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Helpful
Hints Before You Go
Tailor
your vacation to suit your style. These links will provide
you with more information to help you plan and prepare
for the perfect cruise vacation.
What
to pack?
With temperatures ranging from 25°F in Antarctica,
to 80°F in South America, it can be difficult deciding
on what to pack, so we've prepared a few guidelines
for you. For the Mediterranean, Scandinavia and Europe,
pack as you would for any resort. Cruise wear should
be lightweight and easy to care for. By day, the mood
aboard ship is casual - sportswear is appropriate for
both men and women. Be sure to bring comfortable walking
shoes for shore excursions and getting in and out of
the ship's tenders. A sweater or light jacket may be
necessary in the evenings. And don't forget a bathing
suit, beach-wrap and sunglasses; the weather is almost
always appropriate for you to wear your poolside attire.
Because weather conditions in Antarctica are changeable,
we recommend loose-fitting casual clothes that can be
worn in layers. Wool, silk and some newer synthetic
fibers are better than cotton at retaining heat. For
comfort and safety you should avoid getting wet and
be sure to bring wind and waterproof outer layers. A
warm, red expedition parka with hood will be provided
for you on board. Please make sure you choose a size
large enough to wear over a sweater and other inner
clothing. A complete list of other special clothing
will be sent to you well in advance of your departure.
For sightseeing in South America you should remember
to bring light-weight clothing and comfortable walking
shoes.
The evening's attire will be designated in the ship's
daily program as casual, semi-formal or formal. Resort
wear or "smart casual" clothing is appropriate
on casual nights. Semi-formal means a suit or blazer/
jacket - with or without a tie - for men; and a cocktail
dress, skirt or pant/trouser suit for women. Formal
nights take place on Ocean Voyages, South America and
Antarctica cruises and are a gala affair: men opt to
don a tuxedo, dinner jacket or dark suit and tie, while
women wear festive apparel, from a cocktail dress to
an evening gown. For cruises of more than two weeks,
there will be three formal nights; shorter cruises usually
have two. The attire in our alternative restaurant is
casual during the day but adopts the same dress code
as the main dining room in the evening.
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Are
passports & visas required?
At the time of printing, the following information is
applicable to U.S. citizens: a passport is required
for traveling on all cruises, and must be valid for
at least 6 months beyond your return date. Individual
tourist visas are required for certain countries, including
Brazil. Details will be sent to you approximately 90
days prior to sailing.
Each passenger is responsible for satisfying all necessary
entry requirements. Passport and visa requirements for
non-U.S. citizens vary and should be checked with the
embassy or consulate of each nation to be visited. Your
travel agent can assist in obtaining the necessary forms.
Orient Lines requires the following information from
each passenger at least 60 days prior to sailing: full
name (as it appears on passport) and address; nationality;
date and place of birth; and passport number, expiration
date, and place and date of issue. If this information
is not provided in time, passengers cannot be included
on group visas.
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What
medical services exist on board?
Marco Polo features a well equipped medical
center staffed by a trained physician and licensed nurse.
The center, for a customary charge, provides medical
services and dispenses American pharmaceuticals. It
participates in a London-based medical network that
enables the ship's physician to communicate with specialists
24 hours a day. Additionally, the ship is equipped with
a helipad in the event emergency hospitalization is
required.
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What
about passengers with special needs?
Orient Lines welcomes guests with special needs.
Of course, we require advance notice in order to accommodate
them, so they must advise Orient Lines' Reservations
Manager of their needs at time of booking. Please see
Passengers with special needs on page 111 for additional
information. Regrettably, because of the lack of proper
facilities for disabled guests in many exotic destinations,
persons who are physically disabled or who need any
form of assistance may not be able to participate on
selected cruise itineraries, land programs and sightseeing
excursions. Those confined to wheelchairs may also find
certain areas of the ship inaccessible. For further
information, please check with your travel agent or
Orient Lines.
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Can
I reserve dinner seating in advance?
Seating preferences for dinner in the main
dining room may be indicated in advance on the Required
Passenger Information form which will be sent to you
prior to departure. You may request main or second sitting,
seating with a specific party, and table size. Although
we will make every effort to honor your requests, they
cannot be guaranteed. Seating assignments will be confirmed
by the restaurant manager only on the day of sailing.
Special dietary requirements must be received by Orient
Lines in writing at least 60 days prior to sailing.
Please note: the dining room is a designated non-smoking
area.
Reservations for our alternative specialty restaurant
must be made on board and on selected nights there is
an additional cover charge which will be added to your
shipboard account.
| Breakfast
open seating |
7.00am
onwards |
| Lunch
open seating |
Noon
to 2.00pm |
| Dinner
main sitting |
6.30pm
Second Sitting 8.30pm |
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Can
I bring my own alcoholic drinks aboard for consumption
on Marco Polo?
We do not allow guests to bring their own alcohol
aboard the Marco Polo. If you wish to purchase alcohol
ashore to take home with you, this should be given to
Marco Polo's crew on your return to the Marco Polo.
It will then be returned to you at the end the cruise.
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What
about drinking and gambling aboard ship?
Guests must be 21 or older to purchase or drink
alcohol or to gamble aboard ship.
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How
do I pay aboard ship?
A personalized cruise card will be issued
to you for embarking or disembarking the ship. Once
you have registered a credit card with the Purser's
Office, your cruise card may also be used for charging
shipboard purchases including wine, drinks, optional
shore excursions, photo orders, gift shop items and
services at the Mandara Spa. At the end of your cruise,
an itemized statement will be delivered to your stateroom.
Your account may be settled by American Express®,
Diners Club®, Discover/Novus®, MasterCard®
and VISA® including both credit or debit cards with
a VISA logo. You may also settle your account with traveler's
checks or, of course, cash. We regret that personal
checks cannot be accepted.
For your convenience, the ship has an onboard ATM machine
that dispenses US currency. Bank debit cards on the
PLUS® and CIRRUS® networks and the following
credit cards are accepted: American Express, Discover/Novus,
MasterCard and VISA. Please note that there are transaction
fees and you must know your PIN number(s).
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What
about electric current?
Staterooms and suites feature 110v and 220v
current. Hair dryers, electric rollers, curling irons,
electric shavers, and other small appliances can be
used on board. However, for safety reasons, travel irons
are not allowed.
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What's
the tipping policy?
Orient Lines' Filipino crew come from a culture
where rendering gracious, attentive service is an honor.
While tipping on board ship is a long-standing tradition,
it is also an individual way of saying "thank you"
to the personnel who serve you. The amount given is
left totally up to you and, naturally, should reflect
the quality of the services rendered. Most cruise passengers
tip at the end of the voyage in either cash or traveler's
checks. As a guide, we suggest approximately $9 per
passenger per day to be divided between your cabin steward,
dining room waiter and bus boy. Additional tips are
at your discretion. For your convenience, a service
charge of 15% will be added to all bar and wine orders
and beauty salon and spa services.
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How
can people contact me on board ship?
With a sophisticated telecommunications system
on board, you're never out of touch from family and
business associates back home. All staterooms feature
international direct-dial telephones. Telefax services
are available from the Purser's Desk. Marco Polo
has the facility for you to send and receive e-mails
and surf the Internet.
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