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Frequently Asked Questions About Cruises 
About the shipShip details Are there different class services, like on flights? Can I bring guests onboard? Do I need a doctor's note to bring medication onboard? I’ve heard various ship terms, like starboard and aft. What do they mean? Is it possible that my cabin will be located below water? Is smoking allowed? What should I expect during embarkation and disembarkation? What voltage are the electrical outlets? When will I receive my cabin assignment? Where does the crew sleep? Will the ship have quiet areas for reading and relaxing? Will there be a TV in my cabin? What are my customs allowances? Ship safety Are there enough lifeboats for everybody onboard? Are there lifeboat drills? I've heard about shipboard flu outbreaks. How can I check if my ship has had one? What happens if I get sick? What happens if there’s a hurricane or typhoon? Return to the main Cruise FAQs page Ship details Are there different class services, like on flights? All ships have just one class of service; however, passengers staying in suites will sometimes receive extra services and amenities. Top Can I bring guests onboard? Due to security reasons, passengers may not bring visitors onboard. Top Do I need a doctor's note to bring medication onboard? As long as your medication is still in its original bottle, you are not required to bring a doctor’s note. However, you do need a doctor’s note if you will be carrying syringes. Also, please let the cruise line know ahead of time if you have special medical needs. If you need to take your medication regularly, we suggest that you carry it with you rather than leave it in your checked luggage, just in case there is a delay in delivering your luggage to your cabin. In addition, though commonly used medications (like aspirin) may be purchased from the ship's doctor, you may not be able to get additional supplies of prescription drugs. Therefore, be sure to bring an adequate supply with you. Top I’ve heard various ship terms, like starboard and aft. What do they mean? You may come across certain cruise ship terms that you’re not familiar with. Here are a few common terms and their definitions: Top Is it possible that my cabin will be located below water? No, all passenger’s cabins are located above sea level. Top Is smoking allowed? Smoking is allowed in designated areas of all ships. Generally, however, smoking is not allowed in most of the cabins, in the main dining rooms, and in certain public areas. Top What should I expect during embarkation and disembarkation? On embarkation days, you’ll generally be allowed to board the ship four to five hours before departure. You’ll start by “checking in” at the pier, where your proof of citizenship (passport, or government-issued photo ID and birth certificate with raised seal) will be checked. At this time, you’ll also set up your onboard account. Upon boarding, you’ll be able to have a snack, explore the ship, or simply spend time in your cabin. On the final night of the cruise, you’ll have the option of placing your luggage outside of your cabin door. If you don't set your luggage out, you'll be required to take it off the ship yourself. If you do leave your luggage out, be sure to keep any necessities in a carry-on bag, as your luggage will not be accessible until after you depart the ship. If you want breakfast, you’ll generally need to get up extra early, so keep this in mind. Passengers depart in groups, and your group information, along with any necessary customs forms, will be left in your cabin the night before you disembark. You’ll be required to pass through customs as you depart the ship. Top What voltage are the electrical outlets? Most cabins are equipped with U.S. standard 110-volt outlets. Some cabins are also equipped with European standard 220-volt outlets. Top When will I receive my cabin assignment? You will receive your cabin assignment with your travel documents, which should arrive within two weeks of your sailing date. If for some reason your cabin is still not assigned, you will receive a cabin assignment when you check in at the pier. Top Where does the crew sleep? The crew generally sleeps in cabins located below the lowest passenger deck. Top Will the ship have quiet areas for reading and relaxing? Most ships have libraries, Internet cafés, and card rooms which can be used as quiet areas. In addition, most ships also have lounges and top deck space with quiet pockets. Top Will there be a TV in my cabin? All ships sold on our site have TVs in all cabins. Top What are my customs allowances? Each U.S. citizen is generally allowed to bring $800 worth of duty-free merchandise into the U.S. without being taxed, with an additional $1,000 being taxed at a reduced flat rate. Canadian citizens are generally allowed to bring $750 worth of duty-free merchandise into Canada without being taxed. Each U.S. and Canadian citizen may only return with a maximum of 40 ounces of wine or liquor and 200 cigarettes. Non-U.S. and -Canadian citizens should check with their country's customs agencies for restrictions on duty-free merchandise. Top Ship safety Are there enough lifeboats for everybody onboard? Yes, there are enough lifeboats onboard to comfortably hold every passenger and crew member. Top Are there lifeboat drills? Lifeboat drills (also known as assembly drills or muster drills) are held at the beginning of each cruise, just before the ship sets sail. Attendance is mandatory in order to comply with Coast Guard and international safety regulations. Passengers must come prepared with their own life preservers, which will be found in passenger cabins (all cabins have one life preserver for each passenger). Top I've heard about shipboard flu outbreaks. How can I check if my ship has had one? Though flu outbreaks are rare, ships may occasionally have a few passengers who experience stomach discomfort. If you’re concerned about any past illnesses on your ship, contact the cruise line directly. Top What happens if I get sick? All ships have doctors onboard who can assist sick passengers. In the event of a medical emergency, sick or injured passengers can also be airlifted from the ship, or the ship can make an emergency detour into a nearby port of call. One mild form of sickness some passengers experience is seasickness; however, seasickness is very rare on larger cruise ships since they’re equipped with stabilizers which minimize the feeling of movement. Again, if you feel sick, you can visit the ship’s doctor, or pick up some over-the-counter seasickness medication from the sundries shop. Top What happens if there’s a hurricane or typhoon? If inclement weather is ahead, the ship can easily change course to avoid the storm. Top Return to the main Cruise FAQs page |
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