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FAQ’s (still adding more FAQ’s)
Cruise FAQ’s
When is your first planned cruises?
We plan to start operation in early 2025 and just cruise the Pacific Ocean Continent (25-30 port of call with one full circumvention every 90 days). We will post full itineraries when it’s available.
What are Passages?
Passages are segments of our loop where you can jump on and off. If you just want to do US West Coast, cruise that Passage. Or Southeast Asia Passages and many Passages in between. You pick the length and destination of your cruises. Or come along for the full ride!
What makes you different from commercial cruises available today?
We are not profit driven, but driven by our passion to deliver a safe, enjoyable cruise trip for the everyday person.
Our cruise are sustainable without the excess waste of food and resources. We are all connected in the tiniest way, a tiny sea-bird can flap it wing in the Pacific and cause a hurricane in the Atlantic. A theory that’s finally been proven correct since it’s inception.
How do you make money and offer low cost cruises?
Any cruise fare’s goes back to operations and maintenance, then subsidize low income cruiser.
A NPO don’t line our pocket, we invest back into our causes and further our mission.
Are the ship safe and functional?
We pride ourself on re-purposing and refitting older ship. They are all within SOLAS International cruise ship safety standard. It may not have indoor waterfalls and aqua show but it will be a first class cruise ship with all the required amenities of a luxury cruise ship. Professionally staffed and operated.
What if there is an emergency on-board?
We have on-site medical facility and medical personnel, satellite communication and internet, USCG and many safety measures on hand to handle ship emergency. Cruising is one of the safest way of travel, but we have to account for Mother Nature and Open Water cruising. Passenger Safety is Priority #1.
YOC (Yacth Owner’s Club) FAQ’s
What is YOC?
Fractional ownership share of staterooms on the cruise ship. You fully own your own the cabin and decorate it anyway you wish within ship safety measures. YOC term is 15 years and at the end you can vote to sell or scrap and get a percentage of the cabin cost back.
Please explain the fee’s and cost!
You pay for the stateroom (all inclusive price, no additional fee’s or tax), You can finance with 20% down and credit check (60 month max). Then you pay a base Interior Room Daily Fee of $49 if you are on board and ship is docked ($59 on sailing day). Suites and Balcony rooms are extra $19 daily.
Daily Fee is for buffet lunch, internet, weekly housekeeping, uses of all facilities (gym, library, kitchen, pools, hot-tub, work area, music lounge, etc).
Everything else is pay-as-you-go or ala carte.
Can I get out of the contract or change my mind?
Yes..we want you to absolutely happy with your ownership and offer a 30 days Money Back Guarantee!
If cabin is financed, you pay a loan termination fee of $695. If wholly owned, you pay a $495 re-stocking fee plus the Daily Fee’s of days you were on board. After the 30 days, we can help you re-sell your cabin.
Can I upgrade or move to different stateroom?
If you are not sure where is the best place on the ship or unsure of the purchase, we suggest you cruise a few Passages and try it out before committing long term. But you can upgrade or downgrade and transfer room if it’s available.
What other benefit of YOC?
-It can be an income investment when you are NOT on board and let us rent it out like a cabin Airbnb and split the income 50/50. Maybe someone think your decor is the coolest thing on water and want to cruise in it for a Passage.
-You can time-share it with friends and family
-You can sell it online or we can help sell it for you.
-It’s a appreciating asset that can give you money back.
-You are an cabin owners with voting rights and input on intinaries
Can my pets live aboard?
We know they are like family and we allow cats, small dogs (under 10lb), birds and reptile. There some area where they are restricted (dining area, gym, and hazardous area). There is also a Pet Fee of $199 a month. You can purchase pet food at The Ship General Store.
The Birger Jarl YOC (Yacth Owner’s Club) FAQ’s
What is YOC Terms for Birger Jarl?
Fractional ownership share of staterooms on the cruise ship. You fully own your own the cabin and decorate it anyway you wish within ship safety measures. YOC term is 10 years and at the end you can vote to sell or scrap and get a percentage of the cabin cost back. Due to the age of the ship, we estimate it’s service life of 10+ years left.
Please explain the fee’s and cost for The Birger Jarl Financing!
You pay for the stateroom (all inclusive price, no additional fee’s or tax), You can finance with 25% down and credit check (60 month max). Then you pay a base Interior Room Daily Fee of $49 if you are on board and ship is docked ($59 on sailing day). Exterior rooms are extra $10 daily.
Daily Fee is for buffet lunch, internet, weekly housekeeping, uses of all facilities (gym, library, kitchen, pools, hot-tub, work area, music lounge, etc). Whatever facilities the ship offer.
Everything else is pay-as-you-go or ala carte.
Can I get out of the contract or change my mind?
Yes..we want you to absolutely happy with your ownership and offer a 30 days Money Back Guarantee!
If cabin is financed, you pay a loan termination fee of $695. If wholly owned, you pay a $495 re-stocking fee plus the Daily Fee’s of days you were on board. After the 30 days, we can help you re-sell your cabin.
Where are the area the ship will cruise?
Mostly the Bay Area and Pacific Coast water and San Juan River. Expected commencement date is Spring 2025 after acquistion of ship
Can I upgrade or move to different stateroom?
If you are not sure where is the best place on the ship or unsure of the purchase, we suggest you cruise a few Passages and try it out before committing long term. But you can upgrade or downgrade and transfer room if it’s available.
Can I upgrade or move to different stateroom if I don’t like my cabin share roomate?
We will try to pair you with someone compatible, but for splitting cost and living on board, we will do our best if you need to relocate to a different cabin mate. Your best option is to upgrade to your own cabin and have your privacy.
What other benefit of YOC?
-It can be an income investment when you are NOT on board and let us rent it out like a cabin Airbnb and split the income 50/50. Maybe someone think your decor is the coolest thing on water and want to cruise in it for a Passage.
-You can time-share it with friends and family
-You can sell it online or we can help sell it for you.
-It’s a appreciating asset that can give you money back.
-You are an cabin owners with voting rights and input on intinaries
Is the Birger Jarl Air Stateroom Conditioned?
Retrofitting HVAC system would be tremendous cost and undertaking and most liklely inefficient. We will leave it as is, and use passive cooling method for overly hot days. We planning to air condition the main dining room only.
Can my pets live aboard?
We know they are like family and we allow cats, small dogs (under 10lb), birds and reptile. There some area where they are restricted (dining area, gym, and hazardous area). There is also a Pet Fee of $199 a month. You can purchase pet food at The Ship General Store.
Site FAQs
Why is everything Under Constructions on your website?
We work with volunteers to perform some web and backend services and will be fully operational soon.
Why is Shop not selling anything?
Since we are a non-profit, we need permit to resale cruise related merchandise..it’s coming
I need response right away?
Best is to use our online chat on the website and we will reply promptly or call/text 888-UNITY17 is our 24hr number.
Ship FAQs
Are the crew paid or volunteers only?
All Captians, Officers, Engineering, and Maintenance are paid professional with years of experience in the cruise industry, volunteers are only for non-essential work.
Why not find a smaller ship?
We want to service as many passengers as the ship can safely sail to experience the open water and far away ports. A smaller boat would limit who we can go and stay.
Are there casino on board?
Yes, but any abuse or excess gambling behaviors will not be tolerated. We can drop you off in Macau if gambling is your things.
Are there Alcohol and Bars on-board?
Yes, but any abuse or excess drinking behaviors will not be tolerated. We can drop you off in Macau with your gambling buddy if excessive drinking is your things.
Are the ship safe and functional?
We pride ourself on re-purposing older ship and refitting it to SOLAS international cruise ship safety standard. It may not have indoor waterfalls and aqua show but it will be a first class cruise ship with all the required amenitiies of a luxury cruise ship.
We also have security personnels on-board and a brig (ship jail) for offender
What are UCO Sail and Crew numbers?
You will be issued a UCO 10 digit number that will be your lifetime membership to our Organization either as a passenger, a crew member or both. We have incentive programs to sail or work with us and spread our mission’s message. Housing and food will be provided if you are a volunteers or paid work. You get to sail the world and help other people in needs. We always says 1 person can make a difference, but many together can make a biggest diiference in our tiny slice of the Universe.
Other FAQs
What is required to board your cruises?
Picture ID and Valid Passport.
How do you have funds to operate this complex operations?
We have person in the cruising industry and veterans. They just work at NPO rate and some of our volunteers do basic work on the ship to help out. The Ship Crew staff are full professional at their job. Cruise fares, publlic/private donations, fund raiser, government programs, and many other ways of funding our NPO.
How can I help or volunteer?
If you are passionate about open water cruises, helping the under privilege and the cruising community, you can volunteer as crew member. You will be working and traveling with a diverse group. So working well with other is the basic requirement.
Send us your resume and a short paragraph of your skills to: volunteers@unitycruises.org
I never heard of a Non-Profit Cruise Line?
Neither have we, so we started one out of our love for the ocean and travel.
Our finances are an open book, some ventures are above and beyond money and profits. Please read our mission and purpose, you will start to understand, we don’t want to waste or scrap or throw-away anything.
Our organization mantra is of the 6 R’s: Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle, Restore, Renewal, and Rehabilitation.
If you can apply those words to the cruising world, basically we take older boats and make it serve the common people to heal and have enjoyment through ocean cruises and far away ports of call. The dream of the Ocean travel shouldn’t be for One, It should be shared for All Mankind, hence the name of our NPO: UnityCruises.Org
But without commercial cruise line constantly upgrading to bigger and newer ships, we would not have a path to our organization mantra.. We just want to Cruise Differently!