Packing and Preparing for a Cruise
Once you book your cruise, you can generally sit back and relax until your sailing date, although there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to preparing for your cruise.
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How to Choose a Cruise
The first step to taking a cruise is, well, booking one! And this by itself can be wildly overwhelming since there are so many options. The first thing is to challenge yourself to answer these questions: The Big Three Narrowing it Down Fine-Tuning Your Pick
Cruise Ship Towels: 3 Things You Need to Know
If you’re planning a Caribbean cruise soon, you’re probably preparing your packing list and starting to assemble your items. Naturally, you grab your plushest beach towels, thinking you’ll need them for your beach day adventures. Stop right there! Here are three crucial things you need to know about towels when cruising. 1. You Don’t Need to Bring Them Believe it or not, you can leave the beach towels at home. Why, you ask? Because cruise lines have got you covered—quite literally. During my first sailing, I made the rookie mistake of lugging four oversized towels aboard, which took up half a full-size suitcase, only to discover that the cruise line provided them for guests. Whether you’re lounging poolside or hitting the sandy shores during port days, complimentary towels are available. You simply check them out as needed and return them after use, getting fresh, clean towels whenever you want. Although cruise lines provide towels, some cruisers still prefer to bring their own. Why? Cruise ship towels are big and bulky, making transporting them to beaches on port days cumbersome and unwieldy. Those cruisers often like to pack and bring their own compact, highly absorbant towels, like microfiber ones. I despise microfiber, as the material gives me the “ick,” so I prefer a more compact option that is not microfiber, like these transportable Turkish towels. Just remember, they’re not souvenirs; you’ll need to return them before disembarking, which brings us to my next point. 2. Return the or Face the Charge Ah, the dreaded towel charge – a cautionary tale for all cruisers. Most of the cruise lines (except Princess, which operates on an honor system) are quite diligent about keeping track of their cruise ship towel inventory, and failure to return them can result in an unwelcome surprise on your stateroom bill, which is generally around $25. If you like the cruise line’s towels, they’re also available for purchase (nice, new, fresh, and unused ones) for this same price: around $25. As noted above, because of the concern of being charged, coupled with the fact that cruise line towels are usually the bigger, bulkier types, some cruisers choose to forgo the convenience of cruise-provided towels and bring their own, often opting for a thin microfiber option or a similar towel type that is less bulky and easier to transport. 3. Cruise Ship Towels Logistics Vary Now, let’s talk logistics. Where exactly can you snag these cruise ship towels? To track towel usage, the cruise lines that monitor towel usage will generally scan your ship card to check out and scan it again when you turn the towels in after use. Where you retrieve your beach towels may vary depending on cruise lines- some leave them in your stateroom, and others have onboard checkout stations like on the Lido deck. Personally, I appreciate Royal Caribbean‘s approach, where towels are readily available for guests as they disembark for excursions. There is no need to clutter your suitcase or fret about returning them onboard – just grab one as you head out for your day of exploration. It’s the little details like these that improve the cruising experience. In conclusion, remember these three bits of advice regarding towels and cruising: leave yours at home (unless you hate the bulk), return them promptly, and familiarize yourself with your cruise line’s towel policies and check-out locations. Do I Need to Pack Towels on a Cruise?
A Comprehensive Guide to Cruising: Everything You Need to Know
I remember the first time I booked a cruise vacation. I was nervous, scared, and excited, but also intimidated because, at the time, this seemed like such a different way to travel. Plus, there were all of these strange terms… disembarkation, MDR, muster, steward. It felt like cruising had its own vocabulary. Plus, there were so many decisions to make… when to fly in, when to fly home, which dining time to select, and should I prepay for tips? My head was spinning. Even after several cruises, I still found myself learning new things, and even after 23 cruises, there are still little tidbits I pick up. If you’ve never taken a cruise before or have cruised but are still learning, don’t despair because this guide will walk you through everything you need to know. Here’s what this guide will cover: Table of Contents Protip: If you prefer to watch a video of this cruise guide instead of reading it, you can find it on my YouTube channel here. Do I Need a Passport to Cruise? Before even considering booking a cruise, it’s important to note what is required in terms of paperwork. For most closed-loop cruise itineraries, meaning it’s a sailing that starts and ends at the same US port, most cruise lines require just an original birth certificate and valid government-issued ID for adults and a birth certificate for minors. While a passport is often not required, however, it’s advisable to have one, as while it’s unlikely to happen, you may miss the ship and get stuck at a foreign port, or encounter a medical emergency that requires hospitalization at a foreign port, meaning you’ll need a passport to get back home. Read my post here for all of the specifics of passports and cruising. Can I Cruise with a Criminal Record or Felony? I’m shocked by the frequency with which I see a disturbing (and completely avoidable) event happen at debarkation. That is the situation where cruisers get ready to get off the ship after a wonderful cruise, only to find authorities waiting for them at the port and find themselves in handcuffs. Many cruisers don’t realize that cruise lines run passenger manifests by US Customs and Border Protection, and those with outstanding warrants may be nabbed at disembarkation, depending upon their charges. So if you have a warrant for your arrest, do not take a cruise. Another related question is this: can you cruise with a felony conviction or criminal record? Lets take a look at the specifics of cruising when you have a felony on your record. Cruise Line Policies The policies of various cruise lines may prohibit sailing with them if you have a record, especially a felony conviction. Each company has its own rules and regulations regarding passengers with criminal records. While some may have strict policies, others, such as Royal Caribbean and Carnival, adopt a more lenient approach. But even those that are more lenient may prohibit cruisers with a record, depending upon the crimes. Carnival, for instance, says that it “reserves the right to deny boarding to any persons convicted of certain crimes which may include but are not limited to; aggravated physical assault, sexual assault, and other sexual offenses, armed robbery and related offenses, and other violent or immoral crimes.” To complicate the matter, whether or not a would-be traveler can take a cruise with a felony may also depend upon the ports of call, as various countries may have differing requirements, and whether it is a closed-loop itinerary, meaning the sailing originates and ends at the same United States port. To best address this issue, it’s essential to research the specific guidelines of the cruise line you’re interested in traveling with. Even if it’s embarrassing, I highly recommend just picking up the phone to contact the cruise line directly to inquire about their policies. Transparency about your criminal history during the booking process can help prevent any potential issues later on. Country Entry Requirements Beyond cruise line policies, it’s important to consider the legal implications of traveling with a felony conviction. While you may be permitted to board a cruise ship based on the company’s policies, you may still encounter restrictions when it comes to entering certain countries. Beyond cruise line policies, it’s important to consider the legal implications of traveling with a felony conviction. While you may be permitted to board a cruise ship based on the company’s policies, you may still encounter restrictions when it comes to entering certain countries. Some countries, such as Australia and the United Kingdom, have strict entry requirements for individuals with criminal records, including felonies. To navigate this aspect effectively, thorough research into the entry requirements of the ports of call on your itinerary is essential. Consulting with a legal professional can also provide valuable insights into your rights and limitations when traveling with a felony conviction. Canada is another country that is especially strict about the entry requirements of individuals with criminal records, and one that may come as an unwelcome surprise to cruisers. Because of an old timey maritime law, the 1886 Act, Alaskan cruises include a mandatory stop in Canada (which explains those sometimes seemingly random 8 PM-midnight calls in Victoria). I’ve heard many stories of cruisers with even really old charges, and including comparatively lesser crimes like DUI, being prohibited from entering Canada, making it not possible for those individuals to take an Alaskan cruise. Other countries are more lenient about travelers with criminal records crossing their borders. The Caribbean is usually one such option on one of the most popular cruise itineraries, so these are generally safe bets for cruisers with a record. Also, generally speaking, closed-loop itineraries are more lenient for cruisers with criminal records than open-loop ones. A closed-loop itinerary starts and ends at the same US departure port. Again, before booking any sailing, though, it’s a good idea to consult with the cruise line on requirements and any potential documentation that may be
