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Ocean view cabins are the next step up from an interior cabin and feature a porthole window. Prices for ocean view cabins are generally priced at around $110 to $197 per person, per night. In 2022, Royal Caribbean Group reported the average guest spent $ per person, per day on extras. There are a host of extras you can add onto the cost of your cruise, and they're all discretionary based on your needs and preferences. Ever since the cruise industry restarted in 2022, demand has skyrocketed.
Guaranteed Ways to Save on Your Cruise
Specialty DiningOne of the good things about cruising is that all the food you can eat is included in the price of the cruise fare. But in the past few years the cruise lines have started to offer specialty dining as well. These are separate restaurants from the main dining room that offer things like Italian food, Mexican food, or steaks. You don’t have to eat here, but compared to the prices you’d find on land, these specialty restaurants are a deal (think $35 a person for a steakhouse meal).
Budget cruises
However, this price can vary depending on the type of excursion and the port of call. For example, a snorkeling tour in the Caribbean might cost more than a city tour in Europe. On the other hand, if you’re not a big drinker, you can probably get by with just a bit of spending money for tips and incidentals. In any case, it’s important to know what to expect before you set sail. If you taking a Southern Caribbean cruise you may have to fly to Puerto Rico to cruise out of the Port of San Juan. This has always been a port that offers easy access to many exotic Caribbean cruise itineraries for cruise lines.
What’s included in the cruise price?
You may also see packages only meant for email and social media usage. In any case, the fees will add up (especially if you want streaming and high-download access), so be sure to choose wisely. Buying additional batteries, memory cards and other camera supplies onboard will likely cost you more money than it would back home. By bringing the right tools with you, you won’t have to worry about how much your cruise bill is at the end of the trip.
Yikes, does Royal Caribbean's new Icon of the Seas really cost that much? - The Points Guy
Yikes, does Royal Caribbean's new Icon of the Seas really cost that much?.
Posted: Fri, 26 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
How to save money on the cost of a Caribbean cruise
However, In exchange, the cruise line will ultimately pick your cabin location and final category. I have booked these several times, and it’s a great way to cut cruise costs if you don’t need a specific location and are flexible. Please note these are NOT always available on every sailing or cruise line. If you’re not traveling from close by, you may also need to budget for a pre-cruise hotel stay if you fly in the day before or stay overnight after your cruise is over. The average cost of a one-night stay in a hotel near a major cruise port is around $150-$200. So, if you’re traveling from far away, be sure to budget for at least one pre-cruise night in a hotel.
For this reason, solo cruisers should expect to pay anywhere between 150% and 200% of the advertised cruise price. It’s also worth noting that cruise fares are always listed per person, not per cabin. An interior cabin for the bargain price of $299 with two guests will wind up costing a total of $598 before taxes and fees. Mainstream cruise lines tend to offer larger ships and lower prices, while luxury cruise lines are more expensive and have fewer (but larger) cabins. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry.
Big Benefit of Booking a Cruise a Year in Advance (That Most Overlook)
Ground transportation within metro areas is another way to potentially save money while traveling. When available, subway, bus and light rail options may be cheaper than renting a car. Unless you’re on a luxury cruise, specialty coffee like a cappuccino, latte or Affogato (my favorite at Celebrity’s Cafe Al Bacio) will have an extra charge. While most cruise lines allow you to request a removal of gratuities, this isn’t recommended. You’ll see how the crew work really hard cleaning and making up your cabin twice a day, serving you in the dining room, buffet and poolside grills.
Expect to pay around $100 per person per day for a full cruise package, including tips. Carnival's Cheers package will be a bit lower, and Norwegian's Premium Plus Beverage Package is higher. For many, the idea of a day in the cruise ship spa seems dreamy and serene. But it’s harder to reconcile the picture of calm many ship spas advertise with the average price of $120 for a 50 minute massage - before tip. Extra activities like cooking or fitness classes don’t come cheap, and it’s easy to spend more than you meant to in the cruise ship souvenir shops, mall, or casino.
Specialty restaurants on the cruise ship
Spa staterooms are available on several other cruise lines, including Carnival and Holland America. I did not partake in any other spa or salon services on my Celebrity cruise, but for comparison, on a recent Windstar sailing, I had a Fire and Ice mani-pedi. The cost was $159 plus tip and included a delightful hand and foot massage. I'm a happy tea drinker, so I don't spend extra on specialty coffees or sodas.
If you want drinks other than at meals or that include call liquors, you can purchase a package for $25 per person, per night for the wider selection available at any bar at any time they are open. The room service menu in your cabin or in the ship's app will state delivery fees and/or a la carte prices. Examples include $9.95 per delivery on Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Norwegian Cruise Line ships; Royal Caribbean and Celebrity offer continental breakfast for free.
However, you may wish to splurge on premium beverages or dine at specialty restaurants. If that's the case, expect to budget for these additional costs. Exact prices vary depending on cruise length, destinations and other factors, but you should expect to pay an additional amount for these costs.
Room service is sometimes an extra surcharge between $5-$10 per order. From ziplining over Belize’s lush rainforest to snorkeling with sea turtles and rays in Bonaire, shore excursions take your cruise holiday to the next level. Sure, there’s plenty to do onboard on port days but if you’re keen to explore a new destination, shore excursions are the way to go. Some of the ships in their collection can be a bit outdated but prices often reflect this and you can still expect a high level of onboard entertainment, meals, and service. You’ll also see thousands of people on some of these mega-ships so while service should still be up there, don’t expect anything too personal. A cruise holiday could be just the ticket when you’re looking to get away without all the fuss of buying airline tickets, hotels, transfers, and activities.
In addition, you may also need to budget for transportation to and from the airport. The average cost of a taxi from the airport to the cruise port is around $50-$60. If you’re looking to save money, you can also take public transportation or rent a car. A 7-day cruise can be a great family vacation option, but it can also be expensive. How much you’ll end up paying will depend on the cruise line and the specific cruise itinerary.
Ports like Tampa, Port Everglades, and Miami are just a short ride away and you can get to the port for about $10 per person. There are usually a lot of activities available on a cruise ship, and many of them come with a price tag. Some examples include spa treatments, escape rooms, bowling, and arcade games. Historically, the average price of a cruise has remained low for a very long time but, the optional extras and add-ons have continued to grow. For example, That budget cruise might not be such a good deal when you add up all the extra costs or add-ons. You may find a better value with a different brand with a higher upfront cost, but you save more overall when the extras are included in the price.
