What is generally included in a cruise price?

Question

So I'm trying to book a cruise for December, which I know may be a little far ahead of time but so far I'm just checking to see what's out there.

So included in the cruise price is the room, accomodations, and meals, right? I know you have to pay for excursions and spa treatments and all of that. But does a cruise price include things like drinks (alcoholic or non), parking, etc?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

I cruise quite a bit, usually 2 or 3 times a year and I also watch closely my budget and what I spend. So here's my list of what charges to expect and how to control your spending.

Regardless of the cruise line the price of your cruise includes your cabin, all meals including breakfast, lunch dinner, snacks and free room service, free admissions to the disco, all shows and entertainment, and free kids programs, use of all facilities on ship like the pools, hot tubs, gym, and recreation activities. If you park at the cruise port lot there is a charge and its usually very high, like $15 to $20 per day depending upon which cruise port. The other things that you will have to pay for are:

GRATUITIES: They will amount to about $10 to $11.50 per person in your cabin per day, depending upon the cruise line. When you check in at the pier they will set up an on-board charge account for you to cover any and everything you may buy on ship. Everything on ship except the casino is cashless; everything you buy goes on your account.

ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND SOFT DRINKS: Coffee, tea (hot and cold), milk, juice, and lemonade and punch will be provided FREE but you must pay for soft drinks and alcoholic beverages and they will add a 15 percent gratuity to each alcoholic drink and soft drink order. Drinks of cruise ships are generally in the range of $7 to $9 including the 15 percent gratuity that is included in each tab. Beer and wine are slightly less, maybe $6 to $7. The cruise line does sell a soft drink card that allow you unlimited soft drinks for the duration of your cruise. These you must buy the first day of the cruise and they generally cost about $6.00 a day for adults; $4.00 a day for kids. The cost of the soft drink card also goes on your on-board tab. But if you want you can take on board with you a six pack of soft drinks and/or bottle water to help cut your costs; take them in your carry-on bags. Also, if you buy drinks ask for them in a plain glass rather than the souvenir glasses because they cost about $1.50 more in the souvenir glass. Also, buy the daily drink special which is generally about $1.00 less than other drinks.

PHOTOGRAPHS: Cruise ship employees will take plenty of photographs of you all over the ship, in the dining room, and as you exit the ship in ports. These will cost a lot, like $15 to $25 for most and the cost of them goes on your on-board tab. Take your own photos and ask other passengers to take photos of you rather than buying the ship's photos. Other passengers will always help you with this if you ask; or ask the wait staff also.

TOURS/EXCURSIONS: You are not required to book any tours and you can get off and on in the ports as much as you want. But the cruise line will offer a lot of tours and these are NOT included and are expensive.

SOUVENIRS: Anything you buy on ship from a gift shop or duty free shop goes on your on board account. Things that you buy on shore you pay cash or credit card for.

CASINO: If you plan to gamble on ship you will need cash for that.

OTHER: All ships have what they call "specialty" restaurants where there IS a gratuity/service charge of between about $5. and $25. All other food on board is free and its not really necessary to budget for food; you cannot eat all of the FREE FOOD that will be available so skip the specialty places.

SPA SERVICES: If you want/need to have your hair done, get a massage or wrap, or any services from the spa, you will have to pay for them. Spa fees start at about $70 to $80 and they go on your on-board tab if you use the spa services. You can use the gym free but the spa stuff cost big bucks.

INTERNET SVCS: Ships now have internet cafe and some have WiFi but the there is a fee for internet access and it is very expensive (like about $50 an hour). I always recommend that you skip the high priced internet on ship and wait for port stops where you can usually find an internet cafe where the charges are about $5. to $7 an hour. Just ask the cabin steward and/or your wait staff where the internet is at the port. They know because they use them when they can get off the ship.

ROOM SERVICE/MINI-BAR: You cabin will likely have a minibar with soft drinks and munchies; you have to pay for anything you take out of the mini-bar. But the room service (24/7) is always free.

These are the charges that you may have but the only one of these that is pretty much mandatory is the gratuities. All of the others are optional and completely under your control.

Source(s):

experienced cruiser

Answer 2

NOW is the best time to book your cruise. Look on the cruise line's web site for Early Bird specials. Do lots of research. Pick the dates you want to go and select the type and location of room you want. Use that same criteria and check back every week to compare prices. They will change on occasion.

I researched prices for about 6 weeks before booking a cruise. I booked my first cruise 6 weeks in advance with Carnival Cruise Lines; the next cruise I already booked...6 MONTHS in advance and got in on an Early Bird Special with Carnival Cruise Lines. I am paying $100 less for the second cruise and am getting a bigger, better room on a higher deck.

Extra Charges: soda and alcohol (except formal dinner). I am told bottled water in the room is extra but was never charged. Excursions and shopping on land cost extra as does spending in the onboard casino, photos and souvenirs purchased onboard, phone calls made from on-board to land, lost towels, and special spa treatments.

Included in base fare: FOOD, most entertainment (except casino), room service, room cleaning (though you are automatically charged a gratuity of $2.50 per passenger, per day), toiletries & linens in room, on-board phone calls (as long as calling station to station onboard), use of onboard firness room.


Parking: will pay a lot for this. Cheaper to have someone drive you to the terminal or take a cab from the airport.

This is just a small list of what is included in base fare and what is an additional charge. For more information, check out the FAQs list on the cruise line's web site.

Good luck and have fun!

Answer 3

A cruise does not include alcohol and soda too. Also you pretty much have to tip them about $10 to $11.50 a day per each person cruising including kids. It does not include parking as some do not park near the cruise terminal. Also some cruise lines have specialty restaurants that they charge, but you are not by any means obligated to partake at any of these restaurants. BTW booking now for a December cruise is far from too early. In fact, you should book right away as that time of year the cruises fill up quickly, so don't delay on this. I usually book my cruises at least 7 months in advance.

Answer 4

Normally included upfront:

Cruise (stateroom/meals/shows), taxes, and port charges.
If you check cruise fares on the web you can find some on-line cruise agencies that offer amenities like: On board credit and cabin gratuity. Both save you money on your cruise vacation.
Good luck!

Source(s):

owner- online cruise agency

Answer 5

They include water and tea, but not soda. And only the luxury cruise lines include alcoholic beverages. Booking for Dec. is not to far in advance, I am booked for October 2010 :) Have a great trip!

Answer 6

I am sure that each cruise line's website will give you the details of what their price does and does not include. They aren't all the same.

Answer 7

I think the answers so far are good, and I gave Tinker a "thumbs up!"

Let me add a few other thoughts however:

It is never too early to start planning a cruise, within 1-2 years out. I am on an October 2009 cruise and am planning two more, one in April 2010 and another next October 2010.

While it won't work for everyone at every port, we always use public transportation to the pier. That's a trick, cause we start in Baja Mexico! We take a taxi van to the border, ($5 ea.) then we take the trolley to downtown San Diego, ($2.50 ea.) and we walk the one block to the pier! Perhaps it won't be as easy for you... but look around, if you can figure something like this out, it is much cheaper, and kinda fun in a group!

Parking near a cruise pier is expensive!

Also, as far as your searching... I now recommend looking for a friendly group. As I indicated, I am planning these cruises as a group leader. We have a travel agent, and he takes care of the credit card deposits, etc... that keeps me independent. But the point is that groups generally get a lower price than the best advertised price! We are on an October 8 day Carnival Spirit Mexican Riviera cruise for $77 per person, per day and that includes fare, taxes tips, including the tips. Plus: We get an on-board credit and other free amenities.

My groups (and most groups) would welcome anyone to join us... and remember everyone goes on their own way during a cruise anyway... there are no real "group activities" that are required. So look around and see if you can find a group, organization, club that is going on a cruise. If you are active in the community and on-line, you can find them... as I say, I live in Baja and I also know of two other groups!

So search by a convenient departure port; search by different dates, because often the same cruise a week apart can save you money.

Good luck! I post some other sources below.

Source(s):

http://www.cruisecritic.com
http://www.cruisemates.com