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Passengers sitting on deck

Small Ship Expedition Cruise Travel Tips

We are very excited for you to set sail with us very soon. Below are a few key bits of information you will want to know before departing on your ocean adventure.

Ship Embarkation & Disembarkation

Passengers and reception staff

Ship Arrival

Official embarkation of the ship will be confirmed in your documents closer to your departure date, however if you do arrive early, you are welcome to check your luggage early and head off to explore your port city. Unless you have booked flights or pre-departure accommodation with APT, you will need to make your own way to the port. Please refer to this website the week of your departure date and check the day of travel to confirm your port location.
View Port Details
Couple on deck taking photos

End of Tour Ship Departure

Checkout is from 9am, though your luggage may be stored until final disembarkment at 2:30pm. The final transfer to the airport is 2.30pm.

While You Are Travelling With APT

Ladies drinking wine at dinner
Couple on deck
Couple discovering Austria by twilight

Dining
All meals on board your cruise are included. Meals are served in the dining room in a single sitting. Reservations can only be made once onboard the ship.
Note: No table reservations can be made at the main restaurant. Vegetarian and Gluten free can be catered for – but please inform us of any dietary requirements well in advance of departure.

Dress Code
For excursions casual, comfortable clothing and flat shoes are recommended. Your luggage should include a breathable windproof/waterproof jacket, warm jumper, warm hat, hat with brim and walking trousers/shorts. It is also advisable to pack several smart casual outfits for evenings and a more formal clothing for the Welcome Dinner or if you are planning an evening at the theatre.

Laundry
Laundry service is available onboard. Price lists will be available in your suite. Note, select suites do have complimentary laundry service, you can check your suites inclusions here. Guests are not permitted to bring their own iron onboard the ship for safety reasons.

Daily Itinerary

Get an idea of what to expect on a day aboard an APT Europe cruise, view an example itinerary below. Note this is only an example and itineraries vary daily tour-to-tour.

View of couple on L'Austral

Morning

7:00am: Breakfast at the restaurant or pool deck (weather permitting)                                               

9:00am: Embark on a guided tour.  In many ports, a range of sightseeing options will be on offer

View of L'Austral presentation

Afternoon

12:00-1:00pm: Lunch in the restaurant or on the pool deck (weather permitting)                                   

1:30pm: Enjoy free time to explore indepdently, or join one of the Expedition Team for a presentation in the Theatre                                     

3:00-4:00pm: Afternoon tea in the Lounge                              

View of dining service, L'Austral

Evening

6:00pm: Join your Expedition Leader in the lounge for a recap and briefing on our plans for the following day                             

7:00pm: Dinner in the restaurant, followed by a crew show.  Not to be missed!

Returning to Australia

Friends at the Market, Croatia

Souvenirs

There are different restrictions for each country on which products can and cannot be imported into Australia. For up-to-date information go to the Australian Customers and Border Protection website.
Can I Bring It Home?

Find out more

For a more extensive guide to your trip, you can read Small Ship Excursions, which covers everything from onboard amenities to your destinations climate and currency.

Small Ship Mediterranean Tour Hints

Explore More

Two passengers sitting by bondhus lake, Norway

Book with Confidence

We know that now, more than ever, you want flexibility when making your holiday plans. If you’d like freedom to change your plans, our flexible booking policies allow you to cancel and move your holiday to another time.
View our Booking Policies
Woman standing on deck, MV Queen Eleganza

Small Ship Cruising

Small ship expedition cruising is all about venturing further, seeing more and doing more, while staying close to the coastline.
Explore on a Small Ship
A happy couple amongst a vineyard

FAQs

To help prepare you for your travels, you can find answers to all your questions in our Frequently Asked Questions.
View our FAQs