What is the appropriate dress code for a cruise ship?
Shipboard dress is casual during the day. Shorts and tasteful T-shirts are acceptable even in the dining room. At dinner, dress codes will vary daily, among the following:
Casual: Slacks and sport shirt for men (no jeans); slacks and blouse, sundress or pantsuit for women.
Informal: Jacket with or without tie for men; dress or pantsuit for women.
Formal: Dark suit or tuxedo for men; evening gown or cocktail dress for women.
Most 3- and 4-day cruises have one formal night; most 7-day cruises have 2 formal nights; most 10-day cruises have 3 formal nights, and so on. While a dark suit and tie is acceptable attire on even the most exclusive ships, it is certainly not necessary to go out and buy a tuxedo for the cruise. If you own one and want an excuse to wear it, by all means - pack it for the cruise!
OK - now I understand about the dress code for the cruise, but what else should I pack?
Packing for a cruise is like packing for any resort-based vacation. You'll want to bring comfortable, casual clothing for daytime on board and in port, and swimsuits and workout clothes for pools, Jacuzzis, saunas and health clubs. As far as the dining room goes for dinner, see the answer above.
It is important to think about what types of shore excursions you will be participating in and pack accessories, when appropriate such as hiking boots, ponchos or rain gear, and snorkel gear. Bring a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses for bright, sunny days on deck. You'll have many opportunities to have your picture taken by the ship's photographers, but you'll naturally want to bring your own camera or video camera as well.
Pack all of your medications, prescriptions, and vitamins in a bag you can carry onto your flights. It is wise to obtain extra prescriptions from your physician for any medications you are currently taking and carry them with you. Also, label each medication and/or vitamins carefully and if you can, it is a good idea to keep them in their original containers.
Most ships have 110-volt outlets in every cabin, which will accommodate U.S.-built hairdryers, travel irons, and electric shavers. Many new ships provide hairdryers as well.
What is included in the price of my cruise?
Your cruise price includes your cabin, all meals (including the midnight buffet!), entertainment, and, of course, all transportation between all the ports on your itinerary. Some of our cruises include a conference fee that covers all aspects related to the conference such as concerts, teachings, workshops, etc.
Is airfare included in my cruise price?
Cruise lines usually offer both a cruise-only price and an AIR/SEA price that includes connecting airfare, transfers between the airport and ship and baggage handling. In some instances, only the cruise-only fare is available. The prices shown on our site are typically cruise-only, but we can provide an air-inclusive price if requested
How much money should I bring?
Don't carry a lot of cash. Credit cards are widely accepted. If you are traveling from the United States, there is no need to exchange your US currency. The U.S. "dollar" is accepted everywhere
Will I need a Passport or Visa?
Beginning January 1, 2008 - A valid passport will be required
for all sea and air travel. And subject to U.S. Government amendment,
U.S. and Canadian citizens 15 or younger with their parents
consent may cross the U.S./Canadian border by land or sea with
a certified copy of their birth certificate. |
Until
that time:
Sea Travel Only
- For domestic travel which includes: the Bahamas, Bermuda,
Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico, a passport (valid or expired)
is highly recommended.
- In the absence of a passport, a birth certificate (original
or certified copy), plus laminated picture ID card issued by
a federal, state, or local government agency is required.
Note: - - - - Baptismal papers and hospital certificates of
birth (except for new borns) are not acceptable.
- For U.S. Naturalized citizens, in the absence of a passport,
Naturalization papers (either original or notarized copy) plus
a picture ID card issued by a federal, state, or local government
agency is required.
- A voter registration card or Social Security Card are not
considered to be proof of citizenship.
- Children under 16 years of age do not require a picture ID.
For additional passport information visit U.S.
Department of State. Or if you prefer, contact Passport
Express for applications and assistance.
Non-U.S. Citizens
You will need a valid passport and, in some cases, a visa. If
you live in the U.S., you will also need the original copy of
your Alien Registration Card (ARC or "Green Card")
and any other documentation the countries on your itinerary
require due to your alien status.
Canadian Landed Immigrants
All Canadian Landed Immigrants (inclusive of those who are
citizens of the British Commonwealth countries) who reside
in Canada must have valid passports and US visas. Also required
is the original copy of your Permanent Resident Card (PR Card)
formally the IMM 1000 or with respect to any country on the
itinerary any other travel documentation required because
of alien status.
Visas
Please contact the Embassy (Consular Services) of each country
on your sailing itinerary or the visa service of your choice
for specific visa requirements, information, forms and fees
for your nationality.
Visa Waiver Program
Citizens from the Visa Waiver Program countries of: Andorra,
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France,
Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,
Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San
Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and
the United Kingdom seeking to enter the United States will
be required to have in their possession a machine readable
passport with a digital photograph valid for the duration
of the voyage.
What is a shore excursion?
That's a term that refers to anything you do off the ship,
in port. At every stop, you'll have the option of exploring
the area on your own or as part of a group with a planned
itinerary. There are many options available depending on the
destinations you visit. You might hike a tropical rain forest
in the Caribbean, fish for king salmon in Alaska, tour Mayan
ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, or take a sightseeing
tour or go on a scuba diving expedition.
How about tipping?
Some of our sailings include prepaid gratuities, so check to see if this applies to the sailing you have registered for, because you may have already paid for the tips! Holland America has a "no tipping required" policy so it is really up to you if you want to give a "love offering". Other lines will charge gratuities automatically to your account and you have the option to reverse these charges if you feel this amount needs to be adjusted.
The general rule of thumb is:
Tip your room steward $3.00 to $3.50 per person, per day, and plan an equal amount for your dining room waiter, and half of that for the busboy.
On most ships, tip the maitre d' or dining room captain only if you ask for special favors or table side service, $5 to $10 is appropriate.
Will I get seasick?
It is unlikely that you will notice any motion on a large cruise ship, even if you are sensitive to motion in automobiles or airplanes. All ships today have stabilizers to smooth the ride. Some cruises sail calmer waters than others. Caribbean and Alaska cruises enjoy smoother sailings than say Bermuda. If seas do get rough, there are many preventative medications available on board.
Can I call home from the ship?
Yes, on board Ship to Shore telephone service is provided. You can even call from your stateroom. Ship to Shore rates apply so you may want to limit your conversations.
Are medical services available?
Yes, there is a staffed medical facility with doctors and nurses on the ship to handle emergencies. If you suffer from a medical condition, check with your doctor before booking to make sure cruise travel is OK for you at this time.
What if there is an emergency on board? How will we know
what to do?
Cruising is one of the safest modes of transportation today, and the cruiselines we use for our cruises comply with all Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) standards as set forth by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a body of the United Nations. The US Coast Guard is the United States representative to the IMO and conducts regular inspections to review fire and abandon ship procedures conducted by the ship's officers and crew. To prepare guests for the unlikely event of an emergency, lifeboat drills are conducted on every voyage in accordance with SOLAS requirements. Designated crew members will provide instructions on what to do and how to locate your muster station. Additionally, information on the location of your muster station can be found in your cabin, as well as on your lifejacket. Guest participation in the drills, which are held on the first day of the cruise is mandatory. Do you comply with International Safety Management (ISM) codes? Every ship in the Carnival fleet complies with the latest regulations of the ISM codes. All ships have their documents of compliance and maintain current safety management certificates. Additionally, each ship is certified and audited by Lloyd's Registry, a UK ship classification society.
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