| Cruise vacations are a great value for a vacation, but | | | | 3. Tipping for Ship Personnel. |
| make sure you know the hidden costs of cruising that | | | | Your cruise fare does not include tipping the ship |
| can cost you big bucks so that you can plan your | | | | personal. Many cruise lines recommend about $10-$12 |
| vacation budget. I can tell you that I have found some | | | | per person per day to be given to the dining room |
| amazing cheap cruises and I would have had an | | | | waiter ($4 per person, per day), assistant waiter ($2 |
| incredibly cheap vacation if I just stayed on the ship. | | | | per person, per day) and cabin steward ($4 per |
| But while a cruise voyage is one of the best values | | | | person, per day). If you have butler service, be |
| around since all major expenses (lodging, meals, | | | | prepared to tip that crew member $4-$5 per day. Bar |
| snacks, activities and entertainment) are indeed | | | | tabs are charged a 15 percent gratuity automatically. |
| included in the fare, there many items and incidentals | | | | You can, of course, always give tips for exceptional |
| that could break the bank for you. | | | | service. Cruise vacations are no vacation for your |
| The Top Five Hidden Costs of Cruises: | | | | waiters, assistant waiters and cabin stewards as they |
| 1. Port Fees and Taxes. | | | | work very hard and many of them don't get a day off, |
| Did you know that the advertised price of cruise | | | | so unless the service has been poor, do tip the |
| vacations is not the total price? Experienced cruisers | | | | recommended amount. You can also add a little more |
| know this to be one of the hidden costs of cruises but | | | | for outstanding service or attention. |
| if you've never taken a cruise before, you're in for | | | | 4. Shore Excursions. |
| some sticker shock at check out. What most people | | | | For cruise vacations, this is one item that, outside of |
| think of as "port charges" are itemized separately on | | | | the price of the cruise, that will be your major "hidden" |
| the cruise bill. Port fees and taxes are the taxes that | | | | cost and excursions can sometimes double the cost |
| foreign jurisdictions impose on arriving passengers to | | | | of your vacation, but I am a big fan of booking |
| support the facility where the ship is docking or | | | | excursions for many reasons. First, many ports are not |
| tendering, security, the longshoremen that tie up and | | | | located near the destinations that are advertised. In |
| release the vessel and related charges. Passengers | | | | certain ports there is a lot of sightseeing you can do |
| must pay these nominal charges over and above the | | | | on your own, but I have found that some port cities |
| published cruise fare and it can add up to 5% to 8% of | | | | are a little intimidating and depending on where you |
| your entire fare unless you purchased your cruise at a | | | | port, you're better off booking excursions to get the |
| deep discount at which point you will pay your fees | | | | most out of your trip. The cruise you book may very |
| based on the published fare of your cruise. | | | | well be a once in a lifetime trip so you don't want to be |
| 2. Drinks on Board the Cruise Ship (Sodas and | | | | penny wise and pound foolish when you've traveled a |
| Alcohol). | | | | great distance and then don't ante up the excursion |
| On cruise vacations, most cruise ships only provide | | | | fair for the excursion to Rome, Florence or the ancient |
| water, ice tea, lemonade and coffee, for the price of | | | | city of Pompeii, for example. |
| their cruise. You have to pay extra for bottled water, | | | | Prices for these excursions generally range from |
| alcoholic beverages, wine, and even sodas since they | | | | about $25 - $55 for a half-day city tour, to $200-$300 |
| are not included in the cruise fare on most lines (with | | | | for some all-day tours, overland programs including |
| the exception of some ultra-deluxe lines). And your bar | | | | meals and snacks, and such exciting offerings as |
| tab can add up quickly since the cost of Hard liquor, | | | | hot-air ballooning and helicopter "flight"-seeing. You will |
| cocktails and wine ranges from $3.50 to $8.00 a piece | | | | be met by a well maintained air-conditioned bus and all |
| or more, depending on cruise line (higher-end lines tend | | | | of your admissions are included. |
| to charge more for drinks); soft drinks will run $1.50 - | | | | Savings Tip: Booking excursions through your cruise |
| $2.00; and you will pay extra for specialty coffee | | | | line are recommended over booking excursions on |
| drinks like cappuccino or lattes. | | | | your own or through a third party vendor for one very |
| Savings Tips: | | | | good reason. If the excursion you booked through the |
| Most cruise vacations have advertised "daily drink | | | | cruise line is late getting back (and this has happened |
| specials" on the ship that you may want to taste as | | | | to me), they have to hold the ship for you if it's set to |
| they can be rather fun. You can also purchase wine | | | | depart before you actually returned to the ship. If you |
| by the bottle in the dining room and your waiter will | | | | booked your excursion through a third party or went |
| keep it stored for you to serve at your next dinner. | | | | off on your own and ended up not making it back to |
| This can save you money over the purchase price of | | | | the ship prior to the departure time, it's up to you find a |
| wine by the glass. | | | | way to reconnect with the ship at the next port. This is |
| Find out if your ship offers "soda packages" that | | | | definitely something to consider if you'd taken a train |
| feature unlimited sodas during the cruise for about $15 | | | | into a city an hour away and then miss the train on the |
| - $20. | | | | return or you get stuck in traffic with your cab or your |
| You can bring-your-own bottled water on board or | | | | rental car. |
| you can pick up soda six-packs of soda in port before | | | | 5. Fuel Surcharges. |
| you board, but this may vary cruise line to cruise line. I | | | | In 2008, just about every cruise line (including |
| always purchase plenty of bottled water before I go | | | | mainstream cruise lines and most niche cruise lines) |
| on a cruise before I board. If it's too much water to | | | | responded to the escalating cost of fuel by levying fuel |
| carry, then consider refilling water bottles at the casual | | | | surcharges on cruise trips. As the price of a barrel of |
| restaurant on the ship but please make sure you | | | | oil dropped, every cruise line removed the charges, but |
| comply to health and safety standards. Do not place | | | | as the cost of fuel fluctuates, cruise lines will reserve |
| your water bottle directly under the "water spicket" but | | | | the right to levy these charges if the cost of fuel rises |
| you should fill several glasses of water and then fill | | | | rapidly. |
| your water bottles with the water from the glasses. | | | | If you don't live in a port city, you will also have to add |
| Do not bring alcohol on board unless it's a souvenir | | | | the cost of airfare or gasoline if you drive to the port |
| you want to bring back home as it will have to be | | | | city. Even with these hidden hosts, cruise ship |
| stored for the duration of your cruise. Be aware that | | | | vacations are an excellent value for your travel dollar. |
| most of the cruise line policies for bringing alcohol on | | | | Just make sure you budget for these additional costs |
| board are highly restricted. | | | | when planning your cruise. |