General Frequently Asked Cruise Questions
Q: What is a cruise ship?
A: A cruise ship is a ship that is meant to carry passengers for pleasure. Cruise ships are often known for their dining, entertainment, and activities. Each cruise ship and cruise line offer different amenities, services, dining, entertainment, and activities.
Q: How big is the average cruise ship?
A: You can find cruise ships that of all different sizes. There are some cruise lines that specialize in small ships and there are other cruise lines that are building large ships to carry more than 5,000 passengers. Many major North American cruise brands are building ships that carry thousands of people and are retiring their older and smaller ships to other companies. The average cruise ship size will continue to change as bigger cruise ships are built.
Q: After multiple incidents that have occurred in the past few years, is cruising safe?
A: First let me start off by pointing out that no vacation and no destination is completely safe. I have always felt very safe on my cruises and have never encountered any major safety incidents. Think of how much cruise ships and passengers sail each year. Over a million people sail on a cruise ships each year and many of these sail in various destinations around the world. Now that you have a high number in mind, think of how many incidents you have heard of that are related to the cruise industry. That number will not be near as high as the number of ships and passengers that depart in a year. If you don't feel safe or don't want to cruise because you are worried, then don't! If you're trying to decide to give cruising a chance I suggest you try it out. Incidents do happen in all vacation destinations, including cruise ships, but the majority of the incidents are minor and never make the news. Typically only the major cruise ship incidents are on the news. Overall, I believe that cruising is safe and an incident of any type could happen at any vacation destination or on a cruise ship. I will be writing more about this topic in the near future.
Q: What is included with a cruise vacation?
A: The specifics of what is included with your cruise vacation is dependent on your cruise line & ship. If you are curious about what your cruise line offers you should check out your cruise line's website. Typically a base cruise fare includes getting on the ship, a stateroom, regular dining, and most activities and amenities. On a cruise vacation things such as the gift shop, casino, specialty dining, alcohol, and soda are typically not included with the base price of the cruise.
Q: Are tips included with the price of a cruise? Do I have to tip the crew members?
A: Tips are typically not included with the base price of the cruise. Each cruise line has a standard set amount that is usually charged per person per day and then divided to be given to crew members.
Yes, you should tip the crew members. Crew members often rely on tips to make their living. If you can afford the cruise you can afford the tips! The only reason why you should not give a tip is if you had awful service or you already prepaid tips.
For more detailed information tipping: click here
Q: How many days are most cruise vacations?
A: Cruise lines offer cruises that are variety of different lengths. Some cruises are short as two days and there are other specialty cruises that could last longer than a year. The average length of the days that a cruise will be would either 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 days. Those are the common number of days that you will see offered by cruise lines. There are some cruise lines that like to stick to 3, 4, and 5 day cruises and there are other cruise lines that like to offer more 7 day cruises.
Q: What is a back to back cruise voyage?
A: A back to back cruise voyage is when a person cruises two different cruises on the same ship is consecutively. When the first cruise is over the person's vacation would not be over. Each cruise line handles back to back voyages differently and if you are planning on booking these you should ask questions to find out how your cruise line handles passengers under this category.
Q: What documentation will I need for my cruise?
A: Ask your cruise line what type of travel documentation you will need or visit a state or country's website to find more information about valid identification. Never assume that a particular type of documentation will be accepted. Always research and check in advance to make sure that you have correct documentation. Apply for required photo id or documentation in advance. I recommend that you apply for these items at least sixth months in advance. Give yourself plenty of time to receive these items and time for processing. Not having proper documentation or photo id could cause you to be turned away from your cruise.
A: A cruise ship is a ship that is meant to carry passengers for pleasure. Cruise ships are often known for their dining, entertainment, and activities. Each cruise ship and cruise line offer different amenities, services, dining, entertainment, and activities.
Q: How big is the average cruise ship?
A: You can find cruise ships that of all different sizes. There are some cruise lines that specialize in small ships and there are other cruise lines that are building large ships to carry more than 5,000 passengers. Many major North American cruise brands are building ships that carry thousands of people and are retiring their older and smaller ships to other companies. The average cruise ship size will continue to change as bigger cruise ships are built.
Q: After multiple incidents that have occurred in the past few years, is cruising safe?
A: First let me start off by pointing out that no vacation and no destination is completely safe. I have always felt very safe on my cruises and have never encountered any major safety incidents. Think of how much cruise ships and passengers sail each year. Over a million people sail on a cruise ships each year and many of these sail in various destinations around the world. Now that you have a high number in mind, think of how many incidents you have heard of that are related to the cruise industry. That number will not be near as high as the number of ships and passengers that depart in a year. If you don't feel safe or don't want to cruise because you are worried, then don't! If you're trying to decide to give cruising a chance I suggest you try it out. Incidents do happen in all vacation destinations, including cruise ships, but the majority of the incidents are minor and never make the news. Typically only the major cruise ship incidents are on the news. Overall, I believe that cruising is safe and an incident of any type could happen at any vacation destination or on a cruise ship. I will be writing more about this topic in the near future.
Q: What is included with a cruise vacation?
A: The specifics of what is included with your cruise vacation is dependent on your cruise line & ship. If you are curious about what your cruise line offers you should check out your cruise line's website. Typically a base cruise fare includes getting on the ship, a stateroom, regular dining, and most activities and amenities. On a cruise vacation things such as the gift shop, casino, specialty dining, alcohol, and soda are typically not included with the base price of the cruise.
Q: Are tips included with the price of a cruise? Do I have to tip the crew members?
A: Tips are typically not included with the base price of the cruise. Each cruise line has a standard set amount that is usually charged per person per day and then divided to be given to crew members.
Yes, you should tip the crew members. Crew members often rely on tips to make their living. If you can afford the cruise you can afford the tips! The only reason why you should not give a tip is if you had awful service or you already prepaid tips.
For more detailed information tipping: click here
Q: How many days are most cruise vacations?
A: Cruise lines offer cruises that are variety of different lengths. Some cruises are short as two days and there are other specialty cruises that could last longer than a year. The average length of the days that a cruise will be would either 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 days. Those are the common number of days that you will see offered by cruise lines. There are some cruise lines that like to stick to 3, 4, and 5 day cruises and there are other cruise lines that like to offer more 7 day cruises.
Q: What is a back to back cruise voyage?
A: A back to back cruise voyage is when a person cruises two different cruises on the same ship is consecutively. When the first cruise is over the person's vacation would not be over. Each cruise line handles back to back voyages differently and if you are planning on booking these you should ask questions to find out how your cruise line handles passengers under this category.
Q: What documentation will I need for my cruise?
A: Ask your cruise line what type of travel documentation you will need or visit a state or country's website to find more information about valid identification. Never assume that a particular type of documentation will be accepted. Always research and check in advance to make sure that you have correct documentation. Apply for required photo id or documentation in advance. I recommend that you apply for these items at least sixth months in advance. Give yourself plenty of time to receive these items and time for processing. Not having proper documentation or photo id could cause you to be turned away from your cruise.