WHEN YOU'RE PLANNING A CRUISE, THERE'S A LOT TO THINK ABOUT

• Your stateroom for the duration of the cruise, including daily service by a stateroom attendant.

• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the Dining Room, as well as several casual dining spots, including the Lido buffet, among others. The standard room service menu is complimentary.

• The gym equipment and morning stretch class are included. 

• Activities, enrichment talks, games in the game room, books from the library, and the sports court for basketball, pickleball, etc.



• Nighttime entertainment. The main theater and several musically inspired venues.
  

OPTIONAL EXPENSES

• Travel Protection (insurance). Cruise insurance can reimburse you for unused prepaid expenses if covered circumstances force you to cancel or interrupt your trip.

• Crew Appreciation. Also referred to as gratuities or tips is a charge added to a client’s onboard account for the crew members who serve the onboard guests. If you prefer to give your room steward and dining room waiter and busboy cash, you can have the onboard charge removed from your bill the last day of the cruise by the Customer Service desk.



• Shore Excursions. Cruise lines offer day trips while the ship is in port. Avoid missing out by booking the tours you are interested in advance online. If a tour is sold out, tour providers may add passengers later, so don’t hesitate to waitlist. Waitlisted passengers are not charged. 

        Passengers pay for shore excursion when making the reservation or clearing a waitlist, however you will be             refunded if you cancel no later than 24 hours before the tour begins, even after you board the ship, or you                 cancel your cruise.

AFTER YOU ARE BOOKED

• Complete the online guest registration form, including credit card information for onboard purchases any time after you have paid the deposit.

• If you are flying to the departure city, you can pre-book a motorcoach between the airport and the cruise terminal, through the cruise line. The cruise line representative will be in the baggage claim area, and they will direct you to the motorcoach.

• Book your shore excursions before the cruise. 

• If you choose a stateroom category and want to change to a different category, you can change without adding to your deposit. The additional cost is just added to your final payment.

• After you pay the deposit, you don’t have to pay more until the final payment date, however you are welcome to make partial payments at your convenience.

• Proof of Citizenship.
  
  

        If you are leaving from a US port and returning to that same port (roundtrip Seattle, for example) you do not             need a passport. An original birth certificate and state-issued picture ID are enough, however a hospital                 issued Certificate of Life is not accepted.

• Pack a small bag, separate from your primary luggage.There are porters to take your luggage to your cabin, however that can take time to arrive, so pack a bag that you can carry on while you are waiting for your room to be available. If you’ve booked a warm weather cruise you might want to have a bathing suit or shorts handy.

ARRIVING AT THE PIER

• To avoid congestion, cruise lines have embraced technology to make the boarding experience faster and simpler. Completing the guest registration form in advance speeds the process

• Don’t attach your luggage tags until you get to the pier, they can tear or get lost.There are porters at the pier to take your luggage to your stateroom. They will have staplers or tape to attach the tags.

• The first day can be hectic. 
  
  

When you arrive at the pier, many people will be milling around, unfamiliar with the boarding process and cruising in general. Imagine the first day of a convention or attending a live event, it’s always a mess in the beginning but there will be people to answer questions and guide you along.

The crowds are largest on the first day as everyone wants to see everything, make dining reservations, etc. Please be patient, the first day is always the most bustling. 

When you first board the ship’s elevators will be busy. The crew will be delivering literally thousands of bags and will use some of the public elevators. Please be patient, things will calm down after this first day.

• Your luggage is stored in your room. Some cruise lines have room under the beds, some staterooms may have room to store it in a cabin closet.

DURING THE CRUISE

• A cruise ship is a “cash-less” vacation. Onboard charges are made using your stateroom key card and processed through the credit card on the pre-cruise guest registration form.

• The facilities on a modern cruise ship are open to everyone. While there are areas reserved for passengers booked in the suites, the main pools, the spa, the gym, the various live music venues, the main show lounge, etc. are open to everyone.

• The ship is as much a destination as the ports you will be visiting. 

• Try karaoke, play mini golf, take in a trivia contest, a destination lecture, drive a race car, swing on a zip line. It’s all safe and there for you to enjoy.

• Try something new, taste escargot, sushi, or some incredible dessert. A cruise ship is a great place to try something new. The chefs are top-notch, and you can be confident the item is prepared the way it should be.

• Try a hot stone bed in the spa, or a couples massage

• A cruise ship has numerous places to be entertained, look for that out-of-the-way bar, dine off hours or book a specialty dining room to avoid crowds.

• The buffet has an incredible selection of prepared foods but consider the main dining rooms for breakfast and lunch as an alternative.

• If you didn’t purchase a beverage package individual purchases include a 16% to18% gratuity. If you are asked to sign for your beverage don’t add a tip, it’s already on the bill.

• While the food is great on a cruise ship and the basic room service is included in your fare, I always get an urge for chips or pretzels, sometime during a cruise. Shelf-stable snacks like chips, pretzels, protein bars or any other items packaged in sealed wrappers are permitted on every major cruise line. Just don’t bring homemade goodies.

• Cruise lines allow passengers a limited amount of wine and champaign onboard to enjoy in their stateroom, but not hard liquor. Ask your travel agent for details.

• Most cruise lines have eliminated formal nights, but they still have optional dress nights, at least two on a 7-night cruise. For men a jacket without a tie and appropriate dress for women. The cruise lines still encourage those who want to dress for a special occasion to do so. On those nights the ship’s photographers will be available for picture taking

• On the last night of the cruise there will be videos and meetings to explain the disembarkation process. While you are welcome to keep your luggage in your stateroom and carry it off the ship yourself, the cruise line will take it off the ship for you. The cruise lines ask passengers to place their luggage outside their stateroom before midnight. The bags are then stored and unloaded in the morning. 

• Remember that small bag I suggested? You can use that to store your morning necessities after you put your luggage in the hall. You will be reunited with your luggage before you go through Customs, so you can place that small bag's contents in your primary bag.

• No matter where the cruise ends that country will require you to go through their Customs offices. Have your passports or state-issued ID out to speed through the process.

• After Customs you’re done. 

If you are traveling locally take the shuttle bus to the parking lot. If you booked a postcruise shuttle to the airport proceed to your motorcoach. There will also be taxis and an assigned area for the ride-sharing companies