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Important items to remember for your upcoming trip.
1. PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS: a valid US passport is required
for International travel including Canada and Mexico. It should
not expire within 6 months of your date of departure. We suggest
that you make several good photocopies of your passport for daily
handling on your trip and for back up identification. A passport
may be required to change currency or cash travelers checks.
2. VISA: You will need to check with your travel agent for
which countries require visas.
3. ADDITIONAL IDENTIFICATION: We do suggest that you carry
a second photo id for back up purposes.
4. TRIP DOCUMENTATION: Usually the important documents
consists of passenger cruise receipts, transfer vouchers, airline
tickets, hotel confirmations, trip itineraries, boarding passes,
etc. Please keep your own personal documentation on your person at
all times! DO NOT put any of these items on your checked luggage
and DO NOT give any of these items to a traveling companion! Also,
we have observed people discarding their ticket jackets. Airline
personnel will frequently attach boarding passes and checked
luggage receipts and ticket coupons in these items.
5. PRESCRIPTIONS AND MEDICINES: It is recommended that you
check with your doctor so that you have an ample supply of
prescribed medicines for the duration of your tour. Ask for a
legible (typed) prescription which you can keep separate from your
medicine. Where possible, bring your medicine in their original
containers. We suggest you make photo copies of medicines on the
original containers if necessary.
6. EYEGLASSES: We do recommend that you bring a back up
pair of prescription glasses in the event of loss or damage.
Sunglasses may also be advised. If you do not have a second pair
of prescription glasses bring at least your prescription to
replace those damaged or lost.
7. VOLTAGE REQUIREMENTS: It is necessary to bring an
electrical converter with two round prongs for use in hotels and
onboard some of the smaller cruise vessels. You will need and
adapter or converter to use any small personal items such as a
razor, curling iron or alarm clock.
14. LONG DISTANCE PHONE CALLS: We recommend that you carry with
you instructions to call internationally. Contact your telephone
service provider for access codes and country codes. If you
purchase a prepaid card make sure it works internationally. In
most destinations, you can purchase phone cards in varying minute
denominations.
15. RENTING A CELL PHONE: There are several companies now that you
can rent an international phone before you depart. There is
usually a weekly charge and depending on what countries you are
visiting, the rate per minute varies. It is an excellent program
and much easier than trying to figure out the European phone
systems.
16. DRINKING WATER ABROAD: In most cases, tap water is drinkable,
but you may notice tastes that you are not accustomed to due to
chlorination, etc. Bottled water is now available everywhere you
travel as an alternative. Most major hotels and modern cruise
vessels have high quality water available. Incidently, It is
advisable to have a bottle of water with you for your air flights.
17. LUGGAGE TAGS: We strongly suggest that each checked luggage
and carry-on bags that you carry have proper identification.
Carry-on bags should also be identified with personal tags. We
suggest that you have identification with address and phone number
INSIDE your luggage in the event the outside materials are lost
and your contents examined. You should use a permanent black ink
marker to list address information. (In case of rain)
18. OTHER IDENTIFICATION MEASURES: We suggest that you label any
personal items that you will be wearing or carrying that you may
leave in public areas. Examples: Umbrellas, cameras, outer wear,
cell phones, laptop computers, radio devices, eyeglass cases, etc.
19. CARRY-ON BAG ESSENTIALS: Most travel days are long and tiring.
Some items are very important to include and others may suit your
personal taste. Whatever you include, please consider that the
weight of your bag should not exceed 40 pounds and we suggest MUCH
less! Items you may consider are: reading materials, medicines,
personal toiletry items, (follow the 3-1-1 rule) documentation,
aspirins, candy and/or light snacks, camera items, lightweight
comfort clothing items, etc.
20. CARRY-ON BAG DIMENSIONS: Will vary by airlines. Please be sure
to check the airline web site for their specific restrictions.
They must be able to fit in the overhead or underneath the seat.
Double check your airline configuration before you pack!
21. CHECKED LUGGAGE: Checked baggage is limited to 2 pieces.
Weight cannot exceed 50 pounds and we suggest much less!
Overweight luggage will be assessed expensive penalties. In
general, a linear dimension cannot exceed 62". (Length, plus
width, plus height) If it is possible, we suggest that you
photograph your luggage prior to the trip or photocopy original
descriptive information. It is much easier to show someone what
you have lost!
22. LUGGAGE In regard to checked luggage we do not suggest locking
your pieces, especially ones requiring a key or combination which
you have not memorized. Also, remove any chains and straps, etc.
from the outside of your luggage to minimize potential damage. If
you must lock your luggage be sure to use one of the new TSI
security luggage locks. The security person can unlock them if
they need to see inside your luggage without damage to your lock.
NO FILM OR EXPENSIVE EQUIPMENT IN YOUR CHECKED LUGGAGE!
23. JEWELRY AND OTHER EXPENSIVE ITEMS: We strongly discourage
wearing any expensive jewelry items on this tour! Wear or consider
cosmetic items instead. If you bring items that are irreplaceable
you should consider separate insurance coverage. New items that
you are bringing on this trip should be accompanied by the
purchase receipts in case you are questioned at customs. (I.e.:
cameras) It is also worthwhile suggesting that you record all the
items that you bring on this trip, especially items of an
expensive nature. Appliances, and/or jewelry items should be
recorded with good descriptive information.
Customs Information: In order to avoid problems when returning
home, please take note of the following tips. For more information
consult your Customs Agency.
Registering Your Valuables: We strongly recommend that you
register your valuables with Customs before leaving home. This
should be done well in advance of travel at a customs office near
your home. Items that should be registered generally include those
not manufactured in your country. Customs pays particular
attention to cameras (including special lenses and video
equipment), binoculars, radios, laptop computers, foreign-made
watches, and other similar appliances. Customs officials will not
be available at the ship during check-in to register valuables.
Transportation of Currency: You may take on your trip as much
currency or as many monetary instruments as you wish. However, if
you take out or bring into the United States more than US $10,000,
you are required by law to file a report with the U.S. Customs
Service.
Customs Allowance: Each U.S. Resident is allowed a duty-free
exemption of US $800. Guests may include 100 cigars (Cuban cigars
are not allowed) and 200 cigarettes (one carton) in their US $800
exemption and guests over 21 may also include one liter of liquor.
An additional US $1,000 worth of articles may be brought in and
taxed at a flat duty rate of 10%. After an absence of 7 days or
more, Canadian citizens may bring back to Canada up to CAD $750
worth of duty-free merchandise, which may include a maximum of 40
ounces of liquor or wine and 200 cigarettes. Guests who are not
U.S. or Canadian citizens should check with the customs service
agency in their country for allowance information before
departing.ateroom number in large, bold letters on your bag tag.
Important Reminder when Packing
We recommend that you use hard-sided luggage and caution against
the use of garment bags with hanger hooks protruding from the top.
We also strongly suggest that you carry important items such as
perishable items, medicine, liquor, cash, credit or debit cards,
jewelry, gold, silver, or similar valuables, securities, financial
instruments, records or other valuable or business documents,
laptop computers, cellular telephones, cameras, hearing aids or
other video or electronic equipment, binoculars, film, videotape,
computer disks, audio disks, tapes or cds on your person or in
your carry-on bag. (Remember that checked baggage may not be
accessible at all times.)
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Last-Minute Checklist
To ensure peace of mind while you are away, why not run over this
last-minute checklist of things to do before you go? Then you're
off, without a worry in the world!
r Have the Post Office hold your mail.
r Stop your newspaper delivery, or have a friend or neighbor take
them in for you.
r Refill your medicine prescriptions sufficient for the duration
of the cruise and bring them with you in your carry-on bag.
r Leave copies of your passport, airline tickets, traveler checks
and any credit cards you plan to use with a family member.
r Distribute your ship communications cards to friends and
relatives.
r Place a card with your name and address inside your luggage, as
well as on the outside.
r Bring your travel and health insurance information and have it
handy at all times.
r Bring your immunization records.
r Verify that your identification and travel tickets are in your
carry-on bag and available at all times.
Medication
r Your prescription medication should be kept close at hand in
your purse or carry-on bag rather than in your checked luggage. Be
sure to bring a sufficient supply of medication and transport it
in the original container.
r Carry a written list of your medications in case they are lost.
The list should include the name of the drug, dosage, and times
taken.
Packing Advice
The right clothing can make a big difference in the enjoyment of
your cruise. First and foremost, dress for comfort. Daily life ll
is laid-back and casual. We encourage you to wear whatever makes
you feel most comfortable—sportswear, shorts, slacks, sundresses
and so on.
For cooler temperatures we suggest casual clothes that can be
layered easily. On some days you may need a raincoat and
waterproof hat or umbrella. Gloves are a good idea as well.
Footwear should include comfortable walking shoes for visits
ashore and sandals or rubber-soled shoes for strolling on deck.
Finally, if you'd like to jog on deck or work out in the fitness
center, bring workout gear.
Evening dress falls into three separate categories-casual,
informal and formal. Each night, a daily program will be delivered
to your stateroom announcing the suggested dress for the following
evening.
Comfortable, relaxed clothing is fine for evenings designated as
casual; however, t-shirts, jeans and shorts are not allowed in the
dining room or public areas.
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