Starlight Cruises FAQ - for both vessels

Thank you for booking with us.
We would like to assist you in the planning of your holiday and have therefore prepared a comprehensive list of
"Frequently Asked Questions"

Q. Are there parking facilities at Durban Harbour?
A. There is limited lock-up, undercover parking next to the passenger terminal (N-Shed). The cost is R60 per night. Regretfully, prebooking is not permitted and this service is available on a first come, first served basis. Should this parking become full the Ports Authority can assist with alternative parking facilities. You are not allowed to park in the secured area in front of N-Shed.

Q. Is there a transfer service to and from Durban Airport and the Harbour?
A. There is an official Starlight Cruises continuous shuttle bus, which operates between Durban Airport and the Port when the Ship is in the Harbour. The cost is R60.00 per person each way. This service can be pre-booked with our reservation offices or booked directly from this website. Please note that our operators carry all legal permits and have the necessary insurances.
Shuttles start at 07h30 and finish at 13h00.
Call us to make the necessary arrangements.

Q. Can we visit uShaka on the way to the Harbour?
A. In view of the lack of resources at the passenger terminal, we strongly urge against proceeding directly to the Port if you arrive in Durban on an early flight. For those who would prefer to avoid too long a wait at the Port, we are able to offer you entrance tickets to uShaka Sea World (not Wet 'n Wild). Provided your flight arrives in Durban before 10h00am, the airport shuttle bus will stop at uShaka on the way to the Harbour and drop you off along with your hand luggage. Your main or checked luggage will continue with the shuttle bus to the Harbour, and will be taken to your cabin. We strongly advise against sending hand luggage to the Port for loading with the main luggage. This will almost certainly result in bags going missing.

To avoid the possibility of lost or misplaced luggage, it is essential that your luggage is well labelled with your name and cabin number before boarding the shuttle bus. Special luggage labels for this purpose will form part of your final cruise documentation. Make sure to keep your  passports and cruise tickets with you, and not put them in your main luggage. Return shuttle buses from uShaka to the Port will operate from 11am, with the final bus leaving uShaka no later than 12 noon. Once at the Port you will need to proceed through the normal embarkation procedure. Should you miss the last shuttle, please make your own way to the Port as soon as possible.

We have negotiated a special entrance rate for uShaka Sea World (not Wet 'n Wild) of R50.00 per person. This amount is over and above the R60.00 cost of the shuttle itself. The combined cost of the shuttle and uShaka will therefore be R110.00 per person.

The uShaka Sea World stopover should be booked prior to arriving in Durban, however it can be purchased at the airport, but subject to availability.

Q. Can we visit uShaka after our cruise?
A. Yes, we are able to offer entrance tickets to uShaka Sea World (not Wet 'n Wild). The cost is R50.00 per person. These tickets are only valid for the days that the Ship is in the Harbour.

The shuttle bus will not stop at uShaka on the way to Durban Airport from the Port. However, we will run one shuttle from the harbour to uShaka at 10h30am, please note that we are unable to arrange storage for your luggage and you will therefore need to take ALL your luggage with you to uShaka. We are also unable to assist with transfers to the Durban Airport after you have visited uShaka, and you will need to make your own way to the airport.

Q. What is the embarkation procedure?
A. Embarkation will take place at N-Shed Passenger Terminal, Durban Harbour.

Included in your documentation you will find luggage labels, which must be affixed to all "checked luggage". Prior to the handling over of your "checked luggage" to the check-in staff at the Harbour, please ensure that all bags are securely locked. In the interest of safety and security, please do not keep any valuable or fragile items in your main luggage. Items such as cameras, video cameras, jewellery, medication, documentation and money should be carried in your hand luggage. Your luggage will be screened and delivered to your cabin during the course of the afternoon. Due to high volume, please allow 2-3 hours after boarding for your luggage to arrive at your cabin. While you are likely to find various willing 'helpers' in and around the parking area at the Port both uniformed and not - we nevertheless strongly recommend that you personally deliver your suitcases to the luggage bay located at the rear of the passenger terminal.

When entering the terminal facility, one of our staff will place a small coloured sticker onto your ticket and assist you to prepare your documentation. You may embark the vessel once the colour of your sticker is called.

Facilities at the port are fairly limited, and a lengthy wait at the Port is not necessarily the ideal start to a good holiday. As all cabins have been assigned prior to the day of departure, no real purpose is served in arriving at the Port prior to the advertised embarkation times as per your ticket. We like to remind our guests that the Port facility is maintained and operated by the National Ports Authority (NPA) and not by Starlight Cruises.

Embarkation times do occasionally vary and are set and regulated by immigration officials and custom control authorities. Please take note that special embarkation procedures may apply to large groups travelling together.

Q. What else should I know about embarkation?
A. Regretfully no visitors are allowed past security control in the passenger terminal. The ship security staff will always be present during boarding and disembarkation and follow international security regulations in the monitoring of passengers and baggage. Our security is your security. Firearms / weapons are not permitted into the Port or on board. Any passenger failing to comply with security regulations may be offloaded from the cruise.

Q. What Travel Documentation do we need?
A. Every passenger will need a valid passport to clear immigration at the port. The only exceptions are cruises that do not leave South African waters (e.g. Nowhere Cruises) in which case official photo ID is required (ID Book, passport, Driver's License or in the case of children, a birth certificate is required).

Q. Do I need Visas and Vaccinations?
A. South African passport holders do not require visas or vaccinations for Mozambique or Mauritius.

Q. Do I need to take precautions for Malaria?
A. Mozambique is a Malaria area, but your visit takes place during the day when  mosquitoes are least active. It is best to speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

Q. What if I am pregnant?
A. We are able to accept passengers up until their 28th week of pregnancy. Boarding will be declined to passengers beyond 28 weeks in accordance with the ship owner's terms and conditions.

Q. What if I am over 70 years of age?
A. Passengers over 70 years of age require a doctor's certificate verifying their fitness to travel. Please forward the doctors certificate document along with the booking form in order for documents to be released.

Q. How do dinner sittings work?
A. On most cruises, there are two sittings for dinner. The first is approximately 18h30 and second 20h40. You will make your dinner reservation during the embarkation process directly with the Maitre 'D. If you wish to sit with friends and family, please embark together. Lunches and breakfasts are generally open sitting and guests can choose between a casual buffet or the more formal dining room for their meal.

Q. Do you cater for special dietary requirements?
A. Special diets must be requested at time of reservation to enable us to advise the vessel in advance. A vegetarian choice is served at each meal time. Halaal practices are observed in the preparation of certain dishes. We regret that we cannot cater for Kosher meals.

Q. Can we take liquor on board?
A. Please be aware that due to International liquor and duty-free regulations, guests are prohibited from bringing alcoholic beverages of any kind on board the vessel. Security checks do take place and liquor may be confiscated. Liquor purchased on board at the duty free will be held until disembarkation.

Q. Is there a cell phone signal on board and how can we stay in touch with back home?
A. Mobile phones rely on signal received from cell phone towers, thus cell phones have no signal at sea. Occasional signal is picked up while cruising along the coast of South African. Many foreign ports do have signal, but your phone will need to be enabled for International roaming. Consult with your service provider. At a cost, there is a satellite telephone and fax facility to keep in touch if necessary.

Internet facilities are available on board at a charge.

Q. How much luggage can we take?
A. There is no weight restriction for cruising, but only luggage which can be carried over gangways and kept in a cabin will be allowed on board. We recommend you take smaller bags so as not to clutter your cabin area.

Q. What about electrical appliances?
A. The Melody runs on both 110v and 220v but the current in the 220v sockets make it suitable only for cell phones, laptops, camera chargers and is NOT SUITABLE for hairdryers or any other equipment which draws a high current. The plug sockets are American (110v) the European round 2 pin (220v). The South African 3 pin plug will require a suitable adapter. A fixed hair dryer is found in all cabin bathrooms.

Q. Is there a Doctor on board?
A. The Ship has a fully equipped medical facility staffed by a doctor and nursing personnel. This is a private service and all consultations are charged for. Please note that the medical facility does not operate as a pharmacy and a consultation with the doctor is required prior to any medicine being dispensed. We highly recommend that you take all necessary medications on board with you.

Q. What if I get seasick?
A. Movement of the Ship is reduced with stabilisers, which are extended when called for. There is so much to do that most passengers don't even think about getting seasick. However, a very small percentage of people are susceptible to motion sickness, which is caused by the confusion of the senses, mainly sight and balance. If you are predisposed to motion sickness, several excellent non-prescription drugs (e.g. Stugeron) and various homeopathic remedies (e.g. Horizon) are on the market to assist with prevention of motion sickness. It is suggested you start to take this medication 24 prior to cruising. Fresh air and being on deck are excellent natural remedies. You are also at liberty to consult your local physician for other remedies.

Q. If I need assistance on board, to whom can I speak?
A. There are several heads of department that can assist you with queries depending what assistance you need. The information / reception desk is open 24 hours.

Q. What do I do if I am celebrating a special occasion?
A. Congratulations! If you are celebrating something special; a birthday or anniversary perhaps, we try and make it extra special. In order for the Ship to prepare that "special cake", you will need to advise our Maire d' Hotel as soon after embarkation as possible.

Q. Is there an activity programme for youngsters?
A. The youth programme includes activities for children from 3 years to 12 years of age and takes place every full day at sea from 09h00 - 12h00 and 14h00 - 17h00.  An evening activity programme is also available from 20h00 until 23h00. there is also an orientation meeting for all parents and children on the first afternoon after departure. See the daily programme for details. Youth activities may include treasure hunts, fun sports, creative activities and games.

Q. Is there babysitting on board?
A. Babysitting can be arranged with your cabin steward once on board. This is a "private arrangement" between the guest and the cabin steward. Please make all necessary arrangements and payments with your cabin steward once on board.

Q. What kind of things can we do on board?
A. The great thing about cruising is you can choose to do as much or as little as you like. For outdoor enthusiasts there are a variety of sports to choose from. For those that enjoy being active, there are various exercise and dance programmes on offer every sea day. Day activities may include lecture presentations, creativity classes, fun activities on the deck and indoor game shows. Daily crosswords, Sudoku, brainteasers and word search puzzles are also available. Other facilities include swimming pools, jacuzzis, gymnasium, jogging track, casino, duty free shops and movies. In the evenings, more exciting entertainment options include live bands, the disco and don't forget our famous Deck Party! In addition, every night we host cabaret shows featuring local and international artists.

A comprehensive programme is delivered to your cabin every day. This programme includes information on all activities, shows, services, meals and dress codes to help plan your day.

Q. How much money do we need to take and how do we pay for goods and services?
A. Please note that DEBIT CARDS are NOT accepted onboard.

All meals and entertainment are included in your cruise fare. You will need spending money for drinks, duty free shopping, photos, gambling including Bingo, gratuities, laundry, beauty salon and any optional shore excursions you would like to book. All prices on board are in US Dollars.

For the convenience of all guests, the Ship uses a cashless system (the casino accepts cash). Every passenger (including children) will receive a personalised ID cruise card. This card may be used for all your purchases on board. On request, any cards (for a family for example) can be linked to a master account.

To activate your card/s (only 1 member per family need to do this), a deposit must be lodged at the cruise card office. SA Rands or US Dollars are acceptable. You may then spend up to the amount of deposit paid. You can top up this amount during the cruise if needed. At the end of the cruise, when you close your account, you will receive any change owing to you in US Dollars.

You can also activate your cruise card with your bank credit card. Should you opt to pay by credit card, your credit card will be "swiped" and pre-authorised for the amount of approximately USD$250.00. This pre-authorisation is only an estimate of the amount that could be utilised during your time on board. This pre-authorisation is not a real debit and the amount is "blocked" on your credit card for the period of one (1) week. After the one (1) week period has lapsed your bank automatically releases the pre-authorised amount. The only amount debited to your credit card will be the amount that corresponds with the invoice signed prior to disembarkation.

Should you have nay concerns about this, we recommend you use cash to activate your account.

Q. What about tipping?
A. Tipping is a globally accepted way of thanking personnel who have taken care of you during your cruise. For your convenience a recommended daily gratuity (approximately USD $ 3 per passenger per day) will be added to your cruise account covering all service staff. Of course, this practice is optional and for this reason you can decide at any time to alter this charge by contacting hotel reception.

Q. What happens when we get to our destination?
A. Landings are always weather dependent and the decision to proceed lies solely with the Captain. Safety is always our primary concern. Some of our destinations have no harbour facilities and to transport passengers ashore, we use inflatable rubber Zodiacs. To maintain our excellent safety record we require the co-operation of all passengers. A short briefing hosted by the Cruise Director will inform passengers about the destination, the landing procedure and any optional excursions available. This briefing will be advertised in your daily programme.

Q. Tell me more about the Zodiac transfer.
A. To get to our beach destinations, passengers will be escorted in small groups to the gangway and then be assisted into Zodiacs, known as "rubber ducks". These ducks will then transfer the passengers to the beach. Beach sand can get very hot so shoes are always recommended. Depending on the condition of the sea and wind, sea spray can sometimes enter the boat. We suggest you wrap any electronic equipment in plastic to prevent damage. A travel bag is essential for your day trip items. Starlight Cruises travel bags and back packs are available for purchase from our offices or at the harbour on day of embarkation.

Q. Can we snorkel at the destination?
A. Yes, but please take note that there is no gear available on board to hire, and if you intend to snorkel, it is advisable to bring your own. Barra Lodge and Portuguese Island do offer a snorkel excursion with gear hire included  from a local source although fin sizes and conditions of equipment are not guaranteed. Bazaruto requires a  permit to snorkel in the Marine Reserve but gear is neither included nor available on board or locally. A limited range of snorkelling equipment will be available for purchase at Durban Harbour prior to boarding the ship.

Q. What else can we do on the Islands and Beaches?
A. That depends on you. Our destinations are so diverse and consequently offer completely different activities and facilities. A dedicated landing team will assit you once ashore. They will provide all relevant information including swimming areas, children facilities and any local attractions. Please take a special note of the relevant boarding times so as not to miss the last transfers back to the ship.

Q. What about bath and beach towels?
A. There are both bath towels and pool / beach towels available on board.

Q. What are the Dress Codes?
A. During the day casual wear is encouraged although no bathing suits are permitted in the main restaurant. A buffet breakfast and lunch are available on deck should you prefer casual dining. Evenings are generally smart casual (from 18h00) with a formal night on any cruise 4 nights or longer. Every cruise has a PARTY NIGHT where guests are encouraged to dress up bright and bold and anything goes. Although the summer evenings are generally warm, it is advisable to bring a light jumper in case of a sea breeze or to wear indoors as most venues are fully air-conditioned.

Q. What are the Ship's contact details?
A. Should you need to be contacted while onboard the Melody, the ship has a Satellite telephone. Please note that this service is VERY expensive but in the case of an emergency the contact numbers are as follows:

Tel:  Int.00 +870 335315710
Tel:  Int.00 +870 635315710
Fax:  Int.00 +870 335315712