When
it comes to taking a cruise, your spending doesn't end when
you've booked the trip. Lots of cruise-related expenses have
the potential to bust your budget, from the flight to your embarkation
point to drinks on the cruise to shore excursions. So-called
add-on expenses can equal or exceed the cost of your cruise
if you're not careful.
"The
trend is for some cruise lines to offer relatively low prices
to get people on the ship and then hit them with cash fees for
little expenses here and there that after a week can really
add up," says Eileen Entin, owner of Diamond Cruise and
Travel.
"Everything on the ship is a profit center for
the cruise line, so it's up to you to keep your expenses in
check," says Jeffery Miller, an attorney and cruise idustry consultant.
To
keep your spending under control, follow these tips:
1.
Book your own flight
Most
cruises offer a complete package including airfare to and from
your home city. While such a package offers the convenience
of not having to book your own flight or worry about how to
get from the airport to the cruise ship, that convenience comes
at a cost.
"Cruise
lines buy their airfare packages in bulk from the airlines a
year in advance so the price you get through the cruise line
doesn't vary throughout the year like normal airline pricing
does," says Evan Eggers, president of 02Cruise.com. "Sometimes
the prices are lower than the open market, but for someone keeping
a good eye on airfares and checking the discount sites it will
generally be higher."
If
you book your own flight, leave a big cushion between when your
flight arrives in your port city and when the cruise actually
embarks so you can get to the ship. In some locales, such as
Fort Lauderdale, the port is a quick ride from the airport.
But in other places, such as Southampton, England, the airport
is a good two hours away from the port, Eggers notes.
The
cost of the taxi or shuttle ride from the airport to the port
is included in cruise-line booked fares, but if you book your
own flight be prepared to factor in the cost of transportation both ways. There
is also the risk that if your flight is delayed for some reason,
you may miss your embarkation.
"Some of my clients always book their air with the cruise line because they consider doing it on their own too risky," says Bill Thomas of Tropical Latitudes Travel in Churchton, Md. "If you book through the cruise line and you miss the boat, they have a responsibility to get you there somehow. If you book on your own, you are literally on your own if you miss the ship."
If you do book your flight on your own, seriously consider purchasing a travel insurance policy that will reimburse you for your costs if you have to catch up with your ship.
2. Look at nearby ports
The days when cruise ships only sailed from Florida and California are long over, says Entin. "These days the cruise companies sail out of so many different ports that it is much easier to find a port near you," she says. "I've taken a Royal Caribbean cruise out of Bayonne, N.J., that is much more convenient to me than going out of New York."
Other out-of-the-way embarkation points include Galveston, Texas, and New Orleans, La. Flights to those and other less well-known ports may be cheaper, especially during the holiday season, than other more well-known ports such as Fort Lauderdale, San Diego and Vancouver.
3. Check up on shore excursions
Many travelers look forward to the variety of exotic ports of call on a cruise and generally turn to the shore excursions sponsored by the cruise companies. But by doing some homework before you leave, you can figure out exactly what you want to do when you're in port and book your own shore excursions for considerably less by cutting out the middleman — the cruise line.
Many travel agents offer reports on the ports of call that highlight the various attractions and the best way to get around. "Our port reports tell you all sorts of things from what you'd expect to pay for a taxi to where the best shops are," says Eggers. "This kind of information gives you the insider knowledge to make wiser decisions."
You can get the same information from many tourist guides, such as the Lonely Planet or Let's Go series of travel books, he notes, although port reports may be a bit more up to date. Thomas agrees, saying that once you've figured out what you want to do, you can contact the vendors listed in a travel book or port report and make direct arrangements yourself.
4. Shop wisely
Many travelers spend lots of time shopping at ports of call. "My No. 1 piece of advice for shopping is to know the cost of what you want before you leave home," he says. "If it's a deal, go ahead and buy it, but otherwise you may be able to get it for the same price at home."
Eggers says that some cheaper electronics from the so-called "gray market" are not black-market goods, but don't carry the same warranties that you'd get on U.S. products. For example, you could get a digital camera in the Caribbean for a great price, but it may be a Japanese model that is not sold in the United States. So if you have a problem with it when you get home, there is no warranty coverage.
Haggling is acceptable and even expected at many ports of call, especially in the Caribbean, Thomas notes. "Even a simple clay pot may start at $20, but you have to realize that the price is not really the price," he says. "Smart shoppers are expected to bargain and it is not considered an insult to do so."
5. Pack smart
Savvy travelers who pack well can save a lot of money on last-minute purchases, notes Thomas. "This sounds like a given, but when you're packing it's easy to talk yourself out of bringing more stuff, thinking that you probably don't need it when you will end up needing it," says Thomas. "If there is even the remotest chance that you might need it, put it in.
"I'm talking about stuff like that extra bottle of sunscreen, bug spray, an umbrella, a rain jacket or a sweatshirt, stuff that will be very expensive if you have to buy it on the ship or in port," he says. He recommends bringing coordinating layers of clothes because while many destinations are quite warm during the day, it can get cooler in the evenings than many expect, and air conditioned areas on the ship may be quite cool.
6. Track your drinking and gambling
Alcohol and casinos are two major cruise line profit centers and many passengers can get carried away with both. If that's how you plan to relax, be aware how potentially expensive both drinking and gambling can be.
"Some onboard casinos offer free gambling lessons where you can play craps and the other games with play money," says Eggers. "It's a way to get the experience of gambling without spending money."
As far as soda goes, many cruise lines are offering a flat-rate soda package for adults and children for the entire voyage where you pay one fee and get as many sodas as you like instead of each one costing $1 or more, Entin notes. Frequently ships offer an alcoholic drink special of the day that will be discounted and a bit cheaper than other drinks, Eggers says.
7. Watch out for photos
Shipboard photographers will snap your photo when you board and frequently throughout the voyage. Usually you have to buy a package of photos, rather than just one, so the cost can add up, says Miller.
8. Tipping guidelines
Tipping is an expense that can really add up. Passengers are expected to tip their cabin attendatn, their watier, and their respective assisatants daily.
Some cruise lines allow prepaid tips on shipboard accounts, which removes the hassle, but removes the opportunity to reward outstanding service or penalize poor service.
9. Staying in touch with home
Using the Internet or phone on board a ship can be incredibly expensive, says Entin, so save your calls or e-mails for when you're in port. "I find an Internet café when I get off the ship and check in that way," she says. You can also buy prepaid phone cards so that you can make calls in port as well.
10. Check your account balance
Charging all your extra expenses to your shipboard account is convenient, but when you don't stay on top of your bill, you can get a shock when it comes time to pay. Some cruise lines offer you the chance to look at your bill on your cabin television so you can keep closer tabs on it. If not, you can go to the purser at any time and request a look to see how much you're spending.
(Source: Bankrate.com)
