This A to Z survey covers the Astonishing range of facilities that modern cruise ships offer and tells you how to make the most of them
Air-conditioning
Cabin temperature can be regulated by an individually controlled thermostat, so you can adjust it to suit yourself. Public room temperatures are controlled automatically. Air temperatures are often kept cooler than you may be used to. Note that in some ships, the air-conditioning cannot be turned off.
Art auctions
Beware of these. Aboard most large resort ships, intrusive art auctions form part of the “entertainment” program, with flyers, brochures, and forceful announcements that almost demand that you attend. They may be fun participation events – though the “free champagne” given to entice you is mostly sparkling wine and not champagne – but don’t expect to purchase an heirloom, as most of the art pieces (lithographs and seriographs) are rubbish. It’s funny how so many identical pieces can be found aboard so many ships. Note that art “appraisal prices” are done in-house by the art provider, a company that pays a cruise line to be onboard. Watch out for the words: “retail replacement value”. Also, listen for phrases such as “signed in the stone” – it means that the artists did not sign the work – or “pochoire” (a stencil print less valuable than an original etching or lithograph). If you do buy something, do so because it will look good hanging on your wall, not as an investment. But read the fine print, and buy only with caution.
Baby-sitting
In some ships, stewards, stewardesses, and other staff may be available as babysitters for an hourly fee. Make arrangements at the reception desk. Aboard some ships, evening baby-sitting services may not start until late; check times and availability before you book a cruise.
Beauty salon/Barber shop
Make appointments as soon after boarding as possible, particularly on short cruises. Appointment times fill up rapidly, especially before social events such as a captain’s cocktail party. Charges are comparable to those ashore. Typical services: haircut for men and women, styling, permanent waving, coloring, manicure, pedicure, leg waxing
Cashless cruising
It is now the norm to settle your account with one payment (by cash or credit card) before disembarking on the last day. An imprint of your credit card is taken at embarkation or when you register online, permitting you to sign for everything. Before the end of the cruise, a detailed statement is delivered to your cabin. Some cruise lines, irritatingly, may discontinue their “cashless” system for the last day of the cruise. Some may add a “currency conversion service charge” to your credit card account if it is not in the currency of the cruise line.Ships visiting a “private island” on a Bahamas or general Caribbean itinerary will probably ask you to pay cash for beverages, water sports and scuba diving gear, and other items that you purchase ashore.
Casino gaming
Many cruise ships have casinos, where the range of table games includes blackjack or 21, Caribbean stud poker, roulette, craps, and baccarat. Under-18s are not allowed in casinos, and photography is usually banned inside them. Customs regulations mean that casinos generally don’t open when the ship is in port. Gaming casino operations aboard cruise ships are unregulated. However, some companies, such as Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International, abide by Nevada Gaming Control Board regulations. Most table games have a $5 minimum and $200 maximum – but, for serious players, Carnival Cruise Lines’ casinos have blackjack tables with a $25 minimum and $500 maximum. Some cruise lines have “private gaming club” memberships, with regular newsletters, rebates and special offers (example: Star Cruises). Slot machines are also in evidence and make more than half a casino’s profits. Note that, for American citizens and resident aliens in the US, slot machine winnings may be subject to WG-2 tax withholding.
Comment cards
On the last day of the cruise you will be asked to fill out a company “comment card.” Some lines offer “incentives” such as a bottle of champagne. Be truthful, as the form serves as a means of communication between you and the cruise line. Pressure from staff to write “excellent” for everything is rampant but, unless you highlight problems you have encountered, things are less likely to improve.
Daily programme
This contains a useful list of the day’s activities, entertainment, and social events. It is normally delivered to your cabin the evening before the day that it covers.
Departure Tax
If you are disembarking in a foreign port and flying home, there could be a departure tax to pay, in local currency, at the airport.
Disembarkation
This can be the most trying part of any cruise. The cruise director will already have given an informal talk on customs, immigration, and disembarkation procedures. The night before the ship reaches its destination, you will be given a customs form. Include any duty-free items, whether purchased aboard or ashore. Save the receipts in case a customs officer asks for them.The night before arrival, place your main baggage outside your cabin on retiring, or before 2am. It will be collected and off-loaded on arrival. Leave out fragile items, liquor, and the clothes you intend to wear for disembarkation and onward travel – it is amazing just how many people pack absolutely everything. Anything left in your cabin will be considered hand luggage to be hand-carried off when you leave.On disembarkation day, breakfast will probably be early. It might be better to miss breakfast and sleep later, providing announcements on the ship’s public address system do not wake you (it may be possible to turn off such announcements). Even worse than early breakfast is the fact that aboard many ships you will be commanded – requested, if you are lucky – to leave your cabin early, only to wait in crowded public rooms, sometimes for hours. To add insult to injury, your cabin steward – after he has received his tip, of course – will knock on the door to take the sheets off the bed so the cabin can be made up for the incoming passengers. This will not happen aboard the smaller “upscale” ships.Some companies now offer a slightly more relaxed system that allows you to stay in your cabin as long as they wish, or until your tag color is called, instead of waiting in public areas, where it’s difficult to avoid the mass of wheeled luggage waiting to trip you up.Before leaving the ship, remember to claim any items you have placed in your in-cabin personal safe. Passengers cannot go ashore until all baggage has been offloaded, and customs and/or immigration inspections or pre-inspections have been carried out. In most ports, this takes two to three hours after arrival. It is wise to leave at least three hours from the time of arrival to catch a connecting flight or other transportation. Once off the ship, you identify your baggage on the pier before going through customs inspection. Porters may be there to assist you.
Duty-free liquor purchases
If you buy a box of “duty-free” liquor in the Caribbean, it will be taken from you at the gangway as you reboard and given back to you the day before you disembark. Also, be aware that if you fly home from a US airport after your cruise, you are not permitted to take any liquid items larger than 100ml in your hand luggage. Unless you place the liquor in your checked baggage, there’s no point purchasing it – it will be confiscated.
Engine room
For insurance and security reasons, visits to the engine room are seldom allowed. some ships may have a technical information leaflet. Aboard others, a Behind the Scenes video may be shown on cabin TV system. Gift shops The gift shop/boutique/drugstore offers souvenirs, gifts, toiletries, logo and duty-free items, as well as a basic stock of essential items. Opening hours are posted at the store and in the Daily Program.
Internet access and email
Most large resort ships have internet access, for a fee. This can be slow, due to uplink/downlink to satellites, and the fact that ships often move out of the satellite’s “footprint.” Charges are typically 50–75 cents per minute, although bulk packages of 30, 60, or 100 minutes may be available. If you can wait, an internet café ashore will be faster and cheaper. Almost all large resort ships have wi-fi for your computer or cell phone. You can send and receive emails – but at a price, because all internet connection is via satellite.
Launch (shore tender) services
Enclosed or open motor launches (“tenders”) are used when your cruise ship is unable to berth at a port or island. In such cases, a regular launch service is operated between ship and shore for the duration of the port call. When stepping on or off a tender, extend “forearm to forearm” to the person who is assisting you. Do not grip their hands because this has the unintentional effect of immobilizing the helper.
Laundry and dry cleaning
Most ships offer a full laundry and pressing service. Some ships may in addition offer dry cleaning facilities. A detailed list of services, and prices, can be found in your cabin. Your steward will collect and deliver your clothes.Some ships have self-service launderettes, well equipped with washers, dryers, and ironing facilities. There may be a charge for washing powder and for the use of the machines.
Library
Most cruise ships have a library offering a good selection of books, reference material, and periodicals. A small, refundable deposit may be required when you borrow a book. Aboard small luxury ships, the library is open 24 hours a day, and no deposit is required. Aboard the large resort ships, the library may be open only a couple of hours a day. Aurora, Oriana, QM2 and Queen Victoria are examples of ships with full-time, qualified librarians sourced by the specialist company Ocean Books. Aboard most other ships a member of the cruise staff or entertainment staff – with little knowledge of books – staffs the library. The library may also have board games such as Scrabble, backgammon and chess.
Lido
This is a deck devoted to swimming pools, hot tubs, showers, and recreation. Aboard most cruise ships, it has a self-serve buffet.
Lost property
Contact the reception desk immediately if you lose or find something on the ship. Notices regarding lost and found property may be posted on the bulletin boards.
Mail
You can buy stamps and mail letters aboard most ships, at the reception desk. Some ships use the postal privileges and stamps of their flag of registration, while others buy local stamps at ports of call. Mail is usually taken ashore by the ship’s port agent just before the ship sails. You will receive a list of port agents and mailing addresses with your tickets and documents, so you can advise friends and family how they can send mail to you.
News and sports bulletins
The world’s news and sports results are reported in the ship’s newspaper or placed on a bulletin board near the reception desk or in the library. For sports results not listed, inquire at the reception desk
Photographs
Professional photographers take digital pictures of passengers during embarkation and throughout the cruise. They cover all the main events and social functions, such as the captain’s cocktail party. The pictures can be viewed without any obligation to purchase, but the prices may surprise. The cost is likely to exceed $10 for a postcard-sized photograph, and a 10 x 8-inch embarkation photo aboard Queen Mary 2 will set you back a whopping $27.50.
Postcards and writing paper
These are available from the writing room, the library, or the purser’s office/reception desk. Some cruise lines charge for them.
Reception desk
This is also known as the Purser’s Office, guest relations, or information desk. Centrally located, it is the nerve center of the ship for general passenger information and problems. Opening hours – in some ships, 24 hours a day – are posted outside the office and given in the Daily Program.
Religious services
Interdenominational services are conducted on board, usually by the captain or staff captain. A few older ships and Costa Cruises’ ships have a small private chapel. Denominational services may be taken by clergy traveling as passengers.
Room service
Beverages and snacks are available at most times. Liquor is normally limited to the opening hours of the ship’s bars. Some ships may charge for room service.
Sailing time
In each port of call, sailing and all-aboard times are posted at the gangway. The all-aboard time is usually half an hour before sailing. If you miss the ship, it’s entirely your responsibility to get to the next port of call to re-join the vessel.
Shipboard etiquette
Here are a few points that are sometimes overlooked:l In public rooms, smoking and nonsmoking sections are available. In the dining room, cigar and pipe smoking are banned.l If you take a video camera with you, be aware that international copyright laws will prohibit you from recording any of the professional entertainment shows. l It is all right to be casual but not to enter a ship’s dining room in just a bathing suit, or with bare feet. l If you are uncomfortable eating with the typical 10-piece dining room cutlery setting, some cruise lines have introduced etiquette classes to help you.
Shopping
Many cruise lines operating in Alaska, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and the Mexican Riviera engage an outside company that provides the services of a “shopping lecturer.” This person promotes “selected” shops, goods, and services heavily, fully authorized by the cruise line (which receives a commission). This relieves the cruise director of responsibility, together with any questions concerning his involvement, credibility, and financial remuneration. Shopping maps, with “selected” stores highlighted, are placed in your cabin, and sometimes include a guarantee of satisfaction valid for 30 days.During shore excursions, be wary of stores recommended by tour guides – they may be receiving commissions from the merchants. Shop around before you buy. Good hints and recommendations are often given in the port lecture at the start of your cruise. When buying local handicrafts, make sure they have indeed been made locally. Be wary of “bargain-priced” name brands, as they may be counterfeit. For watches, check the guarantee.The ship’s shops are also duty-free and, for the most part, competitive in price. The shops on board are closed while in port, however, due to international customs regulations. Worthwhile discounts are often offered on the last day of the cruise.
Swimming Pools
Most ships have outdoor or indoor swimming pools, or both. They may be closed in port owing to local health regulations or cleaning requirements. Diving is not allowed – pools are shallow. Parents should note that most pools are unsupervised. Some ships use excessive chlorine or bleaching agent; these could cause bathing suit colors to run.
Telephone calls
Most ships have a direct-dial satellite telephone system, so you can call from your cabin to anywhere in the world. All ships have an internationally recognized call sign, a combination of letters and digits. Satellite calls can also be made when the ship is in port. Satellite telephone calls cost between US$5 and $15 a minute, depending on the type of equipment the ship carries, and are charged to your onboard account.To reach any ship dial the International Direct Dial (IDD) code for the country you are calling from, followed by the ship’s telephone number. Anyone without a direct-dial telephone should call the High Seas Operator (in the United States, dial 1-800-SEA-CALL). The operator will need the name of the ship, together with the ocean code (Atlantic East is 871; Pacific is 872; Indian Ocean is 873; Atlantic West/ Caribbean/US is 874).
Television
Programming is obtained from a mixture of satellite feeds and onboard videos. Some ships lock on to live international news programs such as CNN or BBC World, or to text-only news services. Satellite TV reception can be poor because ships constantly move out of the narrow beam transmitted from the satellite.
Tipping
Gratuities, at about $10 per person, per day, are added automatically to onboard accounts by almost all the major cruise lines. Gratuities are included in the cruise fare aboard a small number of ships, principally those in the luxury end of the market, where no extra tipping is permitted – at least in theory. In some ships, subtle suggestions are made regarding tips; in others, cruise directors get carried away and dictate rules. Although some cruise brochures state “tipping is not required,” it will be expected by the staff. Here are the accepted industry guidelines: dining room waiter, $3–$4 per person per day; busboy (assistant waiter), $1.50–$2 per day; cabin steward or stewardess, $3–$3.50 per person per day; Butler: $5–$6 per person per day. Tips are normally given on the last evening of a cruise of up to 14 days’ duration. For longer cruises, you would hand over half of the tip halfway through and the rest on your last evening. Aboard many ships, a gratuity of 10 or 15 percent is automatically added to your bar check, whether you get good service or not, and to spa treatments.
Valuables
Most ships have a small personal safe in each cabin, but items of special value should be kept in a safety deposit box in the purser’s office. This is accessible during the cruise.
Water sports
Some small ships have a water sports platform that is lowered from the ship’s stern or side. These ships carry windsurfers, waterski boats, jet skis, water skis, and scuba and snorkel equipment, usually at no extra charge. Some may have an enclosed swimming “cage” if local fish are unwelcoming.Such facilities look good in brochures, but ships are often reluctant to use them. This is because many itineraries have too few useful anchor ports. Also, the sea must be in an almost flat calm condition – seldom the case. Insurance regulations can be restrictive too.
Wine and liquor
The cost of drinks on board is generally lower than on land, since ships have access to duty-free liquor. Drinks may be ordered in the dining room, at any of the ship’s bars, or from room service. Dining rooms have extensive and reasonably priced wine lists. Some ships sell duty-free wine and liquor to drink in your cabin. You can not normally bring these into the dining room or public rooms, nor any duty-free wine or liquor bought in port. These rules protect bar sales, a substantial source of onboard revenue.
Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2010
