C R U I S E T I P S
Cruise Ship Tipping and What To Pack are at the bottom of this page.
A Bahamas cruise vacation is the perfect getaway. Bordered by white-sand beaches lined with palm trees,
the crystal clear water of the Bahamas is perfect for adventurous water
sports like snorkeling, diving & windsailing. Or, just sit back and
soak up the Bahamas sun. Cruise to Nassau,
Freeport or Lucaya.
When in Nassau for the day, you can either take a shore excursion sponsored by the cruise ship, book an excursion on your own, or use the time to explore the city, the
island or a beach. Shore excursions include; a tour of
Nassau or the island, boat trips, snorkeling or diving, golf, swimming with
dolphins, or exploring on a submarine. There is certainly something for
everyone! Browse the duty-free shops on Bay Street or take a historic
tour of downtown historic Nassau.
The lines at
guest services get longer towards the end of the cruise, so make sure to get any
business (paying tips, etc) done as early as possible. The same applies for
shopping.
As soon as you've boarded & found your stateroom, go and make reservations
for restaurants, the spa & any shore excursions you plan to take. For
the spa, know what you want to book in advance, don't bother with the tour,
just make your reservation.
Buy snacks & sodas from a supermarket before you get to the ship, you can
store them in the fridge in your stateroom. You can then take snacks with
you when you go ashore.
If the service has been especially good from a member of staff, make sure
you give them an extra tip, most crew members rely on tips, as wages are
very low.
What do I get for my money?
Your cruise price includes your cabin, all meals (including the midnight
buffet!), room service (24 hours), entertainment and parties On most ships, alcoholic
beverages, visits to the spa or beauty salon, and optional shore
excursions are not included in the
price.
Will I feel bored or confined on board?
Never! Think of a cruise ship as a floating resort on par with any Las
Vegas mega hotel. On-board activities begin at dawn and go into the wee
hours of the night. The scenery is constantly changing, and every port
is filled with new and exciting opportunities for exploration.
What
do I wear on a cruise ship?
The shorter cruises
such as
Discovery Cruise Line and The Regal Empress
are very informal. They do usually have one dress-up night (that
doesn't mean a tiara) where a gentleman wears a suit or sport jacket,
and ladies wear a nice suit or dress.
You may wear evening attire if you desire. The longer cruises
usually have two nights of "dress-up". Day attire on all cruises
is casual. Shorts, jeans, polo shirts, skirts. Most cruise
ships do not allow casual attire such as shorts in the dining room for
dinner.
What can I do on a ship?
That depends on the ship, but generally the larger ships will have the most activities. You may wish to lounge on deck by the pool with a good book, sign up for exercise or cooking classes, swim, play bingo or bridge, gamble in the casino, take in a Broadway-style floor show or a magician's act, enter a talent show or a putting contest, take a dance class, get a massage or attend a lecture.
Is airfare included in my cruise price?
At these ridiculously low rates, airfare is not included. However
our travel agents will be happy to book your airfare at a discounted
rate.
What's a shore excursion?
That's a term that refers to anything you do off the ship, in port. At
every stop, you'll have the option of exploring the area on your own or
as part of a group with a planned itinerary. You might hike a tropical
rain forest in the Caribbean, tour Mayan
ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, or take a sightseeing tour.
Are all cruise ships the same?
Absolutely not. They range from yacht-like vessels with 100 passengers
to towering megaships with huge atriums and a maximum capacity of over
3,000 people.
Will I need a passport?
NOTICE-REVISED
All cruises now require proof of citizenship. On some itineraries, a
certified copy of your birth certificate and a driver's license or
government-issued photo I.D. are sufficient, on others a passport is
required. Visas may also be required on the more exotic itineraries.
Your cruise counselor will advise you on documents you will need
depending on your itinerary. If you're flying into The Bahamas,
Mexico or Canada, YOU NEED A PASSPORT NOW!
Is a cruise suitable for families with kids?
Not just suitable, they're perfect! Large cruise ships are now designed
with kids-only facilities, counselors, daytime activities and nighttime
baby-sitting. Children above the age of four months are welcome on most ships. Your
cruise counselor can advise you of the dwindling number of ships that
are not kid-friendly.
Are cruises suitable for single travelers?
Cruising is very popular with single travelers, and cruise lines go out
of their way to make it easy for singles to meet and mingle with other
passengers. Some cruise ships offer single cabins, and most offer a
single supplement rate for double staterooms. You'll never have to feel
alone on a cruise . . . unless that's what you're looking for!
Are cruises really that popular?
You better believe it! Nearly seven million people will cruise in the
next year, and cruising routinely earns the highest ratings in customer
satisfaction among all vacation categories. Once you try it, you'll be
hooked.
A Day at Sea is a full day spent sailing between two ports. Most cruises include one or more Days at Sea.
Tipping On Your Cruise
How much and who on your cruise
should be tipped? When and how should tips be given? The whole custom can be
the source of considerable anxiety.
Generally, you should plan to tip your room steward $3.00 to $3.50 per person, per day, and plan an equal amount for your dining room waiter, and half of that for the busboy.
On most ships, tip the maitre d' or dining room captain only if you ask for special favors or table-side service; $5 to $10 is normal. Bartenders and wine stewards are tipped 10 to 15 percent, but many cruise lines will automatically add this gratuity to your bar or beverage bill. Check the bill to see how it is handled. Also, tips for special services such as salon & spa treatments and room service are left to the discretion of the guest, depending on services rendered.
Individual ship profiles found under the "Ships & Ratings" heading above will provide precise guidelines for tipping on any ship. Guidelines will be repeated onboard, probably by your ship's cruise director. Gratuities are placed in envelopes from your cabin's stationery supply. Generally, passengers on cruises of 10 days or less will tip at the end of the cruise. On longer voyages, tipping weekly may be the norm.
As part of a new trend that seems likely to grow, Carnival, Costa, Holland America, Norwegian, Oceania, Princess and Cunard now charge gratuities to your account automatically. Norwegian, for example, charges $10 per day, per guest, to cover service in the various dining rooms and your room steward. If you feel this amount needs to be adjusted, whether increased or decreased, arrangements can be made onboard the ship, generally at the end of your cruise.
A few lines do not
encourage tipping, including Regent (Radisson) Seven Seas, Seabourn,
SeaDream Yacht Club and Silversea. Crew members are reportedly higher paid
and not tip dependent. Many passengers tip anyway for outstanding service or
special favors.
What Do I Pack?
Packing for a cruise is like packing for any resort-based vacation. You'll want to bring comfortable, casual clothing for daytime on board and in port, and swimsuits and workout clothes for pools, Jacuzzis, saunas and health clubs. To be prepared for dinner in the dining room, check out Dress Codes.
Think about the kind of shore excursions you may take and pack accessories, where appropriate, such as hiking boots, ponchos or rain gear, fleece jackets and snorkel gear.
Pack all of your medications, prescription or otherwise, in a bag you can carry onto your flights. Obtain extra prescriptions from your physician for any medications you are currently taking and carry them with you.
Most ships have 110-volt outlets in every cabin, which will accommodate U.S.-built hairdryers, travel irons and electric shavers. Most new ships provide hairdryers as well.
Bring a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses for bright, sunny days on deck. You'll have many opportunities to have your picture taken by the ship's photographers, but you'll naturally want to bring your own camera or video camera as well.