FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
1) Is a Passport required? YES – WE WILL BE VISITING CANADA. ONCE YOU BOARD THE SHIP, HOWEVER, YOU SHOULD NOT NEED YOUR PASSPORT AGAIN UNTIL WE ENTER VANCOUVER, CANADA AT THE AIRPORT. YOUR PASSPORT SHOULD BE KEPT LOCKED IN YOUR STATEROOM SAFE DURING THE CRUISE. YOUR PASSPORT MUST BE VALID (NOT EXPIRE) FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS AFTER YOUR TRAVEL DATES. NOTE: PASSPORT APPLICATIONS AND RENEWAL FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED AT YOUR LOCAL U.S. POST OFFICE OR BY VISITING file:///C:/Users/Owner/Documents/Documents/us%20passport%20renewal.pdf
2) Will I need a picture I.D.? YES – IN ADDITION TO YOUR CRUISE ID/ROOM KEY - YOU WILL NEED A PICTURE I.D. TO RE-BOARD THE SHIP IN EACH PORT OF CALL.
3) Will we be able to see part of the Iditarod race? NO – THE IDITAROD RACE IS HELD THE FIRST SATURDAY IN MARCH EVERY YEAR. THE CRUISING SEASON IN ALASKA IS FROM MAY THROUGH SEPTEMBER.
4) Can we bring our dogs? UNLESS THEY ARE A SERVICE DOG – UNFORTUNATELY NOT. SPECIAL PERMITS WILL BE REQUIRED FOR SERVICE DOGS.
5) What is the difference between the cabin categories? THE CABIN CATEGORIES ARE INTERIOR; OCEAN-VIEW; BALCONY/VERANDAH AND SUITES. INTERIOR CABINS HAVE NO WINDOWS. OCEAN-VIEW CABINS ARE LOCATED ON THE LOWER DECKS AND HAVE A WINDOW OR PORTHOLE. BALCONY/VERANDAH CABINS HAVE PRIVATE BALCONIES OFFERING YOU A PRIVATE VIEW RIGHT OUTSIDE OF YOUR CABIN. SUITES ARE LARGER AND MORE PRICEY BUT OFFER LUXURY AMENITIES.
6) Will there be an option for an add-on land tour? ALL CRUISE LINES OFFER LAND TOUR OPTIONS PRE AND POST CRUISE OF VARYING LENGTHS OF TIME. WE WILL HAVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT ONCE THEY RELEASE THE DATES AND ITINERARIES AT THE END OF 2020.
7) Can we get a refrigerator in our cabin for medication? YES – IT MUST BE REQUESTED ON A SPECIAL FORM.
8) IF YOU REQUIRE AN “ACCESSIBLE” CABIN, THERE ARE A LIMITED NUMBER AVAILABLE IN EACH CATEGORY ON EACH SHIP. THEY NEED TO BE REQUESTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AT TIME OF BOOKING AND SPECIAL FORMS WILL NEED TO BE FILLED OUT. “SPECIAL NEEDS AT SEA” IS THE COMPANY I RECOMMEND FOR RENTING A WHEEL-CHAIR OR SCOOTER IF YOU REQUIRE ONE. THERE ARE ONLY A LIMITED NUMBER OF WHEEL-CHAIRS ON BOARD THE SHIP – AND THE CRUISE LINE DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO TAKE THEM OFF THE SHIP FOR SHORE EXCURSIONS.
9) When will we be able to book our cabins for this cruise? AS SOON AS THE CRUISE LINES RELEASE THE INFORMATION FOR THE 2022 SAILING SEASON – PROBABLY TOWARDS THE END OF DECEMBER IN 2020.
10) I am traveling as a single – is there an extra charge for that? MOST LIKELY YES – THERE IS USUALLY A “SINGLE SUPPLEMENT” CHARGE BECAUSE CRUISE FARES ARE BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN A ROOMMATE – PLEASE LET US KNOW.
11) What is the currency exchange rate in Alaska? ALASKA IS OUR 49TH STATE; AND THEREFORE TAKES U.S. CURRENCY. HAVING SAID THAT, WE RECOMMEND YOU BRING A CREDIT CARD AND DO MOST OF YOUR PURCHASES ON THAT. YOUR CREDIT CARD WILL BE REGISTERED TO YOUR STATEROOM ON BOARD THE SHIP AND ALL OF YOUR PURCHASES WILL GO ONTO YOUR SHIPBOARD ACCOUNT AND RECONCILED AT THE END OF THE CRUISE WITH YOUR CREDIT CARD ON FILE.
12) Should I take a copy of my Passport and Driver’s License? YES – I RECOMMEND THAT YOU MAKE A COPY AND LEAVE IT WITH A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. MAKE A COPY OF THE FRONT AND BACK OF ANY CREDIT/DEBIT CARD YOU PLAN ON TAKING WITH YOU AS WELL.
13) I will be bringing my grandchildren. Will I need a permission slip? YES – I WILL HAVE A FORM THAT YOU CAN HAVE THE PARENTS SIGN GIVING YOU PERMISSION TO TAKE THEM OUT OF THE STATE AND COUNTRY AND ALSO WHAT MEDICAL INSURANCE INFORMATION THEY HAVE. (NOTE: SEE AUTHORIZATION/PERMISSION SLIP BELOW)
14) What if it rains? ALASKA IS IN A TEMPERATE RAIN FOREST. THAT IS WHY THE FOREST IS SO LUSH AND GREEN AND BEAUTIFUL. YOU CAN PURCHASE INEXPENSIVE RAIN PONCHOS IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A WATERPROOF JACKET WITH YOU. IT’S JUST WATER – GO SPLASH AND HAVE FUN!
15) What about COVID? Am I safe? WE WILL BE POSTING UPDATES ON COVID UP TO AND INCLUDING THE CRUISE. BRING HAND SANITIZER WITH YOU AS WELL AS A TRAVEL SIZE CLOROX WIPES IF THAT MAKES YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE. WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY.
16) What about travel insurance? TRAVEL INSURANCE IS REQUIRED FOR THIS CRUISE AND EVENT. PRICES ARE BASED ON YOUR AGE AND THE AMOUNT OF YOUR CRUISE FARE, ETC. TRAVEL INSURANCE MUST BE PURCHASED AT THE TIME YOU MAKE YOUR INITIAL DEPOSIT TO COVER PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS AND FOR CANCEL ANYTIME INSURANCE INCLUSION. QUOTES WILL BE GIVEN AT THE SAME TIME AS WE QUOTE YOUR CABIN. IF YOU DO NOT PURCHASE THE TRAVEL INSURANCE, WE ARE SORRY BUT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO INCLUDE YOU IN OUR GROUP.
17) HOLD HARMLESS CLAUSE - By booking this event and cruise with Barbara Carpenter and Cruise Planners/LM Vacations, I/we hereby agree to hold harmless, release from liability and relinquish all claims against said cruise line, the Ship, its officers, agents, insurers, contractors and employees including and not limited to Jon & Jona Van Zyle, Jeff & Joan Schultz, Barbara Carpenter/Master Cruise Counselor and Cruise Planners/LM Vacations and Iditarod from any and all liabilities which might arise during events on this cruise and/or shore events.