Knowing what type of information you’ll need to have before you board and what to pack isn’t an exact science. However, it does help to know in advance what to expect and how to plan your cruise.
Your ticket packet information will give you specific instructions, but most cruise lines will require at least a state issued picture I.D., even if your cruise will stay in U.S. territorial waters. If your ship is going to another country, you’ll probably need to bring a passport or a birth certificate with a raised seal and a governmentally issued I.D. such as a driver’s license.
Whether you need a passport or not depends on where you are going. Foreign travel often requires a passport. However, you may be able to enter some countries with just a notarized birth certificate with a raised seal and your driver’s license. Although, some countries may not require much to enter, you’ll still need proof of citizenship when you re-enter the United States. You’ll need to find out if any of the foreign travel you are planning will require a passport or visa.
If you don’t have a passport, apply for one at least 3 months before travel. If you already have a passport, make sure it will still be valid for your entire trip. If your passport will be within six months of expiration while you’re traveling, you may want to get a new passport since some countries now require that your passport must be valid six months after your return to the U.S.
You can get a passport at a State Department Passport Agency, a clerk of any Federal or State Court of record, designated municipal or county official or a designated U.S. Post Office. They usually run around $100 for an adult, so be sure and figure this expense into your cruise budget.
To get your passport, you will, most likely, need to appear in person at the issuing facility. If you are a first time applicant, you’ll need to appear in person at one of the official locations listed above. You will also need to appear in person if it has been more than 12 years since your last passport was issued or you were under 16 years of age when your last passport was issued. Applicants under 13 are not always required to appear in person since a parent or guardian may execute the application on the child’s behalf.
You will need to provide one of the following to prove United States citizenship:
You will also have to provide two identical recently taken 2x2inch front view facial, from the bottom of your chin to top of head, photographs. No hats or dark glasses can be worn in the photographs.
Have them taken at a passport shop since snapshots and machine photos are not acceptable. You may also want to get several extra copies of the photograph since they can also be used for international driver's permits and other documents. Traveling with extra photographs will also make it easier to replace your passport, if yours is lost.
Also bring your driver’s license or Military I.D. issued over six months ago. State I.D. cards are only acceptable with several other forms of I.D. Temporary or altered documents are NOT accepted. Parent’s I.D. will be used for that of a minor child. Have a completed official passport application form. There will be a small fee for your passport, but it will be listed on your application form.
A visa is an endorsement on your passport that will allow entry into the country you’ll be visiting. It states that your passport has been inspected and that everything is valid. It will usually give permission for you to visit a country for a specific time period and purpose.
Many countries you’ll be visiting on a cruise do not require a visa. You’ll want to ask your travel consultant or the cruise line in advance and consult your cruise packet just to make sure you’ll have the papers you’ll need. Visas often take several weeks to process. All travel documents are the responsibility of the passenger.
To find out if you need a passport for your cruise, go to The U.S. State Department, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ Foreign Entry Requirements web page located at travel.state.gov/foreignentryreqs.html. This site lists the entry requirements of foreign countries. It also includes the addresses and telephone numbers of foreign embassies and consulates in the United States. This web site is a good starting point, but since the information presented is subject to change, you should also check directly with the embassy or consulate of the country you a planning to visit.
Complete and take with you a personal medical history. Your doctor should be able to help you complete the history. It should include:
It’s always good to be safe rather than sorry. If anything catastrophic should happen while on your cruise, you’ll want to be as prepared as possible.
No one wants to contemplate getting sick or having an accident during their cruise, but unfortunate things can happen. Most group insurance policies do not cover members when they are out of the country and Medicare assuredly does not. Check your coverage before leaving home and consider purchasing travel insurance, as we have advised, for peace of mind and unexpected contingencies. It can be a wise investment because the cost of a typical policy may run about the same as a trip to the ship's doctor.
As a general rule, pack anything you would need, if you were staying at a resort hotel in the same geographic area of your cruise. Avoid over packing by reading the recommended dress section of the cruise literature that will be mailed to you after you book.
It’s a good space saver in your luggage if you purchase space saver bags. They can be found in drug stores and discount stores like Wal-Mart. You pack them with your clothes then roll out the air inside and double the space allowing you to pack twice as much inside your bags. They are waterproof, reusable, and a good investment for your trip.
Check to see if they have a theme night or talent show where you might need some special outfits. Even in the warm Caribbean, you might need a sweater on the decks at night. The air conditioning can also be icy.
Pack some comfortable rubber soled shoes to get around on the decks. Bring a pocket calculator to help you figure your ports of call exchange rates. Bring a white T-shirt if you plan on going snorkeling or you may have a burned back when you are done. You might also pack some drinking straws to use while at port. This will help you to avoid touching your lips to a can’s top. The top might be covered with contaminants that will make you sick.
A lot of cruise ships still have dinners where more formal clothes are appropriate. The last night of a cruise is usually a formal night, and a seven-day cruise will usually have two formal nights. These are the meals that used to require tuxedos or cocktail dresses. They are now optional but, if you have them dust them off and bring them along.
Many cruise lines will rent tuxedos, so you can check into this option before you go. Fewer passengers are taking this option and a dark suit and dresses are perfectly appropriate and will probably be the most common passenger attire for the formal nights.
On the other nights a sport coat and tie or pants suit are appropriate. Some cruise lines are recommending even more casual attire such as sport shirt and pants on all but the formal night. Read your cruise packet or check out the Line’s web page for your particular ship's recommendation.
There is always a big controversy regarding packing your own alcohol for use on board. Most cruise lines will allow you a bottle of champagne for a special occasion, but an extra suitcase filled with liquor is generally frowned upon. We have a few suggestions listed for you in the section on food and beverages on how to save on alcohol related purchases.
Packing a carry-on bag is important. Items of value should never go in your checked luggage. These would include cash, jewelry, medication, travel documents and a list of everything in your checked baggage. Since luggage is often not delivered to your cabin until after your first dinner, be prepared and pack a change of clothes in your carry-on as well.
You might also consider one-day items, in other words all the items you would need to make it through a 24-hour day, just in case your luggage goes missing. Keep lots of crisp one-dollar bills wherever you keep your money. This will come in handy when dealing with all the skycaps and porters. We’ll cover tipping later!
Before you go on your cruise, you’ll need to decide how much money you need, or can, bring along. You’ll probably find this easier on a cruise than for other vacations because of the all inclusive cruise programs. The cabin, on board entertainment and food are generally always included. Some things not included would be:
Other necessities of a personal nature can add up as well. Be sure to pack extras for essentials like toothbrushes, toothpaste, hair spray, soap, etc. You don’t want to find yourself in a position where you may have to buy these things on board because they’re much more expensive.
Before leaving home, consider the cost of passports, visas (for certain countries), and travel insurance (an option, but highly recommended as we have stated). You need to figure in these costs, but getting out of them isn’t an option.
Those expenses aside, the majority of on board "extras" are strictly discretionary. You can choose whether to purchase alcoholic beverages or cappuccino, for instance. And no one will blink an eye if you shy away from the casino or spa. While the extras greatly enhance the overall experience of a cruise, they can quickly add up and exceed the initial fare if you aren't careful.
Cruise passengers are caught in something of a "Catch- 22"—either pay a higher fare up front or pay for non-included items later. By determining your priorities in advance, you may find that a truly all-inclusive luxury cruise can be comparable in total cost to a mainstream or premium level cruise, depending on the category booked and your personal spending habits.
The ships generally plan on about $100/day/person in on-board revenues including drinks, shops, slots, shore events, etc. You certainly don’t HAVE to spend this much, but it’s a good starting point to consider.
It certainly is possible to not go overboard with extras, but one area to not skimp on is gratuities. We’ll have a section on that in this book, but tipping will insure great service, and that can be just as important as anything. Read the fine print in your chosen cruise line's brochure and you should face no spending bombshells once you are on board.
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