Frequently Asked Questions

Luxury Cruise Lines Frequently Asked Questions

Whether you’ve been on dozens of cruises before or this is your first time planning a voyage at sea, our industry-leading service will help make your luxury cruise experience worth it for everyone in your traveling party. Here are some of our most commonly asked questions about the luxury cruise experience and our travel planning.
Can’t find the information you are looking for? We’re happy to assist you in any way possible. Contact us and one of our travel specialists will help you with anything you need.

About Luxury Cruise Connections

No. We are a Virtuoso travel agency specializing in luxury cruises. We have close partnerships with many of the world’s top cruise companies.

Virtuoso is an invitation-only membership program for nationally recognized elite travel agencies. Our status with this Consortium gives us exclusive access to special upgrades, private tours or discounts unavailable to the public. We offer those exclusive privileges with our clients.

Although we specialize in luxury cruises, we can book your trip on any cruise line. We have recommendations to meet your travel goals and budget.

Yes. Please contact one of our travel consultants for more information.

Planning Your Cruise

You may find that this trip exceeds any you have taken so far and will provide wonderful memories for years to come. Cruise ships accommodate your needs in every aspect, from cabin preference to various restaurants and activities. Our Cruise and Vacation Specialist will help you with every part of creating a customized luxury cruise experience. Here are some ways an agent can help you arrange your cruise vacation:

  • Choose a specific cruise line to narrow down your search and options
  • Help you find the best available deals in the market
  • Handle the many logistics of your cruise, including flights, hotel accommodations, and on-shore excursions
  • Advise you in selecting shore excursions and answer your questions about onboard amenities
  • Act as your first point of contact in case of an emergency or sudden change of plans

Your cruise experience can be as long or short as you want. The Cruise and Vacation Specialist will help you to choose the most suitable itinerary, from two days to multi-continent world cruises that last over 100 days. All of your stops and expeditions are included in your luxury cruise booking.

Our extensive destinations list includes cruises to just about everywhere the water touches. From bucket list trips to Africa and the Arabian Peninsula to sunny Mediterranean cruises, we have itineraries for every kind of traveler.

A luxury cruise line is a special designation that can only be officially applied to cruise lines and cruise ships that meet specific criteria. When you book a luxury cruise, you can count on attentive service and a high staff-to-guest ratio to help meet your every need. The luxury designation also includes refined drink and dining options, a sophisticated atmosphere, and a ship that is no greater than midsize so that the experience feels personal and intimate. Luxury Cruise Connections works with a select number of luxury and upper premium cruise lines to provide the best possible experience for our clients.

An Air/Sea package can be included in your luxury cruise booking, which means that we will arrange your cruise ticket, an airline ticket, and ground transportation needed to get to the port. Our Cruise and Vacation Specialists can help you book your Air/Sea package for a seamless travel experience.

Cruise lines block space with major airlines. The specific airline depends on where you are flying from.

Even the most popular cruises sometimes have space available because of late cancellations. But to get the exact ship, cabin, and sailing date you want, you should plan ahead and book early—our team can help you get the details right. Most cruise lines also offer early booking discounts for customers who book ahead, and our travel experts can help you unlock exclusive deals when you arrange your cruise through Luxury Cruise Connections.

We strongly recommend trip cancellation/interruption insurance. When it comes to luxury cruises, it is worth it to protect your investment.

Most do, but it depends on the specific cruise line and ship.

Yes. You can arrange pre-or post-cruise land packages that are included in your luxury cruise booking at the same time you book your cruise.

How to Pack for a Cruise

Yes. You will need a passport in ports of entry for countries visited and also to enter the port where you originated.

It is worth it to consider some formal attire for your luxury cruise to make the most of your experience. On some cruises, formal dinners or parties are part of the fun. Even on the most formal of ships, a dark suit and tie are fine – and many ships have formal wear available for rent.

Yes. We recommend bringing athletic or leisure clothing as there are many sports and fitness activities available on the ship.

Most ships have 110-volt outlets in the staterooms, but check with your Cruise and Vacation Specialist to be sure.

What to Expect on Board

Your dining preference can be requested at the time of deposit, although this request is not guaranteed. Almost all meals, including 24-hour room service, are included in the price of your luxury cruise, depending on the ship.

Most ships can accommodate salt-free, low-carbohydrate, Kosher, or other diet preferences. However, this request must be made in advance.

Tipping is a matter of individual preference, but some cruises includes pre-paid gratuites.

All entertainment on board is included on luxury cruises.

On a cruise, you do what you want to. You can do everything, or lie back and do absolutely nothing. It's your vacation.

A cruise ship is a great place to make new friends. The atmosphere is cordial and relaxed – and you'll have all kinds of things in common to talk about with other guests. Don't be surprised if you find yourself making arrangements to meet them aboard another ship next year!

Yes. Almost all cruise ships have laundry facilities included on your luxury cruise and a great many provide dry-cleaning services.

Every cruise ship has a fully-equipped medical facility and staff to handle almost any emergency.

Planning for Your Time in Port

So much you'll have a hard time choosing! You can go off on your own or take a guided tour and discover the city’s ruins among many other cultural and culinary activities.

Our travel planning experts will help you select the luxury cruise itinerary that meets your needs and helps you make the most of your desired travel experience and needs.

Make sure to arrange for shore excursions and specialty restaurants among other activities that can be planned in advance. Part of what makes booking a luxury cruise worth it is the attention to detail and service you will experience when it comes to your time both on board the ship and in port. Our Cruise and Vacation Specialist can help you decide how to best spend your time on land and make any arrangements you need.

Check with your Cruise and Vacation Specialist if you need visas for the ports you will be visiting during this trip. Find out whether the countries you will visit have any vaccination requirements.

Why book with us?

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Exclusive

Promotions and Specials

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Private and Discounted Fares

Not available to the general public

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Shipboard credit

Free shore excursions

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Personalized Concierge Services

From one of our Cruise Experts

Call us now at +1 (866) 997-0377

    Terms & Conditions:

  • Onboard Credit and Free Shore Excursions or other Free Perks are subject to availability and on select sailings only. These offers are capacity controlled and are subject to availability at time of booking. Although we make the best reasonable efforts to keep our content updated, our site does not automatically update the promotion availability in real time
  • This offer is only applicable to new bookings and can be combined with select offers. Please contact a Luxury Cruise Connections Advisor for more information about what other discounts may apply when you reserve your desired sailing date!
  • Savings and Free Perks are based on promotional fares at the time of publishing, but they may be subject to change or removal without notice.
  • With our Best Price Guarantee, you can be sure that we’ll always have the lowest prices available. This applies to select sailings and is valid up until 30 days before your trip!
  • Pricing variances will be resolved with an onboard credit, suite upgrade on future cruises at cruise lines discretion. Please contact one of our travel advisors for more information!
  • Promotions displayed on our site do not include taxes and are subject to change at any time, so please check the terms before booking.
  • All other charges, including but not limited to, taxes, fees and port expenses, are additional and apply to all guests. This offer is applicable to the cruise fare only
  • Future Cruise Credits are subject to each cruise lines terms and conditions, please check with a Luxury Cruise Connections advisor for more details
  • Exclusive Unpublished Savings may vary by sailing and cabin category and may be applicable to a select number of sailings only and apply to a select amount of cabin categories only. Pricing is in USD and applies to the cruise only price and may not be reflected in the pricing above.
  • Please Note: Some promotions may not be combinable with others, so please check with one of our advisors for full combinability terms
  • For offers to apply, deposits must be made within the booking window stipulated in the promotion.
  • Additional restrictions may apply, please Luxury Cruise Connections for full terms and conditions on this promotion
  • Availability and rates are not guaranteed until booked with payment. We carefully monitor all the information presented on our website and make strong efforts to provide up to date and accurate information; however, Luxury Cruise Connections may not be held liable and are not responsible for any pricing, availability or promotional errors shown on our site.
  • Cancellation penalties, blackout dates, and other restrictions may apply. Itineraries are subject to change at any time. Luxury Cruise Connections receives all itinerary information from third parties and may not be held liable for any change in itinerary or ports of call.
  • NOTICE: Please consult all applicable U.S. CDC travel advisories prior to booking. Please know that when cruising, if a certain threshold of Covid infections is surpassed during your voyage, it can end immediately and the ship will return to the port of embarkation and your subsequent travel, including your flight back home may be restricted. Please be sure to check on all travel restrictions to get to your embarkation port as well to return to your country after your cruise.