Cruise planning tips

Budget ahead of time for extras on the ship.

Cruise tips for beginners, what to look for when buying your cruise vacation package.

Cruise vacation guests pay one price which covers everything you need for a wonderful vacation at sea: a comfortable stateroom, delicious food, engaging entertainment and lots of onboard amenities, from pools and hot tubs to kids’ clubs and nightclubs.  More expensive luxury cruises will offer more all-inclusive pricing which may cover gratuities, wine, soft drinks, alcohol, shore excursions and larger cabins.

Unlike luxury cruises, that have a higher price tag, many ships have additional features and amenities available on a pay-as-you-go basis. Cruise lines charge separately for these “extras,” giving passengers the option of whether or not to indulge in them. The value proposition is that guests will choose where they want to spend their money onboard instead of paying ahead of time and not using the amenity.

Traditionally, extras have included soda and liquor, ship-to-shore phone calls, spa treatments, shore excursions and casino charges. More recently, cruise ships have added features such as Internet centers, espresso bars, alternative restaurants and specialized exercise classes available at nominal fees.

If these extras are important to you, you’ll want to include them in your vacation budget. Your personal cruise expert can help you estimate how much you can plan to spend onboard. He or she also knows which cruise lines are offering shipboard credits – essentially, money you can use to pay for extras – as an incentive for early booking.