JoCo Cruise Crazy/Cruise Ship Basics

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Cruise Ship Basics

Being on a cruise ship is often a new experience for first time Sea Monkeys. This section will address questions like "will I get seasick", "how much will it *really* cost", and "what the heck is a towel monkey and should I be scared of them?"

  • RTFM, where the F stands for FUN! Highly recommended reading:
    • Instructional information provided by the cruise line. These materials will answer most of the basic cruise-related inquiries. For example, Holland America Line (HAL) offers a "Know Before You Go" PDF, and also a "Cruise FAQ" section on their website. This document may include (but not limited to) information regarding:
      • Identification Requirements
      • Emergency Phone Numbers
      • Guests Under 21
      • Immunization
      • Customs Information
      • Alcoholic Beverages Brought Onboard
      • Baggage Policies & Packing Advice
      • Clothing (with evening dress and electrical appliance guidelines)
      • Gift Packages
      • Dining
      • Boarding Procedures
      • Activities Onboard
      • Excursions
      • Services Onboard (includes laundry information, prohibition of irons in cabins)
      • Shipboard Meals
      • Medical Facilities
      • Passenger Safety Briefing
      • Smoking Policy
      • Communications at Sea
      • Shipboard Account
      • Currency Exchange
      • Hotel Service Charge
      • Disembarkation Procedures
    • The Official JoCo Cruise Crazy website also features a detailed FAQ.

What to expect before the cruise

  • Consider Travel / Trip Insurance - Price it out on sites that represent several insurance companies. These include InsureMyTrip, SquareMouth, and QuoteWright. Some of the bigger companies include TravelGuard and CSA.
  • Arrive to the Port city one day early. (Get there the day before)
  • Embarkation procedure (See RTFunM above)
  • Call your credit card companies and inform them of your itinerary

What to expect on the ship

  • Food - where to find it, what is free, what costs extra
  • Main Dining Room Dress Code (See RTFunM above)
    • Formal nights vs normal nights, formal is defined by cruise line, not JCCC staff.
    • General experience: Shorts and printed t-shirts are generally not permitted. Please note that the dress code only applies when dining in the Main Dining Room or specialty restaurants. Evening meals are available in additional locations.
  • How to pay for stuff (drink cards vs room key)
  • Will I get sea sick
    • Motion sickness and/or nausea remedies: over-the-counter medications, prescription medication patches, candied gingerroot, ginger pills, ginger gum, acupressure wrist bands. YMMV.
    • Personal hygiene recommendations
  • Mandatory Muster/Lifeboat drill - do not skip this! (See RTFunM above)
  • Booking Extras: (See RTFunM above)
    • [According to The Home Office and HAL]: In general, all passengers may use their HAL booking numbers begin booking shore excursions, spa appointments, and so forth starting 6 months prior to sailing.
    • Excursions
    • Speciality dining reservations
    • Spa and salon reservations
    • Indulgence packages, beverage cards, etc.
  • Internet Access (See RTFunM above)- On HAL, pricey Internet Packages are available for purchase. It is reported that access is painfully slow.
  • Smoking Policies (See RTFunM above)
  • Shipboard Account: It is recommended that passengers review their shipboard account towards the end of the cruise. Documents can be obtained by request at the Front Office.

What to expect after the cruise

  • putting out luggage night before
  • give some wiggle room between cruise arrival and departing flight
  • Disembarkation typically takes place between 7:00 am and 10:00 am.
  • Allow time to gather luggage and go through US Customs.
  • hanging out with other sea monkeys in airport
  • land legs / dock rock / swaying is normal, do not be alarmed.
  • Check your credit card statements. If you have unexpected charges, email onboardaccounts (AT) hollandamerica (DOT) com with the following information:
    • HAL booking number
    • Ship name
    • Sail date
    • Room number
    • Your name

Links

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