Thank you for considering cruising with us. Please see answers to common questions below:
Who is invited? Can I bring friends and family?
Please invite your friends and family, including children. Our guideline is: if you would invite them to a law-enforcement-friendly party in your home, you can invite them on this cruise. 1st Responders will be verified and all others must be referred by a verified 1st Responder. Thank you for your understanding.
Is there a special benefit for 1st Responders?
Yes, all U.S. and International 1st Responders, current or retired, will receive extra Onboard Credit (OBC), valid anywhere on the ship, except the casino. Amount varies by cruise. On Princess - max 2 per cabin and IS combinable with military OBC. On NCL - max 1 credit per cabin, given to all cabins in group. Thank you for your service!
Is there a special benefit for military/veterans?
Yes, for all our sailings with Princess Cruises, U.S. and Canadian military and veterans will recieve $100 Onboard Credit (OBC) for sailings 7-13 nights, $250 for sailings 14 days or longer. OBC is valid anywhere on the ship, except the casino (with military/veteran verification). CAN be combined with 1st Responder OBC. Thank you for your service!
What documentation do I submit?
Usually a copy or picture of your work ID is easiest for 1st Responders. This can be text or emailed to Johanna. Please ask for a link to verify military or veteran status securely.
Do I need a passport?
Yes, we always recommend a passport so you'll be protected in each port and able to fly home no matter what happens. Customs and Border Patrol clarifies "U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises (cruises that begin and end at the same U.S. port) are able to enter the United States with a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID. Please be aware that you may still be required to present a passport to enter the countries your cruise ship is visiting. Check with your cruise line to ensure you have the appropriate documents."
Does Holiday Planit charge extra fees?
Holiday Planit's doc fees will be waived for all travelers on this cruise - a $25/person value. Thank you to all the 1st Responders, family and friends for your service and support.
What are the deposit and payment terms?
Reduced deposits may be available for a limited time. Normal deposit is 20% of cruise fare. Deposits are refundable until final payment unless otherwise noted. Balance is due in full 90-120 days prior to sailing.
How do I make payments?
All payments must be made by credit card, processed for you by Johanna at Holiday Planit. After your deposit, payments can be made at your leisure until the final balance is due in full. Just call or email each time you'd like a payment processed, or ask how to log-in to your client portal to authorize payments online.
Are payment plans available?
For all sailings with Princess Cruises, auto-pay is available. After deposit, your remaining balance is divided into monthly payments to be charged on the date of your choice. This can be cancelled or changed any time. All payments are still refundable through final payment date. For sailings with NCL, no auto-pay is available, so please just reach out each time you'd like to make a payment, or authorize monthly payments in your client portal.
What is included in the cruise price?
Your cruise pricing includes accommodations, meals, entertainment and activities onboard the ship. Airfare to our embarkation city, beverages, excursions and gratuities are not included, unless they are advertised as free perks with our cruise. Optional travel insurance is not included, and a quote will be provided after booking. For more cruising FAQs click here for Princess or click here for NCL.
How much are the beverage packages and what do they include?
Normally a, Premium Beverage Package runs $69-$100/day per person including alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and all the gratuities on those drinks... with a max of 15 alcoholic drinks per person per day. Sometimes these premium beverage packages are included as a free perk! Non-alcoholic and coffee packages are also available. The free beverage packages may be capacity controlled, so book soon! For more information on what's included click here for Princess or click here for NCL.
Will I pay gratuities on my Free Perks?
Yes, with NCL the free beverage packages and dining packages have gratuities that must be paid with your cruise fare. Gratuity on the free beverage package is $138.60/person and 2 meal dining package is $15.80/person. With Princess, no there are no gratuities charged on any free perks.
What is the double occupancy price?
Double occupancy pricing is the price per person if you have 2 people in your cabin. For example, on our 2023 cruise, a balcony is $1,591/person + $291 tax = $1,882/person, plus gratuity on the free perks as mentioned above $154.40 = $2,036 total per person... for a cabin total of $4,072 at double occupancy.
What is the single occupancy price?
Single occupancy price is x2... unless you're booking a Studio cabin on one of our NCL cruises! For all other cabin types, you only pay tax for one person, but since the cruise fare is doubled, most of our solo travelers find a roommate to go with them. You can reserve a cabin for 1 now, and you have until final payment to decide who your roommate will be. Single occupancy based on the example above would be $1,591 x2 + $291/tax +$154/gratuities on free perks = $3,627
What is the 3rd/4th guest price?
Depends on the cruise and depends on the cabin type. 3rd/4th guests range from $499/person + tax to $1,079/person + tax. Triple or Quad occupancy works best for kids, as they usually sleep in pull-down bunks. With 4 adults, its squished like a tiny college dorm. With Princess, deluxe balconies and mini-suites have the best sleeping arrangement for triple or quad occupancy, with a pull-out couch for 3rd guests and a pull down bunk above for 4th guest. NCL has the same bedding set-up in all of their quad occupancy balcony and club balcony cabins. Those are usually called family cabins.
Will our group have private events/excursions?
Yes. We usually have a reception at our group hotel prior to embarkation (hotel is usually announced 8 months prior to sailing). Onboard the ship, we have a coin and patch swap for 1st Responders on one of the sea days, and we have a farewell cocktail party on the last night. In each port, we have a group excursion or two offered (excursions are usually announced 6 months prior to sailing).
What about all my other questions?
After final payment, Johanna will start an FAQ series, addressing one topic each week, from dining to packing to gratuities and wifi. If you have more questions now, give us a call or email. For more cruising FAQs click here.