Cruising can be one of the most luxurious adventures you will ever embark on. A cruise world-class service, unlimited fine dining, built-in entertainment, and the chance to experience many places in a floating * resort. But when you are seeking cruise travel deals, there are some hidden gotchas that you need to be aware of in advance. That advertised price of $399 per person for a 5-day Caribbean itinerary sounds like a good cruise travel deal, but is it?

If you’ve never been on a cruise before or never booked one for yourself you may be suprised to know that the fare you ultimately pay for your trip has several components. Often times, advertisements and published fares do not include the hidden extras to appear like cruise travel deals, when in reality they are not a bargain.

This second part of a 2 part article outlines costs that may be incurred once you are onboard the ship. Be sure to check out part 1 “Cruise Travel Deals - 4 Hidden Costs You Must Know About” for info on the unexpected charges and fees at the time of booking and what you can do to minimize them.

Here are some things you need to be aware of before you leave for your next cruise travel deal:

Tips

Tipping the staff, and more specifically your cabin porter, is customary on a cruise ship. The method by which you do so varies widely. Some tipping is voluntary. Some tipping is included in the cost of the fare. And some tipping is mandatory and automatically added onto your onboard tab. In many cases, you will need cash to handle this expense. This is an area you will want to be informed about so that you are not greeted with any unpleasant suprises at the end of your voyage. It’s safe to assume that if you got a really great cruise travel deal, that less will be included in the base price of the fare.

Beverages

In the good old days, you used to get all non-alcoholic beverages for free on most ships. Times have changed and the industry has collectively moved towards more ala carte services. Of course, you will expect to pay for alcohol, but the list of free beverages no longer includes soda or bottled water on many of the budget cruises. Look for the unlimited soda plan if it’s available, especially for kids, as it will pay off. Also, it’s a good idea to bring a nice portable water bottle for everyone in your family so you can fill up frequently and avoid paying for bottled water or soda.

Shore Excursions

Shore excursions are planned group trips available for each port of call your cruise ship visits. There are usually many to choose from suiting all types of different interests and activity levels. Shore excursions will often be the highlight of your cruise travel deal, but can also be a significant expense if you are not careful. Some are as little as $25 per person and go up in price quickly to as much as $300 or even more depending on the type of events included. These costs can be conveniently added to your onboard tab, but you will want to carefully consider which and how many to do or your bill could be a whole lot bigger than you ever intended. It’s always a good idea to pick just a couple of events and make sure that they are the ones that you and your family want most to do, rather than trying to do everything. It’s better to choose one really spectacular excursion than to try to do two or three less expensive ones that won’t be nearly as memorable.

Spa & Salon Treatments

Many folks hear about the luxury of a cruise ship and envision a full-body massage from a gorgeous masseuse on a shady sun deck. Well, that image can be fulfilled, but you didn’t think it would be free, did you? Or how about a pedicure for that perfect look by the pool? These treatments are for many a big attraction aboard ship, but you will find that since there is no competitive businesses onboard the price is nobody’s bargain. One exception is to book spa and salon treatments on days when the boat is in port. Most folks will prefer to experience the sights onshore, so those days offer discounted prices for those that choose to stay on the boat.

Be careful about extra expenses once you are onboard or your cruise travel deal will start to look like a steal - for the Cruise line! Cruises offer a wonderful variety of free entertainment, so don’t assume that you must pay extra to have a good time.

More Hidden Costs

If you missed the first part of this article, be sure to read about hidden costs at the time you book your cruise travel deals here Cruise Travel Deals - 4 Hidden Cost You Must Know About.

WATCH THE VIDEOS INSTEAD

If you prefer to watch a video version of this information, catch both part 1 and part 2 here:

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