11 cruise fees you should know about before booking
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Before booking a Royal Caribbean cruise, you'll want to understand what is and is not included in your cruise fare. Choose a destination, and port stops that interest you and are within your budget. Where you choose to cruise can also be a major factor in your overall cruise fare.
Gratuities
They are rarely included in the advertised rate of the cruise fare. Be sure to read the fine print to determine what costs are part of the cruise fare. Port fees and government taxes are levied by the ports of call your ship visit, and the exact amount will depend on the country.
Price Variety by Time of Year
Note that two devices can use the same wifi plan as long as they are not logged in to the wifi account at the same time. You can choose to buy drinks individually or purchase a Royal Caribbean drink package, which allows you to enjoy unlimited drinks during your cruise for one set cost. Solo cruising has become more and more popular in recent years, and cruise lines are following the trend by offering studio cabins on their cruise ships, built for just one passenger.
Caribbean Cruises Over Christmas
From these public reports, we know that the average cost of cruise fare runs from about $150-$245 per person, per day (depending on cruise company). These days gratuities are automatically charged to your account; everyone pays them. You can choose to prepay them when you buy your cruise, or have them charged to your onboard spending account and pay the balance at the end of your trip. Just like with the cruise fare, different people will spend different amounts. We’ve personally been on cruises and spent nothing extra on the ship.
If your vacation plans include alcoholic beverages, buying this package is a nice way to pay your cruise bar tab in advance rather than deal with the shock of a high bill at the end of the cruise. There are so many factors that greatly affect the cost of a cruise, but you can expect to spend anywhere from $1,000 to $6,000 on an average cruise. Keep in mind how subjective a cruise vacation can cost, similar to how a trip to a major city can vary depending on the choices you make.
Time of year
Use of fitness equipment is complimentary, but classes or private time with a trainer will add to your bill. The hotel itself was booked using Wyndham Rewards Points, but you should budget for lodging if you book a pre- or post-cruise stay. A 7-night Caribbean cruise in April will realistically set you back $1076 on an older Celebrity ship – or far more on a newer ship. There are a number of other cruise lines which regularly cruise the Caribbean. A longer cruise is, of course, more expensive than a short cruise. Generally speaking, Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises are cheaper than Southern.
3 ways to book a cheap Royal Caribbean cruise - TheStreet
3 ways to book a cheap Royal Caribbean cruise.
Posted: Sun, 31 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Included in your cruise fare is unlimited food from complimentary dining venues onboard. While the restaurants vary based on cruise ship, all Royal Caribbean vessels have a Main Dining Room and buffet. Newer cruise ships may do a few short cruises occasionally, but, they normally do seven days or more. So I recommend a longer cruise if you want a better value on your cruise fare. If you want to explore the ports of call on your cruise, you’ll need to pay for tours.
Caribbean Cruises in Peak Season (Winter)
Soda costs extra on all big-ship cruise lines except Disney Cruise Line and will run you $4.50 to $6 when ordered individually. If you're addicted to Diet Coke or other soft drinks, budget for a soda package, which gets you unlimited consumption for a flat daily rate. For comparison, my most recent Alaska cruise was a five-night sailing with only two ports of call. The taxes, fees and port charges totaled a whopping $373.64 per person. I recently booked a 15-night transatlantic sailing between Rome and Tampa, with four stops — three in Europe and one in the Bahamas.
Some of the common items you'll find useful to pack for a Caribbean cruise include sunscreen, bathing suits and clothing layers in case you run into rain or chilly weather. For more tips, check out our guide to packing for a Caribbean cruise. If you are parking a car at the port, the price is probably going to be around $20-30 per day to park. With the right information and some estimates, you can easily calculate the price to take a cruise. During my Mexican Riviera cruise, I took advantage of a status offer on Celebrity and had them launder a full bag at no charge. Services like massages, scrubs and wraps can soar well into the $200 per treatment range, and medi-spa offerings like acupuncture or teeth whitening are even more.
On the Western, dive into the crystal clear waters of Grand Cayman or explore the ruins of Tulum when arrive in Cozumel. Getting to and from your cruise port is another added expense on your Royal Caribbean cruise. You’ll need to budget for flights, baggage fees, gas, parking, tolls, taxis, and any other transportation expenses needed to reach your embarkation port. Outside of complimentary dining venues on any Royal Caribbean ship are specialty restaurants.
However, this price can range from $700 to $4,000 per person, depending on the cruise line and specific itinerary. A 7-day cruise can be a great family vacation option, but it can also be expensive. How much you’ll end up paying will depend on the cruise line and the specific cruise itinerary. Here is some information on what to expect cost-wise for a 7-day cruise. It’s possible to save up to 71% on your cruise based on the region you’re sailing and when you book.
Again, the costs vary by cruise line and sailing, but expect to pay an average of $5 to $12 per drink. The sheer amount of extras and goodies available to cruise guests can make budgeting in advance difficult, but it’s worth it. The spontaneity of a splurge may seem harmless enough on the ship, but avoiding the comedown of post-vacation sticker shock is only possible with planning.
One tip is to try to calculate the price of the cruise on a per-day basis. When doing this, try to come up with an average total cost of a cruise from each of the different cruise lines you are considering. The added expense of gratuities can often sneak up on people as tips for service staff. Tips are not mandatory, but they are customary and typically range from $10 to $12 per person daily. This fee is automatically added to your onboard expense account and can be paid upfront when you initially book your cruise. The average cost of a shore excursion is around $100 per person.
There will be plenty of things to choose from if you don't want to pay for these upgraded offerings. If, however, you want a more intimate dining experience, you will want to consider splurging on a specialty dining meal. Unlike gratuities that can be adjusted at Guest Services, port fees are paid in full by the time of final payment. Working with a good cruise-based agent can come with so many benefits. You normally don’t have to pay extra to worth with a personal travel agent.
You have no choice but to pay port fees and taxes, which are lumped onto your cruise fare. Luckily, cruise vacations are quite affordable and cruise lines offer a variety of options at different prices that make a cruise economical for many families. 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.
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