Cruises offer an all-inclusive vacation experience, but what exactly is included in the price? It’s a common question for first-time cruisers and seasoned travelers alike. Let’s take a closer look at what you can expect to be included on a cruise.
Accommodations
Your cruise fare includes your accommodations onboard the ship. Whether you choose an interior, oceanview, or balcony stateroom, your room will be equipped with a comfortable bed, bathroom with shower, and plenty of storage space for your belongings.
Food and Beverage
One of the biggest draws of a cruise vacation is the abundance of food options available onboard. Most cruises include meals in the main dining room, buffet-style meals, and snacks throughout the day.
You can also expect to have access to complimentary coffee, tea, and water. Some cruise lines also include select non-alcoholic beverages such as soda and juice.
Specialty Dining
While most meals are included in your cruise fare, some specialty restaurants may charge an additional fee. These restaurants often offer a more elevated dining experience with unique menus and ambiance.
Entertainment
Cruise ships are known for their entertainment options that cater to all ages and interests. From Broadway-style shows to comedy acts and live music performances, there’s always something to keep you entertained onboard. These shows are usually included in your cruise fare.
Activities
In addition to entertainment shows, most ships offer a wide variety of activities for guests to participate in throughout the day. These may include fitness classes, trivia games, cooking demonstrations, poolside games, and more.
Kids Programs
Families cruising with children can take advantage of onboard kids programs that provide supervised activities for children of all ages. These programs are typically included in your cruise fare and offer a fun and safe environment for kids to make new friends and have fun.
Port Visits
Cruise itineraries include stops at different ports of call, allowing guests to explore new destinations. While the cruise fare includes transportation to these ports, any excursions or activities at the port may come with an additional fee.
Gratuities
Most cruise lines automatically charge gratuities to your onboard account for the staff who provide you with excellent service throughout your trip. These may include your cabin steward, waitstaff, and other crew members. These gratuities are typically distributed among the staff and are not charged per person.
What’s Not Included
While most things are included in your cruise fare, there are some things that are not. Alcoholic beverages, specialty coffee drinks, spa treatments, shore excursions, and souvenirs are just a few examples of things that may come with an additional fee.
In conclusion, cruises offer an all-inclusive vacation experience with accommodations, food and beverage options, entertainment shows and activities, kids programs, port visits, and gratuities included in your fare. However, it’s important to keep in mind that some specialty dining options and extras like alcoholic beverages or spa treatments may require additional fees.