You need a passport to travel abroad. Click on this very informative web site to see when a passport is required and how to obtain one.An increasing number of cruise companies are adopting so-called automatic gratuity programs. The companies say such programs spare passengers the confusion of figuring out who gets what and the hassle of juggling money. Cynics may suspect the real purpose is to shanghai your wallet, but in fact, the amounts charged are close to what travel agents recommend customers tip anyway.The confusion about cruise tipping is understandable. There are headwaiters, waiters, assistant waiters, cabin stewards and others who may expect gratuities -- or not. Some cruise lines, especially luxury ones, discourage tips. As recently as 2½ years ago, Seabourn Cruise Line staff members could be fired for accepting tips, says spokesman Bruce Good. Now they may accept them but can be fired for soliciting them.Alas, not all cruise lines that encourage tipping recommend the same amounts, and the job titles of the crew may vary too. But most suggestions are in these ranges, per passenger per day: Cabin steward/stewardess/attendant, $3 to $4; waiter/server, $3 to $4; assistant waiter/busboy, $1.50 to $2.50; headwaiter/head server, 50 cents to $1.Bartenders are a special case. Many lines automatically include 15 percent for service in the bar bill, meaning you needn't tip.Passengers traditionally leave tips in envelopes on the last night of the cruise, which can lead to quite a backup at the purser's desk. With automatic gratuity programs, you avoid that, obviously. But an important point about such programs is that you usually can opt out of them or increase or decrease the amounts by notifying the purser once you're on board. You don't have to do it their way.Your best sources for tipping guidelines on your particular cruise are travel agents and the line you book. Here's a roundup of some lines' general practices. (All amounts are stated per passenger per day, unless otherwise noted.)Carnival: The line has an automatic gratuity program (which it calls a "reverse gratuity program") on 10 of its 16 ships, with a daily charge of $9.75. The company hopes to expand the program fleet wide within a year, says spokeswoman Jennifer de la Cruz. In alternate dining rooms (outside the main one), the reservation fee includes a tip. Bar bills include a 15 percent gratuity.Costa: On Caribbean cruises, the suggestion is $3 each for steward and waiter, $1.50 assistant waiter, $1 headwaiter. On European cruises, the amounts are $1.50 steward, $2.50 waiter, $2.50 "assistant waiter team," 50 cents for maitre d' and "headwaiter team." Bar bills include 15 percent gratuity.Cunard: An automatic gratuity program, begun in 2000, charges $7 on Caronia and $11 to $13 on the Queen Elizabeth 2, depending on cabin category. Bar bills include a 15 percent gratuity.Crystal: The line suggests $4 each for stewardess and waiter in the main dining room; $2.50 assistant waiter, $4 for butler (penthouse only); an additional $6 per meal for alternate restaurants. Passengers can tip in advance when they book the cruise. Bar bills include 15 percent gratuity.Disney: The line gives suggestions by length of cruise; on average per day, about $3.60 for steward, $3.70 server, $2.70 assistant server, 90 cents head server. You can tip in advance, as do about half the guests, a spokeswoman says. Bar bills include 15 percent gratuity.Holland America: Advertises a "tipping not required" policy and declines to suggest amounts. "You're free to tip if you feel it's warranted," spokesman Erik Elvejord says. "To be honest, most people do tip." Bar bills do not include gratuity.Norwegian: Automatic gratuity program charges $10 per day for ages 13 and older, $5 for children 3 to 12, no charge younger than 3. Bar bills include 15 percent gratuity.Princess: Automatic gratuity program fleetwide charges $10 per day; the final two ships added to the program in July were the Royal Princess and the Regal Princess. Bar bills include 15 percent gratuity.Radisson Seven Seas: No tipping is expected. Royal Caribbean: It suggests $3.50 each for waiter and steward, $2 assistant waiter, 75 cents headwaiter. Passengers can tip automatically by asking at guest relations (purser) when they board. Bar bills include 15 percent gratuity.Seabourn: "Tipping is neither required nor expected," the line's Internet site says. "Our staff doesn't expect it . . . and we pay them well," spokesman Good says. But he adds: "If the guest wants to give a tip, who are we to say no?"Silversea: "No gratuities are required or expected" on this luxury line, where fares can average $800 per day and up, says spokesman Brad Ball. Passengers can tip if they want, "but we don't encourage it," even for spa treatments, he adds.Windstar: The line advertises a "tipping not required" policy on its Internet site. "Gratuities are not encouraged at all," sales coordinator Jordan Marona says. "But if people want to tip, that's their prerogative." Is just that: a stateroom that is located inside the ship with no view—they have no window or porthole.Often, to give the illusion of more space, you will find inside cabins have a mock "window" (complete with curtain) and rely on the generous use of mirrors for an airy feeling. On Royal Caribbean's largest vessels, there are even inside cabins with a view of sorts—some are designated "atrium staterooms" and feature bowed windows overlooking the the ships' interior grand promenades.Inside cabins are generally just as spacious as outside cabins and decor and amenities are similar. On the newest vessels, you may find small refrigerators. Many ships locate triple and quad cabins (accommodating three or more passengers) on the inside. Essentially, they look just like a standard double cabin, but have bunk beds that either fold down from the wall or disappear into the ceiling. Parents sometimes book an inside for older children and teens, while their own cabin is an outside across the hall with a window or balcony.For passengers who want a very dark room for sleeping, an inside cabin is ideal. Use a bit of creativity and even your inside cabin can have a "window on the sea." Nearly every ship has a television channel that features a continuous view from the bridge (often accompanied by terrible elevator music). Turn on that channel before you retire and turn off the sound—it will be dark all night and you will awaken with a seascape!Has either a picture window or porthole.To give the illusion of more space, these cabins might also rely on the generous use of mirrors for an even airier feeling.In addition to the usual amenities, your outside stateroom might also have a small refrigerator. The cabin's vanity/desk will almost always have two electric receptacles—one will accept standard US-style plugs (110-volt) and the other for European style plugs (220-volt). To plug in more than one gadget at a time, you'll need a power strip, or, for dual voltage appliances, a plug converter.Two twin beds can be joined together to create one large bed, the equivalent of a queen- or king-size bed. A nice touch in some outside cabins are floor to ceiling, wall to wall curtains that allow passengers to create a "private" sleeping space.Going one step further, standard and "larger" outside staterooms on modern ships are often outfitted with a small sofa or loveseat with a cocktail table or small side table. Some of those tables can be raised for dining. The sofas are usually "hide-a-beds" and can accommodate a third person. Cabins that are termed "larger" may have a combination bathtub/shower instead of just a shower.Is an outside cabin with floor to ceiling sliding glass doors that open onto a private slice of deck.While the cabins have large expanses of glass, their balconies are sometimes cut out of cabins' square footage (depending on the ship). To give the illusion of more space, a balcony cabin might also rely on the generous use of mirrors for an even roomier feeling.Balconies are usually furnished with two chairs and a table for lounging and dining outdoors. Be aware that balconies are not always 100% private... dividers might be opaque and may not extend all the way from ceiling to floor or from the ships hull to the railing. On Princess Cruise Line's Grand-class ships, the balconies are "stepped" like a layer cake. The result is that certain categories have balconies which are visible from above.In addition to the usual amenities, your balcony stateroom might also have a small refrigerator. The cabin's vanity/desk will almost always have two electric receptacles—one will accept standard US-style plugs (110-volt) and the other for European style plugs (220-volt). To plug in more than one appliance at a time, you'll need a power strip, or, for dual voltage appliances, a plug converter.Two twin beds can be joined together to create one large bed, the equivalent of a queen- or king-size bed. A nice touch in some cabins are floor to ceiling, wall to wall curtains that allow passengers to create a "private" sleeping space.Most balcony staterooms on modern ships have intimate sitting areas outfitted with a small sofa or loveseat with a cocktail table or small side table. Some of those tables can be raised to dining height. Sofas usually covert to beds to accommodate a third person. Some balcony cabins may even have a combination bathtub/shower instead of just a shower.These are the most lavish accommodations afloat!Suites are sweet indeed, but not all are created equal. Some luxury ships term all accommodations as "suites" and they generally range in size from about 250 to 1500 square feet. While even smaller suites (often termed mini-suites) and penthouses are generous in size, the largest suites are more like apartments at sea. For example, the Garden Villas on Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Star and Norwegian Dawn that measure in at an extraordinary 5,350 square feet. Not only do they have a large living room and three penthouse bedrooms, they also feature huge private outdoor sun decks equipped with hot tubs, changing rooms, and dining areas.In addition to the usual amenities, your suite will have a small refrigerator or mini-bar. Depending on the cruise line, it may be stocked with complimentary soft drinks, bottled water, and the alcoholic beverages of your choice. You can be assured that a bottle of champagne on ice will await your arrival. Little extras might include afternoon tea and evening canapes served by a white-gloved butler. Garden Villa bathroom with a view (and a television) on Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian StarThe beds in most suites are two twin-sized that can be joined together to create the equivalent of a queen- or king-size bed. Expect roomy closets, abundant storage, and deluxe imported soaps and toiletries in the bathroom. And the bathroom may even be outfitted with a jacuzzi-style tub and separate shower.Penthouse suites and mini-suites on modern ships have intimate sitting areas with a sofa, chair, and a cocktail table. Some of the tables can be raised to dining height. Suites and mini-suites in the smaller size ranges may only have floor to ceiling, wall to wall curtains that separate sitting areas from the sleeping space. For suite accommodations with a completely separate living room and bedroom, look for those with approximately 400 square feet and larger.Suite balconies are usually furnished with two chairs and a small table for outdoor lounging. Depending on the ship and balcony size, you may also find a table and chairs for al fresco dining. Be aware that balconies are not always 100% private... dividers might be opaque and may not extend all the way from ceiling to floor or from the ships hull to the railing. On Princess Cruise Line's Grand-class ships, the balconies are "stepped" like a layer cake. The result is that certain categories, even some mini-suites, have balconies which are visible from above.The top drawer suites on some ships even include the luxurious touch of complimentary laundry service. How SUITE it is!Motion sickness is an unpleasant problem for many travelers; however, there are some over-the-counter and prescription medications available. If you wish to combat motion sickness on your own, try the following: When traveling by boat, sit as close to the middle of the vessel as possible and look straight ahead at the horizon, a fixed point that will not move. Today’s high-tech cruise ships are built for comfort, with stabilizers for smooth sailing, and most passengers experience little or no motion sickness. When flying, try to sit near the wing of the plane, or the side where you are accustomed to driving. Ear plugs also may help. To avoid heatstroke, stay out of the sun for prolonged periods of time. By the same token, try to avoid unusually cold water to prevent hypothermia. It's very easy to get caught up in the excitement of a vacation and get dehydrated. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, and don't wait until you feel thirsty. Avoid caffeinated drinks, which can dehydrate you even more. People who suffer from allergies should take the same precautions on vacation as they do at home. Bring any medications used on a regular basis. It’s also a good idea to bring an antihistamine in case of accidental exposure to a substance that triggers an allergic reaction. The inflammation of the joints that occurs with arthritis may be especially troubling during long trips that restrict movement. Taking frequent breaks to walk around and relieve stiff joints and muscles can make car, plane and cruise trips more enjoyable. Remember to pack aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, or any prescription medications you normally use for arthritis. There’s nothing more miserable than getting sick while on vacation. For most destinations, the major health risk to travelers is diarrhea, which may be easily avoided. In general, common sense prevails. When in doubt, steer clear of uncooked meat, raw fruits and vegetables and unpasteurized milk products, and drink only bottled water (although the tip of the bottle may be contaminated, so wipe it clean before drinking from it) or water that has been boiled for at least 20 minutes. If you begin to feel sick or develop a fever, rest and drink tea or purified water. Most cases of traveler’s diarrhea clear up within a few days. Agents can arrange all types of domestic and international travel, from hotel and resort accommodations to air and ground transportation, including car rental needs and tour packages. They can provide assistance with insurance protection, passport and visa applications, inoculation procedures and other foreign travel requirements. Some agents maintain automated individual profiles that include the client's frequent flyer number, airline seating preference, smoking or non-smoking designation and other specifications for a custom-designed trip. Arrangements can also be tailored to suit business and holiday objectives, personal interests and budget concerns. Although most provide a wide range of services, some agencies may specialise in areas such as family travel, group travel, adventure travel, ecotourism, the mature market, incentive travel or travel for the disabled. A Paradise Cruise and Travel - you will come to appreciate our personal service.
