What to Know Before You Go

What to Know Before You Go


Cruise Line Acronyms


AmaWaterways= AMA
Avalon Waterways=AVA
Azamara Cruises = AZA
Carnival Cruise Line = CCL
Costa Cruises = COS
Celebrity Cruises = CEL
Disney Cruise Line = DCL
Holland America Line = HAL
Hurtigruten = HUR
MSC Cruises = MSC
Norwegian Cruise Line = NCL
Paul Gauguin Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruise
Royal Caribbean International = RCI
SilverSea = SSC

Planning Your Cruise


Please see your Travel Professional. We urge you to fully discuss your personal tastes and preferences to ensure the right choice.

Payment


Visa, Mastercard, American Express. If paying $US funds (cash, cheque, money order or credit card) ask your Travel Professional to advise Encore Cruises at time of booking. Canadian cheques made out in $US funds are not accepted.

Cruise Inclusions


All cruises include accommodation, dining on board, entertainment and activities. Some cruise lines also include gratuities, shore excursions, beverages, wine and beer, air and transfers. For specific inclusions, refer to the details published for your cruise line.

Additional Charges


Items of a personal nature are additional: ie, casino, gift shop, spa or boutiques. Shore excursions and beverages are additional unless specifically shown as a cruise line inclusion. For specific inclusions, refer to the details published for your cruise line.

Gratuities


On RSSC ships gratuities are not required. Recommended amounts per guest per day for all other featured cruise lines are: AZA - US$12.25; CC and RCI - Dining Room waiter US$3.50, Stateroom attendant US$3.50 (Suites US$5.75), Assistant waiter US$2, Head waiter US$.75, Butler on CC US$3.50; COS - 6 Euro for cruises up to 8 nights (US$10 on Caribbean sailings) and 4.5 Euro for cruise 9 nights or longer (US $7.50 on Caribbean sailings). Children under 18 pay 50% of these amounts. DCL - US$11; MCC - 9 Euro or US$12, children under 17 pay 4 Euro or US$6; MSC - US$12 for Caribbean and Transatlantic sailings, 6 Euro for Europe sailings, 5 Euro for South America sailings. Children under 18 sharing the same stateroom with 2 adults pay 50% of these amounts. OL - US$9; NCL and NCL America ¿ US$10, children under 13 pay US$5.

Some cruise lines add the recommended gratuities amount to your shipboard account. Guests have an option to adjust the dollar value of the gratuities applied at the end of the cruise. A 15% gratuity will automatically be added to the bar or wine bill at time of service.

Documentation


It is the sole responsibility of the guest and their Travel Professional to ensure valid documentation. See Documentation in Terms & Conditions.

Accommodation


Accommodation/bedding descriptions are included along with deck plans.

On Board Currency and Credit Cards


Onboard currency is the $US (except MCC and MSC; on Med sailings currency is the Euro. $US are accepted in the casino and may be used to settle expenses at cruise end). All vessels have a credit system where an imprint of your card is taken allowing you to sign for most purchases and services, settling charges at cruise end. Cash only for casinos and medical services. Visa/Mastercard/American Express accepted by all cruise lines. AZA, CC, DCL, RCI, NCL, NCL America, OL and RSSC also accept Discover Card. RCI and RSSC also accept Diners. Celebrity ships have ATM's.

Recommended Attire


There are 3 basic types of attire (daily programs announce suggested dress for the evening) Casual Elegance: Comfortable, relaxed clothing, i.e. sundresses/slacks/shirts for women, sport shirts/trousers for men. Informal: Dresses/pansuits, for women; jackets for men (ties optional). Formal: Cocktail dresses or gowns for women, suits and ties or tuxedos for men. CC, COS, DCL, RCI, MSC, MCC, OL and RSSC have a mix of casual, informal and formal nights. Resort casual attire is always appropriate on Azamara, NCL, NCLA ships and Paul Gauguin.

Selecting Table Seating & Smoking Policies


Requests for main/second seating with specific party & table size can be made at time of booking or upon embarkation on CC, COS, DCL, MCC, MSC, OL and RCI. Requests cannot be guaranteed and seating is confirmed on embarkation on day only. AZA and RSSC offer one open seating for dinner where you may dine with whomever you please. NCL/NCLA is "Freestyle" and there are no set dining times. Most ships offer alternative venues to the main dining room(s) and reservations are made on board (a nominal cover charge may be assessed in these restaurants). Designated smoking areas vary by cruise line. Smoking is not permitted in food services areas, restaurants or show lounges in all cases.

Special Occasions and Diets


Inform Encore Cruises of your desires and requirements at time of booking and reconfirm diets with the maitre D' on embarkation day

Solo Travellers


RSSC offer a social host program on select sailings.

Medical Issues


See your Travel Professional or applicable consulate to see if vaccination certificates and/or health cards are required. All ships have a medical facility and staff for basic care. Advise your Travel Professional of any preexisting condition at time of booking. All ships carry motion sickness remedies.

Casinos


Gambling age on CC, RCI and MSC is 21. On COS, MCC, OL, RSSC and NCL ships, gambling age is 18. Due to local gambling regulations there are no casinos on board NCL America's Pride of Aloha, Pride of America and Pride of Hawaii. When Pride of Hawaii is re-named Norwegian Jade in February 2008, a new casino will be on board. There are no casinos on board DCL ships.

Laundry / Valet


Laundry, pressing, dry-cleaning is available at reasonable fees (irons/boards available without charge).

Safety Deposit Boxes


Most accommodation has mini-safes or lockable drawers (except MCC-in suites only).

Electrical Appliances


Accommodation is equipped with 110-volt (except Ocean Monarch - 220-volt), 60 cycle alternating current so most dryers, shavers and small appliances can be used. Converters aren't necessary.

Shore Excursions


May be purchased on board or pre-booked on most with most cruise lines - please inquire.

Email / Photographers


May be purchased on board or pre-booked on most with most cruise lines - please inquire.

Pets


Not allowed on any ship unless a qualified service animal.