Frequently Asked Questions

Please contact us for specific information about any of the topics discussed below.

When is my final payment due?

What is the most important item to remember to bring with you?

What important items should I remember to leave with family, friends or neighbors?

What items should I pack to make my cruise more enjoyable?

What about valuables, credit cards, jewelry, documents, medications?

What should I pack in my carry on bag when I board the ship?

What should I pack in my carry on bag when I leave the ship?

What time should I set on my watch

What happens when the cruise ship arrives at a port?

What happens when the time arrives for the cruise ship to leave port

When is my final payment due?   

Final payment must be received by the cruise line 60 days prior to the cruise date.

What is the most important item to remember   

Your passport or notarized birth certificate. You will definitely need one of these for customs as you disembark from the ship on your last day of the cruise. Many ports during your cruise, particularly in the Caribbean, may not require any documentation for visitors arriving on cruise ships. In these cases, the documentation provided by the cruise ship will permit you to board the ship after your shore explorations. It is still a good idea to take along a birth certificate or driver's license. Some ports may require a passport, visa or other documentation if you wish to go ashore. It is best to check the policies of each port that you will visit and make sure that you have correct documentation.

What important items should I remember to leave with family, friends or neighbors?   

Leave photocopies of all passport pages -- make sure you include your photograph, passport number, and signature. If your travel requires other documentation such as visas, photocopy these as well. It also a good idea to leave photocopies of your driver's license, birth certificate, medical insurance cards, money order receipts, credit card information including credit card number and who to contact in case your card(s) become lost or stolen, and all reservation information such as hotels, rental car(s), air travel, cruise tickets, contact information (phone numbers, names, email addresses, web site addresses - for travel agencies, work, friends, and relatives, alarm companies, local police, homeowners insurance, etc.), serial numbers and model numbers and perhaps photographs of all valuable items (watches, electronics, computers, cell phone, jewelry, etc.) and anything else that may be important to the success of your travel. Leave this information with one or more friends, relatives, neighbors, or coworkers that you know how to reach easily and quickly. It may take more than one person to insure availability at every hour of the day or night. It is an excellent idea to copy all text information into an email and scan the documents as attachments and email the information to yourself using an email service such as gmail, hotmail, msnmail, etc. that is available through an Internet browser. The Internet or cell phone service, particularly GSM, is available in most places in the world and you may be able to access your important information conveniently and quickly from any Internet connected computer or cell phone.

Be sure to leave information about how to contact your Cruise Ship. Most cruise ships have communications systems that permit you to be contacted by telephone or fax -- but usually at a hefty price. Most cruise ships also have an Internet Cafe on board and they have probably already created a special email address for each passenger that can be used to send and receive email while on board the cruise ship. Of course, if there is Internet access, you can almost always use browser based email such as gmail, hotmail, msnmail, yahoo mail, etc. Many cruise ships now have GSM cell service while on the ship. Roaming fees and connect time may be a bit pricey but in an emergency, cell phones are great! Contact your cell phone service provider and request information about cell phone service while on board the ship - costs, availability, etc. It is often necessary for the service provider to make changes to your service plan which will permit you to use cell phone service while on the ship even when there may be no monthly charge for that capability. Best to check before you cruise. Remember to ask your travel agent about contact information and options while you are traveling.

What items should I pack to make my cruise more enjoyable?   

• Pack about a dozen wire clothes hangers (from dry cleaner or laundry). The closets in your cabin never have enough clothes hangers. The hangers can be discarded when you pack to leave the ship.

• A short extension cord or two! First, there are never enough electrical outlets in your cabin so an extension cord is a convenient way to increase the number. If you are like most folks, you'll want to recharge the batteries in your digital camera and your talk-about radios and the list goes on. Second, the outlets usually are located in such a way that many power adapters may not be able to be plugged in at all. In some cases, the weight of the power adapter may not let it stay plugged in. A short extension cord can easily solve these problems. If you do have a power adapter that uses a transformer and you use an extension cord, try to set the transformer away from the large steel surfaces of the ship. The dressing table or desk area is usually wood or plastic and this is a good location. Laying the transformer on a steel surface can cause your transformer power adapter to fail!

• We have found the small "talk-about" 2-way radios work quite well aboard ship and ashore. In fact, some cruise ships will rent them for the duration of the cruise. These are a very handy way to keep track of one another while aboard ship. They are also great for shopping or if you get separated while ashore. I have even used them  from ship to shore! I am sure that if you are traveling with a group (family, friends, business associates) then they could be even more useful. We usually use about 2 sets of batteries for a 7 day cruise.

• Film and a fresh battery for your camera. Film and batteries are expensive -- if you can find them. You can usually find a very limited selection of film in the cruise ship shops. (35mm and APS (Advantix) film in ASA 200 or ASA 400)

• Spare batteries for your radios, cameras, etc. Batteries are expensive -- if you can find them. You can usually find a very limited selection of batteries in the cruise ship shops ("AA" and "AAA" batteries)

• The recharging adapter for your digital camera and/or video camera.

• Extra memory for your digital camera.

• Sunscreen or Sun block. I generally use SPF 50 and still end up with a very nice tan.

• Chapstick with sunscreen.

• Sunburn remedies, Aloe Vera lotion, etc.

• A hat or cap to block the sun. I like a baseball style cap because I can adjust the headband so that it won't easily blow off.

• Sunglasses

• A paperback book or two.

• Names, street addresses, and EMAIL addresses of family, friends, coworkers.

• A few sturdy plastic shopping bags. These are useful if you must pack wet items or if you purchase items and want to keep them "contained" in your luggage.

• A raincoat. The captain and his crew attempt to navigate the ship around rainstorms and even clouds while at sea, however, the weather cannot be controlled. A raincoat can double as a windbreaker too!

• A small flashlight in case of a power outage on the ship.

• A small kitchen timer to remind you when you've had enough sun.

What about valuables, credit cards, jewelry, documents, medications?   

Most ships have a small safe or vault in the cabins. Many of these require a credit or debit card to be used as a key. These seem to work well to keep your small valuable items safe and secure. I have found that these will hold a couple of cameras, jewelry, etc. without much problem.

It is a good idea to clean out your wallet, billfold, or purse and take only those items that are absolutely essential. Better yet, buy a very small wallet to hold only the few items that you will need.

Better yet, I use a small waterproof case like the one pictured below. It will hold my cruise ship card, a major credit card, driver's license or birth certificate, and a small amount of cash. I either hang it around my neck under my shirt or maneuver it over my shoulders and let it hang at my waist (inside my swimsuit). Some of my casual clothes just don't have secure pockets. (Pictured below is the Witz "SurfSafe". There is a larger "Keep-It-Safe")

Medical insurance card.

One or two well chosen credit cards for shopping are more than sufficient. It also serves as the key to my cabin safe for my valuables. (VISA and MasterCard are widely accepted.)

If you plan on driving or renting a car, you will probably need your driver's license and proof of insurance. Some countries may require a special driving permit or other documentation. Check before you depart.

If you plan to scuba dive, you will need certification information.

Medications, both prescription and over-the-counter.

Take minimal jewelry with you. It is a good idea to wear as little jewelry as possible on the ship and less when going ashore. It is a good idea to wear a watch when going ashore. Consider buying a very inexpensive watch for shore excursions, particularly, those involving boating, beaches or snorkeling.

What should I pack in my carry on bag when I board the ship?   

Your luggage is placed aboard the cruise ship when you board the ship but it may not be delivered to your cabin or stateroom for several hours. It is common for luggage to arrive after dinner or much later! The dress code for the first night's meal is very lenient for this reason. Do not be surprised if your bags arrive one by one over several hours.

All medications. Just in case your baggage gets lost or damaged.

Since I frequently depart from a much cooler climate, I usually include a change of warm weather casual clothes (t-shirt, shorts, sandals or sneakers), a change of underwear and socks, a swimsuit, and my nightshirt or pajamas. Essentially enough clothes to get me through until the next evening, if necessary.

All valuables and documents. Items such as cameras, extra batteries, battery chargers, film, "talk-about" radios, watches, jewelry.

Carry-on luggage and checked luggage are both X-Rayed these days. However, checked luggage is subjected to a much higher intensity X-Ray scan. This means that film, electronics, and batteries can be damaged by X-Rays if packed in checked luggage. Film will fog. Electronic devices can forget how to function (like cameras, digital cameras, phones, games, electric razors, etc.). The images stored in digital cameras can be corrupted or lost.  Exposure to X-Rays can cause batteries to discharge and repeated exposure can cause rechargeable batteries to fail (cell phone, digital cameras, etc.). The new security laws in the United States do have a provision that requires security personnel to "hand search" film and cameras instead of X-Raying them, if requested. The X-Rays used to scan carry-on items should not cause problems for most electronic devices or for film that is ASA 400 speed or slower safe, keep your film separate and have it hand checked.

Something to entertain me such as a paperback book or a game boy. There are often long waits for transfers from the airport to the seaport and there may be a wait before boarding the ship.

I carry all of my personal hygiene items such as razor, toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, shampoo, comb, in a small zippered bag for the purpose. Airline security being what it is, I usually pack this bag in my checked luggage for the flight to the ship and then transfer it from my checked luggage to my carry-on bag as soon as I get my luggage from the airport baggage claim area. There is still a security check at the ship but items like nail clippers and such are permitted when boarding the ship.

Cruise lines differ as to baggage handling when you arrive by plane. Some cruise lines will take your luggage a the airport baggage claim area or as you board the bus for the transfer to the seaport and you will not see your luggage again until it is place outside your stateroom door on the ship. Others require you to claim your luggage from the transfer bus and then check it at the seaport.

What should I pack in my carry on bag when I leave the ship?   

On the last night of your cruise you pack and leave your luggage outside your cabin or stateroom door. Your luggage will be picked up and you will see it next in the baggage claim area of customs.

Of course, I don't pack my clothes for the next day and my personal hygiene bag.

I do pack an extra change of socks and underwear in my carry on bag just in case our debarkation is delayed or our flight home is delayed.

All medications.

All valuables and documents. Items such as cameras, extra batteries, battery chargers, film, "talk-about" radios, watches, jewelry.

Something to entertain me such as a paperback book or a gameboy. There are often long waits for transfers from the seaport to the airport and there is frequently a wait before boarding the airplane.

A raincoat.

I carry all of my personal hygiene items such as razor, toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, shampoo, comb, in a small zippered bag for the purpose. Airline security being what it is, I usually pack this bag in my carry on bag for and transfer it to my checked luggage as soon as I claim my luggage at customs.

All cruise lines handle baggage when you disembark from the ship similarly. First you must pass through customs. Next, you claim your luggage in the customs area. Either your luggage will be searched by customs or it won't. We have never been searched by customs. At this point you are either off to the airport, a hotel, etc.

What time should I set on my watch?

ALWAYS set your watch to ship time. If ship time changes, reset your watch as it does. When you go ashore, the port departure time is always based on ship time. Frequently, local time varies from ship time. You don't want to miss your departure time and get left behind at a port.

What happens when the cruise ship arrives at a port?

The ship may either tie up to a pier or drop anchor offshore. This will depend on a number of factors including number of ships in port, size of ship, draft of ship, and local politics.

There will be a wait while the ship is "cleared" by the local officials. Passengers may not disembark or embark and cargo cannot be loaded or unloaded until this process is completed. Before you disembark, make sure you know by what time you must return to the ship.

If your ship is docked at a pier, passengers may disembark or embark as they wish and supplies, potable water, or trash may be loaded or unloaded. If you have signed up for shore excursions you may be directed to assemble in one of the public areas of the ship or you may be directed to meet as a group on the pier at a specific time.

If your ship is anchored offshore, passengers will be ferried to and from shore in tenders. Lifeboats may be used for this purpose. If you have signed up for shore excursions, you will be directed to assemble in one of the public areas of the ship. Because of time issues, shore excursions usually get priority in leaving the ship. Some shore excursions will tender to the shore and then reassemble there. Other shore excursions may board the shore excursion tour operator's boat directly from the tender platform of the cruise ship. If you are not going on a shore excursion and you want to disembark, you may need to get a tender ticket, usually from the purser. Tender tickets are usually only required during the initial surge of passengers leaving the ship. As the day progresses, passengers may come and go on the tenders without tender tickets.

What happens when the time arrives for the cruise ship to leave port?

If you are on a cruise ship sponsored shore excursion and it runs longer than anticipated, don't worry, the cruise ship will wait on you.

I have been on and have seen cruise ships sail much later than advertised for any number of reasons:

• Medical emergency. If a passenger is injured or becomes sick while ashore, the ship may wait for that passenger to return to the ship. It may be a case that equivalent or better treatment options are not available ashore. Some local authorities may require that the sick person be returned to the ship.

• On one occasion, a serious injury occurred aboard ship while the ship was docked. The ship was required to wait while the local civil authorities completed an investigation. While the investigation was underway medical authorities stabilized and transferred the individual to a local medical facility. Remember that while the ship is docked and even if you are aboard, local laws apply.

• In another case, all the members of two American families were arrested for participating in shoplifting in the shops on board the cruise ship. We waited while they were disembarked and turned over to local authorities. As a passenger at sea, international law or the law of the country of registry prevails. In this case, the captain had a choice of which authorities the accused were to be turned over to. His choice was to disembark them in Jamaica where the jails pass for ugly nightmares.

• If you misbehave while onboard a cruise ship, the captain has the right to disembark you at any port of his choice whether you have committed a crime or not.