Before your cruise

Alaska and Canada

Glaciers of Alaska and the coast of British Columbia, or New England and Quebec. Every ship has its own ports, so pick the countries on your ticket.

Say: Hi, how are you doing? (hy, how ur yuh DOO-in), Hello (a greeting, not a real question about your health)I'll take a rain check. (ile TAYK uh RAYN chek), Not now, thank you, but I would like to another time
Try: Hamburger, Texas smoked brisket, Carolina pulled pork
See: Statue of Liberty, Independence Hall, Lincoln Memorial
Money: United States dollar (USD), divided into 100 cents
Good to know: Tip 15 to 20 percent. Tips are a big part of many workers' pay. In sit-down restaurants, leave 15 to 20 percent of the bill before tax. Taxi drivers usually get 15 to 20 percent of the fare, and bartenders a little for each drink. Check first whether a service charge has already been added.

Say: Bonjour (bohn-ZHOOR), Hello, good morning, good dayMerci (mair-SEE), Thank you
Try: Poutine, Tourtière, Quebec yellow pea soup
See: Parliament Hill, Rideau Canal, Château Frontenac and Old Québec
Money: Canadian dollar (CAD), divided into 100 cents
Good to know: Sales tax is added at the till. Shelf and menu prices usually do not include tax. The federal GST of 5 percent is added, plus a provincial sales tax in some provinces. In Ontario and the Atlantic provinces the two are combined into one HST of 13 to 15 percent, as of 2026. Cash totals are rounded to the nearest 5 cents, because there are no more pennies.