Sea cruises. Classes and stars of cruise ships

A cruise trip is a super unforgettable trip, the memories of which will live in your memory for a long time.

A sea cruise is an ideal opportunity to visit and see many countries at one time. Setting sail, our ship calls at ports, opening the doors of world capitals, ancient cities and mysterious islands.

What language is on board? And how to go on a cruise without knowing foreign languages?

Especially for our beloved tourists who do not speak foreign languages, we have selected cruises that are accompanied by a Russian-speaking leader. You can always find out about such cruises on our website.

For your convenience, the team strives to “Russify” life during the cruise as much as possible:

We offer excursions in Russian at ports of call, this will allow you to become more familiar with the main attractions in the cities along your route. As a rule, the menu in a restaurant is translated into Russian. Every day, Russian-language programs of the day are delivered to you with information about the opening hours of restaurants, public and entertainment venues, upcoming events on board, as well as brief information about life on board.

When groups of more than 50 people are recruited, a Russian-speaking escort is sent onto the ship; his task is to help our clients, in a word, to always be there and help.

How do you disembark the ship during layovers and at the end of the cruise?

Once the ship arrives at the port, disembarkation begins approximately 30 minutes later. When leaving the ship, you must present your cruise card; the security officer registers it using a special device connected to the port police computer. After this you can go ashore.

If you have booked an excursion, the meeting point with the guide is indicated on the voucher; usually the guide meets everyone at the ship's gangway or at the port exit with a sign. Upon returning to the ship, you must present your cruise card and go through a metal detector.

If you purchased alcoholic beverages during an excursion or walk around the city, you should know that upon entering the ship, the cruise company will not allow you to bring alcohol into your cabin, and until the end of the cruise, all alcoholic beverages are stored in a special place on the ship.

30 minutes before the ship's departure, boarding ends.

On the last evening you must close your onboard account at the reception desk. If your deposit was in cash and you did not spend it in full, the balance will be returned to you. When paying with a credit card, you need to sign the invoice, and then the money will be withdrawn from the card automatically. After completing the payments, the administrator removes all debts, and after that you can leave the ship, otherwise you simply will not be allowed ashore.

When leaving the ship, don't forget to pick up your passports!

On the last evening of the cruise, you need to pack your suitcases and, after sticking luggage tags on them, place them in the corridor no later than one in the morning.

We recommend: Do not check it in, but leave all your valuables in hand luggage: money, if necessary - medicines, photo and video equipment, documents and other necessary things. You will receive your luggage on shore after you disembark the ship.

You can receive luggage tags during the cruise or on the last day at the check-in desk; on some ships the tags are delivered to your cabin.

What is a captain's or formal dinner, how does it take place and what should you look like?

The captain's dinner is a wonderful tradition, sacredly observed on all cruises; the event is very solemn and memorable! The table setting is stunning in its beauty (although on an ordinary day everything in the restaurants is elegantly decorated), and there are delicacies and many delicious treats for guests. The entire ship's crew is dressed in formal white uniforms.

The meeting with the captain usually takes place in the main theater. Upon entry, everyone is treated to champagne, wine or soft drinks. The captain makes a very sincere welcoming speech, introduces the ship's crew and after that the colorful show begins!

To participate in the Captain's Dinner, choose clothing that matches the solemnity of the moment. Men will need a tuxedo or suit, ladies will need an evening or cocktail dress.

First hours on the ship?

An hour before the departure of the liner, a drill will be held. Such alarm is mandatory for all passenger maritime transport and is the responsibility of carrier companies under relevant international and national agreements. Immediately after the signal, tourists should go to the boat deck and take their onboard cards with them, because they indicate the number of the lifeboat at which they will need to gather and listen to safety information in the event of an emergency. During the drill, all public places and restaurants are closed!

What are cruise terminals and how do you check in for a cruise?

A seaport usually has several cruise terminals, each with parking for one ship. All terminals have their own baggage drop-off point, check-in counters and a walkway connecting the aircraft to the terminal.

By transport, tourists get to the cruise terminal, where they are met by port employees and helped to check in their luggage.

Each passenger's boarding documents contain special luggage tags with the cabin number, which must be attached around the handle of the suitcase (as airlines do) and the luggage must be left at the baggage drop-off point, which will later be delivered to the cabin door.

If tourists have purchased Guarantee cabins and the cabin number has not yet been assigned, there is a cruise line employee counter at the entrance to the terminal, where they will be assigned cabin numbers and given luggage tags.

International passport
Cruise tickets
Passenger health questionnaire form

and inform the employee how guests will pay on board - cash or credit card. At the registration desk they will take their passports and in return they will be given a special form confirming that they have handed over their passport. We recommend asking for a copy of your passport with the ship’s stamp; such a photocopy will replace the original document for the police. Passport submission is mandatory for citizens of all countries outside the European Community!

Upon completion of the check-in process, guests will receive a cruise card, which serves as a key to their stateroom, an identification card for security procedures when disembarking and boarding the ship, and as an onboard account card for making purchases on board.

Next, boarding the ship begins, which passes through the ship's security checkpoint. If tourists have carry-on luggage, it is x-rayed, like at an airport, and they go through a metal detector.

If tourists are late, they must notify the accompanying person or call their manager. After that, they will have to catch up with the ship at the next port. Otherwise, the cruise administration reserves the right to sell the unoccupied cabin.

Kids clubs?

The beauty of a cruise vacation is that the cruise programs of almost all cruise companies are focused on family travel with children. Both parents and their children can relax here. A sea cruise will certainly appeal to little guests - a huge number of active and creative activities on board the ship allow children to relax and have fun in the company of their peers. By choosing a family cruise, the traveler frees himself from constant monitoring and round-the-clock watchkeeping - the child is looked after by qualified staff, and numerous entertainment programs are offered on board, a wide selection of games and activities that take into account the age of the children, their interests and capabilities. Children can join organized activities that continue on board throughout the day - organized children's clubs, where they can really have fun and make new friends.

Depending on age, a child can take part in team sports competitions or in a costume show with animators, go to a disco, or play board games. The kids will frolic with their teachers, read a book together - in general, no one will be bored.

Cruise companies that seriously care about children's holidays have divided little travelers into 5 age groups, which have different names, depending on the cruise company and program:

2-4 years
5-7 years
8-10 years
11-13 years
14-17 years old.

Children under two years of age travel free on most cruise lines, and teenagers under 17 (sometimes 12) receive significant discounts.

Tipping on board?

Tips are a reward to service personnel during a passenger’s stay on board the ship. As a rule, the amount of tips for service is automatically debited from the passengers' onboard account. The size of the tip depends on the length of the cruise, the region of sailing and the policies of the cruise line. Recently, most cruise lines have introduced a “prepaid tip” service, which can be included in the bill when booking a cabin if desired. And while some cruise lines say tipping is optional on board their ships, it is still expected by service staff.

The average tip amount is: approx. 10-15 USD e. per person per day, and also approximately 15% will be credited to the tourist’s account at the bar from the cost of the total order.

If the service on board made an exceptional impression, and the traveler would like to encourage someone from the team, then there is no need to be afraid or embarrassed, because quality service throughout the cruise is a positive emotion.

Payment scheme on board or what is onboard credit?

In order for the passenger to be able to easily pay for all necessary services on board, an on-board credit is opened for him. There are two ways to pay for a loan on board: non-cash and cash. Cruise lines often ask you to confirm your preferred payment method on board when booking your cruise.

In both the first and second cases, on the day of boarding, tourists will be asked to make a deposit to pay for services purchased on board the ship:

When paying in cash, the amount of the deposit determines the duration of the trip
in case of non-cash payment - the amount will also depend on the duration of the cruise program, however, part of the amount will be debited (a one-time payment will be made) from the passenger’s credit card

after which, the tourist is given an on-board card with the deposit amount made, the so-called on-board credit.

Scheme:

First day of the cruise: making a deposit (according to the first point, see above); making a one-time payment (according to the second paragraph, see above).

If on-board costs exceed the deposit amount for cash payments, the passenger will be asked to top up the onboard credit balance: the passenger tops up the deposit using cash.

If the costs on board exceed the amount of the one-time payment, the staff will inform the tourist that the transferred funds are not enough and will ask for an additional transfer of funds.

The penultimate day of the cruise: passengers receive a detailed statement of expenses (delivered to their cabin) they incurred on board during the entire trip. If the deposit exceeds the tourist's total expenses, the balance is returned to the passenger on the last day of the cruise. If the deposit is less, the passenger will be asked to make an additional payment on the last day. Refund of the balance/additional payment is made at the reception.

Luggage tags?

When going on a sea voyage, a passenger should not be tormented by thoughts about how many things a tourist can take - cruise companies do not set strict limits on the amount of luggage that a traveler can take with him on a cruise. The only thing you need to know is that the total weight of luggage should not exceed 200 kg. But if he has to get to the port of departure of the ship by plane, then he needs to be more careful: airlines have their own rules and restrictions on the transportation of passenger luggage.

In order to prevent luggage from getting lost, and also to avoid confusion in identifying the owner, luggage tags should be attached to the luggage - special tags that can be immediately obtained at the port upon boarding or found in the passenger’s set of cruise documents. When filling out luggage tags, indicate the passenger's name and cabin number: be extremely careful when filling out the tags to avoid possible mistakes.

If there are no tags, the luggage will not be loaded on board the ship: such measures are established solely to ensure the general safety of passengers.

Additional Information: cruise companies are not responsible for travellers' carry-on luggage; in some ports, at the beginning of the cruise, tourists can lift their luggage themselves while boarding the ship and pick up things at the end of the cruise in only one case - if the width of the luggage does not exceed 61 cm and the height - 41 cm, respectively.

Do not forget that luggage accidentally forgotten at the pier is sent to the passenger at his expense. In the event of damage or loss of luggage, the passenger will need to provide a statement in writing and hand it over to the persons responsible for disembarking tourists on land before the passenger leaves the pier area.

Boarding time?

Passengers must arrive at the cruise departure port 3-4 hours before the ship departs. Guests arriving at the port one and a half hours before the ship's departure may be denied boarding.

This amount of time is required for the boarding procedure to go smoothly, without any delays. For the information of travelers, we inform you that the ship will not wait for latecomers. Those passengers who for any reason did not show up at the exact time of departure of the liner will bear full financial responsibility for the consequences and costs that will be associated with their delay - that is, movement (transfer) until the ship stops at the next port (information is indicated in the itinerary ), temporary accommodation and accommodation, meals will be paid for by the tourist himself.

Travelers check in their luggage at the port and receive it on board the ship - things are delivered to the passenger's cabin.

Upon boarding, all passengers undergo customs inspection, during which they will be required to present their passport to immigration officials. After passing through customs control, all guests board the ship and are accommodated in their cabins, the numbers and location of which are specified in their personal cruise documents.

We remind you that after the ship leaves the port, a drill is held on board, at which all passengers, without exception, must be present. This practice is not a useless formality, but a necessary safety precaution that will not take much time.

Documentation?

Passenger registration is confirmation that the tourist is taking part in the cruise program. As an alternative to the traditional type of passenger registration, which took place at the port, leading cruise companies have introduced a system for pre-online registration of passengers on board the ship in real time. Having arrived at the port, all that remains for the tourist is only to present documents.

About passenger's cruise documents: Most cruise companies today offer their clients to receive a package of necessary documents electronically. An electronic package of documents is a more convenient version of paper documentation. Electronic documents are issued by the cruise company for each guest 30 days before the ship's departure date. However, not all cruise companies practice electronic documents - some still send cruise documents printed on paper.

Booking a cruise?

The easiest option for booking a cruise is when the tourist has already chosen a cruise program. When a tourist prefers budget prices and inexpensive cabins or is considering a luxurious vacation in luxury cabins, it is better to make reservations in advance and take advantage of the so-called early booking service that all cruise companies now offer. With this approach, the tourist has the opportunity to book the most suitable cabin for him or even a specific category of cabin at the lowest possible price; otherwise, the traveler will have to choose the desired cabin option from those that remain available. And of course, when booking a cruise at the last minute, you may be “pleasantly” surprised by the prices: the closer the departure date, the higher the price. Unfortunately, the cruise industry does not have a last minute rule.

When contacting Around the World Tours!, the traveler must inform the manager:

date of the selected cruise
name of the liner
cabin category
the number of passengers who will live in the cabin, or specify the age of the children if the vacationers are going on vacation with the whole family
date of birth of all travelers
Full name of all passengers going on the cruise in accordance with the data in the international passport, as well as the number, series and date of issue of the document.

If a tourist has not yet decided on a cruise and finds it difficult to choose a cruise company, the manager will determine the person’s needs in detail, that is, together with you.

The tourist receives confirmation of the chosen cruise only after making an advance payment (deposit). The manager will inform the tourist of the deposit amount, since its amount may vary depending on the cruise program and its total cost, which depends on the duration of the trip, cabin category and many other factors. In each case, the deposit amount is communicated to the tourist individually.

The conditions for making the final payment for each cruise company are also subject to change - it all depends on the cruise program chosen by the tourist as a whole.

Those looking to learn something new on every trip and broaden their horizons on a cruise can book shore excursions at their ports of call. The excursion programs chosen by the tourist should also be booked in advance.

Cruise cost: what's included?

The price of cruises is constantly changing - today it can be higher, and tomorrow lower, or vice versa. This is due to the fact that in the cruise sector, as in other areas of the tourism business, “early booking” works: that is, if a trip has been booked in advance, the price for it will be lower than for new bookings made shortly before the ship sails journey. Sometimes the price may change, for example, when tourists, or a group of tourists, who decided to go on a cruise, abandoned the trip after some time. In this case, the cruise line may underprice the newly available cabins.

Each cruise company has its own pricing policy. Some items included on one cruise line may not be included on another.

Typically, cruise fares are per adult, based on double occupancy (unless otherwise stated) and include:

accommodation in a cabin of the selected category with all amenities
24-hour meals in all restaurants, bars and cafes on board (except alcoholic beverages)
entertainment programs on board, including evening shows, concerts, master classes and thematic lectures, and much more
use of sports equipment, gyms, specialized grounds for sports games (golf, basketball, etc.), swimming pools and jacuzzi.

Additional charges:

port fees and taxes (if port fees are not included in the price or if there are additional taxes and fees, this is always indicated in the price list)
visas (if a tourist does not have a visa, a multiple visa is most often required for a cruise)
air travel to/from the cruise start/end port
insurance
excursions (optional)
transfer (optional).

Additional charges on board:

tips
services of an individual nature (i.e. these are optional services that the passenger will or will not need), such as: visits to the spa, massage room, laundry/dry cleaning services
drinks (not part of the menu).

At the request of the tourist, his vacation can be extended before or after the cruise: if the client wants to spend a few days before the start of the trip at one of the resorts, for example, in a large European capital, from whose port the liner will leave, or relax on the beach at the end of the cruise, the manager will select and book the passenger’s favorite hotel and transfer (optional). In each case, the personal wishes of clients are considered individually by the manager and are paid additionally by tourists.

Excursions on a cruise?

Excursions of the Cruise Company in Russian.

The cruise company offers both individual and group excursions in Russian.

In each port, the company usually organizes one of the most interesting excursions, including visits to the most iconic places. For large groups (more than 100 people) several excursions have been developed.

Reservations and payment for excursions are made at the Cruise Company office in advance, no later than 2 weeks before the start of the cruise.

The cost of excursions depends on the duration and number of participants. The shorter the excursion and the larger the group, the cheaper the excursion per person will cost. The cost may be affected by the need to purchase entrance tickets. In some ports, the cost of excursions increases due to the lack of a Russian-speaking guide at the place of the excursion and the resulting need to pay for the guide’s travel from the place of residence to the place of the excursion and back.

In some cases, you can book excursions with a Cruise Company escort on board the ship, subject to availability, but at a higher price.

Sometimes there is a risk that, due to weather conditions or other force majeure circumstances, the liner may miss the port of call, change the sequence of ports, or enter the port but not approach the shore, for example due to a storm. In this case, the ordered excursion cannot take place and money is not refundable. The fact is that the money for the excursion has been paid to the receiving party, and a bus with a guide is waiting for tourists at the port; accordingly, the receiving party has fulfilled its obligations.

How to choose the right cruise?

Six tips on how to choose the right cruise.

A sea cruise is a vacation that consists of many factors, so the choice of a cruise must be approached seriously and from different points of view. Determine which parameter is the most important for you - and use it as a guide when making a decision.

Cruise duration: The length of your cruise depends on the time and funds you have available. The variety of cruises ranges from two-day holidays to six-month trips around the world. The most popular are 7, 10 and 12 nights, in exotic regions 14-16 nights. If you are choosing the first cruise in your life, it is wiser to choose a short-term option.

Cruise start date: The cruise schedule is structured so that in each region cruises take place during the most favorable season. If there are no availability for the date you are interested in, be prepared to consider cruises on similar dates. In any case, the earlier you book, the higher the likelihood that you will hit the spot.

Price: The price of a cruise can often (though not always) give an approximate idea of what type of passengers will be the majority on a given cruise, what degree of "luxury" the ship will have, and what level of food and service will be provided. The amount you are willing to spend will determine the size, location and type of your cabin. It is important to find a compromise solution here: if comfort is more important to you.

Liner size: Cruise ships are divided into three sizes:

small from 2 to 25 thousand tons
average from 25 to 50 thousand tons
large over 50 thousand tons

Regardless of size, all cruise ships provide all the basic cruise services: accommodation, generous meals, excursions at ports of call, on-board entertainment. However, some do it much better than others (but also charge more for it). Moreover, each of these three categories has its fans.

Spaciousness of the liner: An idea of the spaciousness of a ship can be obtained by dividing its tonnage by the number of passengers. If the resulting coefficient is less than 10, then a very cramped airliner awaits you; from 10 to 20 - the liner will be moderately spacious; from 20 to 30 - quite spacious; from 30 to 50 - very spacious; over 50 - You will find yourself in the most spacious environment.

Service standards: The standard of service on board can be judged by the ratio of passenger capacity to crew size. The best service is provided on ships where there are no more than 2 passengers per crew member.

What's cheaper - a cruise or a hotel?

There is an opinion that a cruise is very expensive. In fact, this is not at all true - it’s just that when buying a cruise you pay almost everything, and in the case of a land holiday - in fact, only accommodation. Let's compare!

Any cruise ship offers several accommodation options: from economical cabins to luxury apartments. The price depends not only on the class of the ship and the size of the cabin, but also on whether it has a window or balcony, and usually the higher the deck, the more expensive.
Standard cabins are often smaller in size than rooms in a hotel of the same star rating, but at the same time, the furnishings, conditions and service on board are immeasurably better.

Meals are always included in the price of the cruise (often it is organized around the clock). Almost all ships have several restaurants serving different national cuisines. Sometimes the cuisine changes depending on the ports of call.
In addition, the passenger can order food to the cabin at any time of the day or night.
In Europe, even a modest lunch or dinner in a cafe (not to mention a reputable restaurant) will cost no less than 20 EU per person.

At the end of the cruise, passengers are expected to tip - about $10 per person per day. At first glance, this is a lot. But think about how much tip you will leave to maids and waiters during lunches and dinners?

Entertainment on the ships is very varied: from mini-golf to tango lessons. After lunch, active entertainment is replaced by concerts, shows and film screenings. At your service - discos, casinos, musicals, music salons - you will not be bored, and at the same time all mass entertainment is already included in the price. How much will it cost to go to some mediocre nightclub in Europe?

While relaxing at the hotel, you will probably decide to diversify your vacation and discover new iconic places, visit famous sights, and get acquainted with works of art. Therefore, we will also add transportation costs to the land holiday.

Let's move on to the numbers and compare a 12-day Mediterranean cruise with a stay in a 4* hotel, for example, in Liguria, Italy (see table).

Expenditures	Vacation on a cruise in a 2-bed cabin with ocean view	Stay at the hotel in a double room with breakfast included
Base price	1,339 euros (per person) x 2 = 2,678 euros	130 euros per night (per room) x 12 = 1560 euros
Additional charges	130 euros x 2 = 260 euros	0
Meals: lunch and dinner	Included (plus up to 5 meals and night buffet)	from 80 euros per day x 12 = 960 euros
Tips	66 euros (33 euros per person)	from 96 euros (10% of the price of lunch and dinner)
Entertainment	Included	from 20 euros per day x 12 = 240 euros
Fare	Included	from 10 euros per day x 12 = 120 euros
Total for 12 days	3,004 euros	2,976 euros

As you can see, the costs of a cruise vacation and a hotel vacation are virtually the same. All numbers in the “cruise” column are strictly fixed, and in the hotel column they are given at a minimum. And the list in favor of a cruise can be continued, remembering paid sun loungers on European beaches, etc.

Types of cabins?

The main types of cabins on modern liners (using the example of the cabins of the Noordam 4* liner, Holland America Line)

Deluxe Verandah Suites: Double bed (beds can be arranged upon request), bathroom with Jacuzzi and shower, living area, dressing room, veranda, sofa (for 2 people), ceiling-to-floor window. Categories: SA, SB, SC (47.35 sq.m. with veranda)

Superior Verandah Suites: Double bed (beds can be arranged upon request), bathroom, bathtub with Jacuzzi and shower, living area, dressing room, veranda, sofa (for 1 person), ceiling-to-floor window. Categories: SS, SY, SZ (36.14 sq.m. with veranda)

Deluxe Vetandah Outside Staterooms(Standard Cabin with Balcony): Double bed (beds can be extended upon request), bath and shower, living area, balcony, floor-to-ceiling window. Categories: VA, VB, VC, VD, VE, VF, VH (23.13 sq.m)

Large Outside Staterooms(Standard Ocean View Cabin): Double bed (beds can be separated upon request), bathroom with shower. Categories: C, D, DD, E, F (17.18 sq.m.). Category: G - has a partially limited view (17.18 sq.m.). Categories: GG, H, HH - completely limited view (17.18 sq.m.)

Large or Standard Inside Staterooms(Standard inside cabin): Double bed (beds can be arranged upon request), shower. Categories: I, J, K, L, M, MM, N, NN (from 17 - 19.23 sq.m.)

Classes and stars of cruise ships?

Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising Cruise Ships. As experts note, this publication is unique, because... its data is based on information about the entire global cruise business. The popularity of the directory is so great that in 2009 it celebrated its 25th edition. And this is not surprising, because Belitz has become indispensable in the work of thousands of cruise companies around the world, because... a complete and independent assessment of the world's entire passenger fleet can be found here. Information is collected by employees directly on cruises during inspections and reflects significant characteristics of the ships. Judge for yourself: as a result of the inspection, the vessel is assigned up to 2000 points, this amount consists of more than 400 ship positions, combined into 20 thematic groups. The main ones are the following:

Ship (age, design, safety, appearance, interior decor, life-saving equipment, cleanliness, fitness and SPA);
Accommodation (detailed information about all categories of cabins, from furniture to information about the thickness and number of towels);
Food (the overall satisfaction of passengers with the quality of food is assessed, as well as the freshness of food, the size of restaurants, the availability of food alternatives, portion sizes, etc.);
Service (the professionalism of restaurant staff, stewards, butlers, maids is noted, even little things are recorded, from the correct choice of glasses to the promptness of replacing towels);
Entertainment (the range and quality of programs, competitions, games, and the condition of the concert hall are assessed);
Carrying out a cruise (data is collected on the variety, quantity, level of entertainment programs)

The word “cruise” scares off the average Russian tourist in the same way that frog legs in sour cream scare off the mighty Siberian peasant raised on dumplings. But in vain. Paws... that is, cruises are an excellent alternative to the boring tourist menu. Moreover, they also have a number of advantages.

The absence of the static moment of ordinary resorts, turning vacationers into amorphous sausages fried in the sun, is already an excellent incentive. Sea breeze, endless distances, albatrosses soaring high in the sky, waves running from under the keel to the horizon - it seems like a great alternative, doesn’t it?

No unbearable tropical acclimatization, no persistent beach barkers. And then, in the usual 7-10 days, you will have time to visit not one country, but several at once, you will see the best seaports, life and people, separated by languages and borders. You can go on a cruise at any time of the year and to any part of the world - be it exotic French Polynesia, the icy Arctic or the classic Mediterranean.

The only negative for people with a sensitive vestibular system is seasickness. However, there are many ways to combat seasickness, so during a boat trip, feeling unwell will not interfere with enjoying the endless open spaces.

Price question: what to save on.

You will say: a cruise is wonderful! However, the issue is price. This is crazy money. Yes. And what? It's hard to argue against this. But again - there are different liners, not necessarily fashionable, there are different cruises, not necessarily around the world, and the time of year is also different, not necessarily summer. So the gradation of prices is quite large.

In terms of prices, by the way, there is one point. It will help you navigate and save money. This is the location of the cabin. The most budget option is interior cabins. Cabins with a window cost a little more, but still less than cabins with a balcony. The lower decks are much cheaper than the upper ones, as are the bow and stern compared to the center. Also, don’t be alarmed when you see a number in a tour operator’s brochure. The word “cruise” usually means that its price will include all entertainment and sports programs, sports equipment, a swimming pool, meals, and sometimes alcohol. So to speak, a turnkey vacation. What is not included in the price is transfer to the place of departure, shore excursions and port taxes, as well as some personal services - for example, SPA, laundry and ironing, some purchases on board.

Another “loophole” for saving is the season. The “low” tourist season is always several times cheaper than the “high” one. By the way, in addition to price, the “low” season has one more advantage: most excursion-interesting port cities will be free from crowds of noisy tourists. You can stroll through them leisurely and with pleasure.

The cheapest tours are Mediterranean, the most expensive are in the southern hemisphere, the Arctic and Antarctic. In summer, the “high” season is closer to the subtropics, in winter – to the equator.

What else is important to consider when choosing a cruise for your vacation?

Ship size

Often it is even more important than his affiliation with a cruise line. Generally, the larger the ship, the more entertainment you'll find on board. The design of large cruise ships can include swimming pools, SPA salons, casino clubs and other pleasant places. Small ships, of course, do not provide such luxury, but they can offer something else - the cozy atmosphere of a small country boarding house.

Ship age

The older the liner, the less likely it is that all its amenities will be placed in suitable premises. In new ships, all functional rooms are provided at the design stage, while on ships of an earlier year of production you can, for example, find a sauna somewhere in the hold.

Ship class

Please note that liners have the same “star” classification as hotels. However, here the same stars mean something slightly different. For example, standard 4* cabins are usually smaller than hotel rooms with the same star rating, but the service and atmosphere here, on the contrary, are much better. The service, by the way, on any ocean liners, regardless of their class, age and size, is always very good. Perhaps because, in principle, there is nowhere to escape from board, and getting to work on such a liner is much more difficult than in an ordinary hotel.

Purpose of the trip

It is important to understand what you want - to have a blast with friends or relax with your family. For the first purpose, small ships are more suitable, but the giants of cruise holidays, on the contrary, are usually perfectly suited for family holidays - nurseries, children's playrooms, high railings. In both cases, by the way, you can save a lot of money: among cruise companies there is a common pricing system in which the first two passengers in the cabin pay the full cost of the cruise, and everyone else pays much less.

Booking

Sea cruises are a popular business. Therefore, tickets for the most popular destinations need to be purchased 3-4 months in advance. Moreover, as a rule, the cabins of the lowest and highest classes are dismantled first. So you can reach the middle class in a month or two. There are never last minute prices for sea cruises. Here everything is exactly the opposite: the cost increases the more the closer the departure day gets.

When choosing a cruise, the first thing you need to pay attention to is the route and duration of stays at the ports of destination. From this article you will find out how much free time you will have on shore during the ship's stay, how disembarkation and embarkation occurs, what you need to take with you ashore, and also what to do if you are suddenly late for the ship. First things first.

Every day a newspaper is brought to the cabin, which contains information about the berth for the next day. For example, it will say:

Arrival- 08:00
Departure- 19:00
All aboard - 18:30

This means that the ship arrives at the port at 8 am, departs at 19:00, and everyone on board must be at 18:30. Before leaving the ship there is always a sign indicating the time for passengers and staff. Be sure to pay attention to it, because... The times in the newspaper and on the sign may not match.

At intermediate ports, disembarkation takes place on a first-come, first-served basis, with the exception of those going on an excursion from the company, they are collected in bars/theater at a certain time and they disembark in an orderly manner. When leaving the ship, you must present your ship card; the security officer registers it using a special device connected to the port police computer. After this you can go ashore.

When the liner arrives at the port, you can expect to be released ashore within half an hour. We recommend returning to the ship 1.5 hours before departure. Thus, if the ship departs at 19:00, plan to be on the ship as early as 17:30. Be sure to consider how far the ship is from the terminal, if it’s far away, whether a shuttle runs to it, how far the terminal is from the city, etc. Upon returning to the ship, you must present your ship ID and go through a metal detector.

Tender landing

The ship anchors at sea and delivers passengers one by one to the shore using a tender (boat or ship's dinghy). Whether you need to get disembarkation numbers and whether you can get them in advance depends on the ship. On some there is a live queue, on others the numbers are issued only before leaving, on others you can get them in advance (in the morning before disembarking). Where and at what time is indicated in the daily newspaper the day before. First of all, those who have purchased excursions on board are delivered ashore, and then everyone else. During a tender landing, the ship usually arrives at the port earlier and the boats are launched in advance. Please note what time the last tender departs for the ship. This time may be half an hour earlier than All aboard time.

What to take with you ashore

When going to the port, we recommend taking with you the minimum amount of cash required for the day, a photocopy of your passports and a credit card with a limit sufficient to catch up with the ship by plane or train in the next port if you are late. We leave the other card in the safe. If the only thing of interest in the port is the beach, just take the ship’s map, then you can safely swim together at the same time. Nobody needs the card except you.

What to do if you are late for the plane

If suddenly you are late for the ship, stuck in a traffic jam on the way to the port, or your train is delayed, be sure to report this by calling the phone number indicated on the ship's map. Whether the ship will wait for late passengers depends on a large number of factors, including the port schedule, the number of passengers who are late and the mood of the captain.

If suddenly the ship has left, then before catching up with it at the next port (it’s good if you were late in Genoa, and the next port on the way is Naples), you need to arrive at the port and get your passport (if it was taken away upon landing, then before sailing it will be taken out and will be left to the port agent) by contacting the port agent whose telephone number is listed in the daily newspaper.

It is unknown whether the passport left in the safe will be taken out, although such cases have occurred. You can read more about how to act in this situation in our previous article.

Everyone chooses a cruise wanting to see new places, change their surroundings, or even go from winter to summer. But how often do cruise lines change a pre-planned itinerary? Can a ship's entry into a port be canceled?

Traveling on a cruise ship is surrounded by natural elements and weather. Despite its gigantic size and equipment with a huge number of systems for safe navigation, nature will always be stronger than any technology. Cruise companies understand this and try to design itineraries taking into account the possible impacts of nature. Even if the weather does not allow entering the planned port or movement in its direction under certain weather conditions is associated with risk, companies have backup options prepared in advance.

Cruise ships with routes to the Bahamas, Bermuda, Mexico and the Caribbean during the hurricane season on both the East and West coasts of the United States are very often forced to change routes, cancel ports, and change the order of port calls to reduce the impact of storms. Hurricane season in the United States begins on June 1 and ends on November 30.

Hawaiian cruises may also be affected by the season, but to a lesser extent. Ships leaving Galveston and Tampa in winter and spring often encounter impenetrable fog, which causes delays in leaving ports or late arrivals at port. During the season, at least one cruise is canceled due to fog.

Some ports do not have sufficient berths to moor a cruise ship or the depth of the coastal underwater zone will not allow for a safe maneuver. In such ports, tenders are used to deliver passengers ashore, which continuously travel between the ship and the shore. Such ports in the Caribbean and Bahamas include Belize City, Grand Cayman, Grand Turk, Princess Cays, Great Stirrup Cay. In Europe these are Santorini, Cannes, Split. These and similar ports will most often be missed in case of bad weather due to the impossibility of maintaining safety and comfort measures for passengers. Waves that seem small from a height of 10-12 decks of the ship or a slight wind can actually cause the tender to jump on the waves in different directions in a split second or rise and fall several meters.

River cruises may also cancel ports due to weather conditions or if river levels become too high or low. But in such cases, passengers may be offered to transfer to buses and return to the ship at the next port. Often this transfer will be complemented by an excursion.

Even if the port call is not canceled and the ship is able to enter it or is able to organize a tender, the time of entry or exit from the port may be changed. Sometimes the time spent at the port is shortened in order to leave the port before the weather worsens and only a few hours can be spent on shore. Everyone who wants to go ashore will be informed about this and reminded throughout the day. In such cases, no one will wait for latecomers to return to the ship before departure, since this is a matter of safety for all passengers and the ship.

On any given cruise, the port may be colder, windier, cloudier, or rainier. The photos will be less impressive, and the excursion or snorkeling may be cancelled. Sometimes this becomes a problem for the entire cruise, not just one port. On such “weather” cruises, passengers spend almost all their time on board, which becomes a “golden” force majeure for the ship. All bars and restaurants are crowded with visitors, duty-free sellers do not have time to process purchased goods, there is no free space near the pools and in the SPA. All services and events are sold out. The casino earns several times more than usual.

The management of cruise companies tries not to make any changes to the route, but in the case of really bad weather, the decision always remains with the captain of the ship. Port cancellations occur extremely rarely, approximately one to five times per season on each ship. Itinerary changes that affect the time spent in port occur more frequently, approximately 10 times per season on each ship. Changes in a ship's motion, like an airplane navigating bad weather, occur constantly and are part of the normal process of controlling a ship's motion at sea.

Over the past 5-6 years, attitudes towards cruises in Russia have changed dramatically. At the very beginning of the century, 3-4 tour operators and about fifty agencies from all over Russia and neighboring countries were seriously involved in cruises, creating a kind of “club” of cruise specialists. Now all significant cruise companies have general agents in Russia, and the largest ones are introducing Russian-language service on ships. All this means that cruises are becoming clearer and closer to our tourists.

Let's first go on a “virtual cruise”, during which we will highlight all the “pitfalls” and features. Let's take some average option - without a specific route, ship and cruise company - and imagine that we are going on a sea voyage...

Before the beginning

So, the cruise has been chosen, booked and paid for. You have received a ticket for a cruise. It can look different, but usually it is a book similar to an airline ticket - only much thicker and not printed on such thin paper.

Main sections of a cruise ticket:

cruise itinerary, booking information (booking number), cruise voucher, check-in start time, boarding time, cruise line and ship contact information;
questionnaire (boarding form) - the simplest questions; It’s better to fill it out at home, but you can do it at the port;
directions on how to get to the pier, port address, general information about the port (including parking in the marine terminal building);
vouchers for additional services ordered through the cruise company (hotels before and after the cruise, transfers, excursions);
descriptions of ports, excursions and other services offered on board;
luggage tags for boarding.

I will not describe each section in detail - these are all common things for us, we encounter them every day. I will explain only two sections.

Previous photo 1/ 1 Next photo

Vouchers for “other” services

Please note that these vouchers will only appear if the service was booked through the cruise line. If you or your tour operator do not book through the cruise line, these vouchers will not appear on your cruise ticket. They will be issued by those from whom they were ordered - in separate documents.

Baggage tags for boarding

This is the very “sheer trifle” that can not only ruin the impression of the cruise, but make the trip terrible even for the most unpretentious. Below you will understand why, but for now I’ll just tell you what it is. This is similar to the baggage tag that is attached to luggage when checking in for a flight. It is adhesive-based and attaches to luggage handles (no need to attach it to hand luggage). On each one the following data is either already printed or must be filled in: first and last name (in Latin), date of embarkation, port of embarkation, name of the ship, cabin number. If luggage tags are not on your ticket, you need to ask your tour operator how, where and when to get them. Don't be afraid to repeat and ask: if your luggage gets lost, it's a big problem. There are usually enough tags: 4-6 per cabin.

By the way, a little advice: insure your luggage against loss and damage. Cruise companies are regulated in this matter by international agreements and pay relatively small compensation. It is clear that they will not accept the arguments that the lost suitcase was chock-full of diamonds and haute couture dresses - not counting the favorite slippers knitted by the great-grandmother, who personally saw Ilyich. The company officers will simply pay 300 EUR compensation and forget about it. These are the laws, because, according to claims statistics, every second lost suitcase contains all the treasures of Agra. Therefore, luggage insurance will give tourists a certain confidence and peace of mind.

Booking a flight

I’ll go back a little and give advice on booking a flight. I highly recommend choosing a flight that arrives the day before your cruise. This way you will avoid hassle in case of flight delay. This applies not only to charter flights, but also to regular ones. Not all embarkation ports are located near major airports, and sometimes it takes a couple of hours to get from the airport to the port. What if it’s just a simple traffic jam? Or, even worse, some kind of truckers' strike with road blocking? No one will be to blame, and the ship will leave without waiting for those who were late. Catching up with him costs a lot of nerves and money. Wow, the start of a vacation, isn't it?

Baggage tags for boarding are that “mere trifle” that can not only ruin the impression of the cruise, but make the trip terrible even for the most unpretentious.

The road to the ship

Let's skip a little time. We are about to leave for the port. You need to pack your luggage so that the most necessary things are in your hand luggage - with the expectation that you will not get to your main luggage for 5-6 hours, plus travel time to the port. That is, the necessary medications, glasses, travel hygiene products, money, documents, telephones. It is not recommended to check in photo and video equipment, laptops and other high-tech, fragile and expensive items.

After your luggage is packed, you need to remove the luggage tags left over from the air flight and attach the cruise tags. It is important to do this just before boarding the transfer, so that you do not have to do this “on your knees” in the crowd at the passenger terminal.

Everything is ready - let's go to the port! It's time to describe what the port's passenger terminal is like during the day when boarding ships. The large passenger terminal is a huge structure: at the same time it can accommodate up to 15 passenger ships with a total capacity of no less than 20-25 thousand people. And since it is somehow not customary to start or end a voyage at night, this number of passengers leaves the ship (and the same number lands) during daylight hours. Disembarkation usually takes place from 9:00 to 13:00, and boarding from 14:00 to 17:00. At the same time, immigration and customs regulations, safety standards adopted in the port and on ships are observed. From the outside it may seem like chaos, but in fact everything is very intelligently organized.

Let's start by disembarking from the car at the terminal building. In some cases, you won't even need to remove your luggage from a taxi or bus luggage compartment. The driver simply opens it, and the baggage handlers immediately take the luggage and carry it on their way. You will now see your things only in the cabin in a few hours.

So, no luggage tags

Now imagine that there are no tags on the suitcases. Where will they take him? The “happiest” case is that they will leave it where they notice that there are no tags. That is, in the terminal. Then it will be easy to find him in the “lost and found” room. What if, out of simplicity, they are thrown onto another ship? Here you are on a ship setting sail, anticipating several days of happiness and not suspecting that your things (yes, those very favorite slippers too!) are floating away in the opposite direction. Or maybe not in the opposite way... but definitely not on your ship. When you realize that it’s time to put on your slippers, but there’s still no luggage, and you inform the staff about this, the real chaos begins: searching for luggage in the terminal, looking at all the ships that departed that same day from this port, then working out options - how to transport them to your ship as soon as possible. But the ship is not waiting for your luggage, it has a route and it follows it: every day there is a new port. And you’re still barefoot, and you can’t sunbathe, work out, or go to an appointment with the captain: after all, the only clothes you have are jeans and the T-shirt you wore to the port. What kind of vacation is there: you sit in the cabin and leave with a sad expression on your face just to eat, devoting all your free time to compiling a list of untimely lost family heirlooms.

The whole nightmare that I described happens extremely rarely precisely because tourists know the importance of such a “trifle” as a luggage tag. So be careful!

What should those who were not given luggage tags along with their ticket do? With a firm hand, you remove the loader from your own suitcases and go into the station building, along the way looking out for employees in uniforms with the emblem of your cruise company. There are usually a lot of these girls and boys in the drop-off area: they will happily give you the required number of unfilled tags. Or they take you to the place where they are. You fill out the tags (name of the ship, first and last name of the tourist, departure date, cabin number - all in Latin) and give your luggage to the loaders. That's it, you can forget about your luggage: it will be delivered to the door of your cabin after the ship departs.

Now we need to solve the following problem: find a registration place for your ship among this sea of people. There are two options: don't let the employee go and ask him to take you to the check-in area, or look for signs with your ship's name that will point the way to the coveted check-in counters. By the way, next to them there is always a counter with staff for contacts with passengers of the cruise company (“Guest Relations” or “Information”). Here they will help you resolve any issues: the same tags, they will issue you a ticket if they did not have time to send it to you before you leave your homeland, and much more.

It's time to check in for the cruise.

To do this, you will need a passport and a cruise ticket. And if you pay for everything with a credit card, then the “credit card” itself. Tip: One credit card is registered per stateroom, so make sure you have enough money on it in advance to cover all your expenses on your upcoming cruise. Each counter registers specific cabin numbers. Find yours and get in line, you will be registered for the ship. There is no point in describing the procedure: you just hand over the documents - that’s all. As a result, your ticket and passport are returned to you and you receive your boarding time and cruise card. What it is? The passage of four thousand people must be regulated, therefore, depending on the time of registration, you are assigned a “corridor” (usually half an hour) when you must pass the immigration checkpoint and go to the ship. The cruise card is one of the two most important documents on a cruise. This card is both a means of payment on board, a boarding pass (similar to an airline ticket), and a magnetic key to your cabin.

From the moment of registration to the moment of boarding, a significant amount of time can pass - up to two hours. What to do at this time? You can sit in the terminal, drink coffee and have a snack. You can go out into the city and stroll along the nearby streets. It usually turns out that you can’t really see the city of embarkation and the city of disembarkation, even if you arrived a day earlier - there is simply not enough time. Now some cruise lines are taking over passenger terminals and renovating them to provide additional services to those waiting. These include business clubs, children's clubs, cafes and restaurants. Sometimes animation teams from ships can even perform shows in the terminal building. But there are still very few such ports.

Immigration control

When your boarding time arrives, you head to immigration. The procedure is routine and simple. Then you go out onto the gangway leading to the door to the ship and stand in a long line of your future shipmates. Waiting in this line may seem very tedious and unpleasant, but experienced “cruisers” find its charm in it. After all, here you can calmly take a closer look at who you will spend your vacation with on board the ship and even make your first acquaintances.

The final hurdle when entering the ship is the ship's security - the most stringent procedure. There is no need to describe it, you just need to do what the security officer asks clearly and without delay. If everyone starts doing this, the line will go as quickly as possible. Here you will need a cruise card, a passport and yourself to take photographs for the ship's passenger database.

First hours on board

Now you are on board: almost all the formalities are behind you, only little things remain. First of all, go to the “reception” and give your passport. The “Reception” is located next to the passage from the corridor from the entrance: it is very difficult to pass by. While you are on board the ship, your passport must be at the “reception” desk. This is due to the rules for the so-called “cleaning” of the ship by immigration and customs services upon arrival at each new port along the cruise route. After all, every exit or entry of a ship into a port is a border crossing: even if you are in Naples today and Palermo tomorrow, you are crossing the border. If your passport is in the appropriate service of the ship, then your presence when examining documents when entering the port is not required. Immigration officers at the port communicate not with each individual passenger, but with the officer in charge, and you don’t even notice these formalities. There are some exceptions, but they are extremely rare. For example, in Tunisia, citizens of the Russian Federation do not need a visa at all, but the immigration officer must verify your identity, so you must personally approach him with your passport - he will check the photo, and you can go ashore.

However, you still need an identification document when you are on shore. Different cruise companies solve this issue in two different ways. Or a copy of the passport is made (the first page with a photo) and certified with the ship’s seal. Such a document is a legitimate identification document in all countries in accordance with international law. Or, every time you go ashore, you pick up your passport from the “reception”, and upon returning to the ship you hand it back.

Now you are on board: almost all the formalities are behind you, only little things remain. First of all, go to the “reception” and give your passport.

Table number and food

The last formality: you need to get your table number and a change of food. A change of meal plan is usually indicated when booking, but sometimes you can change it on the spot if you wish, by talking with the restaurant administrator, who during boarding is either at the “reception” or at a table nearby. A little about the shift and the table - this only applies to dinners in the main restaurant of the ship. The first shift is usually from 19:30 to 20:00, the second from 20:00 to 21:30, but depending on the season and region, the time may vary. You are assigned to a specific table for the entire cruise. I would like to draw your attention separately: this rule applies only to dinners and only in the main restaurant. You can have breakfast and lunch at any time in any open restaurant. Ships usually have at least three restaurants:

the main a la carte restaurant, which serves lunch and dinner;
buffet restaurant - breakfasts, lunches, afternoon snacks, sometimes dinners and “midnight” buffets are served there;
an alternative a la carte restaurant serving dinner and sometimes lunch.

A few words about the alternative restaurant. This is a small restaurant with a higher quality menu than the main one. Often such restaurants are supervised by chefs with Michelin stars or some famous restaurants. The level of service in this restaurant is noticeably higher than in the main restaurant, and the dishes are close to the standards of “haute cuisine”. Meals there, as well as in the main and buffet restaurants, are free (except for drinks), but to dine at an alternative restaurant, you need to reserve a table. The cost of ordering a table is approximately 20 EUR per person. You can book a table either immediately upon boarding with the administrator, or later at the “reception”, or in the restaurant itself. Of course, the sooner you do this, the more likely you will get a seat at a time convenient for you.

So, now we are on a cruise, a full-fledged vacation has begun. The first step is to inspect your personal territory of the ship - the cabin.

Cabins

Modern cruise ships are huge: they are not even hotels on the water, but entire resorts. On which one could easily get lost if the cruise companies did not take care of this in advance. This care is manifested in everything: at every corner of the corridor, at the exit from the stairs, near and inside the elevators, the passenger will find directional signs, a list of rooms that are on the deck and even deck plans. The first digits of the cabin number are the serial number of the living deck, starting from the lowest. All we need is to get to the elevator or stairs and go up to our deck. Then you just need to follow the signs.

Cabins on a ship can be divided into four types:

interior cabins without windows (can be located on all decks);
external cabins with a window (usually located on the lower decks of the ship);
external cabins with a balcony are located on the upper decks for reasons of safety and convenience - not only do they not reach the waves, but practically no splashes from them reach them;
All kinds of suites are also located on the upper decks, mostly they also have a balcony.

The suites are very diverse - there is no point in describing each in detail, I just want to draw attention to one important detail: no matter what the suite is called, it is not at all a fact that it will have a door between the living room and the bedroom. When choosing a suite for your VIP client, carefully review the cabin layout or check with the operator whether the suite's rooms are separated by a door rather than just a partition. Otherwise, embarrassment is possible when a married couple travels with a child, but it is not possible to have complete privacy in the cabin.

Inside the cabin

All cabins are divided into two rooms (we are not talking about suites): a living area and a bathroom with shower. It is very rare to find a bathroom in ordinary cabins: now it is almost always replaced by a shower. There is always soap, shampoo and various towels in the bathroom. In rated cruise companies, bathroom amenities are from well-known brands (for example, Bvlgary), and the set may not be limited to soap and shampoo.

I’ll tell you a little more about the beds. There are always two of them, but don’t be afraid: they are, as they call it now, “convertible”. That is, if the configuration is not suitable and you need to convert a double bed into a twin bed, or vice versa, just ask the steward, and this will happen within 10 minutes. Also in the living space there is a dressing table with a table, a couple of chairs or armchairs and another small tea table. Modern requirements for cabins require a slightly larger living space, so on new ships there is also a sofa in the cabin. The balconies are spacious enough for two people: there is a small table and two chairs or sun loungers (most often plastic). Cabins are always equipped with a telephone, TV and hairdryer.

Over the past five years, cruise companies, in the face of increased competition, have been improving their equipment in every possible way during the planned renovation of cabins. They install modern LCD TVs and DVD players, equip cabins with connectors for the Internet, and purchase bedding from well-known brands (for example, Frette). So the cabins are becoming more comfortable and modern from year to year.

Modern cruise ships are huge: they are not even hotels on the water, but entire resorts. On which one could easily get lost if the cruise companies did not take care of this in advance.

The cabins (with the exception of suites) can accommodate up to four people. That is, two main beds and a maximum of two additional ones. Extra beds can be designed differently: this is either a folding bed (like those on trains), or a sliding sofa, or even (in extreme cases) a folding bed. But there are also cabins that do not provide additional beds. When booking a cabin for three or four passengers, the cruise line may refuse accommodation in one cabin and offer accommodation in two cabins. This depends on the availability of cabins that provide such accommodation. The ships have a number of cabins connected by an interior door, but they are quite small.

Your cabin will be cleaned by the same steward throughout your cruise. During boarding, he tries to get to know all “his” passengers at the moment when they first get into their cabin. If he didn’t come up to you right away, it means he was simply busy with other passengers and will soon come to meet you - after all, he has several cabins in his area of responsibility. Moreover, the higher the class of the cruise company, the fewer cabins are served by one steward - which means he does it more efficiently. You will find out your steward's name from the card on the table in front of the mirror in your cabin.

Previous photo 1/ 1 Next photo

On a cruise

There, in a special folder, you will find a huge amount of materials that will help you during the cruise: flyers and booklets of restaurants, shops, casinos, prices for spa services and beauty salons, a ship plan, a list of telephone numbers and - most importantly - the cruise newspaper . What is this cruise newspaper and why is it so important? This is an information sheet (usually four pages long) in which passengers will find important information about life on the ship for the next 24 hours. The “editorial” contains information - what time and where the ship arrives, when it departs, contact information of agents in the port, a brief description of the port of call and possible excursions, important information from the captain. On the second and third pages there is a schedule of events for animators, performances by artists and musicians, work of restaurants, shops, casinos, beauty salons, children's and youth clubs, and sporting events. It is this information that will help passengers plan their day with the greatest benefit and get the most out of the cruise. The last page contains contact information for all ship services: from room service to the first aid station. This newspaper will be delivered to your cabin every evening.

Well, now we can have lunch! The best place to do this is at the buffet restaurant on one of the upper decks. In this restaurant you can usually take a table both indoors and on the deck open to the sea air.

After lunch, it's time to start exploring the ship. Walk along the upper decks, admire the view of the port from the sea, walk along the closed decks and find the main or most interesting rooms of the ship: bars and lounges, theaters, spas, gym, children's clubs, library, internet cafe and, of course , the heart of the ship is the central atrium. The interior of the ship sometimes amazes first-time passengers so much that they take their breath away: they never expect to see such luxury and beauty on a ship. All interior spaces of modern ships are designed by the world's leading architects and designers, and cruise companies give them complete creative freedom. Sometimes ships are even turned into art galleries, decorated with original works: paintings, sculptures, installations.

Exercises

At the very beginning of every cruise there is one mandatory event - evacuation drills. Perhaps this is the only responsibility of passengers, but at the same time it becomes the first entertainment on board. At a special sound signal, all passengers go to their cabins, take out and put on life jackets and go to their place on the boat deck. These exercises involve everyone on the ship: both the crew and the passengers (even those from the most expensive suites). Crew members assist passengers by directing them to their meeting point on the boat deck. Upon arrival, the safety instructor informs passengers about what to do in case of an emergency. Unfortunately, he does this in one language - usually English. At the end of the briefing (the whole event takes about half an hour), everyone returns to the cabin and leaves their vests there. This event may at first glance seem offensively obligatory and boring, but in fact it is not. Passengers get to know their cabin neighbors, take pictures in a red life jacket - in general, have as much fun as they can. And at the end of the exercises, they enjoy the mesmerizing spectacle of the ship leaving the port.

Evening and first dinner

Evening comes, and life gradually flows from the open decks into the enclosed spaces of the ship. Evening life begins: shops and casinos open, tables in bars fill up, performances by artists begin in lounges and theaters. This is the time when passengers find the most comfortable places for themselves, make acquaintances and begin to feel the rhythm of life on the ship. Open decks are transformed from places full of life and energy into romantic corners where it is so pleasant to spend a little time in the fresh sea air, listening to the cries of seagulls and admiring the moonlit path.

Before dinner, it's time to sit for a while at the bar, drink a cocktail or coffee, and listen to pleasant music. The first dinner usually takes place against the background of some fatigue caused by the journey and the new sensations received on board. Restaurant staff at the first dinner try not to burden passengers with any strong impressions: it’s just dinner. After dinner, you can sit a little longer in your favorite bar or take another walk under the stars on the upper open decks.

First day

The first full day on board can be spent relaxing: order breakfast in your cabin and watch the ship enter the port from your own balcony. And after breakfast, take care of your own health: visit the gym, play tennis or basketball, or enjoy the spa. Before lunch, sunbathe and swim in the pool under the bright sun. Moreover, during layovers, most passengers go ashore and there are plenty of free sun loungers near the pools. You can dine both in the main a la carte restaurant and in the buffet restaurant.

If the time the ship stays in the port allows, you can go out into the city on your own and take a short walk not far from the port, visiting small shops and sitting in a cafe overlooking your ship.

You can, of course, have dinner in the city, but, firstly, this will cost extra money, and, secondly, you can miss the captain’s reception and the gala dinner, which take place that very evening.

At the captain's reception, the ladies put on their evening dresses, and the men wear formal suits and go to the main theater of the ship. At the entrance to the theater they are greeted personally by the captain, and the “cruisers” have the opportunity to take a photo with him as a souvenir. In the theater, passengers will be offered free simple drinks, and the captain from the stage will introduce his closest assistants from the crew: the ship's senior officers, the hotel director (after all, the liner is, in fact, a hotel for passengers), the cruise director (he is responsible for all entertainment and animation on board) and a chef. Depending on the personality of the captain, this performance can take the form of a show, but still, frankly speaking, most often it is a formal presentation of key people from the ship's crew, repeated by the captain in several languages.

At the captain's reception, the ladies put on their evening dresses, and the men wear formal suits and go to the main theater of the ship.

After the reception, everyone goes to dinner, where a special menu is offered and the atmosphere of a dinner party is created: ladies in evening dresses and men in elegant suits conduct small talk, continue acquaintances and talk about first impressions. After dinner, a gala performance takes place in the main theater, which is not worth missing, because in this show the artists show the best of their repertoire. This is truly an enchanting performance.

This official event may frighten some people so much that they want to give up cruising altogether. But in reality it is optional. Cruise ships are huge, and you can spend this evening in such a way that you will not even notice that all these special events are happening at all. You can dine in both the buffet restaurant and an alternative restaurant. And everyone will be allowed into the gala show, not just guests in evening dresses.

You can continue the evening in the lounge (a quieter option), in the casino (for gambling people) or at the disco. By this moment, certain companies have already formed, and on this festive evening they become more and more united, joint plans arise for the next days and, most likely, it is this company that you will mainly communicate with for the rest of the cruise.

Second day

You can start the next morning with breakfast in your cabin or at the buffet restaurant with new friends. Spending two days in a row on board means not seeing new cities. Therefore, we will spend the second day on the shore.

The ship offers a very solid set of excursions in each port: from ordinary half-day sightseeing tours of a port city to multi-hour excursions to cities quite distant from your port. These can be not only excursions in the usual sense of the word, but also trips to the beach to snorkel or just sunbathe on the sand. Or, for example, golf tours, yachting, rafting. It is recommended to book some excursions in advance, perhaps even when booking a cruise, because while there are always plenty of seats on buses, yachts are booked in advance by cruise companies and the number of seats on them is limited.

You can combine an organized excursion and an independent walk around the city. Go shopping, sit in local restaurants and cafes, feel the atmosphere inherent in this place. And this is almost impossible to do on an organized excursion. In general, you can spend the whole day on shore, except perhaps to save money by returning on board for lunch.

Since a description of a full-fledged cruise lasting at least a week will take up a lot of space, we will assume that the evening coming after the second day is our last evening on the cruise.

On the last evening, events are organized on the ship so that passengers will forever remember their cruise. These include sales in shops on board, where gold and silver chains are sold not by weight, but by length, and carnivals, where not only the ship's animators participate, but also the passengers themselves, and another gala dinner in the main restaurant with a waiter show and cooks. In general, extravaganza and fun. It is difficult to describe in words, but must be felt through personal experience.

On the last evening, events are organized on the ship so that passengers will forever remember their cruise.

Last hours on the ship

The cruise ends and passengers must prepare to go ashore. Luggage tags will be brought to your cabin in the evening. These tags indicate the time at which passengers disembark. If this time does not suit you - for example, you are in a hurry to transfer to the airport or, conversely, you have nowhere to rush and want to sleep longer, go to your steward and ask to change the disembarkation time. This will not create any problems for him.

It might be useful to read: