From Quote to online checkin
The Booking Process
Confirming Arrangements, Placing Deposits
Once you’ve chosen your cruise line, itinerary, and your activities for before, during and after the sailing we go to work getting everything confirmed with the suppliers and deposits placed. There are agreements to sign, including our Terms and Conditions and Credit Card Billing Authorization.
You’ll receive a beautifully-formatted, complete itinerary with your confirmed arrangements, along with a link to our Travel App so you can access the itinerary and ask any questions on the go. We’ll also send you the confirmation notices from the suppliers as well as adding them to your Itinerary as they are received.
Now the Hard Part, Waiting for Go-Day!
As the days count down to your dream vacation, there will be several deadlines that occur:
- Final payment deadline on the cruise
- Payment for the activities
- Purchasing flights and hotels
- Online restaurant and entertainment scheduling
- Travel Document deadlines
- Online Check-in
Our Proven Process includes reminding you as each deadline approaches. Many of these deadlines are covered in your Invoice/Payment arrangements, and there is a detailed list of all the pre-sailing deadlines in your Itinerary.
If you hit any timing issues on making payments before deadline, remember you have the option of sail now, pay later with Uplift, as described on our finances page. You can reach for this lifeline at any point in the process!
International Travel Process
While the responsibility for getting passports, visas, and any other needed document for international travel is ultimately yours, we will be with you every step of the way. Your Itinerary will include a listing of the documents you will need for travel, and the deadlines for obtaining them. We will also remind about these things as your travel date nears.
We can guide you to expert resources for things including expedited passports, obtaining needed visas, obtaining permission for travel if your kids are bringing friends, etc.
And you’re part of the Sea Freedom Community on Facebook, where you can reach out to others who have gone through the process!
Special Events
Onboard weddings, vow renewals, reunions and milestone celebrations take a lot of planning. If you’ve employed an Event Planner we will work in concert with them to make sure your event goes off without a hitch.
You and your planner will have direct contact with a specific person onboard who will be your go-to for any needs during the trip. We’re happy to participate in Zoom calls with your planner and any onshore vendors in your port cities or your pre- or post-cruise hotel (a coordination fee may apply in certain complex cases).
Can I pack now?
It’s said tongue-in-cheek, but there is wisdom in the cruise packing maxim “Set out everything you think you’ll need. Now put back half of it. Then pack.”
As part of the run-up to your cruise experience, we’ll send you a lot of useful links on packing and preparing for the cruise. And of course your fellow Sea Freedom Community members will have tips and tricks, too.
We’ll connect you with online groups specific to your cruise line, ship, and sailing along with some good general cruise enthusiast sites. Where possible, we’ll provide links to photos or videos of your room and ship, as well as port guides so you can be ready to experience your excursions fully!
5…4…3…2…1
The days before departure get hectic! We’re right there, a phone call or email away, to help with anything that comes up at the last minute.
Finally, the day arrives…you roll out of the garage, and as the door rolls down you shift into vacation mode. Or you arrive at the meeting point for your group adventure. Either way, you can rest easy, because we’ve arranged everything from now until you get home!
That’s Sea Freedom — VACATION MODE……ON!