A cruise is a cashless society. Your key card acts as a debit card and all purchases you make on board will be charged to the card. On most ships, it is possible to track your spending on the cruise line app, cabin TV or at the reception desk. Be aware of whether children's key cards are also linked to payment cards to avoid unforeseen expenses.
You will receive an itemised bill on the last day of your cruise, so you will have the opportunity to check all your purchases during the cruise. Please note that some purchases made on the last night will not appear on this bill but will be added to a final bill. When debit cards are registered as payment cards on board, we unfortunately find that some cruise lines "hold" a not insignificant amount on the card, which is not released until up to 30 days after return.
Most cruise lines will not release the card until 30 days after return but some may do so sooner.
Most cruise lines accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express as a form of payment for on board bills. We recommend that you bring two different credit cards with you to avoid problems if one card suddenly doesn't work.
Please note that your card must be authorised for foreign payments and that not all ships accept Mastercard Direct or VisaElectron.
Contact MyCruise for information on whether the card is valid on board.
On the last day of your cruise, you will be given luggage tags - fill in the information on the tags and follow the instructions enclosed in the cabin. Your luggage will then be collected by the crew provided you have placed it outside your cabin by the time stated. We recommend that you pack fragile, important and valuable items in your hand luggage.
Every evening, a daily programme for the following day is laid out in the cabin. The daily programme will include information about activities and entertainment on board, excursions, restaurant opening hours and the dress code for the evening event, and it is recommended that you read through the programme.
The programme typically contains a list of all the activities on board.
The programme is typically in English, but is often also available in German, French or Italian, but unfortunately not in the Scandinavian languages.
Planning what to bring on your cruise is simple. During the day, you'll need regular clothes depending on the weather. Slightly nicer clothes are required for the evening and are comparable to eating at a nice restaurant. On a 7-night cruise there are typically two formal evenings, so it's a good idea to also pack a dress, suit and tie. Note that the ship's air conditioning can feel cold. Not all cruise lines will have formal nights, our team will be able to advise which lines do and do not.
Evening attire can vary from company to company and from day to day.
Read more about the specific dress code of the cruise lines under Ships and cruise lines.
Tipping is common in the United States, and in American restaurants you should typically tip around 10-15 per cent of the total amount.
Tipping restaurant and cabin staff is typically not included in the cruise fare. Most cruise lines charge around 8-10 euros per guest per day, which covers cabin and restaurant service for adults and children. Tips are automatically deducted from the card registered as the payment card on board.
It is always possible to pay tips in advance along with your journey. For specific prices, please check under each shipping company under the "gratuities" tab.
If you do not wish to pay the onboard tips, you will need to discuss the matter with the customer service desk onboard the cruise ship. MyCruise are unable to assist with this process as it can only be managed onboard the ship.
The power supply on the ships is 110 and 220 V, so it is possible to use both normal European and American plugs. We recommend packing adaptors for your UK plugs. Many cruise lines now include USB plugs in the cabin.
Air conditioning is typically available in all cabins and common areas. Air conditioning in your cabin will turn off while your cabin balcony door remains open.
A cruise is a great option for an active holiday or to relax and unwind from everyday life. There are plenty of opportunities for relaxation, self-pampering and exercise on board the cruise ship, such as massages, facials, hair salons, saunas, Turkish baths, yoga classes and much more.
Most ships offer a wide range of services.
Most ships offer state-of-the-art spa, wellness and fitness facilities, as well as exercise classes and personal training.
Read more about the specific facilities under Ships and cruise lines
You don't need to bring towels. There are towels in the cabin, by the pool, and if you need to take a towel ashore, for example for a beach trip, just ask your cabin steward.
Guests can be contacted by phone on the ship. However, please note that phone calls to and from the ships are expensive. You can also use your mobile phone in most places, but again, be aware of possible roaming charges depending on your service provider.
Ships usually have internet cafés on board and you can choose to pay per min. or buy a larger data package. Some ships also offer wireless internet, which guests can use for a fee.
Read more about internet on the ships under Ships and cruise lines.
Emergency phone no.: +45 51 93 60 19
The emergency phone number may ONLY be used in the event of an absolute emergency, and please respect this.
All other enquiries can be directed to our office on 023 8168 1605 or at [email protected]. See opening hours here.
You decide whether you want to stay on board the ship or get off. It doesn't cost anything to get ashore when the ship docks in a harbour, and you can get on and off as many times as you like.
Take your passport and travel documents to the counter in the cruise terminal, where you will be checked in and your key card will be issued. The key card serves as your identification and payment card on board.
The time of embarkation.
The time of boarding is indicated on the ticket. If you are not on board the ship at least two hours before the ship's scheduled departure time, it is assumed that you will not be travelling, therefore the booking is considered cancelled, and no refund will be possible. It is therefore very important that you adhere to the times stated in your ticket and we recommend that you board in good time. Please note that you can always call the ship or MyCruise if you are delayed - the phone number is on your ticket.
We recommend that you pack a small hand luggage with what you need for the first few hours on board, as it may take some time for the luggage to be brought to your cabin.
Smoking on board cruise ships is restricted, but there are a few designated areas on board where smoking is permitted.
Read more about the specific smoking rules of the cruise lines under Ships and cruise lines.
The main language of most cruise lines is English, with Spanish, French, Italian and German often spoken on board, but unfortunately not any of the Scandinavian languages.
If you do fall ill on board your cruise, you're in safe hands. Few types of holidays offer the same level of qualified medical care. No matter where you are in the world, all cruise ships have a doctor and/or a hospital on board.
The most common illnesses can be treated by a doctor.
The most common illnesses can be treated during your holiday, as there is typically a large pharmacy on board. However, for more complicated illnesses, you should always contact hospitals and doctors on land. Be aware that you will have to pay for any medical treatment yourself, so we strongly recommend that you take out travel insurance before travelling.
Read more about travel insurance here.
Laundry and dry cleaning services are available on board. Please ask the cabin steward assigned to your cabin for more information and prices.
When you go on a cruise, you will have many experiences - both on land and at sea. There are a multitude of excursions on offer, and you can choose to book them from home or on board the cruise ship.
If you want to be sure to get a space on a particular excursion, we recommend booking at home before you board the cruise, as some excursions may sell out. Most ships offer a variety of shore excursions, such as golf or city tours, but the range of excursions varies from company to company. If you've made a booking, you'll be able to log in to the company's website and see what excursions are available on your particular trip.
You can choose to go on a shore excursion arranged by the cruise line or go ashore and discover the destination on your own.
Read more about the excursions offered by the ships under Ships and cruise lines.
We recommend bringing local currency and your debit/credit card.
Please note that hotel security deposits are best placed on credit cards. When using a debit card, the money will be held for several days after you have checked out. MyCruise are unable to remove any held funds, this is managed by your banking provider. A credit card is also necessary when renting a car.
No matter where in the world you are travelling, US dollars are a recognised currency that is either accepted directly or can be easily exchanged on board ship or ashore.
However, be aware that the rate offered by ships can be expensive, so it's a good idea to bring destination-specific currency from home. You can use euros and dollars on board most ships.
It is not allowed to bring plants, fruits, vegetables, flowers or seeds into the European Union without a phytosanitary certificate. Bananas, coconuts, dates, pineapples and durian fruits as well as plants, fruits, vegetables, flowers and seeds from Switzerland or Liechtenstein are exempt from this requirement. If they come from the EU territories of Ceuta, Melilla, the Canary Islands, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Mayotte, Réunion, Saint-Barthélemy or Saint-Martin, you must also carry a phytosanitary certificate.
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