On a cruise ship, you may get free airfare – and even a hotel room if the fights are LONG. Also, a taxi ride. KEEP all your receipts. Depending on the line, you may get reimbursed.  The luxury ships do this…. Contemporary ships usually put the responsibility of all this on you.

So, when do you get on board?

Usually, when a ship docks from a previous voyage, at 6 am, the current PAX (passengers)  file off  and  the ship is scrubbed down. The rooms are all made up again. This can take until noon.

When you arrive at the port, you will be considered “crew.” But you are not like the crew that includes waiters, housekeepers, etc.  They are under a different contract and enter in a special line. Ask anyone in “uniform” from the ship what to do/where to go. You’re are a celebrity and will be treated as such.

You drop your luggage in the same pickup spot as the passengers.  If you don’t have a room assignment, talk to a manager to sort it out.

You may have to wait a while with the band, some dancers and a ventriloquist. Next, you’ll be told to get in a line for entertainers. This will be a different  line from the thousands of other passengers.  Keep your boarding letter handy. You WILL need it.

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From there, you do what the rest of guests do – give a credit card, take your photo, show your passport, get your key.

You’ll get your photo taken in front of the screen with palm trees. That will soak you $30.

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