10 Hidden Cruise Ship Costs

15 December 201919 September 2024

Have you ever booked a discounted cruise and realized that there were additional charges that you did not anticipate? Here are some of those added costs that may take you by surprise:

Cruise Ship Taxes: The base rate of the cruise is usually listed on advertisements and websites, but it is important to know that this is not the final total that you will be paying for the cruise part of your vacation. There are those little additional fees called taxes. These include tax on the cruise as well as taxes that are charged by the Port Authority of the various ports that you will be visiting on your trip. These fees are not controlled by the cruise lines, but rather the government agencies or states that govern the port.
Drinks: Many cruise travelers are surprised to learn that soda is not included in the drinks that are available on the ship. Of course alcohol is an additional charge and this includes wine unless you happen on a European cruise where wine and well drinks may be included.
Coffee Shop Drinks: One of the best services now available on cruise ships are the specialty coffee shops. Various stands set up around the ship offer cappuccinos, macchiatos, frappuccinos, etc. and may be available 24 hours or at posted times. Specialty coffee drinks require the services of a barista, which is why there is an additional charge for an afternoon caffeine boost. Don’t be surprised when you receive a bill for the service and you may want to check to see if a tip was already included as well.
Water in your room: Just as in hotels, the bottled water provided to you in your stateroom is not free (unless otherwise indicated). There is usually a fee for drinking this water and a receipt for the bottled water will be provided to you at some point on your cruise.
Wine Corkage Fee: So you have decided to order a bottle of wine and notice that when the bar service representative presents you with the receipt that there is a “wine corkage fee”, your first instinct may be to ask why you are paying an additional fee on top of the wine that you had purchased for your meal. What could this possibly cover? Interestingly enough, this fee is included for the service of opening the wine as well as providing wine glasses and chilling or storing the wine depending on the type that you have purchased. I consider it a small token for the additional service that is offered to you by the bar staff.
Room Service Fee: Room service can be very convenient, especially during the one or two hours where a buffet is not available. Many cruises will offer a 24 hour pizza delivery service, but of course, there is a fee for them to deliver the pizza. It’s a small price to pay for the luxury of having food delivered to your room, but again, it is available and you need to know that there is an additional charge added to your bill. The information will be outlined in the daily schedules that are provided to you during your cruise.
Gratuities (bar, room attendant, waiter, busboy): In the good old days, before computers and technology, tips to service staff included an envelope in each passenger’s stateroom. It was the passenger’s responsibility to tip each of the service staff for their work over the number of days that they cruised. Of course, the cruise director would provide the standard tipping rates and passengers could provide more (or less) as they saw fit for tipping. Today, the tips are already included in the total cost at the close of the ship’s journey. You can choose to keep the charges on your credit card, pay cash or challenge the amount that was predetermined at the front desk. Just remember, the service staff work very hard to make your vacation as enjoyable as possible, so even if you decide to forego the dining hall and eat at the snack shop, keep in mind, that the minimal charge that is added to your bill may be a big help to the service staff, as they depend on these tips for their livelihood.
Shore Excursions: Most people know by now, that if the ship offers shore excursions, there will be a fee for signing up. These outings are optional, but depending on the port of call, you may decide that you want to see your destination with the assistance of a tour guide, most of whom are local residents. The ship usually provides a wide range of port options ranging from a day at the beach to a full day of port exploration. When using the internet, you can select which trips you want to take while you are in port and you can determine which ports you may want to adventure on your own. Just note that if you purchase excursions apart from the ship’s offerings, you will want to ensure that you board the ship at the designated time or the ship will depart without you. Please be aware that the tour guides welcome tips, so be prepared to have an amount of cash as you see appropriate.
Laundry service: Did you know that some ships offer laundry service for its customers? Most likely you will find this service available on “world cruises”, but you may want to check into this service if you plan on taking an extended cruise. This helps you plan accordingly for packing and can also save you luggage fees for flights if you travel light. You can leave your laundry in a bag, the room steward will pick up the laundry and you will receive you cleaned belongings ironed and folded in perfect condition. This of course will incur a fee and you may feel obliged to tip your room steward as well.
Exercise Classes/Gym Use: On most of the ships I have traveled, there is a gym as well as a spa on board. There may or may not be a gym fee, but spa services are not included in the cruise rate and an additional fee will be charged according to the spa menu. You may also note in your daily itinerary the various workout classes that are being offered on the ship and something may peak your interest. Read the fine print to see if there is an additional charge for attending the class and again, if you find the service to your liking, you can opt to tip the instructor as well.

Additional activities where one could spend money on a cruise ship include gambling, internet use, purchases from the gift shop, bingo and raffles. But if you plan accordingly, these additional fees and charges will not come as a surprise. This will allow you to enjoy your vacation without stressing about the final bill, which will appear in your room the night before departure. When in doubt, contact the front desk to keep your charges in check or if you have any questions about the status of your charges, they will be happy to help.

Disclosure: Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.

Tips for Entering Holy Sites Abroad

22 January 201716 September 2024

While traveling abroad, many of the main historical attractions include holy sites, such as cathedrals, churches, temples and mosques. Within these establishments, visitors may be required to adhere to a list of appropriate dress codes prior to entering. In many cases, the church, cathedral, temple or mosque may provide an appropriate cover-up, but this is not always the case. While items may be available at some sites, there may be a small fee for borrowing a scarf, skirt or head covering, so here is how to be prepared.

Shoulders covered – Tank tops and spaghetti straps should be avoided when entering the holy places. Some of the cathedrals and churches in Europe will provide you a scarf prior to entrance but expect to leave a small token of your appreciation.
Knees Covered – Wearing shorts or short skirts/dresses may prevent you from entering a religious site. Hindu temples may provide you with a sarong-type covering for a small fee before entering or you may be required to purchase one.
Head Covered – Some religious establishments, such as mosques, require that you wear a scarf to cover your hair
Removal of Shoes – Be prepared to remove your shoes or to wear a shoe covering when entering a mosque. The shoe covering will be provided to you and/or you can retrieve your shoes upon exit.
Small token for entering the location – small churches or cathedrals may solicit a small token of money upon entrance, so have some coins available in the event you are asked for an offering.

When traveling to religious and holy sites in other countries, it is important to respect the dress codes and adhere to any rules that are enforced in regards to clothing and customs. This will minimize any embarrassing moments or refusal of entry. You would be extremely saddened to have missed the opportunity to visit these locations due to the dress code as many of the cathedrals, churches and mosques of one’s country are a reflection of that nation’s culture and traditions. Always be prepared and enjoy the experience!

Disclosure: Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.

Incidental Cruise Line Costs

14 May 201531 August 2024

Have you ever booked a discounted cruise and realized that there were additional charges that you did not factor in the total cost of your trip? Here are some hidden costs that may take you by surprise:

Cruise Ship Taxes: The base rate of the cruise is usually listed on advertisements and websites, but it is important to know that this is not the final total that you will be paying for the cruise part of your vacation. There are those little additional fees called taxes. These include tax on the cruise as well as taxes that are charged by the Port Authority of the various ports that you will be visiting on your trip. These fees are not controlled by the cruise lines, but rather the government agencies or states that govern the port.

Drinks: Many cruise travelers are surprised to learn that soda is not included in the drinks that are available on the ship. Of course alcohol is an additional charge and this includes wine unless you happen to be sailing on a European cruise where wine and well drinks may be included.

Coffee Shop Drinks: One of the best services brought on board cruise ships is the inclusion of specialty coffee options. There are stands that are usually set up around the ship that offer cappuccinos, macchiatos, frappuccinos, etc. and may be available 24 hours or at posted times according to the coffee stands and/or ship’s itinerary for the day. Specialty coffee drinks require the services of a barista, which is why there is an additional charge for an afternoon caffeine boost. Don’t be surprised when you receive a bill for the service and you may want to check to see if a tip was already included as well.

Water in your room: Just as in hotels, the bottled water provided to you in your stateroom is not free (unless otherwise indicated). There is usually a fee for drinking this water and a receipt for the bottled water will be provided to you at some point in your cruise.

Wine Corkage Fee: So you have decided to order a bottle of wine and notice that when the bar service representative presents you with the receipt that there is a “wine corkage fee”, your first instinct may be to ask why you are paying an additional fee on top of the wine that you had purchased for your meal. What could this possibly cover? Interestingly enough, this fee is included for the service of opening the wine as well as providing wine glasses and chilling or storing the wine depending on the type that you have purchased. I consider it a small token for the additional service that is offered to you by the bar staff.

Room Service Fee: Room service can be very convenient, especially during the one or two hours where a buffet is not available. Many cruises will offer a 24 hour pizza delivery service, but of course, there is a fee for them to deliver the pizza. It’s a small price to pay for the luxury of having food delivered to your room, but again, it is available and you need to know that there is an additional charge added to your bill. The information will be outlined in the daily schedules that are provided to you during your cruise.

Gratuities (bar, room attendant, waiter, busboy): In the good old days, before computers and technology, tips to service staff included an envelope in each passenger’s stateroom. It was the passenger’s responsibility to tip each of the service staff for their work over the number of days that they cruised. Of course, the cruise director would provide the standard tipping rates and passengers could provide more (or less) as they saw fit for tipping. Today, the tips are already included in the total cost at the close of the ship’s journey. You can choose to keep the charges on your credit card, pay cash or challenge the amount that was predetermined at the front desk. Just remember, the service staff work very hard to make your vacation as enjoyable as possible, so even if you decide to forego the dining hall and eat at the snack shop, keep in mind, that the minimal charge that is added to your bill may be a big help to the service staff, as they depend on these tips for their livelihood.

Shore Excursions: Most people know by now, that if the ship offers shore excursions, there will be a fee for signing up. These outings are optional, but depending on the port of call, you may decide that you want to see your destination with the assistance of a tour guide, most of whom are local residents. The ship usually provides a wide range of port options ranging from a day at the beach to a full day of port exploration. When using the internet, you can select which trips you want to take while you are in port and you can determine which ports you may want to adventure on your own. Just note that if you purchase excursions apart from the ship’s offerings, you will want to ensure that you board the ship at the designated time or the ship will depart without you. Please be aware that the tour guides welcome tips, so be prepared to have an amount of cash as you see appropriate.

Laundry service: Did you know that some ships offer laundry service for its customers? Most likely you will find this service available on “world cruises”, but you may want to check into this service if you plan on taking an extended cruise. This helps you plan accordingly for packing and can also save you luggage fees for flights if you travel light. You can leave your laundry in a bag, the room steward will pick up the laundry and you will receive you cleaned belongings ironed and folded in perfect condition. This of course will incur a fee and you may feel obliged to tip your room steward as well.

Exercise Classes/Gym Use: On most of the ships I have traveled, there is a gym as well as a spa on board. There may or may not be a gym fee, but spa services are not included in the cruise rate and an additional fee will be charged according to the spa menu. You may also note in your daily itinerary the various workout classes that are being offered on the ship and something may peak your interest. Read the fine print to see if there is an additional charge for attending the class and again, if you find the service to your liking, you can opt to tip the instructor as well.

I suppose it is obvious that there are additional items where one could spend money on a cruise ship, such as gambling, internet use, purchases from the gift shop, bingo and raffles. But if you plan accordingly, these additional fees and charges will not come as a surprise. This will allow you to enjoy your vacation without stressing about the final bill, which will appear in your room the night before departure. When in doubt, contact the front desk to keep your charges in check or if you have any questions about the status of your charges, they will be happy to help.

Disclosure: Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.

The Liebster Award: Nominating Fellow Travel Bloggers for their Exceptional Talent

10 July 201431 August 2024

I want to extend a humbling thanks to the wonderful staff of bohotraveller at http://bohotraveller.com/ for nominating me for the Liebster Award, an award by fellow travel writers who in turn recognize other writers for their amazing contribution to travel! I am overwhelmingly grateful for the recognition as I had recently started sharing my travel adventures this year! Here is what bohotraveller had to say about my travelblog:

A travel bug bit her when she was a little girl and her passion for travel increased multifold when she took up a job as Assistant Purser on the SS Vera Cruz. What hooked us to her blog was the amazing collection of pictures from around the world and her coverage of Arizona just blew us off our feet. So before we spill more beans on her, why don’t you pay a visit to her on https://www.thesuitelifeoftravel.com/ and get in touch with this lovely traveler!

Many thanks to bohotraveller for taking an interest in my blog and for the nomination! It has been such an amazing experience to share stories with others who are just as passionate about travel as I am! I look forward to posting more information that I hope can be helpful to all my readers with their travels and thank you for your continued support! I can’t thank you enough for the honor, bohotraveller! Muah!

Having accepted this nomination, I have answered the ten questions that were provided by bohotraveller and have thoroughly enjoyed this process as it has taken me back to some of most memorable adventures!

Question 1: Tell us a little about yourself. And do add something that we do not know about you!
Travel is my passion and I currently work in pharmaceuticals on the research development side of the industry. I have been an active traveler for most of my life living on both coasts of the United States! I am an insane lover of all animals, especially cats, big or small and have one of my own named Sammy. When I was in the sixth grade, I won the highest honors for a singing contest for the state of Ohio!

Question 2: What is your blog about and when did you start?
My blog is a compilation of travels that I have experienced both internationally and in my backyard. You can find an opportunity to write a story if you just look for it and explore the places that interest you, even in your own hometown! My first blog post was published on January 1, 2014!

Question 3: Why did you feel the need for a blog?
I have always been fascinated by travel writing, and kept journals of my cruise ship life and all of the travels I had experienced since my early vacations. I did not have the courage to submit my writings to be published, but my friends and colleagues encouraged me to start a blog as a way to keep up with me and my travels. And voila! It has since become a passion and second career, to say the least!

Question 4: What is your most favourite destination till date?
Working on cruise ships, this was always the question I dreaded to answer. Mainly because each place that you visit will usually make an impact on you in one way or another. But to be fair in answering, I would have to say Bali, Indonesia, for several reasons. It was my first major solo travel trip with the help of a Balinese friend that I stayed in contact with over the years since my cruise ship days. Secondly, I was invited private Hindu ceremonies that brought me closer to the culture of the Balinese. Finally, if you have ever seen photos of Bali, you can see the beauty in the island and the diversity that you can experience here!

Question 5: What is next on your bucket list?
I have a bucket list that seems to be unending. This year I will be hitting Madeira, Portugal, Vietnam and Cambodia as well Nova Scotia and New Brunswick! Next year I have already begun planning my two top bucket list items which are trips to Israel and Machu Picchu!

Question 6: If you could live only in one place all your life, which place would you choose and why?
I have always been fascinated by the Italian culture and their way of life. I would have to say that living in Tuscany would be the ideal place for my laid-back personality and love of wine. The only drawback would be that the weather can be cold at times.

Question 7: What is the biggest challenge that you have ever faced in your travels to date?
Having missed my connecting flight to Venice, I worked with the ticketing agent to “creatively” create an itinerary that would allow me to arrive before the cruise ship for which I was scheduled to embark the next day. Within a 24 hour period, I had visited five countries. The route went from Newark, NJ where I was to fly into Heathrow, England and taxi to Gatwick. The time to reach Gatwick was too short, so the agent booked me on a flight to Frankfurt, Germany. Upon arrival they immediately provided me a ticket to Paris, France, as there were no seats available for Venice. From Paris, I boarded the final leg of my flight, finally arriving in Venice, Italy! I was about 10 hours late from my initial arrival, but I somehow managed, with the help of the airline staff, to make it before my cruise the next day!

Question 8: You are a seaside person or a mountain person? And why?
Maybe it’s my living on cruise ships for so many years, that I love the sound of water and love to watch the waves crashing on the beach. It is such a therapeutic experience for me to smell the salty air and sink my toes in the sand.

Question 9: Apart from travelling, what else do you really enjoy doing?
Photography! From family photos to landscape and animals, I absolutely love to capture incredible sights on film!

And with that said, I want to once again thank bohotraveller for their kind words of introduction, the nomination and keeping in touch for some travel inspiration!

For some, travel is an outlet that takes one to a whole new level in understanding culture, seeing the beauty in the world and experiencing an education that you can’t always find at home! This is what I found in MY nominees for the Liebster award!!

Disclosure: Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.