Understanding Cruise Costs & Cheap Cruises
 
Let's take a look at the basic components that make up the cost of cheap cruises, and what you should expect to pay.

BASIC CRUISE COSTS

The "base" cost of your cruise will include your accommodations as chosen for the length of the cruise, onboard entertainment and activities, meals and use of the facilities aboard the ship.

PORT TAXES AND FEES
These are the taxes and fees charged by the various government and port authorities at the ports where your ship calls, the cruise line passes these fees along to the passengers. These typically cover the cost of docking and use of the port facilities; "parking fees" for your ship if you will. And certain government authorities impose a "head tax" on cruise passengers, which is used to maintain and improve the ports infrastructure.

ADDING IN THE AIR COSTS
Air "add-ons" are an option that you may or may not choose to utilize. This is the cost of your airfare from your home city to the port where you will join the ship and your return airfare home. In most cases, when using the cruise lines' Air/Sea program, this will also include baggage handling and transportation from the airport to the ship on the day you embark and transportation back to the airport on the day you disembark your cruise.

Send this Article to a Friend
Mini-Suites and Suites will provide you with extra space, but that space comes at a price. You'll most likely get a separate sitting area, a sleeping area or separate bedroom and many come with a much larger bathroom, whirlpool tub and walk in closets. While suites tend to be closer in size to a hotel room, check out the mini-suites with caution. Many lines mini-suites are simply standard cabins with a balcony.

CANCELLATION INSURANCE
Yet another optional cost of your cruise. Cancellation insurance will cover any penalties incurred for canceling due to illness or death. See related article on insurance for more in-depth coverage.

HOW TO READ A CRUISE AD
You're perusing the Sunday Travel Section or surfing the Internet and see a fantastic price for a cruise. Is it too good to be true? What's not included in that price? What's hidden in the fine print?

"LEAD-IN" PRICING
Chances are, you're dreaming of a stateroom with a verandah but the price in the ad is for the lowest category of inside cabin. This is what we call "lead-in" pricing. It's intended to catch your eye and it has.

Typically, but not always, the prices you see in the ads are for "minimum inside" or the lowest grade of accommodation unless it specifically states otherwise. The number of cabins available at these prices are usually extremely limited. The price may also only be available to residents of certain states or may be a senior citizen fare.

READING THE FINE PRINT
Get out that magnifying glass and read the fine print. Check to see if the price includes port charges and taxes as this can easily add over $100.00 per person to the cost of the cruise if they are not included. Thankfully, recently enacted government regulations require the cruise lines to include the taxes in the advertised prices, or else make it clear that they are not included and display the additional costs plainly. However, regulations for travel agencies are different, and many do not include additional costs in the pricing and bury them in the fine print. In all cases, unless specifically stated otherwise, the price will not include airfare but will be "cruise only".

IS LESS MORE OR LESS?
This term usually does not apply to cheap cruises. As the lead in price is usually for an inside cabin (no window or ocean view) you may wish to consider spending a little more to make your cruise that much more enjoyable. Whereas a 7 night cruise in an inside cabin may cost you $699.00 per person, upgrading to an outside or "ocean view" cabin can be as little as $150-200.00 additional cost per person. Or you may wish to upgrade to a stateroom with a verandah. This will usually cost you about $750.00 per person more for the week.

Personally, I never sail in an inside cabin unless I am forced to. The daylight makes the cabin seem larger, and I love to wake up and see where we are and what the weather is like. Let's be realistic, cabins aboard ship are not large to begin with so a little daylight can make them seem much more palatable. I always urge first-timers to take an outside cabin unless their budget absolutely prohibits. A stateroom with verandah will afford you your own semi-private place to watch the ship come in and out of port or just relax. These are especially desirable in Alaska, Panama canal and on longer voyages.

"NICKEL AND DIMING"
Yes Virginia, you will incur extra costs once you board the ship. Cruise lines charge for drinks (soft and alcoholic), and then there are tips (about $75.00 per person for a one week cruise), shopping, gambling, shore excursions (touring in port), and meals while off the ship. And then even some other extras aboard ship which are not as readily apparent.

Send this Article to a Friend
Many cruise lines will charge you extra for that ice cream cone in the afternoon, to eat in the alternative restaurant ($5-18.50 per person), for laundry or dry cleaning, use of the internet/e-mail/business services, the golf simulator and spa treatments.

Prepare to budget yourself for an average of $200-300 per person in spending money for a one week cruise, more so if you like to indulge in tours, spa treatments and gambling.

Here is a quick look at what all the little "extras" can cost:

   Soda: $1.50
   Domestic Beer: $3.50
   Imported Beer: $4.25
   Cocktail: $4.50
   Glass of Wine: $2.50-3.00
   Bottle of Wine: $18.00 and up
   Ice Cream Cone: $1.50 +
   Shore Excursion: $35 to $150
   Massage: typically $75 to $125

Also bear in mind that most cruise lines automatically add a 15% gratuity to any drink purchase.

ALL-INCLUSIVE CRUISE LINES
Do any lines include all or most of the "little" extras? Yes indeed, there are cruise lines that include a lot of extras and don't "nickel and dime" you to death. Silversea Cruises is truly "all inclusive" as they include all soft drinks, cocktails, house wines and champagnes, even some complimentary shore excursions. Radisson Seven Seas, and Seabourn also include a lot of the little extras but are not as inclusive as Silversea.