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Cruise Vacation Problems That Can Occur & How To Resolve Them

9/7/2016

 
Cruise ShipView From The Carnival Dream In The Gulf of Mexico
        When you step onboard your cruise ship, you are officially on vacation. It is time for you to relax and enjoy your vacation. While most cruises go without problems, things or situations can unexpectedly happen that can be a slight inconvenience or problem. This blog post will address a few problems that could occur during your cruise and give some tips & suggestions on how to resolves these potential problems.

1.  You Lose Your Shipboard Card
          Your shipboard card typically is used to get you on or off the ship and for making shipboard purchases. Some cruise lines also have these cards setup to be stateroom keys. You will most likely receive this card during check-in, but have to show it a few times in order to get onboard the cruise ship. After you are onboard you will still need this card. 
            During your cruise you could accidentally lose this card. Due to the nature of these cards you need to go immediately to your cruise's guest services desk to let them know this card is lost. Just like a credit/debit card, you do not want someone else to get your card and try to make purchases on it.  The solution to this problem is to go your cruise ship's guest services desk. They will most likely do something in the system and issue you a new card. Your cruise line may or may not charge you for a new card. 

​2.  Someone Else's Luggage Is Delivered To Your Stateroom
                  Sometimes mistakes can occur and luggage is delivered to the wrong stateroom. If you receive someone else's suitcases or bags, bring it to your ship's guest services desk or find the nearest stateroom steward and explain the situation to him or her. 

3.  You Did Not Receive Your Luggage
                   It can take time to get all luggage on a cruise ship and delivered to its owner's stateroom. Try to be patient on the first day as you wait for your luggage. However, there are times that suitcases and bags are not delivered to a guest's stateroom because a mistake occurred or the bag is being held for a security check. On the first day, after a reasonable amount of time waiting, if your luggage has not been delivered you might want to go to your ship's guest services desk. They can tell you if it is too soon for concern or if there is a problem. Be prepared to give your name, stateroom number, deck number, and a description of the missing suitcases or bags.

4.  Onboard Credit Is Not Applied 
​              For various reasons, cruisers can be owed onboard credit by their cruise line. Before you cruise, try to print some type of proof that shows you are owed onboard credit and how much you are owed.  If you know you are owed onboard credit that should be applied during this cruise, make sure you keep track of your onboard expense account to make sure your onboard credit is applied in the full amount you are owed. If you see your onboard credit is not posted, before the cruise ends, speak with guest services. 

5. You Can't Find Your Way Around And Get Lost
                Cruise ships come in a variety of sizes and can be hard for some people to navigate. If you find yourself in a situation where you do not know the front from the back, look outside (if the ship is moving) and look towards the water to see which way the ship is moving. 
                   In the event you cannot find an area on your ship, ask a crew member or try to find a deck plan. Some cruise ships have printed deck plans available to cruisers, especially on the cruise's first day. 

​6.  You Forgot To Pack Something You Need
                Sometimes cruisers will forget to pack basic toiletries. Some cruise lines will sell basic toiletries to cruisers, but others will have a few on hand that are complimentary. This will depend on your cruise line. Please note, some cruise lines (especially smaller ones) may have no toiletries to give or sell onboard.  
                     For any items you forgot, check with your cruise ship's guest services or gift shops to see if you can buy the item or items you need. If your ship does not sell what you need, consider trying to buy that item during a port of call if you know you will need the item for the remainder of the cruise. 

7.  If Outside Decks Are Closed Due To Wind - How To Try To Still See The View
                 There are times cruise ships will have to close parts of the outside decks due to strong winds. If this occurs on your cruise, consider trying to find an exterior window that will allow you to look outside. While this may not be as fun as looking out from an outside deck, it will still allow you to try to get a glimpse of the view. 

8.  You Miss The Time To Eat A Meal 
                  Dining rooms and buffets often have set times for you to dine. However, there could be times that you miss a meal due to being late, oversleeping, or not paying attention to the time. If this happens, consider ordering from room service. Room service is free on some cruise lines and not free on others. Another option would be to try to find an onboard eatery that is open 24 hours. For example, Carnival Cruise Line offers 24 hour pizza and ice cream at the ship's buffet. 
                       Missing a meal may not be fun, but you should still be able to find something to eat onboard. It may not be a big selection, but hopefully you will something you like!

Tips For Flying Before Or After A Cruise Vacation

9/3/2016

 
Flying Before A Cruise
      Airports and flying can be a stressful and tiring experience. While there are many cruisers that live close to a cruise ship departure homeport, there are many cruisers that must fly in order to be able to take a cruise. This blog post will give tips and suggestions that will hopefully make a pre or post cruise flight experience easier and less stressful. 

​1.  Use Caution When Booking Your Flights
          Consider flying to your cruise's departure homeport 1-2 days prior to your cruise vacation. This will give you extra time if your flight is delayed or late. Do not fly in the morning or day of your cruise because if your flight gets delayed you could miss getting on your cruise ship. Arriving at your cruise's departure homeport a day or two early, would reduce the chances of you missing your cruise because of a flight delay. While you might have to pay for a hotel room because you arrived before the day of your cruise, this extra cost may be worth the peace of mind that your flight will not be a reason to miss your cruise. Arriving early will also give you an opportunity to see the sights and attractions located around your cruise departure homeport! 
              On the last day of your cruise, book a flight that departs well after you get off your cruise ship. Keep in mind that you must allow time to disembark the cruise ship, go to the airport, and check-in at the airport. Also, cruise ships can be delayed docking due to various reasons. Do not assume that your cruise ship will be 100% on-time because delays could occur! Consider contacting your cruise line for their recommendations on the earliest flight times they recommend for flying out after the cruise ends. 

​2. You Will Go Through Airport Security For Your Flight And Cruise Ship Security For Your Cruise
            Since you are flying, you will have to go through airport security before your flights. Also, before your cruise you will have to go through security too. For both, make sure you follow all directions and do NOT bring prohibited items. Items that you may be allowed to have for your flight may not be allowed on your cruise ship (and vise versa).  Make sure you know what is prohibited or not for each to avoid having security problems. 

3. Be Early: Arrive At the Airport Prior To Your Designated Time
            Depending on your airline and where you are flying from, you may be required to be at the airport a certain amount of time early. This time could depend on if your flight is international or domestic. 
              Keep in mind that you will need plenty of time before your flight for check-in, getting through security, and/or checking your bags in. In addition, keep in mind traffic around your airport could be heavy or backed up, which could mean it will take more time for you to park or get dropped off.

4.  Your Cruise Line's Luggage Policy Will Most Likely Not Be Similar To Your Airline's Policy
                  I have never heard of a cruise line that charges for bags and suitcases, but I have heard of many airlines that do charge for bags and suitcases. Typically, most cruise lines ask suitcases only be a certain size in order to get through security. There are many airlines that charge per suitcase or based on a suitcase's weight. Make sure you plan your vacation packing accordingly to try to minimize the number of bags/suitcases that you will have to pay for. For your post-cruise return flight, keep in mind that your suitcases may be heavier if you bought things to take home from the cruise ship or your ports of call. 

​5.  Is It Possible To Book Flight Packages Through My Cruise Line? 
                 There are many cruise lines that will sell pre or post cruise flight packages. If you are interested in this, I recommend checking with your cruise line. Some cruise lines will also sell shuttle packages too.


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RyG's Cruise Guide is not affiliated with any cruise line or travel organization. Any information is subject to change at any time given that the cruise industry is always changing. Due to the Covid pandemic, crew staffing shortages, and supply chain issues information could change without updates being made here. I always recommend checking with your cruise line for the latest information related to onboard amenities and Covid protocols. 

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