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Frequently Asked Questions About Cruises 
Preparing for your cruisePlanning ahead What are the benefits of taking a cruise vacation? Can I add a passenger to my cabin at a later date? Can I change a passenger in my cabin? Should I upgrade to an oceanview or balcony cabin? I made a last-minute reservation. How will I get my travel documents? How early should I arrive at the pier? Where can I find the details about the ship? What to bring Should I get a passport before I travel? What travel documents and identification do I need? Do I need a travel visa? What documents might I need when traveling with children? I currently don't have a passport or birth certificate. How can I get them? Do I need cash onboard the ship? Do I need to bring my own life preserver? Is there a weight limit for how much luggage I bring? What is a medical release form, and how do I know if I have to submit one? What types of clothing should I pack? Getting to the ship I’m booking airfare on my own. When should I schedule my flights to arrive and depart? How do I get from the airport to the ship? Can I park at the pier? What happens if my flight is delayed? Return to the main Cruise FAQs page Planning ahead What are the benefits of taking a cruise vacation? There are many benefits to cruising. Some of our favorites include all-inclusive meals, unlimited entertainment options, and traveling from one destination to the next from the comfort of your ship (plus, only having to unpack once). Rather than spending your travel time in a car or on a train, you can be watching Broadway-style shows, eating fine cuisine, swimming in the pool, and sleeping in your private cabin. Top Can I add a passenger to my cabin at a later date? You may be able to add another passenger, depending on the cabin’s passenger capacity and the point at which you decide to add the passenger; however, there is no guarantee that the person can be added, or that the price would stay the same. If you would like to add another passenger, please call a Cruise Specialist at 1-888-249-3978. Top Can I change a passenger in my cabin? Many cruise lines will not let you change a passenger’s name after you complete your reservation. If they do allow changes, a large fee will likely be tacked on to the change. Top Should I upgrade to an oceanview or balcony cabin? Different passengers have different cabin preferences. Some passengers book an inside cabin in order to save money, the difference between an inside and an outside or and outside and a balcony cabin can be as little as $100 per person, so the choice to upgrade is not as daunting as it might appear. Also, many new ships now have a large quantity of balcony cabins, making them more affordable than ever before. Top I made a last-minute reservation. How will I get my travel documents? If you made a last-minute reservation, you’ll likely have to make arrangements to pick up your travel documents. Generally, you’ll pick them up right at the pier on the day of embarkation. If you booked cruise line airfare and the cruise line uses paper tickets, your tickets will likely be sent to you via overnight delivery. A Cruise Specialist will call or e-mail you with special instructions. If you do not receive instructions, please call a Cruise Specialist directly at 1-888-249-3978. Top How early should I arrive at the pier? Ship boarding usually begins four to five hours before the ship is scheduled to depart, and all passengers must be onboard at least 60 minutes prior to departure. Top Where can I find the details about the ship? Most of the details you'll want to know can be found in the cruise ship's amenities pages and reviews. Top What to bring Should I get a passport before I travel? Yes. Expedia strongly recommends that you always travel with a passport. A valid passport is the only form of identification accepted by most countries. And it's required by the US Department of State for reentry into the United States. All travelers must provide proof of citizenship when boarding the ship, even if your cruise includes only domestic destinations. If your cruise ship stops at any port outside of the United States, you must have a valid passport. And if you’re traveling on an international sailing, the countries you visit will also require proof of citizenship. For more information on travel requirements, contact the U.S. embassies of the countries you're visiting. A complete list of U.S. embassies worldwide can be found at the Department of State Web site. Top What travel documents and identification do I need? Do I need a travel visa? For most cruises, a passport suffices for both U.S. and non-U.S. citizens (although non-U.S. citizens may need a travel visa or green card to gain reentry to the U.S.). Some itineraries, however, may include countries requiring travel visas (Russia, Brazil, and Panama, among others). Visit the CIBT website to research travel requirements by country and to purchase a travel visa online. Be sure to check the requirements for all countries on your itinerary. Top What documents might I need when traveling with children? All children, including infants and newborns, must have their own passport. Some countries may require extra documentation as well. Country-specific information is available in the Consular Information Sheets pages on the U.S. State Department website. It also is available from the consulate of the country being traveled to. Please note that requirements can change at any time; confirm them close to your departure date. Special requirements apply when purchasing passports for minors age 14 and younger. Please refer to the CIBT website for further details. The following information is provided as a general guideline only. Exact documentation requirements will depend on your specific situation and the country to which you are traveling. Children's passports and documentation are necessary to board the ship, and they also are likely to be requested by immigration officers at ports of call. Even if you have heard accounts of inconsistency in enforcement of documentation requirements, bring them anyway; without them, you could incur delays at ports of call and be denied boarding. Generally, a notarized “permission to travel” letter from the absent parent(s) must be provided. We strongly recommend bringing such a letter even if it is not an official requirement. The letter should be signed by the non-traveling parent(s) and should state that he/she gives the child permission to travel. It also should include: the name of the child and the names of all people traveling with the child; information about the trip including the dates of travel, country (or countries) being visited, and the name of the cruise line and ship; address and phone number of the non-traveling parent(s); and a notary’s signature and seal. In some circumstances, legal documents will be required to clarify custody rights and/or the parental relationship. It’s especially important that documentation be supplied by travelers with different last names; same-sex couples; adoptive; or divorced parents. Travelers falling under any of these categories should provide custody and other supporting documents. Widowed parents should provide a death certificate. In all cases, you must bring both your own and the child’s identification. Top I currently don't have a passport or birth certificate. How can I get them? If you are a U.S. citizen and have a birth certificate with a raised seal, a passport can be purchased online at the CIBT website, or, if you wish, through a government agency (see the U.S. Department of State website for a list). You should expect to receive your passport within eight weeks (two weeks if expedited passport requested), although processing time cannot be guaranteed. If you are a U.S. citizen and you need a copy of your birth certificate, contact the city hall located in your town of birth. If you need a passport and you are not a U.S. citizen, please check with the appropriate government agencies within your country of citizenship. Top Do I need cash onboard the ship? 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, the ATM service fee may be quite high. Top Do I need to bring my own life preserver? No, life preservers are provided in your cabin. You will be required to attend a lifeboat drill where you will be taught how to use them in case of an emergency. Top Is there a weight limit for how much luggage I bring? Not really. When in doubt, contact the cruise line. Top What is a medical release form, and how do I know if I have to submit one? To ensure proper treatment in case of an emergency, cruise lines require that all guests with special medical needs submit this information to them prior to travel. Passengers who carry syringes for medical use must also carry a letter from their physicians indicating such. Top What types of clothing should I pack? Keep both your destination’s climate and the cruise ship’s dress code in mind when deciding what clothes to pack. If you’re traveling to Alaska, be sure to bring protective rain coverings for Alaska’s and Canada’s rainy days. If you’re traveling to the Caribbean, be sure to bring plenty of cool clothing and sunscreen for warm days. In addition, if your ship has formal nights, men should bring a dark suit or tuxedo, and women should bring a pantsuit or cocktail dress. If you don’t own these items, no worries: Most ships have casual dining venues to cater to those who aren’t interested in dressing up, and some ships also have formal wear rental shops. Top Getting to the ship I’m booking airfare on my own. When should I schedule my flights to arrive and depart? You should schedule your flight to arrive a minimum of six hours before your ship is scheduled to set sail, which should give you enough time to make it to the pier and check in to your cruise. We suggest you schedule your return flight to depart a minimum of six hours after you're scheduled to arrive in port. That should give you enough time to disembark the ship, clear customs, and make it to airport check-in. The more time you give yourself, the better. Top How do I get from the airport to the ship? If you booked cruise line airfare, you may be met at baggage claim by a cruise line representative who will provide transportation from the airport to the pier. Please check your travel vouchers for details If you booked your own airfare, you will be required to get yourself from the airport to the pier. When you receive your cruise packet, your ticket will provide the name of the pier from which your cruise departs. If you are not familiar with the area from which you are departing, we suggest that you use our Maps to get the best directions to the port. Most taxi drivers will also be familiar enough with the area to easily transport you to the pier. Top Can I park at the pier? Most ports do have parking right at the pier. However, like airport parking, it can be a bit pricy. Top What happens if my flight is delayed? If your flight is delayed and you booked the cruise line’s airfare, the cruise line will be made aware of the delay (but you should still call the cruise line to inform a representative of the delay). If you miss the ship, oftentimes the cruise line will transport you to the ship’s next port of call. If your flight is delayed and you did not book cruise line airfare, please call the cruise line immediately and let them know of the delay so that they can make arrangements to get you to the ship. Top Return to the main Cruise FAQs page |
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