Surprise! It costs money!

[MEcruzr]

This isn't a "surprise it cost money" thing... but it was (long ago) a "surprise you better buy it" thing: travel insurance. The older you get and the more the cruise/trip costs, the more the insurance costs. IMHO, it's a necessary expenditure, though... but something a new cruiser might not budget for.

[forensic]

YES - DH and I ordered 2 drinks (Bailey's on Ice) on our last CCL cruise and handed the server 2 drink coupons - thinking we had paid for our drinks. WRONG! We still had to pay another $5.50 + the 15% gratituty - I was TICKED OFF. I took the rest of the drink coupons and threw them in the trash! They were worthless as far as I was concerned!

[young mountie]

YES - DH and I ordered 2 drinks (Bailey's on Ice) on our last CCL cruise and handed the server 2 drink coupons - thinking we had paid for our drinks. WRONG! We still had to pay another $5.50 + the 15% gratituty - I was TICKED OFF. I took the rest of the drink coupons and threw them in the trash! They were worthless as far as I was concerned!

 

 

What was the additional charges for, I just bought $100 in tickets for my cruise in January. I thought the tickets covered the cost except for the gratuity which quite honestly should be given for service and not as a right.

[wilson9112]

We have been on several cruises, thus I can not tell you which line, but at the chocolate buffet which was held in the afternoon in the formal dining room, "The One Who Must Be Obeyed" was seated first as I was too busy trying to squeeze one more piece on my plate. She accepted two glasses of champagne from the waiter thinking that they were included. As I sat down I had the honor of signing the receipt. I suppose that I could have sent them back, but did not want to make an issue of it! To add insult to injury, I do not drink alcohol and she drank them both. BUT I did have a happy wife. So in the long run, what the hey?

 

LOL thats funny. Last year the server was greeting all at the main doors to the chocolate buffet with a try of glasses of champagne. My friend grabbed some glasses off the tray and started to pass them to our friends. He also thought it was free. The woman told him it was about $7 per glass and he took them out of everyones hands and put them back on the tray LOL...... A lesson to be learned. Always ask "how much"?:D

[fxrescbe]

... but readers of this thread may find the information useful, so I'll post it again.

 

That is a great list! They should publish it somewhere here on CC.

 

One thing that is missing: Fuel surcharge. I personally think it is a rip-off. Some lines decide to charge you extra even AFTER you have a confirmed booking and paid for full as prices are rising.

 

While I understand that oil prices do have an impact on cruise line profitability, I think that a confirmed and paid booking should be just that and not be charged extra afterwards. After all, has anyone heard of a "fuel discount" when prices drop? And what about a "food surcharge" when the price of food changes?

 

Just another hidden cost that those lines obviously try to hide from consumers...

 

 

[cruiserbryce]

it seems the ones that get looked over the most are tips and soda...excursions you have to pay for when you book them so there's really no surprise there

[happy cruzer]

Bottled water is the one that gets alot of folks.

 

It's in your cabin usually by the ice bucket. It must be included??? Nope.

 

As you go off the ship, there is water, It must be included??? Nope.

 

But sometimes on excursions it's included. go figure.

 

Always ask if there is a charge. They are counting on you being too polite to ask...

[happy cruzer]

Also drinks in the casino are for the normal charge. They are not free like in most on land casinos.

[anaslile]

Some great advice there, thanks! :)

 

I think any time you travel, anywhere, you should count on it costing about 2-3 times more than you estimate. Things come up that you didn't expect, plus you don't want to bargain yourself into not being able to enjoy your time. I've had family members, who didn't do what they wanted because of the cost, regret that they didn't take an excursion they would have enjoyed. You do have to remember that you are travelling to places you possibly may not have visted before and you may never get back there again.

 

We've found that we can forego without being disappointed some things, other things are important to us. We enjoy wine with dinner and a few cocktails during the week. I might buy a few cosmetics onboard, you can save a bit of $ over what you would spend at home for the same thing.

 

We don't buy any photos until the final day, then we group them together choosing our favorite and buy only one, if at all. We avoid buying souvenirs, we've learned they just get put aside and eventually make it to the trash when we get home. I feel no obligation whatsoever to buy souvenirs for my co-workers or family members, we stopped doing that years ago.

 

Gambling or Bingo doesn't appeal to us, the "art" onboard is not any great deal, although they would have you thinking you are making an investment.

 

I think that if you just avoid believing the hard sell you get both on the ship and on shore, you can save a great deal of money. A person could really cruise for just the fare plus tips if they were really conservative.

 

Bottom line, think of travel experience instead of shopping, experience is worth a whole lot more than "things". Your photos will be more valuable to you in the years to come than some knick knack that found its way to a box in the garage.

 

Also, your pre-vacation expenses can be trimmed. I'm active on the fashion board here and cannot believe how many people go and buy a whole new wardrobe of "cruise clothes". I have to admit, I did this on our first cruise, it was an expensive lesson learned. Most of what I bought went to Goodwill a few years later, only worn once or never worn at all. Buy clothes that you will wear at home. Shop sales for formal nights and don't think you have to have a different pair of shoes for every outfit. Mix and match, wash underwear in the sink, conserve wherever you can. Not only will your budget thank you, so will your back since you don't have to haul heavy bags around.

 

Great advice! Thank you! I anticipate my expenses to pretty much just be drinks and maybe a spa treatment!

 

I have to admit though, I have been buying new clothes, but only formal wear, as all my formal wear is old and out of date. Hopefully it won't end up at goodwill. Other than that, it's all stuff that I already own!

 

The most things I'm finding that I'm spending money on is shore excursions. Adn this is booking mostly non-ship excursions to save a bit of $$! This isn't even taking into mind cabs and stuff like that. Plus food and drinks at the various stops.

[forensic]

What was the additional charges for, I just bought $100 in tickets for my cruise in January. I thought the tickets covered the cost except for the gratuity which quite honestly should be given for service and not as a right.

 

The "additional charge" was because we ordered a name brand! "Bailey's" duh! I was insulted and considered the coupons a MAJOR rip-off! You pay 15% gratuity on anything from the bar - service or not.

 

I would NEVER buy drink coupons! We buy ourselves gift certificates online, have them delivered online and then redeem them online to our "On Board Account" Then we can buy whatever drink we want without worrying about 'extra charges'.

[mpw2002]

You'll pay dearly for the 'luxury' of being connected at sea. Most ships charge about 75 cents a minutes and at sea the internet connection is very slow. Ask any of the ship staff about good internet cafes in your ports of call and they'll point you in the right direction since many of them contact their family etc when in port.

I recently came back from Mexico where prices ranges from 1 USD for 15 minutes, to 1 USD for 1 hour at internet cafes on shore.

Usually you'll find good long distance phone rates at most internet cafes. In San Diego, in Horton Plaza they charge 10 cents a minute for land line calls in North America. Their internet is 2.50 for 15 minutes (grab a map from the Trolley tour desk in front of the Mall which has coupons for discounts on internet rates).

[Jane110]

my favorite past time -- watching those waiters take advantage of newbie cruiers who have no idea those are not free- the way they present the tray of drinks is that the look for free-- untily ou take one and take a sip then ask for your sign and sail card. (its done on Royal and Princess also.)

 

 

Happened to me on my very first cruise. Had the waiter told me upfront that there was a charge I would have bought it, but I was so annoyed at the cruiseline for treating me that way, I just gave it back to him. Too bad for him that I already took a big sip out of it and he had to go and dump it.

[mamaza]

I have to admit though, I have been buying new clothes, but only formal wear, as all my formal wear is old and out of date. Hopefully it won't end up at goodwill. Other than that, it's all stuff that I already own!

 

Gee, so you're the one who sends all those nice clothes to the Salvation Army. No kidding. Last year DW and I were in a Salvation Army store to find some outside play toys for the grandchildren's yearly pilgramage and we found two, looking like they were brand new, formal gowns that fit DW perfect. They had to be $200+ dresses and we got them for less than $20 each. Maybe I should have posted this on the "money saving" thread.

[anaslile]

Gee, so you're the one who sends all those nice clothes to the Salvation Army. No kidding. Last year DW and I were in a Salvation Army store to find some outside play toys for the grandchildren's yearly pilgramage and we found two, looking like they were brand new, formal gowns that fit DW perfect. They had to be $200+ dresses and we got them for less than $20 each. Maybe I should have posted this on the "money saving" thread.

Nah...Not me. ;) The formal wear I have right now (not including the stuff I've bought) is from 1999 or earlier when I was in highschool, and was bought in the juniors section CHEAP. This stuff will hopefully last me until 2017. :p

 

I only tend to give stuff away when it was a cheap buy and I haven't worn it in 3+ years or when it doesn't fit me. Formal wear I keep even longer. I'm not a Goodwill shopper (something about wearing clothes others have worn just gives me the shivers), but people I have have found LOADs of stuff like your DW did. It's terrific.

[happy cruzer]

If you are traveling to ports outside of the US and plan on using credit cards, be sure to read the threads on exchange rates and fees. Capital One seems to the card with lowest fewest but you will need to do research to determine what fits your needs.

 

Also if you plan on cashing traveler's checks on the ship, find out if there is a fee associated with that.

 

Some cruises ships allow cash withdrawals via the casino and some ships charge 3%.

 

Make sure you know how you are paying for stuff. If you are not buying many things then US dollars will mostly work.

[wilson9112]

I booked 3 shore excursions for the 3 of us. I'm paying almost $400 and its only beach excursions (nothing fancy like zip line, dolfins, etc). After I check the port thread and added up the taxi fair, food, etc, It almost comes out to what Im paying. Id save maybe $50. So piece of mind knowing the ship willnot leave without me (we tender in 3 ports) I booked with them. That is where they get ya. They keep throwing that up that You can be left behind. And who wants to be left behind in a foreign country like Belize or Roatan? Sucked in again!

[hvsteve1]

I know some of my friends think I'm nuts for sailing only on Regent of late but, not having to even think about what I'm spending on a cruise is worth whatever it costs. If the waiter shoves a drink at you, you don't have to wonder if it's free. When you go ashore on the islands and they hand out cold bottled water and beach towels you don't have to think about if you want to pay for them. Sitting in a group in the lounge or theater, there's no consideration of who picks up the tab. I don't have to walk to the other end of the ship to get my wife an iced tea because I can't stand $4 for a diet coke:eek: The bill that gets slipped under my door the last night only includes only the occasional souveneir shirt or a shore excursion we may have booked through the ship. Otherwise, I don't even have to be aggravated about tipping a wine steward whether or not we had wine. Yeah, I'm a funny kind of cheapskate and willing to pay for the priviledge of not having to watch my spending. Reading this long thread of gripes about being gouged on the ship makes the cost of RSSC even more worth it.

[linda_22003]

I know some of my friends think I'm nuts for sailing only on Regent ....

 

I feel the same way. I am happy to pay a premium for a less crowded experience, and not to be nickel-and-dimed to death.

[lddam]

A few years ago, my DH and I sailed to Alaska on Carnival. We were seated at a table for six, one couple being newlyweds from North Carolina, cute as buttons, but painfully young and naive. On the sixth or seventh evening, they showed up at dinner obviously upset, he pale as a ghost and she with red,puffy eyes. It seems that they had gone to guest relations for a preliminary accounting of expenses and were greeted with a phone bill in excess of $850. Apparently, new wife had been calling her mom daily on the ship-to-shore without having read the fine print on the phone stand. Now THAT was an expensive surprise!

[firefly333]

I booked 3 shore excursions for the 3 of us. I'm paying almost $400 and its only beach excursions (nothing fancy like zip line, dolfins, etc). After I check the port thread and added up the taxi fair, food, etc, It almost comes out to what Im paying. Id save maybe $50. So piece of mind knowing the ship willnot leave without me (we tender in 3 ports) I booked with them. That is where they get ya. They keep throwing that up that You can be left behind. And who wants to be left behind in a foreign country like Belize or Roatan? Sucked in again!

 

Iv heard thats a falacy, where have you ever seen in writing they wouldnt leave you behind. I think the truth is somewhere in the middle. The will make a much better effort to wait for you if you booked thru the cruiseline, but Iv seen instances here on CC where they DID leave folks behind.

 

Iv also seen quite a few folks who assumed that if they booked cruiseline air they would not be left behind, and guess what...they too were left behind.

 

Im thinking that is a word of mouth rumor they wouldnt leave you behind or it would be in writing.

[serene56]

 

Iv also seen quite a few folks who assumed that if they booked cruiseline air they would not be left behind, and guess what...they too were left behind.

.

 

 

at the port talk on the Liberty the CD even stated that on a ship sponsered excursion they are always in contact with vendors- so if they are running late the ship knows to wait.

 

people that are left behind are the ones that leave the tour and go off on their own "thinking" they are safe since they booked a tour.. if you leave on your own from the tour-- the ship will not wait. Once the tour guide puts those other people back on the ship-- its good to go.

[firefly333]

at the port talk on the Liberty the CD even stated that on a ship sponsered excursion they are always in contact with vendors- so if they are running late the ship knows to wait.

 

people that are left behind are the ones that leave the tour and go off on their own "thinking" they are safe since they booked a tour.. if you leave on your own from the tour-- the ship will not wait. Once the tour guide puts those other people back on the ship-- its good to go.

 

Id still like to see this policy in writing as I know I have seen posts where folks got left behind, maybe the cruiseline flew them to the next port or something I dont know about. If its the policy of the cruiseline it should be in writing somewhere.

 

PS Im not saying by and large the ship doesnt wait if you are on a excursion thru the cruiselines, just that Iv heard instances where they did not wait, so Id like to see this in writing.

[NCTribeFan]

Seems there's more in this thread about how to NOT spend too much money rather than on what has surprised people by the cost.

 

These days, with all the info that is out there (Cruise Critic, Google searches, wikipedia, cruiseline websites) there's really no need to be surprised by the cost of ANYTHING!

 

I constantly refer people to the FAQ on the cruiseline websites. So many of the questions asked here are addressed right there, in the cruiseline's own words. Ask a question here, get 100 responses, and about 99 different opinions/ideas/answers! It helps you to become informed, but oftens just ends up being confusing because of the wide variety in the responses.

 

Do your own research, folks, and you won't have so many unpleasant surprises.

 

Sorry! Rant over! :p

 

ANYWAY, I'm a natural skeptic, so on my first cruise, I figured those drinks weren't free. I'm not much of a foo-foo drink person anyway.

 

My biggest shock has probably been the food/drink prices at places like Hard Rock and Margaritaville. I now refuse to visit these "chain" places. I mean, my purpose in going to a tropical island is NOT to eat at some American chain restaurant anyway!

[chasetf]

Was there any one expense that caught you by surprise? Either you didn't know about it going in or it was just more than you expected?..............

Probably just the soda card and the ice cream bars when they first came out..... but they were not a deal breaker....

[blindrid]

YES - DH and I ordered 2 drinks (Bailey's on Ice) on our last CCL cruise and handed the server 2 drink coupons - thinking we had paid for our drinks. WRONG! We still had to pay another $5.50 + the 15% gratituty - I was TICKED OFF. I took the rest of the drink coupons and threw them in the trash! They were worthless as far as I was concerned!

 

If I read this right, the coupons were not worthless. Bailey's are certainly more than $2.75 apiece. I think on the call drinks, it takes two coupons- someone in here will know for sure.