Frequently Asked Questions

3.) How do I pay gratuities? May I use my debit card on the ship? It has become customary for cruise ships to include pre-paid tips in any initial cruise price offer. Most guests no longer worry about paying tips at the end of their cruise. Most tips today are pre-paid. However, to board ship you still must give Royal Caribbean and Celebrity your credit card to use for ship charges. You personally will be required to go on line and submit your legal name, passport and credit card number before boarding documents can be released. You will be required to open a personal cruise account using a password known only to you. will provide you detailed instructions on how to complete this task a few weeks before your cruise departs. Upon boarding ship you are issued a cruise key card which looks like a credit card. Every day your tips for attendants who serve you are deducted from your pre-paid cash or credit card. The tip is usually $14.50 (fourteen dollars and 50 cents) per day per guest, regardless of your age and regardless if you are in an Inside, Ocean View or Balcony Stateroom. Passengers in Junior Suites or higher pay more in tips per day per guest. Be sure to travel with a CREDIT card and not a DEBIT card because as Bank of America explains, "If fraud is committed on a credit card the bank will protect its card. But if fraud happens to your personal debit card the bank will not protect your personal account." Simply put: the bank protects the credit card it issues you, but does not protect your personal bank account. It is best to travel with a credit card or cash or both. There is a safe in every stateroom to hold your cash, passport and other valuables. You are welcome to pay extra cash tips to your attendants at the end of the cruise. Sometimes cruise attendants lay out envelopes on your bed the last night at sea in case you want to leave them extra tips. You can write on the envelopes that you've already pre-paid the tips. Or, you could put in extra cash. Many guests leave behind the foreign currency they've picked up on shore since they cannot use the foreign money when they return home. It is also customary to give a $1 cash tip to an attendant who delivers any item to your cabin during the cruise such as laundry or flowers. Attendants who deliver food to your room will automatically charge a "convenience fee" to your cabin before delivering the food.

4.) How do I pay my own expenses on the ship? Before boarding ship you will be asked for a credit card or to deposit a minimum $500 cash. You are then issued a stateroom key card. It looks like a credit card. All your purchases on the ship are charged to your key card debiting your credit card or drawing down on your $500 cash deposit. Guest Relations notifies you during the cruise when your cash deposit is running low and/or when your credit card has reached its limit. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity will announce your name over a loud speaker throughout the ship asking you to come to Guest Relations if your account is overdrawn. Be prepared with a back-up plan to replenish your money sources if needed. You can not obtain cash in the ship's casino. In fact, there are no cash advances permitted on board any Royal Caribbean or Celebrity ships in casinos or at Guest Relations using either credit or debit cards. The only way to obtain cash on board ship is to use an ATM machine or to cash one personal check per guest per cruise at Guest Relations for a $200 maximum drawn on an American bank. You should know that ATMs are usually out of money because other guests deplete them quickly. And ditto for ATMs on shore. They often are depleted too because passengers from earlier cruise ships tapped them out as well. Crew members do not service ATM machines. In fact, no one on board ship can assist you when an ATM is down. They are serviced only by contractors on land when a ship is docked. Plus, if any cash can be drawn out of an ATM machine on a ship it charges at least a 6% service fee. Do not count on ATM machines on any ship or on shore to provide you with cash. They are not reliable. If you are lucky enough to find an ATM machine on shore that does give you cash the currency will not be U.S. Dollars. It will be in the currency of that country. The best way to travel is to bring at least 50 $1 U.S. bills to make exact change. If it's a two week cruise bring 100 $1 bills. Do not use your debit card when you travel. Bank of America says banks protect credit cards they issue from fraud, but banks do not protect personal debit cards. Be sure. Be safe. Be smart. Do not expose your personal debit card to any potential criminal activity. Travel with a credit card in your name. Gift credit cards are not accepted on any ship. Use them before you arrive to the ship. The cruise lines no longer gives you an itemized invoice under your stateroom door the morning your cruise ends. Instead the cruise lines will e-mail your final cruise statement to you after you return home. This is not convenient because then it is practically impossible to question any expense. Be alert during the cruise! Question any unknown charges at Guest Relations before you leave the ship. From time to time during the cruise go to Guest Relations and ask for a print out of your cruise account, or you can review your account on the TV set in your room. Be sure each charge is correct. If you find a mistake obtain a receipt from Guest Relations for any refund or credit you are due. Always get a receipt for EVERY transaction you make on the ship. You will need receipts for documentation if you find incorrect charges on your credit card. You can not get back monies after you exit the ship. The best you can hope for is to convince your credit card company to stop payment. But even then you must provide receipt(s) to back up your claim. Do not leave Guest Relations without written proof on the ship's letterhead stationery that you have credit forthcoming, if you do. Without written proof it's doubtful you'll ever see it.

5.) What do I wear? Club members dress fashionably when they take a cruise. Favorite seasonal outfits are fine. On any ship there are no changing rooms near swimming pools. Guests wear shorts or robes over swim suits when walking to and from the pools. Guests dress nicely for dinner each evening. There are Formal nights on Royal Caribbean and Evening Chic nights on Celebrity. They're usually the Captain’s Welcome Dinner the second night at sea and Captain’s Farewell Dinner the next to last night at sea. Longer cruises have 3 Formal or Evening Chic nights. Minimum formal attire for a lady is cocktail attire. Gentlemen are encouraged to wear a dark dressy suit with a tie. Men may not have open collars, or pull over shirts, or short pants ever in the formal dining room. Men who wear tuxes are a big hit on formal nights. To rent a tux on Royal Caribbean call 800-590-6193. Call at least 30 days before departure to assure tux availability. Cost is reasonable. Celebrity does not offer tux rentals. There are no public laundries on Royal Caribbean or Celebrity ships. But room service does offer dry cleaning and ironing for a small fee. Because they are a fire hazard irons may not be brought onto any ship. The list below can help you plan your cruise wardrobe. No guest may ever dine in the formal dining room in jeans. Shirts in the formal dining hall must have stitched sleeves and collars, regardless of whether the meal is breakfast, lunch or dinner. Polo shirts are not proper attire in the formal dining room. Why must guests dress up? Guests who dress well behave well. This is important when thousands of people are traveling in a confined space and drinking alcohol out in the middle of an ocean. Officers and crew will be the best dressed and most courteous. members agree to follow all dress codes of both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. Shorter cruises to the Caribbean do not require elegant formal evening wear because the islands are very warm. On these occasions minimum attire is Country Club cocktail dresses for ladies and a dressy sports coat and tie for gentlemen. We request all guests to dress nicely for every cruise event as a courtesy to each other and the cruise lines. Persons who do not want to dress formally may dine in other eateries throughout the ship on any night. Casual attire in these other eateries is fine. But again, when dining in the formal dining hall be sure to dress elegantly. A printed notice is delivered to your stateroom daily advising what is the ship's dress code for the next evening in the formal dining hall.

Royal Caribbean 5-night cruise:
One formal, one smart casual, all others casual.

Royal Caribbean 6, 7, 8 and 9 night cruise:
Two formal, two smart casual, all other casual.

Celebrity 6,7,8 and 9 night cruise: Two Evening Chic, two smart casual, all other casual.

Royal Caribbean 10, 11 and 12-night cruise:
Three formal, two smart casual, all other casual.

Celebrity 10, 11 and 12 night cruise: Three Evening Chic, two smart casual, all other casual.

Royal Caribbean 13,14,15, 16, 17-night cruise:
Three formal, four smart casual, all other casual. Celebrity 13,14, 15, 16, 17-night cruise: Three Evening Chic, four smart casual, all other casual.

Evening Chic: Long sleeve shirts, ties, sports coats; cocktail dress, designer slacks, jeweled tops.

(No shorts, jeans or T-shirts on men or women, or bare arms on men, are ever allowed in the formal hall. Formal dining is a highlight of cruising. It is this club's policy to follow the dress codes of both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruise Lines.)

WHEN DINING IN A FORMAL SETTING: Throughout each cruise courteous wait staff attends to your every request. They are trained to set and serve formal tables: The bread plate is to your far left with its own butter knife. Your salad fork is first on your left (outside), followed by an appetizer fork (middle). The meal fork lays beside the dinner plate. At right is a knife (outside) for simple salads, a spoon (middle) is for soup and a sharper knife beside the dinner plate for is for select cuts of meat. Wine and water glasses are placed slightly to the upper right for easy reach and return. A spoon to stir an after dinner coffee is placed above the dessert spoon and fork sitting atop the dinner plate. Desserts may be pudding, ice cream or a choice of gourmet pastries. There is a utensil for each possible dessert. Formal dining during a cruise is an elegant event. Upon returning home you can still enjoy elegant dining. Simply remember: A fork (with 4 letters) is at your left (also with 4 letters). A spoon and knife (each with 5 letters) is placed to your right (also with 5 letters). The order of the utensils is determined by the order you would use them taking first from the outside, then moving inward toward the plate. Each cruise offers 'culture seminars' to teach guests how to prepare exquisite meals, how to serve the finest wines and how to set elegant tables. They are always very well attended.

6.) Are there medical medical facilities and staff on the ship? Why do you require insurance? Excellent clinics, doctors and nurses are on every ship, but most are not licensed American medical staff. They are accredited in their own countries, but not usually the USA. Guests who have pre-existing conditions requiring specialized treatment will want to review very carefully what medical care is and is not available on each ship. For instance, pregnant women are not allowed to cruise at all because ships are not equipped in any way for fetus or pediatric emergencies. And U.S. Medicare and Medicaid payments are not accepted for payment on any ship. American based health insurance companies rarely provide medical coverage on cruise ships. It is required for all guests who cruise with the to purchase the AON travel insurance policy offered by Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. Whenever medical care on a ship is administered the charge goes immediately to your ship's cruise account, which is your credit card. A travel insurance policy sold by reimburses you for most medical care costs up to $10,000 (ten thousand dollars), but only after you return home and file a claim. This policy also protects guests from a price increase if at the last minute a roommate cancels for a qualifying reason. To read Royal Caribbean's newest insurance policy, click here. For a link to Celebrity's newest insurance policy, click here. Note: There is no charge for Dramamine. Nor usually is there a charge for speaking to a nurse to ask general questions. There is a charge for speaking to a doctor. Before any discussions begin, or any health care is administered on a ship, be sure you understand exactly what the applicable costs will be. If you're diabetic, have MS, sleep apnea, or carry oxygen when traveling, make it known when you initially book your cruise. You must have prior clearance to board ship with oxygen or any needles. Guests who use a CPAP machine must notify our agency to order distilled water and an extension cord for your stateroom. You are not allowed to bring distilled water or any extension cord onto the ship for security reasons. What if your water is tainted? What if your extension cord is frayed? Do not bring them onto the ship. Distilled water and an extension cord will be provided for you. However, you are required to carry onto the ship your own CPAP machine. Do not turn it over to a bell cap or anyone else to take to your stateroom. Keep it on your person. This prevents it from being lost or stolen. If you require a refrigerator in your stateroom to keep medications cold be sure to book the category of cabin with this accessory. It would be a Balcony category or higher. Call 800-955-9942 at least 30 days before departure to report what special medical equipment or medications you will need to carry onto the ship. Guests may not board ship until such items are cleared. Persons who require daily shots must carry a doctor's note in their travel kit verifying their need to use needles. Travel insurance offered by Royal Caribbean and Celebrity does not cover pre-existing medical conditions. Nor does it provide coverage when recovering from surgery conducted just prior to your cruise departure. The requirement for each guest who books a handicap cabin is to fill out medical forms verifying the need for such a cabin, along with presenting a letter from his/her doctor requesting the special needs cabin. Paperwork to book a handicap cabin is sent to each guest when s/he initially books. Always keep your hands washed, especially after using stair railings, pushing elevator buttons or opening cabin doors. Washed, clean hands contribute most to a healthy cruise. Be safe. Always wash your hands before eating. The diagram below shows the best way to wash your hands. It does not matter whether you use cold or hot water when you wash, but it is imperative to use soap to destroy bacteria. If you have any questions about liability or how much insurance protection there is regarding our travel club's insurance coverage call for clarification before you book. We also want to mention the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency today enforces strict regulations on travelers who try to bring back medicines into the USA from other countries. Before purchasing any medications abroad be sure they will pass inspection to enter the United States. Failure to declare such medications when re-entering the USA can result in penalties, confiscation, monetary fines and even arrest and prosecution. Be aware that some pharmacies outside the United States selling pain killers to vacationing Americans often tip off U.S. government officials that you are returning home with a supply of drugs known to be illegal in the USA. Foreign pharmacies do this because they are paid more to turn you in than what you paid to buy the drugs. Be careful. Finally, don't forget to bring dental supplies in your medical traveling kit. Pack gauze, cotton balls, cloves or oil of cloves, or any kind of mouth gel to relieve tooth pain in case a filling falls out or you break a tooth. And never forget your Dental Floss! There is also the opportunity to rent an electric wheelchair if you need one on a cruise. It can be taken off shore too when the country you are visiting accommodates wheelchairs in public. An electric wheelchair can be waiting for you at the pier to assist in boarding. The phone number to call for this service can be given to you upon request.

7.) What about passports? Visas? Who cannot cruise with the ? Guests must have a valid passport to travel with the club. This policy applies even when cruising only to Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico or Canada. Whenever a ship is 12 miles off shore from the continental United States it is in international waters. Therefore, a valid passport is required by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) for anyone to re-enter the United States. The easiest way to obtain a valid American passport for travel is to visit your local Post Office for assistance. You can also renew your expired passport via the Post Office. Whenever an American passport is renewed it is assigned a new number. Expired passports are useless. Anyone who travels with an INS Green Card must produce it too before boarding ship and again upon returning stateside. Along with that INS Green Card the passenger must be traveling with his or her country's own current passport. Anyone requiring a visa, or any other travel document, for international or domestic travel, has the sole responsibility to obtain that visa or travel document for him/herself. is not responsible for advising or obtaining visas for any traveler. No one may board ship without being cleared by U.S. Homeland Security. Do you need a visa? Click here: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country.html As Americans it is our travel club's policy to not cruise or travel anywhere where visas are needed or where we are required to have medical shots. Also, INS does not allow any American citizen to cruise if s/he is facing a criminally charged court date, owes back child support, or has a tax lien. Passports must be current before any cruise documents can be released to club guests. This applies to the passports of any foreign guests we have traveling with us too. The minimum age to cruise with the is age 30. And no one is permitted to bring a pet on any club cruise or land trip because too many other guests traveling with the group will be allergic to pets.

Always travel with a valid Passport. The National Passport Center's toll-free number is 1-877-487-2778. Customer Service is open M-F from 8 to 8 EST. A preparation fee is charged per passport. When returning to the United States at any sea port or airport the INS will scrutinize each American passport having less than six months validation. Why? Because such passports are often stolen abroad. A U.S. passport number is good for 10 years. When a U.S. passport expires so does its number. Every new passport issued has a new number. Aliens can easily enter the United States illegally with a tampered American passport that's about to expire since once a U.S Passport number expires the INS no longer looks for it. Be sure to travel on a passport having more than 6 months validation. This precaution reduces the chance your passport will be stolen abroad. No one is exempt from being questioned by INS. The most innocent looking grandmothers are often questioned to prove the U.S. government is not profiling travelers. And when re-entering the USA always keep on your person receipts for any expensive jewelry you bought abroad. U.S. Customs is known to ask for receipts when Americans are re-entering the country. Foreign jewelry stores often notify U.S. Customs which Americans are returning home with expensive jewelry. Store owners in the Caribbean and Europe, along with U.S. Customs and cruise industry officials work together to prevent travelers from filing false insurance claims after they return home declaring their jewelry was stolen on a cruise ship. Be safe. Be sure. Keep all receipts you have on you when buying expensive items abroad so you can easily show them if asked to do so. Ideally you would wear home your expensive jewelry when re-entering the USA. And it also happens that foreign pharmacies who sell large amounts of medicines and drugs to cruisers will notify U.S. Customs and the INS too when certain passengers are returning home with excessive amounts of medications. The U.S. government pays such informants in the Caribbean and in Europe more money for this information than Americans pay the pharmacies to buy the drugs, legal or illegal. Don't be stupid. Don't buy drugs aboard that are not welcome in America. It's not worth the crisis you face if you get caught.

Avoid Passport Cards. Do not be tempted by your local post office to purchase a Passport Card instead of obtaining your real American Passport. Yes, you may board ship with a Passport Card and you may drive in a car across the U.S. Border into Mexico, or Canada or take a cruise to the Caribbean. But you can not fly anywhere internationally using a Passport Card. If a real emergency happened at home while you were out of the country, if a family member was in a car accident, or your house burned down, and for any other reason you needed to return home immediately, you would not be allowed to fly home from any foreign location using a Passport Card. You must have your valid American Passport (blue booklet) to fly on any airplane internationally. This law is applicable world wide. The Passport card costs about $100 while a real Passport (blue booklet) costs about $130. The card is good for 5 years. Your real American Passport is good 10 years. Take the time, spend the money, be safe, be sure. Carry your valid American Passport. If there actually was another international crises in the United States like 9/11 and you needed to return home immediately only your American Passport would be accepted by any airline to fly you home to the United States. Forget the Passport Card. Its number starts with the letter 'C,' which travel agents call the 'Chump Card.' It is a glorified ID card. It is NOT accepted for International travel.

8.) How do we sign up for shore excursions? You can book shore excursions on the Internet in advance of your cruise by utilizing the cruise lines' web site with your personal booking ID number. Call 1-800-955-9942 to obtain your booking ID. Have a credit card ready to pay when you book on line. It is wise to preview shore excursions before arriving to the ship. Many shore excursions now have age and weight limits. We recommend booking shore excursions only on the ship. More experienced cruisers often wait until the ship docks at a pier to take tours with local vendors. All prices are about the same. Guests should book exotic tours, like helicopter rides or fishing expeditions, on line early because spaces for such tours are limited. Visit either ROYALCARIBBEAN.COM or CELEBRITYCRUISES.COM to book. However, it is better to book general shore excursions on the ship because if you change your mind, if the weather becomes foul, if you become sick, or if the excursion is canceled by the ship, you will be refunded all monies immediately that you'd paid for the tour. This is not true when booking on the Internet. It is impossible to get a refund for an excursion you booked on the Internet. The best you can hope for is that the money you paid for the canceled excursion is given back to you as on board credit (OBC). Once the Internet has your money it will not give you back any cash refund. You must have canceled a shore excursion at least five days before your cruise departs to qualify for any on-line refund. But who knows 5 days ahead of time they'll have to miss an excursion? Shore excursions offered on board ship are managed by that ship. Excursions sold on the Internet are sold by third party vendors. The two entities compete for your business. They cannot access each other's records. Crew members on a ship cannot always help you with Internet bookings. Nor can they easily change the times or dates for your excursions. They have limited access to Internet bookings. Also, do not charge your friends' excursions on your credit card on the Internet for them to pay you back later because if your friends do not go on that excursion it is futile to try to get any money refunded to your credit card. It is best to purchase all shore excursions on the ship, even though it takes longer. Your selection will be better too. Another easy way to enjoy shore excursions is for a group of at least 4 or 5 guests to rent a van and driver for the day on your own at the pier. Ask for an English speaking driver. There will be English speaking drivers wherever you dock. Your small group can tour faster and see more this way. But remember, if you take excursions on your own the trip insurance you bought with the cruise lines does not cover you if something goes wrong. To be safe travel in groups of at least four whenever you're off the ship. Stay together. Never go off alone. An excellent rule of safety is this: "Always stay on paved roads. Never go on a dirt road when walking or driving. " That's because paved roads are usually monitored by police while private dirt roads are not protected by police.

If you are computer savvy and prefer to book shore trips on the Internet go to ROYALCARIBBEAN.COM or CELEBRITYCRUISES.COM. Look for the section called BEFORE YOU BOARD. Then scroll down to SHORE & LAND EXCURSIONS. Keep moving through the process until it asks for your Booking ID number, ship and sailing date. Call 800-955-9942 for your booking ID. Shore trips are laid out by CALENDAR, PORT or EXCURSION. Not Royal Caribbean, not Celebrity, nor is allowed to book shore excursions for you. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity's shore side staff can book your excursions over the phone by calling Celebrity at 1-800-722-5941 or Royal Caribbean at 1-800-398-9819.

9.) What should I pack to wear? What about my pills? Stateroom closets are very small. Store your luggage pieces inside each other in your stateroom. They should fit under your bed. Do not bring anything you personally cannot lift or carry yourself. In fact, most cruise ships now encourage guests to carry their own luggage off the ship, especially if they must disembark quickly. This is not true when embarking (boarding). Luggage is taken from you at the pier when you arrive and then delivered to your cabin. Always put your cruise luggage tags on before leaving home. Hotel and airport personnel know what they are. Luggage tags can be down linked and printed with your boarding documents. Luggage on rollers is best. Bell caps are expensive. Take your carry-on with a pool outfit, sweater, make-up, medications, sun glasses, sun screen, walking shoes, camera, jewelry, your valid passport and boarding ticket in it. And don't forget your hat! Wear your jacket in route to the ship to reduce weight in your suitcase. Pack two swim suits and two pairs of of your most comfortable shoes. Keep your camera in your carry-on. Do not pack batteries inside checked luggage. And never bring an iron. Regardless of its size the cruise lines will seize any iron as soon as you arrive to the pier. Irons are a fire hazard. (Room service can iron what you need for a small fee.) When flying domestically your checked bag cannot weigh over 50 lbs. Your carry-on limit is 40 lbs. When flying over seas you may usually check two bags at 50 lbs. each. A carry-on when flying over seas is still limited to 40 lbs. A woman may fly with her purse in addition to her carry-on. Any fluid container in her purse or carry-on is limited to 3 ounces. Men may bring satchels in addition to their briefcases on airplanes. But they too are limited to 3 ounce liquid containers. If you are bringing a large supply of pills or medicines you must have with you a doctor's prescription sheet or a pharmacy's order form verifying why you have so much medication. It is important for two reasons: 1) To be prepared to answer any U.S. Customs official or ship security inspector who asks, "Why all the pills?," and 2) If you became seriously ill during a trip you must be prepared to answer your attending when asked, "What medications are you taking?" No medical treatment can be administered to you until that question is answered and verified. You and your traveling companion must be ready to answer that question for each other. Having a list of medications you take on your person is ideal.

10.) Is there long-term car parking at all piers? What about luggage? What time may we board? There is secured, long term parking at each pier. The parking fee is usually about $18 per day. You pay the fee when arriving to any pier by credit card. Shuttle buses usually drive through the lots taking guests and their luggage to the ship. If someone is dropping you off at the pier you may begin boarding only at 11:30 AM. The ship is like a hotel. It must have time to clean up from the previous cruise before a new cruise can begin boarding. When you return from the cruise, assuming there are no hold ups, you will be off the ship before 9 AM. People who live within a few miles of the pier disembark last because passengers who must catch flights home disembark first to go to the airport. When you arrive to the pier you're not allowed to carry your luggage onto the ship. Crew members will take it and deliver it to your cabin. Keep your carry-on bag with you because your luggage may not appear at your cabin until after dinner. Keep your medicines and passport with you at all times whether arriving to or leaving the ship. Never risk not having your medicines or passport with you. And if you use a CPAP machine keep it with you when you are boarding and when you are disembarking. This prevents it from being lost or stolen. It is safe in your stateroom. The first night’s dinner on any cruise is casual. What you are wearing when boarding ship is fine for dinner, except that shorts, jeans and T-shirts are never allowed in the formal dining room. Be prepared to dress for both cool and warm weather on any cruise day. Layers are best. Be prepared for rain too. And keep your hat handy. On the last night of your cruise you should leave your packed luggage outside your cabin door ready for the ship's crew to take it off ship in early morning. Colored tags will be given to you to tag your luggage. Colored tags allow you to more easily identify your luggage lined up out on the dock in the morning when you return home. Or, if you must disembark the ship first when your cruise ends keep your luggage with you in your stateroom overnight. Take it with you off the ship yourself that morning. To do this you must pre-arrange early disembarkation at the Guest Relations Desk on the ship sometime during the cruise. You cannot simply decide to keep your luggage with you at the last minute to disembark early. It must be pre-arranged to avoid intense confusion and/or security investigations.

11.) What about flying? When booking flights: You may begin boarding ship at 11:30 AM on the morning your cruise departs. You cannot board earlier because the ship must first be cleaned up from the last cruise. Pick up your luggage at your airlines' carousel. Look for a cruise lines’ rep near the baggage claims area. S/he can direct you to a bus going to your ship. Show your pre-purchased bus transfer ticket. You can order it at 800-955-9942. Be sure all your luggage tags show clearly. If you and your cabin mate arrive to the pier simultaneously check-in together with the same crew person at the same counter to save you both valuable time. When your cruise ends the ship may not be able to dock early because of fog or other weather issues. Or maybe U.S. Customs is delayed. It usually takes two hours to disembark a cruise ship and two more hours to arrive to your airport and clear security there. For these reasons never book a flight home before 12 Noon. Remember it this way: "Board by Noon, fly home only after 12 Noon."

12.) Should I take my good jewelry? Do NOT ever pack jewelry in any checked bags you give to the airlines, hotel bell caps, or cruise lines' crew. Always keep your jewelry on your person, in your carry-on, or in your purse when you travel anywhere any time. If you'd be destroyed because you lost a piece of jewelry, do not bring it. Fashionable ladies on cruises wear lots of costume jewelry, gold and silver jewelry too, especially on formal nights. All cabins have a safe to store your jewelry, money, passports, etc. You can take your favorite fine pieces to wear on the ship, but do not wear them in port. Don’t be afraid to over-dress during the cruise. When you purchase expensive jewelry on a cruise ship, or at a shop on shore, keep it and its receipts on your person to declare when returning home the United States. U.S. Customs will often ask to see both the jewelry and your receipts proving you paid for it and have it. They do this because foreign jewelry stores work with the cruise lines and U.S. Customs to ensure tourists who bought expensive jewelry during their cruise do not return home to file false insurance claims declaring their expensive jewelry was stolen on the ship or in a foreign country. Be prepared to show port officials what they want to see because they can and have asked passengers to unpack all their luggage on the pier to prove they have their jewelry.

13.) Is there gambling on the ship? Yes! Vera Pohedra of Annandale, VA won $4,000 on each of her two past cruises playing the slots. She says,"It pays to cruise!" And a recent Yale study found casinos were healthy places because they require players to perform cognitive acts if they are to win, thereby delaying the onset of dementia. is pleased to sail on cruise ships with slot machines and gaming tables that include, but are not limited to, Roulette, Poker, Black Jack, Texas Hold’em and Craps. All are available every night when a ship sails to its next port of call. Guests may charge up to $5000 (five thousand U.S. dollars) per day for gaming chips on their cruise accounts backed up by their own credit cards. However, casinos no longer allow guests to draw out cash using their Sea Passes and/or credit cards. If you have questions specific for casinos call toll free Royal Caribbean at 888.561.2234 or Celebrity at 866.461.7170.

14.) Will there be other things to do on the ship besides Fun & Fitness events?

19.) How do I purchase a wine/beverage package before boarding? These days it is common for a drink package to be included in the price of your cruise when you initially book, especially if you book a year in advance. However, you can still book drink packages on your own. Click this link. Have your credit card ready to pay in full. It is a pre-paid order only. It is better, though, to order your drink/wine/beverage package after you board ship because on the ship you can change your mind. Whatever you order on-line prior to boarding is pre-set and cannot be changed on the ship. It is different vendors who sell drink packages on the Internet from those who sell on a cruise ship. The phone number to call if you have questions about any drink package is 800-398-9819 for Royal Caribbean and 800-722-5941 for Celebrity. There is no discount for booking drink packages prior to boarding ship, making it yet another good reason why to book everything on the ship.

Cynthia Neu McCluskey

20.) Do cell phones work? Check with your phone service before cruising, but usually cell phones work when you're docked in port. Roaming rates apply. If you purchase an Internet package on board ship your cell phone likely will work in your stateroom too or in other specified areas when you're out to sea. Many guests report the most economical way to communicate with home when cruising is by texting. If your family has an emergency when you're cruising they can call our office at 800-955-9942 and we will notify the ship to have you call home. However, the ship will not accept any such call unless it is a true life or property threatening emergency which must be specified before we can make the call. Be sure your family knows your destination, ship and stateroom number. If you have questions about cell phones call Royal Caribbean at 800-398-9819 orCelebrity at 800-722-5941.

21.) Is Internet service available? Yes, ships do have Wi-Fi Internet packages costing from $40 to a few hundred dollars per package depending upon how much time you want to purchase. However, do not rely upon the Internet on any ship for business purposes because weather conditions can impact satellite access. Sometimes a signal is not available due to poor satellite visibility. And signal can break up constantly because the ship is always moving. As your Cruise Coordinator, I recommend you think twice before bringing a lap top or iPad on your cruise vacation. There are too many ways it can be lost or stolen or forgotten. Do not bring any electronic item that would leave you devastated if you lost it. Too much is going on during your cruise to keep track of everything. There is Internet access 24/7 at public computer stations located throughout each ship. You can stay in touch with your home and office by using the ship's public computers while paying by the minute. This is better than bringing your own electronic tools to lose. Take it from someone who's heard many sad stories about lost lap tops. You will enjoy the cruise much more knowing yours is home safe and sound. Once again, guests have told us the most economical way they found to stay in touch with their homes and offices was via texting. If you have questions about your iPhone, tablet, or iPad usage working aboard ship call Royal Caribbean at 800-398-9819 or Celebrity at 800-722-5941.

22.) Who do I call if I forget something on the ship or have a credit card problem? If you return home and realize you left something on the ship go to the web site ChargerBack.com (No doubt why it is named this.) You must file a report at this web site giving your cruise lines name, booking ID and stateroom number with the best description of where you believe you left it on the ship or in your cabin. The cruise lines will do its best to find and return what you forgot. As for the unexplained 'pending' charges on your credit card after you return home call our office at 800-955-9942. Depending what those charges are for we can direct you to the best cruise lines' contact. But be advised most 'pending' credit card charges drop off 72 hours after you disembark. Wait to call us until you've been home at least 3 days. Within that time frame the unexplainable pending credit card charges should drop off. They always have.

23.) Is smoking allowed on the ship? Cruise guests may not smoke in any stateroom on any Royal Caribbean or Celebrity ship, except in restricted locations. Nor may anyone smoke in any casino, theater or any bar. It is a fire hazard to smoke in any Stateroom, including sitting out on a Balcony. The only places where smoking is permitted? Top deck, far back, starboard side near the outdoor bar or in any Cigar Club when it is open.

24.) What safety precautions should I take when cruising? Practice the same safety precautions you do at home. Be aware of your surroundings. If you feel uncomfortable at anytime move away from it quickly. Stay in areas on the ship and on shore that are well lighted. On shore shop only in the downtown area or at open pubic markets. When you are on the ship buy only from kiosks with crew members in uniform. Do not buy anything from guests on board ship. It could be a set up. Follow directions. Read signs. Obey instructions from crew members. Avoid taking unmarked short cuts, narrow alleys or dark passages either on land or on the ship. Do not ride in any unmarked taxi and do not drive on unpaved roads. Do not wander around the ship alone. Travel with a buddy both on and off the ship. Be careful how much alcohol you drink. Have your cell phone fully charged and always with you. Do not open your stateroom door without knowing for sure who it is. Lock valuables in your stateroom safe, including your passport, jewelry and any cash. Do not wear your valuables on shore. Your ship Sea Pass card and home state driver's license will suffice as legal identification when you're on shore. Do not take your passport on shore! Your SeaPass card issued by the ship tells local authorities who you are and indicates you are in town for only a matter of hours. Electronic gadgets and purses should be carried out of sight and secured on your person using a shoulder strap whenever you go on shore. Do not carry a purse just in your hands. It can easily be snatched away. Leave all your electronics on the ship, preferably in your cabin's safe locked up. If you'd be devastated losing anything do not bring bring it on the cruise. And absolutley do not take it on shore!

25.) What are good questions to ask a potential roommate? Guests sometimes do not have a cruise partner. No problem. Here's a list of questions to ask each other, if you're seeking a cruise roommate. In fact, these good questions to ask any travel partner. Click here to view the roommate matching page.

26.) What is the Crown and Anchor Society at Royal Caribbean and Captain's Club at Celebrity? Both are Loyalty Programs with more cruise benefits given to you each time you cruise. You accumulate points automatically every time you cruise. You qualify for a loyalty number with either cruise lines starting on your first cruise. After you board ship you may pick up your number at the Guest Relations Desk. Yes. You may combine your points with both cruise lines since they are corporate sisters. Every time you cruise with either cruise lines points are added automatically to your appropriate cruise lines' loyalty program.

27.) The ship is handicap accessible, but what about shore excursions? Very few tours are wheelchair accessible. And unfortunately neither we, nor either cruise lines can accommodate guests who are completely dependent upon wheelchairs for movement. The ship's shore excursions routinely require extended periods of time to walk over unknown surfaces and/or across uneven terrains. And there are often extended times of standing with steep steps to climb. There are easy shore excursions, such as 'local city tours' allowing one to take the tour riding on a bus. However, you must be able walk up to and step onto the bus. Please contact the Access Departments at either cruise lines if you have more questions. The phone numbers are (866) 592-7225 for Royal Caribbean or (954) 628-9708 for Celebrity on any Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 7 PM Eastern Time. It is the policy of this travel club that each guest be able bodied and capable of taking care of him or herself, or is traveling with a companion who can fulfill any duty needed for more assistance.

28.) When we dock do we follow the ship's time or local time? They are the same. Just as you follow local times when you fly in and out of airports so do you follow local time when your ship is docked at different ports of call. When you enter a new time zone the ship automatically resets all its clocks. You should do the same. Be sure to ask a crew member what is the local time every morning because you may have unknowingly crossed into a new time zone over night. Do not let the watch you are wearing have the wrong time! When booking shore excursions through Royal Caribbean or Celebrity you have no time worries. Your tour guides manage all schedules. But if you go out on your own be careful to set your watches to the ship's time so there is no question later about when to return. Be back on the ship at least one hour before it departs. Don't be late! The ship will depart at its scheduled time with or without you on board. Atop the main Guest Relations Desk on each ship is a huge clock showing the ship's correct time. Be sure your personal watch always matches that clock and you will have no problems with time.

29.) What if I forget to bring something?... If you forget a toothbrush, or another personal item, don't worry. Such items are available in the ship's general store. And stewards do their best to help you find whatever you need. But remember your cabin steward may not always be available. To feel totally secure bring whatever you think you may need at any time: a needle and thread, Orajel in case you get a toothache, a spare set of reading glasses. There is no limit to how much luggage you may bring onto a ship. The trick is to get it all past the air lines. Plus you must store all your suitcases in your own Stateroom, which has limited space. Most important of all remember that whatever you bring onto the ship you will take home too....including your fabulous memories!

30.) Where can I buy a Surf Safe?... A favorite item to have when cruising is a Surf Safe. It allows you to carry your Ship ID Card, money and state's driver's license when walking about the ship or out on shore. And it's water proof when you swim. A Surf Safe saves you from having to carry any bag monopolizing your hands. When you cruise do not take your passport on shore. It is not necessary. Instead, keep your driver's license and Ship ID card on you at all times in a Surf Safe tied with a nylon cord around your neck. Doing this answers all ID questions whether on or off the ship. Plus you have your money, credit cards, and ID with you at all times. Order here: www.witzsportcases.com or call (916) 638-0333.

Welcome Aboard!

Cynthia Neu McCluskey
Cynthia@fun-fitness.com
Co-Founder and Cruise Coordinator
FUN & FITNESS Travel Club® 1998
703-827-0414 or 800-955-9942

TOP CRUISE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: 800-955-9942 or 703-827-0414