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Travel Tips

SET SAIL WITHOUT STRESS: BOARDING REQUIREMENTS

by Royal Holiday
written by Royal Holiday
boarding requirements

Going on a cruise is one of the most pleasing experiences for everyone who loves new things. However, before embarking on this adventure, it is crucial to make sure you have all the necessary documents to avoid setbacks. Here we will share a guide with the boarding requirements so you can enjoy your cruise trip without worries.

 

 

 

PASSPORT: YOUR KEY TO THE WORLD

PASSPORT

Your passport is the most important document if you want to go on a cruise since it proves your identity and nationality. It is recommended to have a minimum validity of six months after the return date of your trip since many cruise lines and countries require it as part of their immigration policies. Verify this before leaving to avoid any inconveniences.

 

 

 

VISAS: VERIFY EACH DESTINATION’S REQUIREMENT

visa

Some countries require visas to enter, even if you’ll only be a couple of hours in the port. Investigate in advance if the destinations in your itinerary require a visa, and if that’s the case, apply for it with enough time. Remember that the rules vary depending on your nationality and the destination country, which is why it is fundamental to consult official sources or your travel agency.

 

 

 

VACCINATION CERTIFICATES: A REQUIREMENT IN SOME DESTINATIONS

BOARDING REQUIREMENTS - vaccines

Depending on your cruise’s route, you might need to present a vaccination certificate against specific diseases. Some countries require a vaccination against yellow fever, while others can request recent vaccination tests against COVID-19 or other diseases. Check the health requirements of each destination and take all the necessary documents.

 

 

 

BOARDING PASS AND CRUISE DOCUMENTATION

MSC FANTASIA-mediterranean

Cruise lines usually give you a digital or physical boarding pass, which is essential for boarding. Additionally, it is recommended to print out your reservation documents, itinerary, and payment receipts to quickly resolve any setbacks. Discover your next Cruise Destination, here!

 

 

 

TRAVEL INSURANCE: AN ESSENTIAL BACKUP

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Although it is not a required document, getting travel insurance can make the difference in case of any medical or logistical unforeseen events. Some cruise lines even require insurance as part of their boarding policies, so check if this is a requirement for your cruise. Consult your Cruise Advisor to get Terrawind insurance.

Getting all your the boarding requirements ready with enough time in advance is key to enjoying your cruise without worrying. Make sure you cover all the requirements to board, from passports and visas to vaccination certification and special permits. Find your next cruise here.

 

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CruiseCruise NewsDestination TipsRoyal at SeaRoyal Holiday

Discover our newest cruise destinations

by Royal Holiday
written by Royal Holiday

Royal Holiday has expanded our cruise offerings. Now you can see the glaciers of Alaska, experience the otherworldliness of Antarctica, or discover the fascination of Japan.

 

With Royal Holiday and our partners, these new and exciting cruising destinations offer unparalleled adventure across all of the planet’s continents and oceans!

Princess Cruises

Alaska

Enjoy the exclusivity of Princess Cruises and set sail for Alaska—one of the cruise lines’ most popular routes.

Enjoy towering glaciers, unimaginable wildlife, and national parks that stretch all the way to the horizon—all from the luxury and comfort of your ship. Onboard activities include cultural events, concerts, Broadway-style shows, exciting nightlife, and mouth-watering cuisine options. Plan for your departure in July, August and September.

Japan

 Expand your horizons even further on the sophisticated Diamond Princess cruise to the islands of Japan. Onboard, you’ll enjoy authentic regional cuisine and cultural performances, not to mention exclusive amenities such as the ship’s Izumi Japanese Bath including steam rooms, saunas, and hot tubs with spectacular ocean views. You’ll love the unforgettable luxury. Departures are scheduled for September.

Australis cruises

Antarctica

 Conquer the end of the world on an Australis cruise. Sail up to impressive glaciers and take in the incredible landscapes of Patagonian from Punta Arenas in Chile to Ushuaia in Argentina. Every Australis ship is equipped to guarantee a journey of total comfort, with refined luxury that includes exquisite cuisine and onboard entertainment. Tourist expeditions are included, too. Departures are set for October.

Carnival cruises

 The Caribbean

 Climb on board for a Carnival cruise through the turquoise waters of the Caribbean. Enjoy the onboard luxury of swimming pools, the best cuisine, and special entertainment options for children and teenagers—not to mention live music and shows for adults. There’s a great selection of boats to choose from, including the Carnival Vista, the Glory or Sensation. Plan your departure for June.

Make this your year to sail the world’s seven seas—thanks to the advantages only your Royal Holiday membership offers. Select from the cruise line, route and destination you prefer. Your cruising adventures start in June. Contact your vacation advisor today for full details or visit the Royal Holiday website.

Get on board!

 

 

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CruiseCruise DealsCruise TipsDestination TipsRoyal at SeaRoyal Holiday

How to find the best cruises at the best price

by Royal Holiday
written by Royal Holiday

If you love cruise ships as much as we do, you won’t be satisfied with only one cruise, one week a year. So here are a few tips for you to go on major cruises at really affordable prices. For the same amount of money that you may have used to spend on a single trip, now it’s possible for you to travel three to four times in a year. Talk about savings!

Unlike in the airline industry, on cruise ships, there are no low cost companies. However, due to the competition among cruise companies to attract passengers, and the fact that modern fleets now have newer and more modern ships, it is possible for you to find great, amazing offers if you know how to look for them.

In finding the best cruise that fits an affordable price, itinerary and dates, you can divide your search into three major areas: find out which companies have the most number of ships, check the duration of the cruises with the best prices, and find deals according to cruise seasons.

To help you find the best cruise deals, we’ll take a look at a method that’ll let you find great cruise deals that allows me to travel several times a year.

  1. Find out which companies have the most number of ships

Cruise travel has become popular in recent years, therefore different cruise companies are committed to building new ships and open new routes. This means the number of vessels will grow and the ships that were the most modern ones of their fleet in their day will be surpassed by their new siblings. These ships continue to offer a high level of quality and most of them have undergone renovations and adaptations, but still they must compete with their new, spectacular brothers. That is why we are offered better prices to make them more attractive to us. These deals are easier to find in companies with a larger number of vessels in its fleet.

  1. Duration of the most economic cruises

If you’re looking for the best cruise and the best prices, you should keep an eye on the days/price ratio. Short cruises and those that last longer but include several days without stopping are usually the best options.

Depending on the duration of the trip, you will see that there are five types of cruises:

  • Cruises with weekend itineraries: They are a classic in American cruises. These are two to three day trips, where the ship is the important thing, as opposed to the itinerary. There is even a cruise mode that has no destination, which means that you really don’t know your destination, since you only drift away from the shore. 
  • Cruises that last 3 to 4 nights: This is where we can find a combination to get great prices and incredible last minute offers, if we find cruises that last three to five nights in boats that have been sailing for over five years and belonging to large companies. These are cruises with a great variation in prices and they generally get lower at the last minute.
Image courtesy of Royal Holiday at royal-holiday.com

Image courtesy of Royal Holiday at royal-holiday.com

  • Cruises that last 5 to 8 nights: These are pretty common. The strategy here is to choose the same route before or after a popular season. You may use the online services of companies that have the same route to follow the evolution of prices on two different online agencies each week. Usually, if you’re not looking for a special cabin, you can find the best price by waiting until the last minute. 
  • Cruises that last more than 8 nights: These are usually the most expensive itineraries. But the cost will depend mostly on how many days of sailing versus the number of days with scheduled scales the route has, which will lower or raise the prices. For these types of cruises, it’s a good idea to look at those that include at least two days of sailing. Although sometimes some itineraries usually appear with good prices many months before, usually the best prices can be found up to six weeks before departure. 
  • Repositioning cruises: You might find cruises with a cost between 30 and 55 daily euros per person, which means these prices are impossible to find on other routes. Repositioning cruises are basically one-way trips, as the ships are moving from one region to another and they must make these trips regardless of whether they carry passengers or not. Obviously the companies prefer to maximize each day of sailing so they release great deals for this type of cruise travel. It’s a great way to experience transatlantic cruises.

  1. Find deals according to seasons

Knowing where ships are at all times allows you to predict great prices if you look for a few weeks before or after the most popular seasons.

If you are looking for a specific destination and you want to find good prices, you should know which are the appropriate cruise seasons to find the best discounts. As a general rule, the best cruise deals are in the months before or after the high season. Although the weather can be a little worse, in exchange you’ll find ships with less passengers and amazing prices.

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Before you cruiseCruiseCruise Tips

4 important questions you need to answer before you choose the perfect cruise

by Royal Holiday
written by Royal Holiday

It’s time to plan your next vacation and you like to do it a few months ahead so you can get better prices and availability, which is always a good decision. Now, the big question is where to go and what  to do. For some time you have been wondering what it would be like to go on a cruise and since you have never been on one, you might as well get all the information you can in order to make the best decision, since there are so many options out there when it comes to cruising. When you have decided you want to go on a cruise you have to make sure you gather all the possible opinions from your friends and family, or find reviews and testimonials on the internet so you can be absolutely confident that the cruise you have selected is the perfect one for you. Many people become expert cruisers because the first time they did it, they thought it went so well, they decided cruising was the way they wanted to continue exploring the world. Cruise lines even have special prices and gifts for those who become frequent cruisers, and some even take the same cruise again and again. Other people just decide never to go on a cruise again because they either didn’t like the idea of being on a boat for more than a day or it turns out the cruise they selected wasn’t quite the proper one for them so the expectations they had are completely different than what they found on the cruise and that is when you can become a one-time cruiser, which is pretty sad, because just because you made a bad decision, it doesn’t mean cruising is one of the coolest, completest, fun and exciting ways to explore the planet.  People who are not happy with the cruise they chose, are people that after the cruise ends, will start telling their friends and family all the negative things they experienced on their last vacations, and that is something you should definitely try to avoid, if you don’t want to miss the magic you can experience and the lifetime memories you can take with you forever after choosing and taking the perfect cruise for you. So now that you know the importance of picking “the right one”, take a look at these tips that will make the decision making easier for you.

Image courtesy of Brook Ward on Flickr.com

Image courtesy of Brook Ward on Flickr.com

Who?

The first question to ask yourself is Who will you be taking the cruise with. Depending on the answer you give, the choices will vary, because there are types of cruises for every single type of companions you decide to go with. If it’s with your family, meaning there will be children coming along with you, then you will have cruise lines and options that specialize in family entertainment and activities, destinations, and even type of accommodation that will be right for you. If you decide to go as a couple on a romantic getaway, the family type of cruise is not really what you´re looking for. There are some cruise lines that can offer luxury cruises, specialized in comforting couples, with special cuisine on board, spa options, wine selections and of course romantic destinations that will be also different from those you can select if you travel for example with a group of friends where your biggest interest is to have fun together and share nice experiences.

Where?

The destination is also very important. Where do you want to go? Which part of the world are you interested in exploring? Are you looking for nice warm sunny weather or are have you been dreaming about winter and iceberg landscapes? This may be one of the most important details you may want to be sure of before you decide which cruise to take.

When?

The time of year is crucial in the decision making of which cruise you are going to take for your next vacation. There is a proper destination for every season. If it is the summer, you might want to consider a cold destination like Alaska, where the weather is probably the best in that time of the year. If it is in the winter that you want to travel because you want to escape from the ice cold weather you have at home, then you should probably choose a tropical paradise like the Caribbean. It doesn’t matter when you want to go on a cruise, there will always be a great destination for the exact time that you want to take your vacation.

How?

How is actually for “How much”. Budget is always a big factor when it comes to making decisions, mainly for those that involve leisure. When you decide taking a vacation the top priorities are to have fun, relax and forget about reality for a few days. This means that part of those priorities is the fact that you don’t want to have to worry about anything, especially not money. So take a good look at how much you can afford to spend and what types of cruises fit your budget. There are cruises for all types of budgets. Cruise prices can vary also depending on the number of days you want to take the cruise. The more days you are on a cruise and the more destinations you want to visit, the more the cruise will cost. The type of cabin is also something you can choose depending on how much you want to spend. If the cabin has a window or not, if it has a balcony or not and the type of bed you want in it, will definitely make your cruise more or less expensive. So make sure you take all of these options into account and finding the perfect cruise for you will be a sure thing.

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Before you cruiseCruiseCruise TipsRoyal Holiday

How to Pack Like a Pro for Your Upcoming Cruise

by Royal Holiday
written by Royal Holiday

Before you set off on a Royal Holiday-sponsored cruise ship for days of fun in the sun and evenings spent living like royalty, make sure you have all of the essentials you need to enjoy your stay. Careful preparation minimizes the stress of traveling and allows you to focus on the adventures ahead.

Prioritize the Carry-On Bag

Your carry-on bag should contain all the items that you may need in a hurry when traveling. Include medications, toiletries, and a change of clothes in the bag. Toss in a swimsuit and dinner attire too. If your luggage is delayed on the plane, you can still start enjoying your time aboard if you planned ahead by placing your must-have items in a valise.

Investigate Dress Codes

Royal Holiday cruise ships offer a variety of activities to keep guests active both day and night. Pack your suitcase with the essentials for a day at the pool, a nightly walk on the sands of the Caribbean, a formal dinner and musical show, or a hike through the wetlands. Review the itinerary prior to packing, and pick out your favorite shoes, dresses, and suits so you are ready for all the excitement a cruise offers. You can always purchase essentials aboard ship, but prepare in advance for the events offered on your cruise in order to pack like a pro for this exciting adventure.

Evaluate Weather Conditions

Keep yourself comfortable throughout the duration of the cruise by packing temperature appropriate clothing. A cruise through Alaskan waters requires a winter coat and comfortable gloves, whereas a jaunt to Mexico or Puerto Rico calls for a bikini, a few tank tops, and flip flops in your luggage. Walking shoes are a must, regardless of the location, so you can make the most of shore excursions without tiring out your feet.

Mix and Match

Try not to overload your suitcases in case you want to bring home souvenirs from some of the fabulous destinations Royal Holiday has arranged for you. Instead of packing shorts, pants, and a shirt for every day, mix and match outfits to allow for more room in your suitcase. Choose shoes that coordinate with several outfits and avoid bringing heavy boots or shoes that take up a lot of space. You can also take advantage of the laundry services your cruise ship offers to freshen up your staple outfits throughout the week.

Remember the Basics

Even though you should not have a care in the world when cruising to your favorite destination, you need to remember to bring along basic items that cannot be purchased on board. Make a checklist of any medical equipment and medications you must have while traveling. Insert a medical card in your wallet in case of an emergency. Throw in your phone, tablet, computer or camera chargers, and batteries as well as memory cards you may need while browsing the Web on board or snapping shots of the ocean. Keep all toiletries wrapped in plastic bags to avoid any spills while your luggage is transported.

Keep Documents Close By

The last thing you want to do when boarding a big and beautiful cruise ship is hold up the line while searching for your cruise documents. Keep your ID, cruise confirmation and boarding pass handy in a purse, fanny pack or carry-on bag so they are easily accessible. Some cruises also require a passport or birth certificate, proof of immunizations or a visa, so plan ahead and pack these essential items within easy reach.

Preserve Jewelry and Accessories

Cruise ships offer plenty of opportunities to get dressed up and show off your sense of style. You don’t have to leave your favorite jewelry at home when you want to flaunt some fashion. Pack jewelry carefully, though, to avoid a tangled mess when you unpack in your cabin. Purchase a travel jewelry organizer to keep necklaces from clasping together, or thread earrings through buttons and separate them into pill containers. Place necklaces in drinking straws to avoid knots or tape them onto an index card so they don’t get tangled while traveling.

Minimize Wrinkled Clothing

An evening in a formal dining room on a cruise ship provides a special occasion to break out your dressiest attire. Make sure you look your best when dressing for evening events by minimizing wrinkles and creases in your packed garments. Iron all dress shirts, skirts, dresses, and pants prior to packing, and fold up your formal attire in tissue paper. Place tissue paper throughout the suitcase to minimize creases and wrinkles, and gently push each clothing item into place on top of one another. A firmly packed suitcase ensures your wardrobe is cruise ship ready and reduces excessive movement of your bag’s contents that can wrinkle your day wear and evening wear and transform your clothes into an crumpled mess when you open your luggage.

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