SUPER CRUISE 2011 F.A.Q. 
Take a few moments to read over these Frequently Asked Questions and our answers. Please question Cruises
Etc for clarification on anything that is of concern to you. We will do our best to keep you up-to-date with current policies. You may email Joanne at:
joanne@supercruise.net If you'd like, print a copy of these FAQ's to keep for
handy reference. We also encourage you to visit Carnival's comprehensive site where many other questions are addressed: www.carnival.com
What does my Super Cruise Fare Include?
Your cruise fare includes shipboard accommodations, ocean transportation, meals*, non-alcoholic beverages*,
onboard entertainment and associated fees applicable at the time of booking. Not included are items that are of
personal nature including: gratuities, shore excursions, airfare, telephone calls, spa treatments, salon services,
photographs, laundry services. *There is a surcharge for meals at the reservations-only Supper Clubs and other
specialty restaurants; gourmet coffee drinks & upscale pastries at the ship's coffee bar; Soda pop is not included
complimentary - a Soft Drink-Beverage Card is available for purchase directly onboard which provides unlimited
fountain dispensed soft drinks. Self service beverage counters are available for complimentary coffee, tea, non-carbonated beverages, etc.
Your Super Cruise Fare also includes your participation in all Super Cruise group related activities, private parties,
squares on the Big Grid and group related activities. Our group activities, amenities and events are exclusive to
our group members. Guests who book independent of Cruises Etc will not be included in these group exclusives.
Super Cruisers sometimes have friends who choose not to book with us. Please note that these friends cannot be
permitted to attend group functions nor may they participate in group events such as sideboard sales, daily ding
dong, LCR, cocktail parties, etc. They also may not be cross-referenced to dine with our group members. When should I book my reservation?
We are actively accepting reservations now! As long as we have cabins available, we will continue to sell them.
Past Super Cruises have sold out as early as summertime. We encourage you to book as soon as you know that
you plan to sail with us. Certain cabin categories (suites and balconies especially) tend to sell out quickly. As we
assign cabin numbers in the order in which you book, preferred locations are assigned to those who book early. What form of payment are accepted for my cruise?
Cruises Etc will process your credit card payments (Visa, MasterCard, Discover & American Express) We also
accept Cash, Checks & Money Orders. On the cruise ship, Carnival accepts the credit cards listed here. You may
also establish your onboard account by making a cash deposit to Carnival upon embarkation.
Debit cards used for payment to Cruises Etc for your cruise will be processed upon receipt. When there is a delay
in processing Debit cards, we often find there is no longer enough funds in the account to cover the transaction.
To avoid this, we will process these cards at the time you provide them to us. Using Debit cards on the ship:
please verify with your bank what your transaction limit is per day. Some banks have a "security" setting on your
account where you may not exceed a particular dollar amount per day. You may not even be aware that these
security settings are in place. Contact your bank to make sure that your account does not have restrictions on it or you may run into difficulty onboard the ship.
What identification do I need for travel? U.S. citizens require a valid Passport for sea travel. Non U.S. Citizens must carry a passport from their country of
citizenship plus any necessary visas. **** the U.S. State Department has modified the effective date for
mandatory passports several times. Should they change it again, this information may be amended. For up to date information, please refer to www.travel.state.org
Cruise lines and Cruises Etc recommend a passport as the preferred form of identification -- even if the State Dept changes the official date again. This is especially
important if you should miss the ship and have to catch up to it at its first port of call OR if you or a family member
has to FLY home in an emergency situation. You NEED a PASSPORT to FLY to and from the Caribbean! If you are
denied boarding the ship for reasons of 'lack of correct identification' you will be denied boarding with NO REFUND! Will Cruises Etc book my airline flights? We can request air from Carnival Cruise Lines for those interested. Often, the rates are higher than what
travelers may secure by booking independently. Please note: Cruise Line Air is valid on DAY OF SAILING & DAY
OF RETURN ONLY. You will be booked on whichever airlines choose to work with Carnival. Our experience in the
past several years is that non-stop flights are rare. If you have specific airline preferences or routings, it is not
recommended to book cruise line air. If you are planning to go to Florida a day or more before the cruise and/or
stay in Florida after the cruise is over, you cannot use Cruise Line Air without paying a customized air request,
simply to request date changes. This adds a considerable amount of extra fees to your ticket price and may also
raise the cost of the airline fare; and, if after receiving your customized fare quote, you decide not to use
Carnival's air, the customized air request fee is nonrefundable. In these cases and others where we find
cruise-line air higher than that which can be secured by our travelers by booking their own flights, we choose not
to recommend the cruise line air. We have arrangements with two travel colleagues who will be reserving group
air from Cleveland (our most popular air gateway) and who will provide assistance in making reservations from your choice of air city. Please see "GETTING TO MIAMI"
for flight options. When will I receive my cabin number and booking number?
Cruises Etc finalizes cabin assignments in the fall. We anticipate having your cabin number and booking number on your final payment invoice which will be sent to you in Sept 2010. When will I receive my tickets and travel information?
Cruises Etc hosts our "Bon Voyage" party approximately three weeks before sailing. This is held locally in the
Cleveland area. Passengers who live out of state or who cannot attend the party will have their tickets mailed to
them. Local cruisers unable to attend our party may arrange for pick up at our office. Included in your travel
document packet is all necessary information pertinent to the cruise as well as all Super Cruise program events.
Now that cruise tickets are all "E-tickets" you will not receive actual tickets from Carnival; you will be provided
with instructions for completing on-line registration and printing your cruise tickets and luggage tags. What if I have to Cancel my Cruise Vacation?
Cancellations Charges are based on the date of Cancellation and are as follows: After deposit - June 30, 2010 = $25 per person Administrative Fee
Between July 1 and Sept 30, 2010 = $100 per person Between Oct 1 and December 31, 2010 = $250 per person
After January 1, 2011 NO REFUND**
***** CHANGE FEES: $10 fee for first change to booking; $25 per change for all changes thereafter (Changes
consist of: roommate change; cabin/category change)
** If you are able to provide a replacement for your cabin, your cancellation fee will be waived but you will be
charged a "name change" fee in order for Cruises Etc to successfully re-book your cabin. We will try to re-sell
your cabin but there is no guarantee that we will be able to provide a replacement for you. If you used a credit
card for payment AND we are successful in re-selling your cabin; you will receive a refund credit to that card
account. If Cruises Etc has to collect the "name change" fee, a separate charge will be made against your credit
card to cover this fee. Additionally, any Administrative Fees assessed by Cruises Etc for cancellations will be
billed to your credit card account or, deducted from a check refund as applicable (for those who made their deposits by cash/check/money order).
Your making of a reservation implies your consent to the terms and conditions outlined here (and which will be
printed on your confirmation invoice that you receive after making your reservation) If you disagree with any of
the written terms and conditions, you have a 14 day period to cancel your reservation with a full refund. You
must notify Cruises Etc if you wish to rescind your reservation. Clients who book their reservations within 90 days
of our sailing date are ineligible for the 14 day withdrawal period. Reservations made within 90 days are subject to all terms and conditions, including cancellation policies.
Do you offer Travel Insurance? Cruises Etc highly recommends the purchase of travel insurance. We have a link on our home page for TRAVEL
INSURANCE with our preferred supplier, Travel Insured International. Easy on-line enrollment and rate quotes are
available. Those who purchase insurance within 14 days of your $250 per person deposit are automatically
covered for Pre-Existing Medical Conditions for yourself or a non-traveling family member. (this is especially
important for those with elderly relatives or those who have been treated for a medical condition) Please review
the Travel Insured site link for more details on their comprehensive coverage plans and other options. Do you offer a Pre-Cruise Hotel option?
We will offer a Pre Cruise option for February 4th (1 night) Please see "PRE CRUISE HOTEL" for information on
reserving a pre-cruise hotel stay. Because our group is so large, we need to work with hotels that have the
ability to take a good portion of our guests. This means that the hotel(s) we end up working with are generally of
a 3-4 star rating. These types of hotels tend to have higher rates than the more budget-friendly smaller inns and
motels. On the other hand, some people prefer a more luxurious accommodation and are happy to reserve deluxe
hotels. Luxury and deluxe hotels are generally above and beyond what the average Super Cruiser wishes to
spend on a hotel room; which is why we do not have this option. You are encouraged to either book your hotel
package with Cruises Etc's group arrangements or to seek out lower cost hotels in the Miami area. Either way,
it has become the recommended thing to do. Arriving a day or more early accomplishes two things: your
vacation starts sooner! and you avoid potential flight delays. Please see our "Pre Cruise Hotel Options" section
on www.supercruise.net for Pre Cruise Hotel and Transportation options. How much luggage may I bring?
Although cruise lines have a generous allowance for luggage, most airlines now charge you for your checked
baggage and limit carry on bags to 1-2 SMALL pieces per person. We suggest that you verify baggage
information directly with your chosen airline for this an all other airline/airport policies, procedures and restrictions. Most major airlines have websites with all these details posted. What features will my cabin have? Do I need to bring things like a hair dryer or iron?
Your cabin has most of the comforts of home! Standard & Superior Balcony Cabins, Oceanview and Interior
staterooms have two twin beds that make up into a queen bed. Mini-bars with small refrigerators, flat-screen
color television, safes and telephones are also in each cabin. The cabins have ample closet and drawer space for
your belongings. Bathrooms have showers, toilet, and sink. Suite bathrooms also have tubs. All cabins have hair
dryers. Electric current is 110 and can accommodate small appliances, but please note: if you bring a travel iron
and leave it in plain view, your room steward may take it from you as irons in cabins are not allowed. Some
travelers like to bring portable steamers to freshen up travel-wrinkled garments. Since these are generally plastic and do not generate much heat, this is an item you may consider. Can I do Laundry onboard? Self Service coin-operated Laundromats are located on most passenger decks. Washers & Dryers available plus
a vending machine for detergents, fabric softener, etc. A stationary Ironing Board & Iron are available for
complimentary use at the Laundromat only. Carnival also has a dry-cleaning service available onboard. A list of prices may be found on www.carnival.com
(subject to change; see frequently asked questions section)What kind of clothes should I pack and what exactly does "formal" mean ? Daytime dress on a cruise ship is casual, such as resort wear, shorts, comfortable shoes, etc. For the pool decks,
swimwear plus cover-ups are fine. Tennis shoes or low heeled walking shoes are recommended for exploring
ports of call. If you plan specific activities on shore that require special wardrobe items, please pack accordingly (i.e. golf shoes, long pants for horseback riding, etc. ) There are generally two formal evenings on board. Ladies may want to wear long gowns/dresses, cocktail
dresses, pants suits, etc. Gentlemen may choose to wear tuxedos or dark suits. On other evenings, resort wear
is the norm. Shorts are generally not permitted in the main dining rooms for the dinner meal but are fine in the casual dining areas.
*** CARNIVAL' S Casual Dress & Cruise Elegant Dress Codes (taken directly from Carnival.com)
Casual attire is the order of the day. We suggest shorts, sundresses, tank tops, etc. for the ladies, and for men;
shorts, polo shirts, T-shirts, etc. will do. We suggest you wear rubber-soled, low heeled or flat shoes for extra
traction while onboard. The use of any footwear with wheels, including but not limited, to Heelys© shoes, is
prohibited on board our ships. For dining you may want to dress up a bit and/or bring along a light sports jacket or cardigan.
Most evenings we have a Cruise Casual dress code, but there are those Cruise Elegant evenings one or two nights
throughout your "Fun Ship" voyage, where you will have the opportunity to showcase your more elegant attire.
For those who want casual attire for dinner time, the Seaview Bistro on the Lido Deck is open nightly, and has a more relaxed theme. Both dress codes for the dining rooms are described below. Cruise Casual Dining Dress Code: Gentlemen - Sport slacks, khakis, jeans (no cut-offs), dress shorts (long),
collared sport shirts; Ladies - Casual dresses, casual skirts or pants and blouses, summer dresses, Capri pants,
dress shorts, jeans (no cut-offs). Not permitted in the dining room during the Cruise Casual dinner for ladies and
gentlemen: gym shorts, basketball shorts, beach flip-flops, bathing suit attire, cut-off jeans, and sleeveless shirts for men.
Cruise Elegant Dining Dress Code: Gentlemen - Dress slacks, dress shirts. We also suggest a sport coat. If you wish
to wear suits and ties or tuxedos, by all means we invite you to do so. Ladies - Cocktail dresses, pantsuits, elegant
skirts and blouses; if you'd like to show off your evening gowns, that's great too! Not permitted in the dining room
during the Cruise Elegant dinner for ladies and gentlemen: shorts, T-shirts, beach flip-flops, bathing suit attire, jeans, cut-off jeans, sleeveless shirts for men, sportswear, and baseball hats.
What are the times for Dining? There are two sittings for meals that are served in the ship's primary restaurants. Main Dining is approximately
6:00 pm and Late Dining is approximately 8:00 pm. Breakfast and Lunch in these restaurants varies based on
whether the ship is in port or at sea. Carnival's "Your Time" dining is for those who want 'open sitting' where
they can go to the dining rooms between 5:45 pm & 9:00 pm. Seating is based on availability and there may be a
wait if you choose to go at a popular time. Also: Your Time diners WILL NOT be seated within the Super Cruise
Group as these tables are in another section of the dining room. Your Time is very limited in capacity and may
not be able to be confirmed but since this is an option, we feel we need to explain it to you. AS ALWAYS: DINING IS ON A REQUEST BASIS. The SHIP
confirms dining. The earlier you reserve your cruise booking, the better
your chance is to have your preferred dining confirmed. Friends who book later than you run the risk of not
being able to have the same dining time confirmed. Please understand that there are other guests on the ship
who may have booked earlier than some of our Super Cruisers and their requests must also be taken into consideration. Is Room Service included?
Complimentary room service is available for cabin delivery featuring a selection of sandwiches, salads, snacks, etc.
Specialty menu items are available at an additional cost. Your stateroom has a servi-bar with beverages and snacks which will be billed to your cabin account upon consumption.
Are there singles onboard? Approximately 25% of the Super Cruise group will consist of single ladies and gentlemen of all ages. The balance
of cruise passengers (outside of our group) will also have a percentage of single travelers. The ship may have some "singles" events so that unattached travelers can meet each other. How old do I have to be to sail on the Super Cruise and what is the drinking age?
Carnival's policy is that passengers under age 21 must be accompanied by a companion or family member who is
at least 25 years or older in the same stateroom. The exceptions for 'minors' occupying their own cabin are:
married couples under age 25 and minors who are traveling with parents or guardians on the Super Cruise. You
must be 21 years to purchase alcohol. Your cruise cards are coded with your birthdates so minors attempting to purchase bar beverages will be denied.
What beverages are included in my cruise fare? As previously noted, non-alcoholic beverages are included: coffee, tea, iced tea, juices, are available at meals and
at self-service beverage stations. Soda/pop is not included complimentary but you may purchase a Soft Drink for
Fountain beverages (soda). Rate is approx $10 per person, per day (subject to change) May I bring my own liquor onboard?
Carnival's official policy is that guests may not bring their own liquor onboard. Bottles of wine or champagne
intended for special celebrations may be brought on and stored with the ship for a "corkage fee" These bottles
will be served at dinner upon your request. (policy subject to change without notice) Note: we are asked the
question every year concerning bringing your own beverages in your checked luggage. We must advise you that
if any beverages are detected by the cruise line, they may be confiscated. Efforts to bring liquor onboard is done at your own risk.
Can someone contact me while we're sailing and can I make phone calls from the ship? What about cell phones? Information is listed on www.carnival.com
under their FAQ page. You will find instructions for reaching you at sea
under "communicating with the ship" You are able to use your cabin's telephone to make long distance calls.
Please note: both of these options are quite costly and should only be used in cases of emergency or if you don't
mind the expense. We recommend using international calling cards on the islands or calling collect from a pay
telephone. Depending on your cell phone company and your calling plan, you may be able to use your cell phone
on the ship and/or the islands. Many people lose a signal soon after we depart but again, depending on your cellular company, you may be able to make/receive calls.
What about computers? Can I bring my laptop? The ship has Internet and Wireless access available with different packages of on-line minutes available. You may
stay connected to family, friends, business, etc., back home should you need to. WiFi service is also available in
cabins; usage rates are based on the minutes used (the more you use, the lower the per minute charge is) This is a typical service that most cruise lines offer for a charge. Is there a Doctor on board? The ship has in Infirmary staffed with a doctor during normal daytime hours. Medical emergencies should be
brought to the attention of the Purser's Office any time, day or night. Customary fees are in effect for medical
services. If you have travel insurance, most medical fees are reimbursable through your travel insurance
company upon your return from the cruise. Be certain to keep any/all paperwork, receipts, etc., for any medical
treatment you receive. If you purchased travel insurance, you should read over all the inclusions to determine
what your benefit level covers and what is excluded. In many cases, your personal medical insurance DOES NOT
cover you outside of the U.S.A. Medical care and emergency medical assistance can be very costly. A
comprehensive insurance option is available thru TRAVEL INSURED INTERNATIONAL, Cruises Etc's preferred
insurance provider. Easy enrollment is available thru the link on our home page. Travel Insurance is never a bad idea!
What shore excursions are available? A variety of shore excursions are available on our itinerary. Carnival encourages you to reserve your selected
excursions in advance at: www.carnival.com Cruises Etc will once again recommend independent group and individual shore excursions with www.shoretrips.com
Check the main Super Cruise website www.supercruise.net site for ongoing information about this. What about bringing the kids? There are plenty of activities on board for children featuring Camp Carnival! A skilled staff of youth counselors
head up the Camp Carnival Team and your youngsters will be in great hands. Activities & games are organized into different age categories. There is a whole section on
www.carnival.com regarding Camp Carnival with a
sample of some of the kids' programming. If you are bringing the kids, you'll be contacted soon after boarding by
the Camp Carnival Staff so that you may register your child and get a tour of the facilities.
What is the smoking policy?
Smoking is permitted in designated areas and in cabins (except for Spa Accommodations). Smoking is not
permitted in show lounges and any food-service areas. Outdoor deck areas for smoking are restricted to one side
of the ship. Posted signs will indicate both smoking and non smoking areas. How is tipping handled?
Customarily extended at the end of the cruise, gratuities are now conveniently added to your cabin account.
Approximately $10 per guest per day will be added for gratuities to the following ship personnel: cabin steward,
dining room waiter, assistant waiter and servers in the buffet restaurants. If you want to give a gratuity to the
maitre'd or any other staff member, you may certainly do this. A 15% gratuity is automatically added to any
beverage purchased at a bar or ordered through a waiter/waitress. If you want to personally tip those
individuals listed, you may have your pre-arranged gratuity removed from your cabin account at the Purser's Desk (before the last day!).
What about check-in at the pier? There have been some concerns about the new time-line for boarding. Here is the official policy that affects ALL CRUISE LINES: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Department of Homeland Security) has issued a new ruling that went into
effect on February 18, 2008 which mandates that all guests embarking on a cruise from a U.S. port be checked-in
and onboard their ship at least one hour prior to the ship's departure. How does this effect YOU? You will be
provided with your guest booking number well in advance of our departure date. You should be prepared to
REGISTER ON-LINE with Carnival to be in compliance with check-in requirements. On the day of our departure, you
should plan your arrival time at the Port (Port of Miami) between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Our scheduled
departure time is 4:00 p.m. This should provide ample time for our travelers. In rare cases where arrival flights
may be affected by delays, the ship will consider these on a case by case scenario. Cruises Etc is not authorized to make decisions concerning late arrivals.
The CREW at CRUISES ETCthanks you for taking the time to review these Q & A. |
