This article about cruise travel tips is appealing for
those interested about this topic.
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Congratulations! It’s time to make your reservations! There are a few things you’ll need to know
next. They’re just housekeeping items,
but it’s always good to be prepared!
First,
you’ll need a list of the names of the passengers that will be going on the
cruise. You’ll have to bill your trip to
a major credit card, so have the card type, number, and expiration date on
hand. They may ask for that little
three-digit number on the back of the card.
Why, I have no idea, but it seems anymore almost everyone asks for that
number!
Obviously, you will need to
have selected a ship and cruise date, and have in mind any pre or post-cruise
activities that you are booking through the Cruise Line. You’ll need to have decided how you are
getting to the port so you can book an air/sea package, check on shuttle
services or parking policies.
They will ask you for your
choice of cabin and you need to have already selected your meal seating and the
names of any other passengers you wish to have join you at your table for those
meals. If you have special requests such
as dietary needs, inform the cruise line when booking. As a note, many ships do not allow smoking
except for in very specific designated areas, so don’t be surprised if you
request a smoking table for dinner and they have none available.
This is also the time to book
any shore excursions, if you are already sure you plan on going on a particular
one. If you’re not sure, that’s all right too.
You can book them once you board and have had the chance to look through
the multitude of activities that will be available to you.
If you have discount or
coupon information you want to use, do so at booking. This is a great time, as well, to ask for any
discounts they may be offering that you don’t know about. If you’re not paying for the trip completely,
ask when the last payment will be due and how you will be receiving your
tickets.
You will also have to decide
about trip insurance. What is trip
insurance? This is also often referred to as trip
cancellation insurance, but most policies do more than protect you if your
vacation is cancelled. Policies are sold
that will refund your losses if you have to cancel your cruise beyond the time
you could get a full refund from the cruise line. They can also offer protection if a delay
causes you to miss the ship. Policies
may extend coverage to protect your luggage or other personal belongings.
Many offer a very important extension of
medical coverage to protect you if you become ill or are injured while on your
vacation. As with any insurance, each policy will vary in its cost, deductible,
protections and exemptions. You’ll need to read the individual policy yourself
to find the best coverage for you.
Purchasing trip insurance is
certainly worth your strong consideration. With most cruises, you book far in
advance and although we don’t like to think about it, many things can happen in
a year’s time that would cause you to miss your cruise. Most airlines and
cruise lines state very low liability limits. If they lose or damage your
luggage, you’ll probably not receive enough to cover your losses.
You should look closely at your own
personal medical coverage. You may not have any coverage at all outside the
When you do consider the trip
insurance, be sure to read the fine print. As with any insurance, there are
exceptions and in many cases pre-existing conditions are not covered. You want
to make sure the policy you buy is a good one for you
If you book a cruise directly
on the Internet, find out if you will receive confirmation in the mail
physically or virtually through e-mail.
I know of a person who recently took a cruise and was waiting for their
information packet to arrive. When he
called to find out where it was, they were to have sent it to him in his
e-mail. They re-sent the info and he had
everything he needed right there printed off on his home computer including
boarding passes!
Once you get this
information, read through it thoroughly.
It is filled with most everything you need to know about your trip. Forms will be included that you should fill
out in advance, so you don’t keep people waiting in line. It should also have a
section on the travel documentation you'll need to go on the cruise. If you get
the packet in the mail, there should be tags for your luggage inside the
packet.
You will also get instructions on how,
when and where you will meet the ship. You’ll want to get the ship’s satellite
communications telephone number so you can leave it with someone in case of an
emergency. You should also check your
booking to reconfirm all your plans.
It never hurts to confirm
your reservation directly with the cruise line, especially if you depended on
someone else to book your cruise for you. Be sure to verify all your booking
information and make sure that the cruise line has the correct contact
information in case they need to contact you before the cruise.
Now that the reservation has
been made, you’ll need to prepare for your trip. This involves much more than just packing up
your clothes and getting traveler’s checks!
The next chapter focuses on that.