Independence of the Seas / November 1-7, 2015

Independence of the Seas / November 1-7, 2015
F R E Q U E N T L Y A S K E D Q U E S T I O N S ( FAQS )
Q: What is included in the price of the cruise?
A: Room pricing includes exclusive Podcasters’ events and special group amenities as outlined on the event’s website:
www.PodcastCruise.com, including shipboard accommodations for 6 nights, meals served in the ship’s main dining
venues, some beverages (coffee, tea, lemonade and iced tea in addition to the unlimited premium beverage package and
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60 minute internet package for the 1 and 2 guests in the room registered by the final payment due date as part of
Podcasters’ special group amenities) and most onboard entertainment and activities. (Note: conference events are
included for those who sign-up and pay the applicable conference fee.)
Q: What is not included in the price of the cruise?
A: Not included: Air transportation, transfers to and from the ship, optional travel insurance, shore excursions, specialty
dining, spa/salon services, photographs, gift shop, some beverages (e.g., canned sodas, bottled water, specialty coffees,
beverages not included in the beverage package as part of Podcasters’ special group amenities, etc.), medical services
and items of a personal nature (e.g., laundry, telephone calls, Internet access, etc.).
Q: I was looking at the pricing page … are the prices shown per room?
A: All prices shown are PER PERSON and are for the cruise fare and conference fee (as applies) only. In addition to the cruise
fare, each person will be charged an additional $116.04 for taxes/fees and $72.00 for standard service gratuities which
are for the stateroom service team, meal service team, and alternative service team (galley, guest services and other
hotel staff members).
Casino dealers and spa personnel are not included since not all passengers will utilize those services. A gratuity for bar
services and servers will automatically be added to the price of your drinks on your bar check.
Q: Can I bring more than one guest?
A: While some staterooms can accommodate more than two people with a sofa bed, upper berths stored in the stateroom
ceiling, etc., not all rooms can; and such accommodations are subject to availability at the time of registration. Due to
Coast Guard safety regulations, there cannot be more attendees accommodated in a stateroom than the designated
occupancy for that room. Also, please be advised that each guest must be registered and paid for in full in order to be
allowed to board the ship.
Q: What is the Payment Schedule?
A: At time of booking, attendees are required to pay an initial deposit of $400 per person ($800 for singles) and payment in
full is due for the conference fee and optional VIP Experience. Registrations not deposited at time of booking are subject
to cancellation. Final payment is due by May 18, 2015.
All payments are in US dollars, and accepted forms of payment are American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa and
PayPal.
Q: What is the Cancellation Policy?
A. Due to the unique nature of this event, all registrations will be subject to the following cancellation policy:
• Until June 1, 2015: 50% cancellation fee
• June 2 to August 1, 2015: 75% cancellation fee
• On or after August 2, 2015: 100% cancellation fee
Any adjustment to the above policy is at the sole discretion of Podcasters’ Paradise Cruise organizers.
No refunds will be made in the event of interruption or cancellation by any passenger after commencement of the
cruise. No refunds will be given for cruise no-shows.
Cancellation fees for airline tickets and/or other reservations made by attendees are subject to the cancellation policy of
the specific airline/supplier.
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Q: I’m a Royal Caribbean Crown Anchor Member. Will I still receive the benefits of my membership?
A: Yes.
Q: How do I make changes to my existing reservation?
A: Any changes in registrations must be made via the online registration system. Until approximately 45 days prior to
sailing, most changes to existing registrations can be made by logging into the cruise registration system by clicking on
the “View My Account” button on the bottom of the screen. Within 45 days of sailing, any change requests will need to
be submitted via email to [email protected]. Note: a change in registration but not a total cancellation,
such as a stateroom category downgrade, may result in additional fees.
Q: When and how will I receive my cabin assignment and cruise documents?
A: Approximately 3-4 weeks prior to the sailing date, attendees who have booked and paid in full will receive an email
confirming their assigned stateroom number and booking number for the cruise. The email will also contain instructions
on how to check-in online via Royal Caribbean’s website where attendees can sign up for shore excursions, make
specialty dining reservations and pre-register a credit card for onboard purchases. All attendees are required to complete
this online registration at least 4 days prior to cruising. Cruise documents will be available for printing through the cruise
line’s online check-in approximately 3 weeks prior to sailing.
Q: What documentation is required to cruise?
A: Proper travel documentation is required at embarkation and throughout the cruise and is the responsibility of the guest.
Any guest traveling without proper documentation will not be allowed to board the vessel and no refund of the cruise
fare will be issued. Royal Caribbean strongly recommends all travelers have a government issued passport that is valid
for at least 6 months after the cruise in case an emergency requires you to leave the cruise before the end. For further
information regarding passports, see the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s website at http://www.cbp.gov. For more
information on the cruise line’s required travel documents, see the cruise line’s website.
Q: Who May Sail?
A: Attendees are responsible to ensure that they are eligible to sail according to Royal Caribbean’s requirements, including
but not limited to the following:
Infants must be at least 6 months old on the day of departure.
Women must be less than 24 weeks into their pregnancy on the day of departure and for the duration of the
cruise. This policy is due to the risk of premature labor. Pregnant women must have a letter signed by their
doctor (on the physician’s letterhead) stating how far along in weeks their pregnancy will be at the beginning of
the cruise, that mother and baby are in good health and fit to travel, and that the pregnancy is not considered
high-risk.
Adults must be 21 or older unless the guest is:
traveling in the same stateroom with an individual 25 years or older; or
traveling in the same stateroom with a spouse (proof of age and/or proof of marriage are required)
Attendees not meeting the cruise line’s requirements will be denied boarding, and no refund of the cruise fare will be
issued. These policies are set by the cruise line (not IOS), and no exceptions are allowed.
Q: What is the bed configuration in cabins?
A: All double occupancy staterooms have two twin beds, which can be converted to one queen bed.
Q: What types of accessibility options are available in cabins?
A: There are a limited number of wheelchair accessible cabins available onboard the ship. For people that do not use a
wheelchair, but still need minimal assistance, bars and raised toilet seats can be accommodated in most cabins. In
addition, disposal units for needles, refrigerators for medication, and oxygen tanks can be put into most cabins upon
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request. All of these items are on a limited basis and should be requested immediately to ensure availability. If you have
an accessibility need, please send an email to [email protected].
Q: When do we eat?
A: Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the ship’s main dining rooms located on decks 3, 4 & 5 as well as in the more
casual Windjammer Marketplace restaurant. Food is also served throughout the day at Sorrento’s pizza on deck 5,
Johnny Rockets on Deck 12 (minimal surcharge applies) and in the ship’s Specialty Dining Restaurants (reservations
recommended; surcharge applies).
Dining options and serving times are reflected in the ship’s onboard daily program.
Q: Can the ship accommodate special dietary needs?
A: Royal Caribbean can accommodate special diets onboard. These diets have been created in consultation with a dietary
specialist; selections offered are for lunch and dinner in the main dining room only. Sample diets include: vegetarian,
vegan, diabetic, low fat, low sodium, low cholesterol, kosher meals, gluten free, lactose free. Please note all special
dietary needs in the Notes section of your reservation.
Q: Is room service complimentary to all attendees?
A: A select room service menu is available to all attendees on a complimentary basis. Please note a nominal fee applies
between midnight and 5:00 am.
Q: How do I book shore excursions?
A: You can purchase shore and land excursions on the RCI website once you receive your booking number for the cruise
(approximately 3 to 5 weeks prior to the sailing date).
Q: Will my cell phone work while at sea or in ports of call during the cruise?
A: You should contact your cell phone provider regarding roaming rates for the Bahamas. While sailing, Cellular at Sea is
available to make and receive calls if you have international roaming capabilities on your cell phone – this can be very
expensive to use. Once onboard, inquire about rates for Cellular at Sea service.
Q: Is there Internet access onboard?
A: Yes, you can access the Internet for a fee in the Internet Café onboard the ship or by using your own laptop and
registering for a wireless account. Please visit the Internet Café once onboard for a comprehensive list of fees associated
with Internet access while onboard.
Q: Is laundry service available?
A: Yes, there is laundry, dry cleaning and pressing service available for a fee.
Q: Are there irons and ironing boards available in the cabins?
A: Cabins do not have irons or ironing boards; however there is a full laundry and dry-cleaning service available onboard for
a reasonable rate. Please also note that irons are strictly prohibited onboard the ship. If you choose to bring one with
you, it will be confiscated from your luggage before sailing.
Q: Are there hairdryers available in the cabins?
A: Yes.
Q: Do cabins have safes?
A: Yes.
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Q: What if I have special dietary or medical needs?
A: Any special needs must be indicated in the Special Requests section of the online registration and will be addressed on a
case-by-case basis. While there is no guaranty that all special needs/requests can be accommodated, we will make best
efforts to accommodate the need or provide an alternative if possible.
Q: Are wheelchairs available onboard?
A: The Independence of the Seas does NOT provide wheelchairs for onboard use. However, you can rent a wheelchair,
motorized wheelchair or scooter from the following vendors.
Care Vacations: 1-877-478-7827
Special Needs at Sea: 1-800-513-4515
Q: Do I need to tip the cruise ship staff at the end of the cruise?
A: Gratuities are included with the price of the cruise fare (which includes cabin steward, dining room waiter, assistant
waiter and head waiter). If an employee has gone above and beyond to assist you, you are more than welcome to
provide an additional gratuity to the employee.
Q: How do I make purchases onboard?
A: The cruise ship operates on a cashless system. Attendees can validate their SeaPass card with their Visa, MasterCard,
Novus, or American Express card, or sign for payment by cash or traveler's check. Attendees can then sign all on-board
services and purchases to their account. At the end of the cruise, attendees will receive a completely itemized statement.
Royal Caribbean does not accept personal checks, and only U.S. currency is accepted aboard the ships. There is an ATM
located onboard the ship.
Q: Does the ship have a fitness center?
A: Yes, there is a fitness center, which is open 24 hours a day and complimentary to all attendees.
Q: Can I bring my own beverages (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) on the cruise ship?
A: While subject to change at any time prior to sailing, following is Royal Caribbean’s current policy regarding personal
beverages.
Attendees are not allowed to bring beer, hard liquor or non-alcoholic beverages onboard for consumption or any other
use. Attendees over the age of 21 may bring personal wine onboard only on boarding day and are limited to two (2) 750
ml bottles per stateroom. When consumed in any public area, each bottle shall be subject to a corkage fee of $25.00.
Additional bottles of wine beyond the two (2) bottles that are brought onboard or any alcoholic beverages purchased in
ports of call or from Shops On Board will be stored by the ship and delivered to your stateroom on the last day of the
sailing. Alcoholic beverages seized on embarkation day will not be returned.
Security may inspect containers (water bottles, soda bottles, mouthwash, luggage, etc.) and will dispose of containers
holding alcohol. Attendees who violate any alcohol policies (over consume, provide alcohol to people under age 21,
demonstrate irresponsible behavior, or attempt to conceal alcoholic items at security and/or luggage check points or any
other time) may be removed from the ship or not allowed to board, at their own expense, in accordance with the cruise
line’s Guest Conduct Policy. Attendees who are under the permitted drinking age will not have alcohol returned to them.
Q: What is the Smoking Policy onboard?
A: Most areas on Royal Caribbean ships are non-smoking; however, there are designated public and private areas on the
ship where smoking is allowed.
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Q: What is the Customs procedure upon returning to Fort Lauderdale?
A: Detailed instructions about clearing customs will be provided onboard ship near the end of your cruise. Below are some
general guidelines to keep in mind as you shop in foreign ports.
Keep receipts for gifts and purchases. U.S. residents visiting foreign ports have a duty-free allowance of $400 and those
21 years or older may include one liter of liquor.
Q: Who do I contact if I have questions about the cruise?
A: For questions about the ship or the registration process, email [email protected].
Q: Who do I contact if I have questions about the event?
A: For questions about the Podcasters’ Paradise Cruise conference, email [email protected].
Q: What is the closest airport to Port Everglades?
A: Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) is the closest airport approximately 10 minutes from Port Everglades
You can also fly into Miami International Airport (MIA) which is approximately 45 minutes from Port Everglades,
depending on traffic.
Q: What are the directions to Port Everglades?
A: Port Everglades is easily accessible from all major highways:
From I-95 south: take Exit #26 to I-595 East. Exit 12b, to Port Everglades.
From I-95 north: take Exit #24 to I-595 East. Exit 12b, to Port Everglades.
From I-75 north or south: take Exit #19 to I-595 East. Exit 12b, to Port Everglades
From the Florida Turnpike north or south: take Exit #54 to I-595 East. Exit 12b, to Port Everglades.
If you are already in the Fort Lauderdale area, the 17th Street Causeway or State Road 84 entrances may be more
convenient. Signage inside Port Everglades will direct you to parking garages and terminals.
Q: Is there parking at Port Everglades?
A: Convenient parking for cruise passengers is available in the Midport Parking Garage, which services cruise terminals 19,
21, 22/24, 25, 26, 27 and 29.
Entrance: Take I-595 east straight into the Port. Continue heading east to the garage on the left side of the street.
Parking Fees (as currently apply – subject to change)
$3 for 0-1 hour
$6 for up to 5 hours, and then $1 per hour thereafter up to daily maximum
$15 daily maximum
$19 daily maximum for oversized vehicles that exceed the standard width and/or height of a parking space
For assistance with parking oversized vehicles, please contact USA Parking at: 954-468-3680
Q: What time should I arrive at the pier?
A: Attendees should arrive at the pier at least two hours prior to their departure time. If you do not complete the cruise
line’s online registration in advance as requested, you will need to allow additional time (more than two hours) to
complete the registration process at the pier.
Q: How early can I board the ship?
A: The ship has to be cleared by the US Customs and Border Protection Agency before attendees can begin boarding, which
can be as early as 11:30am. Please note, however, that staterooms will not be available until approximately 2:00pm.
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