Cruise Ships: What To Do Before You Board
There’s far more to preparing properly for a cruise ship vacation than simply checking with the cruise line for recommended apparel and going shopping for the right items of clothing. You’ll have plenty of other details to see to besides what you intend to pack in your luggage, not the least of which is ensuring that you have all your paperwork in order.
The first item of importance is your identification. You won’t be allowed on your cruise ship without a photo ID and proof of citizenship A passport will suffice for both, but if you don’t have one, then your driver’s license and official birth certificate (with a raised seal) will work. Even your kids will need the right identification. Make sure you don’t put your ID in your checked luggage if you are flying to your cruise departure point, because checked baggage can get lost!
The cruise lines don’t set the identification requirements; the US Department of Immigration does. So if you have any questions, call their toll-free number, which will almost certainly be included in the information packet which the cruise line sends with your tickets.
If you’re cruising to or in a foreign country, you will need a passport. You can apply in person for a US passport at a designated Post Office, at different probate, state, or Federal courts in your area, or at an official passport office, of which there are thirteen around the US. You’ll need an official birth certificate and a photo ID, and you’ll also need two identical 2? x 2? photos taken within the past six months. You should have them taken professionally, because they MUST be taken with a special camera if they’re to be identical.
Where, if you’re a US citizen, won’t you need a passport? Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. Cruises to Bermuda, the Bahamas, Mexico, and Central America require them. You should apply for your passport a minimum of eight weeks before your departure date, but the earlier you apply, the better, especially if you’ll be cruising at the height of tourist season. You can also speed up the processing of your passport by applying in person and paying an extra $35 for expedited delivery.
When you have your identification squared away, you can focus on your other paperwork: airline tickets; your boarding documents which will include your cabin assignment and possibly your dining table assignment (many cruises no let you eat whenever you like); you luggage tags; you transfers from the airport or hotel to your port of departure; and any papers for offshore excursions you’ve arranged. Make sure your flight leaves you time to get to your port of departure at least an hour in advance of the time you set sail.
Bring along your health insurance card in case you need medical treatment while on your cruise. Pack your medications, of course, and ask your doctor for a spare prescription in case your existing medication gets lost and you need a refill before returning home.
Get enough traveler’s checks to cover your estimated travel expenses. Carry only the minimum amount of cash, because all cruise lines will accept either credit cards or traveler’s checks. Before leaving home make sure to give your ship itinerary to whoever is looking after your home while you’re gone, so that you can be reached in an emergency. Most cruise ships now have Internet cafes, so you can be reached by E-mail if necessary. Also arrange to have someone be your contact person at home.
Once all your paperwork is in order, you can begin the fun by heading out to shop for your new cruise clothes!
myroadtotravel was created in late 2007 as way for my wife and I to do what we love most…Travel. We love to share our experiences with others and have recently created our first blog myroadtotravelblog.com to help us do just that. Through this blog, we offer travel tips, our own personal experiences/adventures and photos from our vacations. Please stop by and give us your feedback and remember, for all your travel booking needs please visit us at myroadtotravel.com
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/cruising-articles/cruise-ships-what-to-do-before-you-board-777526.html
Tags: cruise, First Time Cruisers
First Time Cruisers | Russell@reahma.com, March 18, 2009 11:26 am