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Frequently Asked Questions About Cruises 
Life onboardServices Are ships wheelchair accessible? Do ships offer babysitting services? Do I need money onboard? Are there ATMs onboard? Can I purchase toiletries onboard? Can I call home from the ship? Is it easy to keep up with the news while onboard? Can I check my e-mail from the ship? Can I exchange money onboard? Do cabins have personal safes? Do I have to purchase the pictures taken by the ship's photographers? Do ships have exercise equipment? Do ships have elevators? How do I pay for onboard purchases? Can I use a debit card for my onboard charge accounts? I’m sharing a cabin with a friend. Can we each have our own onboard charge account? How do I prepare for customs? What are my customs allowances? How do I purchase shore excursions? Is there shopping onboard? Are there casinos onboard? Dining Are alcoholic beverages included in the price? Are meals included in the price? Are there multiple entrée choices at dinner each night? Do I have to eat dinner at the same time, and with the same passengers, every night? Can I change my dining time or tablemates? If I have late dinner seating, will I miss the evening entertainment? I have special dietary restrictions. Can the ship accommodate my needs? Is food available 24 hours a day? Is room service available? What are alternative restaurants? What are formal nights, and do all cruises have them? Activities Are there planned activities at night? Does the cruise ship have planned activities during inclement weather? Can I get a tour of the ship? How do I find out about onboard activities? Am I required to take part in the ship’s activities? I'd like to celebrate a special occasion. Will the ship help? Is the onboard entertainment free? What are days at sea like? What do I do on the last night of the cruise? What services are offered at the spa? I’m worried about getting bored on sea days or short port days. Is this likely? Will the itinerary change? Etiquette Are passengers expected to tip? Does the ship have a dress code? Return to the main Cruise FAQs page Services Are ships wheelchair accessible? All ships sold on our site are wheelchair accessible. Top Do ships offer babysitting services? Most ships do offer babysitting services, either in a group setting, or with a sitter coming directly to your cabin. To find out whether your ship offers babysitting services, check the Family section of the ship’s review. Top Do I need money onboard? We suggest that you bring some cash. Some cruise lines require that you use cash for tipping and casino gambling. It's also handy to have in port. Most cruise ships do have ATMs onboard; however, ATM service fees may be quite high. Top Are there ATMs onboard? All ships have ATMs onboard; however, many charge a very high usage fee. If you need cash for tips or casino gambling, we suggest that you use an ATM at a port of call, or cash a traveler’s check at the purser’s desk. Top Can I purchase toiletries onboard? Yes, all ships have sundries shops where you can purchase toiletries. Top Can I call home from the ship? Yes. Most ships have telephones in all cabins. If your cabin does not have a telephone (which is very rare), the ship’s radio operator can connect you to a mainland number. Please keep in mind that making a ship-to-shore telephone call can be quite expensive, and it may be worth the wait to use a pay phone at the next port stop. Top Is it easy to keep up with the news while onboard? Most ships have TVs in all cabins and in some public areas, and daily newspapers can generally be found around the ship as well. Most ships also have Internet cafés, where passengers can go online for around 50¢ to $1 per minute. Top Can I check my e-mail from the ship? Most ships have Internet cafés, and some even provide Internet access from cabins. To find out if your ship has an Internet café or online cabin access, check the ship’s amenities page. Top Can I exchange money onboard? Some ships do offer money exchange; however, many passengers wait to exchange money at a shoreside exchange bureau. In addition, U.S. currency is accepted at many foreign ports of call, particularly in the Caribbean. Top Do cabins have personal safes? Most cabins have personal safes. If your cabin doesn’t have its own safe, you have the option of storing valuables in the ship’s vault. Check the ship’s amenities page to see if personal safes are offered in cabins. Top Do I have to purchase the pictures taken by the ship's photographers? No, the ship's photographers capture memories of your cruise, but purchasing them are optional. In addition, if you'd rather not have your photo taken, politely decline and move on. If you would like to purchase a keepsake photo, they're generally displayed in the ship’s photo gallery. Check the ship's deck plan to see where the gallery is located. Top Do ships have exercise equipment? Most ships have full-service gyms onboard, as well as outdoor fitness equipment, ranging from simple running tracks and volleyball courts to rock-climbing walls and tennis courts. Check the Fitness & Recreation section of the ship's review to review what fitness options are offered. Top Do ships have elevators? Yes, most ships do have a large number of elevators. Top How do I pay for onboard purchases? Prior to boarding, passengers will set up charge accounts with their credit cards. All onboard purchases you make, from cocktails to gift shop items, will be charged to this account. Passengers who don’t hold credit cards can also deposit cash into their accounts to cover onboard expenses. Top Can I use a debit card for my onboard charge accounts? You may use a debit card; however, the ship may apply a daily spending limit. Top I’m sharing a cabin with a friend. Can we each have our own onboard charge account? Yes, each passenger can set up his or her own charge account, regardless of whether he or she is sharing a cabin. Top How do I prepare for customs? Customs agents will want to see proof of citizenship (depending on the sailing, a valid passport, or a government-issued photo ID and birth certificate with raised seal), a travel visa (if visas are required at any ports of call), and a customs declaration form (which will be delivered to your cabin on the last night of the cruise). To research whether a country requires passports or travel visa, visit the CIBT Web Site. Top What are my customs allowances? Each U.S. citizen is generally allowed to bring $800 worth of duty-free merchandise into the U.S. without being taxed, with an additional $1,000 being taxed at a reduced flat rate. Canadian citizens are generally allowed to bring $750 worth of duty-free merchandise into Canada without being taxed. Each U.S. and Canadian citizen may only return with a maximum of 40 ounces of wine or liquor and 200 cigarettes. Non-U.S. and -Canadian citizens should check with their country's customs agencies for restrictions on duty-free merchandise. Top How do I purchase shore excursions? At this time, you cannot book shore excursions on our site. However, you can book them from the ship’s shore excursion desk. Many vendors also gather near the ports you'll be visiting. If you plan to book a day trip (and not a ship-sponsored shore excursion), we recommend you ask the ship for vendor recommendations, or check a reliable guide book. Top Is there shopping onboard? Duty-free shops are located on all ships. On port days, shops generally open 30 minutes to an hour after the ship leaves port, and stay open until a set time. On sea days, shops are generally open all day. Top Are there casinos onboard? Most ships do have onboard casinos which are open while the ship is sailing in international waters (generally 30 minutes to an hour after leaving a port of call). There are four exceptions: Norwegian Wind and Pride of Aloha, which sail around Hawaii; and the Disney ships, Disney Magic® and Disney Wonder®. Top Dining Are alcoholic beverages included in the price? You will be charged extra for alcoholic beverages. However, many ships now have drink cards, where you can purchase a set number of drinks ahead of time, generally resulting in significant cost savings. Top Are meals included in the price? Basic meals are included in the price of your cruise. These include all meals in the main dining room (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). Many ships also have a “lido” restaurant serving buffet meals, a grill serving lunchtime grilled fare, and all-day room service; these meals are also included in your cruise price. The only meals that may not be included in your cruise price are at “specialty restaurants,” which usually charge a small fee for dining (generally $10–20). Top Are there multiple entrée choices at dinner each night? Yes. Generally, you’ll be able to choose among three or four entrée choices, with at least one vegetarian selection. Top Do I have to eat dinner at the same time, and with the same passengers, every night? This really depends on your ship. Most ships offer two dinner seatings for the main dining room, and your dining time and table size will be confirmed upon embarkation. However, some cruise lines now offer "relaxed" dining, where passengers can dine when, and with whom, they choose. Even if your ship has pre-assigned dining times, you can generally choose to eat at a casual buffet-style restaurant at no additional charge. Top Can I change my dining time or tablemates? If you are sailing on a ship with pre-assigned dining times and tablemates and would like to change either, talk to the restaurant’s maître d’, who will do everything in his or her power to ensure that you have a pleasant dining experience each night. Top If I have late dinner seating, will I miss the evening entertainment? Shows are generally performed twice nightly, so no matter what time you eat dinner, you’ll still be able to catch all of the evening’s entertainment. Top I have special dietary restrictions. Can the ship accommodate my needs? Low-sodium meals, kosher meals, and other specialty meal plans are offered by ships; however, you should arrange for special meals in advance. You may do so by calling a Cruise Specialist at 1-888-249-3978. Top Is food available 24 hours a day? On most ships, food is available 24 hours a day, either in an all-night diner, or via free room service. Those ships that don’t offer 24-hour dining generally serve food until the wee hours, and start serving again early in the morning (generally as early as 5 AM). In addition, many cabins now have mini refrigerators where you can keep snacks. Top Is room service available? Yes, room service is available on most ships, and is often served 24 hours a day. Top What are alternative restaurants? Alternative restaurants, or “specialty” restaurants, are in addition to main dining rooms and “lido” buffet restaurants. Many ships now house alternative restaurants, with cuisines ranging from Italian to sushi. Many alternative restaurants charge a small fee for dining, usually $10–20 per person, including tip. Top What are formal nights, and do all cruises have them? Formal nights are evenings which the ships suggest you dress up for dinner, with men wearing dark suits or tuxedos and women wearing cocktail dresses or pantsuits. Special meals are generally served on formal nights. Many ships do have formal nights, but generally only one or two for a seven-night cruise. If you don’t want to dress up on formal nights, you can generally dine at a buffet restaurant at no extra charge. To find out if a ship has formal nights, check the Clothing section of the ship's review. Top Activities Are there planned activities at night? All ships have planned activities; though, generally speaking, the larger the ship, the more planned activities you’ll find. Evening activities often include casino gambling, Broadway- and Vegas-style revues, cabaret shows, nightclub performances, disco dancing, movies, and passenger talent shows. Top Does the cruise ship have planned activities during inclement weather? Yes. Each night, you’ll receive a list of planned activities for the next day, including special activities for sea days with inclement weather. Top Can I get a tour of the ship? Many ships do offer tours on the first day of the cruise. However, due to security reasons, tours are generally restricted to public areas of the ship. Top How do I find out about onboard activities? Each night, you will receive a news update in your cabin with the next day’s activities. Top Am I required to take part in the ship’s activities? No. The only activity you are required to take part in is the lifeboat drill on embarkation day. Top I'd like to celebrate a special occasion. Will the ship help? All ships help passengers celebrate special occasions like honeymoons, anniversaries, and birthdays. Some ships simply provide a free or inexpensive cake, while others sell packages including everything from in-cabin massages to private tours of the bridge. If you’ll be celebrating a special occasion while onboard, call a Cruise Specialist at 1-888-249-3978 so that we can let the ship’s staff know which occasion you’ll be celebrating. If you forget to call a Cruise Specialist before you leave for your trip, or if your cruise line does not accept this information ahead of time, simply tell the maître d’ shortly after boarding, and he/she will be happy to assist you with your celebratory plans. Top Is the onboard entertainment free? With the exception of casino gaming, onboard entertainment is free. Top What are days at sea like? The ship’s staff fills each day with a host of shipboard activities. However, you are not required to take part in any activities, and can choose to spend the day as you wish. Top What do I do on the last night of the cruise? On the final night of the cruise, you’ll be required to place your luggage outside your cabin door. Your cabin steward will also drop off a customs form, which you’ll turn in to a customs officer upon disembarkation. Top What services are offered at the spa? Most spas offer a typical range of beauty treatments, including massages, facials, manicures, pedicures, haircuts, and hair styling. Some spas also offer more unique treatments, like hot stone therapy and couples massages. Top I’m worried about getting bored on sea days or short port days. Is this likely? It’s not likely that you’ll get bored. Most ships offer more than enough activities to keep passengers very busy, even on sea days. To find out about what activities are offered, take a look at the Entertainment and Fitness & Recreation sections of the ship's review. Some ships offer everything from typical activities like ping-pong, shuffleboard, sunbathing, and bridge tournaments to more unique diversions like rock climbing, ice-skating, computer classes, and movies at dedicated movie theaters. Top Will the itinerary change? All cruise itineraries are subject to change. Weather conditions and other circumstances may require a change in itinerary, such as a change in arrival or departure time. In extreme circumstances, the ship will be required to skip a port entirely, in which case the cruise line will try to schedule a visit at an alternative port of call. Top Etiquette Are passengers expected to tip? Most ships recommend that you tip around $10 per person, per day. One exception is Windstar, which has a "tipping not required" policy: The cruise line simply suggests that you tip individual staff members if you feel you've received good service. Some ships automatically charge tips to shipboard accounts (which can then be adjusted by the individual), while others ask you to pay cash directly to the staff member. Tipping guidelines will be included in your travel documents, which you will receive two to four weeks before departure. You will also find tipping guidelines in the Tipping section of the ship's review, and in the welcome packet you’ll receive upon boarding. Top Does the ship have a dress code? Different ships have different dress codes. Most ships suggest "resort casual" attire throughout the day, which includes shorts, pants, blouses, and shirts; and skirts and slacks for evening attire (except on formal nights, when women wear evening gowns or pantsuits and men wear suits or jackets and ties). Generally, shorts and jeans are not allowed in the main dining rooms while swimwear is not permitted in any onboard dining rooms, including casual buffet-style restaurants. There are some ships that do suggest casual attire, including Norwegian's "freestyle" ships, which follow a "dress up or not" guideline and Windstar ships, which still request "casual elegance" from their guests. For more information, check the Clothing section of the ship's review. If you're cruising to Alaska or northern Europe, don't forget to pack sweaters and raincoats. Top Return to the main Cruise FAQs page |
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