what's included?

[alcina]

As we sift through choices of family holidays we are finding some questions about cruises. Speicifically, what's included?

It looks to us like included =
*food, food, food - eating at various restuarants, buffets all day and all night
*entertainment on board - movies, floor shows, concerts
*juice only at breakfast buffets

Not included -
*anything off ship
*any alcohol
*soft drinks except with a meal

We might be mistaken - it's so confusing - but it would be very helpful to know what to expect in general as well as a rough price guide for drinks - beer, wine, cocktails, soft drinks, juice...we realise things will vary from line to line, but are there any ballpark figures?

 

[Parrothead_Diver]

As we sift through choices of family holidays we are finding some questions about cruises. Speicifically, what's included?

It looks to us like included =
*food, food, food - eating at various restuarants, buffets all day and all night
*entertainment on board - movies, floor shows, concerts
*juice only at breakfast buffets

Not included -
*anything off ship
*any alcohol
*soft drinks except with a meal

We might be mistaken - it's so confusing - but it would be very helpful to know what to expect in general as well as a rough price guide for drinks - beer, wine, cocktails, soft drinks, juice...we realise things will vary from line to line, but are there any ballpark figures?

As a general rule all food and entertainment are included. This includes beverages (excluding alcohol & soft drinks) with meals.

What you will pay for are things like shore excursions, alcoholic beverages, sodas, ship-board purchases and gratuity for the crew. Depending on how much you drink and what type of excursions you take, you can probably expect to spend around $50 to $75 per person per day total.

Average prices: Beer: $18 for a bucket of six, Wine: slightly above market (probably the best deal for alcohol), Cocktails: $8-$10, Soft Drinks: $3-$5, Juice etc: Free.

One of the best deals you can get, especially with kids, is to purchase a "Soda Card" on the first day of the cruise. This will get you unlimited sodas for a fairly low price (usually less that the total cost of one soda per day). If you are wine drinkers, then always buy by the bottle. Whatever you do not drink with your meal they will store for you and you can finish it with your next meal. This is usually about 10% cheaper than buying an equivalent amount by the glass.

 

[diveborg]

As we sift through choices of family holidays we are finding some questions about cruises. Speicifically, what's included?

It looks to us like included =
*food, food, food - eating at various restuarants, buffets all day and all night

On several of the cruise lines there are "optional" dining rooms that do cost extra, from between $8 and $25 per person. The food is supposed to be a bit better than the regular, free, dining room, and the service is a bit more labour intensive, meaning that there should be less diners per waiter so you get more attention. I have always found the food in the regular dining room to be more than just OK, so I haven't been interested in trying the "special" dining venue.

Other food that is usually included as free is room service. It depends on the cruise line, but on Princess you can order off the dining room menu in addition to what is listed on the room service menu. You have to know in advance what is on the menu during the meal time you want to order from. While the room service food is free, you are generally expected to tip the person who brings the food. The amount of tip would depend on the amount of food ordered.

Also, in addition to the regular dining room(s) for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the buffet, which is 24/7 on Princess, there are usually additional places for included food, like a pizza place and a grill somewhere on deck near a pool that offers hamburgers, hot dogs and the like.

Not included -
*anything off ship
*any alcohol
*soft drinks except with a meal

Many of the cruise lines no longer include soft drinks at any time, not even at a meal. They want you to buy their soda card/sticker. They are usually just over $20 per person for a 7 day cruise.

The American cruise lines I am familiar try to keep passengers from bringing aboard their own hard alcohol. Some lines are OK with a couple of bottles of wine or a case of beer, others are not. In any case, you can buy the booze on board, either thru room service or the "duty free" shop on the ship. If you do get it from the DF shop, you will have to pay a bit more than the shelf price to be able to take it back to your cabin, or they will store it for you until the last night of the cruise, then deliver it to your cabin. Some people "smuggle" booze aboard ship in their checked luggage which isn't x-rayed. That seems like too much work for me.

If you haven't found it already, Cruisecritic.com is an excellent cruise message board where you can get answers to questions about specific cruise lines.

Finally, you probably already know this, but diving while on a cruise is more work than staying at a resort/hotel like Caribe Blue. You either have to haul your gear around or use rental stuff Most people advise to make you own dive arrangements rather than use the ship's more expensive and restrictive dive excursions. It is a fun way to get to dive multiple destinations, but it takes more effort too.

Have a great trip
Bruce

 

[matt_unique]

As we sift through choices of family holidays we are finding some questions about cruises. Speicifically, what's included?

It looks to us like included =
*food, food, food - eating at various restuarants, buffets all day and all night
*entertainment on board - movies, floor shows, concerts
*juice only at breakfast buffets

Not included -
*anything off ship
*any alcohol
*soft drinks except with a meal

We might be mistaken - it's so confusing - but it would be very helpful to know what to expect in general as well as a rough price guide for drinks - beer, wine, cocktails, soft drinks, juice...we realise things will vary from line to line, but are there any ballpark figures?

You will get key cards for the rooms which double as your onboard credit card. You need to pay this tab at the end of the week and it can really add up! I would suggest you make everyone keep receipts and keep track of the total. (If you are at all cost conscious). Vacation drinks (margarita's, fruity concoctions, etc.) are $8-$10 a piece but I found them to be made very well on Norweigan. You can also get internet access to keep in touch or to get information while on board for a fee. There is an expected tip due at the end of the week. I am blanking a bit now but as I recall it was $10 a day p/person and they add that to your tab. You will also have port/security/etc. taxes which will be over $100 p/person as I recall. You would need to check with the specific cruise line and ask them for every single cost required at the end of the week.

I think a cruise is a great deal but they prices they advertise are definitely misleading. "$699 for a 7 night vacation with everything included!!!!!!" is actually more like $1100 - $1200.

--Matt

 

[tiggy]

Cruises can be a great, inexpensive way to travel depending on your spending habits. Your list of included items is pretty much dead on. In general, items you need to budget for include:

Alcoholic beverages ($3.25 and up)
Tips (generally $10 pp per day)
Dinners at speciality restaurants ($3.95 -$25)
Soda ($1.50 per can or $20-$48 pp for the week)
Spa treatments
Photos
Shore excursions
Gambling/bingo

Our bill at the end of our last cruise (Princess) was ~$550. That included tips, drinks, a shore excursion, and an on-board booking for another cruise. The whole budget for our next cruise (Royal Caribbean) is ~$3000. That includes a balcony cabin, airfare, 2 nights hotel before the cruise, rental car in FL, 4 shore excursions, tips, and spending money. We're not big drinkers (stick to the drink of the day, usually under $4), don't gamble, aren't fans of the spa, and book our shore excursions on our own.

For us, cruises are a great way to sample destinations to figure out where we want to return later. Your hotel moves with you and there's usually something going on to keep everyone entertained. CruiseCritic is a great place to gather a lot of information. They've also recently done an article on the true cost of cruising. We passed that one along to my parents who are packing for their first cruise and they thought it was really insightful.

Happy travels!