Frequently
Asked Questions
Below are some answers to
frequently asked questions. Please
do not hesitate to drop us an email or give us a call if you have
additional questions.
Call
us toll-free at 888-813-9947 or click on the Contact Us link below and fill out the contact form.
Gayribbean
Cruises is committed to travel agents and we are happy to work with any
accredited agency. Just have your travel agent call us to make your
reservation. Once a reservation is made it cannot be transferred or
credited to another travel agency.
Gayribbean
Cruises are fun and exciting. We sail on a variety of ships to
destinations around the world. Cruising is a fantastic way to travel and
with our groups you have the opportunity to make new friends. There are
special private events and extras just for those sailing with Gayribbean
Cruises. Most of our cruises start off with a welcome aboard party so you
can meet and mingle with everyone in the group. There is also a reserved
dining area just for our group so you will never have to worry about
dining alone.
Gayribbean
Cruises are not all gay and lesbian cruises. We are a gay and lesbian
group sailing aboard a mainstream ship. There are All-Gay Cruises
offered by RSVP and Atlantis and we can assist you with reservations on
those cruises if that is your preference.
On
an all-gay cruise, every passenger aboard the ship is gay or lesbian.
Gay
group cruises offer the fun of a gay group sailing aboard a ship that is
not strictly sold to gay and lesbian passengers.
Our clients enjoy the benefits of a gay group vacation plus the
flexibility in financing and itineraries offered to the traveling public
by the well known cruise lines.
The
price of your cruise includes: Accommodations, meals, and entertainment
aboard ship. Port Charges, Taxes and Pre-Paid Gratuities are added to
the cost of your cruise. Occasionally there is an extra charge for
specialty restaurants.
While
on board the ship you might have additional expenses. Items not
included in your cruise fare are any beverages you purchase - including
alcoholic and non-alcoholic, spa treatments, laundry, photographs,
casino gambling, ship to shore phone calls, email, Internet and fax
services, shore excursions, shopping and items of a personal nature.
This is not a complete list and cost and expenses vary from ship to
ship.
For
your convenience all ship board expenses are charged to the on-board
credit program that you will set up at the beginning of your cruise. You
will establish your account on the first day of the cruise by using a
credit card or cash. If you are using cash, a deposit will be required
in advance.
There
is something for everyone on a cruise! You can choose from an assortment
of games and activities – from relaxing poolside to watching a Las
Vegas style show to testing your luck in the casino. No matter what your
taste, the choice is always your do as much or as little as you like.
Each morning you will receive a copy of activities, including meals,
parties, and special events.
On
most Gayribbean
Cruises we will add in the cost of gratuities to your cruise fare so you
will not have to worry about looking for cash on the last night to pay
your cabin steward, waiters and other ship board personnel. All
beverages that you purchase will automatically add the tip in to your on
board account. Room service tipping is not included and at your
discretion.
Tipping guidelines can be found in the cruise lines brochure.
There
is no way we can forecast how many guests will be in any particular
group. We are always taking new reservations and the number can change
daily. Our past groups have ranged in size from 24 to over 200 passengers.
Almost
every Gayribbean Cruises is escorted. We feel it is
important for you to have a representative from Gayribbean Cruises
aboard to assist you.
But occasionally smaller groups are not escorted by a TravelOUT or
Gayribbean Cruise Representative.
Cancellation
policies vary for each ship and cruise line. You will find the
cancellation policy for each of our cruises in the Gayribbean Cruises
Reservation Form we send to you prior to departure. You can also contact
us and request this information in advance.
No acceptations are made to this policy for any reason.
Gayribbean
Cruises highly recommends that you purchase travel insurance from the
cruise line or from another available source. Rates for travel insurance
vary for each cruise line and itinerary. Please read and understand each
policy carefully as we are not responsible for any expenses or loss
before, during, or after your cruise.
There
is always a wide selection of food on a cruise - from wonderful 5 course
dinners to 24 hour room service available on most ships. There are
buffets at midnight on most cruises and special theme nights too.
Several ships also have a pizzeria or other specialty type restaurant
on-board.
During
the day attire is casual. Shorts and comfortable tops are great for
running around the ship and ports. Bring a good pair of walking shoes.
Poolside swimwear and cover ups are great. Most evenings are casual dressy:
pants and a nice shirt with a collar for the guys and pants and top or dresses
for ladies. There will usually be one or two formal nights in which you
are requested to wear something more dazzling:
suits or tuxes for men and formal evening wear for women.
Our rule of thumb: be
comfortable and enjoy yourself. After
all, it’s YOUR vacation!
Depending
on where you are coming from you might choose to use the cruise line’s
AirSea program. AirSea program includes round-trip air and round-trip
ship ground transfers. If you make your own air travel arrangements you
can purchase round-trip ship ground transfers from the cruise lines.
Just let us know your schedule and we will do the rest. If you do make
your own air arrangements please check with Gayribbean Cruises for the
allowable flight times so you make it to and from the ship on time.
Driving to the ship? We can provide information on directions, parking
locations and cost.
On
all of our past cruises we have enjoyed dancing and other activities
aboard the ship together without any problems. Dancing with your
partner, lover or friends both new and old is always encouraged. Most
nights many travelers in the group will meet in the disco for a night of
dancing, cocktails and conversation.
Some of our past groups have made the party last into the morning
hours.
We request that you respect other in the group as well as the other
passengers and not wear anything that would be in poor taste. Also going
topless in the Disco is not allowed unless we are having a private
party.
Once
the ship is in port and has been cleared by the local authorities and
customs you will be free to come and go as you please. Just make sure
you know what time to be back on board before we set sail. Enjoy all
that the ports have to offer on your own or with one of the optional
shore excursions offered.
The
ships accommodations are much like that of a hotel room but on a smaller
scale. Most staterooms or cabins will have two lower single beds that
can convert to a double or they will have one double bed. Many cabins
can accommodate three, four or even five passengers, though we do not
recommend this as space is limited. All cabins come with private
bathrooms. Many cabins and staterooms offer extra amenities such as a
TV, refrigerator and even a balcony. We will be happy to assist you in
choosing the stateroom that is right for you. All staterooms and cabins vary in style, amenities and
features from ship to ship.
When
traveling outside of the United States please check to make sure you
have the proper documents required to leave and re-enter the country. We
recommend traveling with a current U.S. passport. In some cases and
itineraries a valid government issued photo ID along with a State Issued
Birth Certificate with a raised seal is acceptable. Please check with
your travel agent or with us for required document well in advance of
the travel date. Gayribbean Cruises is not responsible for denied
boarding due to insufficient documentation. You are responsible to check
with your local immigration office and respective embassy or consulant
to determine the required documents and visas needed to travel. Passport
must be valid 6 months beyond the departure date. Gayribbean Cruises
HIGHLY recommends that you travel with a US PASSPORT.
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