Freedom of choice: NCL's "Freestyle Cruising" revolutionizes shipboard dining - Sailing With The Chefs - Norwegian Cruise Line
Lorraine Shapiro

Dressing up for the captain's welcome party, dining with the same passengers at early or late seating, Broadway-style and variety shows, diverse activities onboard, and tours and excursions ashore are all well-established cruise traditions.

But now Norwegian Cruise Line has put a spin on the traditional experience with its "Freestyle Cruising" concept. A dramatic departure from past formality and schedules, a cruise vacation on NCL resembles a stay at a top hotel combined with the best cruising has to offer. Although there's at least one formal night for those who enjoy dressing for dinner, resort casual attire is the role. Flexible dining hours with open seating at different restaurants and countless events onboard and ashore permit planning days and nights to the fullest---or you can simply relax.

NCL's two, new large ships--the Norwegian Star and Norwegian Sun--were purpose-built in 2001 to implement this novel idea. You'll find more dining venues, bars, lounges, and a larger staff--where gratuities added automatically to the bill eliminate the need to sit at one table with one waiter.

While most cruise ships provide a "taste of the world" by serving international dishes, NCL's specialty restaurants provide a closer look at foreign favorites with miso soup at breakfast, Indian buffet at lunch, and escargot for dinner. The first ship to offer Freestyle Cruising, the Norwegian Sky has been making waves since 1999 with her resort-like atmosphere and six restaurants. In addition to two main dining rooms serving international and regional specialties, vegetarian and "Cooking Light" dishes, there are inviting buffets at the cafe and three alternative by-reservation dining venues seating 80 to 90 with a cover charge.

An intimate ambiance, better service, gourmet products, and more dishes cooked to order--like a shoreside restaurant--distinguish these small eateries. Le Bistro has contemporary and classic French fare, Horizon features an Italian-Mediterranean menu, and Ciao Chow offers Asian cuisine from Asian-style pizza to traditional sushi prepared with fresh fish (air freighted) from Japan. Passengers develop preferences, dining several nights at their favorite restaurant, trying different menu items, or repeating a favorite. (It's advised to make reservations early.) Flexible dining hours and more restaurant options provide the opportunity for such higher quality, leisurely meals. Dishes are prepared in smaller quantities, more a la minute, since the kitchen isn't rushed to serve 2,000 people in four hours.

The Norwegian Sky kitchen brigade of 200 hails from 22 countries, and turns out dishes that reflect seasonal and regional flavors. On Alaska cruises, fish and seafood are popular with fresh salmon and halibut vying with the runaway favorite lobster (85 to 90 percent of the passengers order the eight-ounce Florida lobster tails). But the Pacific Rim restaurants on the Norwegian Star and Norwegian Sun feature fresh 174- to 1 h-pound Maine lobsters directly from their lobster tanks, the first such tanks at sea.

Although NCL typically has offered cruises to Alaska, Bermuda, Canada/New England, and the Caribbean, recent plans to visit 140 ports--including more exotic destinations worldwide--have been shelved since 9-11. NCL schedules now provide many cruises originating from U.S. and Canadian ports that include shorter flights for North Americans--part of a program NCL calls "Homeland Cruising."

Since the Norwegian Star is cruising Hawaiian waters full time, with fleetmates sailing there seasonally, there's a greater interest in Hawaiian, Californian, and Asian cuisine. The line's list of Asian ingredients has expanded dramatically. Potstickers, shiitake mushrooms, napa cabbage, soba and rice noodles, baby shrimp, and spicy sambal oeleck and soy are offered daily at the Garden Cafe so passengers can design their own soup bowls.

Major provisions are loaded in Seattle or Vancouver for Alaskan cruises, Boston for Bermuda, New York for the Eastern Seaboard, and Miami for Caribbean destinations. Delicacies loaded in Honolulu may include chocolate-covered macadamia nuts, papaya, and pineapple. Previously NCL brought perishable fruits and vegetables onboard for worldwide cruises in Barcelona, Beijing, Buenos Aires, Dover, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Piraeus, and Valparaiso.

To provide 12,000 pounds of beef, 10,000 pounds of poultry, 9,500 pounds of seafood, 2,500 pounds of veal, 25,000 pounds each of fresh vegetables and fruit, and 24,000 dozen eggs weekly on the Norwegian Sun, astronomical amounts of food are procured. It's hard to imagine the busy crew bustling in galley prep areas continuously round-the-clock, readying the food that is presented so effortlessly to passengers.

While many other cruise lines have discontinued the gala midnight buffet, NCL continues with this cruise custom. The signature Chocoholic Buffet is a highlight showcasing chocolate black and white cheesecake, chocolate-covered strawberries, chocolate velvet cake, chocolate-chip cookies, an ice-cream sundae bar, perhaps the award-winning Kentucky chocolate cake, and many more.

Warm-weather destinations mean luncheon buffets poolside. Country & western tables are laden with potato, corn, and bean salads, corn on the cob, baked beans, barbecued beef and pork ribs, chicken, pies, and cakes. Conch salad, escovitch fish, jerk chicken, red snapper, rice and beans, fried plantains, and suckling pig make the Caribbean buffet one to remember.

Coffee and tea--even pizza--are offered around the clock, and 24-hour room service is available at no extra charge (except for a gratuity). Many passengers enjoy breakfast in their cabins, especially those with balconies. And now there's no need to order room service just to escape the "formal night." Enjoy cabin service for the pleasure of private dining with your loved one. Those who do so say that it's memorable.

While nowadays many cruise ships have two alternative restaurants, NCL has more dining options than days in the week. On the Norwegian Sky, early-risers can find coffee and cinnamon rolls in the Ciao Chow Restaurant, a breakfast buffet in the Garden Cafe, continental breakfast in the Great Outdoor Restaurant, and full breakfast in the main dining rooms. Snacks are served in the cafe in the afternoons. Then there are cocktail parties and Asian platters in the Observation Lounge, plus tapas in the wine bar. (On the Norwegian Star and Norwegian Sun, tapas are also offered in Las Ramblas before dinner, and later at midnight buffets.) Presidential favorites created by Henry Haller, White House executive chef to five former presidents, are featured one evening in the main dining rooms. Vegetarian specialties at lunch go beyond a plate of steamed vegetables to forest mushroom crepes, vegetable moussaka, and Thai tofu curry. And veggie burgers are always available.

More passengers also are looking at the low-fat, low-calorie "Cooking Light" cuisine with a dedicated dining room on the Norwegian Sun. Good intentions are not put aside as more people continue to pursue a healthy lifestyle while cruising, using the 24-hour fitness center, walking and jogging deck, and relaxing spa services. For the annual "Cooking Light Ship Shape Adventure," Cooking Light magazine editors guide their readers through cooking demonstrations, cooking programs, and food and wine seminars on a seven-day cooking-theme Caribbean cruise.

Wine-tasting provides an opportunity to sample five varietals for $10 (a fee partially offset by a wine purchase). With the purchase of four bottles of wine from the well-chosen list of mostly California and French varietals, the fifth of equal or lesser value is free.

The littlest seagoers have not been forgotten. "Jolly Crew Happy Meals" appeal to children with pizza, pasta, hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken fingers, and ice cream, but there are more healthful selections of soups, juices, salads, fruits, and vegies that mom will approve. Some dishes are geared to ports-of-call.

Question
Just return from cruise on Norweign Spirit. Like the idea of freestyle cruising regarding meals. However the quality wasnt that great on Norweign. Does any other cruise line have the opportunity to dine when you want and with whoever you want that offer a better quality of meals

Answer
Hi Carol,
We went on the Norwegian Sun a few years ago and also liked the idea of the freestyle and not having the set time for dinner. However, we were pretty disappointed with the quality also, especially the service. Our favorite line is Royal Caribbean... cause we do have the set time for the dining room dinner and we always do late seating, but also the waiter and asst. waiters got to know you and the service is always so much better than we saw on NCL. Also, on Royal Caribbean, if you don't feel like going to the main dining room for dinner, they always have the Windjammer set up for dinner too and it's more formal than you'd see at lunch with table cloths etc, and it's often many of the same food selection as the main dining room too only it's buffet style.
I'll direct to you some good cruise sites in case you want to look into this further or get some more suggestions or opinions. :-) Becky
http://www.cruisecritic.com/ (These 3 sites are similar and free to use, but Cruise Critic was the first and is the buisiest...you can also go on the message boards and talk to people on there if you have questions about anything or everything cruise related...you can also talk to people who have been on the same ship you've booked and even talk to people who will be on your same sailing too.)

http://www.cruisemates.com/

http://www.cruise-addicts.com/

It's been six years since Norwegian Cruise Line made waves in the industry by launching "freestyle cruising." But apparently the concept still confuses many would-be customers.

Last week the line announced a massive relaunch of the freestyle formula, which remains a radical departure from the dinner-is-promptly-at-6 p.m.-and-here’s-your-assigned-seat regimentation found on many ships. The line plans to spend $100 million on advertising over the next few months to help explain it to the world.

Really, it's quite simple. Instead of assigned seating at dinner, and an assigned time to go, Norwegian lets passengers choose between half a dozen or more eateries per ship and to show up at any time. The line also threw out the stuffy old rules about tuxedos on formal nights, and even a jacket isn’t really necessary. You wear what you want, eat what you want, when you want and basically come and go as you please.

One of the problems with the concept early on was that Norwegian ships weren't set up to house multiple restaurants with customers arriving at all hours. Old ships were designed with grand dining rooms meant for assigned seatings. But six years later, several of those old ships have been put out to pasture, and Norwegian has custom-designed new ships with lots of little restaurants, bars and entertainment venues. The 2,466-passenger Norwegian Pearl, launching in December, will have an impressive 10 eateries including the line's now trademark sushi bar and teppanyaki restaurant.

I've been on @ 12 cruises with family and with friends on Carnival, NCL, RC & Celebrity. The one time we tried 'freestyle' we didn't like it: waiting for a table (or having to wory about reservations on your trip!), not getting to know your 'tablemates', not getting to know wait staff (and therefore they have no interest in personal service). On top of that you have to paying extra in a special restaurant for the kind of special cuisine that is standard elsewhere. We also found that we missed a lot of the activities becuase the ship's staff couldn't scedule around those set dining times and have a flow to the activities on the ship.

Call me old fashioned but I LIKE the idea of showing enough respect for each other to dress decently to go to dinner. If you don't want to, and you want decent service (which I didn't find on NCL) and a easy to follow activity schedule, I've never been on any cruise were there was a lack of food at any time of day or night even if you didn't go to the dining room!

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Miami Moon wrote: 38d ago
Thank it's about time for this. I hated the rigid schedule of crusies and therefore, Now+++++ I will go on many more cruses and they will be on your ships. Thanks for changing the world.
Now, I need to get information on reseverations, cheap tickets, etc.
Sincerely,
Miami Moon

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My husband & I have been on 15 cruises including the Queen Mary 2. We decided to try NCL free style & we loved it. The food was ok. The French Restaurant was superb. Our cabin steward & his ass't was fantastic. I will definetly cruise NCL again. Your not on a set schedule & my husband enjoyed it because he didn't have to get dressed up every night for dinner esp. after being in port all day. Overall I like the freedom & flexibility of freestyle cruising.
Posted by: Marlene | Jan 5, 2007 11:26:08 PM

My husband and I went on our first cruise last June for our honeymoon, and we LOVED the freestyle cruising idea with Norwegian. It was very nice to choose when and where we wanted to eat...sometimes we just weren't hungry at "dinnertime" and it was nice to have the freedom to decide. With it being our honeymoon it was nice to be able to sit at a table that was just ours, opposed to a large table shared with strangers. Since this was our first cruise, it's hard for me to compare it to scheduled dining times, but in my opinion I would never schedule a cruise now where I was told when and where to sit and eat. The wait staff was the absolutely most pleasant staff we have ever had, and my husband - who is a very hard person to impress - was VERY impressed.
Posted by: B Jordan | Dec 6, 2006 12:56:28 PM

Just returned from freestyle cruising and we did not like it at all. It seems like most on our ship, Majesty, wanted to eat between 6:45 and 7:30 at night. Long line with different wait staff that didn't seem to care,because we wouldn't see them again. The only night our 11 folks got to eat together and chat was the night we paid $50 per couple to eat tenderloin in one of the other venues on board. Give us assigned sitting and formal nights any time. We also missed two nights of shows because of a full house with most getting out of supper at the same time.
Posted by: Ken | Dec 1, 2006 1:01:03 PM

We have cruised 6 - 7 NCL cruises and are booking another for new Year's. We love the freestyle cruising. Eating when and where you want is great.

You do have to book the restaurants in advance, but you can eat at any of the restaurants for lunch or dinner to experience the different restaurants.

I find it hard to go back to the traditional 5pm or 8 pm dinner seatings with unfriendly people you are forced to sit with.
Posted by: J & R | Nov 14, 2006 9:17:37 AM

We love free-style crusing on the Princess Ships, meeting new people every time we dine. We on occasion, meet someone disagreeable, but we remember there will be a new guest at the next meal.
Posted by: Ed L. | Oct 18, 2006 5:07:34 PM

We are signed up for a Princess cruise in December. Although the ship offers freestyle (anytime) dining, we requested early fixed seating.

We are number 409 on the wait list. Assuming 2 people per cabin, that means there are 818 people who want traditional fixed seating and can't have it.

Obviously, the demand (on this cruise at least) is for less anytime dining.
Posted by: BGreene | Oct 18, 2006 2:08:42 PM

I happened to love the Dawn. The food was great. The service was excelent. The house staff was surpereb. There cruise price was a great value. I even booked again. We will be leaving this comming May for a 7 nites. The only bad thing is that they do not have acuatit food for diabetis. Because I am one of the many people that go on cruises.
Posted by: phyllis | Oct 17, 2006 5:30:10 PM

I will never sail with NCL again. If the want to releave us from having to individually tip the help then charge more for the cabin. Although I had aleady timed my cabin steward. he had his hand olut for more. I found that you could not get easly some thing what was "free" like a glass of water. Only paid for drinks got a qujick responce. It was and still is a great disapointment to my wife and now she will not go anyh more. My dissapopintment. RHT
Posted by: thayer@csus.edu | Oct 9, 2006 1:32:41 AM

We do not like freestyle meals.The idea of a time, place & table with the sameness of table guestsis great. There has not been a problem with changing tables if necessary but it has happened only twice on 11 cruises.Dressing for supper is one of the joys of cruising. We will not book freestyle cruises.
Posted by: JIM GREENAWALT | Oct 8, 2006 8:44:55 AM

My family has been on several cruises and we have found Norwegian has the nicest boats and best service. Yet the Freestyle cruising is difficult because you have to make reservations right away or your stuck eating at 20 oclock and missing the shows. Yet their defiantly the nicest boats. Carnivals food was horrible.
Posted by: Kate | Oct 7, 2006 10:38:21 AM

Just returned on September 30th from my second NCL (the Dawn to Canada/New England) cruise, our fifth cruise in all. We love cruising. It is so much more relaxing that a ground trip. You only unpack once, but you still get to see lots of interesting places. ---- Regarding NCL and Freestyle cruising. Our first trip on NCL - the former Sky which sailed to Alaska out of Seattle was great. This was our first experience with freestyle and the men in our group especially loved not having to dress up in suits, ties, etc. We were a group of 10 and bonded with our server and assistant on the second night of the cruise. They were experienced and superb! Exactly the type of service you expect from a cruise experience. I must admit though - NCL food is not superb - it's almost like they're trying to save money on what they serve. Too many tough chicken dishes, too many weird rice combinations in the buffet lines - poor organization in the sandwich buffet line. Who ever heard of picking out your lettuce, tomato, mayo before you get your bread, meat and cheese???

Our recent dining experience on the Dawn was a disaster. First night when my sister requested coffee with her entree - she got a nasty look and bad comment. Service was also very shoddy - not smooth and polished like we've experienced on our other cruises, indeed even our first NCL cruise. From there it went from bad to worse. Second night a request for a refill of coffee was ignored until one of us went to the maitre d and asked who we should speak to about getting a refil. Third night my lobster was served half cooked and cold. Melted butter was served to one at our table, the other 3 ignored! A request to have my lobster replaced with a fully cooked and hot one was entirely ignored - dessert was served!

After three days of increasingly bad service we talked to the head of one of the restaurants. They seemed very concerned and we received a fruit basket in our room! On the fourth day a gentleman in a uniform was wondering around the eating venue we were in, greeting people and asking about service. We asked him who would be the appropriate person to talk to about service. He immediately sat down and listened to our tale of woe. Seemed truly interested and concerned about correcting the issues. He said he was food and beverage director and said he had been requested to go on the Dawn to improve service problems.

After this meeting (we received chocolates compliments of him) someone must have taken our pictures and posted them next to the time clock. That night in the Venetian our service (provided by a 13 year veteran) was superb and exactly fitted our expectation of cruise dining service!

A note to those of you who resent having 10.00 per day deducted for poor service. We went to the reception desk and asked how we could show our concern for poor service by with holding payment for dining service. We were given a form to fill out requesting a reduction of 3.50 per day per person for dining service. For my husband and myself we were credited back 49.50 of the $140.00 amount that had been automatically deducted from our shipboard account.

People need to be aware that you can request not to have to automatically pay for poor service. That is the only thing that will get through to NCL - they have a problem and need to fix it.

We constantly ran into people on the cruise and shore excursions who were disappointed in the dining service on the Dawn.

Also - the entertainment on the Dawn for this trip - September 23 - 30, STUNK. As one who is used to great shows, comedians and entertainment - I was appalled. It was so bad we skipped it one night to watch the movie. A new low in cruising.

We're looking at a Hawaii cruise next year - most likely not on NCL.

I would appreciate hearing from others who had positive Hawaii cruise experiences.
Posted by: Pam | Oct 4, 2006 10:55:37 AM

My husband and I have sailed on 16 cruises, and took our first NCL freestyle cruise on the NCL Dawn out of NYC this summer. We found that unless you made all your reservations immediately upon boarding, it was difficult to make a reservation at a time we preferred. In addition, most specialty restaurants required a cover charge of $10 - $20 pp. Travelling with two kids, the cost added up and the food was not any better than the no-charge restaurants. We missed the more personalized service you receive with traditional dining and did not feel that it was worth the extra cost for the specialty restaurants. Overall, all the food was not nearly as good on NCL as it is on Celebrity, RCCL & HAL. If given a choice, we prefer traditional dining.
Posted by: Rosemarie | Oct 2, 2006 10:50:24 AM

Gene in response to your question of what resturants we've enjoyed on NCL. Our last cruise was on the Nor. Star and we enjoyed The Versailles Main Rest. for it's elegance and service. We had one evening in the La Tratorria Rest. which was great. But I think everyone should try the Le Bistro on any NCL ship. The service and food is above and beyond even the great service in the other resturants on the ship. But one of the things we will always remember is The Chocolate Fondue.
One final word on the dress code of "Freestyle Cruising". We dress formal with tux and my wife's beautiful gowns and resort smart causal by our choice, and we love it. We can't wait for our next cruise, a 15-Day Repositioning Cruise on the Nor. Jewel to Athens in April 2007. We also have a three day post cruise in Athens.
Posted by: Don and Deane | Oct 2, 2006 9:58:38 AM

just came off disney cruse it was great
never saw any kids they were in there clubs all day service was great all you can eat buffet was supper good sit down was good to but i liked the buffet
better had more diffrent foods and no wateing i also signed up for next year
best vacation ever, later del webster
Posted by: del webster | Oct 1, 2006 11:06:40 AM

My wife and I just finished a NCL "Freestyle" cruise. This being our fourth cruise out of three different lines, it was by far the worst. While the concept was great, the execution was awful. The food in the main restaraunts was poor (Lasagna on a cruise ?!?), and the only way to get the kind of meals you would expect from spending $3K+ on an "All inclusive vacation" was to pay even more money for one of the "specialty" restaraunts (assuming you actually booked a reservation for one by the second evening, otherwise the only available times thru the rest of the week were after 9:30pm). There was an air about the ship's personnel of "why care, were getting our money regardless." We plan on sailing many more times in the future, just never again on NCL.
Posted by: Wally | Oct 1, 2006 4:50:27 AM

Sailed on many cruise lines Celebrity, Royal Carribean, Carnival etc mostly out of San Juan or Ft. Lauderdale. Decided to try NCL out of our home port in New York. Bad choice there,waited standing on line to board for several hours. Didn't get on board until past 4PM, They were doing the mustard drill & we couldn't get to our cabin. thought freestyle dining would be the way to go. Liked the idea of not having to be at dinner at a specific time. Wrong. We didn't know you should have planned all your meal venues before boarding so you could rush to stand on a very long line to get reservations for the entire week. If you didn't do this, you ended up at the buffet dinner because you could not get reservations elsewhere. The service was poor at many restaurants/diningrooms because the tip is already included with the price of the cruise, therefore they don't feel they have to work for it. Service was very slow & food not hot. As far as paying for the premium restaurants like Cargney's, you souldn't have to pay for filet mignon on a cruise. Most other cruise lines serve premium dinners for no extra charge. Same service with stateroom attendant, not working for a tip. Cabin was not made up most days till just before 5PM when you're getting back from shore & wanting to shower & now the stewart is in your cabin cleaning it! Will never sail with NCL again. Service very poor.
Posted by: Marianne | Sep 30, 2006 1:19:34 PM

My wife an I have gone on two cruises - both with Norwegian. The first was right before they switched over to freestyle cruising. We really hit it off with one of the couples at our table and hung out together throughout the cruise. This past year, we went on another Norwegian cruise. I like the flexibility of eating when we wanted to and where we wanted to. But, we missed connecting with other passengers. Overall, though, I really like the freedom and flexibility that comes with freestyle cruising.
Posted by: Rick | Sep 29, 2006 9:41:16 PM

Returned recently from a Med cruise on the NCL Jewel. We loved the Freestyle approach. The main free restaurants were elegant with outstanding selections, and the service was impeccable. We never had to wait even one moment. The only restaurant requiring reservations was the Italian venue, and that worked out fine. And you could always get a great meal at the buffet restaurant, up to a late hour. The Freestyle system is especially appreciated after a morning or all day shore excursion.
Posted by: Len | Sep 29, 2006 9:22:41 PM

Hi all. This is Gene Sloan, author of the Cruise Log, making a surprise appearance. The comments that have come in so far on this topic are wonderful! Keep sending them. It's a great help for would-be Norwegian cruisers to hear your opinions. Along those lines, I have a question for those who have been Freestyling: On the ships, which restaurants were your favorites? It would be good for first-timers to hear your thoughts so they can make reservations as soon as they board. I know my favorite: The teppanyaki restaurant that is found on a growing number of the line's ships, but it fills up fast. I love its intimacy and the fun of having chefs preparing meals right in front of you -- on a ship of all places! Thoughts? Use the comments button on this post to tell us.
Posted by: Gene Sloan | Sep 29, 2006 6:53:14 PM

I would not book a cruise on NCL
just because of their freestyle cruising. We sail on Princess and have had both assigned seating and anytime dining. We've enjoyed both, and since we live in FL and very casual is the norm, we enjoy dressing up for the formal nights.
Posted by: Jeannie | Sep 29, 2006 12:48:53 PM

We have sailed on NCL three times since they started freestyle cruising. There are pros & cons.It seems like it improved each time. The first time was a disaster, long waits, poor service, and way too much time between courses. The last time was much better even though there was still too much time between courses. We do like that on days we have disembarked we don't have to rush to get to a seating.
Posted by: Ellen | Sep 29, 2006 10:45:46 AM

I am leaving on a repositioning cruise on NCL Majesty on Oct. 8th. I took the same 14 night cruise last year and had a great and met a lot of nice folks. This will be my 6th FreeStyle cruise and I love them. I have two more booked in the next 4 months. I have cruised on Royal Caribian and also enjoyed their cruises for the same reason. NO TIES AND NO JACKETS. As for the folks who think I should get inline at McDonalds, I would not cruise on the QE2 but it sounds like that is where they should be, on the snob deck.
Posted by: Bill S | Sep 29, 2006 10:25:22 AM

I think the concept of freesytle cruising is very good. We(my wife and I) have been on 12 cruises and it is our favorite type of travel. The only drawback I see with it is when you have assigned tables and seating you establich a relationship with the people at your table. We have made some wonderful friends who were our eating compainons, and a few who I wish we wouldnot have gotten to know. The idea of "formal nights" is outdated in our estimation. The idea of having to carry formal clothing around the world for 2 or 3 nights is not practical. Possibly with free style cruising they can have a formal restaurant for those that like to dress in their finest. I do believe that some guidelines should be enforcd for dinner, no barefeet or shorts or dirty or torn casual clothes.
Posted by: Tom Syler | Sep 29, 2006 10:18:36 AM

We've been on seven cruises. Two traditional dining and five "Freestyle" with NCL. We're leaving in two weeks on another NCL cruise and have booked NCL for Hawaii next year. I "hate" traditional dining. I don't let shore restaurants pick my times and dining partners, and I won't let a cruise ship restaurant do it either. Hooray for "Freestyle"
Posted by: Mark | Sep 29, 2006 7:13:54 AM

We have been on 17 cruises and thought we loved traditional dining until we experienced anytime dining on a Princess cruise in May. It was fantastic! The second night we met some terrific people and the eight of us ended up dining together (by choice) for the whole rest of the cruise. We haven't yet tried NCL's Freestyle dining but are looking forward to trying it on our December Pride of Aloha cruise....
Posted by: Julie | Sep 29, 2006 1:13:00 AM

Do not want to ever try it.
Cruised on many cruise lines - enjoy
dressing for dinner, getting to know
tablemates and waitstaff who know our
preferences. My friend tried it last
year, and without assigned tables and
times, it was like cattle being
herded with bottleneck waiting to
enter dining room and nowhere to sit
while waiting.
Posted by: Kathy from FLA | Sep 29, 2006 12:01:04 AM

Posted by: Glen | Sep 28, 2006 1:33:43 PM
I take offence to the comment of "a bunch of people that look like they should be in line for McDonalds". My husband and I cruise a lot and we've "been there---done that" as far as formal dress w/ tux & floor length dresses so we don't do that any more but my husband has some banlons that cost as much as some suits. Just because people don't choose to dress up doesn't mean that they look like slobs.
Posted by: April Tagliaferri Platinum w/RCCL (30 plus cruiser) | Sep 28, 2006 10:05:02 PM

My husband and I just returned from our second NCL cruise - and have already booked for 2007. We enjoy freestyle cruising because neither of us want to be forced into a time schedule when we are on vacation - we have enough of that in our work lives. Also, we do dress for dinner, but neither of us wants to have to dress formally - a dress for me and a jacket for him are fine. And we did make plans for dinner with other folks we met on the ship - we CHOSE to share a table with them...but love that we don't HAVE to share a table with strangers when we don't want to. Yes, you can't make reservations at either of the two freestyle restaurants on the NCL Majesty, but we didn't mind the very short waits we had, if we encountered a wait at all. And we think the service is terrific!
Posted by: Carmel | Sep 28, 2006 9:33:29 PM

I have cruised with various lines and like the concept of freestyle dining as opposed to assigned seating. With freestyle, we were able sit at different table and dine with different people with each meal. However, there are significant variance in the quality of food and service at NCL.
Posted by: Jun | Sep 28, 2006 3:05:47 PM

We recently returned from a Royal Caribbean cruise on the west coast and while the service was terrific, the one drawback was the fact that we were given "second seating" at dinner. First seating was full. Since we live in the Central Time Zone, it meant starting dinner (on our time) at 10:30 PM and finishing about midnight. That's way too late! I wish more cruise lines would opt for the "freestyle" or open seating for dinner. Our very first cruise was on Norwegian and we loved the freestyle dining concept!
Posted by: Debbie | Sep 28, 2006 2:53:34 PM

One of the best parts of cruising is the tradition of a table where you dine with the same fellow travelers and get to make new friends - sometimes for a lifetime - Dressing for dinner is also a very pleasant tradition of cruising - including formal nights - What is so appealing about eating a fine meal in a beautiful setting with well-dressed servers with a bunch of people dressed like they should be in line at McDonalds? NCL is appealing to the lowest common denominator in our society which continues to abandon every semblance of class and sophistication - It is a sad commentary on what mainline cruising has become when the average cruiser would be content to spend all of his or her waking hours in an elastic waist pair of athletic pants and a T-shirt engaged in a nonstop process of seeing how much food they can consume before they retire to their cabin -
Posted by: Glen | Sep 28, 2006 1:33:43 PM

My wife and I have sailed on 2 cruises since NCL has changed to "Freestyle" and we love it. It has allowed to us to eat at many different resturants and we decide ourselves at what time and place to eat. We can eat early or late depending on what's happening that day. We have a 15-Day repositioning Cruise planned in April 2007 on NCL, and one of the deciding factors for this cruise is Free-Style Dining.
Posted by: Don and Deane | Sep 28, 2006 1:19:45 PM

My husband and I sailed on the NCL Spirit about 4 years ago. We were terribly disappointed with the "freestyle" dining. Only two venues were included (free) with the booking and we thought the other venues were well overpriced for what we got and the service that just wasn't as good as other ship's assigned seating dining halls. We spent most of our time eating as the Grill.
Posted by: Gracie | Sep 28, 2006 11:53:26 AM

Sailed on NCL Dec, 2004 with freestyle dining. Did not like it one bit. The only reservations were for the venues that charge a hefty surcharge and the "free" ones had long lines. Bothmy husband and I use canes and cannot stand for a long time which the hostess stand acknowledged but there was no place to sit down and the wait was still too long. We will think about this concept for a long time before we try it again. Plus part of the fun of a cruise is meeting new people at assigned seating. If you don't want to dress up, you can always go to the buffet. At the dinner seating, there were people in jeans, shorts, looking very unkempt, and scruffy looks and dress. All this in a beautiful dining room just did not mix well and took away from the ambiance. Also, service was not that great.
Posted by: Gloria Stoda | Sep 28, 2006 11:51:45 AM

I will never sail on NCL. 1st, I cruise because I enjoy the freedom of not having to plan meals(i.e. where I will eat, having to make reservations days in advance). 2nd, I love getting the chance to get to know another couple and getting to chat with them at the end of the day. 3rd, I love having the same wait staff night after night. It is wonderful to end the main course and have my plate taken away and replaced with a pot of hot tea, because the staff already knows what I like.
Posted by: Donna K | Sep 28, 2006 11:50:43 AM

We have sailed with NCL for years and gone on two of their Freestyle cruises. We still prefer the assigned seating and superior service received there. We do love the new dress code, though. We were told that we could get assigned seating by requesting it, but this has never worked.
Posted by: Howard | Sep 28, 2006 11:34:26 AM

Freestyle is the way to go. I've sailed on many NCL ships specifically because of freestyle dining. My one complaint though is that for many of the popular restaurants, reservations are needed, which sort of contradicts the whole freestyle eat where and when you want. On my last NCL cruise (Jewel, April 06), we had to make reservations for the entire cruise on the first day of sailing.
Posted by: yahoocruiser | Sep 28, 2006 10:59:15 AM

We recently completed a cruise on the Pride of Hawaii and thoroughly enjoyed the idea of "freestyle" cruising. We did find that it helps to make a reservation for dinner, but it's easy to change, if you so desire. The service was good, the food was good, and the opportunity to meet and visit with various other passengers was delightful.
Posted by: Elizabeth Hinesley | Sep 28, 2006 10:58:49 AM

We sailed on Norweign's Pride of America in August with a group of 11 experienced cruisers. While we liked the idea of not having to commit to the same time for dinner every night, with a large group, we still needed to make reservations at the beginning of the cruise in order to ensure our group a table without a wait. That was fine, as we planned ahead of time what restaurants we wanted to try. However, the service we experieneced on freestyle cruising was well below our expectations. There were long waits between courses, limited menu choices and servers who needed more training in customer service. We never felt pampered as we have on Disney, Royal Caribbean, HAL or even Carnival. Norweign really needs to hire people who have experience in the restaurant industry and stress customer service
Posted by: Julie Feasel | Sep 28, 2006 10:58:44 AM

Been cruising for years...just like corp. america...no need for dress up...maybe on honeymoon cruises..but that is the last thing my husband, myself and friends want to do..is dress up........so uncomfortable...and we want to eat when we want...this will no doubt be a huge success..you got our reservation
Posted by: | Sep 28, 2006 10:51:52 AM

We have cruised with NCL after it started it's freestyle cruising, and loved it. We have cruised on Princess since, and are going back to NCL. We are cruising the Pearl in January. Can't wait. Excited to see they are starting this campaign. Loved every minute of it. Great way to cruise, with some of the old requirements gone. (tuxes, formal etc.)
Posted by: cdmlow@gmail.com | Sep 28, 2006 10:43:32 AM

Tried it. Don't like it. The various venues are very hard to get in to - must have alternate plan, always, and not have taste buds set for "whatever". I prefer to go back to my cabin, get spiffied up and "go out to dinner"! Freestyle works well for single guys who don't care when or what they eat as long as it is free.
Posted by: marby | Sep 28, 2006 10:36:14 AM

We just came back from a Hawaiian Islands cruise on The Pride of America. We did not like the freestyle dining concept. Yes, there are at least 6 different dining venues, but they fail to mention that all but 2 charge a fee. Also, you do not always get right in, often we told we had to wait for seating. The organization within the dining rooms seemed to be a little hectic also. I think not knowing just how many people would be there at any given time affected the serving time of the food. Many times, we waited an unreasonable amount of time for our food. We spoke to others during the cruise, and there was not one person who thought "free-style" dining works! Norwegian Cruise Line should ask their guests (perhaps before they disembark) how they feel instead of spending any more money to promote the concept!!!
Posted by: Lori | Sep 28, 2006 10:30:29 AM

My husband and I have sailed with Norwegian three times and enjoy the freestyle cruising. Being able to eat when and where we want. Also not having to dress up in formal wear is a plus, especially after a day in port sightseeing.
Posted by: DonnaJ | Sep 28, 2006 10:29:12 AM

I didn't care for it. Some venues were crowded and had waiting lines and making a reservation is just like assigned seating. I've also made some great friends from being tablemates. I'll stick to assigned seating
Posted by: Bob | Sep 28, 2006 10:13:21 AM

We have been on many cruises, on various lines. our most recent, an Alaska Cruise on Princess. We opted for their version of "free style" dining and loved it so much we have booked a European Cruise on the Princess Line for this upcoming summer.

WITH FREESTYLE CRUISING THE CHOICE IS YOURS

Different from anything else on water.
With Freestyle Cruising, you’ll discover something you won’t find on other cruise lines - freedom. An NCL Freestyle Vacation cruise offers diverse and exciting restaurants, a more relaxed dress code and more things to see and do. And that’s just the beginning. NCL has designed the entire cruise experience around giving you the option to choose. It’s proven to be very popular with their guests, and it’s only available with NCL. Now is the time to come see how different a cruise can be.





Dining
The choice is yours. With Freestyle Cruising, you travel a world of dining options all in one week. From elegant French bistros and Italian trattorias to sushi and tapas bars, and more, there’s a different dining option for almost every night of your cruise. With up to 10 different restaurants, each featuring a diverse an ever-changing menu, you’ll always find exactly what you’re in the mood for. And there are no fixed seatings. Imagine restaurants open from 5:30 pm to midnight so that you can choose from an early dinner before the show or a later romantic dinner for the two of you. And of course there’s always the option of 24-hour room service. You’re free to dine where, when and with whom you choose. Just as it should be on your vacation.

Attire
Wear what you want. Dress according to your mood. It is your vacation. “Resort casual” attire is as dressy as you’ll ever have to get for dinner. But if it’s elegance you’re dreaming of, we invite you to indulge. Many of our restaurants offer formal options. If you prefer more casual dress, that’s fine, too. How you dress is up to you.

Service
You’re about to be pampered. By adding additional crewmembers to every ship in their fleet they are able to offer exceptional service. With almost one crewmember per stateroom, you can be assured you’ll be very well taken care of when you cruise with NCL.

Activities
Do everything, or nothing at all. For those who prefer to be active, their new LifeStyle Program features adventurous Shore Excursions, art auctions, health and wellness programs, cooking demonstrations – all kinds of activities aimed at challenging your mind as well as your body. Or you can simply relax and enjoy not having a schedule to follow. They pick the ports, but the rest of the day is your call.

Disembarkation
Enjoy every day of your vacation. Because they’ve streamlined the whole process of disembarkation, you can now relax, have breakfast and enjoy more of your final morning on board without having to rush.

Whether it's lazy days and romantic nights or an action-packed week of adventure, there's no better way to have the vacation of your dreams than with Freestyle Cruising and NCL.

Decide for yourself...
Answers to the Most Commonly Asked Questions
about Freestyle Cruising.

Q. What is appropriate dinner attire?
A. Almost whatever you want. NCL doesn't require you to wear a tie or other formal attire to dinner. They do request however that guest wear “resort casual” attire to dine in any of their specialty or main restaurants.

Q. What exactly is “resort casual” attire?
A. Resort casual is a much more comfortable way to dress for dinner. Basically, it’s slacks or pants and a collared shirt for men and pants, slacks, a dress or skirt for women.

Q. Are there any formal nights?
A. Yes, and they are optional. At least once during your cruise, one or more of the restaurants will host a formal dinner. There will be several other dining choices where resort casual attire is appropriate.

Q. How do we know where to eat each night?
A. There are no rules as to where you dine or when you dine, so try them all.

Q. What time are the dinner seatings?
A. Their restaurants are open from 5:30 pm to midnight, with seating available until 10 pm. You can dine early to late. It’s all up to you. And if you want even more flexibility, room service is available 24 hours a day.

Q. Can we still sit at the same table every night?
A. Yes. The Maitre d’ will be pleased to arrange that for you once you are on board. Or you can change your mind and sit at a different table in a different restaurant every night of our cruise.

Q. Do I pay extra for all these dining choices?
A. All meals in the main restaurants, Lido Café and 24-hour restaurant are included in your cruise fare. Snacks, room service and on-deck grills are also complimentary. Specialty restaurants have a nominal fee or have à la carte pricing.

Q. What’s different about Freestyle Disembarkation?
A. Disembarkation used to be a lot of hurry up and wait. With Freestyle Cruising, you can relax, order room service and enjoy your last morning with NCL.

Q. Is the service any different with Freestyle Cruising?
A. They’ve improved their service to a “best-in-class” service ratio of nearly one crew member per stateroom.

What is the difference between traditional cruising and freestyle cruising?

Freestyle cruising is offered by NCL and to a lesser extent by Princess Cruises. Traditional cruises feature two seatings for meals (main and late) with fixed dining times in the same restaurant. Freestyle offers numerous different restaurants and a "dine when you want" philosophy.  It is kind of like going to a resort with several different dining venues where you decide when and where you want to dine.  Ditto for the entertainment.  Traditional cruising generally offers two shows with bars and lunge entertainment after the shows.  Freestyle has various entertainment venues available and you decide what you want to experience.  The bottom line is that if you want to dine at the same table with the same folks every night then select traditional dining, if not select freestyle. One last difference is the dress code.  On a traditional cruise you are expected to dress for formal nights and will feel out of place if you do not.  Freestyle cruisers can choose whether they want to dress or not.  If you don't particularly care for dressing for dinner then freestyle cruising is for you.

Will I save money if I book at the last minute?

Not necessarily, in fact cruise lines sometimes offer booking incentives in the form of lower prices, cabin category upgrades and maybe even free air for early planners. Your professional travel agent will have all the answers for you and research to find the quality you are looking for. Focusing on the cheapest price will almost guarantee a less enjoyable vacation.  Cruise pricing reflects supply and demand.  The more demand there is, the higher the price. As an example, if you are planning a Christmas family cruise you will need to book it immediately and will probably pay the brochure price.  On the other hand, cruises in the Caribbean during hurricane season can be a tremendous bargain...but then.

Will I get seasick?

Cruises today and seasickness do not really go together. Today most modern cruise ships have stabilizers for passenger comfort should the seas get a bit choppy. In today’s technologically savvy world, it is easy for the bridge to know well in advance of any serious storms. Therefore they are able to make the necessary routing changes to offer the passengers the most comfort. If you are concerned about this possible discomfort, simply ask your physician for their suggestions on preventative medication.

Will I get bored?

Getting bored would be a difficult task on a cruise. The multitude of activities on board ships the exotic ports of call, the exciting nightlife along with all the other fine service and amenities would make it almost impossible to get bored. Perhaps you want to just lie on a lounge chair on deck, relax, eat fine food and throw and occasional coin into a slot machine. Or perhaps you want to take as many shore excursions as you possibly can fit in, attend every party, buffet, and dance the night away…. The options are endless and yours to choose from. However, if you choose the wrong ship you might end up mismatched with the other passengers.  You need the advice of a cruise professional on this one.

What is an air/sea cruise?

This term applies to a cruise and airfare package price. Often the airfare may be at a reduced rate when included with the cruise. In addition, when you purchase an air/sea package the transfers to and from the airport to the cruise ship terminal are usually included in the air/sea price.

What is included in the cruise price?

Included in your cruise price would be your accommodations, all of your meals for the length of your cruise, endless entertainment and activities, and all of the amenities of a floating resort and more! Some cruise lines have introduced alternative dining venues that do charge a nominal cover charge but they are well worth it and only an additional option.  All cruise lines still offer traditional dining restaurants with no cover charges.

Will I need a passport?

You will need a passport and/or proof of citizenship depending on your cruise destination and ports of call. Your professional travel agent can assist you with determining the documentation you will need. Be sure to check on this well in advance of your vacation so you can prepare accordingly.

What Should I Pack?

What kind of clothes should I pack?

While each cruise experience may vary in what would seem to be appropriate attire, generally speaking a seven-day cruise will have at least two formal evenings. One of these is formal and the other semi-formal. The remaining evenings would likely be casual in nature. Often the cruise will feature one or two theme nights on these casual evenings, such as 60’s rock-and-roll and or country western. It is suggested that one check with their professional travel counselor, who is the best source of information as to what to pack for a specific cruise experience.

If you are freestyle cruising then packing formal wear is not an issue unless you decide that you want to dress for the optional formal night (s)

Do I need an evening gown?

If you enjoy the chance to dress up, this is your opportunity. If not, you will feel totally at ease in a dressy cocktail dress. The description of an evening gown has become rather wide in range. On a formal night on a cruise, ladies will be wearing anything from full-length evening gowns to short cocktail dresses. A dressy business dress or suit would also be appropriate.

Do I need a tuxedo?

Some gentlemen enjoy wearing their tuxedo and others well…. If you have a tuxedo, by all means bring it along. If you would like to rent one on board ship this can also be arranged. Ask your travel counselor for assistance with this. On the other hand, it is perfectly acceptable for a gentleman to wear a dark suit or dark sport coat with slacks on formal night.

How much luggage can I bring on the cruise?

If you are flying from your home city to your cruise departure point, you will only be able to bring as much luggage as is allowable for that airline carrier. They have recently tightened up the restrictions on checked and carry-on luggage at most airlines. Therefore, be sure to ask your cruise professional for this information so you may pack accordingly. The cruise line is not concerned about how much luggage you bring. Closet and drawer space in some staterooms may be a bit limited so be cautious about over packing….

Do I have to carry my own luggage aboard the ship?

No, there are porters available curbside at the cruise ship terminal to tag and see that your luggage is delivered to your appropriate stateroom. Be sure to have your luggage tagged with your stateroom number, name and address. If you are picking up your cruise documents at the pier, you can simply ask the porters to check the manifest for your cabin number. They will be happy to tag your luggage for you. A gratuity is expected.

Should I pack snacks and alcohol to eat and drink?

Finding something to eat just about any time of day on a ship is not a hard task to accomplish. Therefore, packing snacks is not necessary. Bringing alcohol on board ship is generally not allowed (with the exception of wine). There are bars and lounges open till the wee hours. Again, your cruise professional can get you the details on whether or not you can bring alcohol on your cruise.

What if I need to wash some of my clothes on the cruise?

Laundry, cleaning and pressing services are always available. Each stateroom will be have a laundry list and bag to use if you should need this taken care of. Additionally, some ships have self-service laundry facilities for passenger use. They are equipped with washers, dryers, ironing boards, irons and detergent for purchase. The washers and dryers are generally coin operated.

I tend to take my dry cleaning items onto the ship and have them laundered rather than doing it a home and then packing them where they will be substantially wrinkled by the time they get hung in the closet on the ship.  The rates are comparable to those dry clearners at home and the clothes are always fresh with no wrinkles.

Dining and Entertainment

How will I know what to wear for dinner?

Each evening while you are enjoying dinner, your cabin steward magically appears to clean and refresh your stateroom. They will usually leave a daily activities program in your cabin featuring the following day's events as well as other information. The dress for the following day is always noted on this activity sheet. You can usually pick up this program at the purser’s desk as well. If you should have questions about the appropriate attire while on the ship, simply ask the purser’s desk for their assistance.

How do I pay for my meals?

All meals you enjoy while on board ship on your cruise vacation are included in the cruise fare. There is no additional cost for meals on a ship unless your ship offers alternative restaurants for dining. In this instanc there is usually a nominal cover charge to dine in the restaurant.

Do I tip the waiter?

It is not customary to tip the waiter or other servers during your cruise. Instead, you will find envelopes placed in your stateroom on the last day of your cruise vacation. You can also pick up these envelopes and instructions on the appropriate tipping allowances at the purser’s desk. Your travel agent can also assist you with the guidelines. Some cruise lines have a no-tipping policy. This means that the servers are being compensated in their pay for service and you are not expected to tip. However, if you have received exemplary service from a server, you might wish to offer them a token of your appreciation at the end of the cruise.

If you are using the ship's room service or require services from staff other than your room steward you should tip the person providing the service.

What if I want more food?

Just ask! Most ships feature 24-hour room service should you get hungry and not feel like leaving your cabin. Somewhere on the ship food is likely being served just about anytime of the day or even during the night.

What if I require a special diet?

Be sure to let your travel agent know if you have special dietary needs so they can make arrangements for you in advance.  Even if the cruise line was not notified, they will prepare meals around whatever special dietary needs you have.

How will I know where to sit?

When you board the ship your meal time and table assignment will already be made for you.  There are usually two seatings for dinner; the main seating and the late seating.  Usually the main seating starts around 6:00 to 6:30 PM and the late seating around 8:00 to 8:30 PM.  Your table assignment is made for the entire cruise and you can choose the number of passengers you dine with.  They cruise lines usually offer tables for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 guests.

Which is the best seating for dinner?

It all depends on your personal preference.  By all means, if you are traveling with children select the early seating.  Much can be said for both seatings and each can make their own decision when booking the cruise.

What if I don't like my tablemates?

While changing tables mid-cruise is considered inappropriate, if you simply cannot get along with your table mates you can request a change from the Maitre d'.  If you want intimate dining be sure to let your travel agent know that you want a table for two.   Also, many ships offer "alternate dining" restaurants for a change of pace.  NCL, as an example, offers their Bistro, a separate restaurant that you can enjoy one (or as many as you like) nights as well as many other fine restaurants.

What if my table mates smoke and I don't?

If your tablemates smoke and it is upsetting to you immediately inform the Maitre d' and request a change to a non-smoking table.  The ships usually limit smoking to a certain area of the ship for the comfort of everyone.

Can I celebrate my anniversary on the cruise?

Absolutely!  If fact there is no better way to celebrate s special event.   Simply let the Maitre d' know a day in advance of any special occasion (birthdays, anniversaries, honeymoons, engagements, just about any occasion) and he will arrange for a special cake or dessert and get the waiters to acknowledge your event.

How much do the shows cost?

There seems to be no end to the entertainment on a cruise.  Every evening there is a major show to attend.  They run the range from comedians, magicians, and juggling acts to Las Vegas style reviews, musical productions and name entertainers.  The shows are an excellent way to spend an evening after an excellent meal and never cost a thing.  Since the shows ar4e always open seating it is advised that you get there early to get good seats for shows you are particularly interested in.  All of the entertainment on board the ship is included in the cruise fare.

What if I don't want to attend the shows?

In addition to the main show in the showroom there are usually many other events taking place to enjoy.  There are always several lounges that offer music, karaoke, entertainment and dancing to choose from.  Many ships offer full feature movies to enjoy and other activities as well.

What time is breakfast and lunch?

If you want to eat in the main dining room for breakfast and lunch the dining times will be posted in the daily newsletter you receive the evening before.  The ship will usually present two seatings unless they are in port (in which case they will offer the entire ship open seating)  There are always alternate dining options should you be a late riser and miss your breakfast seating.  Usually a breakfast and lunch buffet will be offered in one of the cafes on the ship.

What if I want to just hang out by the pool for lunch?

Virtually all ships make food available for those that want to enjoy lunch poolside.   Usually hot dogs and hamburgers, fruit and such is accessible to the pool so you do not have to dress to eat.

OK, What is the midnight buffet?

As if eating all day wasn't enough, most cruise ships put on a lavish midnight feast for their passengers at least once during a cruise.  Many cruise lines have gone to serving snacks in certain areas between 11 pm and midnight and this seems to be a little more realitic rather than eating a full meal.  If you enjoy food, many folks have chosen the early (or main) seating for dinner so that they can be ready to eat again when the midnight buffet rolls around.

General Packing Guidelines:

I) How much luggage can I take?

If you don't live near a cruise port, you'll normally have to fly (or drive in some cases) to your destination. Before you start to pack, remember that you have to carry everything with you in the airport and around the cruise terminal, so luggage with wheels is a good idea. Try to limit yourself to 1 piece of Checked Luggage + 1 Carry-on Bag + 1 Personal Item. You can also take a garment bag for formal wear and put it in Checked Luggage. A waist pouch is a good idea, and you might want to invest in a money belt to wear under your clothes.

The Carry-on Bag can be a small bag/backpack or a carry-on suitcase with wheels. It should be comfortable to carry, hold the necessary items and be able to go under the seat in front of you or in overhead storage on the plane. Please pack the listed items, as flights can be delayed and you never know if you have to sleep somewhere else. Never leave your Carry-on Bag unattended. Additional carry-on items that are allowed include outer garments such as coats/wraps/hats; book or newspaper; bistro sized or smaller bag of consumable food and devices such as wheelchairs, walkers, etc. Read Airport Security (p. 4) before packing any carry-on items.

The Personal Item can be a purse, briefcase, laptop, small book-bag style backpack, small tote bag or shoulder bag.

ii) Are there any luggage size and weight restrictions?

Each airline has their own specifications, so check ahead or call your travel agent. For instance, American Airlines will accept 2 pieces of Checked Luggage and the dimensions CANNOT exceed 62"/157 cm nor weigh more than 70 lbs./32 kgs. For the Carry-On Bag, the dimensions CANNOT exceed 45"/114 cm. nor weigh more than 40 lbs./18 kgs. The Personal Item CANNOT exceed 36". The size limitation of your luggage is calculated by adding the total outside dimensions of each bag, that is, length + width + height. In addition, portable phones, radios and electronic games CANNOT be used on board.

iii) How shall I label my luggage and keep it secure?

Your name & address should be on a piece of paper inside each bag and on luggage tags on the outside of each bag. Fill out your cruise tags and place them on your luggage. Any "old" airline/cruise tags should be removed. Your Carry-on Bag & Checked Luggage should have locks. Mark all luggage with some "bright" tape or wool pompoms for easier retrieval at the airport & the cruise terminal.

Please note that airlines reserve the right to ask that Carry-on Bags be checked. If you are asked to check your back, prior to checking the Carry-On Bag, ensure that certain items have been removed, such as prescription medications, the photocopied Travel Pak and anything else you may require. For this reason, it is important that the Carry-On Bag have a lock.

iv) What kind of identification will I need?

Check your cruise documents or call your travel agent because these regulations change all the time. For instance, a new regulation by Carnival states that in addition to your passport, guests who are 16 years or older must provide a Photo ID. Photo ID can be your driver's license, photo health card; employee photo ID, high school card, etc. Unfortunately, you will be denied boarding at embarkation without proper documentation & no refund will be provided. No exceptions will be made.

v) How do I organize all the paperwork?

When traveling, you'll want to keep important documents together and close at hand. You can purchase a personal documents kit or make your own Travel Pak. The Travel Pak will include your original documents, such as passports, airline tickets, cruise documents, etc. (see Travel Pak under Carry-On Items p. 7 for more info).

Prior to leaving home, make 2 photocopies of everything in the Travel Pak, plus a copy of your health card, photo ID, any prescription medications, and your packing lists. The 1st photocopied Travel Pak set is kept at home with someone; the 2nd photocopied Travel Pak set is kept in a large Ziploc in your Carry-on Bag. In this way, if the originals are somehow lost, there are 2 photocopied sets available. You should also record any credit card numbers on the photocopies in case of theft.

During your cruise you will receive a daily cruise newsletter. You may want to save and organize these in a plastic envelope pouch. Also, each time you use your Sail and Sign card on-board, you will get a receipt. The receipt should be matched with your bill in case you are charged for something you didn't purchase (It happens!). Keep all receipts for any purchases made on shore for Customs purposes.

vi) How much money should I take?

The amount of money you take depends entirely on your personal circumstances and what you plan on purchasing in port. Normally, some cash, traveler's cheques and a major credit card are recommended. In your Waist Pouch or Shoulder Purse, carry all cash and ID in a wallet. If traveling as a couple, split up your cash. Ships operate as a "cashless" society and you use your Sail & Sign card to pay for everything (See Embarkation p. 12 for more info). Traveler's cheques can be cashed at the Purser's Desk, and some ships have an ATM machine on-board. However, please note that there is a higher than normal transaction fee for the ATM machine on-board (approx. US$5 per transaction), and, of course, it may run out of money while at sea. So, don't rely solely on the ATM machine and have some cash or traveler's cheques on hand.

On shore, lots of small denomination US bills are good, as a lot of the street vendors in port accept cash only and may not have change for large bills. Other stores in port accept credit cards, cash and traveler's cheques. An ATM card is handy in airports, but may not be accepted in port.

vii) What do I do if my luggage gets lost?

If anything gets lost, you'll need to know what was in the lost luggage piece, so the copy of your packing list will come in handy here. To claim any lost luggage, you'll have to fill out a Lost Luggage Claim Form. If you really want to be prepared, pack a photo of your luggage with your Travel Pak.

Another suggestion for a couple traveling together (or for two friends wearing different sizes of clothing), is to split pack your clothing. Pack 1/2 your clothes in the guy's suitcase, and the guy packs 1/2 his clothes in the gal's suitcase. Remember to pack matching outfits in each suitcase. This is really thinking ahead in case one of the suitcases never arrives! At least this way, you'll have some clothes for both.

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Airport Security:

i) Carry-On Items - what you CAN'T pack in your Carry-On Bag

Due to heightened airport security, some items are now not permitted in your Carry-on Bag, waist pouch or purse. If they are found, they will be confiscated, so ensure they are placed in your Checked Luggage before proceeding to the airport.

These items include:
eyelash curlers
razors (safety/disposable razors ARE allowed)
razor blades
nail clippers
steel nail files
scissors
X-acto knives & spare blades
ice picks
Swiss army knives
multi-tools
knitting needles
corkscrews
sewing kits (containing sewing needles, small scissors, pins)
safety pins
anything sharp.....

personal care items containing hazardous materials (e.g. flammable perfume, aerosols) totaling no more than 70 ounces may be carried on board. Contents of each container may not exceed 16 fluid ounces. safety matches and/or a lighter may only be carried on your person; however, "strike-anywhere" matches, lighters with flammable liquid reservoirs and lighter fluid are forbidden

Baseball bats, golf clubs, ski poles, hockey sticks must also be in Checked Luggage. Umbrellas and walking canes are permitted once they are inspected to ensure they do not conceal any prohibited items. For any electronic equipment (laptops, palm pilots, walkmans, cell phones, digital cameras, etc.), make sure to turn the power on for the security check. It is a good idea to check with the airline before you leave home to ensure that no additional items have been added.

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Cruise Clothing Packing Tips:

i) What type of clothing should I pack?

Packing for a cruise is quite easy. What you regularly wear to the beach, around a pool, walking around town, dining out or going to a New Year's Eve party, are the same things you'll need for a cruise. Count out your outfits, especially for evening to make sure you have enough to wear. Mix & match your clothing; if you bring a skirt, you can wear it more than once with a different top. You should also pack some off-season clothing, as it may not always be sunny and warm, plus, the inside areas on the ship are "very" air conditioned. If you need to buy some clothes, make a list! If you're planning on buying t-shirts, hats, etc. on the ship or ports of call, why not wear them on your cruise? You'll cut down on the amount of clothing you'll bring, and you won't need to plan for extra space on your trip home.

Cruises are pretty casual, however, there are some dress codes for formal nights, and what to wear when you're walking around the ship.

ii) What do I wear on departure day?

If you're traveling from a colder to warmer climate, you'll still have to dress for the weather when leaving home. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing, and dress in layers. Wear long pants, a t-shirt, sweatshirt or sweater and a lightweight waterproof coat (such as an Adidas or Nike spring/fall wind breaker jacket); socks and running shoes (or other comfortable, worn-in shoes). Some type of lightweight coat is needed, as you never know what weather you'll get on-board or on any of the shore excursions. You can wear minimal jewellery, and a watch, but keep excess and expensive jewellery at home. Please remember that your Checked Luggage may or may not arrive before dinner time on the cruise ship, so be sure to either wear or pack in your Carry-On Bag the clothes you will wear for dinner the first night. The dress code will be casual (see p. 6 for Dining Room dress codes)

ii) What do I wear on board in the daytime?

During the day, anything goes! You can wear shorts, t-shirts, capri pants, jeans, cargo or khaki pants, running shoes, flip flops and sandals. The only dress code during the day is when going swimming [walking from your cabin to the pool and vice versa], you always have to wear something over your swimsuit (like an oversized t-shirt), and you have to wear something on your feet.

iv) What should I wear when going ashore?

Depending on what type of activity you sign up for, dress appropriately for the activity. If you're going snorkeling, wear your bathing suit, with a t-shirt and shorts overtop and some sandals. Bring a waterproof beach bag to put your clothes in during your water time. Bring a towel (provided in your room), water bottle, suntan lotion, sunglasses, hat and perhaps an underwater camera. You'll also need your Sail & Sign card & Photo ID to get on and off the ship, and you may want to bring your wallet with some small bills if you wish to "tip" your snorkeling host once the excursion is over (optional). If you're going shopping or sightseeing, wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a small backpack to carry all your purchases. Check with the Shore Excursions Desk if unsure of what to wear to a certain port or shore excursion.

v) What do I wear on board in the evening?

Dining Room Dress Code:

You CAN'T wear shorts, t-shirts, cut-offs, tank tops, jeans or have bare feet. For most nights, the dress code will be casual. This is what you'd wear to your favorite "casual" restaurant, such as sun dresses, a casual dress, casual pants such as khakis or cargo pants (but not jeans), skirt and top, or a pants outfit. For guys, polo shirts, button-up shirts and casual pants (not jeans) are fine. Look in the cruise newsletter to find out what the dress code for dinner is each night.

There are normally two formal nights on 7 or 8-night cruises. For formal nights, especially the Gala Captain's Dinner, gals can wear a long dress and guys can wear a tuxedo or dark suit. Normally, the Captain's Dinner is dressier than the second formal night. If you're not wearing the appropriate dress for the dining room for formal night, you will not be admitted and you'll have to eat at the Lido deck. (Basically, guys have to wear a jacket and gals have to be in something dressy). However, gals, you don't need a long gown, anything dressy is suitable. For the second formal night you can wear something you'd wear to a fancy restaurant. Gals can wear another fancy dress or dress pants/skirt and nice top (not t-shirt); and guys can just wear a different shirt and tie with their suit. There are many photo opportunities on formal nights, so you'll want to look your best to get your picture taken. There is also a hairdressing salon on board.

Normally, if it's formal night, passengers stay dressed in their formal wear throughout the evening. Normally, what you wear for dinner is what you'll be wearing for the rest of the evening. If you're planning on heading to the disco later on, just wear your halter top, one-shouldered top or other "disco" top to dinner, with a jacket or sweater overtop. The jacket or sweater will ensure that you are appropriately dressed for the dining room. After dinner, just return your jacket or sweater to your cabin.

vi) Tips on packing & the Packing Lists:

The packing list is very important in case any bags are lost. Jot notes on the lists, such as black skirt g.b., meaning you packed your black skirt in the garment bag. Pack items between tissue paper to prevent creasing. Put shoes in grocery bags to keep clothes clean. Use the inside of shoes to pack socks; roll up underwear to pack in small spaces. Or, buy some mesh bags and put all the socks in one bag and all underwear in another. Items that may leak, such as suntan lotion, pack in a Ziploc.

When re-packing, try to pack items in the same bag it was packed in when you came on board. Instead of waiting until the last night to pack, try to pack your dirty clothes in your suitcase on a daily basis. Remember how hard it was to pack it all in? If you ball up dirty clothes, it may not all fit. Take out the dirty item and fold it as if it was clean. If you want to keep the dirty and clean clothes separate, put the dirty clothes in a laundry bag. Pack breakables (such as bottles) in your Carry-On Bag.

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PACKING IT ALL IN: CARRY-ON ITEMS

YOUR WAIST POUCH OR SHOULDER BAG PACKING LIST

For gals, if you're taking the purse you normally use, go through your purse and wallet and remove items that you won't need. Do you really need to bring a copy of your phone bill with you? Leave these at home and discard any old receipts or ATM bank machine transactions.

Travel Pak:

The Travel Pak could be a large Ziploc, or anything else that can keep these items together

1. Passport (For Canadians & foreign guests, taken at cruise terminal)
2. Photo ID - required (can also keep in wallet)
3. Visas, if required
4. Travel Documents
Immunization Record (if required)
Travel Itinerary
Airline tickets
Cruise documents (filled out ahead of time)
Cancellation/baggage/medical insurance info
Hotel confirmations
Rental car or shuttle info
Emergency travel contact phone numbers

Other Essential Items:
Prescription glasses
Wallet
Credit cards; long-distance card; points cards, driver's license, etc. (in wallet)
Health card (in wallet) [Plus info on extended health coverage]
Cash - US currency in small $1 bills [For tipping at airports/terminal]
ATM Debit card (in wallet)
Traveler's cheques [Keep traveler's cheques' receipts in Carry-on Bag with copied Travel Pak info]
Lip balm
Candy and/or gum
Kleenex
Some band aids, mole skin
Sunglasses
Luggage and car keys (if required)
Anything else you want to have close on hand.

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PACKING IT ALL IN: CARRY-ON ITEMS

YOUR CARRY-ON BAG PACKING LIST:
Required medical/dental items [knee supports; retainer; contact lens solution]
Water bottle filled with water [airports charge a premium for bottled water - you can bring bottled water from home & keep the plastic bottle for shore excursions, or just bring a water bottle & re-fill with free juice on board, etc.]
Change of clothes: underwear; socks; shorts & t-shirt [Ensure you're either wearing proper dinner attire or it is packed in Carry-on Bag; see. What do I wear on board in the evening? (p. 5) for more info]
Swimsuit
Swimsuit cover-up [could be a large t-shirt]
Beach flip flops/sandals [for the pool area]
Pajamas
Jewellery [put jewellery in a Ziploc or other bag - don't bring expensive items]
Toiletries - see Toiletries Packing List (p. 8)
Chips, pretzels or other munchies
Pop [cans or plastic bottles]
Magazines or other reading material
Pens [bring 2; there's always a shortage & you need to fill out tons of forms]
Paper or small lined notepad
Pack of cards [there are many line-ups with nothing to do]
Address book; stamps; computer-generated business cards with name, address, e-mail address to hand-out to new friends on board
and Photocopied Travel Pak Set; plus copies of prescription medications, packing list, credit card #'s, and traveler's cheques receipts in Ziploc.

Could also put these items in a separate camera bag:
Camera, film & batteries - or large Ziploc to protect (exposed film on return trip)
Extra batteries [Ziploc]
Underwater camera [sold on ship for US$26 - $30; cheaper to buy before you leave home]

Optional:
Walkman, headphones & batteries [limit yourself to 2-3 CD's & tapes] - put in large Ziploc or Walkman carry-case to protect
Game boy& batteries - limit yourself to 2-3 games -- put in Ziploc to protect
Shout individual wipes [handy for spills]
Breakables & gifts (on return trip) .....Anything else you want to have close on hand.

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PACKING IT ALL IN: CARRY-ON ITEMS

YOUR TOILETRIES PACKING LIST

Place all toiletries in a cosmetic or shaving kit bag & attach a shower hook. It can then hang from the towel bar in your cabin bathroom. Bathrooms on board are small.

Prescriptions in original containers (including birth control pills, if required)

**NEVER PACK PRESCRIPTIONS IN YOUR CHECKED LUGGAGE!**

Tylenol; Advil (in original containers)
Gravol (if required for motion sickness)
Sea bands for sea sickness (or ginger snaps, ginger ale; peppermint tea or candies) "sea sickness pills also available on-board at Purser's desk
Sinus/allergy medication (in original package)
Halls or other cough drops
Vitamins (buy a 7-day pill container - take only what you need)
Tums (or Rolaids - whatever works for you)
Imodium (anti-diaherra medication)
Small waterless hand sanitizer in a Ziploc (great for shore excursions)
Soap or facial cleanser
Hand & face lotion
Shampoo & conditioner
Deodorant
Toothbrush; Toothpaste & dental floss
Small mouthwash
Comb/brush
Sun screen; minimum SPF 15 - higher if possible (Ziploc)
Solarcaine or other sunburn relief
Small insect repellent (non-aerosol) (Ziploc)
Q-tips; cotton balls
Baby powder - small size (Ziploc)
Hair spray (non-aerosol) or Hair gel (Ziploc)
Shower cap (optional)
Razor, blades & hair remover products (non-aerosol) - must be in Checked Luggage
Electric razor (pack adaptor, if required)
Nail file; nail clippers; tweezers; small scissors - must be in Checked Luggage

Guy's Extras:
Styptic pencil
Aftershave (Ziploc)

Gal's Extras:
Sanitary pads or Tampax [if required -- cruise ships may not have your favorite brand and it could be awhile until the variety store opens on board ship]
Perfume/cologne (Ziploc)
Make-up (keep to a minimum) - ladies, you know what you need!
Nail polish (Ziploc)
Nail polish remover (Ziploc), or purchase nail polish remover packets

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PACKING IT ALL IN: CHECKED LUGGAGE

GAL'S PACKING LIST

For Daytime:
Sunglasses (packed in waist pouch/Carry-on Bag)
Sweatshirt or polar-fleece top (you'll be wearing this -- bring an extra one if you wish)
Lightweight jacket or wind breaker (you'll be wearing this)
Running shoes (you'll be wearing these)
Walking shoes (optional)
Flip flops/sport sandals (packed in Carry-on Bag)
Underwear
Socks
Hat or sun visor
Beach bag (preferably waterproof for shore excursions)
Shorts
T-shirts (1 per day; or less, if desired)
Jeans (optional)
Sweat pants (optional)
Workout clothes (lightweight shorts, t-shirt for the gym, wrist/headband)
Lightweight casual pants, such as cargo or khaki pants (1 or 2 prs. - it could get cool)
Swimsuit (bring more than 1 if you have)
Waist pouch (you will have to carry around your room key/cruise ship room charge card; when going ashore, you also have to carry your photo ID & some $$)
Rain gear (full rain gear or a small pocket-size plastic poncho)
Umbrella (optional - can also pack this in the Carry-On Bag)
Hair accessories (scrunchies, clips, bobby pins, etc.)
Scarves, belts
Pajamas (packed in Carry-on Bag; could bring 2 pairs, if you wish)
Slippers & Bathrobe (optional)
Water shoes - for beach optional)

PACKING IT ALL IN: CHECKED LUGGAGE

GAL'S PACKING LIST

For Evening:

Nice sweater or dress jacket to wear over evening dress or other tops (can get cool in dining room and lounges)
Long formal dress (st formal night-really dress-up) now's the time for sequins & taffeta!
Long or short fancy dress OR Long or short skirt & dressy top (2nd formal night-dress-up)
Dress pants (1-2 prs.)
Skirts (1- 2)
Assorted nice tops, sleeveless sweaters or "disco" tops (halter tops; one-shouldered tops; not t-shirts) to wear with skirts and/or pants
Long-sleeved top (can be a mock turtleneck)
Casual sun dress (can also be worn during the day)
Strapless bra (optional)
Panty hose & knee highs
Jewellery (packed in Carry-on Bag)
Dress pumps or sandals
Evening purse
Theme wear (Caribbean-style clothing; Western-style clothing, etc.)

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PACKING IT ALL IN: CHECKED LUGGAGE

GUY'S PACKING LIST

For Daytime:
Sunglasses (packed in waist pouch/Carry-on Bag)
Sweatshirt or polar-fleece top (you'll be wearing this -- bring an extra one if you wish)
Lightweight jacket or windbreaker (you'll be wearing this)
Running shoes (you'll be wearing these)
Walking shoes (optional)
Sport sandals/flip flops (packed in Carry-on Bag)
Underwear
Socks
Hat or sun visor
Shorts
T-shirts (1 per day recommended)
Jeans (optional)
Sweat pants (optional)
Workout clothes (lightweight shorts, t-shirt for the gym, wrist/headband)
Lightweight casual pants, such as cargo or khaki pants (2-4 prs.; also wear for dinner)
Swim trunks (bring more than 1 if you have)
Waist pouch (you will have to carry around your room key card/cruise ship room charge card; when going ashore, you also have to carry your photo ID & some $$)
Rain gear (full rain gear or one of those small pocket-size plastic ponchos)
Umbrella (optional -- can also pack this in the Carry-On Bag)
Pajamas (packed in Carry-on Bag; could bring 2 pairs if you wish)
Slippers (optional)
Bathrobe (optional)
Water shoes - for beach (optional)

PACKING IT ALL IN: CHECKED LUGGAGE

GUYS PACKING LIST

For Evening:

Tuxedo (optional)
Blazer (optional)
2-piece dark suit (1st & 2nd formal nights)
2 dress shirts of different colours to wear with suit (1st & 2nd formal nights)
2 ties to match shirts to wear with suit (1st & 2nd formal nights)
Dress pants (1-2 prs.)
Casual tops (i.e. golf shirts) CAN’T BE T-SHIRTS
Other casual button-up shirts (i.e. Hawaiian shirt) - to wear with dress pants or over t-shirt for dinner
Dress socks
Dress shoes
Spare shoelaces (for dress shoes if lace-up)
Shoe horn
Shoe polish mitt
Lint brush
Belt
Jewellery (tie tacks; etc.)
Theme wear (Caribbean-style clothing; Western-style clothing, etc.)

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PACKING IT ALL IN: CHECKED BAGGAGE

GALS AND GUYS MISCELLANEOUS PACKING LIST

Blow-dryer; curling iron
Travel iron
Voltage adaptor for above, if required
6-plug outlet adaptor (similar to power bar, but square)
Pocket-sized language dictionaries [Spanish-English, etc.]
Travel mugs with lids [good for bringing coffee around the ship & good on planes in turbulent weather]
Pocket-sized solar calculator [good for figuring out exchanges, etc.]
Small first aid kit (band aids; wet naps; antiseptic cream, mole skin, etc.)
Large Ziplocs (to pack wet clothes when leaving)
Sandwich Ziplocs (order room service prior to shore excursion & pack sandwiches for lunch)
A few plastic grocery bags (to pack shoes, etc.)
Small flashlight or night light (Inside cabins: no light is in the room & it’s dark)
Clothes pegs (Ocean view cabins: to hold drapes closed & for hanging items to dry in bathroom)
Portable clothesline or lightweight rope (to hang-dry items in the bathroom)
Small laundry detergent (liquid or powder) – bring, as sometimes these are not available!
Small alarm clock (for getting up early)
An extra foldable bag that fits in checked luggage for all those souvenirs you’re bringing home!!
In a Large Ziploc: Scotch tape; post-its; highlighters, small ruler; paper clips, mini stapler
Binoculars
Cruise & travel books
Travel journal
City maps (if required)
Plastic binder case to hold papers, daily cruise news bulletins & receipts
Favourite candy (mini chocolate bars, hard candy) – expensive or non-existent on board
Bright “tag” luggage markers (extras for return trip)
Plastic cable ties (in case your luggage zipper breaks & to hold your bag together)
Duct tape (same reason as cable ties)
Sewing kit – scissors & needles must be in Checked Luggage

.....Anything else that you can think of!

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Embarkation:

You’re Here! Arriving at the Cruise Terminal:

Check your cruise documents for the embarkation times at the various ports, for instance, embarkation in Miami can start as early as 1:30 p.m. At the pier, curb side porters will take your Checked Luggage, and in a few hours, it will be delivered in front of your cabin (please note that your Checked Luggage may or may not arrive before dinner time). Keep your Carry-On Bag, Camera Case and Waist Pouch or Shoulder Bag with you. Tip the porters US$0.50 or $1 per bag, then join a line waiting to get in the terminal.

Inside the cruise terminal, if you haven’t filled out your cruise documents, you’ll have to do it now. Then you’ll go to a check-in counter, where all cruise documents, as well as your passports, will be taken. For the Sail and Sign card, you normally need to charge this against a credit card or have a cash deposit (Carnival cruise lines has a minimum US$200 cash deposit per person, so check your cruise documents for other cruise lines). All cruise ships operate as a “cashless society”, and the Sail and Sign card is your cabin key and “charge card” during your cruise. After this is done, you may go to another waiting area where you wait to be called by color/number to board the ship. Once you’re called, you board the ship, and have your first photo taken. Smile!

As you enter the ship, head to your cabin and drop off your Carry-On Bag, put your valuables in the safe & wash-up a bit. Check out the cruise newsletter to find out what’s happening on-board. At this time you may meet your Cabin Stewart.

It’s a good idea to make certain reservations right away, so as soon as they open, sign-up for shore excursions at the Shore Excursion desk, make spa or hair appointments at the Spa, & make any dinner reservations at the supper club (optional). Once you’re ready to go, carry your Sail and Sign card, cruise newsletter, mini-map and go exploring or head to the Lido deck for some lunch. This is where your waist pouch will come in handy!

As per Maritime regulations, before sailing, everyone must participate in a Lifeboat Drill. You will proceed to your “Muster Station” (location is normally listed on the back of your cabin door), so ensure there is a life jacket for each person in the cabin. Once the Lifeboat Drill is over, bring your life jackets back to your cabin, grab your camera, Sign & Sail card, and head outside to get a great view as you leave the port and enjoy a tropical drink.

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Debarkation:

Customs & Immigration, The Last Night & Leaving the Ship:

Sometime during the cruise, there will be a time for Canadians & foreign passengers to report to Customs & Immigration. This is where you’ll fill out your Customs Declaration Forms to declare merchandise you’ve purchased and are bringing back into the country. [The country in this case is the USA, you will have to go through Customs again, so keep receipts handy]. This is normally done on-board where each person must attend, and is normally when you have your passport returned.

Normally, the last night of your cruise is where you “tip” your dining room service team and room steward. The suggested tip varies for cruise lines *Carnival s is US $9.50 per person per day). This is paid in cash and placed in an envelope. Some cruise lines automatically charge the tipping to your cabin, so check with each cruise line on how this will work on your cruise.

On the last night of the cruise, you will be asked to place your luggage outside your cabin door by a certain time, normally before midnight. It is a good idea to gather up all your belongings and pack them the day before or the afternoon of the last night. The dress code on the last night of the cruise is always casual, so when you get back to your room, just pack the items you were wearing, and keep a change of clothes for the next day, and anything else you will need. Ensure your luggage is locked and still has luggage tags attached to it. Rip off any old airline tags. Please note that once the Checked Luggage is taken, there is no way of getting it back until the next day in the cruise terminal.

This is when your Carry-On Bag will come in handy. Keep it in the room with you to carry your personal items off the ship the following morning. Just use your Packing List and pack everything in again, plus any additional breakable souvenirs (or bottles). Keep your proof of citizenship (passport) out with you as you will need it to get through customs at the airport.

In the morning, room service and any charges to your Sail and Sign card are discontinued. Breakfast will be earlier than normal, so head down to the Lido deck for your last breakfast of the cruise. No-one can disembark until the port authorities clear the ship and everyone who should have, reports to the Immigration Officer. Also, the cruise line won’t let anyone off until everyone settles their on board accounts. Normally, you get off the ship by color tags and you are designated to sit in certain locations until you are called to leave the ship. The wait is sometimes very long, so bring a magazine or book or something else to do.

Use a Local Cruise Professional for all of Your Cruise Vacation Needs: This is such a huge point, that if you get nothing else from this article, remember why you should use a local cruise professional. Here are some critical reasons. A cruise professional can book your cruise, airline reservations, hotel, transfers and sightseeing before, during and after your cruise. Why is it important to have one person do the entire reservation? Because travel is not guaranteed and you are quite likely to have delays caused by weather, mechanical difficulties, traffic, health and so on. When you have missed a flight, you need someone that you can call immediately and they can start to pick up the pieces. If for no other reason, booking your cruise vacation with a cruise professional makes tons of sense.

If you purchase your cruise from an on-line discounter, your air from Orbitz and your hotel from Priceline.com, who are you going to call that will pick up the pieces when something happens? No matter how you book the elements of your cruise vacation, be sure to find out what telephone numbers to call to get help if something goes wrong. If you booked the components separately, be sure to have contact information for each one and a way to contact them when something does happen.

Flying to your cruise: Here is the rule of thumb. Always fly into your port of departure the day before the cruise. Flying in the day of the cruise is simply nuts. Anything is likely to happen on the way and any delay can mean your either miss your ship at worse, to cruising without your luggage for a few days at best. If you are cruising in Europe and connecting through one of the major hubs in the U.S. and then again in Europe, fly in at least two days prior to the cruise. On one ship that carried 1,800 passengers, we found out that they had averaged at least 250 bags lost per cruise. This was in the port of Barcelona and the majority of luggage was lost by Iberia Airlines. Most of the bags were lost on flights where people arrived the day of the cruise from the U.S..

Especially when more than 5 time zones are traveled, you are always better off arriving a few days in advance of the cruise simply to recover from the change in time zones, if nothing else. If your luggage is lost, you will have ample time for the airline to find it and deliver it to your hotel. It is much more difficult trying to have your luggage catch up with you along your cruise itinerary than if you are in a local hotel. One of the things that airlines look at during the hot summer months is the overall weight of the load of passengers and luggage. You are much better off checking two pieces that weight 35 pounds each than one large piece that weighs 70 pounds. If the airline needs to cut weight, it will automatically select the heaviest bags to offload.

Always pack a carry-on: Think of your carry-on as your entire cruise wardrobe and pack like you would never see your checked luggage again. I can't emphasize this enough. If you cruise enough, I guarantee you that you will be faced with the crisis of starting your cruise without your checked luggage. This can be devastating for those that have not prepared for it. Here is a packing list that my wife and I use. We both use a small hanger bag that folds into carry-on size and try to keep the weight to a minimum.


Men's Carry-On


Woman's Carry-On

Toiletries
Tooth Brush
Small Toothpaste
Deodorant
Razor (no shaving cream)
Small Cologne
Comb or Brush

Clothing
2 pair of Washable Underwear
3 pair Washable Socks
1 Lightweight Blue Blazer
1 White Dress Shirt & Tie
3 Regular Shirts
3 pairs of Slacks
1 Bathing Suit
1 pair of Sandals or Tennis Shoes
2 pairs of Shorts

All Medicine and Eye Glasses
All Travel Docs
Back Up Copies of Documents
All Jewelry

Toiletries
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Deodorant
Essential Make-up
Curling Iron
Perfume
Comb or Hair Brush

Clothing
3 Underwear and Bras (washable)
2 pairs of Nylons
1 Black, non-wrinkle Long Formal Dress
1 Black non-wrinkle Cocktail Dress
2 pairs of Slacks
2 Blouses
1 Skirt
2 Tee Shirts
1 Swimsuit
1 pair of Black Pumps
2 pairs of Shorts
1 pair of Sandals
1 pair of Tennis Shoes

You can easily adjust this list for your own purposes, but suffice it to say that if all you had were these items on a cruise, that you could have a great time and not have to miss any aspect of the cruise. Virtually every ship that has formal nights also rents tuxedos for men making it not necessary to pack a tux in your carry-on.

Use taxis or limos for your transfers: After a long flight and arriving at an airport that you might not be familiar with, the last thing you need is the stress of trying to locate your transfer to your hotel. Your best bet is to budget for a taxi to take you directly to your destination unless it is quite far and bound to be very expensive. In this case, find out what limo companies charge for the transfer. Many times in ports such as Galveston, where the port is considerable distance from the airport, getting a limo for their minimum rental period is either less expensive or comparable to regular motor coach transfers. Needless to say, riding in a chauffeur driven limo is a much nicer experience than waiting around the airport while people and luggage are collected and piled into a motor coach for the long ride. Once you arrive at your destination in a limo, you simply walk to the front desk and check in. If you arrive in a motor coach full of folks, you are likely to be standing in line for some time. Ditto for your return from the cruise. Hassling the crowds of passengers transferring to the airport in motor coaches is simply not worth it. Grab a taxi and beat the crowd.

Be smart while in port: Planning for problems while in ports makes tons of sense. Here is how to avoid a catastrophe will in ports of call.

Purchase and organize a "port wallet". Of course you will have your regular wallet (or purse) that you always carry, but purchase a special wallet that you will take into ports while you leave your regular wallet in the safe in your cabin. Put a copy of your passport ID page, a copy of your driver's license, a copy of your emergency contact information and insurance contact information in it. Only carry one credit card in your port wallet and whatever cash you might need for the day. If you are carrying a large amount of cash, carry it somewhere other than in your wallet. It is best to carry any significant amount of cash and your cruise line "sign and sail" card in your front packet (or some other hard to reach place). Think of your port wallet as very dispensable, so that if it is stolen or lost, it is no big deal. Never carry your passport off the ship!

Leave your expensive jewelry in the safe on the ship: Depending on the ports you will be visiting, you might consider buying costume jewelry to wear into ports while you leave your valuable jewelry on the ship. Walking around laden with diamonds and your gold Rolex may make you feel good, but there are many people looking for a cruise passenger that is vulnerable to robbery that also has a high pay load. They know that you will not be back to testify should they be caught and that you will be gone when the ship leaves later in the day. This makes cruise passengers a highly desirable target for robbers and thieves who know that they can usually escape prosecution even if they are caught. Buy and wear some functional jewelry that will not tempt anyone and you will be fine.

Have your emergency plan pre-thought out: Make sure you know who and where to call in any emergency. Make sure you know how to contact your travel agent for support. Make sure you know how to contact your credit card company should you lose your credit card. Don't forget how to get assistance from your travel insurance company. Make a list of contact telephone numbers and e-mail addresses so that you can immediately take action should you need to do so. Read my article on travel insurance for more information on why travel insurance is so important to you.

I recently sailed on a 7-night cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Wind as a member of a group of travel agents. This was my first chance to experience how the new "Freestyle" program worked. In a nutshell... it worked far better than I thought it would.

The basis of the program is to give passengers a number of dining options. For dinner, you can dine at a number of different "restaurants" within a stated time frame.

Four Seasons and The Terrace dining rooms have traditional table service. You can dine anytime between the hours of 5:30 PM and Midnight, but you must enter the dining room by 10 PM. If you prefer traditional dining schedules, the maitre d' will assign you a specific table, waiter and time for every night of the cruise... along with other passengers. The people I talked with said that not many passengers do this. We ate at various times, arriving at the dining room as early as 5:30 and as late as 10 PM and the longest we had to wait for a table was 5 minutes. The maitre d' may ask if you would like to be seated with other people, but all requests for specific sized tables were granted without fuss.

The Four Season's dining room had been dramatically changed when the Norwegian Wind was stretched. The room now is ship-wide and, with floor to ceiling windows on both sides and a raised ceiling, it is an airy and bright room. This is a huge improvement over the original design. Many of the tables are now for 2 or 4 people. The mix of table sizes is very good so that no one had to wait more than a few minutes for a suitable size table. The Four Seasons is home to the breakfast buffet; while you can have traditional waiter service in The Terraces dining room.

The Sun Terrace dining room is now the Trattoria Italian Restaurant serving lunch and dinner... reservations accepted but not necessary. They have a standard menu that never changes; however, they have additional daily "specials" that make it possible for you to eat there every day and not have the same food. We ate there 3 times during the week and the food was very good.

The Sports Bar and Grill has been radically renovated. The long bar along the back wall has been removed and replaced with a buffet line. The outdoor eating area has been enclosed, adding more tables to the dining area. Buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served here. Dinner service begins at 5:30 PM and the food is a mix of buffet standards and some very good hot dishes and salads, along with a nightly carving station. The tables are covered with table-cloths, set with cloth napkins and silverware and candles are lit. It is a nice place to eat when you are not in the mood for full-course meal.

The Le Bistro is a fixture on NCL and this one is the same as the others. I noticed some slight menu changes but nothing worth talking about. Open from 5:30 PM to Midnight, reservations are a good idea.

The Pizzeria is a snack bar by the pool. Also by the pool is a BBQ area with 2 huge Weber grills. At lunch and again at dinner, this area is open serving BBQ ribs, chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs, etc. The problem is that seating is very limited. The few times we tried the area, there were no tables available.

There is now only one formal night on the Wind; however, contrary to what many expected, this doesn't mean that people "dress down" on the cruise. For the most part, I found that people dressed a little better for dinner than usual and on formal night most of the men in the dining room were wearing jackets. NCL requests that shorts not be worn on the ship after 6 PM. One man told me the was turned away from the dining room for wearing shorts with the suggestion that he utilize the Sports Bar and Grill.

Other changes... lots of new help in the dining rooms. I am glad to report that NCL is not eliminating Caribbean-based employees by attrition, but they are hiring many Filipino, Malaysian, and Romanian personnel. In addition, many of the new employees are women and I would say that at least 40% of the wait staff on the Wind are women. Service remains remarkably good in all the dining rooms. There are a lot of new crew members so things may not be as polished as they want, but I have no complaints about the service.

Tips on the Wind are now pre-paid at the rate of $10 per day per person. This is automatically added to your on board account so, at the end of the week, you need not tip anyone. You can adjust this amount any time you want at the "Reception" desk and if you want, you can personally tip anyone an additional amount in cash. The crew that I talked with said that they were getting the money and it seemed to be working well. The standard 15% is still added to your bar orders.

Freestyle cruising has changed other aspects of the cruise experience. You no longer have a purser's desk... instead you have a Reception Desk and an Accounting Desk. On disembarkation day you no longer have to get up before the sun to have breakfast. Buffets and waiter service breakfasts are available from 6 AM to 9 AM and you can even order room service Continental breakfast if you wish. You do not have to be out of your cabins until 11 AM so you can go have an early breakfast, sit by the pool, and then return to your cabin to clean up and change before you leave the ship.

In short... I like Freestyle. I like having the options of eating when, where, and with whom I want. I enjoy having a table for 2 so I can have a quiet meal with a friend or sharing a table for 8 with members of a group or just meeting new people.

The ship itself is in excellent shape having just come out of dry-dock 2 months ago. We did miss a port (Grand Cayman) when the Captain announced that we were running on 3 engines instead of 4 due to the fact that some spare parts had not been delivered to the ship on the day of departure. This was compounded by a strong current which would have made us arrive too late in the day. NCL credited every cabin with a $100 credit.

Norwegian Cruise Lines features Freestyle Cruising which covers five areas of the onboard experience; Dining, Attire, Service, Activities, Disembarkation.

Below you will find information NCL provides on their website regarding Freestyle Cruising. Except for the dining item these options are usually available on most mass-market cruises of the type that NCL offers.

When describing dining, they don't mention that most of these improved options require an additional per-person entry fee. These charges vary, but I believe most are between $10-20. This pay for service restaurant model has it's pros and cons.

I will not mark these comments as being PROs or CONs because it will depend on your personal tastes and situation.

# Most require extra fee.
# Reduces the number of kids in the restaurant.
# Separates those how have the money to pay extra from those that do not. Harkening back to days of old when cruise lines drew distinct lines between different levels of service. Separating passengers by class of service.
# Offers a higher level of service and food quality.
# Because these are mostly mass-market cruise ships it helps to create a more luxurious cruise experience for those that choose the specialty restaurants. For the most part I believe these options are the only romantic/intimate dining options available.
# Removes the "all you can eat" patrons from the environment.
# Most have a dress code
# Advanced reservations are usually required.

MY SUGGUESTION: When you first board reserve your first nights meal in a Freestyle restaurant to avoid the crowds at the main dining room. It appears most people will attempt to dine in the traditional main dining room the first night. Seems passengers don't understand the Freestyle dining options. Then determine your dining schedule, (considering your shore excursions), for the rest of the cruise, and make reservations if needed. I've been told that as days pass the passengers begin to understand Freestyle cruising and it gets more and more difficult to obtain reservations at prime times. Also seek out the smaller out of the way eating locations early in the cruise, they are often undiscovered for serveral days.

As of 07/15/2004, this is how NCL describes Freestyle Cruising on their website.

Dining
The choice is yours. With Freestyle Cruising, you travel a world of dining options all in one week. From elegant French bistros and Italian trattorias to sushi and tapas bars, and more, there’s a different dining option for almost every night of your cruise. With up to 10 different restaurants, each featuring a diverse an ever-changing menu, you’ll always find exactly what you’re in the mood for. And there are no fixed seatings. Imagine restaurants open from 5:30 pm to midnight so that you can choose from an early dinner before the show or a later romantic dinner for the two of you. And of course there’s always the option of 24-hour room service. You’re free to dine where, when and with whom you choose. Just as it should be on your vacation.

Attire
Wear what you want. Dress according to your mood. It is your vacation. “Resort casual” attire is as dressy as you’ll ever have to get for dinner. But if it’s elegance you’re dreaming of, we invite you to indulge. Many of our restaurants offer formal options. If you prefer more casual dress, that’s fine, too. How you dress is up to you.

Service
You’re about to be pampered. By adding additional crewmembers to every ship in our fleet we’re able to offer exceptional service. With almost one crewmember per stateroom, you can be assured you’ll be very well taken care of when you cruise with us.

Activities
Do everything, or nothing at all. For those who prefer to be active, our new LifeStyle Program features adventurous Shore Excursions, art auctions, health and wellness programs, cooking demonstrations – all kinds of activities aimed at challenging your mind as well as your body. Or you can simply relax and enjoy not having a schedule to follow. We pick the ports, but the rest of the day is your call.

Disembarkation
Enjoy every day of your vacation. Because we’ve streamlined the whole process of disembarkation, you can now relax, have breakfast and enjoy more of your final morning on board without having to rush.