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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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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