Travel Tips

What should I wear?
Day wear includes shorts, pants, blouses, t-shirts, knit tops or polo shirts. Your attire will depend on that day’s activities. For cooler days or evenings, pack a sweater or lightweight windbreaker. For Alaska cruises, sweaters and raincoats (ponchos are great) are all suggested. Bring a pair of sneakers or rubber-soled shoes for deck sports and a swimsuit cover-up for cool areas on the ship.

Do I have to wear a tuxedo for formal night?
Depending on the length of your cruise, you may have one or more formal nights. There will be a variety of styles for formal nights. You may see people in tuxedos and long gowns, you may see people in suits and ties and then just dress shirts and slacks and cocktail dresses for the ladies. It is recommended you should dress for this in whatever you consider your dressiest clothes. If you do not wish to dine in the main dining room for formal night, you have other dining options on most ships.  Some cruise lines have done away with formal nights.

What do I do about money?
Cruise lines require you to establish an onboard credit account that permits you to charge purchases to your stateroom. You will need to present a credit card at check in prior to getting on the ship.   If you do not want to set up your account with a credit card and prefer using cash, you will have to take care of that at the Guest Relations Desk once onboard. In most ports, U.S. currency may be accepted or easily exchanged. It is best to bring cash in small denominations, since it is easier to get change for these bills. It is also advisable to carry a limited amount of cash, since it is irreplaceable if lost.

If I’m on the bottom deck, am I below the water?
All passenger staterooms are located above sea level.

Should I purchase trip insurance?
We recommend protecting your vacation investment by purchasing travel insurance. While you may think there is nothing that could prevent you from departing on your dream vacation, the reality is that life is simply unpredictable. Travel protection provides coverage if you have to cancel due to injury, sickness, or death to you, a traveling companion or family member. However, it does not cover unstable, pre-existing conditions. It will also cover you if you have a medical emergency during your trip, or if your baggage is lost or damaged, among other things.

How much are gratuities on a cruise?
It is advised to prepay your gratuities when you make final payment on your cruise. If you don’t prepay them, most cruise lines will automatically add the recommended $14.50 per passenger per day to your onboard account once onboard.  If you would prefer to offer gratuities to each staff member personally, you may remove the gratuities from your onboard account by visiting the Guest Relations Desk.  Suggested guidelines for gratuities may vary based on Stateroom Category.  You can also give the staff extra gratuity by giving them cash in person above what the prepaid gratuities were.  Your prepaid gratuities are divided between the waitstaff and cabin steward.

Are there medical services onboard?
Virtually every cruise ship (except for some smaller vessels operating in coastal waters) has a fully equipped medical facility and staff to handle almost any emergency.

What if I have to cancel?
Cancellation policies vary between cruise lines. When you book your cruise, you will be advised of the cancellation policy applicable to your cruise.