What does 'crossing' mean?
The term 'crossing' means that you are sailing across the sea. This term is often used when your itinerary crosses the Atlantic or Pacific.
What is an embarkation and a disembarkation port?
The embarkation port is a departure port, it is where you will join the ship at the start of your cruise holiday. The disembarkation port is where you will leave the ship at the end of your cruise.
What does embarkation and disembarkation mean?
- Disembarkation - To disembark the ship, is to leave the ship.
- Embarkation - To embark on the ship is when you board the ship
What is a muster drill?
An exercise to teach passengers where to go in case of an emergency on the ship. All guests are asked to participate in the muster drill at the beginning of their cruise.
What are interconnecting cabins?
Interconnecting cabins are two cabins with a door between them. This cabin is a popular option for larger families.
What is a 'guarantee' cabin or stateroom?
A number of cruise lines offer discounted rates for ‘guarantee’ cabins (you may see the abbreviation 'GTY' on your booking confirmation). This is either through a category, such as Royal Caribbean's ZI Guaranteed Interior, or through a Fare Code, such as P&O Cruises Early Saver.
This results in the cruise line designating your exact cabin number near the sailing date or at any time right up until the day you board the ship.
In this case, you are guaranteed a set minimum level of cabin grade indicated by the cabin type such as Inside/Outside/Balcony. However, you have no choice in your cabin’s location onboard the ship.
For example, Royal Caribbean guarantee you an Inside stateroom on a ZI category, but this means they can allocate you any Inside stateroom whatsoever, on any deck, in any location on the ship.
If taking a guarantee cabin, we are usually not able to make specific requests for the cabin’s location, facilities within, or bed configuration.
When travelling in a group taking up multiple cabins, we cannot guarantee the cabins will be nearby or the same grade.
Once a cruise line has allocated a specific cabin to a guarantee booking, they will not accept any requests for a reallocation at the request of the customer or ourselves.
What is a pullman berth?
Pullman Berth refers to pull-down beds that when not in use fold up against the wall or into the ceiling for more space. These are usually found in cabins with occupancy of 3 or 4.
What is a port of call?
This is a destination on your cruise, where you will 'stop'. Here you will be able to leave the ship on your own or by booking a shore excursion.
What is a cruise tender port?
At most ports, the ship will stay at the pier or dock, allowing you to walk down the gangway to the quayside. However, occasionally the water is too shallow for the ship to get close enough.
When this is the case, at these 'Tender Ports', small boats are used to take you from ship to shore and back again. Most of the time the ship’s own lifeboats serve this purpose but the local port authority does provide their own tender boats in some ports of call.
For any guests who are full-time wheelchair users, or with any serious mobility limitations, we advise you to carefully check your cruise itinerary at the time of booking to see if any ports of call included are shown as a Tender Port. This is because your opportunity to leave the ship at the said port may be restricted by the Cruise Line Health & Safety Regulations on Tender usage, especially under inclement sea conditions.
What is a shore excursion?
A shore excursion is a trip or activity that you will pre-book with your cruise line. Shore excursions take place on the shore, in or near the port of call.
Book your shore excursions here.
What are gratuities/tips?
Guests on many cruises are generally expected to leave tips for certain cruise staff members serving them. Gratuities is another term for 'tips'. Guests can choose to pre-pay their gratuities before they travel with some cruise lines. Other cruise lines will add a daily gratuity charge to your on-board account. This will need to be paid before you leave the ship.
Other cruise lines have stopped charging guests for gratuities.
Please ensure you check the gratuity policy for your chosen cruise line before you book.