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Cruise Frequently Asked Questions


1. What are the benefits of cruising over other types of travel?
Sure, there are pros and cons to all types of travel, but cruising has become a popular option for a number of reasons:

With so much included in the price - like meals, onboard performances and much more - cruising offers fantastic value for money compared to land based holidays.

A variety of onboard and onshore activities make cruising suitable for everyone from families, couples or singles to corporate events.

Travelling from port to port usually overnight is all taken care of with no need to worry about asking directions or unpacking more than once. You'll wake up in an amazing new destination, refreshed and ready to explore.
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2. Cruises visit coastal cities. What if I want to travel farther inland?
If you want to visit incredible inland cities like Paris or Anchorage in Alaska, book a cruisetour. A cruisetour is a package that includes a cruise, an escorted land tour and hotel accommodation. The cruisetour can be taken either before or after your cruise itinerary with travel by deluxe motor coach or train.

Example: Royal Caribbean International offers approximately 21 cruisetours in Alaska.
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3. What exactly are shore & land excursions?
Shore and land excursions are tours, shows and other activities you can take advantage of while visiting various ports of call. Most excursion programs are co-ordinated with reputable tour operators and cover all the "must-see" sites and "must-do" activities of your destination.

Excursions are not included in the price of your cruise and can be reserved separately through a travel agent, while onboard the ship or via the cruise line website.
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4. What does the price of my cruise include?
The price of your cruise holiday includes:
Ship accommodation
Ocean transportation
Most meals onboard
Some beverages onboard
Most entertainment onboard
Please check with your travel agent for more details.
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5. How do I make a reservation for a cruise vacation?
Please contact your preferred travel agent.
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6. When is the final payment for my cruise vacation due?
Final payment of the balance due date will be specified by your travel agent as this vary depending on cruise line requirements, departure time, length of the cruise etc. Normally this will be between 70 to 100 days prior to the departure date of your cruise.
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7. Are there any requirements, such as visa's or inoculations, for visiting certain ports?
Given the events over the last few years, having the proper travel documents has been a considerable concern of many guests prior to enjoying a carefree holiday. Passport, visa and inoculation regulations may vary by destination and may change from time to time. For your protection, your passport must be valid for a minimum of six months after the final date of travel. It is the sole responsibility of the guest to obtain and have available when necessary, the appropriate valid travel and health documents such as passports, visas, vaccination certificates etc that are necessary for air travel, disembarkation at the various ports of call and re-entry into the appropriate country of origin.

Visas
Based on your nationality, many countries still require an entry visa. It is your responsibility to identify and to obtain all the necessary visas before commencing your cruise. Any passenger travelling without proper documentation will be denied boarding or disembarked at ports of call and no refund of the cruise fare or other costs will be issued.

Inoculation/Health Requirements
It is highly recommended that you check with your health care professional or a travel medicine specialist for guidance. Informational resources can be accessed at the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade Safe Travel website (www.safetravel.govt.nz)
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8. When will my cruise documents arrive and what should I expect?
If you reserve your cruise with a travel agent your cruise documents will be sent to your travel agent 30 days prior to sailing, assuming your reservation is finalised and your payments have been made.
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9. When can I board the ship?
The boarding time for your ship and sailing date is specified in your cruise documents. Generally your can board the ship two hours prior to the sailing time. However, please do not plan on arriving at the pier prior to the specified time as the ship will not be ready to board guests.
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10. What if my flight is delayed?
If you miss the departure of your cruise due to carrier-caused delays or other insurance covered reasons, your travel insurance should reimburses you for additional accommodation, meals and "catch-up" transportation expenses. Otherwise, you are responsible for any expense incurred to meet the ship at its next port of call. For this reason, many guests find it is easiest to arrive a day prior to sailing and stay in a hotel the night before to avoid any possible delays.
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11. What items are not allowed onboard the cruise ship?
Aside from the obvious (and illegal) items not allowed onboard, there are other items that cannot accommodate onboard. For more detailed list please check with your travel agent.

Prohibited items:
Candles
Coffee makers
Electrical transformers
Firearms
Flammable liquids and explosives (such as fireworks)
HAM radio equipment
Hockey sticks
Illegal drugs
Irons
Alcohol for personal consumption
Skateboards
Surfboards
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12. What will happen to my cruise if a storm threatens?
Cruise lines try to avoid operating any vessel in the vicinity of storms such as tropical hurricanes and they monitor the progress of these storms closely. If there is a potential threat to any of the guests or ship, the itinerary of the vessel may be altered to try to avoid any interaction with the storm or any affected areas. For specific information on your sailing, please check with your travel agent.
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13. Dietary requests?
Most cruise lines will make every attempt to accommodate special dietary requests. All requests must be made in writing through your travel agent at least 90 days prior to your departure. Some requests may not be possible due to the location of the vessel and available products at local ports.
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14. How do I pay onboard purchases?
Most cruise lines operate on a "cashless" system, meaning your boarding card will be used as a charge card to make all onboard purchases. Normally to activate your account, most guests provide a credit card (American Express, Optima, MasterCard, Visa, Discover and Diner's Club) to have purchases such as spa treatments, alcoholic beverages etc charged to. Additionally, the onboard card may be often activated with traveller's checks, debit cards or cash. Please check the details with your travel agent. At the end of your cruise, you will receive an itemized statement of your onboard purchase.
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15. What is Alcohol Policy onboard?
The sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages will be limited to guests aged 21 years or older. Most cruise lines refuse and prohibit the sale or service of alcoholic beverages to guests under the age of 21 years. Guests are kindly reminded to consume alcohol in moderation. Most cruise lines reserve the right to prohibit and retain all alcohol bought ashore for consumption onboard the vessel. For more details please check with your travel agent.
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16. Are visitor allowed onboard?
To ensure your safety and security, no visitors will be allowed aboard the ship by the majority of cruise lines.
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17. What is a dress code onboard?
For the comfort and convenience the day to day onboard dress code is casual or smart casual onboard most cruise lines. However, in the evenings, the dress code will vary daily with the largest proportion of evenings are casual. On ships with both smart casual (informal) and formal nights, you could expect to find approximately one formal night in three. The number of smart casual and formal nights is at the cruise line discretion. Please check with your travel agent the policy of the cruise line and suggested guidelines are:

Casual: Sport shirts and slacks for men, sundresses or pants for women
Smart Casual: Jackets and ties for men, dresses or pantsuits for women
Formal: Suits and ties or tuxedos for men, cocktail or evening dresses for women

Attire ashore is recommended to be casual and comfortable and we place a particular emphasis on appropriate footwear, including good walking shoes and in some destinations, reef-walkers and beach sandals. Some tourist sites may require specific attire.
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18. Gratuities onboard the ship?
Although tipping is not part of the New Zealand culture, it has long been recognised as an accepted practice aboard cruise ships (as it is in most service and hospitality industries in the western world). The gratuities policy will be detailed at the time of the booking put in place as this varies for each cruise line.

Some cruise lines include gratuities in the cruise fare yet some require it to be pre-paid prior to departing from New Zealand, while others have a no-tipping policy altogether. By far the most common policy is to charge a set per person amount (that covers your cabin steward, waiter and wine waiter) to your stateroom account. However it is important to note this amount can be altered (down or up) depending on what you want to show for the appreciation of service you have received. Remember in most cases, tipping is still discretionary.
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19. When and how can I disembark?
Once the ship has received proper clearance from the port authorities, disembarkation can begin. Specific disembarkation details will be delivered to you onboard the ship.
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20. What do I do with my luggage?
With the exception of your carry on, your luggage will need to be placed outside your stateroom in the corridor the night before departure generally by 12 midnight. Please consult with Guest Relations Desk for the exact time. On the day of your departure from the ship, you will claim your luggage in the baggage claim area of the pier terminal.
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21. Can I smoke onboard the ship?
Please check with your travel agent as each cruise line has their own policy regarding smoking onboard the ship. Generally smoking is only permitted in a limited number of public areas.
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