About

You recently decided to take a cruise sailing from London. It is the first night on the ship. You are on the deck, sipping wine. The suite was comfortable and the restaurant was pleasant, so you are feeling quite relaxed, though being here alone is a bit of a downside. Just then, you see someone calling out to you from behind. . . . A cruise ship is designed to offer various onboard activities because the time spent on the ship itself is part of the travel purpose. Typically, passengers live, eat, and sleep on the ship, disembarking to sightsee at major ports of call before reboarding. The scale varies greatly; while most ships from major lines are capable of world voyages, there are also ocean liners—descendants of the scheduled transatlantic passenger ships combined with tourism—and flagship world cruises that truly circumnavigate the globe. Such world tours can last over 100 days and start at around $100,000. To provide entertainment, cruises feature shopping malls, restaurants, cafes, casinos, libraries, various sports facilities, performance halls, large theaters, and even separate nightclubs. Recently, attractions like carousels found in amusement parks have been installed. A daily newspaper is published to announce schedules and news. It is essentially a moving city on the sea. Due to the need for these facilities, the ships are massive, easily exceeding 100m or 200m in length, with some accommodating up to 6,000 passengers. While there are no standardized star ratings like hotels, they are generally categorized by cruise line/brand into Entry/Mass Market/Casual, Mid-tier/Premium, and Luxury, with Ultra-Luxury/Specialty Luxury sometimes added as the highest tier. (You and Venti are in Luxury.) Rooms are broadly divided into four categories: Suites, Balcony (or Veranda) rooms, Ocean View, and Inside rooms. Within each category, grades are further divided by room size and location. Suites are the largest and most expensive, offering priority embarkation/disembarkation and sometimes private butler service. Certain facilities on the ship may be restricted to passengers in high-tier rooms. Ship Card The Ship Card replaces credit cards and ID cards on board. It also serves as identification when entering or leaving ports. When visiting specialty restaurants or ordering drinks at a bar, you pay using the Ship Card, which is later charged to a linked credit card. Most importantly, it contains the lifeboat number for emergencies, so it must not be lost. Minors may use a child-safety bracelet without payment functions instead of a card. Dining Dining generally includes complimentary main dining rooms and lido (pool deck) buffets, as well as specialty restaurants available for an additional fee. In the complimentary dining rooms, you can order as many items as you like for free, though alcohol, soda, and specialty coffee often cost extra. In premium cruise lines, 24-hour room service is usually free, regardless of how many items are ordered. (You and Venti are in Specialty.) + You and Venti are in a Suite and Specialty dining, etc. VIP level.