Please carefully review the details of the Cancellation Policy below, as well as the full Terms & Conditions prior to booking your travel event.

All prices, penalties and change fees are quoted per passenger based on selected occupancy.

Inspiration Travel partners with Elite Tours & Travel for individual flight travel arrangements. To receive a flight quote please click here to provide your information. Please note that flight concierge fees of $125 per person will be applied to your invoice if flights are purchased. Additionally, you can also book individual flight travel arrangements through Celebrity Cruise Line by calling 800-533-7803. If you decide to arrange airfare through the cruise line or independently, please reach out to Inspiration for recommended arrival and departure times. To ensure you have transportation to and from the airport, please provide your full flight itinerary so we can arrange your transfers accordingly.

Your Tour Leaders suggest the following flights:

• Traveling from Raleigh (RDU) - United flight 6069 or 2163 to Dulles (IAD) and United flight 982 to Athens (ATH).
• Returning to Raleigh (RDU) - United flight 125 to Newark (EWR) and United flight 1753 to Raleigh (RDU).
• Traveling from Washington D.C. (IAD) - United flight 982 to Athens (ATH).
• Returning to Washington D.C. (IAD) - Turkish Airlines flight 1844 to Istanbul (IST) and Turkish Airlines flight 7 to Dulles (IAD).

The climate of the Mediterranean is subtropical. It extends throughout the Mediterranean basin and is very similar to the weather in Southern California. It is characterized by warm to hot, humid summers and cool, wet winters. Changing ocean currents help to moderate the temperatures, ensuring mild winters and some relief during sweltering summers. Areas within this environment receive almost all their precipitation during the winter, fall and spring. Summers may be entirely dry with little to no precipitation.

Below is a checklist to help you pack for your exceptional travel experience. Remember that your luggage will be delivered to your cabin at an unspecified time on the day of departure, so it’s a good idea to pack a change of clothes, toiletries and any medications you need in a carry-on bag to bring with you.

Packing Checklist

• Casual clothes including pants, jeans, shorts, T-shirts, collared shirts or blouses
• Light sweater or jacket
• Semi-formal clothes or dress clothes for 1-2 evenings, depending on the length of your cruise
• Bathing suit and a cover-up or wrap
• Light raincoat or compact umbrella
• Comfortable walking shoes or sandals with rubber soles
• Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
• Toiletries, in a sealed, clear bag inside your luggage
• Minor First Aid care items such as Band-Aids, aspirin, hand sanitizer, etc.
• Medications in their original containers
• Hair care appliances (see information on Using Electronics)
• Small bag or backpack for port days; large enough to carry your camera and other personal items
• Passport with separate photocopy

Dining Dress Code

On a typical seven-day cruise, you’ll have two nights of dressing up for dinner or other special events. We suggest a semi-formal dress or skirt and blouse for women and a dark suit for men. The remaining dinners on the cruise are informal—blouse and pants for women; collared shirt with trousers for men. Remember that T-shirts, shorts or tank tops are not permitted in the dining room.

Packing Tips

Make certain your suitcase closes and fastens securely. Mark your luggage and carry-on bag with your name and address so you can distinguish them easily. We also recommend you put identification information—name, address and phone number—INSIDE your luggage in case the luggage tags are lost in transit. We also suggest keeping your essential toiletries and a one-day change of clothes in your carry-on. Do not pack your passport or travel documents in your luggage. It is suggested that you keep a color copy of the information page of your passport inside your luggage if your passport is lost.

For more information, please call one of our Reservation Coordinators at 800 247 1899, Monday through Friday between 8:30am – 5:30pm, Pacific Time.

We know how nice it is to have the convenience of home when traveling on a cruise. Bringing your electronics and hair appliances can enhance your overall travel experience. Every cruise ship has plugs that accept U.S. and Continental European devices, and you do not need to bring plug adaptors. Here are some things to know about your electronics before you pack them:

Phones, MP3 Players, Laptops, Cameras & Video Cameras

Most small digital devices have chargers that will fit in the plugs on a cruise ship. One thing to be mindful of is the limited plugs in each cabin; you may want to bring a multi-plug extension cord.

Blow Dryers, Curling Irons & Straighteners

Each stateroom has a hair dryer for your personal convenience. If you prefer your hair appliances, you may want to consider purchasing or borrowing compact and travel-friendly appliances.

If staying in a hotel before or after your cruise, you have three options of devices designed to help you operate personal electronics overseas:

Adapters

Most Mediterranean countries use one of two electrical socket types: Type C, the standard Euro plug with two round pins, and Type F. Because Type C fits into Type F, you can bring a Type C adapter to enable your standard plug to fit into Mediterranean wall outlets. Most are relatively inexpensive, about $3 to $5 each. If you travel frequently, consider purchasing a universal adapter kit, like this: Travel Adapter.

Dual-voltage Appliances

Many small electronic devices are dual-voltage and will adjust automatically for other countries. If your appliance’s charger has a manual switch, you must change it back and forth before plugging in your appliance. Check the manual or power cord for the device to know if it will work with 220 voltage without a converter.

Converters

A power converter allows you to run U.S. devices that are not dual-voltage. Most converters cost $40 to $50. Be aware that U.S. electronics that are not dual-voltage should never be used without a converter in countries with a voltage of 220.

For more information, please call one of our Reservation Coordinators at 800 247 1899, Monday through Friday between 8:30am-5:00pm, Pacific Time.

The scenic beauty of the Mediterranean can be enjoyed from onboard the ship and to make the most of your cruise vacation, you can also get out into the local ports. Shore excursions offer something for everyone. Choose from city tours, culinary explorations, shopping outings, cultural activities and more.

Because shore excursions have limited capacity and fill up quickly, we recommend you book early for the best selection on your cruise. Once you’ve booked your Inspiration cruise, check out the customized cruise line excursion list based on your itinerary. Using your cruise booking number, you can easily book shore excursions online as early as 60 days before your trip and up to 3 days before departure, depending on the cruise line.

Visit the cruise line’s website to find information on specific excursions:

• Carnival
• Celebrity Cruises
• Holland America Line
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Royal Caribbean International

You may also register for your Shore Excursions once onboard the ship. All shore excursion requests are processed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Waitlisted requests for sold-out shore excursions will be processed before requests made onboard.

For more information please call one of our Reservation Coordinators at 800 247 1899, Monday through Friday between 8:30am-5:00pm, Pacific Time.

Transfers

We want to help make your trip as smooth and as enjoyable as possible. We can book motorcoach transfers for you from the airport to your cruise departure port and on your return trip.

Hotel Stays

Remember that you always have the option of arriving earlier or staying later. For example, hotel reservations may be available if you want to arrive a few days early before boarding your cruise or stay a few days after the cruise returns.

For more information please call one of our Reservation Coordinators at 800 247 1899, Monday through Friday between 8:30am-5:00pm, Pacific Time.

As you plan for your upcoming Christian cruise with Inspiration, you may wonder about using money and credit cards during your travels. We’ve made the following recommendations to help you save money, avoid unnecessary fees and focus on an exceptional travel experience.

• Consider leaving all unnecessary credit cards at home.
• Once you determine which cards you’ll bring, remember to notify each credit card company of your intended travel dates and locations to ensure fraud alerts and holds are not placed on your accounts.
• For each card, you’ll want to store the bank’s contact information in a separate, secure location in the unlikely event your wallet or purse is lost or stolen.

Almost all Mediterranean destinations accept U.S. credit or debit cards; sometimes you need your PIN. If you plan to use your credit cards, you’ll want to check with each credit card company to determine the international exchange fee for each card. Because the difference of a few percentage points could cost you more (depending on your purchases), we recommend using cards with lower international exchange fees. Using your credit card for large purchases gives you more protection for the items you buy on your trip. You can review your credit card statement to verify all of your purchases.

You’ll visit multiple countries on a Mediterranean cruise and encounter a variety of currencies. Here are some specifics:

EUROPEAN UNION

The euro (€) is the sole currency of the European Union member states (such as Italy, Croatia and Greece). U.S. dollars are not widely accepted in Europe, which is why we recommend ordering euros from your local bank ahead of time. You can exchange your currency at banks, exchange booths and airports. Small amounts of currency can also be exchanged on the ship while on your cruise. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted.

TURKEY

The official currency of Turkey is the Turkish Lira (TL). The country’s tourism-oriented places and larger businesses typically accept U.S. currency and Euros. Visa and MasterCard are also widely accepted.

For more information please call one of our Reservation Coordinators at 800 247 1899, Monday through Friday between 8:30am-5:00pm, Pacific Time.

Today’s technology allows you to stay connected while traveling—ensuring you get that memorable photo or message from your loved ones. On most ships, you should be able to use your cell phone or smartphone to do everything you’re used to doing at home. In addition, mobile phones provide convenient access for emergencies and confirming travel plans. Some basic guidelines and tips will help you save money, keep your phone working effectively and stay in touch.

Before you leave

Spending some time contacting your cell phone carrier before your trip will help ensure you can call friends and family back home and eliminate any surprises on your phone bill when you return. Let your phone carrier know your travel plans, including how you plan to use your phone on your cruise. You’ll want to make sure you understand all of the potential charges. Contact your carrier for specific information.

• AT&T
• T-Mobile
• Verizon

Check with your carrier for international dialing access

You will want to make sure international and cruise package dialing is active on your mobile phone plan so that you can use it in the Canadian ports and remember that international and maritime roaming rates will apply to calls placed onboard the ship (charges will appear on your phone bill). Because roaming rates can be high on cruises, checking with your carrier for specific cost details before you leave is a good idea.

Aboard your flight and cruise

Your cell phone’s battery life is the key to keeping you connected. Below are some tips for staying powered up on your trip:

• Remember to set your phone to Airplane Mode when you board your flight. You can also do this aboard the cruise when sailing to avoid roaming charges unless you have the cruise ship package with your carrier. This suspends all calling and texting functions but still allows you to play games, use your camera and listen to music, etc.
• On the cruise, you’ll want to charge your phone every night to ensure enough battery life for the next day.
• Try to turn off your phone when you’re not using it. Leaving your phone on all day drains the battery, so it’s a good idea to turn it off while you’re on a shore excursion, eating or reading.

Smartphone tips

As one of the most popular communication devices today, smartphones have revolutionized how we connect and the world. We know leaving your smartphone behind for an hour, much less multiple days is difficult. The following tips will help you save your phone’s battery life and get the most out of your smartphone while on the cruise:

• Before your cruise, you’ll want to disable any applications that give you regular updates, such as sports reports and weather updates.
• Disable the Data Enabled or Data Roaming option on your phone and keep it off until you reach your destination. Turn off the function for “Automatic” checking of emails and change the email settings to “Manual” to reduce data roaming charges. During your trip, you can check for email messages when connected to a free, wireless Internet connection, such as in a hotel lobby or Internet cafe while in port.

In-room phones and phone cards

If you choose to not bring your mobile phone, you can stay in touch with others while on your cruise using the in-room phones. Please make sure you understand all of the charges associated with this before you place your call, as the rates can be expensive.

For more information, please call one of our Reservation Coordinators at 800 247 1899, Monday through Friday between 8:30am-5:00pm, Pacific Time.

Your cruise vacation allows you to travel without the hassle of checking in and out of hotels, packing and unpacking, and spending valuable time trying to find quality restaurants–all with excellent service dedicated to enhancing your exceptional travel experience.

Each cruise line makes rewarding the excellent service you’ll receive onboard easy. A gratuity of $16-$19 per day (depending on the cruise line and cabin category), per guest for dining and stateroom services will be automatically added daily to your shipboard account. The cruise line also will automatically add an 18% service charge to beverages purchased through your onboard account. Before the end of the cruise, the Cruise Director will address more specific questions regarding tipping procedures.

If you take a taxi to the pier, it’s common to simply round up to the next dollar when paying your tab. The cab drivers appreciate this, and it is considered part of their income. When you arrive at the ship on embarkation day, we suggest tipping the porters at the pier $1.25 per bag when they take your luggage to place it on the ship. 

A 15-20% tip for restaurant service workers is appreciated when visiting restaurants off the ship and during shore excursions.

Depending on your itinerary, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to explore the cities, world-famous archaeological sites and attractions of each destination on your route. In Italy, you’ll find iconic works of art and soaring cathedrals. In Greece, you’ll encounter epic views and dazzling blue shores. And throughout the region, you’ll discover biblical history, delicious food and landmarks known worldwide. Here are a few articles with the top experiences we recommend:

• New Testament Paradise: Guide to the Mediterranean
• Kotor, Santorini and Other Places We Miss in the Mediterranean
• 7 Hidden Gems of the Mediterranean

Articles on how to pack and prepare for your Mediterranean Cruise

• 5 Travel-Friendly Fashion Finds
• 9 Tips for First-Time Cruisers
• The Key to a Good Night’s Sleep…Anywhere
• How Not to Lose Things While Traveling—Including Your Passport

Articles with cruising advice

• Magnets on the Cabin Walls (and 10 Other Insider Cruise Tips)
• Pro Tips for Better Travel Photography
• Stay Flexible, Make Friends and Other Pro Tips
• Room Service Isn’t Extra (and Other Cruise Dining Tips)

We hope these suggestions and tips help answer your questions! If you have any other inquiries, please don’t hesitate to call our Reservation Coordinators at 800 247 1899 Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm Pacific Time.