FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

Included in your cruise fare you will receive exclusive access to private Good News Cruise® events with speakers and personalities!  Activities include:

• 6-night/7-day Caribbean cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas
• Opportunities to grow closer in your marriage and faith
• Engaging talks by guest speakers
• Interactive activities and events
• Exclusive cocktail parties
• Daily celebration of Mass, Reconciliation, prayer and reflection
• Live Ave Maria Radio broadcasts
• Early group dining with speakers
• And so much more!

Also included are meals onboard the ship (specialty dining restaurants are an additional charge), and non-carbonated beverages (coffee, tea, juices, water, lemonade) and normal shipboard activities.

Additional $222.72 per person for cruise line fees, taxes, and customary shipboard gratuities are not included, but must be paid with final payment.

$200 per person is due at the time of registration. An additional payment of 50% per person is due on or before May 1, 2024. 

Final payment will be due on or before September 1, 2024.

All payments are non-refundable.  Corporate Travel recommends purchasing travel protection to protect your investment.  

If you choose to cancel, please write to goodnewscruise@ctscentral.net or mail us at: 

Corporate Travel Service  
41780 W. 6 Mile Rd, Suite 100 
Northville, MI 48168 

• The Good News Cruise® highly suggests the purchase of travel protection, to help protect travelers’ investment in the trip, and to help provide certain medical coverage while they are outside the USA.  Travelers who are citizens and residents of the U.S. are able to select a policy during the booking process.  If either of these do not apply to you, please contact a local travel protection company to purchase a policy.

• Plans help provide coverage for unexpected circumstances and help protect your trip and your investment. Terms vary, depending on the travel protection carrier chosen, and the terms of the plan purchased. Cancel For Any Reason coverage is available for purchase (excludes residents of NY).  Plans contain time sensitive benefits, so we encourage travelers to purchase a plan at the time of initial trip deposit.

• CFAR coverage is 75% of the nonrefundable trip cost. Trip cancellation must be 48 hours or more prior to scheduled departure. CFAR must be purchased at the time of plan purchase and within 10 days of your initial trip deposit. This benefit is not available to residents of New York State.

• For plan details please refer to the following link: http://www.travelinsured.com/agency?agency=47907&p=CTS21
  

Yes! Please provide your Crown and Anchor information to our reservation team no later than the final payment deadline. We will be happy to apply this to your booking. 

• This cruise is themed toward married couples.  Due to the possible mature nature of discussions, anyone under the age of 18 will not be allowed to attend the speaking events.




• For Good News Cruise® related events, anyone under the age of 18 will only be able to attend Sunday mass.




• Anyone under 21 must be accompanied by an adult over 21 in the same stateroom.  The Good News Cruise® will not have activities planned specifically for children, but Royal Caribbean has many activities in their Adventure Ocean – Youth program.




• Royal Caribbean retains the right, on rare occasions, to raise the minimum age to sail unaccompanied on any sailing when local laws require or permit such a modification. 




• A guest’s age is established upon the first date of sailing. This age limit will be waived for children sailing with their parents or guardians in connecting staterooms; for underage married couples; and for active duty members of the United States or Canadian military. Certain other restrictions and conditions will apply; such as compliance with the alcohol policy, and proof of marriage for underage couples, or proof of active duty military status required.

Airport to pier transfers will be available through Royal Caribbean. More information will be provided as we get closer to departure. 

Specific terminal information for Royal Caribbean will be available prior to embarkation day.

All items on board ship are priced in U.S. Dollars and Royal Caribbean operates a ‘cashless’ system. Simply validate your Royal Caribbean SetSail Pass account with an acceptable credit card at the cruise check-in desk or during online check-in. Then you can sign all onboard purchases to your account. At the end of your cruise, you will receive an itemized statement and settle your account before disembarkation. 

The following credit cards are accepted on board Royal Caribbean Cruises ships: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover Cards.  

1. The United States Transportation Security Administration recommends that you do not pack fragile or expensive items (such as jewelry) in checked luggage.




2. Weapons, illegal drugs, and other items that could interfere with the safe operation of the ship or the safe and secure environment of our guests and crew are prohibited. If these items are confiscated, they will not be returned.




3. The following are examples of items that guests are not allowed to bring onboard and they will be confiscated upon being found:
• Firearms & Ammunition, including realistic replicas
• Sharp Objects, including knives and scissors*
• Illegal Drugs & Substances
• Aerial Drones
• Candles & Incense
• Coffee Makers, Clothes Irons, & Hot Plates**
• Baseball Bats, Hockey Sticks, Cricket Bats, Bows & Arrows
• Skateboards & Surfboards
• Martial Arts Gear
• Self-Defense Gear, including handcuffs, pepper spray, night sticks
• Flammable Liquids and Explosives, including lighter fluid and fireworks
• HAM Radios
• Hookahs & Water Hookah Pipes
• Electrical Extension Cords
• Dangerous Chemicals, including bleach and paint
• Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beverages***
• Potentially hazardous food and/or food that requires refrigeration
4. Note:
• *Personal grooming items such as safety razors are allowed. Scissors with blade length less than 4 inches are allowed.
• **Items that generate heat or produce an open flame. This includes heating pads, clothing irons, hotplates, candles, incense and any other item that may create a fire hazard. NOTE: The only exception to this policy are curling irons and hair straighteners. Matches and normal lighteners are allowed onboard. However, “torch lighters” and novelty lighters that look like guns are not allowed onboard. Torch lighters emit a powerful concentrated flame and therefore are prohibited.
• ***Alcoholic beverages that are purchased in ports-of-call or from shops onboard will be stored by the ship and delivered to you on the last day of the sailing. Alcoholic beverages seized on embarkation day will not be returned.

1. Smart Casual includes the following:
• For women, a skirt, pants, or jeans with a casual top.
• For men, shorts or jeans with a short–sleeved sport shirt.
2. Evening Chic includes:
• For women, a cocktail dress, or skirt, pants, or designer jeans with an elegant top.
• For men, pants or designer jeans with a dress shirt, button-down shirt, or sweater with an optional sportcoat or blazer.
3. During the day and in port, shorts, flip-flops, and bathing suits are permitted everywhere except the main restaurant or specialty restaurants.  You may wish to pack a sweater as air conditioning in some venues on the ship can be cool.

Since guests do come from different and diverse backgrounds, it is important that everyone has a common understanding of the behavioral standards in place on Royal Caribbean Cruises ships. This policy is intended to help ensure that all guests enjoy a safe and enjoyable cruise experience and sets forth standards of conduct for guests to follow throughout their vacation, including transfers to and from ships, inside terminals, while onboard, at ports-of-call, during shore excursions, and at our private destinations. This policy is not intended to be all-inclusive, and it is likely there will be conduct issues that it does not specifically address. In that event, as in all others, guests are expected to follow the direction of the ship’s Captain who will take appropriate action to ensure the safety, security, and well-being of all guests. In addition to this policy, guests are expected to comply with all applicable laws of the various countries that their cruise visits. 

Royal Caribbean ships are non-smoking.  Recognizing that some guests smoke, Royal Caribbean has certain designated outdoor “smoking areas” on the starboard side of the ship and in parts of the Casino.   

Smoking is not permitted inside any guest stateroom; nor on any guest veranda. If a guest is in violation of this policy, a cleaning fee of $250 USD will be applied to their SetSail® account and the guest may be subject to further action pursuant to the “Consequences Section” of the Guest Conduct Policy. 

Royal Caribbean Cruises kindly asks all guests to please observe the non-smoking areas and to refrain from smoking cigarettes, pipes or cigars in any of the non-designated areas. These requests are made to provide a comfortable shipboard environment for everyone. Where permitted, cigarettes, cigars and pipe tobacco must always be properly disposed of and never thrown overboard. A guest must be at least 18 years of age to purchase, possess or use tobacco. 

Payments made by other individuals or organizations on the traveler’s behalf are governed by the same terms and conditions as individual traveler payments. 

Payments are non-refundable. Only if applicable, any refunds or returned payments are usually issued using the original form of payment on the account. 

Prices are shown in U.S. dollars and are based on a number of factors, including but not limited to, current currency rates, a minimum number of travelers, tour inclusions, the date of registration, and tariffs and fuel costs, as well as transportation or vendor-related increases due to group-imposed schedule changes or delays. Corporate Travel Service, Inc. (CTS) reserves the right to alter prices at any time prior to final payment and without prior notice if circumstances so warrant. Any devaluation or revaluation of currencies may affect the published price. 

Additional factors that could affect prices include increases in government-imposed fees and taxes (which can be adjusted even after the final payment), tariffs and fuel costs, as well as transportation or vendor-related increases due to group­ imposed schedule changes or delays. 

If a traveler chooses to cancel due to the increase in price, all cancellation fees will apply as outlined in the tour documents. 

CTS reserves the right to cancel a traveler for non-payment. Additionally, CTS reserves the right to charge a service fee of $50 per late payment, attempted payment made with insufficient funds, reinstated reservations, and late registrations. 

CTS strongly recommends the purchase of travel protection from third-party insurers to help protect the traveler’s investment in the tour, and to help provide certain medical coverage while traveling. Protection plans help provide coverage for unexpected circumstances. Terms vary, depending on the travel protection carrier chosen, and the terms of the plan purchased. Traveler agrees that under no circumstance will CTS refund the cost of any purchased travel insurance. 

Such policies as well as Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage are available for purchase from CTS.* Certain plan benefits are available only if the plan is purchased by a certain date after booking. We strongly encourage travelers to purchase a plan at the time of the initial tour deposit for maximum coverage options. Some travel protection premiums are non-refundable 14 days after purchase. Premium will not be refunded within the 14 days if the tour has already departed or a claim is filed. 

*CFAR coverage is 75% of the non-refundable tour cost. Tour cancellation must be made 48 hours or more prior to scheduled departure. CFAR coverage must be purchased at the time of standard plan purchase and within 10 days of your initial tour deposit. This benefit is only available to U.S. Residents but is not available to residents of New York State. 

Information on travel protection can be obtained by contacting any travel insurance company. CTS recommends Travel Insured International, which can be reached toll-free at 1.800.243.3174. Specifically, ask Travel Insured International for one of its retail plans and provide the Customer Care Rep with #47907. 

Travel Protection Disclaimer: This document contains only highlights of the plans we sell. Our plans contain insurance benefits underwritten by the United States Fire Insurance Company. Our plans also contain non-insurance Travel Assistance Services that are provided by an independent organization. Coverages may vary and not all coverage is available in all jurisdictions. Travel protection plans are only available to United States residents. 

The itinerary, as presented in CTS brochures, marketing materials, and/or during presentations, is tentative and represents the intended tour. Itineraries are subject to confirmation from many organizations. CTS may need to alter specified events, dates, and/or venues to better fit the confirmed itinerary. CTS, at its sole discretion, reserves the right to alter or cancel the itinerary as it deems necessary or advisable, and is not responsible for reimbursement as a result of any such changes. 

Travel Documents: CTS sends final travel documents approximately 10 – 14 days prior to departure. 

Partial Package: Tour packages are offered only as described at the stated price. It is not possible to book a portion of the tour and there is no right to a refund for any unused services. 

Gratuities: Please refer to the tour offer to ascertain whether gratuities are included, and pre­ departure documents for tipping guidelines by destination. 

International Group Tours: gratuities for the tour manager, drivers, and guides are generally not included unless otherwise stated in tour inclusions. 

Educational Domestic Tours: gratuities to the tour manager, drivers, and guides are generally included. 

Cruise Travel: policies for staff tips vary by the cruise line. See the tour offer for specific details. 

Independent Travel: gratuities are generally not included. 

Group Air 

The number of connections, length of layovers, preference for seat assignments, and all conditions surrounding air travel cannot be guaranteed and may change before departure. Accordingly, if you require specific air travel needs and are not flexible concerning group air travel, you should consider purchasing a land only package and securing your own air arrangements. 

Deviations are not allowed on group air tickets. If you want to travel on different dates, you must travel Land Only (see below) and purchase your own airfare. 

Seat Assignments: please note that group seats are assigned “at the discretion of the airline”. Specific seat assignments cannot be guaranteed (including seating next to your travel companions). Seat numbers will not be advised until check-in at the airport. If you require specific seats, CTS suggests you book the tour package as Land Only and arrange your own airfare. Note that ‘bulkhead’ and ‘exit row’ seats are assigned by the carrier at the airport. 

Mileage Credit: it is common for carriers to give no credit or only partial credit on group flights. Please confirm your frequent flyer number when checking in at the airport to ensure any eligible miles will be recorded. CTS will be unable to add frequent flyer numbers after tour departure. 

Group Air is Not Upgradable: group air is usually economy class and is not upgradable to first class, business, or economy plus. (See the Land Only paragraph.) 

Group Air May Not Operate: if a minimum number of passengers is not reached, CTS may drop the group flights and passengers will be refunded and instructed to purchase flights on their own. 

Domestic Air to or from a Gateway City: Some International packages are sold with air to and from a Gateway City. In those instances, it is the responsibility of the traveler to purchase domestic air to the Gateway City. Travelers will be notified of the name of the exact Gateway City about 60 days prior to departure. Please do not buy domestic flights beforehand. 

Land Only 

Those electing to make their own airfare arrangements will travel “LAND ONLY.” In this case, travelers must notify CTS no less than 120 days before departure, be responsible for meeting the group at a specified location and time on the tour and agree to the Land Only Terms. Land Only travelers are responsible for the arrangement and cost of transfers to and from the airports. Do not purchase independent airfare tickets until notified in writing that the minimum group size has been met and the tour will definitely operate. This will be provided no later than 60 days prior to departure. 

When group airfare is not included, airport transfers at destination are not included in the package. The traveler is responsible for arranging such a transfer to meet the rest of the group. Transfers can be very costly, in excess of $500 USD one way for certain destinations. 

Flight Cancellations and Delays: CTS is not responsible for any loss incurred by travelers due to a canceled flight or other means of transportation. Please investigate purchasing a travel protection plan to potentially cover any type of loss associated with canceled air or other transportation. 

Luggage & Personal Property 

Luggage is the traveler’s responsibility throughout the tour. CTS is not responsible for any of the traveler’s personal property while on the tour, whether lost, stolen, or damaged. Costs associated with retrieving and/or fixing personal items are the traveler’s responsibility. 

Checked Baggage: most airlines charge one-way fees. Each traveler is limited to one checked bag. There can be no exceptions. For most airlines, the one checked bag is limited to 50 pounds and 62 inches (length+ width+ height). If these specifications are exceeded, additional charges may be collected by the airline at the airport. 

Please refer to the carrier for exact charges and baggage dimensions. When traveling within Europe, it is common for the weight limit to be 20 kilograms, which is 44 U.S. pounds. 

Carry-on Baggage: a small carry-on that will fit under an airline seat and/or on the small parcel racks of the motor coach (8″x18″) is allowed. For air tours, only small amounts of liquid, gels, lotions, aerosols, or similar are allowed (3 oz or less). Powder-like substances need to be packed in containers smaller than 12oz (350ml) and may be subject to additional screening. Larger amounts of powder need to be placed in checked luggage. Refer to the carrier for exact regulations. Do not check medications. Take them in your carry-on. 

Porterage: unless specified otherwise, porterage is not included in the tour package. 

Hazardous Materials: Federal law forbids the carriage of hazardous materials aboard the motor coach, aircraft, in traveler’s luggage, or on your person. A violation can result in five years imprisonment and penalties of $250,000 USD or more (49 U.S.C. 5124). Hazardous materials include explosives, compressed gases, flammable liquids and solids, oxidizers, poisons, corrosives, and radioactive materials. 

Photography 

CTS may take photographs or videos of its tours and tour participants. The participant grants CTS permission to do so, and for CTS to use such for promotional or commercial use, without payment of any fees or royalties. 

Errors and Omissions 

While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information in our brochures, on our reservation forms, on the CTS website, and communicated by CTS personnel, errors or omissions are possible. If a mistake is made in billing, CTS reserves the right to correct the invoice and travelers will be responsible for proper payment. 

Changes 

Changes in any of the terms and conditions can be made only in writing and signed by an officer of CTS. 

I am aware that while on or traveling to or from my trip, I might be exposed to COVID-19 from other people, animals, or objects.  I assume all risk of any such contacts, including sickness, incapacity or death and agree to hold CTS harmless from any such developments.  In addition, I recognize that the U.S. Department of State as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may have warnings concerning same. See Travel Advisories (state.gov) and Travelers’ Health | CDC. 

I also accept the following risks of participating on this trip including, without limitation: 

• All other risks associated with COVID-19 including preclusion from public or private buildings, land or areas, inconvenience, limitations and closures, etc.; 
• Risk of my travel insurance not covering COVID-19 related claims; 
• All risks regarding transportation problems including, without limitation, entry into or exit from any state or country and/or difficulties with or closure of transportation systems or the unavailability of other features or attractions within the state or country where my trip takes place; 
• The likelihood that at some or all destinations or facilities and/or on cruises, motor coaches, or at hotels or restaurants I may be required to undergo a temperature check, wear a mask while in public, and observe social distancing requirements; 
• The possibility I will have to produce evidence of a vaccination against COVID-19; 
• The potential for being quarantined, even if I am not symptomatic and/or do not have COVID-19; 
• The possible requirement that I have a negative COVID-19 test immediately before returning to the United States and/or on or after arrival at my destination, even if I am fully vaccinated; 
• Any expenses incurred, including but not limited to medical expenses, testing fees, quarantine, evacuation expenses, added air or hotel expenses, etc. as a result thereof are to be borne by the participant.