What services do you have to pay for on a cruise ship?

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TINKERTOY ..... the 1 & only

The price of your cruise includes your cabin, all meals (except the specialty restaurants), all shows and entertainment, and use of all facilities on ship. 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 of 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.

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)

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 internet cafe and some have WiFi but the 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 minibar with soft drinks and munchies; you have to pay for them (but there is free room service 24/7).

Julie T

Expenses above and beyond your fare...other than tips...these are optional and you can spend as much or as little as you want and still have a great time.

Tips - $10 per day per guest

Bar drinks - $4-12 each plus 15% gratuity

Soda - $1.75 per can or soda card - $35-45 per week for unlimited soda by the glass

Photos - $20-22 per sheet.

Shore excursions - $50-200 per trip.

Spa - $50-200 per service.

Bingo - $5-10 per card

Temp tattoos - $10-30

Casino - $$$

Candy store, shopping, gourment coffee and pastries...

Phone - $7.00 to call ship to shore

Internet - by the minute or a block of minutes

Bottle water for shore excursions

Taxis while in port. $5-50 depending on where you go

Parking at the local port

Tips for luggage porters

**Make sure that your travel agent includes the port fees and taxes when quoting you a rate...

Zef H

What is typically covered in the cruise fare is the cabin, the meals (including most drinks), most activities and the entertainment.

Typically what is not covered is bottled water (tap water is free and quite good) soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, special activities (mostly special classes) gambling, spa treatments, specialty restaurants, photographs, tips (usually about $10 per day per person), special coffee (such as you would find at Seattle's Best - regular coffee & tea are free) and shore excursions.

Here is what Princess has to say about this subject ...

http://www.princess.com/cruise_vacationing/new/included.html

Your cruise fare includes:
â€¢ Stateroom accommodations including bed, bathroom, shower and TV
â€¢ Personalized service of one Princess staff member for every three passengers
â€¢ Gourmet dining
â€¢ Las Vegas-style Casinos and Broadway-style shows
â€¢ Onboard activities (fresh water pools, deck parties)
â€¢ Edutainment / Kids programs
â€¢ Gym with exercise classes
â€¢ Library and card room
â€¢ Nightclub
â€¢ Unpack once, visit many destinations

Also available on the ship: (additional charges apply)
â€¢ Full service spa & massage therapy
â€¢ Beauty salon
â€¢ Boutiques & shopping
â€¢ Art auctions/galleries
â€¢ Shore excursions
â€¢ Fitness trainers
â€¢ Full Day babysitting service
â€¢ Bar drinks

Laura is TTC#1

Basically what everyone else said...salon, alcohol, massages, soda if you are going Royal caribbean GET THE COKE CARD
It is worth it! It s about $45 but if you dont get it the cokes are about $4 a piece

Bill in Kansas

1. BOOZE & Soda
2. Private supper club -- if the ship has one
3. Spa -- Massage etc
4. Internet -- buy the minute
5. Ship to shore (or wireless) telephone
6. Shore Excursions
7. Tips
8. Bingo and scratch tickets
9. CASINO
10. Photographs
11. Onboard shopping
12. In room mini bar
13. Pay per view movies
14. Laundry service (or self service)

Tivogal

salon, spa,massage, you do pay for
mostly those you dont' pay for are ability to use the excersize area, but then some of the classes offered you have to pay for also.

see cruisecritic.com
cruiseclues.com

curious connie

Massages, hair salon, cocktails and beer. Sodas. Shore excursions. Internet access. Pictures. On my last cruise (5 days/4nights), my bill was under $40.00.

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