Pre-departure and Onboard Cruise Tips

Don’t forget to bring camera extra films or memory cards, batteries and charger. Keep passport, medication, cruise documents, visa, and license with you. Never pack these things in luggage. Cruise liner stocked general medications so be sure to pack prescription medication, and pack enough medication for the whole trip. It is better to pack a written list of your medications, including the name of drugs, dosage and timing of taken. Bring credit cards instead of large amounts of cash. Things to pack in your hand carry bag, perishables, liquor, cash, credit/debit cards, jewelry, business documents, travel and health insurance information, laptops, computer disks, cell phones, cameras, binoculars, film, videotapes, CD’s and cassette tapes. Don’t bring lot of cash instead bring travels cheques.

It is wise to put a card with name and address inside your luggage as well as outside. Don’t panic if your luggage isn’t in your cabin as thousand of pieces of luggage come onboard at the same time. After few hours your luggage will deliver in your cabin. It is better to have walkie-talkies for family members to keep in touch while onboard the cruise. Some cruise ships give unlimited soft drink for kids; this will save some significant cash. The cabin stewards, waiters are invaluable source of information as they visited your ports dozens of times. It is better to spend an average of 10$ to 15$ a day for tip. Give this tip to waiters, stewards, headwaiters, shore guides, spa and salon experts, and other staff who provide exceptional service. Cruise lines vary in gratuities handling. Some cruise lines include tipping in the total bill or have no tipping policy, and will inform you. Rest will automatically charge your tip daily to your onboard bill. Some cruise lines have your tip in cash at the end of the trip via envelopes provided by your cabin steward.

A good tipping rule is that you will tip about 10$ per person in your cabin per day of your cruise. If you have two persons in your cabin and three days cruise trip. You will pay 20$ per day or 60$ in total tips. The breakdown is waiter staff 3$, bus boy 2.50$, cabin steward 3$ per day, and other about 1$ like dining charge, restaurant manager, maitre, chief house keeper.