TOP CRUISE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 1-800-955-9942 or 703-827-0414

Guests often ask, "What do I bring for the perfect cruise?" With 12 years experience in cruising, Travel Coordinator Cynthia Neu recommends bringing one suitcase, one carry-on, your valid passport, your hat and your smile. "Traveling with one suitcase, one carry-on and a valid passport means you can go quickly through all lines. And when you smile you're invited to all the parties! Follow these tips," she says, "and you will have fun at sea." Here are a few more of her popular tips:

1.) Are all meals included? Yes. Each cruise you buy includes all dining on board ship, as well as 24 hour room service. Whether you want to taste everything, or follow a special diet, you can have it all when you cruise. Room Service is FREE, except between mid-night and 5 a.m. when there is a $3.95 delivery charge on Royal Caribbean cruise ships, but not on Celebrity's. It is customary to give a $1 cash tip for any delivery made to your cabin. It's the only time on a cruise you would pay cash to anyone.

2.) What about alcohol and other beverages on board ship? All alcohol consumed on a ship must be purchased on the ship. No one may board with liquor bottles packed in their luggage. Such bottles are removed when passing through security. Even when buying liquor on shore, you must check your bottles when re-boarding the ship. Liquor purchases are returned to you at the end of the cruise to pack in your luggage to take home or to mail back home. Remember that you may no longer carry-on bottles of liquid weighing more than 3 oz's. onto an airplane. Be very careful. Do not let U.S. Customs take your liquor at the airport. Because soda cans cause an environmental problem the cruise lines will charge you for every Coke, 7-UP, Pepsi, etc., you drink on the ship....usually more than $3 per can. Do not open up sodas you find in your cabin, including water bottles, unless you agree to pay for them. However, a few sodas packed into your luggage can be brought onto the ship. Just don't overdo it. And you can bring your own water bottle. Then every day ask room service to bring you a pitcher of cold water to replenish your water bottle in your cabin. Do not take your water bottle into the dining room to refill it. Your bottle will be taken from you if you try to refill it in a public place or at a public fountain. Specialty coffee bars are on the ship, but they cost extra. Beverages such as iced tea, hot tea, juices, coffee and milk are free throughout the ship 24 hours a day.

3.) What about gratuities? Today cruise ship guests like to charge their gratuities to their cabins. In fact, Celebrity automatically charges all tips for your attendants and waiters to your Sea Pass when you board ship. It averages $12 per day total for all their tips. Royal Caribbean tips average $10 per day total for all attendants. You are then provided vouchers to give the waiters, cabin stewards, etc., who collect your tips later from Guest Relations. There are two exceptions:1) It is customary to give a minimum $1 cash tip to a waiter who delivers items to your cabin. On Royal Caribbean, from 12 Midnight to 5 AM, if you order Room Service, there is an automatic $3.95 service charge made to your cabin for that delivery. 2) No need to tip waiters who serve you alcoholic or specialty drinks at any time. A 15% gratuity is automatically included on your tab when you order a special drink, including any soda or gourmet coffee. Any time during a cruise on either Royal Caribbean or Celebrity you may visit Guest Relations to ask for a tip adjustment for your wait staff or cabin attendants. You can increase or decrease your tips as you choose.

4.) How do I pay my expenses on board ship? Before boarding ship you are asked for a credit card or debit card. An imprint of it will be made. You will then be issued a Sea Pass card, which looks like a credit card. All purchases on the ship are charged to your Sea Pass, then charged to your credit/debit card on the last day of the cruise. There are no cash transactions allowed on board ship, other than paying cash tips for room service. You can also deposit a minimum $300 cash or Travelers Checks when initially boarding ship to open a cash account. Charges you make on the ship are drawn against your $300 cash deposit. Guest Relations notifies passengers when their cash deposits are running low and/or when their credit cards have reached their limits. Be prepared with a back-up plan to replenish money sources, if needed. Should you need cash to use on shore trips your Sea Pass key usually allows you to take cash out of the casino. There is a daily limit of $200 cash per person to be taken out of the casino. The casinos will charge a fee of 3% on the amount of cash you take out on your Sea Pass. While there is usually an ATM on the ship, it often runs out of money. Because the ships' ATM machines are serviced by banks on shore crew members cannot assist you if an ATM is not working. On the eve of disembarking, an itemized statement of your cruise expenses appears in your cabin. Any questionable charges must be settled at Guest Relations before leaving the ship. No charge can be contested after you've left the ship. Be sure to obtain a receipt from Guest Relations for any refund the cruise lines gives you. You may need it to show your credit card company at a later date. Often times refunds from a ship don't reach your credit card company in a timely manner. Always get a receipt for any transaction you conduct on a ship! Be smart. Be careful. Be sure. Get a receipt!

5.) What do I wear? Members dress fashionably for every cruise event. Your favorite seasonal outfits are fine. There are no changing rooms on a ship near its swimming pools. Guests usually wear shorts over their swim suits when walking to the pool areas. It is important to dress nicely for dinner each evening. There are 2 formal nights on a 7 night cruise: the Captain’s Welcome Dinner the second night at sea and  the Captain’s Farewell Dinner the next to last night at sea. Both events are highlights of a cruise. Longer cruises have 3 formal nights. The minimum formal attire for a lady is a cocktail dress. While gentlemen are encouraged to wear tuxes,

Mercedes Neddle of Milwaukee, WI, (L-R) Cynthia Neu of McLean, VA and Dr. Loretta Chung of Kalamazoo, MI enjoyed formal events when cruising to Egypt in 2009.

dark dressy suits with ties are acceptable. It is the minimum attire required for men. Gentlemen may not have open collars at any formal events. To rent a tux on board ship you can call 1-800-590-6193. You must do this at least two weeks before departure. The cost is very reasonable. There are no public laundry rooms on any Royal Caribbean or Celebrity ships. However, room service does offer dry cleaning, ironing and/or laundry care for a small fee. Each evening the formal dining hall has a different dress code. The list below can help you plan your cruise wardrobe. A guest may not dine in the dining room in jeans, nor with shirts without stitched sleeves or collars, regardless of whether it is for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Why must guests dress up? Because being dressed properly encourages proper behavior. Guests who dress well have better manners. This is important when thousands of people are traveling in a confined space, often while drinking alcohol. The ship's officers and crew will be the best dressed persons on your ship and the most courteous. It shows utmost respect for your traveling companions, and to the countries you are visiting, if you present yourself well on your cruise vacations. It is the policy of the to follow the dress code requirements of each cruise ship we board whenever we travel.

A HIGHLIGHT OF CRUISING is dining together on formal nights at sea. The Captain of Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas is Nikolaos Antalis. He invited members of the Fun & Fitness Travel Club to dine with him in recognition of the club's popularity at Royal Caribbean. Travel Coordinator Cynthia Neu is shown (R) of the Captain; Fitness Host Coordinator Barb Batson is (R) of Cynthia. Standing behind Cynthia is Cliff Crittenden. Standing behind the Captain is Patrick McCluskey, creator of ExerciseFriends.com, a top ten fitness site on the Internet, as reported by Amazon.com. Patrick is also Cynthia's son.

Daily dress code:

3, 4 and 5-night cruises:
One formal, all other casual nights.

6, 7, 8 and 9 night cruises:
Two formal, one smart casual, all other casual nights.

10, 11 and 12-night cruises:
Two formal, three smart casual, all other casual nights.

13, 14 and 15, 16, 17-night cruises:
Three formal, four smart casual, all other casual nights.

Dress code styles for men:

Casual: Sport shirt, trousers and a shirt with collar.

Smart Casual: Slacks, shirt and jacket.

Informal: See Smart Casual, but more dressy.

Formal: Tux or a dark suit with a tie. You can call 1-800-590-6193 to rent a tux.

(Shorts, jeans or T-shirts are never permitted in dining hall.)

WHEN DINING IN A FORMAL SETTING: Throughout the 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 next to 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. After you return 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). During the cruise there are '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 medical staff and facilities on board ship? Yes. Excellent clinics, doctors and nurses are on board each ship. Doctors and their clinical staff work under a foreign flag. They do not accept any form of U.S. Medicare or Medicaid for payment. And insurance companies in the United States rarely offer medical coverage on cruise ships. Check with your own medical insurance carrier before traveling to learn what coverage you may have, if any, when you cruise. Full payment is required for medical treatment on a ship at the time is is administered. It is charged to your cruise Sea Pass account. The insurance offered by reimburses you for most medical care costs. To view and study Royal Caribbean's insurance policy, click here. For a link to Celebrity's insurance policy, click here. Note: There is no charge for Dramamine. Nor usually is there a charge for speaking to a nurse. There is a charge for speaking to a doctor. If you're diabetic, have MS, sleep apnea, or carry oxygen when traveling, make it known at the time you book your cruise so special arrangements can be made. If you need a refrigerator in your cabin to keep medications cool be sure to book the category of cabin that has this accessory. Passengers must notify Travel Club Coordinator Cynthia Neu at 1-800-955-9942 at least 30 days in advance of the ship's departure to say what special medical equipment, medications or hardware they want to carry onto any vessel. Guests are not allowed to board ship until all such items are cleared. Persons who are diabetic, have MS, or require daily shots must carry a doctor's note in their travel kits verifying their use of needles. Insurance offered by either Royal Caribbean or Celebrity includes trip cancellation, trip interruption and medical coverage up to $10,000, but does not cover pre-existing medical conditions......nor does it provide coverage for elective surgery prior to your cruise departure. It is also required for each guest who books a handicap cabin to fill out medical forms verifying their need for such a cabin, along with presenting a letter from his/her doctor requesting the special needs cabin. Official paperwork to book a handicap cabin is sent to a guest when s/he initially books it. Always keep your hands washed, especially after using stair railings, pushing elevator buttons or opening cabin doors. Clean hands contribute most to a healthy cruise. Be safe. Wash your hands before eating. Diagram shows best way how.

7.) What about passports? Do we need one to cruise? guests must have a valid passport to board ship. This policy applies even if sailing only to Mexico, Canada or other U.S. states like Alaska and Hawaii. Whenever any ship sails 12 miles off the United States it is considered to be in International waters. Thus a passport is required by U.S. Customs for anyone to get back into the United States. During a national emergency, or more likely during a family emergency, guests who were out of the country would not be allowed to fly home immediately without showing a passport. To protect club members we require everyone who travels with us to carry a valid passport. The easiest way to obtain a passport, or to have it renewed, is to visit your local Post Office for assistance. Anyone who travels with an INS Green Card must produce it before boarding ship and again upon returning stateside. No one may board a cruise ship departing the United States without being cleared in advance by U.S. Homeland Security. Our office completes all passport paperwork requirements in advance. It is important to cooperate fully.

AMERCIAN PASSPORT INFORMATION: http://travel.state.gov Ask your local post office how to obtain a new, or renewed, U.S. passport. These links can help: Passport123.com•PassportsAndVisas.com•PassportExpress.com •PassportNation.com

National Passport Center toll-free number is 24/7 at 1-877-487-2778. Its E-mail site is NPIC@state.gov Customer Service is M-F 8 AM-8 PM EST. A Passport Fee is $55 with a $12 Security Surcharge and $30 Preparation Fee = $97 per passport. It's important to know when returning to the United States that U.S. Customs will scrutinize any passport having less than six months validation on it. Why? Because such passports are often stolen. A U.S. passport number is good only for the life of the passport. When a U.S. passport expires so does its number. Any new passport issued always has a new number. Aliens can easily enter the country illegally with a tampered American passport that's about to expire. Be sure to travel on a passport having more than 6 months validation. This precaution saves you time at any U.S. border crossing when trying to re-enter the country, not to mention it reduces the likelihood your passport will be stolen. No one is exempt from being questioned by U.S. Customs and Immigration. The most innocent looking grandmothers can be questioned to prove the U.S. government is not racial profiling travelers. And when re-entering the States always keep on you any receipts for expensive jewelry that you bought.   Customs is known to ask for such receipts when Americans are re-entering the States. Foreign jewelry stores often notify U.S. authorities which Americans are returning home with very expensive jewelry to ensure they have it on them when they exit a ship. This prevents insurance claims for theft in foreign countries or on board cruise ships.

8.) How do we sign up for shore excursions? You can book shore excursions on the Internet in advance of your cruise by going to your cruise lines' web site and using your personal booking ID number to obtain access. Call 1-800-955-9942 for your booking ID. Have a credit card ready to pay on line too. You may also book shore excursions on the ship after boarding, or more experienced cruisers may prefer to wait until the ship actually docks at its various ports of call to take tours with local vendors selling excursions from the piers. Prices are all about the same. Guests should book exotic excursions, like helicopter rides and fishing tours, on the cruise lines’ web site early because of limited spaces. Visit either ROYALCARIBBEAN.COM or CELEBRITYCRUISES.COM to book. The top benefit in booking excursions on the ship is that if you change your mind, if you become sick and can't go, or if the excursion is canceled, you are refunded your money immediately on the ship. This is not true when booking on the Internet. It is almost impossible to get any refund if you book on line. Shore excursions offered on the ship are managed by the cruise lines. Excursions bought on the Internet are sold by independent vendors. Ship personnel cannot help you with Internet bookings. And be very careful not to charge friends' excursions on your credit card because if they do not go on the excursion it will be futile to try to get that expense refunded to your credit card. A fun 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 their own. Ask for an English speaking driver. There will be English speaking taxi drivers wherever you dock. Your small group can go out on your own faster and see more. But remember, if you take a shore excursion on your own the insurance you bought through the cruise lines will not cover you if something goes wrong. And always travel in groups of at least four. Be safe.

If you are computer savvy and prefer to book shore trips on the Internet go to ROYALCARIBBEAN.COM or CELEBRITYCRUISES.COM. Look on the home page menu for the segment 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. RCCL and Celebrity's shore side staff can explain over the phone how to book shore trips on the Internet, but they cannot do it for you. You must book your own excursions on the Internet, on the ship or on the shore. This policy is firm. If you have trouble booking on line call Celebrity at 1-800-722-5941......or Royal Caribbean at 1-800-398-9819.

9.) What should I pack? Bring as little as possible. Pack smart and light.  Packing clothes with dry cleaning plastic bags reduces wrinkling. Cabin closets are very small. Store your carry-on inside your suitcase. Both must stay in your cabin. Do not bring anything heavier than you personally can carry. Always put your cruise luggage tags on before leaving home. Hotel and airport personnel know what they are. Luggage tags come with your boarding documents. Luggage on rollers is best. Bell caps are expensive. Take your carry-on with a pool outfit, sweater, make-up, curlers, medications, sun glasses, walking shoes, camera, good jewelry, your valid passport and your boarding ticket in it. Don't forget your hat! Choose a color scheme to mix and match your cruise outfits. Bring one formal outfit with two sets of jewelry or accessories. Wear any jacket you will need in route there. Pack two swim suits and two pairs of shoes: one casual and one dressy. Wear your casual shoes in route. Keep your camera and spare batteries in your carry-on. Batteries may not be packed in checked luggage. When flying a checked bag cannot weigh over 50 lbs. and your carry-on limit is 40 lbs. When flying over seas you may usually check two bags at 50 lbs each. Any carry-on flying over seas is also limited to 40 lbs. Ladies may bring purses in addition to their carry-on's. Any fluid container in any purse or carry-on is limited to 3 oz's or less. Men may bring their satchels in addition to bringing a briefcase on an airplane. Men are also limited to only 3 oz. liquid containers. (See below.) Each airlines has its own luggage count, weight requirements and fees per person. Please call your specific air carrier for its specific luggage requirements and rates.

10.) Is there long-term car parking at all piers? Yes. The fee is usually near $15 per day. Shuttle buses drive through the lots taking guests and their luggage to the ship. You are not allowed to carry luggage onto the ship. Crew members will deliver it to your cabin. It’s important to keep your carry-on with you because your suitcases may not appear at your cabin until after dinner. The first night’s dinner on any cruise is casual. What you have on when you board ship will be fine for dinner, except that shorts and T-shirts are never allowed in the main dining room. Be prepared to dress for both cool and warm weather on any cruise day. Layers are best. On the last night of your cruise you must leave your packed luggage outside your cabin door ready for the ship's crew to pick it up by midnight. Colored tags will have been given to you earlier in the day to tag your luggage. Colored tags allow you to easily identify your luggage on the pier the morning after you dock. No one is permitted to carry his/her luggage off the ship. This policy is firm.

11.) What do I do about the airport and flights? When booking flights to and from your cruise departure city remember: You may board ship by 12 noon, but do not book any flights home before 12 noon. You would check your luggage at your airport of departure, then pick it up yourself at the airport where you arrive. It is your responsibility to get your luggage to the correct bus going to your ship. Look for a cruise lines’ rep near the airport's baggage claim area. He will direct you to your bus. If you bought the cruise lines' air/sea package your bus transfers will be included with your boarding documents. If you purchased air outside the cruise lines you can buy a bus transfer by showing your boarding documents to the cruise representative who is there. He will charge the transfer to your cabin. The exception to this policy is when traveling over seas. Then, bus transfers must be bought in advance. (Call our office for details.) Whenever your bus arrives to the pier, you must identify your luggage to the ship's crew as it is being taken off the bus. This is a security measure. Be sure all luggage tags show clearly on each suitcase to ensure delivery to your cabin. If you and your cabin mate arrive to the pier together please check-in with the same crew person at the same computer. This avoids technical delays. If you and your cabin mate arrive to the ship at different times it is not necessary to wait to board together....simply board whenever you arrive. (See below for suitcase requirements when flying.) When it is time to return from a cruise the ships sometimes cannot dock early in the morning because of fog conditions or port authority issues. It always takes at least two hours for everyone to disembark after the ship is finally docked. You also need to be to the airport at least two hours before your plane flies home. To be sure you have no flight problems going home book your return flights only after 12 noon. This is the best way to assure a stress free return home.

	Keep a photograph of your suitcases when traveling. If lost, you can show the baggage agent exactly what they look like. Carry all your jewelry on you always. Do not pack jewelry in checked luggage...ever. Put your cruise luggage tags on your suitcases BEFORE leaving home. This gives you the best chance of its safe delivery to the ship. Airlines and hotels know what the tags are.         Airlines General Luggage Polices: DOMESTIC FLIGHTS: Phone your carrier before departure to learn its latest luggage policy. Usually a purse or briefcase may be taken onto a plane free, in addition to one carry-on. Persons flying First Class should be able to check two bags without having to pay any extra charge. Checked bags usually cannot exceed 50 lbs. each. There is no charge for a carry-on, which must fit under your airplane seat or overhead bin. Checked bags must meet certain linear dimensions requirements. *(see below) INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS: It is best to phone your carrier to learn what its latest luggage restrictions are. Usually a carry-on and your purse or briefcase may be brought onto the plane at no extra charge. A checked bag usually can not exceed 50 lbs. A carry-on flying international must fit under the airplane seat in front of you or in the overhead bin. All luggage must meet linear dimensions requirements.*(see below) Checked Bag going anywhere cannot exceed 62" linear dimensions. * Carry-On Bag going anywhere cannot exceed 51" linear dimensions.* *(Width + Length + Depth = Linear dimensions) Any liquid in checked bags should be double wrapped in plastic and sealed. Any liquid in a carry-on container cannot exceed a 3 oz. and must be wrapped with all other such containers in a clear, sealed bag. (See below.)

            

May I use Frequent Flyer miles to buy air from the cruise lines? No. Cruise lines already mark down air costs. However, do ask the airlines when departing on your "air/sea package" to give you its air mileage credit. Not the , Royal Caribbean, nor Celebrity Cruise Lines can help you buy air tickets with air mileage. This policy is firm.

Click on article to Enlarge.

12.) Should I take my good jewelry? Whatever you do, do NOT pack jewelry in the checked bags you will release at the airport. Always take jewelry in your carry on when flying anywhere. If you would be destroyed if you lost your jewelry, don't bring it. As for the ship, passengers often wear lots of gold and nice jewelry, especially on each cruise's formal nights. Cabins usually have a safe where one can store jewelry. 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. Colorful costume jewelry is always fashionable. When you purchase jewelry abroad be sure to keep it and its receipts with you to declare when returning to the United States. Customs often asks for information about any new jewelry you're bringing home. They can do this because jewelry stores sometimes tip off U.S. Customs which cruisers bought expensive jewelry. The jewelry stores and U.S. Customs work together to ensure the persons who bought the expensive jewelry over seas are the same persons bringing the jewelry into the United States. Doing this helps prevent theft and insurance fraud.

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 that casinos were actually healthy places. Today is pleased to sail on cruise ships with slot machines and gaming tables that include 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 $2,000 per day for gaming chips. And most ships' casinos also allow guests to withdraw up to $200 cash per day, if needed. Usually it's for shopping on shop. But be careful. The casino will charge a 3% service charge for the amount you're cashing. For instance, if you take out $200 cash against your Sea Pass card there is a $6 charge.

 

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

Yes. Throughout the day your ship holds events ranging from expert speakers on ports of call to “how-to” classes on such subjects as serving the best wines and having card games for bridge. There are fun sports events too and champion Bingo games for big prize money. One club member won $7,000 in a Bingo game when he cruised with us to Alaska! Fun & Fitness Travel Club members frequently participate in night club dancing and karaoke talent contests too. It's all fun And in your cabin each evening will appear the ship’s daily newsletter listing all the next day’s activities and dress code. You will also have easy access to shore excursion information at the Shore Excursion Desk or the Shore Trip Channel on the television set in your cabin. No question will go unanswered on your cruise.

15.) Why is it necessary to book a cruise so far in advance? Booking a low fare cruise ticket is like booking a low fare airline ticket. When an airline first announces its new flights it has low fares to promote sales. There are not many low fare air tickets available for each flight, so it is important to book quickly. It is the same concept when booking a low cost cruise.

Airlines announce new flights every 3 or 4 months. But cruise lines announce their new itineraries a year ahead of departure. And just as you can reserve the best price and seat on an airplane by booking early, so too can you reserve the best price and cabin when you book your cruise early. Cruise passengers with mid-ship cabins near elevators booked their cruises way ahead of departure. They paid a fully refundable deposit knowing that if they had to cancel anytime up to 90 days before departure they would still get all their deposit money back. When booking a cruise early it means you can book the best cabin, in its best location, at its lowest price on the day you call-in. As your cruise draws nearer the cabin you prefer will only go up in price and/or not be available at all. But if you book it early with your name and a full deposit your cabin choice and price will be protected. If you do not yet have a roommate that's OK too. Merely pay the full deposit now and add whomever you want to your cabin as a roommate later in the year. You can even change the name of your cabin mate within one week of departure without penalty. When you see cheap cruise prices posted on the Internet please ask the invisible Internet the following questions: Are port charges included? Are taxes included? Where exactly is my cabin located? Is the mandatory fuel supplement charge included? Does the price include travel insurance? Is travel insurance even offered? Is my deposit refundable? Will a Travel Escort be with me? Does this cruise have a schedule of exercise classes led by certified fitness experts who I know and trust? Will I receive a Priority Mail package 120 days prior to departure containing full color brochures describing my ship and ports of call? Will someone provide me with packing tips and explain to me the ship's dress code? Can I have dinner each evening with my friends at our own dining table? Can I have early security clearance? Early boarding? Early disembarkation? Do you offer escorted pre-cruise tours? If I have a problem preparing for the cruise may I call you at your Internet office? If I become sick on the ship will you be there to make sure I get home safely? What is your phone number? Is your business office located in the United States paying local taxes and employing American citizens? What if at the last minute my roommate can't go? Could I make a name change without penalty? can answer all these questions with, "Yes. You can do all of this." The Internet can not. There are no surprises or disappointments when purchasing a cruise. Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines named its Number #1 Business Partner for the Mid-Atlantic states of Virginia, Maryland and Delaware in 2007. We hope you will give us the opportunity show you why we received this top honor. Welcome Aboard!

The Wall Street Journal mails out a confirmation post card the same day a booking is made giving the guest his/her cabin number, deck number and verifying the cruise cost. The price of each club cruise is firm upon booking it. The Internet cannot and will not make such price promises. (Click on the story above to learn what happens too often when guests make their vacation plans via the Internet.)

16.) When and where are club exercise classes held? The first night at dinner on your exciting cruise you will be given a schedule of classes for the whole trip. Fitness Hosts escorting their own students are given different times to teach each day. This ensures no one teacher and her students are assigned all the early bird classes. Morning exercise classes are completed before 10 AM allowing guests time to shower, enjoy breakfast and meet for their shore excursions. Club members who return to the ship in early afternoon, or even those who choose not to leave the ship at all, can enjoy privately held exercise classes in mid-afternoon at various locations throughout the luxury liner. (Click on sample schedule at left.)

Good things to bring and share,

Saving very valuable space

• Hair dryers in cabins are attached to bathroom walls. Good to bring a spare dryer.
• Travel irons are not available. Bring extra hangers to steam clothes in shower.
• Ships usually have a Wake-Up Call Service, but bring a travel alarm to be sure.
• Wooden clothes pins are best to hang swim suits in shower. Plastic ones are not strong.
• Shower has a clothes line inside, but not always a shower cap. Bring a cap to be sure.
• Bring extra hangers and a small pool bag, but no towels. Ship will provide towels.
• The cruise ship will provide towels for your bath, pool and even your beach visits.
  Disposable cameras? Pack them in your carry-on luggage only. Do not pack in checked luggage.

  This ensures they're not radiated or destroyed at luggage check points. Gift shops on board ship

  carry a wide selection of films, flash cards and batteries for various camera shapes and sizes.
• General stores on board ship have sun tan lotions, toothpaste and most other toiletries too.