Our Adventure Awaits Diamond Cruise 11 18 March 2017
Only 3 months to go until we board the Diamond Cruise! It s getting closer! Welcome to the second issue of our 2017 Lifeplus Diamond Cruise Newsletter. The nights may be drawing in for many of us, but that just means we re getting closer to embarking in the Miami sunshine for a cruise unlike any other. It s nearly time It s a unique ship, and a unique experience you re going to enjoy soon. There s so much to look forward to and we re getting ready to take care of everything to get you to Miami and ready to enjoy it. Read on to find out how we ll take care of you as you arrive and what you need to know. Paying Attention to Changes We know there is a lot of information being communicated and that we have many new Diamonds and Diamonds that have sailed with us in the past. We want to make sure that everyone reads this information because: Each Sailing is DIFFERENT There are NEW procedures at the Hotels AND on the Escape We want to make sure you are aware of these NEW changes and procedures so that you are not caught off guard while in Miami or checking in at the Port.
Preparing for your trip Preparing for your trip to Miami, Florida and the Diamond Cruise Miami, Florida a vibrant, diverse city unlike any other. From the Cuban cafes and cigar shops that line Calle Ocho in Little Havana, to Miami Beach and the barrier islands across the turquoise waters of Biscayne Bay. Colorful art deco buildings on glamorous South Beach, white sand, surfside hotels and trendsetting nightclubs Miami offers all of this and so much more to make it one of the world s most popular vacation spots. Excited? We know we are! To get you prepared, we re going to talk about everything from arriving at the airport to checking into your Miami hotel. Arriving at the Miami International Airport If you re flying into Miami on Friday, March 10, 2017, Lifeplus will be there with our transport partners, at Miami International Airport to provide transportation for you to your Hotel. Please look for the associates holding up a Lifeplus sign they will also be looking out for you! They ll guide you to your vehicle, and transport you to your hotel. Always on hand to help If you have any travel delays or issues, you don t need to worry your Lifeplus cruise team are on hand and ready to help. Please make sure you contact us via your usual freephone number for your country, which can be found in the Contact Us section at www.lifeplus.com. We will then be happy to direct you to our Lifeplus Travel Team, but don t worry, we will also be providing you with full contact information for your Lifeplus Cruise Team in Miami as well in your February newsletter, so you ll always have a friendly voice on the end of the phone, wherever you are! International Flights: We ll greet you in the International Terminal when you exit with your luggage. Please look for a Lifeplus Team member wearing a Lifeplus Shirt as well as holding a Lifeplus sign. Domestic Flights: We ll greet you at Baggage Claim. Head to your Baggage Claim Carousel for your flight and a Lifeplus Team member will be waiting for you with a Lifeplus sign. Miami International Airport is very large but as long as you head towards the areas listed above we ll be sure to find you and get you to your hotel so you can start to relax after your journey! If you re arriving earlier in Miami, please see information on the next page, as your transport arrangements will be a little different. Miami, Florida a vibrant, diverse city unlike any other
Hotel assignments We re pleased to welcome our guests for 2017 to three luxurious hotels in Miami on Friday, March 10th. Each hotel offers the finest hospitality, and importantly they are all within reasonable walking distance of each other. As soon as your flights are booked, we ll be in touch by email to let you know which hotel you ll be staying in. Arriving early? You may choose to make your own arrangements and arrive in Miami prior to the official arrival date of Friday, March 10th. If you are arriving earlier and staying at one of our three host hotels, you will need to make your own arrangements for transportation to that hotel. If you ve been staying elsewhere in Miami and are joining us at the host hotel on Friday, March 10th, please arrive between 4:00 PM 7:00 PM so that our team can make sure you are checked into the hotel. Map of hotels Key Facts Once your hotel assignment has been made, we will not be able to move guests around to different hotels. If you ve arrived early, and stayed at one of the three hotels that is different to where you are assigned, we unfortunately can t change your reservation to match this. This is because it s the high season in Miami, with all hotels fully booked up. If you have requested to book an extra Hotel Room or Stateroom for a family member, we will need to wait until the end of the year to make sure our qualified Diamonds are priority. Once we know we can accommodate extra hotel rooms and extra Cabins, we will contact you immediately. It s important to note that if you cancel your guest s room or Stateroom for any reason after January, 10, 2017, you will be responsible for the full amount of the cost of that Stateroom and Hotel Room. Lifeplus cannot waive those costs.
Checking in Welcoming you as you arrive at your hotel is one of our favorite moments that buzz and excitement as everybody comes together. There s lots of information we need to share with you, so we ve put together a handy guide all you need to know to settle in your hotel with minimal fuss and maximum excitement! First of all, here s what you need to know when checking in, and how you collect your all-important Welcome Pack, which has all the information you need in it. The InterContinental Hotel At the Intercontinental, we ll have some friendly faces waiting for you beginning at 2:00 pm at a Lifeplus registration desk in the lobby to the right, near the escalator s again, staff will be on hand to both help you locate it, and issue you your Welcome Pack. The JW Marriott Hotel Those staying at the JW Marriott should go straight to the Front Desk to pick up your room keys. Lifeplus will already have checked you in. Once you re fully checked in, your Welcome Pack will be delivered to your room. Hotel Check-ins when to arrive Be advised that if you arrive earlier than 4:00 pm on Friday, March 10th, it s unlikely that your room will be available. Lifeplus will do everything possible to try and have all rooms ready but again, regular Hotel check-in is 4:00 pm. You may choose to leave your luggage with the Front Desk, returning to check in later. The Lifeplus Registration Desks at the InterContinental and the Marriott Biscayne Bay will be open at 2:00 pm on Friday, March 10th. The Marriott Biscayne Bay Hotel Once you arrive, there ll be a Lifeplus Registration Room ready for you on the 2nd Floor of the hotel. Staff will be there to help you find it, and issue you with your Welcome Pack. NOTE: Please make sure you check-in at the Lifeplus Registration Desk at the InterContinental and the Marriott Biscayne Bay. You WILL NEED to pick up your Goody Bag and Welcome Pack, which contains very IMPORTANT information. Goody Bags and Welcome Packs will be delivered to the hotel rooms at the JW Marriott Marquis.
Welcome Pack What s in your Welcome Pack? Your Welcome Pack is VERY IMPORTANT inside is lots of information about your schedule and travel arrangements while in Miami, so you ll need to be sure you receive yours, and read through all the info provided. Luggage Drop Off Schedule Cruise Luggage Tags are included in your Welcome Pack with a specific time and location to drop off your luggage so that we can make sure it makes it to the Port on time! Breakfast Buffet Location and Time Lifeplus will provide a beautiful Breakfast Buffet so please make sure you pay attention to the exact time of Breakfast. Each Hotel has a different location and room name, so please make sure you pay attention to your exact time and location. Shuttle Time Ticket Lifeplus will be providing a free Shuttle Service from the Hotel to the Port of Miami for you. Please pay attention to the exact time of your Shuttle located in your Welcome Pack. Health Questionnaire NCL will require a Health Questionnaire as you check in at the Port. This questionnaire MUST be submitted by each guest and will ask questions regarding fever, viruses, and gastrointestinal issues. NCL takes illness very serious, especially on a Cruise Ship, so if you are feeling ill in any way, they may not let you board or you will be quarantined until you are feeling well enough to mix with the public. Cruise Documents & Cruise Luggage Tags in your Pack Lifeplus will provide you with your NCL Escape Cruise Documents, which is your ticket to board the Ship for each Passenger in your Cabin. You will need these at the Port when checking in so please DO NOT pack them into your luggage. Lifeplus will also be providing your Cruise Luggage Tags that you will need to secure to your Luggage before dropping them off with Lifeplus Staff on Saturday morning March 11th at the designated time. These Luggage Tags have your Stateroom Number on them and will allow the Ship to easily deliver your Luggage to your Stateroom quickly. Cruise Name Tags Your Cruise Name Tags and Lanyards are also included in your Welcome Pack Wearing your Name Tags to the Port NCL has requested that all guests in the Lifeplus group to wear their Lifeplus Name Tags when checking into the Terminal at the Port. NCL will have dedicated lines for check-in to allow for a faster process. They would like to be able to identify our group to speed up our embarkation process and allow for a great experience while boarding the Escape. So please remember to wear your Lifeplus Name Tags when arriving at the Port! If you miss your shuttle, you will need to make your own travel arrangements to the Port!
Money matters and expenses Diamond Cruise Check-List Flights are booked to Miami, FL. Deadline for Flights to be booked is January 13, 2017. Because Lifeplus needs to arrange for transportation from the airport to the hotels for Friday, March 10th, we ask that all flights be booked by this date. All travel documentation up-to-date ESTA Application applied for and completed US Currency It is always a good idea to exchange for local currency either at your Home Airport when departing or when arriving at the airport in Miami. Be sure to bring proper identification. It s a lot more convenient to take care of this at the start of your trip; you won t be able to do so at the hotels or aboard the Escape. (There are ATMs at the hotels and on the ship, but charges and exchange rates may vary.) Plus, you ll be better prepared for excursions Traveler s checks, debit cards and most major credit cards are accepted in most of the Ports. But again, it is always a good idea to have US currency in hand. Expenses in Miami It s our pleasure to cover your hotel stay on Friday, March 10th and your breakfast buffet on Saturday, March 11th before we set off for the ship. Outside of this, there are lots of services you might choose to take advantage of or enjoy that aren t covered by Lifeplus. Here are a few examples. Wi-Fi Charges Mini Bar Items* Bar Charges Spa & Fitness Center Room Service Restaurant Charges Gift Shop Mini Bar Alert* Please be aware that Mini Bars are operated by motion sensors and if you even pick an item up to look at it and put it back, the hotel will charge you for that item. It s very difficult to challenge these charges after sailing, so be aware that you may be charged for it after the trip. You can choose to charge services to your room, and when you get home, we ll be in touch regarding how you d prefer to settle these charges with Lifeplus. We can debit the balance from your next Bonus Check, or you might want to pay by credit card but we ll be in touch to help you take care of it when you get home. Expenses on the Escape NCL operates a convenient, onboard credit program. Sign up when checking in to the Terminal at the Port, by establishing your method of payment with a credit card, traveler s checks or cash. If you choose to settle your account with cash, a deposit will be required in advance. NCL does not recommend the use of a debit card as payment if you choose to do so please be advised that NCL obtains pre-authorization which some banks may hold for up to 30 days. To avoid overdraft charges from your bank, please make sure that you have enough available funds in your account during this hold period. Neither NCL nor Lifeplus will be responsible for overdraft charges resulting from holds placed on Debit Card accounts. Cash/Traveler s Checks Onboard Account You can set up an onboard account by depositing cash or US Traveler s Checks, up to a maximum of $300 per person once you go over this limit, you won t be able to make any more charges. You can deposit as much money, or US Traveler s checks as often as you d like throughout the cruise. If by the end of the cruise, you have credit left in your account, NCL will be pleased to refund this to you at disembarkation. Note that personal checks will not be accepted, nor can they be cashed onboard. There are lots of extra activities that you can choose to book and pay for yourself. Be sure to take the time to research and plan all the extra activities you can enjoy!
Taking care of your wellbeing Health and Safety NCL enjoys a world leading reputation for safety and sanitation onboard all vessels. To uphold these standards, you must complete the previously mentioned Health Questionnaire in your Welcome Pack. If you re unsure about what to look out for, there are detailed health information fact sheets in each stateroom at embarkation, which outlines potential symptoms of concern and what to do if you are experiencing those symptoms. Once onboard, it s strongly advised that all guests carefully observe the good hygiene practice of washing their hands before eating and after using the restroom. There are also hand sanitizers strategically located throughout the ship. Not Feeling Well Onboard? Anyone diagnosed as having any symptoms will be asked to stay in your stateroom until they abate. If you do feel ill, please be respectful to other guests and to Lifeplus and stay in your Stateroom until you are feeling well enough to be in public. We do not want any illnesses spreading through the group or the Ship. If you have a fever, you will want to seek medical attention in the Ship s medical office located on Deck 13. Sea Sickness However luxurious the vessel, sea sickness is still something that can affect many people. If you ve suffered before, and are worried, you might find some of the following tips helpful. Step onto the deck and view the horizon Eat ginger extract or crystallized ginger Eat green apples or citrus candy Don t overload your senses Eat lightly and ease up on the alcohol Stay hydrated drink lots of fluids Tuck yourself into bed tightly some people say being tightly secured will make you move with the ship and not against it so your body does not feel out of balance. There are medications available to help with seasickness consult your doctor before departing for Miami for advice on what you can take to help you stay comfortable at sea.
Advanced Registration for NCL Don t forget to complete the Advance Registration before setting sail Advanced Registration is the Online- Check-in for your Diamond Cruise. In late January or early February, you will receive an email from Lifeplus with your Reservation #, Cabin # and instructions to take you through the process. Everything you will need to know will be included as well as contact numbers for assistance if you are having difficulty with your registration. Once registered, you can start to pre-book your Shore Excursions and make your Dinner Reservations for the week at the Specialty Restaurants onboard. The Escape has more than 25 dining options so you can dine whenever and wherever you want. What to look out for In early January, please keep your eye on your email Inbox for the following time sensitive communications. You will not want to miss them! US Product Order Form Dr. Meeting Invitation with Dr. Dwight McKee Disembarkation Information Arrival and Registration Next issue Packing for your Cruise Dress Code on the Escape Arriving at the Port/ Checking In Staying Connected at Sea Services on the Ship/ Service Charges Advanced Registration Information Product Order Information/Deadline