Tips for Your Business Trip

City trips, nature experiences, round trips, beach holidays, cultural trips, family holidays, etc. With a cruise, you can experience everything at once. From taster cruises of 3-4 days to get to know them to world trips lasting several months. There is a lot to experience on the floating hotels: shopping, theatre, entertainment, wellness, relaxation, …

1. What types of cruises are there?

River cruises allow inland travel close to the shore. The ships are designed purely as floating hotels, usually have a restaurant and a bar. The entertainment program is significantly reduced compared to the ocean giants due to the size. The focus of a river trip is on the relaxed way of travelling and the shore excursions.

Themed cruises on the river such as Bike & Ship or Ship & Dog or at sea with music cruises, cruises for singles, gourmet cruises or expedition cruises.

Cruises on the high seas: across the Atlantic, in the Mediterranean, in the Caribbean or around the world. A variety of routes and ships invite you to exciting voyages of discovery. The floating giants offer a lot of different entertainment and relaxation options for young and old, for active people and sports haters.

An excerpt of possible travel destinations starting in German ports and the most popular shipping companies:

Cruises from Hamburg: As a cruise passenger, you can not only discover the North, but even go on a world tour, cross the Atlantic or visit the Canary Islands.

Cruises from Bremerhaven: Let yourself drift along the coast of Western Europe or how about a tour through the North and Baltic Seas?

Cruises from Kiel usually go to the metropolises on the Baltic Sea coast or to the port cities of Norway and fjords.

Cruises from Rostock-Warnemünde: The focus of the routes here is also on the Baltic and North Seas. Are you drawn to the Scandinavian capitals of Helsinki, Stockholm and Copenhagen? If you want to visit the Estonian capital Tallinn or take a trip to Bergen in Norway, this departure port is a good choice.

River cruise:
Rhine river cruise – from/to Cologne
Berlin river cruise - via Havel and Elbe from Berlin to Kiel or via the Elbe to Dresden
Danube river cruise – from/to Passau (via Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest)

Popular shipping companies:
MSC Cruises, AIDA Cruises, TUI Cruises (Mein Schiff), Phoenix Reisen (e.g. MS Deutschland), Viking Ocean Cruises/ Basel (CH), A-Rosa, Plantours Kreuzfahrten, Royal Caribbean International

2. How much luggage can I take on a cruise?

Lots! :-) The shipping companies at most give a recommendation, very rarely a restriction. But you should refrain from packing your entire wardrobe. Luggage is usually stowed under the beds or in the cabins. Space is very limited. Sometimes suitcases can also be handed over to staff for storage in the luggage room.

Only with TUI Cruises did we find information regarding luggage regulations: max. two pieces of luggage per person, not exceeding 90x75x43 cm and weighing max. 23 kg per piece. Hand luggage should also consist of max. two pieces per person and not be larger than 56x45x25 cm and weigh max. 23 kg.

If you travel by plane to the ship, you must, however, observe the regulations and baggage allowances of the airlines. Some shipping companies have made special arrangements with their partner airlines, where customers then benefit from a higher baggage allowance. However, this only applies if you book the arrival as a package. It is questionable to what extent these cooperations will continue to bring baggage advantages in the future.

3. Which suitcase is the right one for a cruise?

Depending on the length of your trip, you will need an appropriate suitcase size. A medium-sized suitcase is ideal for about a week. A large suitcase is suitable for approx. 2 weeks on the ship. If you are travelling with several suitcases, they should be stackable inside each other. This way they require less storage space.

Suitcases that have a volume extension are highly recommended. This way you have enough space for your clothes and are flexible if you want to go shopping.

Suitable suitcases

Pack now

4. What is not allowed on a cruise?

Safety regulations also apply on cruise ships and must be strictly adhered to. All suitcases are checked. Prohibited items will be stored and returned to you at the end of the cruise.

In principle, you can assume that anything that is not allowed in hand luggage and checked baggage on a flight is also prohibited on board a cruise ship.

So weapons, knives, illegal narcotics/drugs, explosives, fireworks, …

In addition, the following items are prohibited:

Devices that generate heat, e.g. hairdryer and straighteners (except on Mein Schiff), heating blankets, infrared lamps, irons, kettles, immersion heaters, coffee machines, kitchen appliances and power tools, etc.

Balloons

Cannabis and/or marijuana, even if prescribed for medical purposes

Handcuffs

Candles and dangerous chemical or flammable substances in larger quantities (e.g. petrol, methylated spirits, bleach, etc.)

Drones and microcopters

Hoverboards, Airwheels, Scooters and Segways

Compressed air cylinders including diving tanks, propane tanks and aerosol cans

Transformers, any type of laser, such as laser pointers, radios, broadband receivers (scanners), radio beacon for indicating the distress position, satellite telephones

5. What should I take on a cruise? Packing list for cruises

Tips for saving luggage:

• Shower gel, shampoo and creams are often already available, at least in trial sizes.
• Opt for versatile items like plain trousers or skirts in neutral colours. Wearing them multiple times won't be noticeable.
• Tops that you wore for dinner can easily be worn again for a shore excursion.
• Towels, bath towels, and bathrobes are available on the ship.
• Your own hairdryer or straighteners (depending on the operator) are not allowed on board. Leave them at home.
• A light scarf or shawl can spice up any outfit. It protects you from heat or cold and can also be wonderfully used as a shoulder covering during sightseeing.

What clothes you pack, of course, depends on the travel destinations themselves. It's cooler on the water than on land.

Here is a packing list of what you should pack for a cruise in addition to your favourite outfits.

6. What should be considered when cruising with children?

For safety reasons (e.g. medical care), most shipping companies have minimum age requirements for travel with infants and babies. If you want to travel with your baby, you should definitely find out about this beforehand. For the German market leaders TUI Cruises and AIDA Cruises, the following applies: Babies and toddlers are only allowed from 6 months onwards, and for trips with more than three consecutive sea days, a minimum age of 12 months is required.

The baby monitor from home may not work on board. Using a mobile phone as a baby monitor can incur charges. Most travel providers offer alternatives for rent. Buggies are strongly recommended as prams, as they must be stored in the cabin and not in public areas.

Special baby food should be brought along. Otherwise, there is also a wide range of services available here to warm up baby food or to borrow items such as a baby bath, bed, buggy and toys. Baby food and even nappies are available in many on-board shops. It is worth asking about this in more detail, as this can save space in your suitcase. Sterilisers and vaporisers can usually not be borrowed on board and must be brought along.

The entertainment and care program is diverse and offers are available for all age groups, from toddlers to teenagers.

7. Is accessible travel possible on cruises?

Accessibility is also becoming increasingly important on cruise ships. The options for people with disabilities depend on the shipping company, routes and the respective ship. Most areas on the ships are now accessible without barriers.

For people with reduced mobility, when choosing a cruise route, it is important to consider whether stages/excursions can also be managed with a wheelchair. Under certain circumstances, the ship may not dock directly at the port, but a transfer ashore via shuttle boats will take place. A crossing for wheelchair users is then not possible. The shipping companies provide detailed information about suitable shore excursions.

Depending on the shipping company, there are special, accessible cabins and wheelchairs and walkers for rent. While some providers focus purely on reduced mobility, there are also shipping companies that offer a lot of support for their guests with visual or hearing impairments:

From a deaf set (for alarm levels) to the equipment of certain entertainment areas where acoustic signals are amplified for hearing aids or implants.

For people with visual impairments, signage in high-contrast profile and Braille, stair treads with contrast enhancement and deck plans in Braille are sometimes offered.

Ask your preferred shipping company directly about the support services offered.

8. Can I take my dog on a cruise?

Animals are generally not allowed on sea cruises. Even guide and assistance dogs are no exception.

However, some river or coastal cruises can also be undertaken with your beloved four-legged friend. Some providers offer these special trips. Here, restrictions apply regarding the number per cabin, the shoulder height of the animal and not every breed is allowed on board.

9. My suitcase was damaged or lost - What should I do?

With your travel documents, you will also receive luggage tags, which are important for correct assignment. To be on the safe side, you should also attach an additional name tag. Depending on how you booked your journey to your ship, there are different approaches to asserting your claim. In principle, you should report any delay, loss or damage to your luggage directly at the airport when arriving by plane in order to have a corresponding proof in hand.

If the flight was not booked through the shipping company, but separately from the cruise itself, claims under the Passenger Rights Regulation arise exclusively against the airline.

If you have booked the flight and cruise as a package with the shipping company, you as a traveller can also assert claims under German package travel law instead of claims under the Passenger Rights Regulation. The claims regarding travel reduction and replacement clothing are usually higher here. Since we cannot offer binding legal advice, it is advisable to check which claims are of higher value and, if necessary, to seek legal advice.

As with most air travel, it is also advisable when travelling to a cruise to pack your suitcases mixed and to stow everything needed for the first day and the first night on board in your hand luggage.

10. Are cruises still up to date?

Germans want to get back on the water – both on the sea and on the rivers. This was reported by the President of the German Travel Association (DRV), Norbert Fiebig, at the start of the ITB Berlin 2023 travel trade fair.

On cruises, deceleration is the essential thing. It's not about getting to your destination quickly, but about enjoying the journey with all the amenities of a holiday resort. Those looking for connection will find it quickly on this type of travel.

According to the sources we used, we found the following: Regarding environmental compatibility, cruising seems to be in a better position than its current reputation.

The share of cruise ships in international civil shipping, with 386 floating hotels compared to 99,000 other ships, is just 0.39%, according to a statement by the Austrian Travel Association.

Strict regulations regarding exhaust gases have been in place in the North and Baltic Seas since 2015. The filterless use of heavy fuel oil is prohibited here. A strict sulphur limit of 0.5% or, in the protected zones of the Baltic Sea, North Sea, English Channel and North American waters, of 0.1% has been in force since 2020.

Shore power connections belong to the future. This allows ships in ports to draw electricity for their hotel operations and switch off their engines while at anchor. Almost all new builds are designed for this or are being prepared for it. Now the ports have to catch up and make a corresponding conversions for shore power.

One of the most important aspects of the environmental balance is the journey. Here, a lot can already be contributed to environmental protection by choosing the means of transport to the ship. Each passenger can also influence their own energy and water consumption behaviour.

The cruise industry is a pioneer in maritime environmental protection. And it has ambitious goals: Measured by bed capacity and kilometres travelled, CO2 emissions are to be reduced by 40 percent by 2030 compared to 2008. Fuel-saving designs, economical route and speed planning, innovative energy-saving lighting solutions, water-saving systems and state-of-the-art waste management. The shipping companies are not only interested in this from an ecological point of view, but also from an economic one. Work is also underway on regulations/limitations to manage visitor flows and avoid overtourism, as well as on fair working conditions for the crew. In the long term, cruising is to become emission-free.

11. Dress code, mobile phone use, … - Information about staying on a cruise ship Dress code

Dress code

On most cruises, things are already much more casual than in the days of the Titanic. However, flip-flops, sleeveless shirts and shorts are not very welcome here when visiting a restaurant either. Captain's Dinners (evening dress and tuxedo) are already dispensed with in most cases. For luxury cruises, however, fine clothes should definitely be packed.

In some countries, you should avoid a camouflage look. Sleeveless tank tops and shorts that are too short are also taboo. It is best to find out before going ashore what is considered appropriate there or not.

On most cruises, things are already much more casual than in the days of the Titanic. However, flip-flops, sleeveless shirts and shorts are not very welcome here when visiting a restaurant either. Captain's Dinners (evening dress and tuxedo) are already dispensed with in most cases. For luxury cruises, however, fine clothes should definitely be packed.

In some countries, you should avoid a camouflage look. Sleeveless tank tops and shorts that are too short are also taboo. It is best to find out before going ashore what is considered appropriate there or not.

Entertainment

Cosy get-togethers on river cruises. The entertainment program is very limited compared to the giants of the seas due to the size.

On the high seas: Where to start? Sports, theatre, clubs, casino, shows, artistry, beach parties, pool parties, … Chill during the day, take a shore excursion, try out new sports and immerse yourself in various cultural offerings in the evening. Even pottery or painting courses are offered.

If you like, you won't get bored on a cruise. The floating hotels are more like floating cities, because the entertainment program offers a lot more choice than many a holiday resort on land. Most offers on board are included in the travel price. Reading on the sun deck, listening to music or a podcast is equally entertaining and free of charge.

Mobile phone use

While on inland waterways and near the coast, the mobile phone network from land can be used, this is not possible on the high seas. Expensive satellite connections are used here. There are different offers for Wi-Fi or telephone use on board. Expensive roaming charges may apply. To ensure that you do not experience an unpleasant surprise with your next mobile phone bill, you should switch off the mobile data of your mobile phone and the automatic network selection in the settings of your mobile device already near the port.

Catering on board

All-inclusive or half board? Even on ships, there are various catering packages to choose from. Drink packages are available in different variations or are billed individually. Payment for all services on the ship is usually made with the on-board card, which is also your cabin key. If you deposit your credit card or payment option before departure, for example, you will be faster at check-out.

Some shipping companies charge a flat rate for tips. Nevertheless, you can still give any crew member an additional tip if you were satisfied.

The Hauptstadtkoffer team wishes you a pleasant car journey