FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why are people drawn to cruising?Browse through our responses to the most popular
questions regarding cruise vacations. More questions?
Contact our knowledgeable Exotic Cruise Experts team:
CALL TOLL FREE: 1-888-920-3973
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General Travel Questions
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Is a fuel surcharge added to my cruise fare?
Due to rapidly escalating fuel prices, several major cruise lines including Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Oceania Cruises, SilverSea Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara Cruises, and Crystal Cruises have implemented a fuel supplement.
The fuel supplement varies by cruise line and ranges from $5 US per person per day to $10 US per person per day.
The surcharge is necessitated by significant rises in fuel prices which have dramatically increased cruise lines’ operating costs. Over the past three years, the price the cruise lines pay for fuel has increased 140%, with a 50% increase occurring in the last seven months alone.
To learn more about the fuel supplement and the voyages affected, please contact your Cruise Specialist directly.
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Is a passport required?
US and Canadian Citizens: Beginning December 31, 2006, U.S. citizens returning from Canada and Mexico will be required to show passports. In addition, as of January 2007, new U.S. travel rules will require citizens returning from all foreign destinations to show passports. Cruise lines require proof of citizenship (e.g., birth certificate) and photo identification. No photocopies will be accepted.
Other Nationals: Most foreign nationals will be required to have a Passport and Visa to enter the US and Canada. Please consult your specific consulate or embassy for proper documentation and visas required before leaving for your vacation.
It is the passenger's responsibility to provide acceptable proof of citizenship.
There are no refunds to passengers denied boarding for lack of proper documents. |
Should I purchase travel insurance?We do recommend buying trip cancellation coverage. In the event that your trip is cancelled because of a medical emergency in your immediate family, you will recover the non-refundable portion of your cruise price. This coverage does not include any pre-existing medical conditions. Additional coverage is also available for Baggage Protection, Emergency Evacuation and Medical Coverage. Call one of our knowledgeable agents at 1.888.920.3973 to discuss specific coverage details. |
Do I need travelers' checks?Travelers' checks are not very necessary. Onboard the cruise ship, you will receive a very convenient shipcard that will let you charge all your onboard expenditures to your personal ship account. Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) can be found at all ports of call and onboard most cruise ships. Major credit cards are accepted everywhere. |
How do I arrange airfare?Airfare can be either arranged through the cruise line, or separately by your Exotic Cruise Expert agent.Please contact one of our experienced agents at 1.888.920.3973 for more details. |
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Family Cruise Questions
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Will my family be welcome?Yes! Children often can travel at substantially reduced rates. If your kids are active and love adventure, they will greatly enjoy a cruise vacation.Several cruise lines cater to and provide facilities and services for families. If you have young children we recommend Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and Princess Cruises for the their programs for children and babysitting services. Celebrity does not permit guests under the age of 21 unless they are accompanied by an adult 25 years or older. Crystal and Princess will not allow children under six months of age to travel. Restrictions towards children vary with each cruise line and therefore we recommend you contact one of our knowledgeable agents. · For information on family cruising, please visit our Family Cruising section. |
Can children cruise for free?Many cruise lines offer greatly reduced pricing for children if they are the 3rd or 4th passenger booked in a stateroom. Please contact one of our agents at 1.888.920.3973 for cruise line-specific details. |
Are there programs and entertainment for children and teens?Programs and entertainment for children and teens vary by cruise line. Please be sure to refer to your Exotic Cruise Experts agent for more detailed information.Celebrity offers children's programs for four age groups: Ship Mates (ages 3-6), Celebrity Cadets (ages 7-9), Ensigns (ages 10-12) and Admiral T's (ages 13-15 and 16-17). Onboard counselors are always available and activities take place daily. Princess offers supervised activities at its Youth and Teen centers. Nickelodeon is available for viewing on your stateroom TV. However, children under two years of age are not permitted in the Youth Center. · For information on family cruising, please visit our Family Cruising section. |
Are babysitting services available?Yes, but only on some cruise lines. For example, Princess offers a baby sitting service at the Youth Center. There is a $4.00 per hour per child when the ship is in port. These arrangements must be made 24 hours in advance and there is a fee.· For information on family cruising, please visit our Family Cruising section. |
Are pets allowed?Sorry, no pets are allowed. Special exception will be given to guide dogs for visually impaired passengers. |
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First Time Cruise Questions
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Is there much to do onboard a cruise ship?A cruise ship is like a floating resort. It will take you days just to explore your ship. Most days the ship will visit a new port with a wide variety of activity options. Your biggest issue will most likely be deciding on how to spend your day! |
Will I feel confined by the masses?Not likely. Many cruise ships are so large that the passengers even seem to get lost within the ship. The only times you will notice the masses is at embarkation and if you choose to dine within the larger dining rooms. |
Is cruising a good value?Yes! There are cruise vacations to suit every budget. When you take into consideration what is included in your cruise price, you'll soon find that it is an unbeatable value. |
What is included in the cruise price?When you purchase a cruise, the following is included:
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What isn't included in the cruise price?When you purchase a cruise, the following is not included:
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What are the cancellation penalties?Penalties vary by cruise line. As a rule, the closer the cancellation occurs to its departure date, the greater the penalty. For your safety and peace of mind, we suggest purchasing cancellation insurance. |
Will I be able to eat healthy and exercise?Most definitely. You may be tempted to indulge in endless rich and sweet foods available at every moment, yet for the strong willed there are always health and light menu items available.All ships have exercise facilities. You may exercise in the gym, attend an aerobics class, jog, swim or play basketball. On some ships, there are even golf simulators as well as tennis, basketball and ping pong courts and rock climbing walls. |
Am I confined to set dining times?Today's cruising features a wide range of flexible dining options. The majority of cruise lines offer their guests an early or a late sitting.There is great variety between the different cruise lines so please ensure that you identify your preference to your Exotic Cruise Expert agent. |
What if I have a special diet?On request you may have a salt-free, low-carbohydrate or Kosher diet. This request is to be made at the time of booking with your Exotic Cruise Experts agent. |
Are there 'non-smoking' areas?In most ships there are non-smoking staterooms and public areas of the ship. Most cruise lines have designated their dining rooms and lounges as non-smoking. If this is important to you, please mention this to your Exotic Cruise Expert agent. |
Will I feel motion sickness?Most people will not experience motion sickness. The modern ships of today are equipped with stabilizers that greatly reduce the amount of motion at sea.If you consider yourself sensitive to motion at sea, consider booking a cabin near the center of the ship, where there is less motion. You may also wish to consider the Transderm Scopolamine patch, used to treat motion sickness. Transderm Scopolamine is a patch that is applied behind the ear. It is only available by prescription and can create some side effects, so please consult your doctor for more information. If you do not wish to take drugs, consider wearing a Sea-Band wristband the minute you embark. This discrete accupressure device can curb nausea without any side effects caused by drugs. Sea-Bands are available at all major drug stores. |
Is it easy to stay connected with the outside world?It is easy to stay connected to the rest of the world while at sea. You will have access to a telephone in your stateroom and fax services are available. However, be aware of the phone charges, as they tend be be quite high. You can also stay connected via e-mail, as Internet services are now available on most ships. |
Can I make arrangements to celebrate a special occasion?You can celebrate your honeymoon, anniversary, birthday and almost any important occasion. Cruise lines offer different packages for all of the occasions mentioned above.Please note that it is important that these packages are prearranged during the time of booking with your Exotic Cruise Expert agent. |
Will I be able to use my own hair dryer/shaver?The North American standard 110-volt outlets are used on all cruise ships. |
How should I dress?Today's cruise vacations are more casual by day, whether onboard the ship or ashore. In the evening, dress codes may vary.Most lines vary their dinner dress codes daily, from casual to semi-formal, to formal. On casual evenings, open neck shirts, slacks and sports outfits fit right in. On semiformal evenings, ladies wear dresses or pantsuits and men wear coats and ties. On formal evenings, women wear evening gowns or cocktail dresses and men don tuxedos, dinner jackets or dark suits. Other lines are more formal or completely casual. Talk to your Exotic Cruise Expert agent for the right ship for you. |
How should I pack?You can pack more luggage on a cruise. Cruise lines do not limit the number of baggage items you bring. However, airlines will have restrictions. Please check with your airline for baggage restrictions and policies.You only have to unpack and pack once on your entire cruise vacation. If possible, remember to cross-pack your bags with you and your companions' clothing, in case your luggage is misplaced en route to the cruise ship. |
Will I have access to medical services?Yes, medical staff and facilities exist on all cruise ships. Hopefully you will never need to see them. |
Are there laundry services onboard?Yes, most ships offer laundry and dry cleaning services. Some ships have self-serve laundromats onboard. |
Will I be able to bring a visitor onboard?Due to security precautions, no visitors are allowed onboard the ships. |
How much do I have to tip?Tipping is at your discretion. A large part of cruise staff income is comprised of tip, and if you feel that you have been well-serviced, you have the option to show your appreciation with gratuity. As a general rule, plan to pay $3.50 per day to each of your waiter(s) and cabin steward(s), and $2.00 per day to each of your bus boy(s). All lounge, beauty salon and spa service staff receive a 15% gratuity automatically (on most ships) so you may not need to tip them additionally.All tip is paid on the last evening of the cruise. You will be provided envelopes so you can personally hand the tip to the staff. Some cruise lines will automatically charge your ship account unless you request otherwise. |
Will I cruise again?Once you book with us at Exotic Cruise Experts, we ensure that your vacation is one that specifically meets your needs and expectations. We are confident that you will want to cruise again! |
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