Budgeting your Cruise

Cruises are marketed as all inclusive and indeed the fare does include the cruise and all meals and entertainment onboard. Fly cruises are usually offered at a package price that include flights and transfers. However when budgeting for your trip it is important to allow for these additional costs:

• port charges - some cruise lines show these as an additional charge to the cruise fare
• parking at the airport or cruise terminal - some cruise lines include this in their fares
• air fares if not a fly-cruise package
• pre-cruise and post-cruise hotel accommodation - on some cruises it is not possible to get to the port or aiport before the departure time if you have to travel or fly a long distance. Fly-cruise packages normally include this
• booking and credit card handling fees charged by your travel agent
• meals pre and post cruise - these are not included in your package
• transfers airport/cruise terminal/airport - included on fly-cruise packages
• Onboard:
  • bottled water and mini bar in your cabin
  • alcoholic and soft drinks at dinner and the bars
  • beauty salon and spa treatments
  • casino, if you like a flutter
  • dining at the speciality restaurants
  • emails and telephone calls - see our tip on Staying in Touch
  • gift shop for those forgotten items or gifts for friends and family
  • internet café use
  • photographs purchased from the ship's photographers
  • shore excursions
  • speciality coffees
  • tipping - see the tipping comment on our Ship Details page and our advice on Tipping
• Ashore in Ports:
  • taxis and excursions bought at the pier or terminal
  • meals and drinks
  • personal shopping and souvenirs

Some tips for making savings on your cruise:

• Never pay the brochure price - select a cruise on our pages and complete our enquiry form - an experienced cruise agent will provide you with a discounted price and lots of good advice
• Look out for the Special Offers on our Offers page (navigation bar above)
• If you are arranging separate flights, consider buying your airport/cruise terminal transfers from the cruise line as these will be much cheaper than using local taxis
• If you take a lot of shore excursions, consider upgrading to a cruiseline that includes excursions in the fare
• alternatively excursions sold on the quayside are often cheaper than those offered onboard
• look out for special offers at the spa
• buy the special drinks packages offered eg a bottle of wine a day or all soft drinks
• use email or phones ashore to stay in touch