Cruise Tips:

We welcome any tips from customers to share with first time cruisers or regular cruisers. Please email us cruises@eseacruising.com

Here are some tips so far supplied by our more experienced cruisers

• Pack a can of Glen20.  When you first arrive in your cabin, spray everywhere and then leave the cabin for awhile. When you retire each night, spray a bit of glen20 into the airconditioning vent. Doing this may help with not catching any of the illness's that sometimes go around on the cruise. 

• Take a long a highlighter, not only can you use it at Bingo (Saving you money on buying a dabber) you can also highlight your chosen activities on your cruise daily. If you want to keep your daily newsletters from the cruise safe to take home as a memory, take along a display book too.

• An idea for anyone who books an Inside cabin and does not realise how dark these rooms can be. For those who want to wake up still with the morning light a hint would be to leave your television on with no sound overnight onto the Cruise Camera channel so that when the sun rises your room will light up too.
• Keeping in Touch With Your Cabin Mates. Take along a mini whiteboard or a packet of post-it notes so that you can leave notes for each other on your movements throughout the day in a prominent place, for example the  mirror.

• CRUISE HINT: WHAT TO TAKE TO THE ISLANDS
  
  While on the islands a useful hint would be to take reef shoes for swimming and walking on the beach as you don’t want to be stepping in coral. Also a nice gesture would be to take along some gold coins for the islanders as many ports have groups of people singing with a donation box in front of them as it is only a couple of dollars to us however the small amount means a lot to them

• CRUISE HINT: THEME NIGHTS
  
  New cruisers are often unaware of the theme nights offered on some cruises. An idea is to take some inexpensive accessories on the cruise with you. Some of the theme nights include Country Western, Island Night, 70’sNights, Rock and Roll Night and Pirate Night.

Here are some tips from an EseaCruising customer who sailed on the Dawn Princess

- Tipping: unlike other cruise lines, Princess does not have a guideline or policy (at least for Australian based cruises). This took me by surprise, as any other line I've travelled with did (Royal Caribbean, NCL and Costa) My suggestion is to look at guidelines from other lines, get CASH from the Guest services Desk or the Casino and put it into the envelopes available from Reception. Cabin attendants, waiters and assistant waiters work so hard, they deserve to be recognised.

- Cabin: Dawn Princess, being a middle age ship, cabins are on the small side of the range. Storage was enough for two people for a two week cruise, but don't expect abundance of space.

- Power plugs: ther is only ONE Australian plug in the room, one American and one Asian. Take a multi-power plug with you and you'll be fine in terms of recharging cameras, mobiles, tablets, other useless electronics and hair dryers. 

 -Self Service Laundry: This is a GREAT idea from Princess, not available on other lines. There are washing machines, dryers and an ironing table in each deck. My advice: use them as EARLY on the cruise as you can. Towards the second half of the trip, they were hard to get and people rushed to use them. Take clothes for one week and wash them. No one will notice it ;)

- Ports: New Zealand is an amazing country and a cruise will prove it. The ports we visited (Akaroa, Dunedin,, Wellington, Tauranga, Napier, Auckland and of couse, Fjordland National Park) are OUT of this world. This cruise will make you admire that our friendly, lovely, kiwi neighbours are a hidden jewel in the world. You will fall in love with NZ and wish to kwow more and more about it. Kiwis are friendly, easy going, charming people; we are lucky to have as neighbours!!!! IF YOU ARE A LORD OF THE RINGS FAN: keep reading. Tauranga offers 6 hour tours to Hobbiton. Now, most websites tell you there is nothing left and you have to "imagine" where the movie was filmed. NOT TRUE! Hobbiton has been fully rebulti for The Hobbit movie and all the hobbit houses, pub, lake and trees are there! It is like stepping into the movie, it is absolutely awesome!!!!!!

-Dining: We were assigned initially in second dining seating. We requested to be moved to first seating and it was not a problem. Being a cruise with mostly Aussies we found that making friendships was pretty easy. DON'T be worried for seating with six or eight strangers for dinner; 90% chances is that they are lovely people you will want to stay in touch with! My advice is to get first seatting as it allows you to do more activities at night.

-PIZZA!: La Scala Pizzeria is AWESOME!!! You have to try it, is is delicious, crispy, thin, decadent, delicious!

-Steakhouse: TOP quality steak, personal attention, choice of salts and sauces, great experiene.

With thanks to Gerardo for these tips.  January 2013

How do I make a booking?
It is Simple! You can make your reservation by submitting a booking request online. Once we have confirmed with the supplier that the cabin is available, we'll send you confirmation with all the details of your cruise and accommodation or flights (if requested) once we have confirmed your booking.

Is it best to book early?
Booking early is generally your best assurance of obtaining the arrangements and cabin of your choice, especially if you are planning a cruise in the peak season or over Christmas and New Year. It is never too early to begin planning. Please also be aware that families traveling with children under the age of 18 that most cruise lines offer a limited number of children's availability on each sailing. Please see the booking terms and conditions for more details.

How do I confirm my booking?
It really could not be simpler. Once you have made your reservation, just send the appropriate deposit to us via:

• Direct bank deposit to our bank account through any Commonwealth Bank Australia
• Direct bank transfer to our account through internet banking
• Pay by Credit Card via PayPal (fee's apply) an email will be sent to you requesting for paypal payment!
  
  

Please note that you MUST fax or email us a copy of your payment details prior to the due date of the payment.

Once you have made payment please email our Finance and documentations department to ensure your payment is matched with your booking to avoid auto cancellations.

When you have booked your holiday with EseaCruising.com, we will send you a confirmation showing the cruise and accommodation category booked and fare payable. Your deposit must be received within the no obligation policy deadline and the balance of your fare must be received no later than 75 days before departure (varies and is 90 days prior on special event cruises). If it is not received by the due date, our suppliers reserve the right to re-sell the accommodation held for you, which will also result in the forfeiture of your deposit.

30 Days prior to your departure date we will send you your cruise tickets and, where applicable, your air tickets and an embarkation pack including your luggage labels. Of course if you need further help with planning your holiday please feel free to call us.



What is not included in the cost of the holiday?

• Travel to/from the cruise departure pier or the airport. (unless otherwise stated)
• Travel Insurance.
• Optional tours at your ports of call.
• Coffee and drinks at the bar, all drinks and wines in the restaurants and in your cabin, cigarettes and tobacco.
• Meals at the alternative dining venues is by reservation and a small cover charge will apply
• Purchases at the ship's shops.
• Hairdressing and beauty treatments on board all ships.
• Telephone calls, faxes, Internet access and emails from the business centre.
• Laundry services.
• All costs for medicines and treatment in the ship's Medical Centre, although you will find these costs are usually reimbursable under your holiday insurance subject to validity of cover and any excess.
• Tips at the end of your cruise.
• Any scheduled flight upgrades.
• Pre or Post hotels (unless otherwise stated)
• Any vaccinations or visa costs.
• Charges will be made for certain optional entertainment facilities including: handicraft materials, laser trapshooting, bingo, golf simulator, souvenir programs and computer services.
• Special shuttle bus and City transfer services (unless otherwise stated)

How much luggage can I pack?
On most cruises, as much as you like (as long as it can fit into your cabin). However if you are flying into the departure port, restrictions vary according to airline.

• How much does children fare cost? Are there any discounts?
  
  Please note prices do vary from cruise to cruise, if you are traveling with Children please submit a quotation request and we will be in touch with you within 24 hours.
  
  My family consist of more then 4 passengers can we all fit in one cabin?
  
  Most cruise-lines don't offer cabins for more then 4 passengers, if you are cruising with a family great then 4 passengers, you are most likely going to have to be berthed in two separate cabins.