Cruise Summary

Cruise Lines:
Azamara Club Cruises
Carnival Cruise Lines
Celebrity Cruises
Costa Cruises
Crystal Cruises
Cunard Line
Disney Cruise Lines
Holland America Line
MSC Cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line
Oceania Cruises
Paul Gauguin Cruises
Princess Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Royal Caribbean International
Seabourn Cruise Line
Seadream Yacht Club
Silversea Cruises
Windstar Cruises

 

Cruise Destination Information:
Alaska

 

Frequently Asked Questions :
First-time Cruising FAQ
General Cruise FAQ

Cruise Information:
Ship Consumption
Cruise Terminology
100 Onboard Activities
100 Destination Activities
Pier Directions

 

Terms & Conditions
Privacy Policy

International Travel Warehouse
Los Angeles, CA USA
Tel: 1.310.312.1116
info@itwusa.com
CST 2057034-40

Cruise Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fly in the night before or stay an additional night after the cruise?
What is an air deviation? What is the benefit of purchasing an air deviation?
What are the taxes and port charges?
What if another person wants to come along late? Can I add a person after making payment?
Why is it so expensive for one person to travel alone?
Should I buy travel insurance?
What does category guarantee mean?
What type of clothes should I pack?
How do I obtain a passport or birth certificate?
What are the tipping guidelines?
How do I prepare for increased airport security?
What are the age requirements to sail?



Can I fly in the night before or stay an additional night after the cruise?

Cruiselines offer pre and post-cruise packages that may be purchased at an additional cost. This enables you to avoid potential airline delays, relax before or after the cruise, and experience the city.
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What is an air deviation? What is the benefit of purchasing an air deviation?

An air deviation, or customizing your flights, allows you to select any combination of dates, times, airlines, departure cities, and other special flight-related requests. An air deviation also allows for requests for nonstop flights. The cruiselines charge $35 to $50 per person plus any additional cost for the flight incurred by the cruiseline. An air deviation guarantees that you and your companions will travel together on the times and airlines of your choice without any connections. In addition, an air deviation usually provides flight information within a week of your request. If you do not choose an air deviation, your flights will be assigned 21 to 30 days prior to departure.
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What are the taxes and port charges?

The port charges include taxes/fees assessed by government and other agencies, costs incident to entering or leaving ports such as pilotage, costs incurred while in port, such as stevedoring, waste removal, and payroll for port-related functions. Taxes associated with any flights would also be part of this category.
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What if another person wants to come along late? Can I add a person after making payment?
All rates are based on the present occupancy and availability. While in most cases it is possible to add an extra person -- providing the room allows for this -- your present rate will not be protected and could possibly change. The additional person could pay a different rate as well, and change fees may be charged. Additionally, the availability might not be there at the time you wish to add the other person. In some cases, changes will not be permitted at all.
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Why is it so expensive for one person to travel alone?
Cruiselines base their rates on double occupancy. Therefore, when traveling alone, you will be charged a supplemental fee. Please note that this fee only applies to the stateroom rate. Taxes and airfare costs do not increase for this reason.
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Should I buy travel insurance?

ITW recommends the purchase of travel insurance, as some things cannot be anticipated. Trip insurance will cover you if you have to cancel due to injury, sickness, or death to you, a traveling companion, or family member. It does not cover unstable, preexisting medical conditions. It will cover you should a medical emergency occur on your trip. If you cancel your vacation for a covered reason, or incur medical expenses while on your trip, you would need to pay these fees in advance and then file a claim for reimbursement.

ITW highly recommends the purchase of travel insurance:
for active vacationers,
when traveling to historical areas where there are "ruins" (slippery when wet) such as in Europe, and the Mayan Ruins in Mexico.

All ITW's Suppliers (cruiselines, tour operators, etc.) offer travel insurance.
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What does category guarantee mean?

This means that you have purchased a specific stateroom category on the ship but a stateroom has not been assigned yet. Usually you will be assigned a stateroom number at the pier. Occasionally, the stateroom number will be provided in advance. Your stateroom can fall anywhere within the category you have purchased. There is a possibility of an upgrade. Rarely is a passenger who purchases an Interior Stateroom Guarantee upgraded to an Oceanview Stateroom, or a purchased Oceanview Guarantee upgraded to a Suite, but on occasion, ITW's passengers have experienced the latter (at no additional cost).
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What type of clothes should I pack?

For cold weather destinations, layers are recommended because it may be warmer at some points of the day than others. For warm weather destinations, shorts are fine. Some restaurants at resorts do require a tie and jacket. On cruise ships, there is usually at least one formal night for 3/4 night cruise, and two formal nights for 7-10 night cruises. Use your own definition of formal. For men, formal wear can range from tie and jacket to suit to tux. Most cruise ships request no shorts or jeans in the dining room. Some resorts require a collared shirt to be worn in the dining rooms.
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How do I obtain a passport or birth certificate?

You can apply for a passport at your local post office. Many larger cities also have a local passport office. To acquire a copy of your birth certificate, you must contact the city hall from your place of birth. Please keep in mind that your birth certificate must be an original with a raised seal. Costs are associated with acquiring either of these documents.
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What are the tipping guidelines?

Gratuities may be prepaid prior to your cruise. Otherwise, cruiselines automatically charge the daily gratuities to your onboard account. Should you elect to pay gratuities in the traditional manner, the following guidelines are suggestions only. Please remember to recognize outstanding service. Waiters and stateroom stewards $3.00-3.50 per passenger per day, Assistant Waiters $1.50-2.00 per passenger per day. Head Waiters $2.50 per passenger per day as your discretion. A 15% gratuity is added to all bar and wine checks.
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How do I prepare for increased airport security?

Due to heightened FAA security requirements, only ticketed airline passengers will be allowed to proceed through security checkpoints. As an E-ticket holder, you may need to check in at a ticket counter or present the appropriate documentation in order to proceed through security. Individual airlines will determine which documentation (i.e. paper tickets, boarding passes, or reservation confirmations) will be allowed. Therefore, it is imperative that you bring your confirmation email with you to the airport. For the most current information, please contact your carrier.
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What are the age requirements to sail?

The policies regarding minimum age for passengers differ for each cruise line. These policies are strictly upheld by the cruise lines, and passengers who do not meet the minimum requirement will not be permitted to board the vessel unaccompanied. The following list outlines age restrictions by cruise line:

Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, and Windstar Cruises require that guests under the age of 21 years be accompanied in the same stateroom by a parent, relative, or legal guardian 25 years or older.

Norwegian Cruise Line requires that guests under the age of 21 years be accompanied in the same stateroom by a parent, grandparent, or legal guardian 21 years or older.

Crystal Cruises, Princess Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, and Silversea Cruises require that guests under the age of 18 years be accompanied in the same stateroom by a parent, grandparent, or legal guardian 21 years or older.

Cunard Line, Orient Lines, Seabourn Cruise Line, and Windjammer Barefoot Cruises require that guests under the age of 18 years be accompanied in the same stateroom by a parent, grandparent, or legal guardian 18 years or older.

For Caribbean sailings during Spring Break, some cruiselines requires that guests under the age of 25 years be accompanied in the same stateroom by a parent, grandparent, or legal guardian 25 years or older.
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