I have never been on a cruise before and would like to do the best one to take for the best price. also if you know could you tell me what is included in the package..food,drinks,entertainment that sort of thing. they always show all this fun stuff to do but is it all extra? please be informative. thank you
I’ve just come back from a Royal Caribbean cruise and found it the best of any I’ve been on, and I’ve been on about a dozen. It was way beyond my expectations. There were so many activities for every age group. There was an ice skating rink that you could use during the day. They had some wonderful ice shows in the evening. There were 2 big parades- something I’ve never seen before. There were constant surprises.
Food for the most part is free. There was a 3 level dining room. Most people ate there in the evening. There was also a fabulous buffet, with all kinds of foods, including an omelet station, make your own pizza station, etc. There was international food. Most people ate in the buffet breakfast and lunch. There were also other places around the ship for free lite fare and snacks.
There were specialty restaurants that charged a fee. A number of people who ate there did not think it was worth it, because the free food was just as good.
Alcoholic drinks and soda are not free.
Entertainment is free. Aside from nightly shows, there is a movie theater, and as I mentioned, ice shows.
There are free sporting facilities. I enjoyed playing miniature golf. But there’s a rock climbing wall, basketball, etc., etc..
There were 3 pools, one for adults only. There were a number of jacuzzis. Deck chairs and towels are free.
There was a fitness center and that was free.
There’s a free library.
I’m sure I missed out on some things.
Now, what you pay for-
You pay approximately $10 a day in tips- to dining room staff and room staff.
You pay for alcohol and soda
You pay for SPA treatments- hairdo, manicure, pedicure, massage
You pay for laundry
You pay for anything you buy in the stores
You pay in the casino
You pay for bingo or other betting games
You pay for medical help
You pay for excursions. You are better off not taking ship excursions, but hiring a cab with a tour guide driver when you get into port.
I actually did not pay for anything extra aside from tips and excursions. But I realize others are in need of all the extras.
I hope this information is helpful.
Which cruise line would be best for an Inside Alaska cruise?
http://www.princess.com/
Princess is great, Norwegian cruise lines is great. Carnival cruise lines is less formal and less expensive and is also more of a party cruise with more drinking. I’ve been on the first two but I only know what I have heard about Carnival.
Meals in the dining room are included in a buffet kind of setting and the food is really good and as much as you want. There are usually some pizza stations on the deck and those you get free too.
There are snacks and dessert bars around the ship, like ice cream and hot dogs, you pay for those. All drinks like alchoholic and cokes at all the bars you pay for. There is usually coffee bars to.
You get a plastic card that is linked to your credit card and you use those for purchases. If you work out all the meals and time in the cabins it’s as cheap as staying in a resonably priced hotel.
There is shopping in the ship, fancy stores and just plain little stores for souvenir and drug store.
If you go someplace with Euros or other money you can change dollars into that on board.
At the end of your cruise you are expected to tip your cabin stewart, it’s up to you how much. They are ready to take requests and other stuff to make your cruise better.
They take care of everything on the ship and the ports of call are really fun for tourism.
References :
Princess has it all, great food, service, elegant ships, great for families, everything always spotless and it is mid-priced. We always figure on $1,000 extra for the two of us. That would include tips, drinks, coffee cards(these are for fancy coffee’s), and some shore excursions. We don’t gamble, but that is an extra along with spa treatments, specialty restaurants, and of course any thing that you might buy on the ship(all cruise ships have several stores on them from every day needs to fancy jewelry stores). If you are planning to book a cruise, especially for the first time, find a good regular travel agent that specializes in cruising. They do not cost more and often will save you money. It’s the best way to book a cruise.
References :
I’ve just come back from a Royal Caribbean cruise and found it the best of any I’ve been on, and I’ve been on about a dozen. It was way beyond my expectations. There were so many activities for every age group. There was an ice skating rink that you could use during the day. They had some wonderful ice shows in the evening. There were 2 big parades- something I’ve never seen before. There were constant surprises.
Food for the most part is free. There was a 3 level dining room. Most people ate there in the evening. There was also a fabulous buffet, with all kinds of foods, including an omelet station, make your own pizza station, etc. There was international food. Most people ate in the buffet breakfast and lunch. There were also other places around the ship for free lite fare and snacks.
There were specialty restaurants that charged a fee. A number of people who ate there did not think it was worth it, because the free food was just as good.
Alcoholic drinks and soda are not free.
Entertainment is free. Aside from nightly shows, there is a movie theater, and as I mentioned, ice shows.
There are free sporting facilities. I enjoyed playing miniature golf. But there’s a rock climbing wall, basketball, etc., etc..
There were 3 pools, one for adults only. There were a number of jacuzzis. Deck chairs and towels are free.
There was a fitness center and that was free.
There’s a free library.
I’m sure I missed out on some things.
Now, what you pay for-
You pay approximately $10 a day in tips- to dining room staff and room staff.
You pay for alcohol and soda
You pay for SPA treatments- hairdo, manicure, pedicure, massage
You pay for laundry
You pay for anything you buy in the stores
You pay in the casino
You pay for bingo or other betting games
You pay for medical help
You pay for excursions. You are better off not taking ship excursions, but hiring a cab with a tour guide driver when you get into port.
I actually did not pay for anything extra aside from tips and excursions. But I realize others are in need of all the extras.
I hope this information is helpful.
References :