Guide to Cruising 2008

Life Aboard

 This A to Z survey covers the astonishing range of
facilities that modern cruise ships offer and tells
you how to make the most of them  

A - C D - F G - I J - L M - O P - S

Air-Conditioning
Cabin temperature can be regulated by an individually controlled thermostat, so you can adjust it to suit yourself. Public room temperatures are controlled automatically. Air temperatures are often kept cooler than you may be used to

Baby-Sitting
In some ships, stewards, stewardesses, and other staff may be available as babysitters for an hourly fee. Make arrangements at the reception desk. Aboard some ships, evening baby-sitting services may not start until late (check times and availability before you book a cruise).  

Beauty Salon/Barber Shop
Make appointments as soon after boarding as possible (particularly on short cruises). Appointment times fill up rapidly, especially before social events such as a captain’s cocktail party. Charges are comparable to those ashore. Typical services: haircut for men and women, styling, permanent waving, coloring, manicure, pedicure, leg waxing. 

Bridge Visits
In most ships, bridge visits are not allowed for insurance and security reasons. However, a Behind the Scenes video on how the ship is run may be shown on the cabin television system.  

Cashless Cruising
It is now the norm to cruise cash-free, and to settle your account with one payment (by cash or credit card) prior to disembarking on the last day. An imprint of your credit card is taken at embarkation, permitting you to sign for everything. Before the end of the cruise, a detailed statement is delivered to your cabin. Some smaller cruise lines discontinue their “cashless” system for the last day of the cruise, which can be most irritating. 
Some cruise lines may add a “currency conversion service charge” to your credit card account if it is not in the currency of the cruise line.
Ships visiting a “private island” on a Bahamas/ Caribbean itinerary will probably ask you to pay cash for beverages, water sports and scuba diving gear, and other items that you purchase ashore. 

Casino Gaming
While most passengers do not choose a cruise in order to gamble, many cruise ships have casinos, where a range of table games is played (typically blackjack or 21, Caribbean stud poker, roulette, craps, and baccarat). Playing chips and cash change are available from the cashier or from banknote acceptance machines. Children under 18 are not allowed in the casino. The casino will be closed in port due to international customs regulations, and taking photographs in the casino is usually forbidden. German- and Japanese-registered ships are not permitted to operate casinos that give cash prizes.
Most cruise lines demonstrate how to play the various table games, and give free lessons. Remember that casinos provide entertainment rather than a hard-core gambling environment (such as Las Vegas), and there is no charge to enter any shipboard casino - all you need is luck.
Slot machines can also be found (whether casino ashore or cruise line casino, more than half of the profits are from slot machines). They provide entertainment, although they don’t require any human interaction. 

Comment Cards
On the last day of the cruise you will be asked to fill out a company “comment card.” Some lines offer “incentives” such as a bottle of champagne. Be truthful, as the form serves as a means of communication between you and the cruise line. Pressure from staff to write “excellent” for everything is rampant aboard cruise ships. But if there have been problems, do say so. 

Communications
Most ships now have a direct-dial satellite telephone system. All ships have an internationally recognized call sign, a combination of letters and digits. You can call from your cabin to anywhere in the world. The calls are completed instantly by satellite and are very clear.
Some ships also have credit card telephones located in public areas; these also connect instantly, via satellite. Satellite calls can also be made when the ship is in port. Satellite telephone calls cost between us$5 and $15 per minute, depending on the type of communications equipment the ship carries (the latest systems are digital). Calls are charged to your onboard account.
You can reach any ship by first dialing the International Direct Dialing (IDD) code for the country for the country you are calling from (examples: from the USA dial 011; from the UK dial 00; from Australia, dial 0011), followed by the phone number.
Anyone without a direct-dial telephone should call the High Seas Operator (in the United States, dial 1-800-SEA-CALL). The operator will need the name of the ship, together with the ocean code (Atlantic East is 871; Pacific is 872; Indian Ocean is 873; Atlantic West/ Caribbean/US is 874).

 Cruisespeak
The following terminology is used aboard today’s cruise ships. The correct nautical terminology is followed by the terms many cruise lines now use: 
      Cabin: Penthouse Suite, Junior Suite, Stateroom, or Room
       Cabin Service: Room Service
       Passenger: Guest
       Purser’s Office: Guest Relations Desk or Front Office 

Customs Regulations
All countries vary in the duty-free allowances granted by their own customs service, but you will be informed aboard your cruise ship of the allowable amounts for your nationality and residency.  

Daily Program
This contains a useful list of the day’s activities, entertainment, and social events. It is normally delivered to your cabin the evening before the day that it covers.  

Death at Sea
What happens if someone dies at sea? Typically, it happens more on long cruises, where passengers are generally older. Bodies are put in a special refrigeration unit for removal at the port of disembarkation, or the body can be flown home from a wayward port of call (more complicated, owing to the paperwork). Note that flying a body home usually involves much expense. A burial at sea can also be arranged aboard ship; some people have a body cremated at home, return to their favorite cruise ship, and have the ashes scattered at sea. 

Departure Tax
If you are disembarking in a foreign port and flying home, be advised that there could be a departure tax to pay (in local currency) at the airport. 

Disembarkation
This is the most difficult part of any cruise. The cruise director will already have given an informal talk on customs, immigration, and disembarkation (sometimes called “debarkation”) procedures. The night before the ship reaches its destination, you will be given a customs form to fill out. Any duty-free items bought from the shop on board must be included in your allowance (save the receipts in case a customs officer asks for them).
The night before arrival, place your main baggage outside your cabin on retiring (or before 2am). It will be collected and off-loaded on arrival. Leave out fragile items, liquor, and the clothes you intend to wear for disembarkation and onward travel (it is amazing just how many people pack everything, only to find they are in an embarrassing position on disembarkation day). Anything left in your cabin will be considered hand luggage to be hand-carried off when you leave. 
On disembarkation day, breakfast will probably be early. It might be better to miss breakfast and sleep later, providing announcements on the ship’s public address system do not wake you (it may be possible to turn off such announcements). Even worse than early breakfast, is the fact that you will be commanded (requested, if you are lucky) to leave your cabin early, only to wait in crowded public rooms - sometimes for hours. To add insult to injury, your cabin steward (after he has received his tip, of course) will knock on the door to take the sheets off the bed so the cabin can be made up for the incoming passengers. Cruise aboard the smaller “upscale” ships and this will not happen.
Before leaving the ship, remember to claim any items you have placed in the ship’s safety deposit boxes and leave your cabin key in your cabin. Passengers cannot go ashore until all baggage has been offloaded, and customs and/or immigration inspections or pre-inspections have been carried out. In most ports, this takes two to three hours after arrival. It is wise to leave at least three hours from the time of arrival to catch a connecting flight or other transportation. Once off the ship, you will identify your baggage on the pier before going through customs inspection. Porters may be there to assist you. 

Engine Room
For insurance and security reasons, visits to the engine room are seldom allowed. In some ships, a technical information leaflet may be available. Aboard others, a Behind the Scenes video may be shown on the cabin television system. For more specific information, contact a member of the ship’s engineering staff via the reception desk.

 Gift Shops
The gift shop/boutique/drugstore offers souvenirs, gifts, toiletries, logo and duty-free items, as well as a basic stock of essential items. Duty-free items, such as perfumes and watches are competitively priced. Opening hours are posted at the store and in the Daily Program.

 Health and Fitness Facilities
Many ships have elaborate spas where (for an extra fee) whole days of treatments are on offer. Stress reducing and relaxation treatments are practiced combined with the use of seawater, which contains minerals, micronutrients, and vitamins. Massages might include Swedish remedial massage, shiatsu, and aromatherapy treatments. You can even get a massage on your private balcony aboard some ships. More details: page 51. The latest “con” in the extra charge game is to have separate charges for days at sea compared to days in port.

 Launch (Tender) Services
Enclosed or open motor launches (“tenders”) are used when your cruise ship is unable to berth at a port or island. In such cases, a regular launch service is operated between ship and shore for the duration of the port call. Details of the launch service will be provided in the Daily Program. When stepping on or off a tender, remember to extend “forearm to forearm” to the person assisting you. Do not grip their hands because this simply has the effect of immobilizing the helper.

 Launderette
Some ships have self-service launderettes, equipped with washers, dryers, and ironing facilities. There may be a charge for washing powder and for use of the machines.

 Laundry and Dry Cleaning
Most ships offer a full laundry and pressing service. Some ships may also offer dry-cleaning facilities. A detailed list of services (and prices) can be found in your cabin. Your steward will collect and deliver your laundry or dry cleaning.

 Library
Most cruise ships have a library offering a good selection of books, reference material, and periodicals. A small deposit (refundable on return of the book) may be required when you borrow a book. Aboard the small luxury ships, the library is open 24 hours a day, and no deposit is required. Aboard large resort ships, the library may be open only a couple of hours a day. Aurora, Oriana, QE2 and QM2 are examples of ships with full-time, qualified librarians (aboard most other ships a member of the cruise staff or entertainment staff - with little knowledge of books or authors - staffs the library). The library is where you will find board games such as Scrabble, backgammon and chess. 

Lido
This is a deck devoted to swimming pools, hot tubs, and recreation. Aboard most cruise ships, it includes a self-serve buffet.

 Lifeboat Drill
There have been few recent incidents requiring the evacuation of passengers, although two cruise ships were lost following collisions (Jupiter, 1988, and Royal Pacific, 1992). Travel by ship, however, remains one of the safest means of transportation. Even so, it cannot be stressed enough that attendance at lifeboat drill not only makes sense, but it is mandatory. Make sure you know your boat station or assembly point and how to get to it in the event of an emergency.
If other passengers are lighthearted about the drill, do not let that distract you. Be sure to note your exit and escape pathways and learn how to put on your lifejacket correctly. The drill takes no more than 15 minutes and is a good investment in playing safe (the Royal Pacific sank in just 16 minutes following a collision).
A Passenger Lifeboat Drill must be held within 24 hours of leaving the embarkation port. An announcement is made, along these lines: “Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention, please? This is the captain speaking to you from the bridge. In 15 minutes’ time, the ship’s alarm bells will signal emergency lifeboat drill for all passengers and crew. This is a mandatory drill, conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Safety of Life at Sea Convention. The emergency signal is a succession of seven or more short blasts followed by one long blast of the ship’s whistle, supplemented by the ringing of the electric gongs throughout the ship. On hearing this signal, make your way quickly to your cabin, put on warm clothing and your lifejacket, then follow the signs to your emergency boat station, where you will be kept fully informed over the loudspeakers through which I am speaking to you now.”

 Lost Property
Contact the reception desk immediately if you lose or find something on the ship. Notices regarding lost and found property may be posted on the bulletin boards.

 Mail
You can buy stamps and mail letters aboard most ships. Some ships use the postal privileges and stamps of their flag of registration, while others buy local stamps at ports of call. Mail is usually taken ashore by the ship’s port agent just before the ship sails. You will receive a list of port agents and mailing addresses with your tickets and documents, so you can advise friends and family how they can send mail to you.

 Massage
Make appointments for a massage as soon after embarkation as possible, in order to obtain the time and day of your choice. Larger ships have more staff and offer more flexibility in appointment times. The cost averages about $2 a minute. In some ships, a massage service is available in your cabin (or on your private balcony), if it is large enough to accommodate a portable massage table.

 Medical Services
Except for ships registered in the UK or Norway, there are no mandatory international maritime requirements for cruise lines to carry a licensed physician or to have hospital facilities aboard. However, in general, all ships carrying over 50 passengers do have medical facilities and carry at least one licensed doctor. Usually, there is a reasonably equipped hospital in miniature, although the standard of medical practice and of the physicians themselves may vary from line to line. Most shipboard doctors are generalists; there are no cardiologists or neurosurgeons. Doctors are typically employed as outside contractors and will charge for use of their services, including seasickness shots. UK passengers should note that ships fall outside Britain’s National Health Service scheme.
Regrettably, many cruise lines place a low priority on providing medical services (there are, however, some exceptions). Most shipboard physicians are not certified in trauma treatment or medical evacuation procedures, for example. Some medical organizations, such as the American College of Emergency Physicians, have a special division for cruise medicine. Most ships that cater to North American passengers tend to carry doctors licensed in the United States, Canada, or Britain, but aboard many other ships, doctors come from a variety of countries and disciplines.
Cunard Line’s QE2, with 2,921 passengers and crew, has a fully equipped hospital with one surgeon, one doctor, a staff of six nurses, and two medical orderlies; contrast this with Carnival’s Sensation, which carries up to 3,514 passengers and crew, with just one doctor and two nurses.
Standards and equipment vary widely. Any ship operating long-distance cruises, with several days at sea, should have better medical facilities and a better qualified staff than one engaged in a seven-day Caribbean cruise, with a port of call almost every day.
Ideally, a ship’s medical staff should be certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support. The minimal equipment should include an examination room, isolation ward/bed, X-ray machine (to verify broken or fractured bones), cardiac monitor (EKG) and defibrillator, oxygen-saturation monitor (to determine a patient’s blood-oxygen level), external pacemaker, oxygen, suction and ventilators, hematology analyzer, culture incubator, and a mobile trolley intensive care unit.
Any existing health problems that require treatment on board must be reported at the time of booking.  Aboard some ships, you may be charged for filling a prescription in addition to the cost of any prescribed drugs. There may also be a charge if you are unwell, have to cancel a shore excursion and need a doctor’s letter to prove it.

 Movies
Some (but not many) ships have a dedicated movie theater. The movies are recent, often selected by the cruise line from a special licensed film- or video-leasing service. Many newer ships have replaced or supplemented the movie theater with TV sets and DVD players in cabins, or with giant outdoor screens. 

News and Sports Bulletins
The world’s news and sports results are reported in the ship’s newspaper or placed on the bulletin board that is normally located near the reception desk or in the library. For sports results not listed, ask the reception desk whether they can obtain them.

 Passenger Lists
Ships of yesteryear provided passenger lists with each passenger’s name and hometown or region. Today, only a handful do so.

 Photographs
Professional photographers take pictures (increasingly digital) of passengers throughout the cruise, including their arrival on board. They cover all the main events and social functions, such as the captain’s cocktail party. The pictures can be viewed without any obligation to purchase, but the prices may surprise. The cost is now likely to exceed $10 for a postcard-sized color photograph, and a 10 x 8-inch embarkation photo aboard Queen Mary 2, for example, is now a whopping $27.50.

 Postcards and Writing Paper
These are available from the writing room, library, purser’s office, or your room steward. Aboard some ships, they are available for a modest sum.

 Reception Desk
This is also known as the Purser’s Office, guest relations, or information desk. Centrally located, it is the nerve center of the ship for general passenger information and problems. Opening hours (in some ships, 24 hours a day) are posted outside the office and given in the Daily Program.

 Religious Services
Interdenominational services are conducted on board, usually by the captain or staff captain. A few older ships (and Costa Cruises’ ships) have a small private chapel. Denominational services may be taken by clergy traveling as passengers.

 Room Service
Beverages and snacks are available at most times. Liquor is normally limited to the opening hours of the ship’s bars. Your room steward will advise you of the services. There’s no charge for room service.

 Safety First
The training of crew in relation to safety and security has become extremely important - so much so that new international regulations require all crew to undergo basic safety training before they are allowed to work aboard any cruise ship. Crew are no longer recruited with the intention of providing on-the-job training.
Safeguards for passengers include lifeboats and life rafts, and safety comes under an international convention called SOLAS

Berlitz Guide © Apa Publications 2008