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Frequently Asked Questions

Cruise Related
  Q1. What does my cruise fare include?
  Q2. What is not included on the cruise?
  Q3. How do I pay for onboard expenses?
  Q4. What currency is used onboard?
  Q5. How many suitcases can I bring?
  Q6. Is there smoking allowed onboard the ship?
  Q7. What happens if I have to cancel?
  Q8. How much do I have to pay when I book a cruise?
  Q9. What is there to do onboard the ship?
  Q10. Will I get sea-sick?
  Q11. Will I be able to work-out and eat healthy onboard?
  Q12. Do I have to eat at a certain time everyday?
  Q13. What if I need special meals?
  Q14. What is the dress code on the ship?
  Q15. How should I pack?
  Q16. Are there laundry services available?
  Q17. What happens if I get sick on the cruise?
  Q18. Can I bring a visitor onboard the ship for a tour?
  Q19. Are gratuities/tips included?
  Q20. Are there activities for children? Is there any age restriction?
 

Q21. How much is Travel Insurance?

 

Europe Related
  Q22. When is the best time to travel to Europe?
  Q23. Will I see wildlife on an Europe Cruise?
  Q24. What shore excursions are available?
  Q25. Can I add a pre- or post-cruise hotel stay?
  Q26. Do I need to know English to get around?
  Q27. How far away is Europe?
  Q28. What is the weather like in Europe?
  Q29. Is a passport and/or visa required?
   
   
   
   
   
  Q1. What does my cruise fare include?
  A1. Most European cruises include food (3 meals a day plus room service), regular drinks (like coffee, tea, juice, iced tea & lemonade), entertainment, use of the ship's facilities, and your accommodations. Some luxury cruise lines include more, such as alcoholic beverages, gratuities, shore excursions, and more. Please ask your Europe Cruise Specialist for more details.
 
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  Q2. What is not included on the cruise?
  A2. Most cruises do not include gratuities, alcoholic beverages, soda pop, specialty coffees, shore excursions, WiFi internet, gambling, spa or salon treatments, specialty restaurants, specialty fitness classes or personal trainer classes, and personal items. Some luxury cruise lines are slightly different and more inclusive, please ask for details.
 
  Q3. How do I pay for onboard expenses?
  A3. For your convenience most cruise ships in Europe set-up a stateroom account when you check-in. Similar to a hotel, everything you purchase onboard gets charged to this account and at the end of your cruise the account can be settled by credit card, travellers cheques or cash.
   
  Q4. What currency is used onboard?
  A4. Onboard North American cruise ships the currency used is US Dollars (Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises will charge in Euros). The purser's desk will cash travellers cheques and some foreign currency.
 
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  Q5. How many suitcases can I bring?
  A5. The cruise line does not have a bag limit, however they do request guests bring no more than 200 pounds per stateroom.
   
  Q6. Is there smoking allowed onboard the ship?
  A6. Smoking is permitted in designated areas in bars onboard and outside on open decks. Please look for signs onboard your ship.
   
  Q7. What happens if I have to cancel?
  A7. If you are cancelling over 90 days in advance you will receive the deposit you paid back (on all cruise lines except luxury cruise lines). If you are cancelling after the final payment date, cruise line penalties come into effect. The penalty amounts vary by cruise line and the date you are cancelling; the closer you are to the departure date, the higher the penalty from the cruise line. Ask your European Cruise Specialist about any other charges that may be incurred.
 
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  Q8. How much do I have to pay when I book a cruise?
  A8. If you are booking a cruise over 90 days in advance most cruise lines only require a deposit. The deposit amount varies depending on the cruise line between $200-900 USD per person. If you are booking within 90 days of the cruise, full payment is required. Most cruise line deposits are fully refundable up until the final payment date (90 days prior to sailing).

Many luxury cruise lines require final payment 120 days prior to departure, not 90. Please contact your Certified Cruise Specialist for more specific information.

   
  Q9. What is there to do onboard the ship?
  A9. Each night when you are at dinner your cabin steward will clean up your room. During this process he/she will leave a guide for the next day's events onboard. Activities offered onboard include port lectures, movies, dance classes, bingo, live music in various lounges or at the pool, entertainment shows each evening and much more! Plus, you can use the ship's facilities like whirlpools, swimming pools, fitness center, watersports platform is offered, etc.
 
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  Q10. Will I get sea-sick?
 

A10. It is possible to get sea-sick on a European cruise. However, all the major cruise lines have added stabilizers to each ship when they are built. These stabilizers are used to keep the ship steady when it is in rough water.


If you usually get car sick, then you could get sea-sick. We suggest that you visit your local doctor prior to the cruise and discuss methods to avoid this. One popular method is purchasing the patch (which is placed behind your ear) or taking gravol.

If you begin feeling a little woozy, there is a medical center onboard with a doctor and nurses to help you! Plus, if you visit the purser's desk gravol is available.

   
  Q11. Will I be able to work-out and eat healthy onboard?
  A11. Yes. Most ships offer fitness facilities and many are open 24 hours a day. As well, the dining room menu offers light menu choices and vegetarian dishes.
   
  Q12. Do I have to eat at a certain time everyday?
  A12. No. Most ships offer 24 hour room service. No matter what time of day you are hungry something is available for you!
 
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  Q13. What if I need special meals?
  A13. Special meals can be accommodated if you inform your Europe Cruise Specialist when booking your Europe cruise. The cruise lines will offer vegetarian, vegan, kosher, diabetic, no dairy, low salt, low cholesterol, Indian vegetarian, and more.
   
  Q14. What is the dress code on the ship?
  A14. During the day on any cruise casual attire is accepted. During the evening dress codes vary. Some cruise lines, such as Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line, offer a Country Club Casual or elegant resort wear for every night of their cruises. An example of this is pleated dress pants with a silk shirt for men and a pantsuit or informal attire for women. No ties or jackets required, although it is recommended for a man to bring one jacket for the Captain's welcome reception. Most other cruise lines have two formal nights on a 7 night cruise, three formal nights on 10 or 12 night cruise, and four formal nights on a 14+ night cruise.
   
  Q15. How should I pack?
  A15. When travelling to a warm climate, like the Mediterranean, we recommend the following for daytime: shorts, slacks, tops, swimsuit and comfortable walking shoes. Sunglasses, sunblock and hat/visor are also recommended. When travelling to Northern Europe make sure you have a light jacket in case of wind or cooler weather.

For dinner in most restaurants onboard resort casual attire is acceptable. They do not allow jeans, t-shirts, shorts, cut-offs, tank tops or bare feet.

If you need to bring prescription medicines don't forget to bring the original containers. Please keep all prescriptions with you in your carry-on or purse.
 
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  Q16. Are there laundry services available?
  A16. Onboard most ships laundry service is available through room service. Washing, pressing and steaming is available at a cost.
   
  Q17. What happens if I get sick on the cruise?
  A17. There is a medical center onboard all large ships. In the medical center there is a doctor and nurses to assist with injuries or questions. The medical center hours are limited, however the doctor is on-call 24 hours a day.
   
  Q18. Can I bring a visitor onboard the ship for a tour?
  A18. Unfortunately, no due to security reasons visitors are not allowed onboard.
   
  Q19. Are gratuities/tips included?
  A19. This depends on the cruise line. Some luxury cruise lines include gratuities in the cost of the cruise. Most cruise lines do not include gratuities. Each day of the cruise your onboard account is charged $12 USD (per guest, per day). This fee covers all gratuities for the staff onboard, but can be adjusted by contacting the purser's desk if you have an issue. Please contact your Europe Cruise Specialist to confirm the details for your cruise vacation.
   
  Q20. Are there activities for children? Is there any age restriction?
  A20. Many of the large ship cruise lines offer children's programs and activities when cruising Europe. Some cruise lines do have an age restriction of 6 months, please ask your European Cruise Specialist about the cruise you're interested in.
 
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  Q21. How much is Travel Insurance?
  A21. Travel Insurance premiums and coverage vary. Please contact your Europe Cruise Specialist for more details.
   
  Q22. When is the best time to travel to Europe?
  A22. The Europe Cruise season is from April to November each year. There are some cruise lines that offer Mediterranean cruises year-round. October through May is considered low season, June is shoulder season and July and August are peak season. In our opinion June is the best time to travel to Europe because of its mild weather, longest days of the year, and shoulder season pricing.
   
  Q23. Will I see wildlife on an Europe Cruise?
  A23. Yes, it is possible to see wildlife on an Europe Cruise, however we recommend that you take a shore excursions to view specific wildlife. Ask your European Cruise Specialists for more information about excursions.
   
  Q24. What shore excursions are available?
  A24. Many shore excursions are available in each port of call. Click here to view our destination information.
   
  Q25. Can I add pre- or post-cruise hotel stay?
  A25. Yes, pre and post hotel packages are available. Your Europe Cruise Specialist can offer packages with the cruise line or book it separately for you. If you are looking for a week long stay your Europe Specialist can help with packaging air, hotel and tours for you. Just let them know!
   
  Q26. Do I need to know English to get around?
  A26. The main language onboard the cruise ship in Europe is English. Travelling off the ship each country may speak a different language. Shore excursions will be offered in English and some other language (possibly Spanish or German). For more details contact your Europe Cruise Specialist.
 
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  Q27. Where do I fly to and what airlines go there?
  A27. The most popular cruise ports for departure in Europe are London, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Genoa, Rome, Venice and Athens. Once you choose your Europe or Mediterranean cruise, your Europe Cruise Specialist will help you find airfare. Your Europe Cruise Specialist can offer airfare from any major airport world-wide. Most major airlines travel to the above major European cities.
   
  Q28. What is the weather like in Europe?
  A28. The weather in Europe can vary widely from Northern Europe to the Mediterranean. Please contact your Europe Cruise Specialist for specific information about the cities and countries you will be visiting.
   
  Q29. Is a passport and/or visa required?
  A29. Yes. US and Canadian citizens are required to have a passport valid at least 6 months from the date of your return. Some European countries do require a visa, such as Russia and Turkey. If you hold a passport from outside North America please contact a local Consulate in your country for specific visa requirements. Cruising2Europe.com is not responsible for issuing or informing individuals of passport or visa requirements.
 
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