NCL
Cruises Information
What does my
cruise fare include?
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Your cruise
fare entitles you to accommodations, meals and
entertainment aboard ship. Certain specialty restaurants
are available with either nominal cover charges or fixed
price menus and ` la carte pricing in addition to the
standard dining program. Items of a personal nature are
not included, such as alcoholic beverages and soft
drinks, spa treatments, certain specialty exercise
classes, laundry, photographs, casino, ship-to-shore
phone, e-mail, Internet, fax and Shore Excursions
(including all Dive In programs). Government taxes and
fees are also not included.
What about
Tipping?
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SERVICE
CHARGE
A fixed service
charge of $10 per person, per day will be added to your
onboard account. For children ages 3-12, a $5 per person
per day charge will be added to your onboard account;
there is no charge for children under the age of three.
Our crew is encouraged to work together as a service
team and is compensated by a combination of salary and
incentive programs that the service charge supports. It
is our earnest wish that you enjoy your Freestyle Cruise
experience and that our entire crew in all areas of the
ship will provide you with the standard of service for
which NCL is known. Therefore, if you have any concerns
about the service you receive during your cruise, please
bring them to the immediate attention of our reception
desk staff on board so that we can address any issues in
a timely manner before the cruise is over.
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Both NCL and
NCL America have a structured guest satisfaction program
on board designed to handle any concerns raised by our
guests relating to the service or on board product
quickly and efficiently. In almost all cases we are able
to come up with a satisfactory solution to any issues
which are raised and make sure our guests can focus on
enjoying their cruise vacation. In the unlikely event we
cannot satisfactorily resolve the issue through our
guest satisfaction program, guests will be able to
adjust the service charge according to the level of
inconvenience they feel they have experienced. Our clear
priority is to have the opportunity of resolving the
issue, when it happens, to everyones complete
satisfaction.
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GRATUITIES
Unlike most other ships in the cruise industry, there is
no required or recommended tipping on NCL America or
Norwegian Cruise Line ships. Guests should not feel
obliged to offer a gratuity for service that is
generally rendered to all guests.
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However, all
of our staff are encouraged to "go the extra mile", and
so they are permitted to accept cash gratuities entirely
at the discretion of our guests who wish to acknowledge
particular staff members for exceptional or outstanding
service. In other words, there is genuinely no need to
tip but you should feel free to do so if you have a
desire to acknowledge particular individuals.
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Also,
certain staff positions provide service on an individual
basis to only some guests. We encourage those guests to
acknowledge good service from these staff members with
appropriate gratuities. For example, for guests
purchasing bar drinks the recommended gratuity is 15
percent. Similarly, for guests using concierge and
butler services, we recommend they consider offering a
gratuity commensurate with services rendered.
How do I pay for
onboard expenses?
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For your
convenience, all shipboard expenses are charged to NCL's
special onboard credit program. Sign up on the first day
of your cruise, by establishing your method of payment
with Visa., MasterCard., American Express., Discover.,
Diners Club., travelers checks or cash. If you choose to
settle your account with cash, a deposit will be
required in advance. You may also use your debit card;
however, please be advised that NCL obtains
pre-authorization which some banks may hold for up to 30
days.
What about
currency?
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You may cash
travelers checks at the Reception Desk. Currency
exchange, at prevailing rates, is available on some
cruises. Travelers checks and most major credit cards
are accepted in the ports we visit. Proper ID is
required when cashing travelers checks. We recommend you
carry a small amount of local currency when visiting
foreign ports, although credit cards are commonly
accepted in shops and restaurants.
What are the
customs allowances?
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United
States residents must declare all articles acquired
abroad and in their possession when they return to the
U.S. This includes items purchased in "duty-free" shops.
The duty-free exemption allowed for purchases or gifts
for returning U.S. residents varies, depending on how
long they have been out of the U.S. and which countries
they have visited. The standard exemption for U.S.
residents who have been abroad more than 48 hours is
$600 - $800, which may include one liter of alcohol (if
you are at least 21), 100 cigars and 200 cigarettes.
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* Residents
returning to the U.S. from the U.S. Virgin Islands may
bring $1,200 worth of goods duty-free. The duty-free
exemption for U.S. residents doesn't need to include
items that are mailed back to the U.S.; those will be
assessed for duty when they arrive. The duty-free
exemption for a package mailed as a gift is $100; the
exemption for a package marked for personal use is $200.
Non-U.S. citizens should check with their local
authorities for customs allowance information. For more
specific customs information, be sure to attend the
briefing by the Cruise Director before your ship reaches
home port. (Check the daily onboard newsletter for time
and place.) You can also obtain information before you
sail by contacting the nearest U.S. Customs office (look
under United States Government, Department of Treasury
in your local phone book). You can also visit the U.S.
Customs website - www.customs.ustreas.gov - or call
1.202.927.6724 and ask for the brochure "Know Before You
Go." Note: Bottles of liquor you purchase on board or
ashore will be held in a secure area and delivered to
your stateroom at the conclusion of the cruise.
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U.S.
Citizens and residents are not allowed to bring more
than 200 cigarettes into the U.S. if they are produced
in the U.S., whether made for export or not.
How many
suitcases can I bring?
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Each person
is allowed up to 200 pounds of personal luggage on
board. However, if you are traveling by air, ask the
airline if it has different restrictions. Airlines and
NCL have limited liability for loss, so be sure all
baggage and personal belongings are properly insured.
Suitcases should be securely locked and tagged. You
should hand-carry medication, jewelry or other valuables
and important documents.
What about
smoking, drinking and gambling on the ship?
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Smoking is
permitted in designated areas in the bars and outside on
open decks. All other areas on board ship are
non-smoking. Guests must be age 21 to purchase or drink
alcohol** however ages 18 years to 20 years may purchase
and consume beer and wine only with a completed parental
consent form. This policy is not applicable to the NCLA
vessels or Hawaii and Alaska itineraries. This form must
be given to the reception desk on board the vessel by
the parent or guardian accompanied by the young adult
with proof of age and relationship. Guests must be age
18 to gamble on the ship. If a guest under age 18 wins
in the casino and cannot provide proof of age, he or she
will not be paid the winnings. There is no casino aboard
Pride of Aloha, Pride of America and Norwegian Wind.
Guests are not allowed to bring on board the vessel any
alcoholic beverages of any kind.
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**With the
exception of Alaska and Hawaii itineraries, NCL permits
guests between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty (20)
to purchase and personally consume wine and beer while
on NCL ships with the consent of a parent or legal
guardian (Parental Consent). Complete details and the
Parental Consent form are available on board at the
Reception Desk.
Dress Code in
Dining Rooms
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Freestyle
Cruising gives our guests the freedom to dress as they
please. Resort casual attire is always appropriate
morning, noon and night. However, NCL/ NCLA does not
allow any blue jeans, t-shirts, shorts, cut-offs, tank
tops, bare feet, etc. in any of our fine dining
restaurants for dinner, including all main restaurants,
alternative restaurants, and cover charge venues.
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Guests are
allowed to wear blue jeans, shorts and t-shirts, in the
evenings at the buffets, outdoor barbeques, and 24-hour
venues, such as the Blue Lagoon, the Cadillac diner,
etc.
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Below are a
few exceptions to the dining room dress code:
Blue Jeans will be allowed in all dining rooms on all
Houston departures, due to the Texas culture.
Blue Jeans will be allowed in the Trattoria's in the
evenings.
Bermuda shorts with knee high socks, or Scottish kilts
with knee highs will also be allowed in all dining rooms
in Bermuda as these are considered formal dress in
Bermuda.
Hawaiian shirts are allowed with proper slacks in all
dining rooms.
Ladies Capri Pants, which are a length between the knee
and ankles, are acceptable in all fine dining rooms as
long as they are not blue jean capris.
What time is
dinner?
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What time
would you like it to be? NCL's exclusive Freestyle
Cruising lets you choose. We offer open-seating dining
in a variety of restaurants and cafis with individual
menus, so it's your choice. You can have lunch or dinner
with friends in one of the elegantly appointed
restaurants. Reserve a table for two in an intimate
bistro.
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Order an
omelette prepared just the way you like it from the
breakfast-buffet chef. Indulge yourself with delectable
selections from the Chocoholic Buffet. There are
special menus for youngsters and special entries from
Cooking Light.. There's even a menu created by Henry
Haller, former White House Executive Chef under five
U.S. presidents. Special meals are available including
low-calorie, vegetarian, no MSG, low/no sodium and
low/no cholesterol meals, as well as sugar-free and
fat-free desserts. All of our restaurants are
non-smoking. Most specialty restaurants require a per
person cover charge or offer a` la carte pricing.
Reservations are recomended and can be made on board.
Will I need an
electrical converter?
Do children
cruise for free?
Are there
children's programs?
Are babysitters
available?
Are there any
pool regulations?
What other
services are available?
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Beauty
parlor and spa services include hair styling, manicures,
pedicures, facials and massages in our Mandara Spa Salon
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Gift shops
feature duty-free shopping, with fine jewelry, perfumes,
clothing, cosmetics and limited drug store items
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Laundry &
dry-cleaning services
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Tuxedo
rental prior to sailing
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Internet
Cafi
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Art auctions
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Photographs
taken throughout the cruise
What about
guests with special needs?
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NCL welcomes
guests with special needs. Of course, we may require
advance notice in order to accommodate them, so they
must advise NCL's Ship Coordinator Department of their
needs at least three weeks prior to their cruise.
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All of our
ships have designated staterooms with wider doorways and
bathrooms that will accommodate wheelchairs and
staterooms with lights and under-pillow vibrating alarms
for guests with hearing impairments. Guide dogs are
permitted on all NCL ships.Many staterooms have
refrigerators that can be used to store medications that
must be kept cold. Guests who need oxygen or require
oxygen therapy are welcome on all NCL ships; however,
they must supply their own oxygen. Guests who use
wheelchairs must provide their own. Click here for more
information for guests with special needs.
Is there a
doctor on board?
What if I'm
pregnant?
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NCL will
make every effort to accommodate you, providing you have
not entered the 24th week of pregnancy when the cruise
ends. However, you must provide the Ship Coordinator
Department with a medical certificate establishing your
due date prior to your cruise.
What about Shore
Excursions?
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An updated
listing of Shore Excursions are available approximately
3 months prior to the first sailing of each cruise
destination season. If you are booked on a cruise, a
Shore Excursions brochure and pre-request form will be
mailed to you with your cruise documents. Some tours are
available to pre-request online, or you may fax the
completed pre-request form to 1-305-436-4110. Once
onboard, Shore Excursions can also be purchased at the
ship's Shore Excursion Desk.
How can we
celebrate a special occasion?
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You may
purchase wine, or bon voyage gifts, such as fruit
baskets, champagne, birthday cakes, canapis, flowers or
other gifts for your stateroom. Please let us know at
least three weeks before sailing.
What if I need
to stay in touch while away?
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All of our
ships have computer terminals you can rent by the hour
at the Internet Cafi. You can also telephone, telex,
radiogram or fax to anywhere in the world and be billed*
at applicable ship-to-shore rates.
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NCL guests
can also be contacted on one of our ships by calling
1.888.NCSHIPS (1.888.627.4477) from USA. For the rest of
the world please dial 1.732.335.3280. When guests are
contacted with the ship via satellite, they can be
reached directly, if they are in their stateroom. If
not, a message about the incoming call will be delivered
to their cabin and then they can call back* the shore
via satellite. Click here to for NCL Ship Telephone &
Fax Numbers."
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*Please use
the American Express, MasterCard and Discover card,
only.
Documentation,
visas and passports
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The United
States Government recently enacted the Border Security
Act, under which, effective January 1, 2003, all guests
must provide key personal information in advance of
sailing. Guests may fill out the Advance Guest
Registration online, or they can obtain a form through
their travel agent to return via fax or mail to NCL
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All United
States and Canadian citizens must carry proof of
citizenship such as a valid passport or birth
certificate along with a government issued photo ID (16
years or older). It is your responsibility to check with
your travel professional, local immigration office
and/or respective embassy or consulate to determine
requirements for passports, visas and other
documentation, including vaccinations for infectious
diseases. Guests denied boarding by local immigration
officials for lack of proper documents are not entitled
to a cruise refund. Here are some guidelines, but please
note that this list is not exhaustive.
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For travel
from the United States
To destinations in Canada, Bermuda, Mexico, the Bahamas
and the Caribbean, guests who are not United States or
Canadian citizens must carry a valid passport and
multiple entry visa for entry into the United States
(B-2 Visitor's Visa), or a visa waiver.
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As visa
requirements vary by country and are subject to change,
guests who are not United States or Canadian citizens
are urged to contact your travel professional, local
immigration office and/or respective embassy or
consulate to determine the entry requirements for your
cruise destinations.
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For travel
from Hawaii
At the time of printing, U.S. Immigration regulations
required all guests on Hawaiian cruises that call at
Fanning Island in the Republic of Kiribati to carry a
valid passport.
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For travel
abroad
As visa requirements vary by country and are subject to
change, all guests traveling abroad are urged to contact
your travel professional, local immigration office
and/or respective embassy or consulate to determine the
entry requirements for your cruise destinations.
Where can I keep
my valuables?
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Security
envelopes and/or safe deposit boxes are available from
the ship's purser at no charge. Most staterooms and
suites have mini-safes. Please note, however, that NCL
is not responsible for valuables left in staterooms or
elsewhere on board.
Are visitors
allowed on board?
What to Pack?
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Freestyle
Cruising gives you the freedom to dress as you please.
So come as you are. No need to check for a suggested
dress code in the ship's Freestyle Daily as you would on
traditional cruises. Resort casual attire is always
appropriate morning, noon and night. If you like, you
can slip into a pair of khakis and a polo shirt, a skirt
and blouse or a sundress for dinner. We do not allow
jeans, T-shirts, shorts, cut-offs, tank tops, bare feet,
etc. in any of the restaurants at dinner.
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For those
who do love to dress to the nines and get that annual
formal portrait photography done, there is one optional
formal evening in at least one of the main restaurants
on every cruise; at least two formal evenings on longer
cruises. This means black tie or dark suit for gentlemen
and evening gown or cocktail dress for ladies. But
remember, on formal evenings you can always choose to
dine in one of the other restaurants instead and enjoy
some of the other lounges and leave your dressier
clothes at home.
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In warm
climates, shorts, slacks, sundresses, jeans and tops -
and of course a swimsuit and cover-up are all
appropriate daytime attire. Air conditioning can feel
chilly, so pack a sweater. Because weather is difficult
to predict, in cooler climates dressing in layers is the
best approach. For visits to places of worship, check
your Freestyle Daily for attire guidelines. Be sure to
bring a pair of comfortable walking shoes, too. Other
essentials: sunglasses, a sun hat or visor and
sunscreen. Don't forget to bring prescription medicines
in original containers and an extra pair of glasses or
contact lenses. Carry valuables and medication in a
handbag you keep with you at all times.
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Important
Note: All suitcases are collected the night before we
return to our home port, so be sure to bring an
overnight bag.
What can't I
bring onboard?
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Passenger is
not allowed to bring onboard the vessel without the
previous written permission of the Carrier any
intoxicating liquors, or beverages, firearms, weapons of
any kind, ammunition, explosive substances or any goods
of a dangerous nature, nor animals of any kind, except
service or guide animals, provided the passenger
notifies Carrier prior to the cruise of his intention to
bring such animal and agrees to take sole responsibility
for any expense, damage, injuries or losses associated
with or caused by such animal.
NCL Age
Requirements
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Company
policy dictates that a passenger under 21 years of age
must be accompanied in the same or connecting stateroom
by a passenger 21 years or older who expressly agrees to
be responsible for the under 21 passenger throughout the
cruise. This includes, but is not limited to, preventing
under-age purchase or consumption of alcohol**,
preventing under-age gaming activities and preventing
violations of any ship's rules. Passengers must be age
21 to purchase or consume alcohol and age 18 to gamble
on the ship. If the accompanying adult is not the
minor's parent or legal guardian a NOTARIZED PARENTAL/
GUARDIAN CONSENT LETTER that authorizes the minor's
travel and further authorizes medical treatment in case
of an emergency must be delivered to an NCL
representative at the pier. Failure to produce this
letter at embarkation may result in boarding being
denied, with no refund of cruise fare provided.
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Note: Two
people under the age of 21 may travel together in the
same stateroom without someone over the age of 21 in the
same stateroom if they purchased the cruise under the
family plan and have at least one person who is 21 years
or older in the adjoining stateroom. The age limit will
be waived for married couples less than 21 years of age
provided proof of marriage is presented to an NCL
representative at the pier.
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**With the
exception of Alaska and Hawaii itineraries, NCL permits
guests between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty (20)
to purchase and personally consume wine and beer while
on NCL ships with the consent of a parent or legal
guardian (Parental Consent). Complete details and the
Parental Consent form are available on board at the
Reception Desk.
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