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I'm a happy tea drinker, so I don't spend extra on specialty coffees or sodas. Celebrity allows you to bring two bottles of wine onboard per cabin. We drank those in our cabin to avoid the corkage fee (you can ask your cabin attendant for a bottle opener and two glasses). Celebrity offers free drinks in the casino while gambling, so my extra drink cost was zero. An additional beverage cost to keep in mind is corkage fees for bottles of wine you bring onboard (within the cruise line's limits). On most ships, the fee is only charged if you take the bottle to the dining room or a bar to be opened and served there.
How Much Does a Caribbean Cruise Cost?
This means you can spend as much or as little as you would like, but chances are you will want to budget for some things like beverages, WiFi, or excursions. This money doesn’t go to the cruise line, but it will be part of what you pay in order to get your ticket. Any cruise deals below $120/day or even $100/day is considered a great buy. You can even find rates cheaper from time to time, but that’s a good base line for budget travelers. This article will explain everything you need to know about the cost of a cruise vacation, including some “hidden” items.
Room Service on Cruise Ships
Additionally, bar tabs are automatically charged a 15 to 20 percent gratuity; some lines also add on a 15 to 20 percent gratuity to spa services. When the maitre d' performs a special service, such as arranging for a birthday cake to be brought to the table, he should be tipped as well. Laundry and dry-cleaning charges on a cruise can be steep (approximately $3 to $7 to wash and press a shirt, for instance).
Answered: What’s the Cheapest Time to Take a Cruise?
Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays. The price of a cruise for a family of four depends very much on what discounts are available for children. The price for a family could be double the price for a couple, or it could be very little extra. This article looks at the cost of various cruises and what you actually get for your money.
How much does a Disney cruise really cost?
Transportation to the PortYou can’t start your trip without getting to the ship first. Transportation amounts vary depending on where you are coming from and which port you are sailing from. Assuming you are arriving at an airport, you’ll obviously spend the greatest amount to get to cruise ports farther away. Ports like Galveston and Port Canaveral are located far from the nearest airports and you can expect to spend between $40-60 each way for the cheapest options. Ports like Tampa, Port Everglades, and Miami are just a short ride away and you can get to the port for about $10 per person.
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What about all-inclusive cruise lines?
This often leads to guests being surprised at the total cost of the cruise when they get the final bill. This is why it’s nice to receive an onboard credit when booking the cruise to help offset some of these unforeseen extras once onboard. For example, a Western Caribbean cruise may have fewer ports and lower port fees overall compared to an Eastern Caribbean cruise. Some popular ports may also charge a higher fee than a less popular port. Each of these things may come into consideration when comparing cruise vacation prices. Many cruise lines offer discounts for early bookings and often offer cruises a year or more in advance.
What’s not included in the cruise price?
Carnival Cruise Line's rollercoaster, Norwegian Cruise Line's go-karts and Royal Caribbean's iFly skydiving experience are examples of extra-fee activities. In most cases, unless there is a special at the time you book your cruise, you will pay extra for having any number of guests in a cabin other than two. Third and fourth guests (or more if you book a large suite) pay a fare that is lower than the fare for the first two guests. Some lines run specials offering free or $99 third- and fourth-person fares from time to time. All cruise lines provide basics like transportation, accommodation, food at select restaurants for all meals, and a selection of entertainment and activities in the fare. Port fees and taxes aren’t technically part of your cruise fare, but they are included in what you pay before you board.
Alcoholic drinks and soft drinks can be expensive on a cruise ship, and many mainstream cruise lines charge a premium for drinks served in certain venues or specialty restaurants. Many passengers don’t look at the prices before ordering so having a drink package can be helpful. Most lines offer drink packages that cover alcoholic beverages up to a set amount per drink. Package prices can vary dramatically, depending on the itinerary and sailing dates. Expect to pay around $100 per person per day for a full cruise package, including tips.
NCL charges the corkage fee at embarkation, regardless of where you plan to consume the wine. Nonalcoholic drinks like drip coffee, hot and iced tea, some sort of punch, juice, lemonade, milk (at mealtimes) and tap water will be included no matter which cruise line you choose. Most cruise lines give you the opportunity to pay crew tips at the time of booking. If you choose not to pay in advance, the auto-gratuity will be added daily to your onboard bill.
As you can see, there is no set cost on what you can pay to cruise. Want to cruise for cheap and only spend a few hundred per person? Want to go all out, stay in the nicest cabins on the newest ships? Here, the price jumps considerably with a new ship, higher-tier cabin, and sailing in the peak of the summer season. For that more luxurious experience, you end up paying about $425 per person, per day. While the cost of your cruise will vary widely based on the ship, time of year, and the cabin you choose, there are also some more costs that you should keep in mind.
These are generally automatically added to your cruise account. Many of the top entertainment offerings -- Broadway productions, onboard surfing and watersliding, live music and comedy acts -- are free (though reservations might be required). If you do want an organized tour, you can book directly with a tour operator or through third-party shore excursion sellers; you might save a few dollars that way. Look for Free Local Festivals for Entertainment OnshoreLocal festivals and craft displays can be sources of good, free entertainment. Parks, beaches and art galleries are other free or nominally-charged attractions to check out. Or perhaps you prefer to simply wander through town, browsing in shops and stopping for a coffee or snack.
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You also won’t find the droves of thousands onboard these ships, instead, expect to share your traveling home with between 500 and 1,500 guests. This means more room for spacious cabins, public areas designed for easy-going mingling, and decor with a more elegant or conservative touch. Cruise prices can vary widely but before getting into the nitty-gritty of what you can expect to pay, here’s a general guide to get you started. The bottom line, though, is that in most cases, your total cruise vacation will cost considerably more than the cruise fare alone. The thing that jumps out at me is that the total cost is almost twice the cruise fare.
They can simplify booking while finding you hidden perks, upgrades, and savings you may miss booking alone. Additionally, each ship offers beverage-tasting seminars where you can learn how to make and taste a variety of cocktails in a given category. On the four other Disney Cruise Line ships, Palo is also $50 for prix-fixe and offers an a la carte menu. Use of towels, beach chairs and shade umbrellas are complimentary, as are waterslides and splash zones. Live music and character appearances take place around the island. Kids and teen club activities are available on Castaway Cay — again, at no extra charge.
With the accounting rules used by the cruise lines, sometimes money spent before you get on the ship is actually classified as “onboard and other” spending. Factors that go into the price include the type of cabin you choose, length of cruise, when you sail, and even the ship and cruise line you sail. What it doesn’t include are the extras like alcoholic drinks, specialty restaurants, shore excursions, gambling and other things bought on board. Some lines, like Norwegian, are starting to move toward a la carte prices in their alternative venues. Specialty dessert venues, dinner theater, pizza delivery and even pub grub could cost extra. Keep these extras in mind while cruising so you’ll end up with an average cruise cost.
Averages across the major cruise lines for balcony cabins fall between $100 and $150 per night most of the year. Suites and rooms on upscale or luxury cruise lines cost considerably more, but you get more for your money. While it's A-okay to stick to what's included with your cruise fare, the truth is that most cruisers add on a few extras. That can include shore excursions, dinners at specialty restaurants that aren't built into your fare, spa treatments, cocktails and soda, Wi-Fi and more. Cruise tickets generally include accommodation, meals, some drinks and entertainment.
A Carnival cruise costs from $129 (£98) for a 2-night Bahamas cruise in an Inside Stateroom to $4,019 (£3,079) for a 15-night cruise in a Suite. The price of drinks on a cruise varies quite a lot, depending on the cruise line. Marella and P&O Cruises are priced with flights included on the cruise line websites. Some cruises come with special offers, such as free onboard spend, which aren’t included in this table.
