How do cruises work?

DH is begging me to go on a cruise, but I honestly don't know how they "work". What is included? How much do you budget for extras? What should I know? TIA!

Re: How do cruises work?

I have been on 2 cruises with different cruise lines.
What is included: Most food
Entertainment (shows)
Gym


Certain cruise lines have specialty restaurants that have a per person cover...like 10-25pp).

Drinks (coffee, tea, iced tea and juice with breakfast)
All alcoholic drinks and soda is not included

Shore excursions are not included
Photos taken by ship photographer are not included
Bingo and certain other activities are not included
SPA services are not included
Tips (you will have a amt per person per day suggested for your room attendant, waiters, etc.

I am trying to think of other stuff!

Re: How do cruises work?

Cruises -

You get a room card with charging privileges (they don't take cash or credit on board).

Basically you pay for:
Most drinks like soda, alcohol, specialty coffees- some lines have juice in the morning, ice tea, lemonade, water, hot tea, regular coffee and ice coffee that are free
Casino if you do any gambling
Some activities on board but these are few and far between and NOT needed to have a good time (but only a few like bingo, or specialty things, usually related to gambling)
Spa treatments
Some gym things like classes (on some lines), personal trainers etc.
Shore excursions

Free - almost all of your activities, entertainment (disco, shows, music).

Honestly unless you shop, gamble, drink soda or alcohol or do shore excursions expect that it is included.

Also - most ships have specialty dining - where 99% of your meals are free - there are options where you CAN eat but it might cost a surcharge. On princess they have 2 specialty restaurants a seafood/steak place and a italian restaurant - you do not have to eat in either place but if you do they charge you something like $20 pp (you still pay for drinks).

If you dine in the sit down restaurant or the buffet food is free - water, ice tea, hot tea, coffee, ice coffee is free - other drinks are for charge. Most lines however do have a soda card where you pay one price and get unlimited soda for the week.

You can limit your shipboard bill by not gambling, not shopping, limited drinking and doing your own shore excursions.

Tips and photos are extra. You will be asked to tip a certain amount

Message edited 8/29/2008 10:17:56 AM.

Re: How do cruises work?

every cruise line is different, you can check the websites for the details of each one.

With ROyal Caribbean.. your boarding card that you get at check is, is your room key, boarding pass, and pays for everythign you buy while on the ship.

1. All the food is included, even room service. The only thing that is extra is Johnny Rockets (if it's on your ship) or one of the specialty restaurants, where there is a service fee, but not a per plate fee
2. all iced tea/juice/lemonade drinks are included at meals but not in bars or clubs or on the pool deck. There are several places to get these drinks around the ship without paying for them. You can buy a soda package the first day of the cruise and they give you a cup. IF you and DH are not soda drinkers, I don't suggest getting it. We don't, I don't drink it at all andDH does occasionally.

You will have to tip the staff (waiters, busboy, room steward)...you can put that on your boarding card or give them cash...they recommend a certain amount, of course, you can adjust according to the service you receive.


Cruises are our favorite way of vacationing...especially since DH is a bottomless pit and we make out on the deal with him eating.