Cruise Vacation

Congratulations for planning a cruise since you are in for the trip of a lifetime. But it is important to plan your first cruise up to the minutest detail for making the trip memorable. And it has to be done much ahead of your joining the ship.

The first consideration when you are planning your first cruise is obviously where to go and which cruise plan to select. There are so many destinations to select from such as the Caribbean, Bahamas, the Scandinavian countries, Mediterranean and Alaskan cruises and even those that cross the Atlantic that it can become confusing. Then there are cruise specials that are announced from time to time – you may want to check them out as well when you are vacation planning.

But that is not all. You will have to know a lot more about your cruise holiday, particularly what to expect on the cruise ships, particularly when you are trying to board them. Take for example, the necessity of keeping ID cards handy since you will have to provide ID for each member of your family at the time of embarkation and any deviation from the set rule will disqualify the person from entering into the ship. Also significant is the use of credit cards or cash deposits prior to embarkation. This is a very usual practice since most cruise liners are cashless. Money is also needed for payment of gratuity that goes around $10 per person per day or $70 per week. So, for a family of four, this comes to $280 per week.

Packing for a cruising holiday is of no less importance. First time cruisers may carry some extra hangers and clothespins to keep the curtains tightly shut on sunny days. Check in advance if the power outlet provides the usual 110 volt AC or 220 volt DC that is popular with some Mediterranean countries. You may pack your electric razor and a spare nightlight if the power outlet suits them. Also, carry a water-tight zip-loc bag for keeping your passport and other relevant travel documents. Carry sunscreens and UV protected sunglasses and an extension chord for using electrical appliances. Carry diapers, baby food and children’s medications if your infant child happens to be a cruiser, too. Pack snorkeling equipments or golf-kit only if you feel that the ship’s rental policies are rather stiff. A hair drier may form the last item in your packing list. Planning your cruise should include all of these.

Since most cruise lines offer facilities for shore tours, it may be preferable to book the tours beforehand since the popular ones are usually sold out early. But some of them may come with your cruise vacation plan itself. Check with the cruise line’s website to see if online booking is available with them or phone them up and do the booking over the phone. In order to save cost, people often arrange shore visits on their own, but first time cruise passengers are advised not to take the risk. There have been instances when passengers were left stranded in an alien island as they had failed to reach the ship in time. Of course, one could also book the tours onboard through the ship’s shore excursion desk, provided they are available for the day.

Yet another advice for the first time cruise passenger urges them to grab some lunch in the ship’s buffet restaurant as soon as they embark and explore the ship to get thoroughly aware of the vessel. Incidentally, the first time cruise passenger may also check with the cruise line’s policies that control the quantity of alcohol one is allowed. Usually a bottle or two of Champaign or wine is permitted to be carried by each passenger embarking the boat.

Planning your first cruise may also include one’s familiarity with foreign currency. While US dollars are well accepted in most Caribbean countries, Euro money is more popular in most European cities. Asian countries of course have their own currency systems. However, the ship’s front office usually provides currency exchange services up to certain limits. Such services are also often brought onboard once the ship docks at the port. First time cruisers carrying international Debit Cards can also obtain foreign currency from ATMs located at different port of calls if they care to visit any of the nearest ATMs. Some amount of local currency becomes helpful while paying for taxi fares or buying cut flowers for decorating the cabin. Though it is a regular practice with some Asian countries to provide unauthorized local currency against US dollars   at a slightly higher rate, this should never be encouraged for national interest.

Cruising can be a great fun provided you are planning a cruise correctly. So do some research before you are going on that cruise vacation.

In the olden days, when doctors failed to cure a person of his or her ailment, they recommended a cruise vacation. Sea voyage or a cruise, people believed, helped recover many diseases that were otherwise incurable. Why people go on cruise vacations have changed now and in fact, such vacations have become much more popular than they were before.

Now, let us examine how a cruise vacation compares with other forms of vacation. On a driving vacation, people invariably end up somewhere that has already been visited for the simple reason that they know the destination is full of scenic beauty, has adequate accommodation and food and drink are available at a reasonable cost. But the fact remains that it has become clichéd with so many past visits and there is nothing new to see or enjoy there. Plus the tedium of visiting eating houses that serve the same food day in and day out is a regular feature with such sundry ‘tourist spots’. They simply reek of appalling nostalgia.

If, on the other hand, you take a chartered flight along with a group of 50 or so ‘tourists’ on a “point-to-point hectic tour, you are instantly transformed into a precious cargo, to be shipped from one destination to the other, irrespective of the time or weather conditions. No wonder many people complain that they need another vacation to cure them of the effects of the earlier vacation.

On a cruise vacation, you are the king of all you see. 

A new port of call arrives in front of you every morning on your cruise holiday with its unique and colorful lifestyle that you sample from the safety of the cruise ship’s deck wile sipping fresh Californian orange juice. As your giant luxury cruise liner wades through the blue sea and an alien sun sends it penetrating rays into every pore of your hungry body, order for a bottle of beer and plunge into the ship’s exclusive swimming pool to enact the role of a 007 agent for a while. Hey, this doesn’t cost you a copper, save and except the “coolant” which you buy from the cruise ship’s well-appointed bar. That is the fun of a cruise vacation package.

Since all meals are included in the price of the luxury cruise vacation, order for a Las Vegas type lunch or breakfast on the first day out on the sea. Go for a change of menu for following days. Restaurants are mostly open for meals for extended hours while buffets are regular features that are open all day and well into the night. Some cruise ships offer midnight buffets on full moon nights too. Yes you will truly enjoy your cruise ship vacation.

Dinners are fairly important events on most cruise travel vacation, a tradition dating back to late 18th century when cruising on luxury yachts were reserved for the aristocrats and the privileged few who were entertained with caviar and Champaign. Today’s cruise ship dinners are as lavish as could be imagined, offering ‘world class cuisine’ and ‘gourmet meals’ with ‘impeccable service’ to anyone on board the ship. Some cruises also provide optional formal dinners for the privilege of retired naval commanders or high ranking civilians used to ceremonial banquets. But there are cheap cruise vacations and family cruise vacations too who cannot spend that kind of money and yet want to enjoy the experience of cruising. There are so many things that you can do on the cruise liner – there are dance classes, bars, libraries and video parlors, shows, game rooms, gym and health clubs and beauty clinics too. But you may also want to do just nothing and just relax by sitting at the deck and watching the see.

People who are often plagued with the question of why cruise vacation would do well to know that most cruise lines offer a wide variety of shore excursions. While Caribbean cruises offer snorkeling and other forms of beach excursions, Alaskan cruises provide helicopter rides or real-life husky drawn sled rides.

Here are a few plus points as to why cruise vacation is such an enjoyable experience for many people and so they come back for more

• A cruise is equally interesting to adults, children, honeymooners and singles since there are amusements galore for each one of them.
• A cruise provides additional adventure tours for those who seek exciting activities.
• Get anchored at a distant location and get to know different cultures.
• It is a unique way of seeing the world from a deck-chair, where the world comes near to.
• It lets you feel that you are someone special who has to be pampered all the while till you disembark finally and the lasting impression lingers till your dying days.

A passport is essentially a document issued by a national government that certifies the identity and nationality of its holder for the purpose of international travel. So when you are traveling on a cruise holiday you will need to carry your passport with you is that is you are entering another country, which is mostly the case in most cruises.

Here is the recent passport regulation for international passengers. Most recently the Department of Homeland Security has passed the WHTI (Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative) act which strengthens the border security and facilitates the entry into the United States for US citizens and legalizes foreign visitors by providing secure, reliable and standardized documentation. This will allow the Department of Homeland Security to identify a traveler quickly, accurately and reliably. Also with effect from January 1, 2008 every single person including the US citizen who travels between the U.S, Central and South America, the Caribbean, the Bahamas, or the Bermuda through land or sea would be required to present a valid passport.

The answer to the question, ‘do I need a passport on the cruise’ is a definite ‘yes’. The fact is, any international cruise ship will check your identification before you board it. The identification proofs are usually a driver’s license and an international passport and mind it, both are equally mandatory. In case you show up without a passport, absolutely nothing could be done to help you. Yes, such stringent is the requirement of a valid passport on a cruise. So do remember that cruise passport requirements are mandatory and so include this in your cruise essentials list. The requirement of a passport does not really depend on the length of your cruise or your ports of call.

And so, in case you do not have a passport, apply for one immediately. Or, if your passport has lapsed, then get it renewed before applying for the cruising trip as the rules for the passport requirements are really strict. You will definitely need a valid passport.

The passport requirement rule for the cruisers was passed by the U.S. Government and was activated on December 31, 2005. A valid passport, according to this law is a must for travelers going to any of the popular cruise destinations like Europe, the Caribbean, the Bahamas or even Alaska before they sail.

Applying for a passport 

Have you already planned your favorite cruise vacation? Check with your cruising agent, you must be requiring a passport before boarding the ship. The agent should be able to tell you the passport regulations. According to the rule, a passport application takes at least a six to eight week’s time to be processed. And if your holiday starts before the completion this period, then you might have to change your vacation dates. Well better late than Never, isn’t it? Passports are typically processed during the early months like January through July and the usual cruise season stats in May and lasts till September. Thus the months of January till May might see a big rush for the delivery of passports. And too much rush sometimes affects the delivery dates as well. Therefore, to be on the safer side, apply for a passport well in advance to avoid unwanted problems.

Thus you see how important the requirement of a passport for any cruise vacation is. And if you are amongst those without a valid passport, you will then have to book your cruise rather earlier to avoid the last minute cancellation of the trip due to non availability of your passport. Also, trying to get the smart last-minute rate might be a tricky job if you do not have your passport in hand! And if you are running short of time and have already booked that enticing cruise vacation, you will have to shed off some few extra bucks from your pocket for quick issuing of the passports. This extra amount usually ranges between $350 and $390. These extra bucks on the other hand might have a negative impact on the cruise lines that may then plan to cut down rates on their packages to the Caribbean, the Bahamas or even Alaska. Thus any traveler who did not have a valid passport gets both a passport and the cruise trip of course at the cost of only the cruise trip alone.

So, what are you waiting for? Go and apply for your and your family’s passport today (if you do not have one already) to avoid any last minute rush and mishap. Remember, you have to personally visit the court house to apply for a passport but the initiative is worth the fun and pampering you enjoy at the cruise vacation! Happy cruising!

And when you are packing to board the ship, do ensure that you have not forgotten to take your international passport with you as you will need to show it at the ship.