Are you planning a cruise trip for the very first time? It doesn't have to be hard or confusing. Ask yourself 10 questions and get ready for an extraordinary cruise trip experience.
1. Can I get a discount?
Find out if the company can give you a discount; remember that big groups often have a great position for negotiation. One out of every 10th or 15th cruise is sometimes free and operators can also be kind enough to add on benefits like cocktail parties or an extended credit on board.
2. What about dinner routines?
Most ships have specific dinner routines, leave your requirements before departure to make sure your company can all dine together. If you need any further assistance – talk to the head waiter.
3. Different restaurants on board?
Most ships have several restaurants, find out what’s included in the price, and how to make reservations.
4. Is there a specific dress code?
The dress codes on board might vary widely. Ask if there is a specific dress code that you need to know about. On some ships they will ask you to really dress up during the evning whereas you might be fine with a more casual look on another ship.
5. Do I need to arrange my own visas?
Your tour operator can often help you with visa arrangements for the trip, but don’t forget to bring your passport!
6. Can I join excursions?
Excursions are often arranged in the harbours. Remember that the number of spots is limited and that you might have to make reservations in advance. You can also choose to join a local tour, often to a better price. Don't that it's your own responsibility to be back on time for departure – you don’t want to be left behind.
7. Are there specific hotel offers?
Find out if the tour operator has special deals and offers on hotel stays before and after the cruise and don’t forget to arrange transfer from the airport. You might want to double-check the price from the tour operator with the hotel itself to make sure that you are actually driving a good deal.
8. ... or transfer packages?
Most tour operators are offering flight packages that include transfer from the airport to the harbour. A package like this might be a good deal but you can also arrange your own transportation, make sure to compare prices, just like mentioned above.
9. How do I pay onboard?
To make it safer for both guests and crew, you’ll be given an onboard cruise card that works like a normal credit card to pay for stuff during your journey. This means no cash is circulating on board. You normally have to leave cash deposit or present a valid credit card, and the later is to prefer, otherwise the cash deposit might be large.
10. Do I have to pay a fuel surcharge?
Because of rising fuel prices fuel surcharges might apply, normally per person and day. Check with your tour operator and remember that this might be a variable cost – depending on the current fuel price.
