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There are new check-in rules for cruise ships departing American waters that many people may not be familiar with, but should know about before booking their next cruise.

The new rules were put into effect in July of 2008 by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, and they require all passengers to be checked-in for their cruise a full 90 minutes prior to its departure. This procedure allows the ship to send the passenger manifest (the list of passengers) to the CPB so they can clear the ship for its departure.

In the past, cruise lines set their own “all aboard” times where passengers had to be on the vessel by a certain deadline – usually 60 to 90 minutes before departure. Most passengers arrived well before the deadline, but when a handful arrived late because of bad weather or mechanical problems with their plane, they could usually board the ship right up until its scheduled departure. But no more, mainly thanks to increased security measures in our post 9-11 world.

With the new rules, now you can arrive just a few minutes past your scheduled check-in deadline and be denied boarding even if your ship is sitting at the dock still loading luggage. That’s exactly what happened to four people from Chicago who recently arrived 15 minutes for their cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line from Miami.

The two couples were delayed by bad weather in Chicago, but still arrived a full 75 minutes before their ship was scheduled to depart, but 15 minutes after the CBP imposed deadline. As a result, they were denied boarding, and had to make their own arrangements to meet the ship two days later in its next port of call – at their own expense.

Now if NCL had wanted to, if could have delayed the departure of the ship to let the late arrivers get on board while still meeting CPB requirements. So the ship would have left 15 minutes late, big deal. In fact, if the latecomers had been booked on NCL’s cruise air, they probably would have waited for them as they would have been responsible for getting them to the next port if they didn’t.

However, cruise ships have tight schedules to keep if they are going to get to their scheduled ports of call on time.  There’s also a cost to them for delaying a departure, including higher fuel costs if the ship has to increase its speed to meet its schedule. And frankly, some may not care that much about the plight of just 4 people when there’s another 2,300 people waiting on the ship.

So what can cruise passengers do to limit their downside risk of missing the boat?

- Fly to your departure port the night before, especially during months where you have a greater risk of weather-related flight delays. At the very least, take the earliest morning flight possible the day of the cruise, and plan to get to your departure port five or six hours ahead of time. Airlines have been cutting back on flights, and over-booking planes. The latter might mean you could get bumped from the flight if you don’t have a higher fare or a frequent flyer status with the airline.

- Sign up for the cruise line’s air package. If the cruise line is handling your air arrangements, they are responsible for getting you to the ship. This means they will be more likely to delay the ship’s departure if you are late, or they will take care of getting you to the next port to meet the ship.

- Purchase travel insurance. It won’t get you to the ship any faster, and it won’t guarantee the cruise line will wait for your late plane to arrive. However, it will pay for the added costs of unplanned hotels and air flights to get you on the ship.

Some final advice if you’re running late:

Don’t give up hope of making the ship before it departs. If there are a lot of late arrivals because of a storm, or if enough of the late comers are flying on the cruise line’s air package, the ship might delay its departure to accommodate everyone. So it’s important that you do your best to get to the pier as fast as you can, even if you’re running late.   

Most people are familiar with the frequent flyer programs that are available from most airlines. These programs have been around for a long time, and while some are more generous than others, they basically all offer points for miles traveled, and the ability to cash in those points for free or reduced cost flights, and other items.

In the marketing industry, these types of schemes are called loyalty programs, and their value has not escaped the attention of the cruise industry. In fact, most of the major lines now have their own loyalty programs, and the benefits range from small perks like discounted dry cleaning, free internet time and complimentary cocktail parties, to major incentives like free maritime telephone service, complimentary shore excursions and even free cruises.

Whose got the most generous frequent cruiser program and how can you take advantage of it? Well, like most competing loyalty programs, it’s difficult to make comparisons among the frequent cruiser programs because they rarely offer the same benefits. However, there are a number of worthwhile perks in several cruise loyalty programs that are worth highlighting as follows:

Princess Cruises has 3 benefit levels of benefits known as gold, platinum and elite that take effect after 1, 5 and 15 cruises respectively. The biggest perks are discounted internet service starting at the platinum level, and complimentary dry cleaning service, priority tender embarkation and 10% discounts in the onboard boutiques at the elite level.

Crystal Cruises has 22 levels of benefits that start after 2 cruises and top out at 100 voyages. The juicy benefits start after 10 cruises with a 2 category cabin upgrade and a$150 shipboard credit. After 30 cruises, guests qualify for a free 7-day cruise, and after 70 cruises, a free 12-day cruise.

Cunard Cruise Line offers 4 levels of frequent cruiser perks called silver, gold, platinum and diamond. After seven voyages or 70 days at sea, the platinum level provides for priority check in, 2 hours of complimentary internet time, a 20% discount on dry cleaning, and an invitation to a party with senior officers.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has 5 levels of benefits they call bronze (4 cruises or 20 days at sea), silver (21 cruises or 74 days), gold (75 cruises or 199 days), platinum (200 cruises or 399 days) and titanium (400 or more days). The best benefits start to kick in at the silver level with free internet service, one free hour of phone time, and invitations to exclusive events in selected ports of call. At the titanium level, there’s also free dry cleaning, seven hours of free phone service, and complimentary transfers to and from home to the pier or from the airport to the pier.

Royal Caribbean International has 4 perquisite levels called gold, platinum, diamond and diamond plus, which kick in after 1, 5, 10 and 24 cruises respectively. The best benefits start at the diamond level with priority departure from the ship and access to the concierge lounge on ships that have one (complimentary food and alcohol during certain hours).

Norwegian Cruise Line also uses a list of precious metals as their tiers of frequent cruiser benefits. The top level called platinum kicks in after 14 cruises and provides priority restaurant reservations, priority tender tickets, an invitation to the Captain’s cocktail party and a complimentary dinner in the Le Bistro alternative restaurant.

A number of other cruise lines including Holland America and Celebrity also offer frequent cruiser programs, but their benefits are similar to the ones mentioned here with the exception of Crystal. Out of all the frequent cruiser programs, Crystal appears to be more generous because it gives loyal passengers the opportunity to earn free cruises. While I like free phone service, discounted internet and complimentary cocktails, I think Crystal comes closest to the best frequent flyer programs by giving the ultimate reward for my loyalty – an opportunity to cruise with them again for free! But whatever the level of benefits, it clearly pays to sail with a cruise line that rewards loyalty.

The charming, talented and multi-lingual Anthony Richards, Cruise Director aboard the Radiance of the Seas, recently took time out from his busy schedule to speak with me. Here is an edited version of our interview: 

CD:  Hi Anthony. Where are you from? 

AR:  I’m from Vancouver, British Columbia.

CD:  How did you get into cruising? 

AR:  I got into cruising when I graduated university in 2003. I wanted to travel the world and enhance my Spanish, so I joined Royal Caribbean as a part of the Youth Staff.  I thought about doing it for just five months and then I was offered a job on the Splendour of the Seas in Europe. Then, I was offered the opportunity to go to a new build in Finland, the Mariner of the Seas, to develop some kids programs. From there I got a management opportunity as Youth Activity Manager.  This is where my degree in international business came in and I was able manage a team of 6-10 staff of between 5 and 10 different nationalities.  So that worked well for me and eventually I became Assistant Cruise Director, which we call Activities Manager, and eventually Cruise Director. 

CD:  So how many years was it from starting in cruising to becoming Cruise Director? 

AR:  Five and a half years. It gave me the opportunity to a lot about everything in the portfolio before becoming a Cruise Director. 

CD:  So what are you responsible for now, and how many people do you have working for you on this ship?

AR:  I am responsible for all the onboard entertainment and activities, including all the shows we put on.  Depending on the cruise and activities taking place, I have between 80 to a 100 people working for me in our division — right now it’s 85. Some of the key roles include the Activities Manager, who runs all of the Cruise Director staff activities, and the Production Manager, who is responsible for all of the shows and the technical operations in the theatre.  We have a Sports Supervisor who is responsible for all the sports programs including the vitality program which is the evolution of the Ship Shape program.  There’s also an Adventure Ocean Manager who is responsible for all the activities for tots from 6 months old up to 17 years old, and then I have a Musical Director who is responsible for all the onboard musicians and the scheduling of the live music.  

CD:  You speak Spanish very well and often use on the ship. How did you learn it? 

AR:  During my years in university I wanted to study international management.  There were a number of prerequisites including taking a second language.  So I looked at the world Almanac and discovered that Spanish was one of  the most widely spoken language in the world by population.  So I learned the A,B, Cs of the language, and then took an exchange program to a university in Mexico where I lived with a family and became more at home with Spanish. My reading and writing is a lot better than my speaking, because the speaking part comes through practice. On Royal Caribbean I am mainly on European cruises with Spanish speaking guests. They also asked me to come here for the South American itineraries because there would be a lot of Spanish-speaking guests, as well as Portuguese. 

CD:  Do you speak any Portuguese? 

AR:  Very little.  I have my Rosetta Stone and have been working on it.  I am able to welcome them to the shows.  Portuguese and Spanish are very similar. Out of respect for the language and for the Brazilian and Portuguese people onboard, it’s nice to be able to acknowledge them and welcome them as much as you can in their language as well.

CD:  What’s your favorite itinerary for a cruise? 

AR:  Well, this is my first time in this part of the world, so it’s pretty neat. But I have to say I like the western Mediterranean which is where I find myself most of the time – sounds like I am spoiled, which I am!  But the western Med and the south of France is my most favorite.  There is a little town in a bay east of Monte Carlo called Villefranche.  If you ever get the chance to go there, please do. It’s just precious. Many ports in Europe are wonderful and unique in their own way, but for me that place is so relaxing: beautiful scenery, beautiful homes.  I also enjoy Key West if I am in the Caribbean.

CD:  What’s the funniest or strangest thing that’s ever happened to you? 

AR:  Well, I haven’t been a Cruise Director for very long.  However one thing I would say is sometimes when you get your introductions wrong on the stage. For example, the other night I had to introduce a tenor and called him a “tender” as I had just finished speaking about boats tendering. And one day we were arriving into Mykonos and I told a group of 700 Mexicans in Spanish that we that we were going to arrive in the downtown of Mexico, instead of Mykonos.  They thought that was very funny. 

CD:  I understand that the Radiance of the Seas is your favorite ship. Why is that? 

AR:  It has a lot to offer. The size of the ship and the venues are absolutely wonderful, and the finishing on this ship is terrific.  It’s very cozy and intimate, and small enough that you will bump into staff like the Cruise Director many times per cruise and you see the same people more than once, but big enough that you have plenty to do.  

CD:  People on the cruise seem to love this itinerary, but Royal Caribbean won’t be offering it again next year. Any particular reason for that? 

AR:  I think it’s mainly driven by the current economic situation which is making it more difficult to sell itineraries to out of way places like this one. Also these longer cruises limit how many people can take them.  It’s also expensive to fly so far to get to the ship.  This is a once in a lifetime trip for most people, and a lot of them right now are putting these types of trips off. In my personal opinion, I think we will be back here one day when the economy improves and demand for it returns. 

CD:  I understand  that you were part of the “take out” teams for a couple of new ships.  What does that entail?  And how different is it to being on a ship that’s been around for a few years, like this one? 

AR:  When you are part of a “take out” team, you are there to help set a new ship up, so to speak.  The team usually comprises some experienced staff whose job is to set up the ship for success.  So when we went over to Finland, our role was to get the itinerary and set up the programming for the Cruise Compasses (the schedule of various theme nights, events, etc.).  The Cruise Director will be looking into what shows to put on, what kind of activities for the type of guests expected.  Really setting up for success.  It’s pretty much a blank slate when you arrive, which is the difference.  You are not following a set path.  You get to be creative, which is the exciting part.  That was also the case on the Radiance when I recently arrived for the South America season as we were on a new itinerary with quite a mix of languages. Typically this ship is touring Alaska, the Caribbean, Panama, or Hawaii with mainly North American English-speaking guests.  For example, the recent Seventies night that we put on here had never appeared on the Radiance before.  And some of our entertainers are a bit more specialized with languages and more appealing to the different demographics we have on board. 

CD:  What about the spectacular Tango show last night?  Is it just for this ship?  Is it new? 

AR:  The Tango show is only run on a few of our ships. I believe only three or four of them as it’s an itinerary specific show.  We got it specifically for our South American season, but we are trying to keep when we go back to Alaska as it’s one of the best additions to the theatre program.

CD:  Final question.  What does a Cruise Director do when he’s not working on a ship? 

AR:  Believe it or not, I’m travelling. I go home to Vancouver for about two weeks usually to see my friends, catch up, and enjoy my new car.  I then sometimes go to Miami, or to visit my parents in Palm Springs.  Or maybe go to South America.  Wherever I haven’t been yet, I am trying to make a point of getting to while I am young. I really do have the travel bug – itchy feet!  I went on an exchange to Australia in grade 10 and haven’t stopped travelling since then.