The Cruise A to Z: Everything You Need to Know About Cruising Holidays

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This A to Z survey from Berlitz covers the astonishing range of facilities that modern cruise ships offer and tells you how to make the most of them

Air-Conditioning

Cabin temperature can be regulated by an individually controlled thermostat, so you can adjust it to suit yourself. Public room temperatures are controlled automatically. Air temperatures are often kept cooler than you may be used to.

Art Auctions

Aboard many ships, intrusive art auctions form part of the entertainment. They are fun participation events, but don’t expect to purchase an heirloom, as most of the art pieces (lithographs and seriographs) are rubbish. It’s funny how so many identical pieces can be found aboard so many ships (as frequent cruise passengers are finding out). Also, the charges for getting art pieces framed and sent to your home (from centralized warehouses) can be a rip-off.

Baby-Sitting

In some ships, stewards, stewardesses, and other staff may be available as babysitters for an hourly fee. Make arrangements at the reception desk. Aboard some ships, evening baby-sitting services may not start until late (check times and availability before you book a cruise).

Beauty Salon/Barber Shop/Hairdressers

Make appointments as soon after boarding as possible (particularly on short cruises). Appointment times fill up rapidly, especially before social events such as a captain’s cocktail party. Charges are comparable to those ashore. Typical services: haircut for men and women, styling, permanent waving, colouring, manicure, pedicure, leg waxing.

Can I take my bicycle?

Most cruise lines will let you take your bike (preferably the folding variety due to lack of storage space). If you use a flight case, how­ever, it may not be easy to find storage space for it. Airlines will also charge you to transport your bike. Ask your travel provider to contact the cruise line for its rules.

Bridge Visits

For insurance and security reasons, almost all cruise ships prohibit bridge visits. However, a Behind the Scenes video on how the ship is run may be shown on the cabin television system.

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Cashless Cruising

It is now the norm to cruise cash-free, and to settle your account with one payment (by cash or credit card) prior to disembarking on the last day. An imprint of your credit card is taken at embarkation, permitting you to sign for everything. Before the end of the cruise, a detailed statement is delivered to your cabin. Some cruise lines may discontinue their ‘cashless’ system for the last day of the cruise, which can be most irritating. Also, some may add a ‘currency conversion service charge’ to your credit card account if it is not in the currency of the cruise line.

Ships visiting a ‘private island’ on a Bahamas/ Caribbean itinerary will probably ask you to pay cash for beverages, water sports and scuba diving gear, and other items that you purchase ashore.

Casino Gaming / Gambling

While most passengers do not choose a cruise in order to gamble, many cruise ships have casinos, where a range of table games is played (typically blackjack or 21, Caribbean stud poker, roulette, craps, and baccarat). Playing chips and cash change are available from the cashier or from banknote acceptance machines. Children under 18 are not allowed in the casino. The casino will be closed in port due to international customs regulations, and taking photographs in the casino is usually forbidden. German- and Japanese-registered ships are not permitted to operate casinos that give cash prizes.

Most cruise lines demonstrate how to play the various table games, and give free lessons. Remember that casinos provide entertainment rather than a hard-core gambling environment (such as Las Vegas), and there is no charge to enter any shipboard casino – all you need is luck.

Gaming casino operations aboard cruise ships are unregulated. However, some companies, such as Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International, abide by Nevada Gaming Control Board regulations. Some cruise lines feature blackjack and slot tournaments as well as other events. Most table games have a $5 minimum and $200 maximum – but, for serious players, Carnival Cruise Lines’ casinos have blackjack tables with a $25 minimum and $500 maximum.

Some cruise lines have ‘private gaming club’ memberships, with regular newsletters, rebates and special offers (example: Star Cruises).

Slot machines can also be found (whether casino ashore or cruise line casino, more than half of the profits are from slot machines). They provide entertainment, although they don’t require any human interaction.

Comment Cards

On the last day of the cruise you will be asked to fill out a company ‘comment card.’ Some lines offer ‘incentives’ such as a bottle of champagne. Be truthful, as the form serves as a means of communication between you and the cruise line. Pressure from staff to write ‘excellent’ for everything is rampant aboard cruise ships. But if there have been problems, say so, other­wise things are less likely to improve.

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Communications and Telephones

Most ships have a direct-dial satellite telephone system, so you can call from your cabin to anywhere in the world. All ships have an internationally recognized call sign, a combination of letters and digits.

Satellite calls can also be made when the ship is in port. Satellite telephone calls cost between US$5 and $15 a minute, depending on the type of communications equipment the ship carries (the latest systems are digital), and are charged to your onboard account.

You can reach any ship by first dialling the International Direct Dialling (IDD) code for the country you are calling from (examples: from the USA dial 011; from the UK dial 00; from Australia, dial 0011), followed by the number.

Anyone without a direct-dial telephone should call the High Seas Operator (in the United States, dial 1-800-SEA-CALL). The operator will need the name of the ship, together with the ocean code (Atlantic East is 871; Pacific is 872; Indian Ocean is 873; Atlantic West/ Caribbean/US is 874). See also Mobile phones.

Cruisespeak

The following terminology is used aboard today’s cruise ships. The correct nautical terminology is followed by the terms many cruise lines now use:

Cabin: Penthouse Suite, Junior Suite, Stateroom, or Room.
Cabin Service: Room Service.
Passenger: Guest.
Purser’s Office: Guest Relations Desk or Front Office.

Customs Regulations

All countries vary in the duty-free allowances granted by their own customs service, but you will be informed aboard your cruise ship of the allowable amounts for your nationality and residency.

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Daily Programme

This contains a useful list of the day’s activities, entertainment, and social events. It is normally delivered to your cabin the evening before the day that it covers.

Departure Tax

If you are disembarking in a foreign port and flying home, be advised that there could be a departure tax to pay (in local currency) at the airport.

Dining: Can I dine when I want to?

Yes, you can – well, almost. Several major cruise lines offer ‘flexible dining’ which allows you to choose (with some limitations) when you want to eat, and with whom you dine. Just like going out to restaurants ashore, reservations may be required (you may also have to wait in line at busy periods), and occupants of the most expensive suites get priority.

Aboard large resort ships (1,200-plus ­passengers) the big evening entertainment shows typically are staged twice each evening, so you end up with the equivalent of two-seating dining anyway.

Dining: What is ‘alternative’ dining?

Some ships now have alternative dining spots other than the main restaurant. These usually cost extra – typically between $15 and $50 a person, but the food quality is decidedly better, as is presentation, service, and ambiance. Most alternative dining spots are also typically more intimate, and much quieter than the main dining rooms.

Disembarkation

This can be the most trying part of any cruise. The cruise director will already have given an informal talk on customs, immigration, and disembarkation (sometimes called ‘debarkation’) procedures. The night before the ship reaches its destination, you will be given a customs form to fill out. Include any duty-free items, whether purchased aboard or ashore. Save the receipts in case a customs officer asks for them.

The night before arrival, place your main baggage outside your cabin on retiring (or before 2am). It will be collected and off-loaded on arrival. Leave out fragile items, liquor, and the clothes you intend to wear for disembarkation and onward travel (it is amazing just how many people pack everything, only to find they are in an embarrassing position on disembarkation day). Anything left in your cabin will be considered hand luggage to be hand-carried off when you leave.

On disembarkation day, breakfast will probably be early. It might be better to miss breakfast and sleep later, providing announcements on the ship’s public address system do not wake you (it may be possible to turn off such announcements). Even worse than early breakfast, is the fact that you will be commanded (requested, if you are lucky) to leave your cabin early, only to wait in crowded public rooms – sometimes for hours. To add insult to injury, your cabin steward (after he has received his tip, of course) will knock on the door to take the sheets off the bed so the cabin can be made up for the incoming passengers. Cruise aboard the smaller ‘upscale’ ships and this will not happen.

Before leaving the ship, remember to claim any items you have placed in the ship’s safety deposit boxes and leave your cabin key in your cabin. Passengers cannot go ashore until all baggage has been offloaded, and customs and/or immigration inspections or pre-inspections have been carried out. In most ports, this takes two to three hours after arrival. It is wise to leave at least three hours from the time of arrival to catch a connecting flight or other transportation. Once off the ship, you identify your baggage on the pier before going through customs inspection. Porters may be there to assist you.

Duty-free liquor purchases

If you go to the Caribbean and buy a box of ‘duty-free’ liquor, you’ll have to hand-carry it off the ship. Also, be aware that if you fly home from a US airport after your cruise, you are not permitted to take any liquid items larger than 100ml in your hand luggage. Unless you place the liquor in your checked baggage, there’s no point purchasing it – it will simply be confiscated.

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Engine Room

For insurance and security reasons, visits to the engine room are seldom allowed. In some ships, a technical information leaflet may be available. Aboard others, a Behind the Scenes video may be shown on the cabin television system. For more specific information, contact a member of the ship’s engineering staff via the reception desk.

Can I send and receive Emails?

Aboard most ships, email facilities have now been added to some degree or other. Several ships have an Internet café, or Internet-Connect Centre, where you can ‘log on’ for about 50¢ per minute. However, you should note that connections and downloads are often slow compared to land-based services (shipboard emails link through satellite systems, and are therefore more expensive than land-based connections).

For many companies, email has now become an important revenue generator. One luxury cruise ship, Europa (operated by Hapag-Lloyd Cruises) even provides a full personal computer in every cabin with 24 hour internet/email connectivity.

What is Expedition Cruising?

Expedition cruises are operated by small ships that have ice-strengthened hulls or with specially constructed ice-breakers that enable them to reach areas that are totally inaccessible to ‘normal’ cruise ships. The ships are typically converted to carry passengers in some degree of basic comfort, with comfortable accommodation and a relaxed, in­formal atmosphere, with expert lecturers and expedition leaders accompanying every cruise.

These cruises really are for small groups, and much care and attention is placed on minimizing the impact on the environment.

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Gambling

(See Casinos)

Gift Shops

The gift shop/boutique/drugstore offers souvenirs, gifts, toiletries, logo and duty-free items, as well as a basic stock of essential items. Duty-free items, such as perfumes and watches are competitively priced. Opening hours are posted at the store and in the Daily Programme.

How about bringing Golf Clubs?

Yes, you can. However, although cruise lines do not charge for carrying them, some airlines do. Some ships cater for golfers with mini-golf courses on deck and electronically monitored practice areas.

Internet Access

Most large resort ships have internet access (for a fee). This can be slow, due to uplink/downlink to satellites, and the fact that ships often move out of the satellite’s ‘footprint.’ Charges are typically $0.50-$0.75 per minute, although bulk packages of 30, 60, or 100 minutes may be available.

Launch (Tender) Services

Enclosed or open motor launches (‘tenders’) are used when your cruise ship is unable to berth at a port or island. In such cases, a regular launch service is operated between ship and shore for the duration of the port call. Details of the launch service will be provided in the Daily Programme.

When stepping on or off a tender, remember to extend ‘forearm to forearm’ to the person assisting you. Do not grip their hands because this simply has the effect of immobilizing the helper.

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Launderette

Some ships have self-service launderettes, equipped with washers, dryers, and ironing facilities. There may be a charge for washing powder and for use of the machines.

Laundry and Dry Cleaning

Most ships offer a full laundry and pressing service. Some ships may also offer dry-cleaning facilities. A detailed list of services (and prices) can be found in your cabin. Your steward will collect and deliver your laundry or dry cleaning.

Library

Most cruise ships have a library offering a good selection of books, reference material, and periodicals. A small deposit (refundable on return of the book) may be required when you borrow a book. Aboard the small luxury ships, the library is open 24 hours a day, and no deposit is required. Aboard large resort ships, the library may be open only a couple of hours a day. Aurora, Oriana, QE2, QM2 and Queen Victoria are examples of ships with full-time, qualified librarians (aboard most other ships a member of the cruise staff or entertainment staff – with little knowledge of books or authors – staffs the library). The library may have board games such as Scrabble, backgammon and chess.

Lido

This is a deck devoted to swimming pools, hot tubs, showers, and recreation. Aboard most cruise ships, it includes a self-serve buffet.

Lifeboat Drill

There have been few recent incidents requiring the evacuation of passengers, although two cruise ships were lost following collisions (Jupiter, 1988, and Royal Pacific, 1992). Travel by ship, however, remains one of the safest means of transportation. Even so, it cannot be stressed enough that attendance at lifeboat drill not only makes sense, but it is mandatory. Make sure you know your boat station or assembly point and how to get to it in the event of an emergency.

If other passengers are lighthearted about the drill, do not let that distract you. Be sure to note your exit and escape pathways and learn how to put on your lifejacket correctly. The drill takes no more than 15 minutes and is a good investment in playing safe (the Royal Pacific sank in just 16 minutes following a collision).

A Passenger Lifeboat Drill must be held within 24 hours of leaving the embarkation port. An announcement is made, along these lines: ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention, please? This is the captain speaking to you from the bridge. In 15 minutes’ time, the ship’s alarm bells will signal emergency lifeboat drill for all passengers and crew. This is a mandatory drill, conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Safety of Life at Sea Convention. The emergency signal is a succession of seven or more short blasts followed by one long blast of the ship’s whistle, supplemented by the ringing of the electric gongs throughout the ship. On hearing this signal, make your way quickly to your cabin, put on warm clothing and your lifejacket, then follow the signs to your emergency boat station, where you will be kept fully informed over the loudspeakers through which I am speaking to you now.’

Lost Property

Contact the reception desk immediately if you lose or find something on the ship. Notices regarding lost and found property may be posted on the bulletin boards.

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Medical Services

Except for ships registered in the UK or Norway, there are no mandatory international maritime requirements for cruise lines to carry a licensed physician or to have hospital facilities aboard. However, in general, all ships carrying over 50 passengers do have medical facilities and carry at least one licensed doctor. The standard of medical practice and of the physicians themselves may vary from line to line. Most shipboard doctors are generalists; there are no cardiologists or neurosurgeons. Doctors are typically employed as outside contractors and will charge for use of their services, including seasickness shots. UK passengers should note that ships fall outside Britain’s National Health Service scheme.

Regrettably, many cruise lines place a low priority on providing medical services (there are some exceptions). Most shipboard physicians are not certified in trauma treatment or medical evacuation procedures, for example. Some medical organizations, such as the American College of Emergency Physicians, have a special division for cruise medicine. Most ships that cater to North American passengers tend to carry doctors licensed in the United States, Canada, or Britain, but aboard many other ships, doctors come from a variety of countries and disciplines.

Cunard Line’s QE2, with 2,921 passengers and crew, has a fully equipped hospital with one surgeon, one doctor, a staff of six nurses, and two medical orderlies; contrast this with Carnival’s Sensation, which carries up to 3,514 passengers and crew, with just one doctor and two nurses.

Standards and equipment vary widely. Any ship operating long-distance cruises, with several days at sea, should have better medical facilities and a better qualified staff than one engaged in a seven-day Caribbean cruise, with a port of call almost every day.

Ideally, a ship’s medical staff should be certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support. The minimal equipment should include an examination room, isolation ward/bed, X-ray machine (to verify broken or fractured bones), cardiac monitor (EKG) and defibrillator, oxygen-saturation monitor (to determine a patient’s blood-oxygen level), external pacemaker, oxygen, suction and ventilators, haematology analyzer, culture incubator, and a mobile trolley intensive care unit.

Any existing health problems that require treatment on board must be reported when you book. Aboard some ships, you may be charged for filling a prescription in addition to the cost of prescribed drugs. There may also be a charge if you are unwell, have to cancel a shore excursion and need a doctor’s letter to prove it.

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Mobile phones

Cruise passengers use mobile phones on open decks, in cabins, and, sadly, even in restaurants. Most cruise lines have contracts with land-based phone service companies (rates for usage vary, but you will typically pay international roaming rates). Mobile phone signals piggy­back off systems that transmit internet data via satellite. When your ship is in port, the ship’s network may be switched off and you will pay the going local (country-specific) rate for mobile calls.

If you’re desperate to escape the cellular cruise crowd, try an Arctic, Antarctic, or South Pacific cruise. You might just be lucky.

Movies

Some (but not many) ships have a dedicated movie theatre. The movies are provided by a licensed film distribution/leasing service. Many newer ships have replaced or supplemented the movie theatre with TV sets and DVD players in cabins, or with giant poolside screens.

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News and Sports Bulletins

The world’s news and sports results are reported in the ship’s newspaper or placed on the bulletin board that is normally located near the reception desk or in the library. For sports results not listed, ask the reception desk whether they can be obtained.

What is a Panamax ship?

This is one that conforms to the maximum dimensions possible for passage through the Panama Canal (useful particularly for around-the-world voyages). These dimensions are: 294 metres (964.56 ft) long, with a beam of 32.3 metres (105.97 ft); or below approximately 90,000 GT (gross tons).

Passenger Lists

Ships of yesteryear provided passenger lists with each passenger’s name and hometown or region. Today, only a few do so.

Photographs

Professional photographers take pictures (increasingly digital) of passengers during embarkation and throughout the cruise. They cover all the main events and social functions, such as the captain’s cocktail party. The pictures can be viewed without any obligation to purchase, but the prices may surprise. The cost is now likely to exceed $10 for a postcard-sized colour photograph, and a 10 x 8-inch embarkation photo aboard Queen Mary 2, for example, is a whopping $27.50.

Postcards and Writing Paper

These are available from the writing room, library, or reception desk (purser’s office). Aboard some ships, they are available for a modest sum.

Postal Services / Mail

You can buy stamps and mail letters aboard most ships. Some ships use the postal privileges and stamps of their flag of registration, while others buy local stamps at ports of call. Mail is usually taken ashore by the ship’s port agent just before the ship sails. You will receive a list of port agents and mailing addresses with your tickets and documents, so you can advise friends and family how they can send mail to you.

Reception Desk

This is also known as the Purser’s Office, guest relations, or information desk. Centrally located, it is the nerve centre of the ship for general passenger information and problems. Opening hours (in some ships, 24 hours a day) are posted outside the office and given in the Daily Programme.

Religious Services

Interdenominational services are conducted on board, usually by the captain or staff captain. A few older ships (and Costa Cruises’ ships) have a small private chapel. Denominational services may be taken by clergy traveling as passengers.

Room Service

Beverages and snacks are available at most times. Liquor is normally limited to the opening hours of the ship’s bars. Your room steward will advise you of the services. Some ships may charge for room service.

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Safety First

The training of crew in relation to safety and security has become extremely important – so much so that new international regulations require all crew to undergo basic safety training before they are allowed to work aboard any cruise ship. Crew are no longer recruited with the intention of providing on-the-job training.

Safeguards for passengers include lifeboats and life rafts, and safety comes under an international convention called SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea). All cruise ships built since July 1, 1986, must have either totally enclosed or partially enclosed lifeboats (only ships built before this date can have open lifeboats). These have diesel engines that will still operate when the lifeboat is inverted.

The 1990 SOLAS standards on stability and fire protection (mandating the enclosing of all stairways and the installation of sprinkler and smoke detection systems and ‘low-location’ lighting) for all new ship construction took effect on October 1, 1997. Existing ships were given another five years to comply.

Since October 1, 1997, all cruise ships have had:

• Smoke detectors and smoke alarms fitted in all passenger cabins and all public spaces.
  
• Low-level lighting showing routes of escape (such as in corridors and stairways).
  
• All fire doors throughout the ship controllable from the ship’s navigation bridge.
  
• All fire doors that are held open by hinges capable of release from a remote location.
  
• Emergency alarms audible in all cabins.

Since July 1, 2002, all ocean-going cruise ships on international voyages have been required to carry voyage data recorders (VDRs – similar to black boxes carries by aircraft).

In 2010, the use of combustible materials in cruise ship construction (allowed under the previous SOLAS 60 regulations) will be forbidden.

The crew attends frequent emergency drills, the lifeboat equipment is regularly tested, and the fire-detecting devices, and alarm and fire-fighting systems are checked throughout the ship. If you spot fire or smoke, use the nearest fire alarm box, alert a member of staff, or contact the bridge.

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Safety: Shipboard Injury

Slipping, tripping, and falling are the major sources of shipboard injury. This does not mean that ships are unsafe, but there are some things you can do to minimize the chance of injury.
In your cabin: Aboard many pre-1980 ships, raised thresholds separate the bathroom from the sleeping area. Do not hang anything from the fire sprinkler heads located on the cabin ceilings.
On older ships, it is wise to note how the door lock works. Some require a key on the inside in order to unlock the door. Leave the key in the lock, so that in the event of a real emergency, you do not have to hunt for the key.

On deck: Aboard older ships, watch for raised thresholds in doorways leading to the open deck. Be alert and do not trip over them.

Wear sensible shoes with rubber soles (not crepe) when walking on deck or going to pool and lido areas. Leave the high heels at home!

Walk with caution when the outer decks are wet after being washed, or if they are wet after rain. This applies especially to steel decks – falling onto a solid steel deck can be really painful.

Do not throw a lighted cigarette or cigar butt, or knock out your pipe, over the ship’s side. They can easily be sucked into an opening in the ship’s side or onto an aft open deck area, and cause a fire.

First, however, read your ticket. The passenger ticket is a legal contract between passenger and cruise line. It will invariably state that you must file suit in the state (or country) designated in the ticket. Thus, if a resident of California buys a cruise, and the cruise line is based in Florida, then the lawsuit must be filed in Florida. If you reside in the US and you purchase a cruise in the Mediterranean and the ship’s registry is Italy, then you would have to file suit in Italy. This is known as the Forum Clause.

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Safety: Shipboard Fire

Shipboard fires can generate an incredible amount of heat, smoke, and often panic. In the unlikely event that you are in one, try to remain calm and think logically and clearly.

When you board the ship and get to your cabin, check the way to the nearest emergency exits fore and aft. Count the number of cabin doorways and other distinguishing features to the exits in case you have to escape without the benefit of lighting, or in case the passageway is filled with smoke and you cannot see clearly. All ships now use ‘low location’ lighting systems, which are either the electroluminescent or photo­luminescent type.

Exit signs are normally located just above your head; however, this is virtually useless, as smoke and flames always rise. Note the nearest fire alarm location and know how to use it in case of dense smoke and/or no lighting. In future, it is likely that directional sound evacuation beacons will be mandated; these will direct passengers to exits, escape-ways and other safe areas and appear to be better than the present inadequate visual aids.

If you are in your cabin and there is fire in the passageway outside, first put on your lifejacket and feel the cabin door. If the door handle is hot, soak a towel in water and use it to turn the handle of the door. If there is a raging fire in the passageway, cover yourself in wet towels and go through the flames. It may be your only means of escape, unless you have a balcony cabin.

Check the passageway. If there are no flames, or if everything looks clear, walk to the nearest emergency exit or stairway. If there is smoke in the passageway, crawl to the nearest exit. If the exit is blocked, then go to an alternate one. It may take considerable effort to open a heavy fire door to the exit. Don’t use the elevators: they may stop at a deck that’s on fire or full of smoke, or be out of action altogether.

If there’s a fire in your cabin or on the balcony, report it immediately by telephone. Then get out of your cabin if you can and close the door behind you to prevent smoke or flames from entering the passageway. Finally, sound the alarm and alert your neighbours.

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Sailing Time

In each port of call, sailing and all-aboard times are posted at the gangway. The all-aboard time is usually half an hour before sailing (ships cannot wait for passengers who are delayed). If you miss the ship, it’s your responsibility to get to the next port of call to re-join the vessel; read the Passenger Ticket Contract for details.

Seasickness

Today’s ships have stabilizers – large underwater ‘fins’ on each side of the hull – to counteract any rolling motion, and most cruises are in warm, calm waters. As a result, fewer than 3 percent of passengers become seasick. Nevertheless, it is possible to develop some symptoms – anything from slight nausea to vomiting.

Both old-time sailors and modern physicians have their own remedies, and you can take your choice or try them all (but not at the same time):

• When you notice the first movement of a ship, go out on deck and walk back and forth. You will find that your knees, which are our own form of stabilizer, will start getting their feel of balance and counteraction. This is the sign that you are ‘getting your sea legs.’
  
• Get the fresh sea breeze into your face (arguably the best antidote of all), and if nauseated, suck an orange or a lemon.
  
• When on deck, focus on a steady point, such as the horizon.
  
• Eat lightly. Do not make the mistake of thinking a heavy meal will keep your stomach well anchored. It will not.
  
• Dramamine (dimenhydrinate, an anti-histamine and sedative introduced just after World War II) will be available aboard in tablet (chewable) form.
  
• Scopoderm (also known as Transderm Scop), known as ‘The Patch’ (manufactured by Ciba-Geigy), has an ingredient known as scopolamine, which has proven effective. It was reintroduced in 1997 after being off the market for several years. Possible side effects are dry mouth, blurred vision, drowsiness and problems with urinating.
  
• If you are really distressed, the ship’s doctor can give you an injection to alleviate discomfort. It may make you drowsy, but the last thing on your mind will be staying awake at the movie.
  
• A natural preventive is ginger in powder form. Mix half a teaspoon in a glass of warm water or milk, and drink it before sailing. This is said to settle any stomach for up to eight hours.
  
• ‘Sea Bands’ (or ‘Aquastraps’) are a drug-free method of controlling motion sickness. These are slim bands (in varying colours) that are wrapped around the wrist, with a circular ‘button’ that presses against the acupressure point Pericardium 6 (nei kuan) on the lower arm. Attach them a few minutes before you step aboard and wear on both wrists throughout the cruise.
  
• Another drug-free remedy can be found in ReliefBand, a watch-like device worn on the wrist. It is said to ‘emit gentle electrical signals that interfere with nerves that cause nausea.’
  

Security

A recognized standard of passenger ship protection exists, following the hijacking of Achille Lauro in 1985, and the terrorist atrocities in New York and Washington in September 2001. You will be required to go through metal detection devices at the gangway, and your baggage will be inspected more stringently.

It is recommended that you keep your cabin locked at all times when you are not there. Old-style keys are made of metal and operate a lock; almost all the newer ships have plastic key cards that operate electronically coded locks. Cruise lines do not accept responsibility for any money or valuables left in cabins and suggest that you store them in a safety deposit box at the purser’s office, or, if one is provided, in your in-cabin personal safe.

You will be issued a personal boarding pass when you embark (these now typically include your photo, lifeboat station, restaurant seating, and other pertinent information). This serves as identification to be shown at the gangway each time you board (you may also be asked for government-issued photo ID, such as a passport).

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Shipboard Etiquette

Cruise lines want you to have a good vacation, but there are some rules to be observed:

• In public rooms, smoking and nonsmoking sections are available. In the dining room, however, cigar and pipe smoking are not permitted at all.
  
• If you take a video camera with you, be aware that you are not allowed to record any of the professional entertainment shows because of regulations designed to prevent international copyright infringement.

It is all right to be casual when on vacation, but not to enter a ship’s dining room in just a bathing suit. Bare feet, likewise, are not permitted. If you are uncomfortable eating with the typical 10-piece dining room cutlery setting, some cruise lines have introduced etiquette classes to help you.

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Shore Excursions

These used to be limited to city tours and venues that offered folkloric dances by local troupes. Today’s excursions are almost limitless, and include flight-seeing, floatplane rides, cross-country four-wheel drive trips, mountain biking, ziplining, dog sledding, overland safaris, and other ‘active’ excursions. Indeed, be careful or you could end up spending far more on shore excursions than the price of your cruise.

Cruise lines plan and oversee shore excursions assuming that you have not seen a place and aim to show you its highlights in a comfortable manner and at a reasonable price. Buses, rather than taxis or private cars, are often used. This cuts costs and allows the tour operator to narrow the selection of guides to only those most competent, knowledgeable, and fluent in whatever language the majority of passengers speak, while providing some degree of security and control.

Departure times are listed in the descriptive literature and in the Daily Programme, and may (but shouldn’t) be announced over the ship’s public address system. There are no refunds if you miss the excursion. If you are hearing-impaired, therefore, arrange for the shore excursion manager to assist you in meeting at the right times.

The ship’s Shore Excursions Manager is the eyes and ears of the cruise line, and can recommend to the head office that any excursion be suspended if it is below standard. Shore excursion staff will be dockside dispatching the excursions in each port.

Most excursions give little in-depth history, and the general knowledge of guides is often limited. City excursions are basically superficial. To get to know a city intimately, go alone or with a small group. Take a taxi or bus, or walk directly to places that interest you.

Many ships operate diving excursions at a reasonable price that includes all equipment. Instruction is offered on board, and underwater cameras can often be rented, too.

When you buy a shore excursion from the cruise line (whether via your travel agent or over the internet), you are typically fully covered by the ship’s insurance; arrange it on your own and you are not covered when you step off the ship. My advice: always check when you buy any excursion that you will be fully protected under the terms of the passenger ticket contract.

Shore excursions may be booked in advance via the internet; if not, booking forms may be forwarded with your cruise tickets and documents. In some ships, they can be booked via the interactive TV system in your cabin. Book early, particularly those listed as ‘limited participation,’ as places are restricted and sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Where shore excursions can be booked before the sailing date, they are often sold out.

For cancellations, most ships require a minimum of 24 hours’ notice before the advertised shore excursion departure time. Refunds are at the discretion of the cruise line.

Take along only what is necessary; leave any valuables aboard ship, together with any money and credit cards you do not plan to use. Groups of people are often targets for pickpockets in popular sightseeing destinations and major cities. Also, beware of excursion guides who give you a coloured disk to wear for ‘identification.’ They may be marking you as a ‘rich’ tourist for local shopkeepers.

Going solo? If you hire a taxi for sightseeing, negotiate the price in advance, and don’t pay until you get back to the ship or to your final destination. If you are with friends, hiring a taxi for a full- or half-day sightseeing trip can often work out far cheaper than renting a car, and you also avoid the hazards of driving. Naturally, prices vary according to destination, but if you can select a driver who speaks your language, and the taxi is comfortable, even air-conditioned, you are ahead.

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Shopping

Many cruise lines operating in Alaska, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and the Mexican Riviera engage an outside company that provides the services of a ‘shopping lecturer.’ This person promotes ‘selected’ shops, goods, and services heavily, fully authorized by the cruise line (which receives a commission). This relieves the cruise director of responsibility, together with any questions concerning his involvement, credibility, and financial remuneration.

Shopping maps, with ‘selected’ stores highlighted, are placed in your cabin. Often, they come with a ‘guarantee’ such as: ‘Shop with confidence at each of the recommended stores. Each merchant listed on this map has been carefully selected on the basis of quality, fair dealing, and value. These merchants have given Cruise Line X a guarantee of satisfaction valid for 30 days after purchase, excluding passenger negligence and buyers’ regret, and have paid a promotional fee for inclusion as a guaranteed store.’

When shopping time is included in shore excursions, be wary of stores recommended by tour guides – they are likely to be receiving commissions from the merchants. Shop around before you buy. Good shopping hints and recommendations are often given in the port lecture at the start of your cruise. When buying local handicrafts, make sure they have indeed been made locally. Be wary of ‘bargain-priced’ name brands, as they may well be counterfeit and of dubious quality. For watches, check the guarantee.

Remember that the ship’s shops are also duty-free and, for the most part, competitive in price. The shops on board are closed while in port, however, due to international customs regulations.

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What about showers and personal hygiene?

Anyone concerned about personal hygiene should note that some ships have fixed shower heads. Better are those that have a removable shower and hose, for washing those parts that fixed head showers can’t reach. Check with your cruise provider before you book.

Do ships have Spas?

The newest ships have more space allotted to spas, with a wide range of mollycoddling, body pampering treatments and ‘rituals’ designed to promote your feeling of well-being – at a price. Aboard some ships, whole spa packages, some lasting days, are available (at extra cost), perhaps leaving you with no time to go ashore. Fitness buffs will find weapons of mass reduction designed to defuse the extra inches supplied by those multi-course dinners.

Treatment rooms, some with integral showers, are flexible and can be adapted to incorporate the latest trends, gimmicks, and themes.

Swimming Pools

Most ships have outdoor or indoor swimming pools, or both. They may be closed in port owing to local health regulations and/or cleaning. Opening hours will be listed in the daily programme. Diving is not allowed, since pools are shallow.

Parents should note that most pools are unsupervised. Be aware that some ships use excessive chlorine or bleaching agents for cleaning; these could cause bathing suit colours to run. Do swimming pools have steps rather than ladders? Not many, due to space considerations, although they are useful for older passengers. Some examples: Aurora, Crystal Serenity, Crystal Symphony, Ocean Village, Oriana.

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Television

Programming is obtained from a mixture of satellite feeds and onboard videos. Some ships lock on to live international news programmes (such as CNN or BBC World), or to text-only news services. Satellite TV reception can at times be poor because ships constantly move out of the narrow beam transmitted from the satellite and cannot always ‘track’ the signal as accurately as a land-based facility.

Tender Services

(See Launches)

Tipping (Gratuities)

Many travelers feel that the ship should host its passengers, and that the passengers should not host the crew by means of tips, so the question of tipping is awkward and embarrassing. Gratuities (at about $10 per person, per day) are added automatically to onboard accounts by almost all the 10 major cruise lines. Gratuities are included in the cruise fare aboard a small number of ships (principally those in the luxury end of the market), where no extra tipping is permitted – in theory.

In some ships, subtle suggestions are made regarding tips; in others, cruise directors get carried away and are simply dictatorial regarding tipping. Some ships offer hints on tipping via the in-cabin video system. Some cruise brochures state ‘tipping is not required.’ It may not be required, but will definitely be expected by the staff. Here are the accepted industry guidelines (in US $):

Dining room waiter: $3–$4 per person per day;
Busboy (assistant waiter): $1.50–$2 per day;
Cabin steward or stewardess: $3–$3.50 per person per day;
Butler: $5–$6 per person per day.

Aboard many ships, a gratuity of 10 or 15 percent is automatically added to your bar bill, whether you get good service or not, and to spa treatments.

Tips are normally given on the last evening of a cruise of up to 14 days’ duration. For longer cruises, you would hand over half of the tip halfway through and the rest on your last evening.

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Valuables

Most ships have a small personal safe installed in each cabin. However, items of special value should be kept in a safety deposit box in the purser’s office. You will then have simple and convenient access to your valuables during the cruise.

Visitors

Bon voyage parties are a thing of the past. They are no longer possible (with the possible exception of ships operating around-the-world cruises) owing to recent security and insurance regulations.

Water Sports

Some small ships have a water sports platform that is lowered from the ship’s stern or side. These ships carry windsurfers, waterski boats, jet skis, water skis, and scuba and snorkel equipment, usually at no extra charge. Some may also have an enclosed swimming ‘cage’ if local fish are unwelcoming.

Such facilities look good in brochures, but ships are often reluctant to use them. This is because many itineraries have too few useful anchor ports. Also, the sea must be in an almost flat calm condition – seldom the case. Insurance regulations can be restrictive too.

Wine, Beer and Liquor

The cost of drinks on board is generally lower than on land, since ships have access to duty-free liquor. Drinks may be ordered in the dining room, at any of the ship’s bars or from room service. Some lines charge ‘corkage,’ a fee to deter passengers from bringing their own wines into the dining room.

In the dining room, you can order wine with your meals from an extensive and reasonably priced wine list. For wine with your dinner, it’s worth placing your order at lunchtime, as wine waiters are very busy during the evening meal.

Some ships sell duty-free wine and liquor to drink in your cabin. You can not normally bring these into the dining room or public rooms, nor any duty-free wine or liquor bought in port.

These regulations protect bar sales, a substantial source of onboard revenue.

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Berlitz Guide © Apa Publications 2008