Cruise Ships: What To Do Before You Board
The first item of importance is your identification. You wonò€™t be allowed on your cruise ship without a photo ID and proof of citizenship A passport will suffice for both, but if you donò€™t have one, then your driverò€™s license and official birth certificate (with a raised seal) will work. Even your kids will need the right identification. Make sure you donò€™t put your ID in your checked luggage if you are flying to your cruise departure point, because checked baggage can get lost!The cruise lines donò€™t set the identification requirements; the US Department of Immigration does. So if you have any questions, call their toll-free number, which will almost certainly be included in the information packet which the cruise line sends with your tickets.
If youò€™re cruising to or in a foreign country, you will need a passport. You can apply in person for a US passport at a designated Post Office, at different probate, state, or Federal courts in your area, or at an official passport office, of which there are thirteen around the US. Youò€™ll need an official birth certificate and a photo ID, and youò€™ll also need two identical 2? x 2? photos taken within the past six months. You should have them taken professionally, because they MUST be taken with a special camera if theyò€™re to be identical.
Where, if youò€™re a US citizen, wonò€™t you need a passport? Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. Cruises to Bermuda, the Bahamas, Mexico, and Central America require them. You should apply for your passport a minimum of eight weeks before your departure date, but the earlier you apply, the better, especially if youò€™ll be cruising at the height of tourist season. You can also speed up the processing of your passport by applying in person and paying an extra $35 for expedited delivery.
When you have your identification squared away, you can focus on your other paperwork: airline tickets; your boarding documents which will include your cabin assignment and possibly your dining table assignment (many cruises no let you eat whenever you like); you luggage tags; you transfers from the airport or hotel to your port of departure; and any papers for offshore excursions youò€™ve arranged. Make sure your flight leaves you time to get to your port of departure at least an hour in advance of the time you set sail.
Bring along your health insurance card in case you need medical treatment while on your cruise. Pack your medications, of course, and ask your doctor for a spare prescription in case your existing medication gets lost and you need a refill before returning home.
Get enough travelerò€™s checks to cover your estimated travel expenses. Carry only the minimum amount of cash, because all cruise lines will accept either credit cards or travelerò€™s checks. Before leaving home make sure to give your ship itinerary to whoever is looking after your home while youò€™re gone, so that you can be reached in an emergency. Most cruise ships now have Internet cafes, so you can be reached by E-mail if necessary. Also arrange to have someone be your contact person at home.
Once all your paperwork is in order, you can begin the fun by heading out to shop for your new cruise clothes!