Are cruises all inclusive? What kind kind of surprise charges can I expect to be hit with.?

Question

Seems like a bad deal. You are forced to tip every one on the boat. Drinks cost a fortune, even bottled water is high priced!

Answer 1

No your food and entertainment are mosty included.

alcohol, special food, desserts, and drinks, photos, and other things. You can have a good cruise and not spend to much if you stick to what is included.

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Answer 2

Here are some of the "extra expenses"...

- tips.  Usually $10 per day per guest

- bar drinks.  $4-12 each plus 15% gratuity

- sodas.  $1.75 each or soda fountain card. $35-45 depending on cruise line. Unlimited soda by glass.

- photos. $22-25 per sheet.

- bingo - $5-10 per card

- casino - $$$$

- bottled water - $3.50

- speciality dining - $50++

- shore excursions - $50-200 per excursion.

- spa services - $50-200 per service.

- taxis and tips while on shore

- shopping on board and in port

- tips for luggage porters

- parking at port

With the exception of the tips and parking at the port, everything is optional.  You can spend as much or as little as you want.

You can skip the shore excursions and grab a cab to the free beach.

Answer 3

If you get an "all inclusive" package. Which usually doesnt include alcohol.It would include your meals, but not meals off the ship, or most activities you take part in off the ship.But this is just an outline, different packages offer different things, so just make sure you look closely at what your actually paying for.

Answer 4

Food is included, drinks arent. You can expect a pretty big bill for that.

Answer 5

Food and basic beverages are included, you'll pay for pop, some juices and alcohol. Excursions aren't included as well as any activity you do off the boat. Dont forget the $10 a day gratuties. Some classes at the spa (like spinning) have charges that depend on boat. Medical costs are not included. I have spent between $125 and $300 on a 3-4 day cruise (for i person) and between $400 and $900 for longer cruises with 2-4 people

Answer 6

The only thing that is extra is the drinks, some even charge extra for soda. The cruise I went on included coffee, tea and lemonade in the all inclusive cost, all other drinks where charged. The excursions off ship aren't included either. You can either book them ahead or when you get on board. But all activities on board are included

Answer 7

I've been on a few. Pretty much of everything is included, The only thing you pay for is soda and alcohol.

Answer 8

none! only alcohol is to be payed for. Everything else is included. However, make sure to see if your cruise has sodas included because if it doesnt that'll be included. But the cruise it's sssooooo worth the $$$!! I've been on 4 cruises and ready for the next!

Answer 9

No cruises are not a bad deal---- they are great. BUT, like all industries, they try to "upsell" you all the time. McD's tries to supersize, Disney sells you Tshirts. This is no different....

Only when you use the "all inclusive" label, do people freak. Booze is extra, unless you pay $1,000 per day on expensive ships... You can have everything- for a price.

Today, book a cruise. Be sure the price quote you get includes port charges, taxes, and fees as well as the new "fuel surcharge". You can also prepay the tips at $10 per person per day. THAT"S IT. We have done many cruises where that is all we pay..... You get food, nightly shows, games, entertainment, 24 hour room service, etc....

Now, the stupid stuff- gambling, drinking, photos, souvenirs, etc. But it is all your choice- no "surprises", as you sign and agree to pay for it.

Disney charges you an admission ticket. Rides and shows included. What you then choose to spend is in your control. A cruise ship? Much the same....

Answer 10

Additional costs;

Gratuities to the staff at the end of the stay,

water, lemonaide, ice tea are free--- everything else (extra)

** better off drinking beer on the islands 2 for $1.00**

Johnny Rockets 3.95 cover charge. *worth it*

Other then that, check the bill on the interactive tv to make sure there are no errors, and best to check it everyday.

Have a great time !

Answer 11

Some are and some aren't so you will want to be sure to ask specifically what they include.  Don't let the sales person or whoever just answer with "all inclusive".  Obviously you already know all doesn't mean the same thing to everyone.  Make them individually name everything included and then plan to pay for anything that's not individually named.  If they end up paying for something you planned to pay for separately then great you'll have money left over.

Answer 12

hello,

if you want read something about cruise

i just come accross this blog which may help you

http://disney-cruise-ship.blogspot.com

http://cruises-carribean.blogspot.com

Answer 13

This is what to expect based on my experience on about 20 cruises.

The price of your cruise includes your cabin, all meals including breakfast lunch, dinner and snacks (except dinner in the specialty restaurants), all shows and entertainment on ship, and free use of all facilities on ship except the Spa. The things that you will have to pay for are:

Gratuities: They will amount to about $10 per person in your cabin per day; about $70 each for the week. 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. They will issue you a "cruise card" which will also serve as your room key and pass to get on and off the ship. At the end of the cruise they will add the gratuity to your tab and you can pay with a credit card or cash, your choice.

Alcoholic drinks and soft drinks: Coffee, tea, milk, juice, and lemonade and punch will be provided free but you must pay for drinks (alcoholic beverages) and they will add a 15% gratuity to each drink and soft drink order. You can save on drinks by ordering them in a plain glass rather than the souvenir glasses they often use. You can also save money if you can by taking a six-pack of bottled water and soft drinks with you in your carry on. Since you cannot take these through airport security you would have to get them after leaving the airport.  If you drink a lot of soft drinks you can buy on ship on the first day only a soft drink package for unlimited soft drinks.  These cost about $6.00 per day of the cruise and each person must have his/her own package.

Photographs: Cruise lines 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 $20 for most. Skip them and save yourself a lot of money. Take your own camera and have the other passengers photograph you on and off the ship.

Tours/Excursions: These are listed on your cruise line web site and you can reserve them well before the cruise and pay for them also. If you wait until you are on ship to book tours they will be charged to your on board account (then you can pay cash to settle your account on the last day).  Tours and excursions can cost between $35 and $150 per person, depending upon what's involved.

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: most cruise lines have what they call "specialty" restaurants where there is a gratuity/service charge. All other food on board is free and its not really necessary to budget for food; you cannot eat all that will be available.

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. You can use the gym free but the spa stuff cost big bucks.

Ships now have an internet cafe and some have WiFi but there is a fee for internet access and it is very expensive (like about $50 to $60 an hour).

You cabin will likely have a mini-bar with soft drinks and munchies; you have to pay for them (but there is free room service 24/7).

Answer 14

They are generally all inclusive of food, soft drinks, organised activities on board. You will have to pay for excursions ashore, alcoholic drinks and watch out for the small print telling you about the tipping charges. These are often not optional and can be quite  a lot! (they are sometimes added automatically to your tab onboard and you could get a shock when you disembark!)