Before Your Trip

What’s included and what’s not

Just about everything is included in your fare: your cabin, meals, certain drinks (coffee, hot and iced tea, milk, juice), room service, gratuities to your cabin stewardess, waiter, bus person and maitre d’, Olivia entertainment, music, dancing and non-stop fun.

The following items are not included: alcohol, soft drinks, bottled water, spa services, beauty salon services, boutique purchases, telephone, fax, internet access, shore excursions, ship’s photos, casino activities and medical attention.

Travel documentation and identification

You will need a passport that is valid for six months past the date of the trip. If you are not a US citizen, please check with both your country’s consulate and the Barbados consulate to make sure that you do not need an entry visa or other additional documentation.

Vaccinations

Please check with your local Public Heath Department or personal physician regarding immunization requirements for all countries on your itinerary. You may also check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web site at: www.cdc.gov. Just click on “Traveler’s Health” and then “Vaccinations.”

Travel insurance

We encourage all guests to purchase additional travel insurance. We recommend Travelex (www.travelex-insurance.com). In order to receive the most comprehensive coverage, please purchase your Travelex insurance within 21 days of your initial invoice. If you have questions about their coverage or pre-existing condition waivers, please contact Travelex directly at 800.228.9792 and refer location to number 05-0095.

Joining the Olivia.com trip group

If you’d like to chat with people who are going on the trip, sign up for the official Olivia trip group, Smooth Sailing Barbados.

About Our Destination

Climate

In January, Barbados and the surrounding islands enjoy temperatures in the mid 70s-80s.

Currency

On our cruise we will be visiting many islands, some which have their own local currency.  However, all tourist establishments on all of the islands are more than happy to accept US Dollars (and credit cards), and unless you wish to have some of the local currency as a souvenir, we suggest that you bring US dollars in small denominations to use for taxis, beverages and other small purchases on the islands.

Languages

You will find English and the Bajan dialect spoken in Barbados.

Time Zone

Barbados is 4 hours ahead of the west coast (PST) and 1 hour ahead of the east coast (EST).

Travel and arrival

Air travel

Where to fly into/out of

You will need to fly into and out of BGI - Grantly Adams International Airport in Bridgetown, Barbados. We encourage all passengers to arrive a day early to avoid the stress of unexpected delays.

Suggested arrival/departure times

Guests arriving in Barbados on the day of sailing should arrive no later than 9pm as the ship departs at 12 midnight. Departures from BGI on January 25, 2009 should be scheduled after 8:00 a.m.

Discount airfare offer

American Airlines offers Olivia travelers a discounted rate. When you book your trip, you will receive a discount code that can be used by calling 800.433.1790 or visiting www.aa.com. Your discount code applies to flights  in and out of Grantly Adams International Airport, Bridgetown Barbados (BGI). Dates of travel are January 7, 2009 – February 4, 2009.

Luggage allowances

While there is no luggage limit on the cruise itself, airlines often restrict (or charge) for excess baggage. Because each airline is different, and the regulations change over time, please check with your airline for baggage allowances.

Transfers and meeting up with Olivia

Getting to your pre-trip hotel

Olivia is not offering a pre- (or post-) hotel program for the Barbados cruise, but we recommend the Accra Beach Resort and the Hilton Barbados.

Getting to your ship

Transfers from the airport to the ship are included on the day of embarkation. In order to provide you with a transfer, we will need your arrival flight information. More specific information will be sent in your final informational package.

Transfers after your trip

see below

Check in

Ship

Check in is after 3PM on the day of disembarkation. Please ensure that your flight arrives in Barbados before 9PM, as the ship leaves at 12 midnight.

You can save time on the day of embarkation by using Windstar Cruises' Online Check-in. Once this is available for your trip (approximately 30 days before departure), you will find check-in instructions on your Trip Itinerary page for this trip.

During your trip

Amenities

In-cabin amenities include: Pre-programmed iPods and DVDs (available for checkout) flat screen TVs and DVD players, safes, hairdryers, telephones, climate control, Euro mattresses & luxurious bedding, Turkish towels, and L'Occitane bath products.

Dining

Seating policy

All seating in the main dining room is open seating. You can be seated anytime between 7pm and 9pm. We will have a special solos dining area.

Times

Breakfast is 6:30AM – 9AM, lunch is 12PM-2PM and dinner is and 7:00PM -9:00PM. Room service is available 24 hours a day.

Restaurants

Two restaurants are available for dinner. One is by reservation only, but there is no aditional cost. The other is open seating. During the day, lunch is normally served in the Verandah.

Electricity

The cabins have both 110 and 220 volt electricity.

Excursions

Snorkeling, island tours and much more!  Check back for more information.  Excursions must be booked on board.

Gratuities

Gratuities are included in the cost of the cruise. Gratuities are provided for your cabin steward, dining room steward, bus person, maitre'd and other-behind-the-scenes crew members.

Internet/e-mail/fax

In additon to a computer center where you can purchase Internet time for use with the ship’s computers, Internet access is available for a fee in every stateroom.

Laundry and dry cleaning

Laundry and pressing is available for a fee. Dry cleaning is not available.

Medical services

There is an onboard infirmary with a nurse. Medical services entail an additional fee.

Money: Paying for things on board

Onboard, the currency is US Dollars. Each guest will have a shipboard account, which is paid at the end of the cruise via US dollars or credit card. Items such as beverages, boutique purchases and shore excursions may be charged to your ship board account.

Phone

Each cabin has a phone. There is an additional fee to use this phone; please check your final informational packet for details.

Smoking policy

We have designated smoking and non-smoking areas on board. The non-smoking areas include all public areas and the port (left) side of all outdoor areas. Smoking is permitted in your cabins and on the starboard (right) side of outside decks. Please do not smoke in bed, and always use the ashtrays provided.

Spa services

There is a spa onboard, and massages and other services are available for an additional fee.

Solo travelers

We will have a solos program onboard, including a solos dining area at dinner.

After your Trip

Disembarkation time

Disembarkation is 8:00 AM on January 25, 2009.

Transfers to the airport

Transfers to the airport are included on the day of disembarkation (January18, 2009). In order to provide you with a transfer, we will need your departing flight information. More specific information will be sent in your final informational package.

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