FAQ - All answers to your questions

All passengers require a machine-readable passport for all departures world-wide. (Exceptions are some European destinations, for which an identity card is sufficient. If you have any questions, please contact us. We are happy to help you.) This also applies for departures within the Schengen area. Certain destinations require a biometric passport - please refer to the exact country-specific requirements according to your invoice / confirmation. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months after the return date and provide of a sufficient number of empty pages for entry and exit stamps.

For all departures within Europe you require a valid passport for the entire trip. We specifically recommend - also within Europe - travelling with a passport, and to take your identity card with you as an additional document.

Foreign Ministry EDA.............. http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/de/home.html

You mandatorily require the necessary visas for every port, which you call at on the cruise you have booked (regardless of whether you plan to go ashore or not). Otherwise you may be refused embarkation. Please consult the corresponding consulates at the destination ports. Please inform yourself about the entry requirements in good time before departure. If you require a visa, please take the time required to obtain them into account.

Visitors to the USA have to fill in their personal data and their travel details online at least 72 hours before departure. The details have to correspond to the current entry form I-94W. In many cases the decision about a visa-free entry is taken instantly. The approval of the Department for Homeland Security (DHS) is valid for two years. The homepage is:

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/

For further information please refer to https://www.dhs.gov or http://bern.usembassy.gov/

The ESTA application has been subject to a fee since 8 September 2010. The entry fee now is USD 14 (as at 01/03/2012). The fee is payable with the application and not every time youenter the United States.

For cruises the same conditions as for package tours to foreign countries apply. Please contact your doctor, the Tropical and Public Health Institute or the Foreign Ministry EDA for recommended vaccinations. In case of vaccination requirements newly introduced in a country, the shipping company will generally advise you.

Tropical and Public Health Institute…………… http://www.sti.ch/en.html
Foreign Ministry EDA………… http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html

Allow enough time to travel to the port. The transfer to the port is not included in the arranged trip, unless booked and confirmed separately. Various shipping companies offer coach trips to the port of embarkation. Our service team can provide you with exact information about prices and departure times. In case of overseas cruises we recommend arriving at the port of embarkation two or three days in advance so that you will not miss your ship in case of delayed flights.

When you have arrived at the pier / terminal hand over your luggage to the waiting porters. Ensure that your luggage is marked with the labels required by the shipping company. You will receive the luggage labels with your travel documents provided by the shipping company. The embarkation labels should show your name, cabin number, date of embarkation and the name of the ship.

There is no luggage limitation on cruises. However, please take the luggage limitations of your airline into account on your outbound and return flight. Dangerous items (fuel, explosive, corrosive, caustic, etc. substances) as well as candles are not permitted on-board.

Generally, airlines allow 20-25kg of luggage. Minor deviations depending on the airline are permitted; please contact your airline for more detailed information.

You can check in a second piece of luggage at a surcharge. Depending on the airline, this surcharge is ca. USD / EUR / CHF 50 - 60 (as at 01/03/2012). Toddlers under 2 years of age are entitled to have 1 piece of luggage of max. 10 kg, as well as a fold-up buggy.

There are duty-free boutiques available on-board. All alcoholic (and in case of COSTA and MSC non-alcoholic) drinks, which are bought onshore, have to be handed in when returning to the ship. They are delivered to your cabin on the day of debarkation.

Embarkation usually starts 4-6 hours before departure. Please be at the port in good time (no later than 2 hours before departure) and allow enough time for the security checks. For security and customs reasons passengers can only access many ports when showing their passport and valid ship ticket.

To embark you require the following documents:

- Your passport (also for departures inside the EU/Schengen area) / valid for at least 6 months after the start of the cruise
- Your ship ticket or a confirmation print-out of the online check-in
- Credit card to set up your on-board account (not obligatory, but recommendable)

Depending on the destination, you will have to hand in your passport at check-in or the on-board reception desk, and it will only be returned at the end of the cruise.

Medication to treat sea-sickness is available at a charge in the on-board shop, at the doctor or at reception (guest relations desk). In case of bad weather and in heavy seas medication against sea-sickness is also sometimes handed out free of charge. We recommend you take out our exclusive sea-sickness insurance cover "Happy Sailor". Our cruises specialists are happy to advise.

All modern cruise ships are equipped with stabilisers, which reduce the rolling movement of the ship.

Like pilots and air traffic controllers captains and staff captains of cruise ships undergo psychological tests. Experienced marine psychologists prepare independent surveys. They show whether the tested people are based on their personality profile - and apart from their nautical capabilities - able to take the right decisions quickly and consistently in emergency situations at sea.

All other crew members undergo a thorough safety training on shore before they start their service on board. Every crew member has their specific tasks in an emergency - regardless of their usual position on-board. On shore every movement is practised in practical crew training as well as classroom sessions.

This safety training is only completed when the strict examination has been passed. On-board of cruise ships thorough safety drills are held every week. Safety controllers sent in from ashore inspect the ships regularly; they hold additional crew training sessions and check all safety standards on-board.

The International Maritime Organisation of the UN has established global standards for the safety and operation of cruise ships. The best-known convention is the SOLAS Convention (Safety of Life at Sea), which is applicable to ships with more than 12 Pax. The SOLAS Convention was signed in 1914 and has since been adapted to the standards of modern passenger shipping with many improvements.

The SOLAS regulations with regard to cruise ships are:

Life jackets and a space on-board a life boat for all passengers and a part of the crew, plus additional life rafts for at least another 25% of all passengers and crew.

Within the first 24 hours after leaving the port every passenger has to mandatorily take part in a sea rescue drill. Following the Costa Concordia disaster many shipping companies have advanced the rescue drill so that it takes place either before departure or directly afterwards.

Life boats have to take in passengers within 30 minutes after the signal to leave the ship has been given and then be able to be lowered into the water. Since 2002 ship builders aim at completing the evacuation of the entire ship within 80 minutes for newly constructed ships.

Practice and training programs for all crew members have to be in place to prepare them for emergencies.

On-board of every ship there is a a small surgery with a doctor and nursing staff. Treatments are charged to the passenger and debited of the on-board account. Please check your insurance cover for hospital and medical treatment abroad and overseas. We recommend you take out a Mediplus Elvia insurance policy, as it is specifically geared at travellers' requirements.

Hygiene is taken very seriously on-board of cruise ships. Please support the efforts of the shipping company and their hygiene measures, and disinfect your hands regularly, e.g. when entering the restaurant, with the provided disinfectants.

International laws and regulations require holding a rescue drill within 24 hours after departure. Following the Costa Concordia disaster many shipping companies have advanced the rescue drill so that it takes place either before departure or directly afterwards. This drill is obligatory for all passengers. For this drill please go to the assembly point when you hear the general emergency signal (seven short and one long tone on the ship-internal alarm system or the ship's typhon). Its location is indicated on your cabin door. During rescue drills all services on board are disrupted. Please listen to the announcement on board whether wearing a life jacket is required for this drill. The safety drill is mandatory for every guest, even when they have already taken part in such a drill on various ships. Every ship has a different procedure for the sea rescue, therefore, for your own safety it is necessary that you participate in the drill. Should something not be clear to you, you can always approach the crew members of the ship or receive the requested information at reception.

On the last evening of your cruise please put your luggage before midnight in front of your cabin door (please check the information on board or in your daily program regarding the exact time). Your luggage is collected, and you will be able to re-collect it in the port terminal after disembarkation.

Important!
Keep your valuables, travel documents, medication as well as your clothes for the disembarkation day with you or in your hand luggage.

On the evening before you disembark you will receive a settlement for your on-board account in your cabin. Please check it and advise reception (guest relations desk) of any possible discrepancies without any delay. If you want to settle the on-board account in cash, we recommend you do this on the last evening, as experience has shown that there are long queues on the disembarkation day.

Disembarkation usually starts about 1 hour after arrival. Please stay in the lounges and common areas until your airport transfer or your coach is being announced. Generally disembarkation takes place over a period of 2-3 hours. The luggage is generally sorted according to the different decks in the port. Please take your luggage and go to your transfer or taxi. Should you have a late flight, you can leave your luggage in the port terminal and spend your free time in town. Please refer to the departure information provided by the shipping company on-board.

Not at all. To be at sea, the view on the horizon, gives one a feeling of freedom that few places make possible. On the large ships you need at least 2-3 days to discover all opportunities on board. Cruise ships are like floating resort hotels with everything that they offer...or more. You can simply do nothing and enjoy the sun from your lounge, read a good book, or admire the constantly changing views. Or you can participate in the fitness and dance lessons, sport and pool competitions, or other organized activities. Perhaps you'd like also to improve your tennis hand or your golf swing? Moreover, you can naturally swim laps in the pool, regenerate in the sauna, see a film, or audit a presentation by a renowned expert. The exotic offerings extend even to climbing walls and ice skating rinks on the ship. An it's all on board without you having to leave your resort.

The night life on board is very exciting and richly diverse. There are dances, entertainment shows, discotheques and lounges, films, and parties. Many cruise ships even have casinos on board. In addition, there are special events like the captain's cocktail party, the passenger talent evening, or the masquerade, for example. How long you would like to enjoy the night life is entirely up to you...perhaps until you see the first sunbeams on the horizon?

Each day your cabin steward will place a current plan in your cabin that includes the events calendar for the next day. This way you will know where and when specific activities will be taking place.

On the majority of cruises the entire entertainment palette on board the ship is included. You do not have to pay any entry fees for theatre, casino, or cinema. Some of the newer ships have special, alternative restaurants, for which you will have to reserve and pay a supplement of €10 to €20 per person. But that is rather the exception.

As soon as you go aboard, an account is opened for you for which you must provide your credit card number, cash, or travel checks. All your on-board expenditures are charged to this on-board account so that you do not have to carry any cash with you on board. After the trip your account will be settled depending on your preferred payment method. Travel checks can be converted at the cashier's window on board for paying tips, for example, and can also be used to pay your on-board account, if you don't want to charge to your credit card.

Everything that you hear about dining on board a cruise ship is true. At every meal you'll find a large selection of starters and desserts that are different every day. Naturally, if you particularly like something, you can order more than one appetizer, starter, or dessert. But this doesn't mean that you automatically gain weight only because there is such a large selection of delicious foods. You can also choose from vegetarian, low-cholesterol, or fitness menus. And the best of all is that you never see a price on your menu because everything is included in the trip price.

Large cruise ships with more than 1000 passengers present their main events twice every evening so that there is automatically two seating for the evening meal: the early seating starts at about 6:15 p.m. and the late seating at about 8:30 p.m. You can indicate your preference, even as to table size, already at booking. Meal time and table occupancy are confirmed no later than at the time of boarding for the entire cruise. There are also ships with only one set meal time, after which the evening program begins. As an alternative to these set arrangements a great many cruise lines allow a flexible choice of meal time. Here your can, with certain restrictions, optionally dine every evening with other table neighbours or only two, and at the widest range of times. If you don't want to wait, you will often require a reservation, just like in the restaurants on land. On many ships you can choose between the menu or buffet. If you decide in favour of the menu, you can compose it your self from the menu selections. In addition to the main restaurant there are still two additional alternatives on the majority of ships that are either lighter or, as a speciality restaurant, frequently with a certain additional price, additional service, and special culinary delicacies.

Experienced cruisers often say that they'd rather be seated at a table with several persons. Several long-term friendships have been born in this way. Naturally, the cruise lines are always interested in fulfilling the guests' every wish and they can ask for a table for two or four persons. In the unlikely event that you would like to change your table mates, simply let your waiter or the maitre d' know and he will discretely do everything he can to seat you at another table.

Meanwhile some ships offer alternative restaurants in addition to the main dining rooms. These restaurants cost extra--normally between €15 and €25 per person--but the food, the presentation, the service, and the ambiance are even more exquisite. Above all, the majority of the alternative dining rooms are frequently more private and quieter than the main dining rooms.

Almost all ships have a laundry and cleaning service on board for a fee that is often less than on land. Many ships also have a self-service launderette.

The majority of cruise lines have 24-hour cabin service at no additional cost. In the luxury cabins of some ships there is also a butler service that fulfils your every wish.

No. With many American and other non-German cruise lines there is German-language service such as a German on-board program, German menus, and German-speaking on-board hostesses. The American mentality will always give you the feeling of being welcome. Many Americans enjoy meeting Europeans and conversation with "hands and feet" can also be fun. However, if you aren't interested you can naturally also select a purely German-speaking ship.

Tips are common on a cruise ship and are to a certain degree also expected by service personnel. It's often common to find a small envelope in which you can place the tip. In others a specific amount is added automatically to the on-board account. In the event that the amount of the computed tips is unjustified, you must contest it on board. The amount will then be reduced in accordance with your instructions or deleted entirely. If you were satisfied with the service, thank them personally at Service Personnel. In any case, you should ask in advance about the general arrangement with the respective cruise line. However, you can use the guide value of about €10-€11 per person per day for the American cruise lines and with the European cruise lines about €4 to €8 per person. Ultimately a tip is always also a matter of personal opinion. There are also cruise lines, however, that do not expect tips, because they are already included in the price.

Nowadays, most areas on board are non-smoking. Smoking is only permitted in designated areas on the ships.

Every cruise ship has its own telephone number. The number can be found in your trip documents. Some of the newer ships also have their own e-mail address. You don't have to worry. You can be contacted at all times, if necessary.

What would be of interest to you? There are cruises to almost any destination that can be reached by sea: The popular classics are the Mediterranean/Canaries, Transatlantic and Caribbean, other European stars like the North, Baltic, and Black Sea, distant destinations like Alaska, Hawaii, South America, South Seas, New Zealand, Australia, the Orient, India, Southeast Asia and, of course, the special destinations, that can be discovered only by sea like the spectacular passage through the Panama Canal or the Amazon voyage. Share your ideas with us and we'll find the best cruise route for you!

There's a top destination for every time of year; for example, the Caribbean from November to May or the Mediterranean from April to October. Many destinations are available only at certain travel times for example, Alaska from May to September and the Panama Canal from September to April. Because of the flexible deployment options for the ships you can basically assume that the offered cruise routes are appropriate for the period offered. Ask your e-hoi specialist about the best times for your dream destination or about the many possibilities for your travel time! By the way, you don't have to be concerned about hurricanes that occur frequently in the Caribbean and in Central America in the month of September. With radar the storms are located early so that shipscan change their routing on short notice if necessary.

Your cruise can be as long or as short as you'd like! There are cruise routes from three days to three months. On average, the length is a good 10 days where the majority of trips are between 7 and 14 days.

Absolutely yes! There are cruises for every vacation budget, from the cost-conscious traveller to the luxury-loving traveller. More important still is that a cruise offers the best price-to-service ratio when compared to other forms of travel. All means, the cabin, on-board activities, entertainment, and show programs are included in the trip price. The only extra costs are drinks, excursions, personal expenses such as hair stylist or massage and with many travellers, tips.

As you've always heard, there's simply no typical cruiser! The most varied people do a cruise...every possible age group... Singles, couples, and families. The passengers can, however, differ on the basis of specific preferences and tastes with regard to cruise line and ship or route. Just ask your cruise specialist which ship on which route would best fit you.

We have a strong interest to continue discovering the resources and treasures of nature, which have been preserved, in the future. By acting responsibly, we can all protect the natural wonders of our world for generations to come.

All shipping companies take the protection of the environment very seriously, and check thoroughly whether the effects of the cruises on the environment and nature can be kept as minimal as possible. Our common goal is to protect the oceans against environmental damage - therefore the protection of the environment is spelled with capital letters. The cruise-shipping industry constantly endeavours to improve its efforts to maintain and protect nature.

What does e-hoi do?
E-hoi contributes by ensuring paper-free communication with our partners and customers in as much as possible. Additionally, our members of staff are trained to deal with nature responsibly, which is controlled regularly. All our members of staff who opt for environmentally-friendly means of transport and do not cause additional environmental pollution are supported financially.

We are always happy to listen to new suggestions how to preserve the environment, and will be happy to check any ideas for their practicability.

It is our world, and therefore, it concerns us ALL.

Of course! Birthdays, anniversaries, business parties, and other occasions can be celebrated outstandingly on the ship. There are many possibilities whether reserving tables in a specialty restaurant or the planning of special parties. Several cruise lines spoil you with free cakes. Share your wishes with us and we'll take care of the rest; we're your e-hoi team. If your special wishes involve additional costs, we'll provide you with an appropriate proposal.

A cruise is ideal for people who travel alone, because it's so easy to get to know new people. On many ship there is even a singles party at the start of the voyage and you get a place at mealtimes at a table with other persons travelling alone.

More and more cruises are being booked by families with children. Many travellers offer special activities for children and adolescents under supervision, particularly during school vacations. The children are kept busy and entertained all day by trained child-care staff. In addition there are frequently good child discounts.

Hundred percent! You'll find an atmosphere on a cruise that makes your honeymoon an unforgettable experience. The exquisite cuisine, romantic dinners for two, dreamlike sunsets, intimately close dancing, and musicals and shows to visit make your honeymoon an unforgettable experience.

Yes! A cruise can be just ideal for a person bound to a wheelchair, since this form of travel offers the opportunity to reach many places effortlessly and in a relatively short time. Above all, the newer and larger ships were built with the goal of being wheelchair accessible. These ships have wider corridors, more spacious cabins, more and larger elevators and ramps. But you must state at the time of booking that you are mobility limited so that the cruise line can make adjustments to your requirements and make appropriate provisions. Many cruise lines require a statement or verification from your doctor that you are physically fit and able to travel. Frequently a certification is also required that you need a wheelchair accessible cabin which can be reserved for you, if available. Many cruise lines offer transport possibilities for passengers who are unable to use normal means of transportation between the airport and the ship. If a transfer is included in your trip anyway, this additional service will not be billed extra. You should bring your own wheelchair on board. Many wheelchair-bound persons who travel frequently recommend getting a special, narrower wheelchair.

This is no problem at all up to the 24th week of pregnancy (depending on the cruise line). After that the cruise lines, similar to air carriers, do not accept mothers-to-be. It is possible that you will be asked for a medical certification.

You have many different opportunities.¶ Every port provides special and unique experiences. You can explore the port city alone, book one of the port excursions organized by the cruise line, go shopping, relax on the beach, or visit the historic sights. There's really something for everyone.

The majority of cruise lines inform their passengers already before the trip about the excursions offered in the respective ports and some even make possible early booking. This makes sense especially in the case of the most popular excursions, because you can ensure one's self a place, for example on the dog sled run in Skagway or the popular tour. But this makes one less flexible on location because you can cancel only if you have a medical certification. It's common to book land excursions on the day before, on board, where an on-board newspaper or the on-board personnel can provide information on the excursions.

In addition to the German ships the cruise line excursions are offered only in English. But if you participate in an e-hoi group trip you can not only take advantage of the pre- and post-program and the on-board service but also the land excursions of the German-speaking tour management.

Of course. Almost all cruise lines offer this service.

Of course not! You can relax at the pool or participate in one of the leisure time activities. You will have to share the ship with only a few other passengers but on the other hand not all businesses and facilities are open during the port day.