The biggest myth about cruises is that they are “all-inclusive,” they are not. It’s more like “almost all-inclusive.”
What’s included in the cruise price:
* The cruise
* All your meals in the main dinning room, buffets and a
number of other eating spots. Also included are pool side
barbeques and mid-night buffets.
* Drinks: ice tea, juice, hot chocolate and regular coffee.
* All on board entertainment.
Entertainment on cruise ships varies from cruise line to
cruise line. They all have the big Vegas or broadway
style show each evening as well as smaller shows
throughout the day.
Besides the shows other entertainment can includes
cooking classes and demonstrations, ice skating,
rock climbing, surfing, golf, craft classes and games.
The list goes on and on -There is never a short of things
to do.
* Kids Programs
What’s not included in the price:
* Taxes and Port charges. Sometimes these charges will
included with the cruise price quote, sometimes they will
not so be sure you know before you book the cruise.
* Gratuities - room attendant, waiter, assistant waiter,
Head waiter and specialty restaurant waiter (if you eat at
One). Cruise lines recommend tipping per person, per day:
Waiter: $3.50
Assistant Waiter: $2.00
Head Waiter: $.75
Stateroom Attendant 3.50
Kid’s counselors - if you use the kids programs
* Soda’s, alcohol drinks, specialty coffee’s, bottled water,
Shakes, smoothies and anything in the mini frig inside
your cabin.
* Shore Excursions.
* Internet use.
* Pay per view movies.
* Meals in any of the specialty restaurants. All ships have
a specialty restaurant where you will have to pay a cover
charge.
* Cell phone connection - you will get a signal but it will be the ships signal
And they will charge you per minute.
You can purchase your airline tickets through the cruise line but they will cost you a lot more then buying them on your own. If you do purchase them on your own you should plan to fly in day before your cruise departs. If your flight is cancelled or delayed for any reason the cruise line won’t wait for you. If you are late they will leave without you and it will be your responsibilty to catch up with them. By flying in the day beofre your cruise departs you will give yourself plenty of time in the event something goes wrong at the airport. If you purchase tickets through them they will wait for you or help you catch up with the ship at the next port.
Cruise lines will offer you trip insurance. It will be much more expensive then if you buy it on your own.
Purchasing it from an outside company will allow you to customize your policy to fit your needs. (see links page for travel insurance companies)
The 3rd party cruise sites are a good place to start your serch for a cruise. The sites I like to use are:
Cruiseonly.com
Cruisebrothers.com
onlinevacationcenter.com
Vacationstogo.com
All have good pricing & often offer nice amenities packages.
When shopping for cruise take into consideration any amenities being offered.
Some amenities I’ve gotten include:
* Free airport to ship transfers - cost around $25 per person each way
* on board credit $50 - $250
* pre-paid gratuities
* free airfare from New York
* dinner at specialty restaurant
* one package had -
4 drink coupons
2 t-shirts
Picture frame
Free 8x10 picture
Engraved Champaign classes
Bottle of Champaign
2 beach towels
2 hats
So these can be really nice incentives and worth shopping for.
To save money on a cruise find on thatg leaves out of a US port. It will be cheaper to fly in and out of a domestic airport verses a international one.
After searching 3rd party sites - compare pricing on the cruise lines offical website.
Repositioning & Transatlantic Cruises
You can also find really good deals on transatlantic or repositioning cruises.
* transatlantic cruises involve, cruising across the Atlantic ocean as well as making a few stops- you will probably have 6 days or more at sea, so keep that in mind.
Here are examples of recent specials:
Royal Caribbean Cruiselines -
13 night Barcelona to New Orleans starting at $549
14 night Portugal to Brazil starting at $514
And remember this includes all your food and entertainment for 2 weeks
A repositioning cruise is when a cruise line is moving their ship from one departure port to another.
For example the Alaska cruise season runs from May to Sept. and at the end of that season they will move their ships to the Caribbean or some other place to cruise in that area until its time to go back to Alaska.
Example of this type of cruise:
RCCL 6 night repositioning from Florida to Panama
Starting at $349
Costa 14 night Italy to Brazil
Starting at $749
SHORE EXCURSIONS
Shore excursions can be very expensive from the cruise line. Consider using local companies off the ship to save money.
You can pre-book tours online. They won’t charged until the tour is taken so if you end up missing that port due to weather or any other reason, you won't have to pay for the tour. These companies are use to changes in cruise schedules.
Example of difference in pricing between local excursions and cruise line excursions.
Amsterdam - City tour by canal ride
Cruiseline - $54.00
Local tour company - $14.00
Rome - Vatacan tour
Cruise line - $167.00
Local company - $74.00
So there’s quite a difference in the pricing.
If not sure which local company to use - ask for recommendations on travel message boards.
