You have booked your cruise and are super excited - but now what? Below are all the things you should consider in the months leading up to your cruise. I will help guide you through all of these decisions but it is helpful to know what kinds of questions I will be asking during the planning phase.
Final Cruise Payments
In most cases you will have placed a deposit to secure your reservation. Your final balance date will be indicated on your invoice, however I will always be in touch with you a couple of days prior to your final balance being due. I will re-iterate the amount that is owing and confirm which form of payment you would like to use. I will then process the final balance for you with the cruise line.
Flights
Airfare schedules become available approximately 11 months prior to the date of your return. If you are looking for the best possible air schedules with the most availability – this is the time to think about booking. If you have booked closer to your date of departure – I suggest that we look at flights as soon as you have determined your arrival and departure dates. If you are using a loyalty program or points – check availability as soon as you possibly can.
Seat selection on flights can typically be done as soon as you have a record locator. Some airlines don’t always have their aircraft assigned immediately but we can always check as soon as the air is ticketed.
Seat selection on flights can typically be done as soon as you have a record locator. Some airlines don’t always have their aircraft assigned immediately but we can always check as soon as the air is ticketed.
Arrival & Departure
Prior to booking your flights, it is important to determine if you will spend any extra time before or after your cruise. For cruises in the Caribbean, in the winter months, I always recommend that you fly a day earlier. Weather delays are a possibility and you don’t want to start your cruise completely stressed that you may miss the ship.
Many cruises – both river and ocean have wonderful ports where they start and finish. If you are travelling a long distance to catch your ship, you may want to explore your embarkation or disembarkation point a little more. If you are going in early and you have changed time zones, this can be a great way to move past some of your jet lag.
With my help, it is best to consider what is of interest to you or what are the major sights to see in that city or surrounding area. This will help to determine how much extra time you should plan.
Many cruises – both river and ocean have wonderful ports where they start and finish. If you are travelling a long distance to catch your ship, you may want to explore your embarkation or disembarkation point a little more. If you are going in early and you have changed time zones, this can be a great way to move past some of your jet lag.
With my help, it is best to consider what is of interest to you or what are the major sights to see in that city or surrounding area. This will help to determine how much extra time you should plan.
Pre and Post Stay Hotels
If you are planning to arrive early or stay later then we should book hotels shortly after you have your flights confirmed. Some things to consider are if you want to be close to the port or perhaps you want to visit a city but the port is a little farther from the major cities – for instance in Rome or Santiago. It is important to understand where the best location is to stay to best optimize your time.
Transfers
Many cruise lines will offer transfers from the airport to the cruise terminal – some are included in the cost of the fare and others have an additional cost. The important thing to understand about transfers is that they are only offered on the day of embarkation and disembarkation UNLESS you have booked your pre or post hotel stay with the cruise line.
I am able to arrange private or shared transfers by third party companies, or depending on the location of the cruise terminal, you can look at public transportation or a taxi to arrive at the port.
I am able to arrange private or shared transfers by third party companies, or depending on the location of the cruise terminal, you can look at public transportation or a taxi to arrive at the port.
Tours
Once you have confirmed your day of arrival and departure and have a confirmed cruise booking we can consider tours and excursions. For pre or post stays tours can be booked through the cruise line or a third-party company. Click here for a reputable option.
If you are sailing on a river cruise your excursions will be included with your cruise fare. Some excursions will need to be picked in advance due to capacity restrictions – I will advise you of those in advance. The majority of the other excursions will be chosen when onboard.
For ocean cruising you can consider excursions offered by the cruise line or also with third party companies. Most excursions are loaded into the cruise line planners approximately 6 months in advance. Unless otherwise indicated, most of the ship excursions will be larger groups with up to 50 people on a coach. If your tour choice is showing as sold out – you can go to the shore excursion desk at the beginning of the cruise and request to book that excursion. They often hold back a portion of the tours for those wanting to book onboard.
There are many companies offering small group or even private tours as an option. Many have “return to ship” guarantees. I always suggest looking at the excursions offered by the ship first and then we can compare other options.
If you are sailing on a river cruise your excursions will be included with your cruise fare. Some excursions will need to be picked in advance due to capacity restrictions – I will advise you of those in advance. The majority of the other excursions will be chosen when onboard.
For ocean cruising you can consider excursions offered by the cruise line or also with third party companies. Most excursions are loaded into the cruise line planners approximately 6 months in advance. Unless otherwise indicated, most of the ship excursions will be larger groups with up to 50 people on a coach. If your tour choice is showing as sold out – you can go to the shore excursion desk at the beginning of the cruise and request to book that excursion. They often hold back a portion of the tours for those wanting to book onboard.
There are many companies offering small group or even private tours as an option. Many have “return to ship” guarantees. I always suggest looking at the excursions offered by the ship first and then we can compare other options.
Gratuities
Depending on your cruise booking you may have gratuities included or they may be a separate cost. If not included, the cruise line will have a recommended amount that will provide a tip to your cabin steward, your dining staff and behind the scenes personnel. This can be pre-paid in Canadian dollars with your final cruise payment. You can also choose to have them added daily to your shipboard account while onboard. Some cruise lines (not all) have the option for you to pay your gratuities in cash however you need to advise guest services on the first day of your cruise that you don’t want them automatically added to your account. The crew works hard every day to make your holiday a memorable one and they really do deserve to be compensated for their efforts.
For excursions it is recommended that you tip based on the individual experience that you have. If your guide was exceptional and truly made your experience one that you won’t forget then you should tip generously. If you are out for an entire day with a guide and things run very smoothly, you learn something and enjoy the delivery of the factual information then a tip of $20.00 - $30.00 is reasonable. If the tour is shorter or the service is not as great, reduce the gratuity accordingly. It is usually customary to also tip a driver assuming they have navigated you safely and on time. For a full day tour the recommended amount would be approximately $10.00.
For excursions it is recommended that you tip based on the individual experience that you have. If your guide was exceptional and truly made your experience one that you won’t forget then you should tip generously. If you are out for an entire day with a guide and things run very smoothly, you learn something and enjoy the delivery of the factual information then a tip of $20.00 - $30.00 is reasonable. If the tour is shorter or the service is not as great, reduce the gratuity accordingly. It is usually customary to also tip a driver assuming they have navigated you safely and on time. For a full day tour the recommended amount would be approximately $10.00.
Attire Onboard
Depending on where you are sailing and the cruise line you have chosen, will determine the type of clothing you will require when onboard. Even if you are visiting a warm climate, I suggest a light sweater or jacket for evenings as sometimes the temperatures can cool down while at sea.
During the day on most lines, you are not able to walk in the dining areas wearing a bathing suit or without shoes. They do like you to wear a cover up when not on the pool deck. At the buffet in the evenings you are able to wear casual clothing. In the dining rooms it is suggested that you wear smart casual.
Some cruise lines still have a formal night – this is completely optional but do understand that if you choose not to participate, you will need to go to the buffet for dinner that evening. At Specialty restaurants most people will dress smartly as these locations are an elevated experience. Often there is a Captain’s Reception and that too is a time when guests will tend to dress up. Additionally, some cruise lines offer theme nights such as “white night” where everyone wears only that one colour. It is best to discuss this in advance so you are prepared when packing.
During the day on most lines, you are not able to walk in the dining areas wearing a bathing suit or without shoes. They do like you to wear a cover up when not on the pool deck. At the buffet in the evenings you are able to wear casual clothing. In the dining rooms it is suggested that you wear smart casual.
Some cruise lines still have a formal night – this is completely optional but do understand that if you choose not to participate, you will need to go to the buffet for dinner that evening. At Specialty restaurants most people will dress smartly as these locations are an elevated experience. Often there is a Captain’s Reception and that too is a time when guests will tend to dress up. Additionally, some cruise lines offer theme nights such as “white night” where everyone wears only that one colour. It is best to discuss this in advance so you are prepared when packing.
Specialty Dining
All the cruise lines have separate dining locations onboard that specialize in specific food types – French, Italian, Steak House, Japanese, etc. These dining rooms are at an additional cost and do require an advance reservation. They are very nice for a special occasion or celebration while sailing.
Drink Packages
Many people ask me if the drink packages onboard are worth purchasing. My answer is always how much do you think you will consume and how many days do you have at sea? If you have a very busy itinerary and you are in port most days, that means your amount of time onboard may be more limited and ultimately your time for consumption is also limited. If you would typically have a cocktail during the afternoon or before dinner plus a glass of wine or two with dinner then the package is not worth it. If you are planning to have several drinks before, during and after dinner, plus you drink soda and specialty coffees or teas, then it becomes worth the investment. Each person is different and habits will vary depending on your cruise and who you are travelling with. It is important to note there are all-inclusive river cruise options available as well. If you are entertaining purchasing a drink package, I usually recommend that you do so in advance since the cruise lines usually offer a discount on pre-purchased packages. Several cruise lines also offer a drink package as a perk during promotional periods. So if this is a priority for you – then let me know.
Wi-Fi
Offering internet access onboard has become fairly standard for most cruise lines. The level of services varies from line to line. The service can be expensive and is not always great quality depending on your destination. On river cruises it is most often included but while sailing in remote locations, internet can be patchy and is not always reliable. If you absolutely need to be connected while onboard due to work or family commitments, then purchase your package in advance as there will often be specials pre-cruise. If you only want to connect occasionally then I suggest that you look for wi-fi hot spots when in the cruise terminal or find a café in port with wi-fi and spend a few moments there before re-boarding.