What are the cost of cruises?

[stone_chas]

What does it cost for a cruise? Do they cover all expenses on the boat? If u need to fly to the departure point do they cover the cost of the flight? Do u need any money on the cruise?

 

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Costs of a cruise....When you see the sticker price of a cruise, usually it is just the price of the room, main dining, some drinks (non-alcoholic), and most entertainment. So what other costs are there?

1. Port fees and taxes: The first add-on is the port fees and taxes. This is similar to the airport fees & 9/11 tax on plane tickets. The costs for these can vary. My last cruise, it was about $100/person for a cruise with 2 ports + home port. I would give a rough estimate of about $30/person per stop on the cruise, maybe a bit more.

2. Getting to departure point: You can purchase airfare from the cruiseline, but it is usually more expensive than what you can get from the cruiseline. For the most part, unless specified otherwise, the price of the cruise will NOT include airfare to the departure point. If you drive to the departure point, you will have to pay for parking at the port.

3. Tips: you are expected to tip the various people on the cruiseship. A rough figure is about $12/person per day. Most cruiselines automatically charge this to your shipboard account. You will have the opportunity to make adjustments if you like, but you probably have to go to the customer service desk.

4. Tours/excursions: If you want to take guided tours booked through the ship, it'll cost you. Basically, the cooler something is, the more expensive it will be. Most excursions will run about $50 to $200 per person with probably about 70% of the tours being in the $50 to $125 range.

5. Alcohol: If you want to drink, its going to cost you. Drink prices are about what you would expect to pay in a city bar. A beer will run you $4 to $6 a piece. Mixed drinks are about $6 to $7 each.

6. Gambling: not much more to say about that one

7. Photographs: The ships tend to have photographers everywhere. They will display and sell you the photos on the ship. Most of the photos run about $20 for an 8x10. Some will run you $10.

8. Some Entertainment/Activities: There usually seems to be some activities on the ship that cost money. As a rule of thumb, if it involves alcohol or gambling, there is a charge (taste testing, how to make a martini, black jack classes, etc..)

9. Specialty Restaurants: Many ships have a specialty restaurant which supposed to offer a more intimate setting then the main dining room. They might have better food (I've never sprung for one, so I am not sure). The last cruise I was on, this cost $40 per person per meal.

10. Spa: again, self explanitory

11. On-board shopping: There are all kinds of shops on board. There are duty free shops with booze, cigarettes, and perfume. There are shops with photography supplies, souvenirs, jewelry, and pretty much everything you can think of.

As a rule of thumb, whatever you buy on the ship gets charged to your shipboard account, much like charging room service to a hotel room. They give you an ID card when you board the ship and besides getting you on and off the ship, it also works as your "credit card" on the ship. I'm not sure if you could pay cash even if you wanted to. At the end of your cruise, your shipboard account can be settled with a credit card or cash.

It is pretty tough to tell people how much to budget. I've seen people run up bar tabs in the $1000's in a week. If you go on an excursion in every port, it'll cost you. Personally, I don't drink much on the ship and usually do an excursion every other stop. I'll spend about $125 a day for my wife and I on the ship (mainly on soda with dinner, a few drinks, an excursion, and some shopping on board). For other people, that would last them until about 9AM.