I, as your travel agent, can help you with ALL of these things listed. It’s up to you how involved you want me to be. I am always here for you, just please communicate what you’d like help with!
- Book Your Cruise and purchase Travel Insurance. Contact your favorite travel agent( Request a Cruise Quote ) and book your cruise.
- Pay your Deposit
- Be sure to make your final payment by the due date
- Ensure that everything on the reservation is correct
- Download the Cruise Line’s Mobile Applications – Apple/Android
- Travel Insurance is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to protect your investment of the vacation & to offer peace of mind knowing that you’re covered if an emergency occurs before the trip or during the journey.
- Locate Your Passports (Check Expiration Dates) / Birth Certificates/ Citizenship Identification – Keep Safe
- Ensure that each member of your family has the proper documentation to board the ship/country and that the dates are still valid (most countries require an expiration date of at least 6 months PAST your travel dates)
- Some countries also require that you get a VISA as well – https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages.html
- Children who will be 16(+) years old during travel need a government-issued ID.
- Apply for a Passport or CHECK to MAKE SURE yours is VALID
- This process could take AT LEAST 16 weeks, sometimes longer. Do NOT wait.
- Book Your Flights
- Flights are available 11 months before your travel date
- It is HIGHLY recommended that you fly into your cruise departure port the day before you set sail. This is to give yourself extra time in case of delays or cancellations.
- If you do have to fly in on the day of the cruise, choose the very first flight that morning. Again, I highly encourage you to arrive in your departure port the day before the cruise departs.
- After the cruise, it is recommended that you book your flight back home after 12 p.m. (noon). This is to allow for delays and factor in time to get from the ship to the airport. The vessel has to arrive, clear customs, and clear passengers, and all passengers must go through customs.
- Book Your Pre-Cruise Hotel & Post-Cruise Hotel
- It is best to find a hotel near the cruise terminal or airport. It’s ideal to have a shuttle available for AIRPORT to HOTEL or HOTEL to SHIP so that you can save a little bit of money. I can help with this. Email me if I can help with your hotel reservations.
- If you are driving to the port, try to find a hotel with a Park & Stay rate that allows you to leave your car parked at the hotel instead of parking it at the port for the duration of your cruise.
- Book/Arrange Your Transportation From the Airport to the Hotel, Hotel to Ship, or Airport to Ship (Getting to the Ship)
- Book/Arrange Your Transportation from the Ship to the Airport or Ship to a Post-Cruise hotel
- Book Excursions / Plan Your Time at Each Port of Call Helpful Cruise Info!
- You have a few different options here.
- Book excursions through the Ship
- Book excursions through third-party tour operators (research/read reviews) Viator (Tour/Excursion/Activity) Caribbean + Bermuda + Bahamas – Recommendations with Links!
- Research what there is to do in the area & explore on your own
- Plan to take a taxi to a local beach or place of interest
- You have a few different options here.
- Book Drink / Dining Packages and Reservations
- Alcoholic Beverage Packages, Soda Packages, Water Packages
- Book Specialty Dining Packages and/or Single Reservations
- Some ships allow you to make reservations for the Main Dining Room if you have My Time Dining or Freestyle Dining.
- Purchase Desired Extras or Decorations
- Cruise lines offer Decorations and gifts that can be purchased and delivered. Check your cruise line’s booking manager to see what is offered.
- You can pre-purchase photo packages.
- You can pre-purchase SPA services
- Book Shows / Entertainment (Mainly Royal Caribbean Oasis and Icon Class Ships)
- Some ships allow you to pre-book times for Shows / Entertainment activities.
- Complete your Online Check-In
- You’ll have to complete your online check-in, which is available 45 days (Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruise Line), 30 Days (Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruise Line), 21 Days (Norwegian Cruise Line), 16 Days (Platinum/Diamond/Suite Carnival Cruise Line), 14 Days (Carnival Cruise Line) prior to your trip. Ask your travel agent for the date that this opens for your sailing.
- This is a pretty quick process. You’ll enter your citizenship document information, upload a passport-like photo, provide an emergency contact, and set up your Onboard Account.
- Purchase any additional items that you want to bring on the cruise
- Visit the travel aisle at your favorite store to purchase toiletries and small travel items
- Research cruise packing lists and purchase items like Towel Clips, Magnet Clips, Magnet Hooks, Collapsible laundry hamper, packing cubes, etc
- Get Cash from your bank (lots of smaller bills)
- You’ll want to have small bills to give extra tips to many people you encounter during your cruise—for example, the porter who handles your luggage at the port, taxi drivers and taxi fare, excursion tips, cabin stewards, crew members, etc.
- It is also recommended to use cash in port versus a credit card – smaller bills are easier to deal with
- If you need to acquire a different currency, call your bank weeks in advance to order it
- Notify your Credit Card Companies to let them know that you are traveling
- Check Visa Requirements for the countries that you are visiting – https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages.html
- Traveling with a MINOR or ONLY ONE Parent? You will need permission to take the child out of the country.
- Carnival Cruise Line – Traveling with Minors:
When traveling with a minor where one parent or both parents or legal guardians are not cruising, we strongly recommend bringing an original signed letter from the absent parent(s) or legal guardians authorizing the minor to travel with you. If there is no second parent with legal claims to the minor (due to sole custody, deceased, etc.) other relevant paperwork, such as a court decision, death certificate, birth certificate naming only one parent, would be useful to bring in place of a signed letter. This will expedite processing by the Department of Homeland Security. https://www.carnival.com/~/media/CCLAU/pdf/other/consent-form.ashx - Royal Caribbean – Should the last names of the parent and minor child traveling with them differ, the parent is required to present the child’s valid passport and visa (if required) and the child’s birth certificate (original, a notarized copy or a certified copy). The name of the parent(s) and the child must be linked through legal documentation. Adults who are not the parent or Legal Guardian of any minor child traveling with them are required to present the child’s valid passport and visa or the child’s birth certificate (original, a notarized copy or a certified copy) and an original notarized letter signed by at least one of the child’s parents. The notarized letter from the child’s parent must authorize the traveling adult to take the child on the specific cruise, must authorize guardian to sign legal documentation/waivers for participation in any activities requiring them (i.e. Rock Climbing, Flowrider, Bungee Trampoline, Inline Skating, or Ice Skating) and must authorize the traveling adult to supervise the child and permit any medical treatment that must be administered to the child. If a non-parent adult is a Legal Guardian, the adult must present a certified certificate of Guardianship with respect to the child. https://www.royalcaribbean.com/content/dam/royal/resources/pdf/minor-traveling-without-parent-or-guardian-form.pdf
- Other Cruise Lines – PLEASE ASK YOUR TRAVEL AGENT
- Carnival Cruise Line – Traveling with Minors:
- Print all of your documents, luggage tags, tickets, receipts, etc. (Your Travel Agent can print and mail these, just ask)
- Keep these safe near your passports
- Pack for your cruise – DO NOT FORGET ALL of your DOCUMENTS & PASSPORTS
- Search Cruise Packing Lists (I’ll have one to link here soon). They offer many things that you might not think about.
- Check-in for your flight (24 Hours Before Departure)
- ESPECIALLY for the SOUTHWEST, as it determines your boarding position. I always set an alarm for 10 minutes before the time to ensure I am ready. You’ll need your confirmation numbers.
- Double Check to make sure that you have all passports/wallets/documents before walking out of the door (and check when you are in the car as well before you leave the driveway)
Thanks for reading, I hope this helps 🙂
📧 brittanywatson@ypgtravel.com http://www.linktree.com/ypgtravel
📲 424-298-7988
Request a quote here –Request a Cruise Quote
You are such a great help! Thank you for all that you do to help us enjoy our trips to the max!