By Carl Dombek
I just finished a stint working for a company whose people greeted arriving cruise ship passengers at the departure city’s main airport and helped them get to their waiting vessels. I picked up a few insider perspectives about how the cruise industry operates and I'm sharing them in the hope of making your experience better.
As a do-it-yourselfer who is all about making my own travel arrangements whenever possible, the most unexpected lesson I learned was this: The more arrangements you make through your cruise line, the better your chances if something goes wrong.
I just finished a stint working for a company whose people greeted arriving cruise ship passengers at the departure city’s main airport and helped them get to their waiting vessels. I picked up a few insider perspectives about how the cruise industry operates and I'm sharing them in the hope of making your experience better.
As a do-it-yourselfer who is all about making my own travel arrangements whenever possible, the most unexpected lesson I learned was this: The more arrangements you make through your cruise line, the better your chances if something goes wrong.
Here are several examples.
On its Sept. 12 sailing from Seattle to Alaska, the Royal Princess experienced "technical issues" that forced it to skip two ports of call: Juneau and Ketchikan. In addition to refunds equaling 50% of the cruise fare, the line also refunded the cost of shore excursions guests had booked for those two ports, but only if the guests had booked the cruise line's excursions. Those who booked independent excursions had to seek refunds directly from the vendors and it is likely that many were simply out the money.
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| Royal Princess in Skagway (Photo courtesy Princess Cruise Lines) |
If you book your air travel through your cruise line and your flight is late, a couple of things come into play. Your cruise line will know to look for you and may be able to help you get to the ship on time, even if the last shuttle bus has left. If they don't know when you're coming because you booked your own flights, they may not have a record of you (see Point Number 5 below) so you're on your own.
Also, if you're so late that you miss your ship, you may be allowed to board the ship at its next port of call if you booked your airfare through the cruise line. Some caveats here: If your cruise departs and returns to a U.S. port, the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA) often makes it illegal to board at a second U.S. port instead of the original one.
Accordingly, the ship's captain and local customs officials (such as CBP in the U.S.) must explicitly clear you before you are allowed to join mid-trip. That is much more likely to happen if the cruise line chose the flight that got delayed.
Finally, according to Royal Caribbean Line's website, the passenger must pay for their own travel, hotels, and flights to the next port unless their air package was booked directly through the cruise line. More details here.
Booking the cruise line's shuttle service from the airport to the cruise terminal has advantages as well.
The cruise line handles your luggage for you, drops you off closer to the ship than independent transportation is often allowed, and is in touch with the ship which will wait if their shuttle is delayed. Again, since the cruise line knows when to expect you and you're a bit late, they will do more to help you get to the ship on time (largely because you've paid for a transfer) than if you plan independently and show up late.
If you plan on arriving in your departure city the day before your cruise (and you should!) making your pre-cruise arrangements (hotel and transfers) through the cruise line provides the same benefits I've mentioned: they know who you are, when to expect you, and will do their best to get you to the ship on time should something go wrong.
IMPORTANT LESSSONS
Over this season, I saw several mistakes that travelers made time and again, so I’ve compiled several key take-aways that will, I hope, make it a smoother cruising experience for you and yours.
NUMBER 1: ALWAYS TRAVEL WITH A PASSPORT BOOK
The U.S. State Department strongly recommends traveling with a full passport book on any cruise. Even if a closed-loop cruise (starting and ending at the same U.S. port) does not legally require a passport book, you will need one to fly home immediately if an emergency, medical issue, or ship mechanical failure strands you in a foreign country. A passport card, which some travelers carry, is valid only for entering the U.S. via land or sea borders from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
Associated Misconception
A REAL ID-compliant driver’s license is NOT a substitute for a passport. REAL IDs can be issued to anyone who is a lawful, permanent resident of the United States, not just U.S. citizens, so they do not prove citizenship.
NUMBER 2: ARRIVE IN YOUR DEPARTURE CITY AT LEAST ONE DAY BEFORE YOUR CRUISE
Too much can happen to risk seeing your multi-thousand dollar vacation go up in smoke to save the cost of one night at a local hotel. You can book a room at your favorite hotel chain or check with the cruise line, which may offer “pre-cruise” packages that include a room as well as shuttle service to the hotel, then to the cruise ship.
Associated Point
Consider trip cancellation insurance.
Any type of insurance is, at its most basic, risk transference. You’re paying a premium to transfer the risk from you to the insurance company. If the risk is small, such as a $250 non-refundable plane ticket to Vegas for a girls’ or guys’ weekend, you may decide insurance isn’t necessary. A $6,000 cruise is a different matter.
Again, do your research before you purchase. Virtually every airline and cruise operator offers trip insurance protection, as do independent providers. But many credit cards - particularly affinity cards associated with a travel provider - also offer trip insurance if you pay for your trip with that specific credit card. Even if you don't carry an affinity card, be sure to check the credit card you plan on using for your cruise and see what it has to offer.
NUMBER 3: CHOOSING YOUR AIRLINE
For reasons I've already stated, it's a good idea to book your air travel through the cruise line. Every weekend, we had at least one party that arrived late due to flight delays and those who booked through the cruise line had those advantages I've already mentioned over those who booked independently.
Importantly, if your luggage is delayed, many airlines will see that it’s put on another flight, either theirs or another airline’s, and meets your ship at its next port of call. But not all airlines “play well with others,” and budget carriers are guiltier of this than the larger airlines so if your luggage is delayed, it may not catch up with you at all. Remember the adage, "You get what you pay for."
NUMBER 4: AIRPORT TRANSFERS
Bus transfers from the airport to the cruise ship are aggressively marketed add-ons. There are a couple of advantages that I detailed above, though it is still prudent to do the math before making a purchase.
The U.S. State Department strongly recommends traveling with a full passport book on any cruise. Even if a closed-loop cruise (starting and ending at the same U.S. port) does not legally require a passport book, you will need one to fly home immediately if an emergency, medical issue, or ship mechanical failure strands you in a foreign country. A passport card, which some travelers carry, is valid only for entering the U.S. via land or sea borders from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
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| U.S. Passport book |
And even if it is not a U.S. government requirement, some cruise lines require passengers to carry a valid passport book.
Associated Misconception
A REAL ID-compliant driver’s license is NOT a substitute for a passport. REAL IDs can be issued to anyone who is a lawful, permanent resident of the United States, not just U.S. citizens, so they do not prove citizenship.
NUMBER 2: ARRIVE IN YOUR DEPARTURE CITY AT LEAST ONE DAY BEFORE YOUR CRUISE
Too much can happen to risk seeing your multi-thousand dollar vacation go up in smoke to save the cost of one night at a local hotel. You can book a room at your favorite hotel chain or check with the cruise line, which may offer “pre-cruise” packages that include a room as well as shuttle service to the hotel, then to the cruise ship.
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| A popular pre-cruise hotel on Seattle's waterfront |
If you do plan to book your own hotel, use a map program like Google Maps to determine exactly how far the hotel is from the departure pier before committing. One weekend, I helped two ladies who had booked a hotel they thought was close to their ship’s departure point, only to find that it was nearly 30 miles away. They wound up missing the opportunity to spend a day exploring their departure city.
Associated Point
Consider trip cancellation insurance.
Any type of insurance is, at its most basic, risk transference. You’re paying a premium to transfer the risk from you to the insurance company. If the risk is small, such as a $250 non-refundable plane ticket to Vegas for a girls’ or guys’ weekend, you may decide insurance isn’t necessary. A $6,000 cruise is a different matter.
Again, do your research before you purchase. Virtually every airline and cruise operator offers trip insurance protection, as do independent providers. But many credit cards - particularly affinity cards associated with a travel provider - also offer trip insurance if you pay for your trip with that specific credit card. Even if you don't carry an affinity card, be sure to check the credit card you plan on using for your cruise and see what it has to offer.
NUMBER 3: CHOOSING YOUR AIRLINE
For reasons I've already stated, it's a good idea to book your air travel through the cruise line. Every weekend, we had at least one party that arrived late due to flight delays and those who booked through the cruise line had those advantages I've already mentioned over those who booked independently.
In addition, it seemed that there were more delays with low-fare carriers than the majors. You’ve spent thousands on this cruise; don’t skimp by buying the cheapest flight.
Importantly, if your luggage is delayed, many airlines will see that it’s put on another flight, either theirs or another airline’s, and meets your ship at its next port of call. But not all airlines “play well with others,” and budget carriers are guiltier of this than the larger airlines so if your luggage is delayed, it may not catch up with you at all. Remember the adage, "You get what you pay for."
NUMBER 4: AIRPORT TRANSFERS
Bus transfers from the airport to the cruise ship are aggressively marketed add-ons. There are a couple of advantages that I detailed above, though it is still prudent to do the math before making a purchase.
We represented six cruise lines, and each one set its own price for the transfers. This season, they ranged from a low of $33 per person each way ($66 round trip) to $49 per person each way ($98 round trip). That’s a range of $132 to $196 round trip per couple.
Depending on several factors, including how many people are traveling together, the all-in cost might make another form of transportation more appealing. If you’re group is as small as two couples, you might be able to engage a large Uber, “black car,” or limo for considerably less than the nearly $400 the cruise line would charge for the round trips. In any case, explore your options before committing.
Depending on several factors, including how many people are traveling together, the all-in cost might make another form of transportation more appealing. If you’re group is as small as two couples, you might be able to engage a large Uber, “black car,” or limo for considerably less than the nearly $400 the cruise line would charge for the round trips. In any case, explore your options before committing.
Associated Point
If you haven't, or don't intend to, purchase the cruise line's airport transfer, do not expect assistance from the people with the cruise line signs at the airport baggage carousels. Most of them will answer basic questions and provide simple directions if you ask, but they're primary responsibility is to help the customers who have paid (or will pay) for the cruise lines' airport transfers.
NUMBER 5: REGISTERING YOUR FLIGHT
Cruise lines ask their passengers for their flight information so they will know whom to expect and when, and can monitor flight arrival times. If a plane carrying known passengers is late, there’s a better chance that the meet-and-greet service will be able to find you among the other arriving passengers and assist in getting to the ship on time.
Cruise lines ask their passengers for their flight information so they will know whom to expect and when, and can monitor flight arrival times. If a plane carrying known passengers is late, there’s a better chance that the meet-and-greet service will be able to find you among the other arriving passengers and assist in getting to the ship on time.
Associated Point
If you chose to purchase the cruise line's airport transfers, be absolutely sure you register your flight. Many, if not most, cruise lines email reminders at 28 days prior to the cruise, 21 days prior, and 14 days prior. If you haven't provided your transit information after that last email, your airport transfer may be cancelled precisely because the cruise line didn't know when to expect you.
NUMBER 6: ALLOW PLENTY OF TIME
Especially if you choose an independent form of transportation to your ship, whether that’s a limo, taxi, rideshare or even public transportation, plan to be at the ship at least an hour – and sometimes more -- before the posted "sailing time." Cruise ships close boarding from one to two hours before departure from the initial port to complete final passenger headcounts; submit mandatory sailing manifests to local port authorities, customs and the cruise line's head office; safely retract heavy ramps; prepare the engines; and conduct passenger safety drills.
NUMBER 6: ALLOW PLENTY OF TIME
Especially if you choose an independent form of transportation to your ship, whether that’s a limo, taxi, rideshare or even public transportation, plan to be at the ship at least an hour – and sometimes more -- before the posted "sailing time." Cruise ships close boarding from one to two hours before departure from the initial port to complete final passenger headcounts; submit mandatory sailing manifests to local port authorities, customs and the cruise line's head office; safely retract heavy ramps; prepare the engines; and conduct passenger safety drills.
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| Cunard Line's Queen Elizabeth in port in Seattle |
If doors remain open after the all-aboard time, the ship risks incurring severe port fines, delaying the captain's navigation schedule, and compromising the vessel's overall seaworthiness.
Other Related Issues
Your passport and other identification, medication and medical devices (like CPAP machines) should be kept with you and NEVER in your checked luggage.
Put things away in the same place, every time. You don’t want to have to rifle through your carry-on, computer bag or backpack because you can’t exactly recall where you put your passport or boarding documents this time.
Tracking devices for your luggage, such as Apple Air Tags, Tile or SpotMinder, can be worth their weight in gold! Purchase some, and put one inside each bag (NOT in a luggage tag accessible from the outside), whether it’s a checked bag or carry-on.
Other Related Issues
Your passport and other identification, medication and medical devices (like CPAP machines) should be kept with you and NEVER in your checked luggage.
Put things away in the same place, every time. You don’t want to have to rifle through your carry-on, computer bag or backpack because you can’t exactly recall where you put your passport or boarding documents this time.
Tracking devices for your luggage, such as Apple Air Tags, Tile or SpotMinder, can be worth their weight in gold! Purchase some, and put one inside each bag (NOT in a luggage tag accessible from the outside), whether it’s a checked bag or carry-on.
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| Apple Air Tag |
While cruise lines assign boarding times to passengers, these are not carved in stone; they’re intended to space the passengers out so the ship doesn’t have 4,000 passengers showing up at the same time. If you’re a bit earlier or later than your assigned time, it is truly no big deal.
Once on board, enjoy!
Bon voyage!
Once on board, enjoy!
Bon voyage!
Visit my main page at TheTravelPro.us for more news, reviews, and personal observations on the world of upmarket travel.
Photos by Carl Dombek unless otherwise noted
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