Asian cruises homeporting from Manila are uncommon. So if you happen to’re a kind of who managed to seize Costa Serena’s provide to sail from Manila to numerous locations throughout Asia, together with Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea, the next step is to begin making ready in your much-awaited cruise!
Combining sponsored and private journeys, our group has been on greater than 20 cruises, spanning each Asian and North American routes. We’ve sailed on a variety of cruise ships, from extra modest vessels to among the largest on the planet! Alongside the way in which, we’ve picked up loads of classes concerning the dos and don’ts of cruising, and certainly one of them is figuring out what to pack. This could really make or break your cruise expertise.
If that is your first time cruising, somewhat preparation will go a great distance. Having the precise paperwork and necessities prepared will assist you will have a smooth-sailing expertise from embarkation to disembarkation. On our most up-to-date cruise aboard Costa Serena, listed below are the paperwork and gadgets we secured and ready earlier than setting sail.
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT! In case your are touring quickly and nonetheless on the strategy planning stage, you can even go to our The Poor Traveler Masterlist. Right here, we compiled journey necessities, together with immigration necessities and all our really useful resorts and excursions. Simply go to this web page: TPT Masterlist. We’ve got a compilation for locations around the globe.
WHAT TO PREPARE
Costa Cruise Ticket and Voucher
On the day of embarkation, you’ll be requested handy over your cruise ticket and your voucher on the check-in counter at Eva Macapagal Cruise Terminal in Manila. Have each a tough copy and a digital copy prepared, simply to make certain.
The ticket has all of the necessary data, equivalent to your:
- Cruise Particulars
- Cabin Quantity
- Guidelines and Reminders
- Embarkation and Disembarkation Directions
- Boarding Type
- Baggage Tag
In case you’re nonetheless on the lookout for a journey company to guide a Costa Serena cruise from Manila, you will get in contact with Avian Summit Journey Company. It’s one of many high companies which are a part of the #Select Premium community, and is each IATA-certified and DOT-accredited.
Listed here are the contact particulars:
- Cellular/Viber: +63 928 291 7170
- E mail: aviansummit@gmail.com
- Fb Web page: Avian Summit Journey Company
- Instagram: @aviansummit
- Tiktok: @aviansummit
Passport
Since this counts as a world cruise, and also you’ll be touring outdoors the Philippines by sea, you’ll have to convey your passport. Ensure that to hold a photocopy of the bio web page, too, as a result of your passport will probably be taken from you for safekeeping upon embarkation. However earlier than you panic, loosen up and breathe straightforward, as you’ll get it again a day earlier than disembarkation.
Having a photocopy of your passport is particularly necessary if you happen to’re additionally planning to discover every cease (port of name) in a foreign country or worldwide territory. And, in fact, your passport have to be legitimate for a minimum of six months.
eTravel
You may submit your eTravel kind inside three (3) days or 72 hours earlier than your scheduled departure time. You may accomplish your journey declaration by the eTravel official web site or the eGov app. You’ll see two forms of journey declarations: New Journey Declaration and New Cruise Ship Journey Declaration. For cruises, choose “New Cruise Ship Journey Declaration”.
Keep in mind! You must full two journey declarations: one for departure and one other for arrival. When you don’t have onboard web entry, you’ll be able to fill out your Arrival eTravel kind when the ship docks on the Port of Manila, whereas ready in your group’s flip to disembark.
Journey Tax
The journey tax isn’t but included in your cruise fare, so make sure that you make your cost on-line by way of the TIEZA official web site or the eGov app. Save and make a copy of the receipt, as you’ll be requested to current it on the check-in counter throughout embarkation. Digital copy is okay, however you can even produce a tough copy for backup.
Costa App
Ensure that to obtain the Costa App earlier than the cruise. The app will make your life on board a lot simpler and extra handy. A number of the perks embody letting you:
- Browse every day exercise schedules
- Navigate the deck map and ship listing
- Observe the ship’s present location
- Test the real-time climate updates
- Use the onboard chat options
- Monitor your onboard spending
- Buy web packages
Baggage Tag
As talked about, you’ll discover your baggage tag collectively along with your cruise ticket. Don’t neglect to print the baggage tag and fix it to your check-in baggage earlier than heading to the port. Probably, you’ll be printing it on paper. To make it extra sturdy, you should purchase a baggage tag cowl, have it laminated, or totally cowl it with clear adhesive tape.
Talking of bags…
WHAT TO PACK
Every passenger is allowed to convey one 30-kilogram check-in baggage and one seven-kilogram hand-carry bag. Go away additional house in your baggage in case you are planning on doing some procuring, whether or not on board or on the ports of name.
Day Bag
Along with your private hand-carry bag, it’s additionally a good suggestion to convey a day bag or a small bag for onboard exploring and shore excursions. It may be a sling bag, a crossbody, or a small tote.
Personally, I like utilizing a small canvas tote to hold necessities like solar safety, medicines, an influence financial institution, ID, and cellphone whereas wandering across the ship. For shore excursions, I normally add a conveyable fan, a photocopy of my passport, pockets, and water container. We’ll go into extra element concerning the particular gadgets to pack later.
Garments/Outfits
We normally put together two units of outfits per day:
- Informal garments for daytime actions
- Good informal or extra polished apparel for night reveals or fantastic eating
After all, it’s a must to full your look with the precise footwear. It’s protected to convey a pair of sneakers/trainers, formal footwear, and sandals or flip flops. From our expertise, cabins don’t include in-room slippers, so make sure to convey your personal.
If you wish to attend night occasions, particularly themed events, it’s higher to test the recommended costume code for every soirée you’d like to affix. Throughout our final Costa Serena cruise from Manila, we took half within the following:
- White Celebration: all-white outfit
- Retro Celebration: colourful 50’s – 90’s ensemble
- Masquerade Ball: formal apparel paired with an identical masks
Different themed celebrations throughout that crusing included the Latin Celebration, Golden Celebration, Italian Night time, and Revival Celebration.
And if you wish to take pleasure in a refreshing dip in a single (or all) of Costa Serena’s swimming swimming pools, don’t neglect to pack your favourite swimwear! Lastly, think about bringing a mild jacket and a scarf or scarf, particularly if you happen to’re somebody who tends to get chilly simply.
Toiletries
You’ll usually discover towels, bathroom paper, a hair dryer, and a 2-in-1 shampoo and tub gel in your cabin. Apart from these fundamentals, you’ll have to pack your personal toiletries and skincare necessities.
In contrast to air journey, cruises don’t normally impose the 100-ml liquid restrict. This implies you’ll be able to convey your full-sized bottle of shampoo, lotion, moisturizer, and different private care gadgets with none problem.
Solar Safety
Whereas we do want daylight for our every day dose of Vitamin D, we should not overdo it. An excessive amount of publicity to the solar’s dangerous UV rays can be not good. Sporting protecting clothes, searching for shade, and usually making use of sunscreen or sunblock are among the methods you’ll be able to shield your self from the solar.
Apart from the gadgets talked about above, we love carrying a hat or a cap (I’ve numerous them!) and sun shades. Typically, I additionally use a shawl or a scarf for additional protection throughout the day. Whereas it’s not precisely solar safety, a moveable fan may also come in useful to beat the warmth, particularly throughout sizzling and humid summer time days.
Medication
Pack your go-to medicines for complications, stomachaches, fever, cough, colds, flu, and movement illness. When you’re on prescription remedy, be certain that to convey sufficient for your complete journey.
I’ve by no means gotten seasick on my earlier cruises, so I normally skipped bringing any remedy for it. Massive mistake! On this explicit cruise, we hit some robust waves (perhaps it was the season), and it lastly bought to me. Haha! I simply lay in mattress, held on to my trusted nasal inhaler, and rubbed ointment on my temples. Lesson discovered: By no means say by no means!
The Reception/Buyer Service Desk can even present drugs for movement illness. For different medical points, you’ll be able to go to the ship’s onboard clinic, although take into account that further prices might apply.
Common Socket Adapter
You’ll discover three various kinds of energy retailers inside your cabin: Kind B, Kind F, and USB ports.
A Kind B plug has two parallel flat pins and a spherical grounding pin, however it could possibly additionally accommodate a Kind A plug, which has two flat pins. A Kind F plug, which is usually utilized in Europe, options two spherical pins (4.8mm diameter) and grounding clips on the highest and backside.
For the reason that Philippines usually makes use of Kind A, B, and C (two spherical pins) plugs, most of your gadgets ought to work simply fantastic. Nonetheless, it’s observe to convey a common adapter as a backup to keep away from any socket or plug points onboard.
OTHERS
Credit score Card
All onboard prices are settled in US$ (US greenback). There are not any ATMs on the ship, and debit playing cards are usually not accepted, so a bank card is the best choice. You’ll have to hyperlink it to your Costa Card, which works as each your onboard ID and cost card.
Right here’s how one can hyperlink your bank card to your Costa Card:
- Discover a Costa Card kiosk. These are positioned all through the ship. We noticed two on Deck 5, Midship part, close to the retailers.
- Put together your Costa Card and bank card. To begin, select the “English” language.
- Faucet your Costa Card on the reader. Anticipate the subsequent on-screen immediate.
- Insert or swipe your bank card. Wait once more for affirmation.
- Bank card efficiently linked to your Costa Card! You can even hyperlink different cabins to your bank card by choosing “Different Cabins”, then following the directions on the display.
Backup Money
When you don’t have a bank card, make sure to convey sufficient USD in money earlier than embarking. You’ll have to deposit a minimum of USD 150 per particular person to settle your onboard transactions.
Have backup money with you additionally, particularly in case you are planning to affix shore excursions or discover the ports of name by yourself. Select Premium’s Hospitality Desk additionally presents an onboard cash alternate service, simply in case.
Web Connection
Staying related throughout the cruise is simple. You should buy Costa Serena’s onboard web bundle by the Costa App. Simply decide the plan that works finest for you. On our final cruise, these have been the obtainable choices and their charges at the moment:
- WhatsApp Bundle. Keep in contact with family and friends by WhatsApp, sharing pictures, movies, and voice messages. Charge: $6 per day
- Social Bundle. Apart from WhatsApp, you can even entry your social media accounts — Fb, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Charge: $15 per day; $10 for 2hrs
- Full Bundle. This offers you limitless entry to the web — cell apps, messaging apps, social media, emails, and extra. Charge: $20 per day; $39 for 24hrs; $15 for 2hrs
When you’re becoming a member of a shore tour or doing a D-I-Y onshore exploration, safe an eSIM or flip in your cellphone’s knowledge roaming. A pocket WiFi additionally works nicely for day journeys at cruise stops or ports of name. Simply do not forget that it’s not very dependable onboard, because it normally solely works when the ship is docked or near the shore.
For a day journey or shore tour, you’ll solely want a one-day knowledge connection. Nonetheless, most eSIM packages have a three-day plan as their minimal. Luckily, we discovered choices that supply a one-day knowledge plan on Klook!
Energy Financial institution
When you suppose you’re spending most of your time outdoors your cabin, or you’re going on a shore tour, a energy financial institution is a must have. You’ll doubtless be utilizing your smartphone continuous whereas exploring different locations (ports of name) — taking numerous pictures and movies, navigating with Google Maps, utilizing Google Translate, researching, messaging mates, and extra.
Preserve your battery working and keep away from draining it fully for a smoother and hassle-free journey!
Water Container/Tumbler
Every cabin has a complimentary 1-liter bottle of water. You may refill water any time utilizing this provision at Prometeo Buffet Restaurant, one of many onboard complimentary eating locations. Or you’ll be able to convey your personal water container or tumbler.
It’s necessary to all the time hydrate, particularly when the climate is humid and sizzling.
Particular Journey Permits
Some passengers have to safe particular journey permits. This could both be a:
- DSWD Certificates for minors touring with out their mother and father
- Journey Authority for presidency officers and staff
WHAT NOT TO BRING
We may also embody an inventory of prohibited gadgets, so you’ll be able to forestall delays and different points throughout embarkation. For security and safety causes, the next gadgets are strictly not allowed on board.
- Explosives
- Weapons (together with imitations and replicas)
- Heating Gadgets (hair dryers, hair straighteners, and many others.)
- Handcuffs
- Animals
For the entire and up to date listing of prohibited gadgets, you’ll be able to test it right here: Costa Serena Prohibited Gadgets Checklist
Extra About #ChoosePremium Model
Formally launched in 2017, Juan World Philippines, Inc. is a good tour companies supplier catering to Philippine journey companies. The corporate presents a variety of tour companies to totally different journey companies within the Philippines, together with its signature #ChoosePremium line of tour packages.
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