It’s a wonderful feeling booking a cruise. You’ve picked your cruise destination, and now you’ve got an incredible experience to look forward to, but the post-booking stages of arranging your cruise are just as essential as the pre-booking ones!
If you’re cruising for the first time or are looking for a refresher, this guide will answer the most important questions about what happens after you’ve booked your cruise to ensure you have a fun, safe, and stress-free holiday!
This is an easy one – yes! One of the most common questions we come across concerns the validity of passports. The most important thing to remember is that your passport must be valid for at least six months from the return date of your holiday. If it isn’t, many destinations will no longer accept your passport in case of unforeseen circumstances.
The six-month validity of passports complies with immigration requirements and applies to all cruise lines. Put simply, it’s not worth the risk, so make sure your passport has sufficient validity or that you renew it as soon as possible.
If you’re getting married and have booked a cruise for your honeymoon, you may have concerns over your new married name complicating things. If you have made the booking in your maiden name, you won’t need to change your passport. However, if you have booked the holiday in your married name, it will need updating, especially for fly cruises, as airlines can be stricter when it comes to this issue.
If you’re sailing from Southampton or other UK ports, some cruise lines will accept your marriage certificate alongside your current passport at check-in.
Once you’ve booked a cruise, it’s essential to consider whether you will need to meet any visa requirements. Unfortunately, there is no clear-cut answer to this question, as the necessity of a visa will depend on the cruise itinerary you have booked and the type of passport you have.
If you’re unsure about whether you will require a visa, we recommend getting in touch with us at Bolsover Cruise Club, as our dedicated Administration Team will be able to provide all British Citizens with clear, personalised advice.
We are unable to provide specific advice for those who hold another type of passport, for example, British Subjects. However, we can point you in the right direction, ensuring you are fully taken care of by a professional team we know can support you.
After booking an exciting holiday, it’s all too easy to forget about less exciting matters like insurance. Most cruise lines now require passengers to have the necessary insurance in place as a condition of booking with them. If you do not have insurance, you will not be allowed on board when you come to check in.
When booking travel insurance, be sure to check that cruises are covered. Not all policies cover cruises, so it’s vital to select coverage that explicitly outlines how it protects cruisers during their holiday at sea.
When booking your cruise, you will no doubt have spotted some of the top destinations included in the itinerary and be eager to book shore excursions.
Most cruise lines now offer an online system where passengers can tailor their holiday between 6 and 12 months before stepping on board. Falling under titles such as ‘Cruise Personaliser’ and ‘My Cruise’, these online facilities are brilliant for browsing excursion options, finding what’s right for you, and making the booking process really simple.
Gratuities are standard across the industry, and each cruise line has a different policy for guests with respect to when and how they can be settled. Some cruise lines offer the option to prepay your gratuities, and many passengers prefer this method as it allows the cruising experience to proceed without having to think about them.
Pro Tip: Prepaying gratuities can sometimes be a cheaper option if the cruise line in question, such as Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruises, allows guests to pay in sterling before boarding (rather than dollars) and benefit from the exchange rate.
Most cruise lines have transitioned from issuing traditional tickets and travel documents to e-tickets. Some (but not all) cruise lines require guests to visit their website and complete an online registration before issuing e-tickets; however, please verify this requirement with your specific cruise line.
E-tickets can be made available between 40 and 14 days before departure, with most cruise lines emailing to notify you that they are ready to view.
We know that every cruise experience is different, and that’s why Bolsover Cruise Club is available to answer all the specific questions you have about your post-booking experience. Perhaps you don’t have access to a computer to access your e-tickets, or you aren’t sure whether the travel insurance coverage you have covers cruises. Reach out to us or check out our Cruise Guides, and we will answer every question you have ahead of your cruise to guarantee that you have a fun and safe holiday!
Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or a veteran of the seas, get ready to book your next cruise getaway with all of the major cruise lines available here at Bolsover Cruise Club. If you need help booking a cruise, please don’t hesitate to contact us. One of our Cruise Experts will be happy to assist you.
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How does one re- print luggage labels for a booked cruise?
Good morning David,
If you'd like to give our Cruise Experts a call and we can have a look at this for, the advise may be different to which cruise line you're traveling with.