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Vacations are Good . . .
Cruise Vacations Are Better!
WHY CRUISE?
- Relaxation and entertainment
- Most everything is prepaid, so you know your cost up front
- Service—you will be pampered by the cruise staff
- You get to visit a variety of destinations and only have to unpack once
- Value—you get more for your money with a cruise
- Cruising is a great vacation for singles, couples, families, and seniors
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
- Accommodations
- All meals each day onboard the ship
- Most entertainment and activities onboard the ship
- Port charges and taxes
- If you purchased the air/cruise package your round trip airfare and round trip airport-ship transfers are included.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?
- Soft drinks and bar beverages
- Optional Shore Excursions
- Salon Services (Hair, nails, facials, and massages)
- Souvenirs
- Tips and Gratuities
- Gambling
WHAT DO I WEAR?
Cruising has become somewhat casual during the day: shorts, wind suits, cover-ups, comfortable walking shoes, hat or visor, etc. At night, there will be a combination of casual and formal evenings. Expect one formal night with 3- or 4-day cruises; two formal nights on a 7-day cruise; three formal nights on a 10-day cruise.
Formal: Cocktail dress for the ladies, dark suit or tuxedo for the gentlemen. Tuxedos are not required on most 3/4/7-night cruises.
Dressy or Semi-formal: Dresses or pantsuits for the ladies; sports coat and/or tie for the gentleman.
Casual: Pants and top for the ladies; open-collared golf shirt and slacks for the gentleman.
Alaskan Cruisers: The secret to dressing in Alaska is to layer your clothes. Warm up suits, turtlenecks, sweaters, long underwear or "silkies," wool socks, mittens, gloves with leather strips, ear muffs, hat, leather (vs canvas) tennis shoes or comfortable walking shoes, lined jacket with hood, raincoat, small umbrella, etc. The weather can also be quite warm, take a pair of shorts just in case.
WHAT DO I TIP?
There are four people you will normally extend tips/gratuities to on the last night of your cruise:
Recommended amounts (These amounts will vary from ship to ship). Please use this as a guideline only:
Recommended amount: For whom: 3 day 4 day 7 day 10 day
$3.50 per person per day - Room Steward
$3.50 per person per day - Waiter
$2.00 per person per day - Bus Boy
$2 - $7 total - Maitre D/Head Waiter
We suggest getting four white envelopes from home. Put the suggested amounts in each, label them, and tuck these in your luggage. You will be prepared in advance. Be sure to ask your ET Odyssey travel consultant if your ship allows you to prepay your gratuities.
WHAT ABOUT MEAL TIMES?
There are choices and more choices. During the day, there are many different dining options – in the formal dining room, on deck, in a pizzeria, and at an espresso bar, to name just a few. Many ships offer you a choice of several seating times in the dining room, and others encourage you to come to dinner whenever you like. More traditional ships have two seatings in their formal dining rooms, which differ only by time.
Breakfast and lunch are served in the main dining room at your specified time and in the indoor/outdoor café located on one of the upper decks. The café usually serves a buffet for a longer period of time. Approximate hours for breakfast are 7:30–10:00 a.m. and lunch 11:30–1:30 p.m. Please refer to the designated times listed on your daily activity sheet once onboard.
Dinner is served in the main dining room and is an event in itself. Don’t miss it! Most ships offer 24-hour complimentary room service. A small tip is recommended for room service.
One concern people have about cruising is eating too much. Remember, all ships are equipped with a health club, so you can burn off what you take in. Participating in ship activities is another way to stay active.
CAN I GET A SPECIAL DIET?
Most ships can accommodate salt-free, low-carbohydrate, low cholesterol, Kosher, or other diet preferences. However, this request must be made in advance, so be sure to advise your ET Odyssey travel consultant when you book your cruise.
WHAT IF I AM DISABLED?
The following web site will provide you with a list of accessible ships for the handicap:
http://www.access-able.com/dbase/cruise.cfm
For more travel tips for the disabled, please click here:
Travel Tips
CAN I CELEBRATE A SPECIAL OCCASION?
Absolutely! Most cruise lines will even treat you to a complimentary cake and a chorus to honor the occasion. Your birthday or anniversary can be more festive with champagne or flowers. You can even arrange for a special private party.
DO CRUISE LINES WELCOME FAMILIES WITH KIDS?
More and more cruise vacations are booked by families with children. As evidenced by the over 700,000 youngsters who cruised last year, most cruise lines provide plenty of supervised activities for kids, especially during school holidays. If your children enjoy swimming, sports, games, movies, and the adventure of new places, they’ll love a family cruise. You’ll find that children adapt to shipboard life with ease, and you won’t have to wonder what they’re up to every minute. The trained youth counselors will help keep them safe, busy, and entertained. Ships even offer different types of age-appropriate activities, suitable for toddlers to teens. Best of all, children often travel at a reduced rate.
IS MOTION DISCOMFORT A PROBLEM?
Rarely. Popular cruise itineraries sail some of the calmest waters in the world. In addition, stabilizers on modern ships, availability of advance weather information, and development of effective preventative medications can reduce or eliminate motion discomfort.
There are many treatments for sea sickness or motion sickness.
- Gingerale or ginger tablets
- Over the counter drugs, such as Dramamine, Marezine, and Bonine (to be taken before sailing to prevent seasickness)
- A Sea-Band is a band worn on the wrist to help prevent seasickness by applying pressure
- A Trans Derm patch may be worn
- If all else fails, see the ships doctor for a shot. It’s costly, but should do the trick!
ARE THERE MEDICAL SERVICES ONBOARD?
While cruise ships are not comprehensive medical facilities, cruise lines understand that some people may have health needs during a cruise. Thus they are committed providing first response and emergency care to guests until they can be transferred to a shoreside medical facility. Most cruise lines have 24-hour medical services and staff operating under guidelines developed in conjunction with the American College of Emergency Physicians. ET Odyssey and the cruise lines encourage vacationers to obtain medical insurance, travel with adequate supplies of medical prescriptions and devices and to disclose pre-existing medical conditions before sailing.
ARE THERE LAUNDRY SERVICES ABOARD THE SHIP?
Almost all cruise ships have laundry facilities and many provide dry-cleaning services. There is, however, an additional charge for professional laundry and drycleaning services. Many ships also have self-service launderettes.
DO I NEED A PASSPORT?
Please note: For cruises to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico, Canada, and Bermuda, U.S. Citizens will need proof of citizenship. This is a certified copy of your birth certificate – with a raised seal – and a government issued photo ID. A valid passport may be taken in lieu of the above. Please notify us immediately if you are not a U.S. Citizen.
When traveling to other destinations a passport or visa may be required. Be sure to discuss this with your ET Odyssey travel consultant.
If you are under 18 years of age and traveling to Mexico without ONE or BOTH of your parents, a notarized letter authorizing your travel to Mexico is required. Please ask for details.
A military ID or driver’s license alone is NOT sufficient.
ARE CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED ON THE SHIP?
Most major credit cards are accepted onboard. Most cruise lines will give you a "charge card" once you arrive onboard. You will be able to charge your shipboard purchases to your room just like you do at a hotel. The cruise line takes an imprint of your credit card when you arrive onboard. They will total your account the final night of your cruise and give you a copy of your purchases. Your total bill can be settled by this credit card. When you order a bar beverage, soft drink, or wine, a 15% gratuity is automatically added to your account on most cruise lines.
ARE TRAVELERS CHECKS ACCEPTED ON BOARD?
Yes, travelers checks are accepted on most ships. These can be cashed at the purser’s desk onboard.
HOW MUCH LUGGAGE CAN I TAKE?
Each person is allowed up to 200 pounds on the ship. Please ask your ET Odyssey travel consultant or call the airline directly for baggage restrictions on your flight.
WHAT OTHER THINGS SHOULD I BE SURE TO PACK?
- Camera, film (at least one roll per day), and extra batteries
- Highlighters (for highlighting your daily activity sheet)
- Suntan lotion and/or sunscreen lotion
- "Aqua Socks" (wear on the beach or when snorkeling)
- A duffel bag or carry-on bag
- Instant tea or lemonade for your cabin
- Additional fold up bag to bring home your purchases
- Umbrella and binoculars for Alaska cruises (one pair per person)
- Fanny pack vs. a purse
- Sunglasses
- Lip gloss or Chap Stick
- Hat or visor
- Plastic bag for wet swimsuits
- Travel clock
- Medications and prescriptions
WHY DO I NEED A CARRY-ON BAG?
Once you arrive at the ship, the cruise porters will take your large luggage and have them delivered to your cabin. You should expect to receive them approximately 4–6 hours later.
You will take your carry-on bag onboard the ship with you. Include items you may need: prescriptions, makeup, change of clothes (t-shirt, shorts, tennis shoes, swimsuit), camera, hat or visor, and all important documents.
HOW DO I GET FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE SHIP?
If you purchased an air/cruise package, then transfers are generally included from the airport to the ship round-trip. You will be met by a cruise line representative at the baggage claim area. Follow their instructions on claiming your luggage and making the transfer.
I’M DRIVING, WHERE DO I PARK?
There are parking facilities located across the street from the pier at most ports. Parking in Florida generally rages from $10 to $12 per day.
WHAT WILL BE IN MY DOCUMENT PACKET?
You will receive your cruise tickets, cruise baggage tags, and necessary forms to complete before the cruise, and other general information. Airline tickets and a flight schedule will also be included if you purchased this with your cruise vacation.
OPTIONAL SHORE EXCURSIONS
Optional shore excursions will be offered to you on board. Some cruise lines provide a list of shore excursions with your documents. Costs range from $16 - $50 for the Caribbean; $35 - $125 for Mexico; $35 - $200 for Alaska; $20 - $150 for Hawaii; and $50 - $400 for other International Cruises. Half-day and full-day tours are offered. You generally spend 4 - 8 hours at each port. You may opt to take a half day tour and enjoy the island "on your own" or spend the day on the ship relaxing or taking advantage of the ship’s activities. So many terrific choices!
Once onboard, the cruise line will give you a daily activity sheet with all the options available to you. They will have handouts on the shore excursions offered, as well as a "Shore Talk" the day before you arrive at the next port of call. These "Shore Talks" are very informative. The cruise staff will tell you what to buy, where to shop, details on the shore excursions, what kind of transportation to use while on the island, the cost for cabs, and answer any questions you may have. Be sure to attend these informative meetings.
TELL ME ABOUT THE LAST NIGHT ONBOARD
You will be asked to place your luggage outside your cabin the last night. This is when your carry-on luggage will come in handy again. Keep it in the room with you to carry your personal items off the ship the following morning: travel documents, makeup, hair dryer, and a change of clothes for the next day. Keep your proof of citizenship out. You will need it for the customs officer.
THE LAST DAY
You will enjoy breakfast on the ship and have a chance to go through customs before disembarking. After this, you have from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. to relax onboard until the entire ship has cleared customs. Take a favorite book with you for the last morning onboard the ship.
Announcements will be made when you can disembark the ship. Be sure to attend the informative talk the day before you disembark. This will be very helpful in making sure you take advantage of every convenience available to you.
IS INSURANCE RECOMMENDED?
ET Odyssey recommends that you purchase Travelex cancellation/interruption insurance when purchasing your travel. For a nominal cost, you are covered for the amount purchased for published penalties and unused, nonrefundable, prepaid expenses for travel arrangements when you are prevented from taking a trip for the covered reasons. For more details, you may contact ET Odyssey or pick up a Travelex brochure available at any ETFCU office.
Purchase your trip cancellation/ interruption plan here: www.travelex-insurance.com. For a more convenient enrollment, be sure to enter the number 146064 when asked for the location number. |
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CAN I STAY IN TOUCH WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD?
Quite easily. Most ships have a daily newsletter with news, headlines, selected stock quotes and sports scores. Most staterooms are equipped with televisions and have satellite or cellular telephones. You can also call someone on shore through the ship’s radio officer while at sea. In addition, most ships have fax capabilities and a growing number have computer cafes with internet access for e-mail communication.
CAN I EXTEND MY CRUISE VACATION?
Cruise lines feature special pre- or post-hotel packages that allow you to extend your vacation in either your port of embarkation or debarkation.
SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE! IS IT?
The one complaint we hear time and time again is that cruises end far too soon! Beyond that, it’s hard to find negatives. All you have to do is relax and enjoy your vacation. Most importantly, every crew member and staff member onboard is dedicated to making your cruise the best vacation of your life (until you top it off with your next cruise!)
Please contact ET Odyssey at (812) 469-9905 or 1-800-800-9271, option 5 or by e-mail at ETOdyssey@evv-etfcu.org to plan your next cruise!
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