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Airfare & Transfers:Commercial American Express Travel Services. includes return airfares, along with appropriate ground transfers as part of our cruise holidays. However, airfare and ground transfers are not applicable to cruise-only packages, or for clients deviating from package air arrangements. Brochures:Commercial American Express Travel Services has beautiful full-colour brochures containing photographs and details on the Cruise Lines we represent, as well as important information you need to know before cruising. You can get our brochures one of four ways:
Pre- & Post-Cruise Holidays:Before or after your cruise you can extend your holiday with hotel accommodation, ground transfers, or car rentals at select city and resort locations. If you want more than just a cruise, simply ask your Commercial American Express Travel Services consultant to make the arrangements at the same time you book your cruise. We will gladly assist you with your travel planning for any destinations or hotels worldwide. Discounts & Savings:Most of the cruise companies we represent offer savings or discounts off retail rates for booking their cruises well in advance of embarkation. Much less often discounted cruises vacations are offered much closer to embarkation too. Regularly visit our website Cruise Specials and pages or consult your Commercial American Express Travel Services consultant for further information. Extras:Cruise holidays are quite inclusive. However, the following are not usually provided:
Dining:Cruises are renowned for their lavish and extensive array of food offerings, which are usually prepared under the direction of award-winning master chefs with years of professional training and fine-dining experience. Most ships have two seatings for meals. Times can vary, but dinner seatings are generally between 6:00pm and 8:00pm. Six meals a day are not uncommon, including buffets and snacks. Sometimes, white-glove service prevails, and non-smoking dining rooms are the rule these days. Also, special dietary requests are fulfilled with advance notice. If your ship does not offer open sittings, remember to re-confirm your dining arrangements as soon as you get on board. Usually a dining request is only a request and cannot be confirmed until the passenger is aboard. Gratuities:Tipping is the norm on cruise ships. The amounts vary, and each cruise line provides guidelines to follow. The rule of thumb in U. S. currency per person, per day:
Some cruise lines recommend additional tipping of 50 cents per person, per day to the maitre d' and chief cabin steward. You should consider head waiters, if they've provided a special service. Group and Incentive Travel:Different cruise lines have different numbers required to constitute a group booking. For example, 15 passengers in a group gets one free cabin on certain cruise lines, with a maximum of four free for the largest groups. Discounts may be applicable as well. Visit our Meetings & Incentives page, contact us directly for more information, go to our online Information & Request Form page and submit the applicable details, or e-mail us. Seniors' Travel:Mature travellers who are 55 years or older at time of booking may receive preferred pricing from selected cruise lines. Proof of age will be required. Check with us for details.
Weddings and Honeymoons:Many cruise ships to-day have facilities to accommodate on-board weddings, honeymoon travellers and those on a romantic getaway. Sail away to romance and adventure on a cruise! There's no better way to begin your life together, or to renew your vows. Bonus and special honeymoon plans and packages are available from several cruise lines. Usually there is an additional cost for a wedding or honeymoon plan. Health and Physical Considerations:Motion sickness is occasionally a reality, but the size of most ships and their stabilizers greatly reduce rolling. There are always qualified doctors on-board international cruise ships, and they can assist in counteracting the symptoms associated with motion sickness. Prescription medications should be carried aboard in sufficient supply. Consult your doctor or travel agent about vaccination and health requirements. To-day, most ships can accommodate physically challenged guests in specially designed staterooms. Insurance & Security:All baggage and property are at risk at all times. Commercial American Express Travel Services offers excellent insurance plans, which cover not only baggage, but contain provisions for cancellations due to medical or immediate family emergency, etc., on a reimbursement basis. Be sure to carry all valuables with you, and identify your luggage inside and out. Check for the baggage regulations for your specific cruise, and be aware that most suggest an overnight bag for your last night, when the steward will collect all checked baggage prior to disembarkation the following morning. Alcoholic Beverages:Cruise lines encourage moderation in drinking. Many do not allow alcoholic beverages to be brought on board for consumption. Money & Credit:Most ships operate on a cashless system, where an account for all services (except the casino) can be set up with a major credit card, or signed for payment with cash or traveller's checks. Accounts are settled at the end of the voyage, usually by itemized statement. Many of the newer ships even have ATM machines. Ship Technology:To-day's cruise ships boast the highest technology, and a tour of the bridge is definitely in order when offered. Crews are trained, knowledgeable and professional in every way. Special Occasions:Cruises are perfect for celebrations! Please mention the date of any special occasion - birthdays, anniversaries, renewal of vows-- as stated earlier, some even have wedding and honeymoon packages. Check with the maitre'd or front desk to confirm arrangements made. Packing:What a delightful predicament! What to take on your cruise? Most cruises have at least one formal dinner, when it would be appropriate to wear a tuxedo, suit or evening gown. Of course sun lovers will bring a bathing suit. Keep in mind your destination; for Alaska, conservative apparel including a light rain jacket, as well as the casual shipboard daily attire, and your evening wear. For the Caribbean, more cotton and breathable materials for hot and humid days. On any cruise, don't forget your tennis shoes for walking the deck, aerobics and working out, and appropriate footgear for shore excursions, and dancing, etc.
Quality of Product & Service:Quality is a relative term, yet in the cruise industry it is the norm due to competition. A large number of different experiences are available, including sailing ships and yachts, specific theme cruises, celebrity cruises (baseball, basketball, football stars), and a myriad of others, such as golf packages with pro golf tour players, and well-known personalities from such fields as entertainment, business, politics, and food and wine, to name a few. Itineraries are also varied, with the majority being 7-night packages. Some are as short as 3 nights, others as many as 100 days on an around-the-world itinerary. Bargain hunters can sometimes find good value by taking a cruise when the ship is relocating from one seasonal area to another, such as the Mediterranean to the Caribbean. Word of mouth from friends or acquaintances is another way to determine a cruise line's reputation and itineraries. Costs:As always, you get what you pay for. A ship with more space and more amenities is going to cost more. The rates are generally based on double occupancy, per person. Single traveller rates can be from 25% to 100% higher than the per-person double occupancy rate. Seniors' rates are generally not common, but there can be designated seniors' cruises. Commercial American Express Travel Services will always attempt to get customers the best rate possible, regardless of the cruise. On-board Entertainment:Entertainment is great on cruise ships: Las Vegas type shows, Broadway musicals and plays, magic shows, comedy shows, and more. Many ships have a wide variety of entertainment options, such as video arcades, piano and dance bars, special dinners and theme parties, and all have some form of activities director and information desk to help you make the most of your holiday. Most cruise lines offer Las Vegas or Monte Carlo style casino. Shopping:Whether on board ship, or at some fabulous ports of call, you can figuratively shop till you drop! All kinds of duty-free merchandise can be purchased; everything from hand-made crafts and jewellery, to clothing and souvenirs, is available. The list is endless, and the choices can be both numerous and unique. Our Travel Memberships:Commercial American Express Travel Services established in 1988, is a government licensed, full-service, American Express representative travel agent, a member of ACTA and IATA. This is your assurance that we are a reputable travel company, with the experience and expertise to provide you with quality travel services at exceptional value. And due to our American Express affiliation, our buying power gets you the most competitive cruise rates available. To learn more About Us. Passports & Identification:United States and Canadian citizens require proof of citizenship along with photo identification for travel in the Caribbean or other international destinations. A driver's licence isreally not sufficient. We strongly suggest you carry a passport anytime you are travelling outside of the United States or Canada. Women who have married must carry proof of name change or marriage licence if the surname differs from their passport. Contact us for free information on local customs, health considerations, safety warnings, etc., on each of the countries you wish to visit, or visit our online Travel Resources page. Valuables:Many staterooms in newer vessels have in-cabin safes, but the best way to protect valuables is to bring only what is absolutely necessary. When travelling to embarkation cities, you should have all valuables, cameras, camcorders, medical requirements, etc., on your person or securely placed inside your hand luggage. Delicate items or breakables should be in carry-ons, and keep your tickets and cruise documents, as well as traveller's cheques and credit cards, close to your person at all times. On board, valuables should not be left out in staterooms or in public areas. Safety deposit boxes are available on most ships, with a small refundable deposit required. Weather:Weather is an uncontrollable factor of life. Don't let the weather control your enjoyment! As for concerns about storms at sea, don't worry! Ships can readily avoid and easily out run any extreme weather, even if it does alter a portion of the cruise itinerary.
What To Expect:Expect to be pampered, massaged, stuffed with culinary delights; expect your imagination to wander, thinking of the ships of old; expect to feel incredibly relaxed, exhilarated, caressed by sun, sand and wind; expect the unexpected. In short....RELAX and ENJOY! Children:Families with young children are welcomed and encouraged to cruise. In fact, certain cruise lines cater to young people, offering cartoon characters the whole family knows and loves! Many have special supervised programs and special menus, t-shirt and face painting, scavenger hunts, video game contests, film festivals, dance lessons, shore excursions and much more. Some activities can be shared by the entire family. Children quickly adapt to shipboard life, and you will feel comfortable knowing where your children are and what they are doing. So come cruising with your family. You'll find it to be a rewarding experience for everyone. Commercial American Express Travel Services - working to bring you a whole world of cruise travel. Now try a visit to our Cruise Specials page.
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Whether you are a first
time cruiser or an experienced traveller, Commercial American
Express Travel Services, invites you to peruse the following information
that we've provided for you. Here you'll learn everything you
would want to know about the remarkable and pampered world of Cruise
Vacations. If there is any additional information you feel you require, please don't
hesitate to contact our professional travel consultants by telephone or 
