Cruises what do you pay for

If you want to pack as light as possible but still have the clothes you need, consider adding laundry services to your onboard account. Let your cruise line know about any occasion you want to celebrate, and they may offer something to make it more memorable. Make sure to include smaller bills for tips. Fifty to a hundred dollars a day should be enough to cover small purchases, tips and snacks at each port. Using an ATM can save you from expensive money-exchange services when you need to purchase the local currency.

With most cruises operating as cashless societies, it is possible to take a cruise without bringing any cash at all. Bringing money on your cruise will also help you show appreciation to servers, drivers and other helpful folks you meet throughout your journey. Still, tipping etiquette can be confusing, especially in foreign countries.

We aim to help all our guests plan their cruises stress-free and enjoy every moment aboard our comfortable, uncrowded ships. To learn more about cruising with Windstar, please contact us today.

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To help you determine how much money to bring on your voyage, consider the following factors: 1. Destination Are you looking forward to lounging in a coconut-scented breeze or whale-watching in an icy fjord? Travel Companions Imagine strolling through Venice hand in hand with your loved one when they suddenly spot a gelateria. Shopping Do you plan on shopping as you explore different ports of call?

Cruise Expenses That May Require Cash Cruise ships typically run as cashless societies and require guests to set up an onboard spending account using a credit card. Here are a few reasons why you still may want to have some cash on hand: 1. Tipping Depending on your cruise line, gratuities may be automatically charged to your onboard account every day. For example, you may want to leave room in your budget for the following: 1.

Spa Services Cruise ships typically offer spa services for an additional charge. Contact Windstar Cruises for More Information With most cruises operating as cashless societies, it is possible to take a cruise without bringing any cash at all.

Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe. You are responsible for getting yourself to the departure port, although your cruise line can help you make those arrangements. To save money , consider choosing a departure port near your home or one that is served by a low-cost airline.

Remember that you will have to pay to park at the cruise pier. Tip: Consider buying travel insurance if you fly to your departure port in case your flight is canceled and you miss your cruise. When the ship is in port, most passengers take one of the shore excursions offered by the cruise line. You can save money by exploring on your own on foot or by taxi , but you are responsible for making sure you are back on board well before the ship's scheduled departure time.

If you miss the ship's movement, you will have to pay for your transportation to the next port on your itinerary. Depending on which cruise line you select, you may have to pay separately for certain beverages you consume. Most cruise lines charge for beer, wine, and mixed drinks, and they do not allow you to bring your own hard liquor on board.

Some also charge for sodas and bottled water. To save money, plan to drink tap water, juice, coffee, and tea with most of your meals. If your cruise line permits it, bring a case of soda or bottled water and a bottle of wine or two with you when you embark. While the food served in the main dining room is included in your cruise fare, most cruise lines now offer "premium dining" options for an additional fee.

Expect to pay for special classes, such as Pilates or yoga, as well as for spa and salon services. Many cruise lines charge for Internet access. Traditionally, cruise passengers were expected, but not required, to tip everyone who assisted them during the cruise, from the cabin steward to the waiters and waitresses who served them meals.

Tipping is still expected, but some cruise lines now assess each person a standard, per-day gratuity or service charge which is then shared by appropriate staff members. Of course, you should consider tipping any staff members who provide services specifically for you, such as a spa or salon treatment, luggage transportation or room service, as the "standard gratuity" will not be shared with them.

Many cruise line contracts include a fuel surcharge clause that states that a specific per-passenger surcharge will be added to your fare if the price of oil passes a specific limit. But before you hit the liquor store or local winery, know that most cruise lines limit how many bottles you can bring -- and often charge a corkage fee. Most luxury lines don't apply the fee. Cruise Line Alcohol Policies. For parents in need of grown-up time, a number of cruise lines offer free group babysitting via their onboard kids' clubs, which are conducted during the day and are generally reserved for kids age 3 and up.

For late-night sitting usually after 10 p. For an hourly fee, some lines like Disney and Royal Caribbean provides nursery care for those ages 6 months to 3 years. Best Kids Clubs on Cruises. Despite the fact that most iced tea, lemonade, milk, coffee, tea, hot chocolate and breakfast juices are complimentary on cruise ships, soda and bottles of water are not.

The exceptions are luxury lines, which do include them; Disney also offers free soft drinks with meals. Just make sure it's allowed before you pack it. What to Expect on a Cruise: Nonalcoholic Drinks. Got a latte addiction? Free coffee can easily be found at the buffet or ordered in the main dining room, but anything higher quality or fancier than a plain cuppa joe will almost always cost you on the non-luxury lines, at least.

Best Cruises for Coffee. On big cruise ships where kids run wild, nothing sounds more inviting than a peaceful, adults-only sun deck. But that respite comes with a price tag on some cruise lines. Norwegian Cruise Line, on the other hand, offers and-over retreats on only a few ships. Onboard activities, like salsa classes and towel-folding demos, are generally free, but you might find some attractive pastimes that cause you to spend extra. Other for-fee attractions include Norwegian's race car track and laser tag arena, Royal Caribbean's sky-diving simulator after the first free ride and MSC Cruises' zip line and F1 simulator.

What to Expect on a Cruise: Daytime Activities. You'll have to shell out even more for specialty workouts like TRX training and boot camp. Best Cruises for Fitness. Don't be fooled into thinking that an attractively low cruise fare is all you'll need to pay aside from extras like gratuities and shore excursions. Cruise taxes and fees -- which include U.

Make sure you factor these hidden fees into your budget when choosing sailings. If you're flying to meet your cruise, you'll need to get yourself from the airport to the cruise port, which can be quite a trek when you travel to places like Rome and London. You can purchase the cruise line's ground transfers to the terminal, but chances are that you'll pay just as much as -- if not more than -- a taxi or shared van service.

It's easy to book transfers with your cruise line, but as long as you're arranging a ride in advance, you can sometimes save quite a few bucks by going on your own -- especially if you can split the fare.