn't life or death! The haggling should remain
a friendly exchange. If the vendor (or you) gets
too pushy or heated, it's time to leave!
If you want to buy several items in one
store, ask the manager to make a deal, such as
10 percent off everything.
A]
Get a map from the rental agency and
ask for clear directions to the places you want
to visit -- and, more important, the way back to
the agency. You don't want to spend all of your
time driving around in circles!
Some countries may require you to pay a
fee, as much as $25, for a nonresident driver's
license (typically valid for several months).
Remember, this expense when deciding whether
renting a car is a good way to get around.
Inspect every inch of your rental car
before driving it away. If you see any dents or
marks, make sure they are documented in your
contract; otherwise, you will be charged a very
hefty sum when you return it!
Check with your credit-card company before
you rent a car -- your rental insurance may be
covered by the company, which will save you a
lot of money.
Before you drive away, make sure you have
the name and telephone number of the rental
agent in the event you need to call for any
reason.
Ask the agent if there are any areas in
town that you should avoid because of
construction or crime.
A] Drink
only bottled water and other beverages, and
avoid salads and other fresh vegetables.
If you go swimming, snorkeling, or scuba
diving, look for posted signs that may caution
you about a strong current or undertow. The
excursion office onboard the ship can also
advise you on safe areas to explore the
underwater world.
Never leave valuables like a camera,
watch, or Walkman unattended while you are
swimming in the ocean. Ask a friend or someone
you can trust to watch it for you until you
return.
Don't get stranded! If you are taking a
taxi to a beach on the other side of the island,
make a deal with the taxi driver to come back at
a certain time and bring you back to the ship.
To guarantee you get picked up, agree to pay him
for the entire trip (both ways) when he returns!
Crowded marketplaces are a haven for
pickpockets and thieves. Secure your purse,
wallet, and jewelry.
Never carry a wallet in your rear trouser
pocket. It is too easy for pickpockets to steal.
Keep it in a front pocket of your pants or in an
interior pocket of your jacket.
Carry your identification card from the
ship at all times!
A]
The captain will not risk the lives of
any passengers or crew members. Should
threatening weather or political conditions crop
us in a particular port or region, the itinerary
of the cruise may be changed. If this happens,
go with the flow. Don't grumble -- such shifts
in plans are made for your safety.
Check the life jackets in your cabin. Are
they properly maintained, with a whistle, proper
ties, and a light (when the jacket hits salt
water, the emergency light attached to the
jacket automatically goes on)? Sometimes these
items are missing. If this is the case, ask your
cabin steward to solve the problem.
After participating in the lifeboat drill
on the first day of the cruise, look down the
hallway near your cabin and locate the closest
fire extinguisher and emergency call buttons.
Many doorways and thresholds on the ship
have elevated ledges to cross over. Be extra
careful when walking through them.
Should there be an emergency, you will be
told where to go. Do not push or shove other
passengers, and follow the instructions given by
the crew members in charge of the muster station
(the place where you gather).
A]
Lock the door each time you
leave your cabin. (If you happen to lock
yourself out, the purser's desk will arrange to
have someone come by and open the door, or you
can ask the nearest cabin steward for a hand.)
If there is a safe in your cabin, use it
to secure your valuables, including your travel
documents. If your cabin does not have a safe,
ask at the purser's desk to use a safe-deposit
box. These boxes are usually available at no
extra cost.
A] If you use
the doctor's services or the hospital facility
onboard the ship, you will be charged. Your
medical insurance should cover this -- but be
sure to check with your insurance company before
leaving on the cruise. Get everything in
writing!
A] Avoid
looking out the window of your cabin or of one
of the lounges. The up-and-down motion can make
you nauseous.
Take an anti-seasick pill at least two
hours before sailing time and throughout the
cruise, if needed. If the directions on the
medicine says it can cause drowsiness, take half
a dose. This will allow you to enjoy the
activities and entertainment without being too
sleepy.
Some people wear a medicated patch behind
their ears to prevent seasickness. Ask your
doctor about this option.
When the seas are rough, don't read a
book, write postcards, or do anything else that
focuses your attention downward. This may cause
you to get seasick.
Old-fashion cures that sailors have sworn
by: If you do begin to feel sick, go outside,
look at the horizon, and stay in the middle
section of the ship. Also, eat some dry crackers
or bread sticks, and stay away from liquids.
Back to Top
A]
The sun is very deceiving on a
ship. Because the breezes are blowing, keeping
you cool, passengers tend to think they are not
getting blasted by ultraviolet rays. Always use
plenty of sunscreen or sunblock.
In the first couple of days, use a
sunblock with a SPF of 25 or higher, and do not
lie in the sun longer than an hour. You'll get a
base of color, but you likely won't be scorched!
Passengers have been known to get serious
third-degree burns on days when the sky is
cloudy. Don't let the overcast sky fool you ---
wear protection.
Apply sunscreen or sunblock after each dip
in the pool or ocean. (Consider getting a spray
for quicker application.)
Don't forget to apply sunblock on your
lips, ears, and feet!
The beach or poolside are not the only
places you have to be concerned about getting a
sunburn. Put on plenty of sunblock when on a
shore excursion, shopping, or strolling onboard.
If you go snorkeling or scuba diving, put
extra sunblock on your neck, back, arms, and
legs. The sun's rays can go directly through the
water, so wear a T-Shirt to protect your back.
Believe me, you'll be grateful you did!
Use aloe vera gel or cream to relieve
sunburn pain. Products with aloe vera are also
good moisturizers.
A]
Don't forget to gather all of your personal
items from your cabin safe or from the safety
deposit box at the purser's desk. If you forget
something on the ship, contact the cruise line's
corporate office. (Unfortunately, not all items
are turned into the lost and found, so remember
to check everywhere before you leave.)
You will be asked to place your luggage
outside your cabin door the night before
disembarkation; the ship's staff will take it to
a central area for distribution. Make sure you
have kept a change of clothing for the following
day -- you don't want to walk down the gangway
wrapped in a shower curtain!
Pack all valuables in your carry-on bags
and carry these off the ship yourself.
A] A
day or so before you leave the ship, the cruise
director will hold a briefing, explaining all of
the procedures to follow regarding
disembarkation. At least one person from each
family should attend this talk, as the
information will provide a smooth transition for
you to leave the ship. This briefing will also
give you an opportunity to ask questions. Bring
a paper and pen and note the most important
points.
You can realistically count on two to
three hours of waiting around before the actual
disembarkation from the ship begins. Keep a
crossword puzzle, cards, or a book handy to
amuse yourself during this time.
If you are on the air/sea package, you
will be transferred to the airport by the cruise
line representatives. The earlier your flight,
the sooner you will disembark from the ship and
be transferred.
On the morning of disembarkation,
breakfast hours will be moved forward one hour
-- This will be your last opportunity to eat
before leaving the ship, so if you want
breakfast, plan on getting up early!
Passengers are not allowed to disembark
from the ship until all of the luggage has been
taken off the vessel and arranged in the
terminal building, usually according to a number
or colored tag that you placed on your bags the
night before. This procedure can take a good
couple of hours. Be patient! Getting irritated
won't speed it along.
Porters will be available in the luggage
terminal to help you transfer your bags. It is
customary to tip these gentlemen $1.00 per bag.
Room service and bar service are
discontinued on the morning of disembarkation.
When the captain receives clearance from
the port authorities, disembarkation can begin.
In some cases, not only will you have to wait
for this clearance, but you will also have to
pass through customs.
If there is a "lucky comment-card
drawing" at the end of your cruise, make
sure you enter. Sometimes cruise lines give away
a discount on a future cruise. Also, be as
honest as you can with your comments -- the
cruise lines will appreciate any advice you can
give to better their product.
A]
When your cruise is
finished, you arrive home and begin your
re-entry into real life. Slowly, you will begin
to get into your daily routine again -- whether
or not you want to! But something will feel
different. You'll find that you are craving
something unlike anything you've ever hungered
for before. It isn't a sick feeling, but an
overpowering sense of want, desire, and
obsession. It is a condition called cruise-itis
(The technical name is "frequent floaters
disease!) The symptoms? You can't stop talking
about your cruise. You thrive on other people's
cruise stories, and you even look for ways to
top them. The best cure ---- call us at Hooked
On Cruising to start looking at cruise brochures
again, and begin planning your next cruise for
next week, month, or year!
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