Cruise Line Vacations Specials

Are there children’s programs? Is babysitting available?
Kids adapt to shipboard life with ease, and you will not have to wonder what they are up to every minute. Most mainstream and premium cruise lines offer special children’s rooms and programs run by trained youth counselors. Children’s programs cater to kids of all ages, from toddlers to teens, and provide plenty of supervised activities. Depending upon the cruise line, babysitting is often available for an additional fee.

Are there religious services onboard?
The types of services held onboard depend on the clergy the cruise line invites on each cruise. Some ships provide nondenominational religious services on Sundays and religious holidays, and some offer daily Catholic masses and Friday-evening Jewish services. Although some ships have chapels, services can be held in the ship’s library, theater, or private lounges.

Can I bring my pet?
On almost cruise lines, only service animals are allowed onboard by special arrangement. The one exception is the Queen Mary 2’s kennel program on transatlantic crossings. The ship has 12 kennels to accommodate traveling dogs and cats.

 What services can I expect onboard?
For a fee, you can indulge in the ship’s spa services, which provides facials, massages, manicures, hairstyling, and other treatments. Photography and laundry services are also available for a fee.

Are there laundry services onboard?
Yes, almost all cruise ships have laundry facilities onboard, and a great many provide dry-cleaning services. There is an additional charge for professional laundry and dry-cleaning services, but most ships also have self-service launderettes.

What is the electrical current onboard?
Most ships have 110-volt outlets in the staterooms, but check with your travel agent or the cruise line.

What will my cabin be like?
Cabin size depends on the category you booked. First-time cruisers are often taken aback by the compact design of cabins, which should not be compared to hotel rooms. They are built for efficiency and to encourage you to use the much larger public facilities onboard the ship. If you requested an outside cabin, you will have a porthole or picture window, depending on your ship’s design. Some outside cabins will also have a small verandah. Most cabins have twin beds that can be converted into a queen-size bed, and some have pullout couches or bunk beds that pull down from the walls.

Your cabin steward is there to make your stay comfortable, whether to change the bed configuration to suit your desires, or to bring you extra towels, pillows, or blankets. Many of the newer ships have safes in the rooms, and TVs that show current movies and provide general cruise information.

Is it worth the extra money for an oceanview cabin?
This is a matter that depends on your budget and how much time you plan to spend in the cabin. If you can afford the extra money to move up to an oceanview cabin, you will probably feel you got your money’s worth. The lowest category of outside cabins are not necessarily bigger than inside cabins, but they do provide natural light, which some cruisers prefer.

Can I switch cabins if I don’t like the one I get?
If you do not like your cabin, notify the purser’s desk as soon as possible. If the ship is full, you probably will not be able to move. However, depending upon the circumstances, the purser will work with you on your problem.

When can I upgrade my cabin?
If you book your cruise and do not get the cabin category you prefer, you can be placed on a waiting list for a different cabin. Once a higher-category cabin opens up, you will be charged the difference. You can also check during the embarkation process to see if a higher-class category is available. If it is, you will pay the difference to upgrade.

How much food is there?
Cruises are notorious for the variety and large amounts of food. With breakfast, brunch, lunch, mid-afternoon snacks, tea, dinner, midnight buffet, and room service, there are many eating opportunities.

What are different meal seatings?
Some ships’ dining rooms can accommodate all passengers during one seating, but most ships have two seatings that differ only by time slot. To choose a seating, just decide whether you prefer to dine early or late, then have your travel agent or cruise line request your preference when you book your cruise. Certain cruise lines offer open seating (guests can dine anytime during set hours), and Norwegian Cruise Line lets guests eat when they choose at any of a number of smaller restaurants. In addition, some ships offer alternative dining options, such as themed restaurants or particular cuisines such as Italian, Asian, and French.

Are special diets available?
Most ships can accommodate salt-free, low-carbohydrate, Kosher, or other diet preferences. However, special diet requests must be made in advance, so be sure to advise your travel agent of your requirements when you book your cruise.

Can I order room service?
Most cruise lines offer 24-hour room service at no extra charge.

What kind of activities can I participate in while onboard?
It is amazing how much you can do on a cruise. Cruise ships are like floating resorts with all the amenities they have to offer. You can be by yourself and lie back in a lounge chair, soak up the sun, read a good book, or watch the changing view. You can also join in exercise classes, dance classes, sports contests, and other organized deck activities. Perhaps you would like to practice your tennis stroke or golf swing, or shoot some baskets? Other activities include watching a feature movie, attending a lecture by a renowned expert, and playing backgammon or bridge. You can also go for a swim, stretch out in the sauna, or work out in the gym. Some newer ships have ice skating rinks, rock-climbing walls, onboard surfing, bowling alleys, miniature golf, and outdoor movies.

What is there to do at night?
Cruise ships can be quite lively at night. There’s dancing and live entertainment in the lounges and discos, feature films, and parties. Most ships also have casinos. There are also many special events like the captain’s cocktail party, Las Vegas and Broadway-style shows, magic acts, and the late night buffet.

Do I have to participate in the activities?
On a cruise, you do what you want to. You can do everything, or lie back and do absolutely nothing. It’s your vacation.

How do I find out about shore excursions?
Prior to the cruise, most cruise lines will include the available shore excursion information in your cruise documents. Sometimes, information is available on the cruise line’s website. No matter what, you will always be able to get information about the tours through the ship’s shore excursion desk, which is staffed with personnel who can answer all your questions.

Can I celebrate a special occasion onboard?
Yes, just inform your travel agent or cruise line prior to sailing, and they can make the necessary arrangements for you.

Source: http://www.smartertravel.com/cruise/faq/onboard.html