Booking a CRUISE,..HELP please?!?

Question

I like to kno EVERYTHING before hand...all details,..all info, etc. We want to go on a cruise for our honeymoon in September of 09. I have a few things I dont understand though. Ok, here goes-

We live in Illinios and will have to fly to a port. Are flights usually widely available so that we could fly in that morning and leave on our cruise that afternoon, or would it be safer to fly in the day before, stay overnight, and get on our cruise the next day?

Is food included?

When we port at a destination(mexico,carribean,etc):: I know that it does cost extra to do tours or site seeing, but do you have to pay to just walk the beach/exit the boat? Is the extra money for the tours worth it?

Do cell phones work on the ships?

Do they charge you to drink water?

I feel uncomfortable continuously tipping people through out the day. I am unsure what to tip and who to tip-can they just work that into our tab?

Exactly how much money should we save to bring?

Answer 1

Hi.. first off, you have to be traveling with a person 25 yrs old to be able to cruise. My husband and I went on our first cruise May, 2008 and we went through a travel agent and made sure she put ALL cost up front. This includes all port fees and tipping. You only have to tip $10.00 Ada and this was included in our cruise price. You do need to tip the porter that takes your bags and puts them on the ship, also your shuttle driver. If at the end of your cruise you want to tip your  head waiter in the diningroom,but that's totally up to you. You'll get a envelope at the end of your cruise, in your cabin, to tip your maitre'd. The food on these cruise ships are free and VERY good! Yes, you'll have to pay for BOTTLE water, but the ships water is free. Alcohol .. you have to pay for. If you do want this, ALWAYS ask for for the small glass because it does cost less. We flew in the day before because we didnt want the hassle of wondering if we were going to have something happen with flight. (The price of a motel really isn't that high.) Then taking a shuttle to the port the next morning.

Now for excursions, they do cost. Depending on what you want to do. Yes you can go to shore and just walk around, walk the beach, ect and it doesnt cost to do that. The islands do have places where you can purchase things, but just walking and looking cost nothing.

We took $1000.00 for our cruise and we came back with $600.00 so the spending is all up to you. We had already booked our excursions on line with Carnival and so it was already paid for before the cruise, so do check into that and it will give you alot of different things to do  before you go and you can pay for it on line.

This was "OUR" first cruise and we had so much FUN, that we have already booked one for 2009! You'll love it !!

Congrats on the wedding, and believe me, you'll have a ball.

I hope this does help you out.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Here goes :" you don't have to pay for food on board it is included in the price....

here's what I suggest, find the destination you want to go to...as an example you could go to Italy or France, or you could go on a Bahama's cruise....the price is for length and accomadations....the room you get is what you really pay for.

look at a map of the ship you want to sail on....if you want fresh air, get a state room that is close to the outside of the ship....there are two to 8 cabins up front with balconies and a whole lot of state rooms along the outside but the cheapest are inside cabins...you save money but get no view...boring!

also the cabin is sometimes shared with other guests...be sure you get one that isn't shared....now about tipping, get your waiters name and always let him/her serve you through out the ride....some ships have more than one dinning room, so take their names and tip afterwards....like Jim R served us 3 meals...so here's say $5 for him and Jane served us 14 meals...so I'll give her $20 ....and then there is your valet...the ones that make your beds and leave the mints etc.....$1 per day.....should do it.

I would imagine $100 for all those that serve you or give you drinks at the bar....remember don't tip while your drinking...take their names and add it to your tip list...then send it to the purser to disperse for you at the end of your cruise.   if your going to pinch pennies don't go in 2009....a good trip will cost you less that $5000 per couple including everything....don't forget to go scuba diving at the resorts while your in port and parasailing and such...cost extra...that's why I say you need 5 Grand to cover expenses and sailing etc.  drinking is extra...and yes you do have to pay for water....

except at meals....

so bring a water container to save on between while at the pool etc....a friend of ours always takes Ice tea mix to make ice tea instead of drinking just plain water and it keeps the waiters from bugging you every 10 min. to get your order.

if you need more info email me.

Answer 4

Hi Queeny!

Whew, lots of questions :)  I've cruised five times so I'm able to answer most of your questions...

Flights - this will depend on what port you're departing from and the flight time and flight scheduled to that destination.  If you can afford the hotel stay, I'd fly in the day before so you can relax and enjoy the area.  The cruiseline you book with can book your flights for you and by doing so they'll usually include transfers (from the airport to the port) for free.

Food - yes, food is included.  However alcoholic drinks are not and they're expensive.  Soda/Pop (whatever you call it) is usually not included either, but usually for about $30 you can buy a soda card which gets you unlimited soda.

Touring at your destinations - There is no charge to get off the boat and walk around and see the sites.  I do believe that the extra money is worth the tours based on my past experience.  The cruiseships only work with tour operators that are the best, so if you do want to book a tour, book it through your cruiseship either when booking your cruise, or at the service desk on the cruiseship.  If you want to stick to a budget, review the tours offered at each destination and just pick one that you really must have.  When I went to Dominca, we did a trip up into the rainforest and I got to hold baby monkeys.  That is something I'll never forget.

Cell Phones - The answer depends on your cell phone service provider (call them and ask).  Even if you have cell service, it may only work in some ports.

Drinking Water - They do charge for bottled water, and you do not want to be drinking the water out of the tap.  However, at dinner and other meals, they do offer filtered water.

Tipping - The only people I remember tipping was our cabin steward (the guy that keeps your room clean and picked up and will get you just about anything) and the wait staff.  You can request that the tip (a % that the cruiseline determines) be added to your bill.  At the time you check out and get your bill, you're welcome to adjust that tip higher or lower depending on the service you received.

How Much Money to Bring - That's a tough one.  If you like to party (drink alcohol), plan on about $5/drink.  You'll want spending money to buy stuff at the ports you stop in too.  The answer to this depends entirely upon your income and how much you're able to save.  Be prepared to spend more than you planned though.

As far as recommending a cruiseline, I've only cruised on Carnival and I can say that we've always been pleasantly pleased with their ships and staff.

Additional Details Answers:

Free Shows / Good time - Absolutely!  Almost all activities on the boat are free (other than gambling which is the only thing that comes to my mind that's not free), so you're able to take it all in.

5 day cruise - it will go FAST!!  And you'll probably leave wanting to come back soon.

Age Range - Cruises are for all age ranges.  Some cruiselines cater to an older group (like Cunard) and some cater to the middle of the road people and families (like Royal Carribbean) and others cater to all folk (like Carnival).  These are just general thoughts on my part.  You could go on a cruise on any of these ships and have a great time.

Price vs. Rating - I would go first by price, and then secondly choose based on the itinerary you like best.  Look for ships that are newer in the fleet too, as they're usually nicer inside.

OK, time for a deep breath on my part.

Enjoy yourself.  It will be one of the best times of your life!

Regards,

Debbie

Answer 5

1. you will have NO problems finding the flight you want to a cruise port. they are so common, however you will be paying a lot more for morning flights. and I would make sure to leave PLENTY of time between landing and your cruise departure in case of delays.  I would fly in the night before to be safe.

2. Food is mostly included. If you want meals that aren't (such as a fancier dinner or extras at lunch) your on your own.  I believe non-alcoholic drinks are free though.

3.  Usually paying extra for tours is well worth it.  Sometimes if you leave the boat to just hang on the beach there is a docking fee.  Usually about $10 a person or less.

4.  Cellphones rarely work on the boats.  Maybe when close to land you'll catch a signal

5. Like I said earlier, no charge for non-alcoholic drinks...this includes water.

6.  Your staff lives on the ship as well.  You do not have to tip every day (although it is nice to tip your waiters a bit because you may not get them again) but your room attendants will be the same person for the entire trip.  Toss them a nice tip at the end of the cruise.

7.  I don't know how long your cruise is, but for a one week cruise I recommend saving about $800 for the two of you, possibly more if you want to do tours, buy souvenirs, eat nice dinners, drink a bit etc.

Good luck, and have a GREAT time on your honeymoon. and Congratulations!!!

Answer 6

I've been on 3 cruises and we're going on our 4th one in a couple weeks.

We have always flown the day the cruise ship leaves port and gotten there with plenty of time. Some people fly out the night before though, but I don't really see a point in it unless you live really far away and would have a long flight. We live in Indiana, so usually we fly out of Indy, but we're flying out of Chicago this time. We have left from New York, Boston, and Port Canaveral and are leaving from Miami.

Yes, food is included, unless you want to eat at one of the specialty restaurants. I recommend eating in the buffet for breakfast and lunch(if you're not in port) and eating in the main dining room for supper.

No, you can just walk off of the boat for free and do your own thing. We have never done the shore excursions, but have found cheaper tours right at the port where you get off, that were good. We are probably going to do some shore excursions this time though.

No, cell phones don't work. I reccomend you bring walkie talkies.

No, lemonade, ice tea, and water are free. You have to pay for everything else.

I am not sure about that because I am only a teenager, but I think they include the tip in the bill they give you at the end of the cruise.

The only time you will need money is in the ports.

Answer 7

Congrats on your nuptuals... and a honeymoon cruise! If you fly into the port, be sure you have enough time to get from the airport to the ship terminal. Cruise ship lines might even have available transportation for you between airport and ship... you can check on that with the cruise line and/or the airport. Otherwise just check on taxi, or shuttle buses.

I'd fly in the same day, but early... to avoid the expense of another hotel night.

The cost of your cruise ticket includes meals, but there are times or certain extras that you pay for. Also have to pay for alcoholic drinks... and some soft drinks that are not included with your meals.

No, you don't  have to pay just to walk on the beach, and during dockside, you can come and go on the ship as often as you want... just be sure you are on-board when its time to be!

I'm not sure about cel phones, since I didn't have one then, but would assume the ship has cell communications... they do have internet connections.

You can buy bottled water if thats what you want.

Tips can... and will probably be added to your final totals when you disembark

How much money? Hum.... plently. Honestly, I spent more on souvinere's and extras, and fun than I spent for the cruise.

Answer 8

I have only sailed on Carnival (5 times taking sixth next April) and since you are considering them I will let you know what they offer. First I have flown from Maine to Florida four times and New Orleans once...long flights and have never been late for a ship. Since you are going in September weather should not be an issue when flying. It is always safest to come in the day before, but if you arrive at your destination before noon you should be fine. Also get the transfer from the airport to the ship through the cruise line so they will be looking for you at the airport. On the ship almost everything is included. All food, including room service is included in the cost of the cruise. (The food that is already in the room, sodas and bottled water cost extra) Food is available 24/7 somewhere on the ship. The Lido deck is where you will find the buffet and various quick type foods (pizzas, burger, sandwiches, etc) There are places on board where you can purchase specialty foods like desserts and coffees. These will cost extra. All Alcohol is extra as is soda. Water, not bottled, juice and iced tea are available at no charge. Soda passes can be obtained for $5 per day. If you drink a lot of soda it is worth it. While in port you can get off the ship and visit the island for free. The excursions are generally worth it but not required. (If you would like some more specific information email me, [e-mail] , and if I have visited the island I will try to give you some beach and tour information) Cells phones generally work but it is expensive. Check with your service provider so you can get an idea of costs. As for tipping, Carnival charges $10 per day per guest for tips. This is added to you on board bill. You do not have to tip at all and you are not expected to tip when service is rendered. (You will have 15% added to all drink order as a gratuity) You can also adjust the amount of the tip, up if you feel you had exceptional service, or down if you felt the service was poor. You only need to go to the purser’s office (It’s like the front desk at a hotel) and they will take care of it for you. The employees of the ship will not be looking for tips from you so you do not have to feel obligated to tip. At the end of the cruise you can tip you main dining room waiters if you feel the service was above and beyond. The $10 per day breaks down like this, $3.50 for room steward, $5.50 for the dining room staff and the remaining $1.00 for everyone else. On board the ship you will not be able to use cash except in the casino and some related activities. Your room key acts as you “sign and sail” card which you can put a cash deposit on or link it to a credit or debit card. So the only cash you will need is on shore. However if you are going to buy anything on shore I would recommend you use a credit card for the banks will adjust to correct exchange rates, where applicable, and will offer you some protection against fraud. If you shop at the cruise recommended shops the cruise line will protect you against poor quality merchandise. So you will not need a lot of cash, a few hundred dollars on a five day should be plenty, but that will all depend upon your personal preferences. I hope this all helps and if you have any additional questions send me an email.