- 1). Contact cruise companies and ask about bringing your bike aboard before you buy a cruise ticket. Because cruise lines don't have consistent regulations on bicycles, it will depend on whether the specific ship you are planning to travel on allows them. Some ships allow passengers to keep bicycles in their cabins, and others might even allow them to be stored in on-board storage space. Some ships may only allow small folding bicycles or may forbid them entirely.
- 2). Take your bike with you on the plane to meet the cruise. Most airlines will carry a bicycle, but the rules and fees vary widely from airline to airline. Some airlines carry them for free in lieu of another piece of checked baggage. You must turn the handlebars sideways and let the air out of the tires and may also be required to place your bike in a box, which you can usually get from a bicycle shop.
- 3). Alternatively, ship your bike with the cruise line. Princess Cruises, which has several Alaskan routes, offers a luggage valet service that picks up luggage from your home and delivers it to your stateroom. This service accepts bicycles, subject to available space on the ship. Pickup must be arranged 35 days before your cruise, and the bike must be properly boxed. Inquire when you book the cruise if this service is offered and at what cost.
- 4). Restore your bike to working order once on-board. You will need to bring your own tool kit and tire pump to straighten the handlebars and re-inflate the tires.
- 5). Properly store your bike while at sea. You may have to keep it in your cabin; some ships may also keep it in a storage room or luggage hold for you.
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