Boarding your cruise without your tickets?

Have you been issued your tickets yet?
Worried you're not going to be allowed to check-in on your cruise?
Whatever the reason is, it will be OKAY!

Even though the cruise lines have their own ticketing processes, one main thing to remember is that the check-in staff will allow you get onto the cruise without having your tickets in-hand.

Usually, after you complete your Cruise Personaliser/Check-In, you will be sent your tickets. But, nine out of ten passengers forget to do this and therefore don’t have their tickets when they board their cruise.

The earlier you can do this the better, and please ensure that you complete your Cruise Personaliser. If you don't know how, please call us and we can step you through it all.

Okay, so you've completed your online check-in and still haven't got your tickets from the cruise line? There's normally a couple of reasons for not getting them -

• You've still got loads of time until you set sail.
  P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises only start issuing tickets within 75 days from your sailing date & Royal Caribbean will issue your Ticket Booklets within 30 days from departure.


• You haven't completed all of the required details on the Cruise Personaliser/Online Check-In. Make sure it says complete it all fields and you have completed everything with an * (asterix) next to it.

We're only ever a phone call away so if you need to discuss it further, please call us.

Money doesn't matter!

A lot of first time cruisers ask us how and what sort of money they need to bring onboard... it's quite simple... you don't need anything! Cruising really can't get much easier...

At your Cruise check-in when you hand over your passport & tickets, in return you & everyone else in your cabin will be given their own Cruise Card. These are plastic cards and have multi dual use & whatever you do you don't want to lose it - that's why it's handy to get yourself a lanyard so you know where it is at all times! It work as your cabin door key and also your onboard EFTPOS card to make purchases whilst you're onboard. You also have to swipe your Cruise Card to embark/disembark the ship at each of the ports so the ships know where you are.
At check-in, the check-in staff will ask you how you wish to settle your Cruise Card from all of the purchases you've made - you can use your credit card (major credit cards accepted), debit cards and also cash (a cash bond is required and varies per cruise line).
I've used my debit card and cash before and they both work a treat!

If you're on one of our cruises & lucky enough to have Onboard Cabin Credit this money will be preloaded onto your Cruise Cards so you can start spending it straight away - perhaps on your first Sailaway Cocktail?

The only time you'll need cash is when you get to the ports and then you'll need some local currency. The ship has a Foreign Exchange Service or you can organise it with your bank/specialist.

It's all too easy...

Dedicated single cabins

During the Radiance of the Seas multi-million dollar upgrade the ship will see 6 dedicated single cabins being built and added into the inventory for the ship! These are expected to be very popular in the Kiwi and Aussie market and will sell out !!

Although prices are still to be confirmed, we have been advised they will be 'considerably' lower than the current single pricing. This is a fantastic option for those single travellers out there who may of been put off cruising int he past because of the added cost of travelling alone!

If you're interested in one of these please contact us here at Cruise Sale Finder!

Is smoking allowed onboard Princess ships?

As part of Princess Cruises ongoing commitment to ensuring that all passengers has a comfortable onboard experience, Princess Cruises will be introducing more restrictive smoking policies, and will prohibit smoking in passenger staterooms and balconies for all voyages departing after January 15, 2012.

Countries around the world from North America to Europe are moving to more restrictive smoking policies and their latest consumer studies show that smokers are a small minority of our passengers. As you may know, balconies are a hallmark of Princess Cruises, and we believe it is important to keep this peaceful space clear of smoke. Violations to this policy will result in a $250 fine for each occurrence, which will be charged to the passenger’s stateroom account. Keeping with the global trend and honoring the wishes of their passengers, we feel this change will enhance our onboard experience and do more to help our passengers escape completely.

Of course they will still welcome passengers who smoke, and will continue to provide convenient smoking areas throughout each ship, including cigar lounges, a section of the nightclub and casino, and a portion of the open decks.

Voyager of the Seas in Sydney

Royal Caribbean have recently released some exciting news that they will be bringing their "megaliner" the Voyager of the Seas down to Asia & Australia for 5 months starting from November 2012.

The 3840-passenger vessel will also cruise in China between June and October 2012, and will be the fifth Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited ship sailing in the region in 2012/13 - alongside the Rhapsody of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Millennium.

Voyager of the Seas has 1556 staterooms and will introduce a host of innovations including its 'Royal Promenade' indoor main street, an ice rink, skating track, golf simulator and inside cabins with a view.

She will operate 12 New Zealand, South Pacific and Australian itineraries ranging from one to 18 nights, sailing from Sydney and Fremantle.

Royal Caribbean said the cruises were due to open for sale early next month so keep an eye out on our Cruise Sale Finder websites for details!!

Rhapsody of the Seas review

I was really luck enough to get onboard the Rhapsody the Seas for a few hours whilst she was in Auckland at the end of January. She's a really great ship with a lot of facilities for the whole family to enjoy such a rock climbing wall at the aft of the ship & 2 good sized swimming pools. You have a choice of an outdoor pool for those sun filled days or an inside pool with a retracting roof which would be perfect for the... not-so sunny days!!

Some furniture throughout the ship at some of the bars/lounges I thought needed to have a bit of a 'spruce up' but apart from that I still thought she was a fantastic ship!

All of the cabins were occupied so I wasn't able to see any of accommodations onboard however from what was said by the Royal Caribbean representative that was showing us around all of the cabins are slowly undergoing a soft refurbishment with flat screens, new linen etc. ..

I hope one day I'll be even luckier to cruise onboard the Rhapsody of the Seas...

Carnival Spirit down under in 2012

Yes that's right - another ship is being brought down to Sydney, Australia!

Carnival Cruise Lines has announced that they will be bringing down their ship the "Carnival Spirit" to cruise from out of Sydney from October 2012. The ship will accommodate 2,667 passengers, it's 88,500 tonnes & being 53 metres above the waterline it won't fit under the Sydney harbour bridge therefore cruising from Circular Quay Overseas passenger terminal.

The Carnival Spirit will be great for families with 4 pools, 4 spa pools, a 22 metre corkscrew waterslide, mini golf, jogging track, sports court, a 2 level dining room, 16 bars and lounges, a 3 level theatre, kids clubs PLUS much more!!

It's expected that the Carnival Spirit cruises from Sydney will become available to book from the middle of this year so keep an eye out on our websites

Kiwi Cruise Sale Finder (www.cruisesalefinder.co.nz)
& Aussie Cruise Sale Finder (www.cruisesalefinder.com.au)