Thinking of a Cruise? Here Are Some Planning Tips

My friend just returned from a cruise to Italy and hasn't stopped talking about it ever since. A frequent traveller that I am, a cruise was definitely on my bucket list but I had so many apprehensions. What all can you do on a cruise? How does one spend 7 days on a cruise liner? These and so many more questions came to my mind. And who better to answer them than my friend. My first question to her was….

Sea sickness?

Not to worry! She assured me that the ship is stable and smooth and hence you don’t feel sea sick. But just in case you are still worried, carry some medication after consulting your doctor, just for safe keeping.

After I was done clarifying my ‘most important’ apprehension, I started asking her how they went about planning their trip and what all information would be useful before I left the shore. Here are the things to remember while planning a cruise.

Booking the Cruise

There are many places to go on a cruise – some of the most popular ones being Mediterranean, Caribbean and Alaska. My friend chose the 7-day Mediterranean Cruise from Rome. Check out the cruise that you fancy and book online or through an agent.

Visa

Make sure you have a visa for every country you are visiting. For European cruises, you will need a multiple entry Schengen Visa. This can take anywhere up to 4 weeks to be processed, so apply in time to avoid disappointment. My friend’s visa took 3 weeks. You can apply online or through an agent, who will do it for a fee.

Which European country to apply to: You have to apply to the European country where you will be spending the maximum time– it doesn't matter which country you enter first.

Travel and stay details: Along with other documents required for the visa application, you have to attach your whole itinerary – airline tickets, hotel/home stays and cruise details.

Visa fees: Adults - Euro 60; Kids (6 – 12 yrs) - Euro 35; Kids (below 6) – Free. VFS Global also charges a separate fee (around Rs.1000 each) for getting the visa processed (apart from any fees you may pay to a travel agent for helping you out).

Reach the Port on Time

Make sure you have enough time between landing at the airport and setting sail. It is always better to reach your port city a day before the date of sailing. Like flights, you have to check-in at least one hour before sailing time. Some ports are far away from the city, so make sure you calculate the amount of time it will take to reach the port. If you reach late, they are not going to wait for you!

Packing

My friend packed according to the number of days but that is totally up to you. What you need to remember is that there are so many people boarding the ship at the same time that it could take a while before your bags reach your cabin. Pack a small bag with your essentials which you may need up till the end of the day. Don’t forget to pack your camera and the bathing suit into this bag.

IMPORTANT: Apart from your regular medication, carry a basic First Aid Kit, medicines for fever, cold etc. The charges for seeing a doctor onboard are quite expensive.

Unpacking

It’s quite a sight to see the ship leave the port, so don’t start unpacking your stuff the minute you get to your cabin. Leave your things there and head back to the deck to see your magnificent vessel leave the shores.

Your ‘All-Inclusive’ Holiday

Cruise liners are glorious! Since you have paid an ‘all-inclusive’ fare, you can enjoy ‘almost all’ the facilities offered on the cruise liner.

Breakfast, lunch and snacks: A lavish buffet breakfast is served as early as 6 am followed by lunch and then dinner. A snack counter serving pizzas, hot dogs, coffee, tea, juice and much more is open 24 hours.

Dinner: Apart from the buffet, there is an option of having a formal sit down six-course meal. This meal is served at two separate timings – you can choose which time you prefer. My friend chose the second slot, as it gave them time to freshen up after a long day at the port. There is a suggested dress code – Italian, all white and others about which you shall be informed. It is, of course, optional to stick to the dress code. It is always helpful to do some research before you leave, so you take the right outfits.

Activities: There are a lot of activities which are also part of your ‘all-inclusive’ fare – like the swimming pools (but be warned they have salty water), library and many indoor and outdoor games. Cool idea - my friend saw families with walkie-talkie sets to keep track of where each member of the family was!

Evening entertainment: Amazing stage performances are planned every evening. These take place twice every evening to accommodate the thousands of passengers onboard.

Plan for the next day: Every night a newsletter is slipped under the door of your cabin. This gives information about the next day - where the ship will dock, time of docking, list of things to do on shore,the tours offered by the cruise liner, time of setting sail again, etc.

Not So All-Inclusive!

Sadly, there are always hidden costs, even in your all-inclusive cruise holiday. When you get onto the cruise, you will be issued a debit swipe card (you will need to give your credit card details), which you will use for any extras that you buy onboard. My friend had to pay Euro 250 and she did mention that it finished in no time and they needed a top-up soon! Here are some reasons why:

• Drinks: Water and beverages (hard and soft) and the yummy looking ‘drink of the day’ are not free. You can either buy them as and when you want or take a drinks package. Tip for free drinking water - you can fill your empty water bottles from the water dispenser near the snack counter.
• Restaurants: There is a wide range of speciality dining restaurants on board, serving gourmet food. But remember, those are not part of what you have paid for.
• Pamper yourself: Spa and salon treatments are available on the cruise-liner, but at a price.
• Special events: There are many free activities on the ship, so if you don’t want your card to run out soon, stick to those. Any special classes (yoga, pilates), wine tasting, gaming, casino visits are all chargeable. But then you are on a holiday, so don’t forget to have a good time!
• Laundry could be expensive. You could use the ships laundry service or there may be a self-service launderette, but there is a charge to use that as well. Good option - carry enough clothes, or if needed, a detergent to wash small clothes and hang them in the shower area of your cabin bathroom.
• Internet is costly on the ship and you have to pay as and when you use it. To save your draining debit card, send your emails, whatsapp etc. when you are sipping coffee on land at a cafe with free internet.
• Towels: Beach towels are provided free of cost when you disembark at a beach port. Just make sure you return them at the end of the day or you will be fined.
• Shuttle Bus: If the city you have to visit is far away from the port, the cruise liner provides a shuttle bus – you will be swiping your card again!
• City Tours: Apart from the shuttle bus, the cruise liner offers city tours at every port. These are definitely more expensive than using a local guide or hop-on-hop-off bus to roam the city. You could even do it for free by taking a self-guided walking tour! WARNING - Make sure you do your research properly and don’t get lost. You don’t want to miss the boat in the process!
• Souvenirs: It is always better to buy souvenirs at a port, but some ships do have a bargain counter at the end of the journey.
• Service charge: There is a service tip that is charged to your bill at the end of the cruise – my friend paid Euro 7 per person per day.

With these handy tips I definitely feel more equipped to deal with what felt like the unknown! Hope these tips are of great use to you as well. So now go ahead and plan your cruise holiday!