Your Stateroom:

One tradition we do to celebrate Bon Voyage is to buy a wine and cherries package or similar offering prior to the cruise. Check the cruise line's website for details and to purchase. Its really nice to arrive in your stateroom and find a bottle of champaigne or your other favorite libation on ice. You can also buy other food and non-food items, including flowers, room decorations, and so on. The idea of the cruise is to have fun and a great experience, and this just adds to the fun.

Your stateroom will usually have a small safe that you can put money, passports, and other valueables in. You can set a custom combination for the duration of the cruise. Also the room may have a small refridgerator, as well as a few snacks, bottled water, and soft drinks - of which you are charged a nominal fee. The bottled water is great for taking with you on an excursion on shore.

The room will also have a few essentials; a hair dryer, soap, and shampoo are provided. US type 120V AC outlets are also available for recharging batteries for your cameras, laptops, and anything else you cannot live a week without.

As I hinted earlier, at about 4:30PM, you will go through a muster, or life-boat drill. This is required by international law, and you may be surprised that this was more or less a direct result of the Titanic tragedy. At any rate, you should realize during the drill that the cruise line takes your safety very seriously, and we have always felt safe on board. Mustering typically requires you to arrive at your muster station for a count-off by room number, a few instructions, and a demonstration on how do don your life jacket. This is a serious drill and deserves your full attention, as the ocean is not forgiving, and you need to respect the ocean by paying attention to the drill. Life jackets are supplied in every stateroom as well as other areas in the ship.