Once you have booked your itinerary, pay for your plane and travel insurance and choose your shore excursions, budget for extras. A world of temptations awaits.
While your cruise fare includes accommodation, meals, entertainment, and activities, the travel agencies know how to break you up for more dollars. Spending on ships is a big part of their profits.
You can get an idea of what you’re going to spend on drinks (pre-booked drink packages are for heavy drinkers) and casino budget, but don’t underestimate carefully crafted lures. other.
Here are our picks for what’s worth spending extra on cruise lines and what’s not.
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Worth showing off
food specials
You can enjoy a delicious or even great meal in your ship’s main dining room, at buffets and at other casual dining venues, such as a burger or pizza stand . However, for special food, you will pay extra on most ships.
Cruise ships operate intimate specialty restaurants, often based on culinary themes – Italian, French, steakhouse, Asian, Brazilian, sushi – and these restaurants charge an additional fee (or something else). what travel agencies like to call “premium”).
Prices range from a reasonable $15 per person to well over $100 per person – the latter for the multi-course chef’s tasting menu. Some restaurants have a la carte prices, so you pay for each option just like on the mainland.
If you’re a foodie looking to experience the best that a ship can offer on the culinary front, it’s worth it.
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Tip: Planning to sample some specialty restaurants? Look for discounted packages that you can book in advance.
wifi upgrade
While some cruise lines offer free Wi-Fi (including Virgin Voyages, Viking and ultra-luxury routes), most do not. If you are hooked on social media or need to stay connected, you have to pay extra.
Basic Wi-Fi, just enough juice to send and receive emails, can be under $10 a day.
If you plan to send photos or post videos, you’ll want to upgrade this plan to a high-speed plan. You can buy a streaming service for a day or two, but then you might feel frustrated on days without it.
A better bet is to upgrade to a timed streaming plan, which typically costs $150 or more for a seven-day journey (for two devices). Look for discount offers before taking the train and on the train.
Cooking classes
Of the cruise ship activities, cooking classes are among our favorites, but with this in mind: Look for classes that you actually get your hands on instead of just the classes. lesson.
ABOVE Royal Caribbean, you can take a sushi class ($35) and learn how to make a hand-rolled lunch. A little bit Oceania Cruises, Netherlands USA And Regent Seven Seas Cruise On board, you can learn cooking skills from master chefs in a professional culinary center equipped with workstations, including stovetops. A favorite class in Oceania is one that focuses on learning knife skills ($69).
Serve breakfast in the room
Don’t underestimate a luxurious vacation experience with breakfast in bed — or while enjoying the ocean views from your cabin balcony. Most cruise ships will bring you free coffee and a basket of pastries. However, if you want eggs, pancakes, breakfast sandwiches or other items, you may have to pay extra — a flat fee of $5 to $10 or a separate fee for each item.
It’s worth it (though if you want to get rid of your PJ and grab free items from the buffet to take back to your cabin, that’s an option too).
Activity ‘Wow’
Lots of fun activities on board the free cruise ship, from water skiing and mini golf to climbing rope and wall courses. However, if your ship has a marquee attraction, there may be an extra charge. It deserves the thrill and bragging rights.
Spend $15 to experience Bolt, the first roller coaster at sea, ABOVE Festival cruise line5,282 passengers Mardi Gras, and gliding around the nearly 800-foot track at speeds up to 40 mph. ABOVE Norwegian Cruise Lineyour latest trains, glide around the go-kart track as you compete with other riders for the fastest score for $9.95 each (or $199 for a one-week unlimited plan) ).
cork fee
On most ships, you can bring a bottle or two (or sometimes more) of your own wine or champagne on board. This allows you to pick your favorites, whether you pick something standard or classic you’re saving and not having to worry about cruise ship prices being marked.
If you bring your bottle of wine to a restaurant or bar, you’ll likely have to pay a $10 to $30 corkage fee, but it might be worth it.
Tip: If you’re buying wine on the plane, look for packages that offer discounts when buying multiple bottles.
Related: The Ultimate Guide to Cruise Drinks
Good coffee
For the coffee picky, be forewarned that you might not like what’s served at the buffet. It is often a generic brand and some may find it too strong, others too weak.
For coffee snobs, better coffee is available at the on-board cafe for a fee. You’ll find drip coffee and baristas making espresso, lattes and cappuccinos. You can even buy Starbucks on Norwegian Cruise Line ships and some Royal Caribbean ships.
Probably not worth it
art auction
Some people claim that they bought the best painting ever on a cruise ship – and spent a lot of money on the process. Others are completely disappointed with their extravagant purchases when they get home. Additional shipping and handling costs may mean you end up paying more than you pay at the showroom (or on eBay).
It’s best to ignore the temptation – although you might want to witness the action and sip a free glass of Champagne in the process.
expensive jewelry
Buy those $10 watches and rings at gift shops, but if you’re looking for fine watches, diamonds, and other pieces of jewelry, know your stuff and research before. Jewelry is non-returnable if purchased on board.
Also, be aware that tax exemptions apply to taxes. If you spend a lot, you may still owe customs fees when you return to the US
image
Cruise ship photographers are ubiquitous on board and at the pier, trying to capture memorable moments. But do you really want that $20 snapshot taken against a cheesy background as you board the train with puffy eyes because you caught a 6 a.m. flight to the pier? Or the picture of you with your mouth full of spaghetti at dinner?
Yes, you can pose silly with your friends, but instead of paying, ask another passenger to take a picture with your smartphone. (The only time the photos might be worth it is if you take a family portrait with you and the kids doing their makeup for the ship’s solemn night.)
Related: 21 tips that will make your first journey go smoothly
Gym class
The large ships have spacious ocean-view gyms with the latest and greatest in workout equipment, as well as a jogging track. Fitness centers will offer free stretching and abs classes. So you might want to think twice before shelling out $12 to $40 for other classes or $85 to $110 for a personal training session (learn things you’ll quickly forget when you get home) .
We recommend stocking up on extra energy (and money) for cycling and other land-based activities.
spa treatment
We understand. You’re on vacation, and you finally have time to relax. However, you’ll pay between $105 and $180, depending on the itinerary, for a 55-minute basic Swedish massage or deep tissue – more than you’d pay at home. Each manicure and pedicure will cost you $45 or more. Better to get these at home.
thermal suites
The spa’s thermal suites are dedicated relaxation areas equipped with amenities such as therapeutic seawater pools or hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms, aromatherapy showers, mud rooms, and saunas. , salt room and snow room as well as heated couches. These retreats feature soothing music, soothing decor and really pleasant scents, providing a multi-sensory experience.
Our problem is the price, from $30 to $70 per person for the whole day. (There’s also a flat rate for the entire journey.) Most people don’t spend more than an hour there, so consider that when you’re deciding if it’s worth it.
Laundry delivery service
On cruise ships, you’ll pay big city rates for dry cleaning and laundry. It’s great to be delivered all your panties neatly folded (for $2 or $3 a pair) and to see your t-shirts neatly folded and hung on hooks, but are you really Want to pay extra for it?
Tip: If you need to do laundry, see if your ship has a self-catering laundry room where you can use the washer and dryer for free or for a few dollars.
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