First Time Cruisers FAQ

If you’ve never cruised before chances are you have questions about matters ranging from what to take, wear and do during a day at sea.

1. WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF MY TICKET? Roughly 80% of your vacation costs are covered in the price of a cruise: Your stateroom; all food (except specialty restaurants which come with a surcharge); entertainment and the gym. Also included a list of daily activities as long as your arm ranging from lectures to a myriad number of special activities. There is no charge for kids facilities or supervised activities.

Typical extras include tips, liquor and soft drinks ( except on some ultra-deluxe ships, where liquor and soft drinks are included); shopping; gambling; spa treatments and shore excursions.

2. WHAT SHOULD I WEAR? In tropical climes, such as the Caribbean, Hawaii and Mexico, daytime attire includes shorts, t-shirts, sneakers or sandals and a hat. Cruise ships normally schedule two formal nights per week or three in a 10 – to – 12 day cruise. Roughly half the men bring or rent tuxedoes and the rest wear dark suits. Women can get dressed up as much, or as little, as they like. A black knit skirt or pants will take you around the world; simply add tunics or blouses and add sparkly jewelry or scarves. It’s silly to buy items you’ll only wear once and I recommend borrowing glittery costume jewelry and chiffon scarves instead of buying them.
*** E-bay is a tremendous source for buying everything you want to take, from luggage to evening separates and inexpensive costume jewelry.

3. WHAT SHOULD I PACK? The essentials are your travel documents, credit cards or debit cards, photo identification and/or passport, prescription medications (in their original pharmacy containers) and eyeglasses – these items should be in your purse or carry-on bag. In addition to clothing, shoes, hats and tote bags, I take a magnifying make-up mirror, an alarm clock and night light so my cabin-mate and I don’t wake each other crashing into furniture in a dark stateroom at night.

4. WILL I GET BORED? For me personally, the joy of cruising is that I can be as active or lazy as I please. First-time cruisers typically choose an itinerary chock full of port stops while more experienced folks opt for more days at sea. When you return to your stateroom after dinner you’ll find the ship’s newsletter for the following day chock full of dawn-to-the-wee hours activities. Of course, meals - - breakfast, lunch and dinner to afternoon tea and late-night snacks – define the day. If you want to maintain – or even start – a fitness regimen you’ll find a gym with state-of-the-art equipment, available at no extra charge. On your daily program you’ll find pilates, yoga and stretching classes (occasionally, there’s a nominal charge for some specialty classes) and ships have jogging and fast-walking tracks.

Most cruise ships have a good library with all the best sellers in stock, plus non-fiction, travel, travel guides and atlases. The list of activities you can expect to find includes guest lecturers, singles dances, Friend of Bill W. meetings, poolside games, bingo, art auctions, the casino, computer classes, dancing lessons, classes ranging from making pottery to culinary techniques to bridge. Bridge players will always find games and tournaments scheduled throughout the day.

On days at sea, my favorite activity is finding a comfortable deck chair and sittling back to read a trashy novel. And frequently, I fall asleep in the wonderful fresh air while watching the ocean glide by.

5. WHAT ABOUT EXERCISE? All cruise ships have gyms where, at no charge, you’ll find state-of-the-art exercise equipment and pushing-and-pulling equipment. You’ll find jogging and fast-walking tracks on deck.

6. WHAT’S IN MY STATEROOM? Standard in cruise ship staterooms today are beds (you decide on twin or double configuration); television with remote control and radio; closets with hangers and drawers; a safe; private bathroom with shower, sink, vanity for toiletries, toilet, hair dryer and toiletries. Many ships also provide bathrobes for your use on board.

Your stateroom staff makes up your stateroom twice a day, including turndown service before you retire for the evening. Ironing is not permitted in staterooms, but many ships have self-service laundry and ironing rooms for your convenience, in addition to the ship-operated laundry and dry cleaning services.

7. WHEN WILL MY TICKETS ARRIVE? All tickets and other documents are issued by the cruise line and sent to your travel agent. Your agent is responsible for reviewing documents for accuracy and then sending them to you. Your tickets should arrive two weeks prior to departure.

VERY IMPORTANT: Be sure not to pack your tickets in your checked baggage. Tickets, passports, etc. should always be hand-carried

8. HOW DO I CHOOSE A STATEROOM? All modern cruise ships have standard size staterooms within specific categories. For example, inside and outside staterooms are the same size and have the same amenities. The same is true for the majority of balcony cabins. and what the industry calls a suite is really just a bigger sized room, usually with a balcony. In the tranquil waters of the Caribbean, it matters little where our stateroom is located on the ship. When raveling in any of the oceans of the world, you’ll feel the least amount of motion the closer you are to mid-ship. And, the irony of ship building is the higher your stateroom, the more motion you may feel. At the same time, the most expensive staterooms are normally found on the highest decks.

9. HOW MUCH IS TIPPING? When you check in at the pier you’ll be given a plastic key card which eliminates the need for cash. Tips in the cruise industry have risen little over the years and the amounts recommended by cruise lines add up to around ten dollars per person, per day. These gratuities cover your waiter, busboy and room steward. The majority of ships have a pre-paid gratuity policy whereby your tips are billed to your credit card when you board the ship and you may adjust it upward or downward during the cruise. Whenever the maitre d’ performs a special service, I tip him or her in cash at the end of the cruise. When purchasing cocktails, wine, soft drinks or bottled water, a 15% tip will be added on to the price of the beverage. When purchasing a spa treatment, it’s normal to add a tip when signing the bill at the end of the treatment.

10. WHAT DOCUMENTS DO I NEED? Effective June 1, 2009, U.S. cruise passengers will need a passport or other government-approved document to enter Canada, Mexico Bermuda and the Caribbean. According to the U.S. Passport office, the wait time is approximately four to six weeks. The cost for the regular blue passport is $75 but you can cut the cost by obtaining a U.S. Passport Card for $45 which is good for sea travel but not air. If you are not a U.S. citizen and are entering the U.S. to begin your cruise, you must have the proper entry documents, usually a passport and often a U.S. visa. You may also obtain a passport from the U.S. Post Office, either online or at many branches.

10. WILL I GET SEASICK? When cruising in the Caribbean, the answer is generally not. The Caribbean islands act as a buffer to the Atlantic Ocean and as a result, the Caribbean is normally as smooth as a lake. However, seasickness is no old wives tale and since you’ll be sailing in the North Atlantic, it’s good to be prepared. If you don’t have your sea-legs and plan to sail in the North Atlantic, you may want to consider the prescription medication Scopolamine, available in pill or patch. According to the Centers for Disease Control website , “The choice of medication is based on trip duration, underlying medical conditions, and concerns about sedation. Scopolamine patches are appropriate for longer voyages and should be applied four hours before departure and changed every three days if needed. Oral Scopolamine is effective for six to eight hours and can be used for short journeys or for the interval between application of the patch and onset of effectiveness.” I recommend that you consult your personal physician or travel medicine center before taking any medication.

Many cruisers find that the non-prescription medications Bonine or Dramamine are all they need. Remember to take it before you board the ship. Once you’re sick, it won’t work. If all else fails, ships’ physicians have a rather pricey ($250+) injection for seasickness that knocks many passengers out for a few hours. For general queasiness I follow the advice of a ship’s officer: do not drink anything, do not lie down. Ask room service to bring green apples and crackers, which absorb the acid in your stomach. Go outside and stare at the horizon. Some people also choose to wear “Sea Bands,” which are stretch wristbands with a plastic button that uses acupressure to prevent nausea, and is non-invasive.

12. SHOULD I WORRY ABOUT HURRICANES? The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30 so you do stand the chance of encountering a storm. How big are the chances, you ask? With global warming, it’s anyone’s guess. But the odds of being aboard a cruise ship during a hurricane are practically nil. If your ship 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 into smooth seas. And most ships are connected to the U.S. Weather Service and have all the information available to make choices that insure the safety and comfort of passengers.

13. 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.

14. SHOULD I BUY TRAVEL INSURANCE? YES! If there is any possibility you’ll have to cancel a cruise for any unforeseen reason (sickness, sick relative, accident, snow storm, hurricane, the arrival of Brazilian bees or whatever), it is prudent to spend a few extra dollars on insurance just for the peace of mind. If your luggage goes astray, you’ll be recompensed and should you get il outside the U.S., insurance will get you the best medical care possible, even if it means evacuation by private ambulance jet. I highly recommend purchasing Travel Guard or Access America insurance, available from your travel agent or online. 15.

15. SHOULD I WORRY ABOUT NORWALK VIRUS? Norwalk Virus is a very common bug that causes diarrhea and it is everywhere onland. . Sometimes a passenger walks on a ship with the virus and it spreads to many people. The best way of avoiding this virus is to wash your hands as often as possible. Taking anti-bacterial hand cleaners and using them frequently will also prevent you from picking up this bug. This same virus can occur in hotels or any other place with a large gathering of people.

Copyright Anne Campbell, 2009