Attention to detail is one of the most important parts of a successful holiday. That is why we aim to answer your questions in advance and explain what you can do and what awaits you aboard your cruise ship. The information below applies to most ships, although minor differences may exist from one vessel to another.
Your Cruise Cabin
Depending on the cruise ship you choose, your cabin may vary in terms of space and level of luxury. All cabins are designed to offer maximum comfort and are air-conditioned. They include a wardrobe, bedside table, private shower-bathroom/WC, music, telephone, television and other amenities.
On most cruise ships, 24-hour room service is also available. Twin cabins feature either two lower beds or one double bed. Triple and quadruple cabins generally feature either two lower beds or one double bed, together with one or two bunk beds respectively.
Cabin Categories
- Cabins with a private balcony: These cabins have a private balcony overlooking the sea.
- Outside cabins: These cabins have one or two windows or a porthole with a sea view.
- Inside cabins: These cabins do not offer a sea view and are located between the ship’s corridors. Instead of a window, one wall may have a mirror or a curtain.
For safety reasons, the windows and portholes of outside cabins remain closed at all times.
A cabin change on board may be possible after the cruise ship has departed, provided that the ship’s occupancy allows it. Cabin changes are never possible during embarkation. If a cabin change results in a fare difference, the additional amount will be charged separately to you.
Cabin and Suite Services
On most cruise lines, special services and privileges are offered according to the category of your cabin or suite. These benefits vary from one cruise ship to another.
For example, on Holland America Line, all cabins include a flat-screen television and DVD player, makeup mirrors, a hairdryer, scented soaps, lotion, shampoo and other Elemis Aromapure personal-care products, ice service, shoe-shine service and evening turndown service. They also provide premium Euro-Top mattresses, cotton sheets, luxurious bathrobes and fresh fruit.
Suite passengers also enjoy exclusive use of the Neptune Lounge, complimentary laundry and dry-cleaning services, ironing services, concierge services, priority check-in and check-out, priority table reservations, a welcome cocktail, a cocktail party with the officers, pre-dinner appetisers, binoculars and an umbrella for use during the cruise.
Meals and Dining
On a cruise ship, you may be invited to enjoy a meal or refreshment up to five or six times a day. Breakfast is served in an open-seating dining area, while early risers can also enjoy coffee and croissants in the bars.
Lunch is usually served as a buffet in dedicated dining areas, as well as in the restaurants’ open-seating dining areas. Dinner is generally served in one or two dining sittings, depending on the number of passengers and the size of the dining room. Many ships also offer open dining.
Please let us know your preferred dining arrangement in good time so that we can request your preferred dining sitting in advance. Certain cruise lines offer a flexible dining option, allowing you to choose your dining time, table and dinner companions freely.
Where dinner is arranged in two sittings, each sitting operates at a specific scheduled time. Afternoon tea and a midnight buffet or snacks are offered on almost all ships. In addition to this wide variety of dining options, many modern cruise ships offer speciality restaurants and menus created by master chefs.
The exact meal times are listed in each ship’s daily programme. If you require a special diet, please inform us when you make your reservation.
Bars, Drinks and All-Inclusive Options
All cruise ships offer a wide choice of bars, cafés, pool bars, wine bars and other venues. Some cruise lines offer special drinks packages.
With certain cruise lines, unlimited consumption of drinks and refreshments is included in the cruise fare, including coffee, bottled water, soft drinks, wine and alcoholic beverages.
All ships also offer a wide selection of fine wines to satisfy even the most demanding passenger. Your dining-room sommelier can certainly recommend the best option for you.
At the end of the cruise, all onboard purchases and consumptions are charged to your account.
Entertainment and Activities
During the day, ships organise deck games and other activities. In the evenings, entertainment is presented in the main lounge or the ship’s club, including shows with an orchestra, ballet, the cruise staff, the ship’s crew and other performers.
After the show and dancing in the lounge, the nightclub or disco may remain open until the early hours. You can consult the cruise ship’s daily programme for information about all activities taking place throughout your cruise.
In addition to organised entertainment, modern cruise ships generally offer activities and facilities for children and teenagers, cinemas, mini golf, Formula 1 and golf simulators, climbing walls, water slides, skating tracks, internet services and much more.
Safety on Board
At all embarkation ports, passengers are subject to checks similar to those at airports. Checked luggage and hand luggage are inspected using special screening equipment and metal detectors.
For hygiene and safety reasons, only personal-care items, personal medication and food for special diets are permitted. Products purchased during visits to ports of call are not permitted on board. Ships are equipped with modern safety systems in accordance with the requirements of international regulations.
Abandon-Ship Drill
In accordance with international safety regulations, a short emergency drill takes place within the first 24 hours after the cruise departs. Participation is compulsory.
All cabins contain life jackets for every passenger. Please read the instructions for their use carefully. During the drill, follow without delay the instructions given over the ship’s public-address system.
The decks of cruise ships, particularly early in the morning, may be wet because of sea humidity. We recommend that you take care when walking on board.
Children’s Safety
For children’s safety, they must not play without parental supervision on exterior decks, stairways, near the swimming pool or near the lifts. Children are also not permitted to play with the ship’s safety equipment.
For safety reasons, cigarettes must be extinguished in ashtrays and must never be thrown from the ship’s decks.
Keeping to Port Schedules
It is absolutely essential to observe the scheduled embarkation and disembarkation times. Ship departure times must be followed, and all passengers must return to the cruise ship by the “Last Passenger On Board” time announced by the ship.
A ship’s departure will not be delayed because passengers have failed to return on time. You are therefore requested to comply strictly with this regulation.
Money and Valuables
You may hand over money and valuables to the ship’s accounting office for safekeeping, against a receipt.
For the loss of money, valuables or valuable items such as cameras and video cameras that have not been handed over for safekeeping, the ship, the carrier—the ship-owning company—and our agency, Navihellas Cruise Centre, accept no responsibility.
Many cruise ships also provide a safe box, or small safe, in the cabin for storing money and valuables.
Air Conditioning
Air conditioning is provided throughout all public areas and in your cabin. Most ships also have adjustable air conditioning in the cabins.
If you have any questions or difficulty adjusting the air conditioning, please consult your cabin steward.
Hair Salon and Spa
All cruise ships have a hair salon and spa services. To ensure availability, it is advisable to book an appointment in advance, at least one day beforehand.
The opening hours of the hair salon and spa are listed in the cruise ship’s daily programme.
Onboard Shops
All cruise ships offer a wide variety of shops where you can purchase duty-free goods, drinks, souvenirs, cosmetics, clothing, cameras and mementos of the ship-owning company, among other items.
The shops are open when the ship is at sea.
Smoking, Cigarettes and Tobacco
Smoking is permitted only in designated areas of the cruise ship. It is not permitted in public areas other than the designated smoking spaces.
For safety reasons, cigarettes must be extinguished in ashtrays and must never be thrown from the ship’s decks. Cigarettes, cigars and tobacco are sold in the ship’s shops and duty-free shops.
Cinema and Video
Feature films and/or videos are shown during your cruise.
Cocktail Parties
If you wish, you may organise a cocktail party for your friends at an additional cost. Please inform us in advance of the number of participants and the day on which you wish to hold the cocktail party, and we will make all the necessary arrangements.
Communication and Mobile Phones at Sea
Passengers can use their mobile phones on open decks, in public areas, in their cabins and in almost all areas of the ship.
When the ship is at sea, the telephone connection is satellite-based. Most ship-owning companies have agreements with land-based telephone companies, and the cost varies. Calls are usually charged at higher, and sometimes considerably higher, rates as international calls made via satellite.
When the ship is in port, the ship’s network is deactivated and your mobile phone is charged according to the rates applicable to mobile phones in the country where you are located, under international roaming.
Internet Services
All cruise ships have facilities such as an internet café or connect centre, where you can go online at an additional cost. For a fee, you may also connect your laptop.
Internet connections and downloads at sea are often very slow compared with land-based services. When the cruise ship approaches a port, free internet access is usually available through the ports or passenger terminals.
Most ship-owning companies provide internet access either through an internet café or via Wi-Fi. When the cruise ship is close to the coast, a mobile phone network is usually available.
Postal Services
Incoming mail is delivered to your cabin. Outgoing mail may be handed to the ship’s accounting office after you have paid the postage, including stamps.
Payments and Gratuities
On all cruise ships, additional services such as drinks, hair salon treatments and spa services are charged to your account. You sign the relevant receipts for these services.
Your personal account also includes the gratuity amount. On certain cruise lines, if you do not wish to be charged the prescribed gratuity, or wish to be charged a lower amount than the prescribed gratuity, you may request the relevant form from reception at the beginning of the cruise and declare this in writing.
Your account is settled on the last day of the cruise, either in cash or by credit card.
Reception Desk
Contact the ship’s reception desk for daily programmes, announcements, your cabin access card, and the opening hours of the ship’s shops, accounting office, hair salon and other facilities.
Ship Officers and Key Personnel
- Accounting Office and Chief Accountant: Responsible for financial transactions, excursion sales, the safekeeping of valuables, account administration and related matters.
- Chief Purser: Responsible for handling and resolving matters relating to your accommodation on board, your cabin, the restaurant and other related services.
- Cruise Director, cruise staff and ship escorts: Available to assist you with all aspects of the social life and activities on board.
Ship Photographer
The ship’s photographer is present at all events during your cruise. Your photographs are displayed in a dedicated area on each ship, and purchasing them is optional.
Some cruise ships also offer videos depicting life on board for sale.
Electrical Power
The electrical current varies from one ship to another. On most cruise ships, the voltage is 110/220V.
Please check the electrical specifications before your cruise departure.
Children’s Facilities
Most cruise ships provide a children’s play area and/or an arcade room for children.
Laundry Services
Laundry, dry-cleaning and ironing services are available on cruise ships at an additional cost.
Ironing in your cabin is not permitted and is strictly prohibited.
Visitors on Board
We regret that visitors are not permitted on board unless they have been issued with a special entry permit by the Port Authorities and the ship-owning company.