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On top of that, guests spend an average of $680 (£536) on extras such as drinks, casino, spa services and shore excursions. This does not include the cost of any flights or transportation to the port. One area that you do have a lot of power over what you spend is with onboard spending. This category includes everything from drinks onboard to casino gambling to spa services and more. Technically you could sail the entire cruise and not spend a dime on the ship, but that’s not realistic for most people. Still, what’s spent on the ship will vary widely from person to person.
Hotels
Daily service charges go to your stateroom attendant and server, and will either be billed to your shipboard account or prepaid at the time of booking. All other gratuities for bartenders, guides, etc., will be added to your bill afterward. Take a look at this breakdown of cruise lines based on upcharges for coffee drinks, and see if you can spot the pattern. Some regions (like Alaska) tend to have higher port fees than others. Fees are also higher on larger ships because the cruise line is charged docking space based on size. As a rule of thumb, we estimate a budget of about $50 per person, per port of call.
Shows and Entertainment on Cruise Ships
Time Your Spa Visits for Discounted DaysTake advantage of spa discounts, typically offered on embarkation and port days when the spa is less busy. Check your ship's daily program for spa treatment specials that might be available one day only or during certain hours. Cruise line spas charge rates equal to high-end salons, and you might be shocked by the prices. A 50-minute massage is typically about $120 to $180, with more exotic treatments running higher into the $200 to $400 (not to mention medispa treatments, which can start in the four-figure range).
Big Benefit of Booking a Cruise a Year in Advance (That Most Overlook)
The good news is cruise lines like Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Cunard now offer single occupancy or solo cabins. I think this offering will continue to grow with other cruise lines. Unfortunately, cruises are often priced and sold based on double occupancy. They may have sales where they reduce the fare of the second person, and this is where working with a great travel agent who specializes in cruises can help. They can help solo cruises find these deals and also let you know about them when they happen.
In total, I would have paid $1,055 for excursions (including the Catalina tour that I did not have to pay for), which is a modest budget for two people on a seven-night cruise. For example, on previous cruises in the Caribbean, I have spent over $400 per port for two people for activities like scuba diving, snorkeling or zip lining. 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.
Read Next: Park & Cruise Hotels for Every Port in America
Still, gambling is a fun way to pass the time if you like gaming. These programs are best for loyal cruise-goers, but even first-time cruisers may find value in joining. These cabins do not have any windows, but they are typically the most affordable option. If that isn’t an option, prepare to pay a flat daily rate of at least $9 per day, or metered rates averaging 75 cents per minute or 35 cents per megabyte. Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean Group saw an average around $85 per person, per day in the last year. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. saw closer to $120 per person each day.
Fitness on Cruise Ships
This will give you the widest selection of dates and itineraries. If you’re booking a last-minute cruise, you may be able to find some great deals, but you won’t have as many options to choose from. The type of cruise you choose should be based on your budget and what you’re looking for in a vacation. If you’re looking for a family-friendly vacation with plenty of activities, a standard cruise is the best option.
How to save money on an Alaskan cruise
Prices vary based on deals offered during your trip and the type of treatment you choose. As a rule of thumb, don’t expect to leave the spa without spending at least $100 per person — and possibly more if you decide to get multiple treatments. ExcursionsUnless you plan to hang out on the ship or find a beach nearby, then you’ll likely want an excursion when in port. Excursions can be fun and make a memorable experience when in port. Cheap excursions run about $50 while the most expensive can be $150 per person.
Transportation pre- and post-cruise
Many cruise lines offer drink packages both in advance and on board. Whether you’re on a family vacation or a booze cruise, these packages can occasionally help to soften the sticker shock of drink prices. Be sure to read the fine print, though, as not every drink package is the deal it may seem. Cruise ships will do your laundry for you — for an extra fee, of course. You'll find a laundry/dry cleaning bag in your closet or in a drawer.
The casinos on a cruise ship offer all the games you’d expect, including blackjack, slots, video poker, roulette, and craps. But with a ship full of people and no other casinos around, the payouts offered aren’t that great. Whether you bring your own laptop and use Wi-Fi on your cruise, or park yourself at the computer center onboard, you will pay high rates for often slow to mediocre connections. On the up side, connection speeds are improving, and select cruise lines can offer land-like speeds. When asking the rather loaded question, “How much is it to go on a cruise? ” consider the cost of cruise tickets, then add up all the add-ons and extras to get a more realistic total.
Some of the taxes go to the embarkation port and some to the country under which the ship is registered. Cruise ships also pay state income taxes and even pay a tax on gambling revenue if sailing in certain waters. Any cruise deals below $120/day or even $100/day is considered a great buy.
I spent more than $1500 on a 4-night cruise. Here's what everything cost, from a $350 dog sitter to $43 for onboard ... - Royal Caribbean Blog
I spent more than $1500 on a 4-night cruise. Here's what everything cost, from a $350 dog sitter to $43 for onboard ....
Posted: Fri, 10 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
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. From the price of a cruise, the items that contribute to the cost, and the factors that can make a cruise cheaper or more expensive, we tackle it all in this in-depth guide. Once you have collected enough points, you can redeem them for room upgrades, onboard credit, companion fares or even a discounted sailing. Unless you live in the port city you're departing from, you'll want to plan for extra travel costs. First, consider whether you can drive to the port or if you'll need to fly.
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? For example, take a July 2023 cruise aboard Carnival Celebration (the line’s newest ship) from Miami.
But stick around because we’re going to explain what that actually entails, and how that price can be drastically higher or a bit lower. When you book a cruise, various food offerings are included in the price you pay. Many vacation goers who spend time exploring the Caribbean islands choose to do so by cruise ship.
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. 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.
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