documents for a cruise
Jan 23rd, 2012, 05:12 PM
#1
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documents for a cruise
I will be leaving for a cruise in abour 6 weeks. I have already did mt on-line check in and have pritned out my "Xpress" pass and have my passport. Is there any other doumentation that i need or are these teo it?
Jan 23rd, 2012, 05:40 PM
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Your passport is all you need for identification at the pier and if you've completed your online check-in you should be good to go, however, I would do two things. Read the Xpress pass to make sure you aren't missing any thing and 2, ask your travel agent or the cruise line to make sure.
Bon Voyage!
Bon Voyage!
Jan 23rd, 2012, 11:21 PM
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It all depends where you are going. You might need vacination and some countries require a visa, but it is rare for crusie passengers but there are exceptions.
As an example: if you start a crusie or end a cruise in Russia, you will need a transit visa. If you stay over for a night pre or post cruise, you will need a regular 30 day visa.
Check with your TA and see if visas are requried to where you are going. For the Caribbeans, no worries.
As an example: if you start a crusie or end a cruise in Russia, you will need a transit visa. If you stay over for a night pre or post cruise, you will need a regular 30 day visa.
Check with your TA and see if visas are requried to where you are going. For the Caribbeans, no worries.
Jan 24th, 2012, 10:55 AM
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CruzInsider,
Thanks for the info. I have another Q. On my Xpress pass, it asked something to the nature if i want celebrity cruise to convert the currency when i make a charge or if i want my credit card company to do it? I was going to go with the 2nd choice and let my CC Company do it, thinking I was going to get a better right, any thoughts?
Thanks for the info. I have another Q. On my Xpress pass, it asked something to the nature if i want celebrity cruise to convert the currency when i make a charge or if i want my credit card company to do it? I was going to go with the 2nd choice and let my CC Company do it, thinking I was going to get a better right, any thoughts?
Jan 24th, 2012, 02:39 PM
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Your Xpress pass is your "credit card" while on baord. Everything is charged there, and they in turn charge your credit card.
The options are for the ship to add 3% service fee and charge you on your card's home currency or the ship to charge you in US$ and let your credit card company do the convertion plus charge you the service fee.
Whoever charges you less is the one that you go with. Some credit card company charges more than 3% and some charges less, although the 3% is pretty standard.
The second question is what does the ship charges as an exchange rate and your credit card charges as an exchange rate. You really can't compare as the rate floats and unless you have a charge on the same day, and they processed it the same day, then you really can't comapre.
The option I use is none of the above. We pay cash the night before and let them charge the small balance to the credit card. I leave the currency exchange to the specialist, and usually with the best rate: currency exchange brokers.
The options are for the ship to add 3% service fee and charge you on your card's home currency or the ship to charge you in US$ and let your credit card company do the convertion plus charge you the service fee.
Whoever charges you less is the one that you go with. Some credit card company charges more than 3% and some charges less, although the 3% is pretty standard.
The second question is what does the ship charges as an exchange rate and your credit card charges as an exchange rate. You really can't compare as the rate floats and unless you have a charge on the same day, and they processed it the same day, then you really can't comapre.
The option I use is none of the above. We pay cash the night before and let them charge the small balance to the credit card. I leave the currency exchange to the specialist, and usually with the best rate: currency exchange brokers.
Jan 24th, 2012, 07:14 PM
#9
It is not the country the ship is registered to ,but the currency of your country at the time of purchase.
Let us say you bought something in London on January 20th 2012.
..and the cost of the item was 20 pounds.
..you charged this 20 pounds to your Mastercard/Visa.
Mastercard/Visa will convert the 20 pounds into US$ if you are in the USA and into Canadian dollars if you live in Canada etc.
However ,the conversion rate ( by the Credit Card Company (Mastercvard/Visa))will be what the rate was on January 20th when you bought the item in London.
As you know the rates fluctuate but not by that much.
Let us say you bought something in London on January 20th 2012.
..and the cost of the item was 20 pounds.
..you charged this 20 pounds to your Mastercard/Visa.
Mastercard/Visa will convert the 20 pounds into US$ if you are in the USA and into Canadian dollars if you live in Canada etc.
However ,the conversion rate ( by the Credit Card Company (Mastercvard/Visa))will be what the rate was on January 20th when you bought the item in London.
As you know the rates fluctuate but not by that much.
Jan 24th, 2012, 07:42 PM
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Travel4425,
If you can get a CC card that does not charge a conversion rate fee (and there are many that do and only a few that don't) I would get that card and then choose to have the CC company do the conversion. Carrying cash can be risky but traveler's checks aren't easy to cash these days. Credit Card companies convert using a bankers rate which is favorable to currency exchange rates.
BTW - if you are going somewhere that needs currency exchange make sure you don't need a Visa. If you are a US citizen, you will need one in Istanbul (only if you are starting or ending your cruise - you don't need one if you have a port stay in the middle of your journey - plus you get the Visa in Istanbul so no need to get it prior), also Russia (but the cruise line usually has a blanket Visa if you do one of their excursions - a Russian Visa is difficult to obtain, but not impossible). Try using this site (http://zvs.com/) for Visa information - it's the service used by most cruise lines.
Luggage tags can be printed from online but I always wait and just get them at the pier - they are sturdier than the flimsy paper you print out anyway. If you do print them out, don't put them on prior to a flight. They'll just get taken off.
I hope this helps.
If you can get a CC card that does not charge a conversion rate fee (and there are many that do and only a few that don't) I would get that card and then choose to have the CC company do the conversion. Carrying cash can be risky but traveler's checks aren't easy to cash these days. Credit Card companies convert using a bankers rate which is favorable to currency exchange rates.
BTW - if you are going somewhere that needs currency exchange make sure you don't need a Visa. If you are a US citizen, you will need one in Istanbul (only if you are starting or ending your cruise - you don't need one if you have a port stay in the middle of your journey - plus you get the Visa in Istanbul so no need to get it prior), also Russia (but the cruise line usually has a blanket Visa if you do one of their excursions - a Russian Visa is difficult to obtain, but not impossible). Try using this site (http://zvs.com/) for Visa information - it's the service used by most cruise lines.
Luggage tags can be printed from online but I always wait and just get them at the pier - they are sturdier than the flimsy paper you print out anyway. If you do print them out, don't put them on prior to a flight. They'll just get taken off.
I hope this helps.
Jan 25th, 2012, 02:06 PM
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Percy,
You said “It is not the country the ship is registered to ,but the currency of your country at the time of purchase." So i understand that when I am in Belize and buy something there, my CC converts from the Belize currency. And the same thing for the other 5 counties i will be at. I think that the box that i have to check off on my Xpress pass refers to charges while on the ship. after all, what would celebrity have to do with a CC purchase in, let’s say, costa rica. That would be between my cc and that county not the ship.
You said “It is not the country the ship is registered to ,but the currency of your country at the time of purchase." So i understand that when I am in Belize and buy something there, my CC converts from the Belize currency. And the same thing for the other 5 counties i will be at. I think that the box that i have to check off on my Xpress pass refers to charges while on the ship. after all, what would celebrity have to do with a CC purchase in, let’s say, costa rica. That would be between my cc and that county not the ship.
Jan 25th, 2012, 05:35 PM
#13
You are corrrect travel4425
It is between your Credit Card Company and the Country where you purchased the merchandise.!
If you get off the cruise ship in Costa Rica and then purchase something ( on the credit card) in Costa Rica.....the currenct exchange is between your Credit Card Company and Costa Rica currency.
It is between your Credit Card Company and the Country where you purchased the merchandise.!
If you get off the cruise ship in Costa Rica and then purchase something ( on the credit card) in Costa Rica.....the currenct exchange is between your Credit Card Company and Costa Rica currency.
