New and no nothing about Cruises

[TexasxRose]

Please help me. We are going on a cruise next year and it will be to Cozemel out of Galveston. So anyone that can give me some info on what to expect from the time I book till I get off the cruise I would be forever thankful..

[OCruisers]

Welcome to Cruise Critic and the Wonderful World of Cruising! :)

Please give us a bit more information. Which ship? When? Did you book through a travel agent or directly with the cruise line?

LuLu

[George C]

You might want to check the rates on RCCL Navigator of the seas , they have a excellent sale that ends tommorw, that ship is also out of Gavelston, we just took that and will sail again in it next april.

[megold]

You might want to check the rates on RCCL Navigator of the seas , they have a excellent sale that ends tommorw, that ship is also out of Gavelston, we just took that and will sail again in it next april.

 

 

Yep, Just booked my cruise for next May. It's buy one get the 2nd person half off. Its a pretty good deal.

[paul929207]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

When you select the cruise and ontact your travel agent, you will be asked what type cabin you want. Starting with the cheapest, the basic choices are inside, ocean view, balcony and suites. Once you select one and agree to the price you will be asked to put down a deposit. This is usually somewhere between $100 per person and 25% of the total cost. Most people do this by credit card, but a check or cash is also accepted.

 

Payment for the remained of the price will be due about 60 to 90 days before sailing.

[MtnBikerFallDown]

Welcome to Cruising and Cruise Critic! You'll loooove cruising!

 

You may want to just surf around the Carnival boards and see what people have to say about the ship, that itinerary, etc. You can get much more specific information from that direction than here.

 

But, as someone said, you may want to check out Royal Caribbean, too! If you would like Carnival, you'd like Royal Caribbean, in my humble opinion (IMHO). See which one saves you more, or offers the best perks (sometimes you'll get a sale where you can get half off a 2nd person's fare, or a free upgrade, etc).

 

Once you get your cruise booked, they'll tell you when the final date to finish paying for it is. Don't miss that date!

 

Also, with most cruise lines, you can go online and fill out all your "paperwork" that will get you on the ship. You can also book your "excursions" online, which are the little side trips you can take at your destinations. Also, check out the boards on here for each destination. You can find some absolutely wonderful information about what is fun to do in each port and find independent tour operators, too.

 

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE PROPER ID TO TAKE WITH YOU!!! A passport is preferred (and much safer, in case you need to fly out in case of emergency, etc.) but you can also sail using a birth certificate and US photo ID. BUT, the birth certificate must be a copy from your state agency (in TN it's the department of vital statistics thru the health dept, not sure where you'd have to look in your state). It CANNOT be a "hospital" certificate. If you don't know what kind you have, find out! I've seen people getting turned away at the port on 2 different cruises for not having the right ID!

 

Hope this helped some! My first cruise was in 1995 on Carnival's Ecstasy and I was hooked. Took me 8 years to get on another one, but it was worth the wait. Love them!!

Edited May 30, 2014 by MtnBikerFallDown
I apparently have no ability to type.

[Flatbush Flyer]

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE PROPER ID TO TAKE WITH YOU!!! A passport is preferred (and much safer, in case you need to fly out in case of emergency, etc.) but you can also sail using a birth certificate and US photo ID. BUT, the birth certificate must be a copy from your state agency (in TN it's the department of vital statistics thru the health dept, not sure where you'd have to look in your state). It CANNOT be a "hospital" certificate. If you don't know what kind you have, find out! I've seen people getting turned away at the port on 2 different cruises for not having the right ID!!

 

 

Sprt of correct. Except, please note that in the future, if you choose certain cruise lines other than the Carnival or Royal Caribbean type "mass market" lines, they require that ALL PASSENGERS on ALL ITINERARIES require a passport.

 

 

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[cb at sea]

Getting onto the ship is like checking into a hotel....with the exception of going thru a metal detector, the process is about the same. The ship will be your "resort hotel" for the duration of the cruise. You will do all the sort of "resort" things, just like you would in a nice hotel, but you will wake up in different places every day!

 

I'd advise reading up on your ports....if you know something about where you're going, you will have a much better time! You can do things on your own, or book excursions, either thru the ship, or privately. Do get a guidebook (libraries have them!) and read it!

 

The ship will have a casino, so if you gamble, bring along the cash you're willing to lose!

 

If you have binoculars, bring them,...there's lots to see at sea!

 

This is just a vacation...remember that! No "right or wrong" way to vacation!

[serene56]

Sprt of correct. Except, please note that in the future, if you choose certain cruise lines other than the Carnival or Royal Caribbean type "mass market" lines, they require that ALL PASSENGERS on ALL ITINERARIES require a passport.

 

 

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a birth ceritificate is all that is needed on a close loop cruise. (state issued- not the hospital one

Closed loop means one that leaves and returns to the same place in the US.

 

with a birth certificate and drivers license (not expired) you can not fly back from cozumel. so dont miss the ship.

 

Pay attention to the ship time-- not island time. take a watch not a cell phone clock

[paul929207]

a birth ceritificate is all that is needed on a close loop cruise. (state issued- not the hospital one

Closed loop means one that leaves and returns to the same place in the US.

 

with a birth certificate and drivers license (not expired) you can not fly back from cozumel. so dont miss the ship.

 

Pay attention to the ship time-- not island time. take a watch not a cell phone clock

The above rule applies to US citizens. Also, in addition to a birth certificate, you need a government issued photo ID. Most use their Driver's License.

[Flatbush Flyer]

a birth ceritificate is all that is needed on a close loop cruise. (state issued- not the hospital one

Closed loop means one that leaves and returns to the same place .

 

 

Please reread my post. That works for lines like Carnival. Some lines (e.g. most premium and luxury) require a passport for ALL PASSENGERS on ALL ITINERARIES. I mentioned this as a warning to the poster for FUTURE cruises where they may want to up the ante. Cruise lines can have more stringent requirements than the ports they enter.

 

 

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[serene56]

Please reread my post. That works for lines like Carnival. Some lines (e.g. most premium and luxury) require a passport for ALL PASSENGERS on ALL ITINERARIES. I mentioned this as a warning to the poster for FUTURE cruises where they may want to up the ante. Cruise lines can have more stringent requirements than the ports they enter.

 

 

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good point.. but the OP is a new cruiser--- and dont want she/him to get confused.

[Underwatr]

Please reread my post. That works for lines like Carnival. Some lines (e.g. most premium and luxury) require a passport for ALL PASSENGERS on ALL ITINERARIES. I mentioned this as a warning to the poster for FUTURE cruises where they may want to up the ante. Cruise lines can have more stringent requirements than the ports they enter.

I'll challenge that - name a line that requires a passport of a US passenger on a closed loop US cruise.

 

Cunard, for one premium line, does not. Nor does Princess but I don't know where you're drawing the line.

[OCruisers]

good point.. but the OP is a new cruiser--- and dont want she/him to get confused.

 

This is so true. Also, it would be great for them to find a good travel agent who specializes in cruises ... one they could talk with face-to-face.

LuLu

[cruisead]

I'll challenge that - name a line that requires a passport of a US passenger on a closed loop US cruise.

 

Cunard, for one premium line, does not. Nor does Princess but I don't know where you're drawing the line.

 

Crystal and Regent. They required passports for closed loop cruises in the Caribbean, Alaska and New England/Canada cruises. They also took, and kept, everyone's passports for the entire cruise for US citizens and everyone else.

[Flatbush Flyer]

I'll challenge that - name a line that requires a passport of a US passenger on a closed loop US cruise.

 

 

 

Cunard, for one premium line, does not. Nor does Princess but I don't know where you're drawing the line.

 

 

Oceania, Regent, and Crystal (I've been told). States it online and in cruise docs.

 

 

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[Flatbush Flyer]

Oceania, Regent, and Crystal (I've been told). States it online and in cruise docs.

 

 

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In fact, our TA sent a brightly colored reminder along with our invoice for an upcoming Alaska cruise. Also, like Crystal and Regent, you surrender your passport for the duration of the trip.

 

 

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[serene56]

In fact, our TA sent a brightly colored reminder along with our invoice for an upcoming Alaska cruise. Also, like Crystal and Regent, you surrender your passport for the duration of the trip.

 

 

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if your alaska cruise leaves out of Vancouver we need a passport :)

[donaldsc]

Please help me. We are going on a cruise next year and it will be to Cozemel out of Galveston. So anyone that can give me some info on what to expect from the time I book till I get off the cruise I would be forever thankful..

 

If you want to know "everything", there are lots of books on cruising at your local library. I suggest that you check them out.

 

More important, things will happen naturally so do not worry about it.

 

DON

[Flatbush Flyer]

if your alaska cruise leaves out of Vancouver we need a passport :)

 

 

Not sure if you misunderstood my earlier post. Some lines (e.g., Oceania) require a passport of ALL passengers on ALL itineraries. It doesn't matter from what port you leave or where you're headed.

 

 

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[sparks1093]

Not sure if you misunderstood my earlier post. Some lines (e.g., Oceania) require a passport of ALL passengers on ALL itineraries. It doesn't matter from what port you leave or where you're headed.

 

 

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Is someone going to cruise on one of those lines based on information gleaned from a thread regarding a CCL cruise?

[Flatbush Flyer]

Is someone going to cruise on one of those lines based on information gleaned from a thread regarding a CCL cruise?

 

 

Someday, many mass market cruisers will change to a premium or luxury line. Some folks even start off on lines like Oceania.

 

That said, the title of the thread would be of interest to ALL new cruisers. And remember that (as multiple threads on the same topic across CC will show) not a whole lot of folks use the search function. So, any opportunity to point out the misinformation that plagues CC is worth it.

 

 

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[Mytime2014]

OP - IMO the 1st thing you need to learn is to view these boards with a hefty amount of skepticism. Some people will argue just to argue. Ask a question about the sunrise and someone will get their panties in a twist or start an argument for the sake of arguing. Disregard!

 

After being on my cruise line board I was ready to toss the entire ticket price so I wouldn't have to spend time with people like that!!! then I realized, CC is a VERY VERY small percentage of the people who will be on the cruise. Think of people with enough hot air to float a balloon and time on their hands to argue- nothing is too minor to start a flame war. If you've got a smidgen of gumption - you can figure them out from the beginning. Do NOT let them get to you.

 

You will also recognize people who really offer well thought out answers and are helpful to everyone. Focus on them.

 

Plan to enjoy your trip. I'm going to!

[Soloist]

Sprt of correct. Except, please note that in the future, if you choose certain cruise lines other than the Carnival or Royal Caribbean type "mass market" lines, they require that ALL PASSENGERS on ALL ITINERARIES require a passport.

 

 

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If sailing from US to Caribbean you can use a passport card. --- make sure you arent left in port because they arent good for international airline flights.

 

Also DL/ID along with a government issued birth certificate will work. Some jurisdictions have the official birth certificate in a Credit Card form.

[Flatbush Flyer]

If sailing from US to Caribbean you can use a passport card. --- make sure you arent left in port because they arent good for international airline flights.

 

 

 

Also DL/ID along with a government issued birth certificate will work. Some jurisdictions have the official birth certificate in a Credit Card form.

 

Sorry but you are wrong. Once again: some cruise lines (e.g., Oceania, Regent, et al.) require an actual passport of ALL passengers on ALL itineraries. What the govt. agencies require may not be the same as what the cruise line requires.

 

 

 

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