Who better to provide shipboard information than your fellow passengers as they part with their knowledge on topics like packing for the cruise, documentation, tipping, dressing excursions, seasickness, disembarking, your health and lots of other helpful information.

FROM: Thea Weisse, Hamburg, Germany : Check your passport! You will be surprised when I tell you how many people forget to do this and discover that their passports are expired when they are standing at the airport counter getting ready for the flight. It is too late then to do anything about it. Thea Weisse, Hamburg, Germany

FROM: From Kelly Haupt, London, England : Many of your readers may not know that a number of countries have now imposed stricter controls at their borders requiring more documentation than before - especially with current terrorist threats. I alway double check and confirm which countries I am visiting on my cruise require entry visas. Travel agents aren’t always up to date with their information.

NEW INPUT . . . FROM: Kurt Thrower, San Diego – Most cruise lines will urge you to take a few minutes to familiarise yourself with the travel documents you will need. Royal Caribbean which I recently sailed on points out in great detail for instance that you need slightly different documentation Domestic Sailings, International Sailings or for Asia Sailings. Don't spoil a good holiday by being unprepared.

NEW INPUT . . . FROM: Jenny Stroh, Victoria – This may be an opportune moment to remind would-be cruisers that from June 1, 2009, US citizens traveling on cruises that begin and end in different US ports, or begin or end in a foreign port, must have a passport or other recognized document.