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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Documentation, visas and
passports?
What is included in my trip?
Can I bring additional family
members or purchase an additional cabin?
How do I pay for onboard
expenses?
What do I need to do before I
leave for the cruise?
What are the customs
allowances?
How many suitcases can I
bring?
What about smoking, drinking
and gambling on the ship?
Dress code in dining rooms?
What time is dinner?
Are there children's programs?
What about guests with special
needs?
Is there a doctor on board?
What if I'm pregnant?
What if I need to stay in
touch while away?
What to pack?
What can't I bring onboard?
What about tipping?
What about shore excursions?
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Documentation, visas and passports
The United States
Government recently enacted the Border Security Act,
under which, all guests must provide key personal
information in advance of sailing. Guests may fill
out the Advance Guest Registration online.
All United States and
Canadian citizens must carry proof of citizenship
such as a valid passport or birth certificate along
with a government issued photo ID (16 years or
older). It is your responsibility to check with your
travel professional, local immigration office and/or
respective embassy or consulate to determine
requirements for passports, visas and other
documentation, including vaccinations for infectious
diseases. Guests denied boarding by local
immigration officials for lack of proper documents
are not entitled to a cruise refund. Here are some
guidelines, but please note that this list is not
exhaustive.
For travel from the United States
To destinations in Canada, Bermuda, Mexico, the
Bahamas and the Caribbean, guests who are not United
States or Canadian citizens must carry a valid
passport and multiple entry visa for entry into the
United States (B-2 Visitor's Visa), or a visa
waiver.
As visa requirements
vary by country and are subject to change, guests
who are not United States or Canadian citizens are
urged to contact your travel professional, local
immigration office and/or respective embassy or
consulate to determine the entry requirements for
your cruise destinations.
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What is
included in my trip?
Your
trip includes round trip airfare from home city, a
outside cabin on the Norwegian Jewel and round trip airport/cruise
ship transfers. The cruise includes accommodations, meals
and entertainment aboard ship. Certain specialty
restaurants are available with either nominal cover
charges or fixed price menus and à la carte pricing
in addition to the standard dining program. Items of
a personal nature are not included, such as
alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, spa treatments,
certain specialty exercise classes, laundry,
photographs, casino, ship-to-shore phone, e-mail,
Internet, fax and shore excursions.
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How do I
pay for onboard expenses?
For your convenience,
all shipboard expenses are charged to NCL's special
onboard credit program. Sign up on the first day of
your cruise, by establishing your method of payment
with Visa®, MasterCard®, American Express®,
Discover®, travelers checks or cash. If you choose
to settle your account with cash, a deposit will be
required in advance. You may also use your debit
card; however, please be advised that NCL obtains
pre-authorization which some banks may hold for up
to 30 days.
Can I bring additional
family members or purchase an additional cabin?
Most cabins are
limited to two guests per cabin. There is a
limited number of cabins with the ability to hold
three or four guests. If you need a cabin to
accommodate more than two guests or an additional
cabin contact Columbus Travel directly to make the
request. Please e-mail the request to
suzi@columbusincentives.com. You are responsible for the cost of
additional guests.
What do I need to do before I leave for the cruise?
NCL and the
department of Homeland Security require all guests
to pre-register for cruises. You can
pre-register online with your confirmation that is
provided on the front of your documents. The
pre-registration needs to be completed at least 14
days prior to departure. If you do not
pre-register your check-in process may be delayed at
the port of departure. After you have
pre-registered for the cruise you can then pre-register for shore excursions. See
Documentation, visas and
passports?
for
additional information.
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What are
the customs allowances?
United States
residents must declare all articles acquired abroad
and in their possession when they return to the U.S.
This includes items purchased in "duty-free" shops.
The duty-free exemption allowed for purchases or
gifts for returning U.S. residents varies, depending
on how long they have been out of the U.S. and which
countries they have visited. The standard exemption
for U.S. residents who have been abroad more than 48
hours is $600 - $800, which may include one liter of
alcohol (if you are at least 21), 100 cigars and 200
cigarettes.
How many
suitcases can I bring?
Each person is
allowed up to 200 pounds of personal luggage on
board. However, if you are traveling by air, ask the
airline if it has different restrictions. Most
airlines charge for baggage (typically 1st
checked bag cost is $25.00 & 2nd checked bag cost
is $30.00 each way). Airlines
and NCL have limited liability for loss, so be sure
all baggage and personal belongings are properly
insured. Suitcases should be securely closed and
tagged. You should hand-carry medication, jewelry,
cameras or
other valuables and important documents.
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What about smoking, drinking and gambling on the
ship?
Smoking is permitted
in designated areas in the bars and outside on open
decks. All other areas on board ship are
non-smoking. Guests must be age 21 to purchase or
drink alcohol.
Dress code in
dining rooms?
Freestyle Cruising
gives our guests the freedom to dress as they
please. Resort casual attire is always appropriate
morning, noon and night. However, NCL does not
allow any blue jeans, t-shirts, shorts, cut-offs,
tank tops, bare feet, etc. in any of our fine dining
restaurants for dinner, including all main
restaurants, alternative restaurants, and cover
charge venues.
Guests are allowed to
wear blue jeans, shorts and t-shirts, in the
evenings at the buffets, outdoor barbeques, and
24-hour venues, such as Blue Lagoon etc.
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What time is dinner?
What time would you
like it to be? NCL's exclusive Freestyle Cruising
lets you choose. They offer open-seating dining in a
variety of restaurants and cafés with individual
menus, so it's your choice. You can have lunch or
dinner with friends in one of the elegantly
appointed restaurants. Reserve a table for two in an
intimate bistro.
Order an omelette
prepared just the way you like it from the
breakfast-buffet chef. Indulge yourself with
delectable selections from the Chocoholic Buffet.™
There are special menus for youngsters and special
entrées from Cooking Light®. There's even a menu
created by Henry Haller, former White House
Executive Chef under five U.S. presidents. Special
meals are available including low-calorie,
vegetarian, no MSG, low/no sodium and low/no
cholesterol meals, as well as sugar-free and
fat-free desserts. All of our restaurants are
non-smoking. Most specialty restaurants require a
per person cover charge or offer a` la carte
pricing. Reservations are recommended and can be made
on board.
Will I
need an electrical converter?
The current on board
is 110 volts AC. However, some high-voltage hair
dryers, electric rollers and electric razors may
require a converter. If you plan to use a lap top in
public area you will need a converter.
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Are there
children's programs?
Kid's Crew™ is our
onboard children's program and it's one of the most
comprehensive at sea.
What
about guests with special needs?
NCL welcomes guests with
special needs. Of course, they may require advance
notice in order to accommodate them, so they must
advise NCL's Passenger Courtesy Department of their
needs at least three weeks prior to their cruise.
All of their ships have
designated staterooms with wider doorways and
bathrooms that will accommodate wheelchairs and
staterooms with lights and under-pillow vibrating
alarms for guests with hearing impairments. Guide
dogs are permitted on all NCL ships. Many staterooms
have refrigerators that can be used to store
medications that must be kept cold. Guests who need
oxygen or require oxygen therapy are welcome on all
NCL ships; however, they must supply their own
oxygen. Guests who use wheelchairs must provide
their own.
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Is there a
doctor on board?
A physician and nurse
are on each ship to provide medical care and
services at customary charges. Commonly used
medications are kept on board and may be prescribed
by the ship's doctor.
What if I'm pregnant?
NCL will make every
effort to accommodate you, providing you have not
entered the 24th week of pregnancy when the cruise
ends. However, you must provide Passenger Courtesy
with a medical certificate establishing your due
date prior to your cruise.
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What if I need to stay in touch while away?
All NCL ships have
computer terminals you can rent by the minute at the
Internet Café. You can also purchase wireless
internet packages and use your own laptop in public
areas. While at sea most cell phones will also work
depending on your provider and rate plan.
Rates to use your cell phone on the ship are between
$2 and $4 per minute. Contact your provider for
current rates. You can also telephone, telex,
radiogram or fax to anywhere in the world and be
billed at applicable
ship-to-shore rates (typically $7 - $8 per minute).
NCL guests can also
be contacted on one of our ships by calling
1.888.NCSHIPS (1.888.627.4477) from USA. For the
rest of the world please dial 1.732.335.3280. When
guests are contacted with the ship via satellite,
they can be reached directly, if they are in their
stateroom. If not, a message about the incoming call
will be delivered to their cabin and then they can
call back the shore
via satellite.
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What to pack?
Freestyle Cruising
gives you the freedom to dress as you please. So
come as you are. No need to check for a suggested
dress code in the ship's Freestyle Daily as you
would on traditional cruises. Resort casual attire
is always appropriate morning, noon and night. If
you like, you can slip into a pair of khakis and a
polo shirt, a skirt and blouse or a sundress for
dinner. NCL do not allow jeans, T-shirts, shorts,
cut-offs, tank tops, bare feet, etc. in any of the
restaurants at dinner.
For those who do love
to dress to the nines and get that annual formal
portrait photography done, there is one optional
formal evening in at least one of the main
restaurants on every cruise; at least two formal
evenings on longer cruises. This means black tie or
dark suit for gentlemen and evening gown or cocktail
dress for ladies. But remember, on formal evenings
you can always choose to dine in one of the other
restaurants instead and enjoy some of the other
lounges and leave your dressier clothes at home.
In warm climates,
shorts, slacks, sundresses, jeans and tops - and of
course a swimsuit and cover-up are all appropriate
daytime attire. Air conditioning can feel chilly, so
pack a sweater. Because weather is difficult to
predict, in cooler climates dressing in layers is
the best approach. For visits to places of worship,
check your Freestyle Daily for attire guidelines. Be
sure to bring a pair of comfortable walking shoes,
too. Other essentials: sunglasses, a sun hat or
visor and sunscreen. Don't forget to bring
prescription medicines in original containers and an
extra pair of glasses or contact lenses. Carry
valuables and medication in a handbag you keep with
you at all times.
Important Note: All
suitcases are collected the night before we return
to our home port, so be sure to bring an overnight
bag for your essentials.
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Recommended domestic check-in time is 90 minutes
prior to departure. Please call the airline or
access the airline’s internet site to check for
schedule changes/flight delays. Please remember to
allow extra time if you are unfamiliar with the
airport, are leaving during heavy traffic times, or
have excess baggage.
What can't I
bring onboard?
Passengers are not
allowed to bring onboard the vessel without the
previous written permission of the NCL any
intoxicating liquors, or beverages, firearms,
weapons of any kind, ammunition, explosive
substances or any goods of a dangerous nature, nor
animals of any kind, except service or guide
animals, provided the passenger notifies Carrier
prior to the cruise of his intention to bring such
animal and agrees to take sole responsibility for
any expense, damage, injuries or losses associated
with or caused by such animal.
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What about tipping?
On this cruise your
tips have been pre-paid by Dental Select. You can also tip
local tour guides on shore excursions, bus drivers,
sky caps etc.
What about
shore excursions?
NCL offers a wide
variety of shore excursions. You will receive
a shore excursions booklet with your final
documents. After you have pre-registered for
your cruise you can pre-sign up for shore excursions
online. You may also sign up for shore
excursions while onboard the ship. A list of
shore excursions can be found on
NCL's Web Site.
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