"Do I have to book through Meetings en Route to attend the Sober Sailors meetings, workshops and other events?

Yes, all reservations must be made through Meetings en Route and all attendees must be registered. You are registered once you have booked your cruise with our office. Any and all scheduled meetings, events and entertainment are for the exclusive enjoyment of Sober Sailors and Meetings en Route attendees.

In order to register, please call Meetings en Route at (866) 678-8785 or download the registration form by clicking on the sign up button. Please do not plan on attending any function if not registered through Meetings en Route.  There is a daily Friends of Bill W. meeting on every ship that is marketed to the U.S. population. Sober Sailors and Meetings en Route have no affiliation with this meeting. It is open to all and can be found in your daily newsletter from the cruise line.

What about Documentation, Visas and Passports?

As part of U.S. Department of State's Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, all travelers will be required to present a valid passport or other accepted document(s) to enter or re-enter the U.S. (visitors and U.S. residents) as early as January 23, 2007, from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

• January 23, 2007 (see update date below): All persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document (MMDs).

• ***Update: On June 8, 2007, the U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security announced that U.S. citizens who have applied for but not yet receivedtheir passports can re-enter the United States (through September 30, 2007) by showing the following:
  • A government issued photo ID
  • Department of State official proof of application for a passport.

This applies to air travel between the United States and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda.

• January 1, 2008: All persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security.

MINORS: A child traveling with an adult who is not the parent or legal guardian must possess a notarized parental/guardian consent letter that authorizes the minor to travel and that further authorizes medical treatment in case of an emergency. Furthermore, Canadian Entry Requirements stipulate that a child under the age of 18 traveling alone, or with person(s) other than both parents, should be in possession of a letter (preferably notarized) from the parents or legal guardian containing:

• Authorization for the child to travel with another person and to be outside the country;
• The name and a 24-hour contact telephone number of the parents or guardian;
• And the destination and length of stay in Canada.
• Aoptive parents, legal guardians or persons separated or divorced are advised to keep legal and other relevant documents available in order to clarify custody rights. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Various Resources: To obtain an original birth certificate, you can contact your hospital of birth or the Vital Statistics Department of the County where you were born. For more information on obtaining a passport, please visit:
http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html.

What are customs allowances?

United States residents must declare all articles acquired abroad and in their possession when they return to the U.S. This includes items purchased in "duty-free" shops. The duty-free exemption allowed for purchases or gifts for returning U.S. residents varies depending on how long they have been out of the U.S. and which countries they have visited. The standard exemption for U.S. residents who have been abroad more than 48 hours is $600 - $800, which may include one liter of alcohol (if you are at least 21), 100 cigars and 200 cigarettes.

Residents returning to the U.S. from the U.S. Virgin Islands may bring $1,200 worth of goods, duty-free. The duty-free exemption for U.S. residents doesn't need to include items that are mailed back to the U.S.; those will be assessed for duty when they arrive.

The duty-free exemption for a package mailed as a gift is $100; the exemption for a package marked for personal use is $200. Non-U.S. citizens should check with their local authorities for customs allowance information. For more specific customs information, be sure to attend the briefing by the Cruise Director before your ship reaches home port. (Check the daily onboard newsletter for time and place.) You can also obtain information before you sail by contacting the nearest U.S. Customs office (look under United States Government, Department of Treasury in your local phone book). You can also visit the U.S. Customs website - www.customs.ustreas.gov - or call 1.202.927.6724 and ask for the brochure "Know Before You Go."

Note: Bottles of liquor you purchase on board or ashore will be held in a secure area and delivered to your stateroom at the conclusion of the cruise. U.S. Citizens and residents are not allowed to bring more than 200 cigarettes into the U.S. if they are produced in the U.S., whether made for export or not.

What does my cruise fare include?

Your cruise fare entitles you to accommodations, meals and entertainment aboard ship. Certain specialty restaurants are available with either nominal cover charges or fixed price menus and à la carte pricing in addition to the standard dining program. Items of a personal nature are not included, such as soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, spa treatments, certain specialty exercise classes, laundry, photographs, casino, satellite and ship-to-shore phone, e-mail, Internet, fax and Shore Excursions. Government taxes and fees are also not included.

How do I pay for onboard expenses and gratuities?

Expenses:
For your convenience, all shipboard expenses are charged to the cruise line’s special onboard credit program. Sign up on the first day of your cruise, by establishing your method of payment with Visa®, MasterCard®, American Express®, Discover®, travelers checks or cash. If you choose to settle your account with cash, a deposit will be required in advance. You may also use your debit card; however, please be advised that the cruise line obtains pre-authorization which some banks may hold for up to 30 days.

Gratuities:
Typical amounts for a seven-night Caribbean or Alaska cruise are $10 per guest per day for guest age 13 and above, $5 per day for children age 3-12 and no charge for children under the age of three. All service personnel on board receive gratuities from this service charge, so there’s no need to think about additional tipping. (Bar drinks and spa services have “as-you-go” service charges added separately.)

What about currency?

You may cash travelers’ checks at the Reception Desk. Currency exchange, at prevailing rates, is available on some cruises. Travelers’ checks and most major credit cards are accepted in the ports we visit. Proper ID is required when cashing travelers’ checks.
We recommend you carry a small amount of local currency when visiting foreign ports, although credit cards are commonly accepted in shops and restaurants.

What should I pack?

Cruising gives you the freedom to dress as you please. So come as you are. Resort casual attire is always appropriate morning, noon and night. If you like, you can slip into a pair of khakis and a polo shirt, a skirt and blouse or a sundress for dinner. The following are not allowed: jeans, T-shirts, shorts, cut-offs, tank tops, bare feet, swim wear, etc. in any of the restaurants at dinner.

For those who do love to dress to the nines and get that annual formal portrait photography done, there is one optional formal evening in at least one of the main restaurants on every cruise; at least two formal evenings on longer cruises. This means black tie or dark suit for gentlemen and evening gown or cocktail dress for ladies. But remember, on formal evenings you can always choose to dine in one of the other restaurants instead and enjoy some of the other lounges and leave your dressier clothes at home.

In warm climates, shorts, slacks, sundresses, jeans and tops - and of course a swimsuit and cover-up are all appropriate daytime attire. Air conditioning can feel chilly, so pack a sweater. Because weather is difficult to predict, in cooler climates dressing in layers is the best approach. For visits to places of worship, check the daily newsletter provided by the cruise line for attire guidelines. Be sure to bring a pair of comfortable walking shoes, too.

Other essentials: sunglasses, a sun hat or visor and sunscreen. Don't forget to bring prescription medicines in original containers and an extra pair of glasses or contact lenses. Carry valuables and medication in a handbag you keep with you at all times.
Important Note: All suitcases are collected the night before we return to our home port, so be sure to bring an overnight bag.

How many suitcases can I bring?

Each person is allowed up to 200 pounds of personal luggage on board. However, if you are traveling by air, ask the airline if it has different restrictions. Airlines and cruise lines have limited liability for loss, so be sure all baggage and personal belongings are properly insured. Suitcases should be securely locked and tagged. You should hand-carry medication, jewelry or other valuables and important documents.

What about guests with special needs?

Sober Sailors and Meetings en Route welcome guests with special needs. Of course, we may require advance notice in order to accommodate them, so they must advise Meetings en Route of their needs upon making their initial reservation. All of the ships we work with have designated staterooms with wider doorways and bathrooms that will accommodate wheelchairs and staterooms with lights and under-pillow vibrating alarms for guests with hearing impairments. Guide dogs are permitted on all ships that Meetings en Route works with.

Many staterooms have refrigerators that can be used to store medications that must be kept cold. Guests who need oxygen or require oxygen therapy are welcome on all ships that Meetings en Route works with; however, they must supply their own oxygen. Guests who use wheelchairs must provide their own. We can rent wheelchairs for our guests. Please also make sure to advise us if you have any medical dietary requirements so that we may contact the cruise line with this information.

I'm having a birthday / anniversary onboard - can I celebrate it?

SOBER SAILORS LOVES TO PARTY! We want to celebrate with you. Whether it’s your belly-button birthday, AA or Al-Anon birthday, wedding anniversary or another special occasion please let us know – so we can make your celebration special!

Is there a doctor onboard?

A physician and nurse are on each ship to provide medical care and services at customary charges. Commonly used medications are kept on board and may be prescribed by the ship's doctor.

Can I smoke onboard?

Smoking is allowed in designated public areas and outside. For the comfort of other passengers, it is not allowed in any of the dining rooms or meeting spaces.

Where can I keep my valuables?

Security envelopes and/or safe deposit boxes are available from the ship's purser at no charge. Most staterooms and suites have mini-safes. Please note, however, that the cruise lines are not responsible for valuables left in staterooms or elsewhere on board.

Are visitors allowed onboard?

Due to security reasons, unfortunately, no.

Is the whole ship sober?

Eventually we will get there, but, just for today, the answer is no. We are always however, the largest group on board. For the typical seven night Caribbean cruise we average about 250 people. The quote that we hear most often is that “this week is like a convention at sea”.

Can I bring a friend or relative who isn't in the program?

Come along and join us, bring your friends and family ~ We love everyone! They were with us in the bad times. Now let’s be together in the good times. While you are attending one of our many meetings or workshops your friends can be enjoying the spa or gift shops. The kids will have a ball at the kids program.

What if I am traveling alone?

Most cruises are priced by the cruise lines based on two people sharing the cabin.
Meetings en Route guarantees that you will get the lower double occupancy rate by finding a roommate for you. We will match you with someone of the same sex and smoking preference. This will enable you to take advantage of the lower rate and perhaps meet a friend in the program.

How do I get from the airport to the ship and back?

Commonly referred to as transfers, Meetings en Route will suggest the best transfer for each cruise. Typically if you are boarding a ship in the US or Canada, we suggest that you take a taxi. Although transfers are available from the cruise line, they are not much less expensive but you must wait at the airport for a 56 passenger bus to fill up and then wait again at the ship’s port for it to unload. In the interest of making your vacation the best experience possible, we therefore suggest a taxi so that you van avoid the stress.
Specific information will be made available to you approximately 6 weeks before we sail.

What time do we board/leave the ship?

Embarkation (Boarding the ship)
Ships typically sail at about 4:00-5:00pm. Embarkation usually begins at about 1:00pm. We suggest that you plan on making sure that your flight arrives in the city of embarkation no later than noon on the sail date.

Disembarkation (Leaving the ship)
Although we normally wake up in the city of disembarkation, you should not plan on taking a flight that leaves before 1:00pm on the day of disembarkation. The entire ship (including all passengers and crew) must clear customs before one person is allowed to leave the ship.

In addition, you must get your luggage in the ships port, transfer to the airport and be at your flight at least 2-3 hours before take off. We cannot guarantee that you will make your flight if you skirt these guidelines.

When do I get my documents?

Upon your initial registration, you will receive a written confirmation from Meetings en Route via US Mail. You will receive shore excursion information approximately 6 weeks before you sail. Three weeks before you sail you will receive an email with your e-tickets for the cruise. At the same time, you will receive an invitation to our exclusive Sober Sailors Castaway Party, personalized luggage tags and additional information. Once onboard, at our Sober Sailors Castaway Party, you will receive your shore excursion tickets (if purchased through Meetings en Route), your Name Badge and the Sober Sailors Group Meeting Schedule.