Answers to Your Travel Questions

Bon Voyage Travel Services doesn’t just save you time researching and making decisions, we can also handle changes and other issues that may pop up before or during your trip.

If your flight is canceled or rescheduled, we will find our clients another flight out and secure it while there are 50 people waiting in line to talk to the customer service person.

My clients have my cell phone number to reach me in any case of any urgency.

Need dinner reservations? Hotel Room? Tour Tickets? We handle every detail of your vacation from start to finish so you can have more family time.

One of the top reasons to use our travel agency is that we will make personalized recommendations and offer tips on destinations, what to see and do while on vacation, the best and worst times to travel, and much more.

Having visited the destinations and experienced the vacations, we can recommend to our clients our first-hand experiences.

“First-hand experience is immeasurable — and extremely important depending on the needs of the client,”

Bon Voyage Travel Services act as the traveler’s advocate in the event something goes wrong, helping navigate the challenge of making any necessary itinerary changes.  If there are any price changes, we will notify you.

Share your travel dates, budget, and preferences with us, and we’ll craft a customized itinerary just for you.

As certified specialists in destinations like Jamaica and the Caribbean, we offer insider access and tailored experiences based on direct training and continuous updates from tourist boards.

Yes, we specialize in cruises, including all-inclusive packages and customized land vacations in the Caribbean, Jamaica, and beyond.

Booking as early as possible is recommended to secure the best rates and accommodations, especially for peak travel seasons.

Yes, we can create a tentative plan for you. Finalizing dates early, however, helps secure the best rates and availability.

Travel documents will be available 30-60 days before departure. Full itineraries are sent via email or USPS mail 20-30 days before departure.

There are all-inclusive hotel packages in the Caribbean that include all of your meals and drinks. 

Cruise ships include all meals and most snacks excluding the specialty restaurants which charge a small cover charge. Reservations are suggested at these popular venues as soon as possible. 

Drinks are not included in your cruise fare but drink packages are available for purchase.

We accept all major credit cards.

Yes, we offer flexible payment options for your convenience.

You can choose from monthly or bi-weekly installments after an initial down payment. Note: Payment plans are not available for airline tickets alone.

Once your booking is submitted, you will automatically receive an invoice that reflects your deposit made and balance due.

Thereafter, you will receive a monthly notice via the email you provide at time of registration with a link for your next payment unless you opted for recurring payments. 

Yes, monthly payments are required to keep your booking active. If you are unable to make a payment, please contact the travel agency.

We understand plans can change. Cancellation or change policies vary by service and booking details, so please contact us as soon as possible for assistance.

We highly recommend travel insurance for all our clients and offer several options to ensure you’re covered for unforeseen circumstances. We offer Travel Guard insurance.

We provide in-trip support for any issues or concerns. You’ll have our contact information for peace of mind throughout your journey.

We understand flexibility is important. While changes are subject to availability and any potential costs, we’ll do our best to accommodate your requests.

Absolutely. We strive to tailor each trip to our clients’ specific needs, including dietary restrictions, accessibility requirements, and special occasion celebrations.

Absolutely. We specialize in romantic getaways, including destination weddings and honeymoons, offering personalized planning services to make your special occasion unforgettable.

Depending on your destination, you may need a passport, visa, or both. We’ll provide you with detailed information based on your itinerary.

Your safety is our priority. We stay updated on the latest travel advisories and share essential tips for a secure trip, ensuring a worry-free experience.

For cruisers: Always stay on ship time to avoid missing departures.

For Caribbean and Jamaica first-timers: Engage with local culture and nature, but stay safe and aware of your surroundings.

We can advise on the best options for international calling, data plans, and Wi-Fi availability at your destination or onboard your cruise.

On select U.S. roundtrip (sometimes called “closed-loop”) voyages, U.S. citizens ages 16 and above may travel with an original or certified copy U.S. birth certificate (or U.S. Certificate of Naturalization if foreign born) presented together with a valid U.S. government-issued photo identification. U.S. and Canadian citizens ages 15 and younger may travel with a birth certificate.

Alaska roundtrip from San Francisco, Los Angeles or Seattle (roundtrip Seattle cruise tours excluded)

Canada/New England roundtrip from New York

Caribbean roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale, Galveston, or New York (voyages that do not call to Martinque or Guadeloupe only)

Hawaii roundtrip from Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, or Seattle

Mexico roundtrip from Los Angeles, San Francisco or San Diego

Make sure the name on your booking matches the name on your travel documents exactly. If the names do not match, contact your Travel Advisor immediately. To avoid check-in delays or even denied boarding, please provide this information at least 45 days before your cruise. Travel agency is NOT responsible for incorrect name information given.

Contact your phone carrier regarding international calls while traveling.  Rates for cellular service are determined by your wireless phone carrier.  For questions about your service while cruising, please contact your wireless provider’s customer service department.

As provided in the Passage Contract, on the day of embarkation, guests are permitted to bring one 750ml bottle of wine or champagne on board per voyage, which will not be subject to a corkage fee if consumed in your stateroom. Additional wine or champagne bottles are welcome, but will incur a US$20/AU$30 (depending on shipboard currency) corkage fee each, irrespective of where they are intended to be consumed. Liquor, spirits, or beers are not permitted. Please remember that luggage will be scanned and alcohol outside of our policy will be removed and discarded.*

Alcoholic beverages that are purchased duty free onboard the cruiseship, or at ports of call, will be collected for safekeeping and delivered to the guest’s stateroom on the last day of the cruise. A member of the ship’s staff will be at the gangway to assist guests with the storage of their shoreside alcoholic purchases while the onboard staff will assist guests with shipboard alcoholic purchases.

*CRUISE LINES ARE NOT responsible for any alcoholic beverages removed and discarded by shoreside security staff. Such items are not eligible for monetary refund or replacement. Guests found with prohibited items, including alcohol outside of the policy, may need to collect their luggage at a security checkpoint on board.

Keeping the comfort of other guests a priority for cruise lines, and in consideration of consumer studies which show smokers are a small minority of guests, the following smoking policy has been implemented:

Designated Smoking Areas
Clearly marked “Designated Smoking Areas” are available on board and include a sufficient number of ashtrays that are emptied regularly.

Generally, these areas include cigar lounges, a section of the nightclub, as well as a portion of the open decks.

The Casino and Casino Bar are non-smoking areas on board, with the exception of designated slot machines where guests are permitted to smoke only while playing at those machines.

All table games are non-smoking. The Casino will also have one or more non-smoking nights (6 pm to closing), depending on length of voyage.

Show lounges, dining rooms and all food services areas on board are non-smoking. As a safety precaution, guests are reminded to properly dispose of cigarettes, cigars and pipe tobacco, which are never to be thrown overboard as this may be sucked back into the ship and cause fires.

Stateroom Smoking Policy
ALL Cruise lines prohibit smoking or vaping of all types, including e-cigarettes, in guest staterooms and balconies. This reflects the preferences of a vast majority of our guests who value having their primary living space (both stateroom and balcony) smoke-free. As balconies are a hallmark of all Cruise lines, we believe it is important to keep this peaceful space clear of smoke.

Violations to this policy will result in a minimum $250 fine for each occurrence, which will be charged to the guest’s stateroom account.

Keeping with the global trend toward more restrictive smoking policies and honoring the wishes of our guests, we feel this enhances our onboard experience.

Yes, for a fee. Fees depend on select Wi-Fi packages.  There is also an Internet Café onboard which charges a fee to utilize the Wi-Fi.

Yes. Charges for obtaining chips and tokens in the casino are limited to $3,000 USD per day, up to a total limit of $21,000 USD per person, per cruise and are only available if you have pre-registered a credit card with the Guest Service Desk for Express Check-Out.

Crew Appreciation has already been added to your cruise package. A crew appreciation is a daily amount added to your onboard account, which is shared among the many members of our crew in hotel, dining and entertainment throughout the fleet who help make your cruise experience special. The daily amount of the Crew Appreciation is based on stateroom category.

Cashless Cruising

One of the best things about cruising is the convenience of being able to charge all your onboard expenses to your stateroom. 

Guests must have a credit or debit card on account to make any purchases onboard, including for shore excursions, drinks etc. 

Guests who have a credit card on file for their shipboard account, an authorization hold of $100 is placed on the credit card to ensure validity of the account.

While you are on board, your daily charges will be authorized at close of business each day with your card provider. These authorizations can remain on your card for up to 30 days. 3rd party credit cards will not be accepted for charges on board since the cardholder needs to sign for the charges.

Card must be valid for the length of the cruise. This information will be kept confidential. They use a “pre-authorization” system to charge credit and debit cards for onboard spending. 

This is standard hotel practice and places a “hold” on your credit or debit card, although your bank does not actually release any money to us.

At the end of your cruise, your onboard spend will be charged in one transaction, and the holds will then be released by your issuing bank. Please note, some banks hold pre-authorized funds for up to 30 days limiting the funds available in your debit or credit account. We strongly recommend you check your bank’s pre-authorization process if you have any concerns about this system. To avoid your bank or credit card company blocking onboard transactions, please alert them of your travel plans ahead of time.

An itemized statement will be emailed to you post cruise. By providing your credit card in advance, you are automatically registered for Express Check-Out.

There is no need to visit the Guest Services Desk to settle your account. We accept all major credit cards in most currencies.

Those paying by traveler’s checks or cash will be required to leave a cash deposit with the Guest Services staff at the beginning of the cruise.

Onboard charges are in United States Dollars (USD) with the following exceptions: for guests on sailings operating roundtrip from Australia, all onboard charges are in Australian Dollars (AUD)

If you are using a credit card to pay for your onboard charges on an AUD currency sailing, a surcharge fee of 1.1% will be applied (regardless of cardholder nationality). Debit cards do not incur a surcharge.

On the majority of our cruises, you will be required to identify and clear your luggage through customs. As you leave the ship, you will be directed by cruise representatives to the luggage claim area. As many bags are similar in appearance, please check each luggage tag to ensure you are claiming your own luggage.

Due to U.S. and local customs restrictions, guests may not leave the ship until all luggage is off-loaded.

Disembarkation will begin once the ship has received clearance from the local authorities. You will be notified within the Medallion Class® app when it is time for you to disembark. You may then make your way to the gangway.

Customs and immigration inspectors will review with you the customs declarations form upon which you have listed all the articles bought in foreign ports or in the ship’s boutiques. U.S. residents returning to the United States are allowed a duty-free exemption of $800 USD per person, which includes the cost of one liter of alcoholic beverages (if purchased onboard or ashore) for each guest 21 years of age or older. Canadian citizens, when out of the country for more than 48-hours, may bring back up to $800 CAD duty-free. It is recommended that guests keep their sales receipts handy for declaring their purchases. Food items should not be brought into U.S. ports.

On cruises calling at ports of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, or American Samoa, U.S. residents are allowed an additional exemption of $1,200 USD when returning to the United States, including four liters of alcoholic beverages provided you have the proof of purchase from the designated ports. Of your $1,200 USD exemption, no more than $600 USD worth of articles may have been purchased in the islands. Articles acquired in these islands need not accompany you but may be sent to the United States and claimed under your duty-free personal exemption if properly declared. Please note that family members, who live in the same home and return together in the United States, may combine their standard personal exemptions. 

Children are allowed the same as adults, with the exception of alcohol and cigarettes. Please note that these are current exemptions and are subject to change.

If your friends or relatives are meeting you at the pier, please be advised that disembarkation may take up to four hours after the scheduled arrival of the ship in order to clear immigration and customs.