• Styles Of Cruising
• Young Couple's Cruising
• Cruising For Everyone
• History of Cruising
• Family Cruising
• Types Of Cabin
• Luxury Cruising

• Cruise Questions & Answers
• Cruise Extras
• New To Cruising
• Why Go On A Cruise
• Cruise Line Loyalty Clubs
• Cruising For Singles
• Weddings At Sea
• Conference & Incentive Cruises

Booking

This will depend on the cruise and your local airport. Sometimes there are flights from your local airport but they aren’t direct, so you would have to change planes on-route, other times there may be direct flights. Please ask us when you make your cruise booking.

If you have booked a flight with Gill’s as well as your cruise then generally transfers from the airport to the ship are included.

As there are few cabins which accommodate disabled passengers on each ship they are reserved for passengers who are fully immobile only.

After Sales

Due to data protection laws we can only discuss a booking with the lead passenger on the booking, which is generally the person who initially made the booking. All paperwork and confirmations will also be sent to the lead passenger at their address.

If you cancel your booking before your balance due date you only loose your deposit, however it is possible to transfer your booking to another cruise with the same cruise line at this time. Your Balance due will be advised with all your initial paperwork. Once this has been paid, further cancellation charges apply, please call us for full details. Please note: we will only accept cancellations in writing to avoid any misunderstandings.

You will receive your booking confirmation approximately 7-10 days after you make your booking.

We send out tickets approximately 2 weeks before your departure.

Please always check with your doctor before travelling.

Again, this varies depending on the airline, however most airlines give you 20-23kg allowance per person for hold luggage and 5kg per person for cabin luggage. If you are sailing from the UK there is no maximum luggage allowance on board ship.

All passengers require a machine readable passport to enter the USA. For UK passengers this is a maroon passport with a line of numbers and letters at the bottom of the picture page. If you do not have a machine readable passport you will require a visa to enter the USA. Please note: if you have ever had a police record (including having been cautioned by the police, or an expired offence) then you may not be allowed to enter the USA, and will require an interview at the US Embassy in London in order to obtain a visa.

We will advise you when you book if you require a visa for your cruise, and your cruise line will also contact you if circumstances change prior to your departure. To obtain visas please contact Visa Service on 0870 8900185 www.visaservice.co.uk

For new cruisers please note the procedure below which may assist you in checking in for your first cruise.

• Please label all bags with the bag tags given to you as they will be taken from the dock to your cabin while you are checking in.
• You will be given an embarkation time when you can board the ship in order to stagger check-ins.
• When you check- in on the ship you will be asked to register your credit card which will be debited at the end of the cruise. You cannot register debit cards, however you can use cash to pay off your balance at the end of your cruise.
• You will then be issued with a cruise card which you use to charge all purchases on board. It also acts as your cabin key. At the end of your cruise the balance on this card will be charged to your credit card.

Cruise Ships

Not all cruise lines offer set dining times, however generally ships which offer 2 dining sittings require first sittings to start around 6.30pm and second sittings around 8.30pm. Ocean Village, NCL and P&O’s Arcadia and Oceana ships operate free dining so you choose when and where you eat.

Formal evenings vary from none to many depending on the ship, however usually there are at least 2 formal evenings on board a week long cruise. Ocean Village and NCL do not hold formal evenings at all.

Most cruise lines automatically add tips on to your on board account which you settle at the end of the cruise. Tips are then distributed amongst the staff. If you wish to opt out of this you can do so by advising the purser on the ship at the start of your cruise. If you wish to tip specific members of staff you can also do so at your discretion. Some cruise lines include tips as part of the overall price so you do not pay on board. Ocean Village is one cruise line which does this.

Children over the age of 6 months are usually allowed on board, however please note that children’s clubs will generally only accept children aged 3 years or more.

There is a limit to the number of wheelchairs allowed on board, so if you wish to take your own with you please advise us at the time of booking and we will enquire with the cruise line.