January 12, 2007
Cruise Hidden Costs Revealed
There are several "hidden" costs to be aware of when planning your cruise. Here some important ones to consider.
Title: Cruise Hidden Costs Revealed
Author: Samuel Ng
Why must you look out for hidden costs when booking a cruise?
A cruise package can be quite expensive even if you take a cruise during the off-peak season. If you are planning to go on a cruise you should check out the actual expenses necessary for the cruise package to make sureyou do not go beyond your budget.
However, if you have already booked for a cruise package you
should not remain complacent that you have taken cared of all
the necessary financial matters. Most often, there are hidden
costs that may come up only immediately during the cruise or
even while the cruise is going on.
Imagine the humiliation you will be subjected to if there are
additional expenses necessary during the cruise and you have not
prepared for them. Being asked to pay for hidden costs while on
a voyage can turn the cruise into your worst nightmare.
While booking the cruise package, it is important to take note
of the prices of commodities that are sold inside the cruise
ship. If the prices of soda or other food item is too much, then
you can always bring extra grocery items with you on the cruise.
You should always expect that items sold in a cruise ship will always be more expensive than the regular price so bring extra items like batteries for the camera, pens, soda, water and the likes.Also ask about the rates of sea sorties or trips ahead of time.The rates offered by the cruise ship can be more expensive than if you go ashore and look for a possible shore trip yourself.
If you do not want the hassle then you can do some research and
ask friends who have been on the same cruise ship before as they
may be able to recommend possible areas to visit at a lower cost.
Remember that the operator of the cruise ship is out to make
money so expect a thirty to fifty percent mark up on every shore
activity or commodity that is facilitated and sold by cruise
ship personnel.
Souvenir shops abound inside cruise ships and the souvenir items
will definitely cost you a hand and a leg.
It is better to go on the shore and look for souvenirs by
yourself. By doing so, you will get unique and reasonably priced
souvenirs.
You do not have to spend for unnecessary and extra expenses
while on a voyage. However, you should always allot at least $10
everyday for tips especially for cabin attendants.
The problem is that while no cruiser can be forced to shell out
extra money aside from the actual expenses for the cruise, a
cruise will always have a away of enticing people to spend more
than what is necessary. Blame it on lightheadedness or the
feeling of being free but there is always a tendency to splurge
when on a cruise.
You should exercise caution when charging items or goods on your
bill if you do not want to deplete your bank account even before
the cruise is over. The best thing to do is to always think
twice or even thrice before spending money on anything.
Be a wise cruiser. Most ship items will be sold at discounted
prices when the cruise ends. Be wary of swiping the powerful
plastics because it is always easy to charge everything and
worry about paying the accounts when the cruise is over.
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Comments
January 13, 2007
valerie said:
Nice tips. I have never really thought about taking groceries aboard the cruise ship as a way of saving some money, but it does make sense. I would be taking some staples with me that I thought I would not be able to get on board. My mineral water, favorite bedtime snack and maybe a couple of fresh magazines as I would not want to rely on them having them in stock. They should offer it as a convenience rather than trying to hang you out to dry. Afterall, you've spent a bundle already with booking your cruise in the first place. It reminds me of the soda and popcorn at the movie theaters. Wow!
January 14, 2007
TravelJoe said:
Nice tips and good reminders! When going on a trip or on a vacation, I always tend to stop thinking of the additional costs and just charge things to my credit card. It is true that additional or hidden expenses are unavoidable during any vacations but there surely is a way to minimize them.
January 16, 2007
Ashelia said:
Thanks for the article, it should be helpful when I book my first cruise. I hate hidden fees and like to know how much things are going to cost me up front, so that there are no surprises and no hard feelings. Taking extra groceries on board is a great idea to cut costs down. Carrying travelers checks instead of credit cards is also a good idea, so that you aren't tempted to spend more than you have and don't have to worry if they get stolen.