Holiday & CruiseChannel’s First TimeGuide To Cruising.

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Cruise holidays have neverbeen more popular. For many people however, it's quite daunting to knowwhere to begin. Will I enjoy it? Who is cruising for? WillI be bored? These are a few of the many questionsasked by all first-time cruisers. The answer is simple.No matter what your lifestyle, or time of life, there is acruise ship to suit your every requirement. There arechild-free and child-friendly ships to choose from,ships that range from the contemporary andinnovative, to the traditional. So whether you aretravelling with children, on your own, as a couple or ina group, you will find nowhere more welcoming.

So what is there to do on aship?You get so much more than an ordinary land-basedholiday, you’ll have luxury accommodation, exquisitefood and professional entertainment, together withever-changing scenery. Wake up to a new destinationalmost every day, giving you the opportunity toexplore new places or just relax, whether it's an exoticCaribbean island, or the hustle and bustle of acosmopolitan city. Life on board, however, isultimately just as inviting as your time ashore. Mostships are equipped with swimming pools, a fitnessroom and spa, shops, stylish cafés and bars, and awhole programme of entertainment, including guestspeakers from Soap stars to former ministers, thevariety is amazing, and they are all people with a storyto tell. For those of you seeking pure tranquillity andrelaxation, there are always plenty of areas on boarddesigned with you in mind, whether it's a library, aquiet sundeck, or an adults only pool to name but afew.

What's included in the fare?The fare is generally made up of your choice of cabinaccommodation and meals on a full board basis(although some alternative dining options carry asurcharge). Daytime entertainment is included, forexample swimming pools, Jacuzzis, gymnasium,sports court, and library to name but a few. By nightthese 'floating resorts' offer evening entertainmentsuch as lavish stage shows, west end theme shows,live bands, comedians, and night club etc. On FlyCruise Holidays, All international flights to and fromthe UK are included, along with transfers to/from theoverseas airport/port. There are also ‘Spa’ areas on theships that offer ‘Pamper treatments’ as well ashairdressing for an additional fee.

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How do I get to the port andcheck-in?Depending where you are joining your cruise, it reallyis very simple. If you are sailing from the UK, you caneither drive and park at the port, where you pull-upoutside the cruise terminal, and porters take yourluggage, and the next time you see it, it will beoutside your stateroom or cabin, then you just parkyour car. If you are travelling by coach, many cruiselines have coaches direct to the ship from pick-uppoints around the UK, just ask when you book, onceagain, as you leave the coach, the porters take yourluggage, and it’s taken to your cabin for you. If youare travelling by train or By air, there are usuallybusses that link between the station or airport andthe port, or you can hail a cab, once again yourluggage will be looked after when you arrive at thePort. Once you have left your luggage, you justproceed to check-in, where you will have aphotograph taken, your tickets and passports will bechecked, and you will be given your boarding card,and then usually you go right on board.

If you are on a fly cruise, obviously you have to makeyour own way to the airport in the UK, and yourluggage allowance will be restricted by the airlinesluggage policy, so make sure you check it before youfly. When you get to your destination airport, unlessotherwise advised, there is usually a representative ofthe cruise line waiting to take you to the ship on acoach from the airport, it is your responsibility to takethe luggage to the coach, then, normally the nexttime you see your luggage it will be outside yourcabin or stateroom. But make sure you attach theluggage labels the cruise line send to you on theluggage, so they know where to deliver the luggageto.

Will I Need a Passport?Yes. No matter where you are cruising, even if it is a‘round Britain Cruise’ you will need a valid passportfor everyone travelling, as you will be sailing intointernational waters.

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How much luggage can I takewith me?On any sailing commencing from a U.K. port you arenot restricted to the number of cases you take withyou. However, do remember that your cases will haveto be accommodated with you in your cabin orstateroom and with too many cases there could bethe problem of space! On any "fly cruise" the weightof luggage will be determined by the requirementsof the airline. Please don't forget the weight and sizeof the presents you will be returning with from thevarious destinations of your cruise!

What should I wear? The primary consideration in packing your case isthat you are going on a holiday to relax and thereforekeep it simple! By day, we would advise wearingcasual wear and shorts for hot weather andimportantly comfortable shoes for your shoreexcursions and strolling on the decks. Cruising hastoday become more relaxed and in the evening there

will be a combination of formal, informal and smartcasual evenings. Some cruise lines now offercompletely informal sailings. Please call us for moredetails. Normally there will be one formal on a 7night cruise and two formal nights in a 10/14 dayCruise where gentlemen will wear a dress suit with atie or ‘Black Tie’ and the ladies are able to dress in alltheir finery.

Are there things for Childrento do on board?Depending on the ship you choose, yes, there arelots of things for children on some of the larger shipsincluding Ice Rinks, climbing walls and many shipshave children and teen clubs as well, some cruiselines only operate these during the main schoolholiday periods, but others offer them year round,just ask when you are booking. If you are thinking oftaking the family, book early, as the larger cabins andstate rooms that sleep families do book up first, andas always its first come first served basis. (It is alsoworth noting that some ships are for adults only)

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Where and when do I eat?All meals are included in the fare, most ships offer amain dining room, which is open for breakfast,lunch and dinner, usually with waiter service. Mostships do offer alternative dining areas, from self-service to silver service, A la Carte venues, and snackbars (often open 24 hours). There is also ’Freedom’dining on some ships where you can eat when andwhere you like. Some of the larger vessels havemany restaurants, ranging from Mediterraneancuisine to Japanese, Steakhouses to Celebritycreated restaurants, such as Chef Marco PierreWhite’s restaurant onboard P&O's Azura, these‘Special’ do have an additional charge, but are notanything like you would pay in a normal restaurantat home.

I require a special diet - CanI arrange this prior to theCruise?Naturally, the Cruise Line can provide a wide varietyof special diets but you are requested to state at thetime of the booking the precise dietaryrequirements for the passengers on the reservation.Meals form an important element of the cruiseexperience and the Cruise Lines will attempt toaccommodate all requests within the facilitiesavailable.

Which type of cabin orStateroom should I choose?Whichever grade of cabin or stateroom you chooseit will be discreetly attended to by your cabinsteward, so you'll always find it in shipshapecondition. You'll return to find your bed turneddown, fresh clean towels and a sparkling bathroom.You're often given the choice of comfortable twin ordouble beds and most cabins are equipped withdressing table and chairs, ample wardrobe spaceand on British ships, (Like P&O, Fred. Olsen etc) teaand coffee making facilities. And that's the least youcan expect. For a slight increase in fare you canenjoy some panoramic sea views, or better still whynot opt for a touch more luxury and take advantageof your own private balcony - an ideal place forbreakfast or cocktails. If you're celebrating a specialoccasion or simply feeling a little indulgent you canchoose from a range of opulent suites withadditional space, a private balcony, a luxuriousbathroom and special butler service.

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What happens when theship in port, do I have toget off? When you join the cruise you will be given fulldetails of all your ports of call. Many cruise linessend you details a few weeks before you depart.At each port there is a large variety of differentshore excursions available, which you can bookbefore you depart or on board the cruise.However you don’t have to take any excursions,and you can just explore each destinationyourself. Alternatively, if you just want to stay andrelax onboard, you can, as all the restaurants barsand other facilities remain open whilst the ship isin port, and many passengers enjoy that as theship is a lot quieter.

What about tipping? It is customary, on the majority of ships, to offertips to staff who you feel have given youexcellent service and attention, as a way of saying'Thank you'. Each ship varies the suggestedamount but you will be given a guideline, eitherbefore you travel or in your cabin. On some cruiselines you can pre-pay these, so you can plan yourholiday spends, and some cruise lines includethem in the price of the cruise, just ask when youare booking, the agent should know therecommended tips on each cruise line.

Do I require a Passport orVisa?A full Passport is required for all passengers and itis essential that the Passport is valid for aminimum period of six months AFTER your returnto the U.K. Please check the expiry date of yourcurrent Passport. If you need to renew or extendthe validity of your Passport please allow at leastone month for your application to be processed.U.K. Citizens will require Visas for a fewdestinations should they wish to proceed ashoreindependently but in the vast majority ofinstances these are not required. We wouldadvise you to visit www.fco.gov.uk for furtherdetails on Visas before you travel. If you arevisiting the USA you will need to complete anESTA form. For more details on passports & Visas,visit our websitewww.holidayandcruisechannel.co.uk and click onHolidays tab.

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Do I require vaccinations andadditional medicines? Health regulations alter periodically with theimprovements to the standards of health and safetyand we suggest that you check your requirementswith your local GP at least 12 weeks prior to yourdeparture. You can also contact MASTA (MedicalAdvisory Service for Travellers Abroad) atenquiries@masta.org who will issue advice on therequirements of your individual destinations. Itshould be remembered that in some foreigncountries the general standards of hygiene andsafety may differ from those we accept as the "norm"in the U.K. Therefore exercise some common senseand prudence when choosing to sample localcuisine. We would recommend you do not indulge inany activity, which may give rise to some illness andperhaps infringe on the conditions of your insurancepolicy, for instance extreme sports.

Do I require TravelInsurance?Yes. All passengers must have adequate insuranceagainst cancellation, illness, loss of luggage etc. Mosttravel agents no longer offer insurance, so you willneed to look for this from an Insurance provider, andadvise the cruise line of your insurance details.Insurance is a small cost for the potential risks, whichmay arise, and it should be regarded as an essentialpart of the holiday booking. Please ensure youdouble check the level and type of cover offered byannual insurance, as some so not cover youadequately.

I have a physical disability -Can I still go on the Cruise?If you require any form of assistance or are physicallydisabled you must be accompanied by a passengerwho will take responsibility for any assistancerequired during the cruise or in an emergency. Youshould advise the cruise line of your disabilities at thetime of the booking, and, whether or not you requireassistance on departure or return to the U.K. port orairport. Please remember the width restrictions ofcertain areas of the ship and the fact that some portsof call require tenders to go ashore, may restrictwheelchair bound passengers from going ashore.However, most ships do cater for partially disabledpassengers and they will seek to ensure that thesepassengers will encounter the minimum ofinconvenience. 

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How will I go Ashore at thePorts of Call?Most ships will seek to dock alongside the berth,which will enable passengers to go ashore and returnat liberty via the ships gangway. Inevitably, with thelarger vessels visiting the smaller ports the ship willanchor at sea and launches will provide a free andfrequent service to the shore. You will be free to goand return at your leisure whilst the ship is at anchor.Whilst the ship is in port all the ships bars, restaurantsand facilities (other that the ships duty-free shop) willremain open for those passengers not proceeding tothe shore. The times of arrival and departure at theports will be advised in the daily bulletin andnormally passengers may go ashore about an hourafter the ship arrival in port.

What currency should I takewith me on the Cruise?On Board the ship there is a ‘Cashless’ society, whereyou put any purchases on to your on-board account,which you can either settle on a daily basis as you go,or at the end of your cruise. The currency this is basedon depends on the cruise line but is usually eitherpounds, US Dollars or Euros. Naturally on a Cruise youwill visit a number of destinations and countries whowill all have their individual currencies. There is avirtue is taking travellers cheques, which can becashed both on the ship and ashore. Furthermore, ifthey were lost you would normally be able to replacethem by reporting the loss to the originating Bank.You may obtain the currency of your local destinationfrom the Pursers Office on board the ship but it issuggested not to leave your need to change currencyto the last minute on the ship as they may havelimited facilities. In most destinations the Euro orUnited States dollar (dependent on where you aretravelling) is acceptable as a currency. You shouldhowever be aware that the exchange rate could varyon a daily basis and dependent on the exchangelocation you use.

What happens if I have aproblem?There is always a 24 hour reception on the ship, withpeople employed as customer service representativeto make sure all you holiday goes smoothly. If you dohave any problems, just go to the reception desk, andthey will be able to help from a faulty TV to needingmore pillows.