We have done about 25 cruises and we always book excursions through the cruise line. We have found the price to be the same or maybe $10 more. The best thing about booking through the cruise line is the ship will wait for you if there is a delay. We arrived over and hour late because of a flat tire and a bent rim. The ship was waiting for us.
The added cost of an officially sanctioned excursion is in knowing that if something happens to delay your return to the ship that they will either wait for you or find a way to get you back on the ship at the next stop. On a recent cruise to Greenland dozens of cruisers who bought an excursion from a travel agent were denied refunds when the port was canceled. My cruise line provided excursion cost was credited to my account immediately with no action required on my part. I too have had the ship wait for me when my officially sanctioned bus tour broke down and was 40 minutes late returning to the doc. Any of the most popular cruise bloggers on RUclips have many reported cases of what happens when people gamble on cut rate excursions and something goes wrong.
@@trainme100 I won't claim it doesn't exist, but I have never seen that guarantee on an independent tour. First of all, the ship will not wait. They don't even know where you are, so a tour operator cannot guarantee that. I've done independent tours, but I make sure the return time is very early, just in case. Generally though, I stick with the cruise line excursions. Some cruise line travel insurance policies also will not cover you on an independent excursion, so I make sure have independent insurance if I book an independent excursion. I usually do that anyway, since cruise line insurance doesn't cover medical evacuation back home.
@@CH750TN BINGO! As Tony at La Lido Loca says: “Nothing is ever a PROBLEM until it’s a PROBLEM!” As heavyweight fighter Mike Tyson says: “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face!” ARE ANY OF YOU GETTING ANY OF THIS ADVICE? Sam, Towson, md
Agreed. I only book private excursions when the ship will be at port over night. This way if there is any mishap we have extra time to get back to the ship. Otherwise we book with the ship.
We took a cruise to Mexico and did a private (not cruise sponsored) excursion. It became apparent we might not make it back in time. We informed our guide. He was gracious and told us which bus to take to get back. Basically, watch the clock folks, and don't be shy to ask for help to get back to the ship. It ain't rocket science.
definitely understandable. it’s subjective. i’d love to get a massage on my upcoming cruise but it’ll cost about twice what it’ll cost at salons near me at home, so i’m going to save on that.
We spend about $200-300 in the casino and get free rooms on our next cruise. Ex: we just got back from Alaska and got a free oceanview room for 7 days. Early this year we had to opportunity to get a balcony for $150. So playing in the casino can save you thousands as long as you stick to a budget and don't go over your budget. We also book our short excursions when we go into town.
2 месяца назад+10
Yes! My wife has been getting endless "free interior cabin" offers which can be upgraded for nearly nothing. Going to Panama Canal for 12 days in a Suite at 40% of retail cost WITH drinks, WiFi, etc.
on most ships now your cabin key card now works as your players card. So they will automatically know your level of gaming. Good luck. Peace.@@robertjackson4303
My husband and I do purchase the drink package because it includes coffee drinks, fresh squeezed orange juice, bottled water and pop along with the glasses of wine or a cocktail during dinner and the evening show. . The best thing is not worrying about a large bill at the end of the cruise.
I used to think this but our last cruise I decided to put it to the test and ended saving 200 bucks not getting the drink package…and we didn’t give ourself a limit.
We get the package before sailing and it’s usually discounted. It comes out to about 6 alcohol drinks a day. I can’t necessarily do 6 but over a day my husband can.
I work hard and when I go on a cruise I am not gonna be a penny pincher. I get multiple massages, gamble, get the drink package, eat at specialty restaurants, get the WiFi because you can’t ever disconnect when you own a business and go on excursions at a port of call I have never been to. Oh, and I always have my laundry done the day before I disembark. Having said that, I would never ever buy the picture package, buy jewelry, or go to the art auction.
Sounds like the right attitude to me!! One exception, I might attend the art auction if they're giving something away, like maybe a free print or champagne. And I might ... _might_ ... buy some cheap bauble of jewelry if it has the ship's name and logo on it. Like I always buy a souvenir shot glass everywhere I travel, and cruise ships don't always have shot glasses.
I don’t drink so not buying a drink package is not penny pinching. I also have no interest in throwing money away in a casino. I do get wifi but it is such a ripoff!!
Everyone just has to do themselves. I can’t see me ever wasting money on overpriced wifi, I go on a cruise to truly disconnect. There’s not much I can do to solve problems whilst in the middle of the ocean… but I don’t own a business. I’ve gotten it for a day here or there just so that I could call my kid for his birthday and things like that. I’d also never get the photo package or spend money on jewellery, art or expensive purses where I can’t return things and am truly paying way too much!
Agreed. I think this video is a useful guide on how to 'pick your over-priced luxuries', where everyone has to individually decide which service will enhance your cruise experience. For me, I always get the cruise long Spa Pass that gets me access to the experiental showers, suanas and such. Even if I don't use those showers every day, I like knowing that I can without second guessing myself. I also like to get the Cruise Port Excursions when going to places that I know will be a little difficult to navigate, like an isolated port or one of the more unsafe cities.
As a mom, I'm the one who's taking photos of everyone else and I have very few taken with us all in one photo. I think it's worth getting one or two photos.
Our friend's wife sadly died of cancer some years ago. The husband said to us, soon after, that it was only when he was sorting through their years of photos and albums, that he realised how few of their snaps were of their entire family together - for exactly this reason! Just a thought people...
While I completely agree regarding purchasing art on a cruise, there is one exception. On a recent cruise, my wife (an artist) and I attended an art trivia event and won a “free” print which we actually liked. We decided to have it framed by the vendor which included shipping and delivery to our home. Since my wife has a lot of experience with buying frames, we have to say that the quality of the one we purchased was excellent and the price was something of a bargain. Professional framing is incredibly expensive so this was a nice surprise.
For my wife and I, I have to admit that we do enjoy the spa as a luxury vacation purchase. That said, I try to be savvy and make those appointments on port days. Coming back to the ship an hour early can save a lot of money on a massage. I also enjoy the casino because it’s not something I get to normally do. My wife on the other hand is not a gambler. On our last cruise, I tried the ships bingo for the first time. The price was outrageous given that they only played three games of bingo and spent at least an hour talking about a whole lot of nothing.
Really really good tips. I disagree with not using shipboard excursions for the obvious reasons. Did the drink package our first cruise never again. Never did all the rest for the same reasons you mentioned. Doing a Mediterranian later this month. One is Naples a 10 hour excursion no way I would do it without the guarantee the ship will wait. I was in Progresso a couple years back we were hour and a half late ( Cruise excursion)...so were 4 other tours. Only in Cozumel do we do our own thing. Many other ports we stay real close to ship and wander around.
On the drink package, you forget you also can get your coffee and bottled water from them. We do the drink package and never run short of any type of beverage.
Regarding the drinks package, I see a lot of vloggers talking about the monetary value of the drinks not being worth it and not "getting your money's worth" however that opinion doesn't factor in the convenience of having all your potential alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages paid for your cruise. Personally, I'd rather pay an upcharge and not have to worry about the cost of drinks during the cruise than to have to weigh each drink for if I want to pay for it, it detracts from vacationing if I have to worry about my budget each time, I want a drink. For me (and my dad who usually cruises with me), the convenience of a drink package is not having to worry about paying for those drinks at the end because we paid for it in the beginning. Whether or not its monetarily worth it isn't a factor, it is worth the convenience.
By all means, if you think you’ll come close to value, go for it. For me it wouldn’t be worth it: not only do I dislike most alcoholic drinks, I also avoid drinking too much sugary caffeine & won’t touch artificial sweeteners.
Don't have the disposable income to pay half again the price of the cruise for the drink package. It's over $850 for the drink package Foe a 7 day cruise nope can't do it.
@@TheRecon1a don’t forget you have to pay for all adults in the room too. (Unless you know how to get around that) so you can double that price. But at $20-$25 a cocktail you’ve only got to drink 5 a day to save money
I personally purchase the drink package on every cruise. The premium Cocktails now on most ships are $14.00 and 5 of those you have bought the drink package. Also included, as you said, is unlimited water and specialty coffees are also included with the drink package. The drink package is well worth the money not to have that bar bill at the end of the cruise!
I think that depends on the line. As I recall, when I was on RCL two years ago, they had a package for alcohol and a package for soft drinks and a *third* package for specialty coffees. Now Princess, which we'll be cruising on this coming November, the *single* "Plus" package includes alcohol, soft drinks, specialty coffees, bottled water and fruit juices. Then there is the "Premium" package which includes the same, with some extra stuff, and the drinks can be up to $20 vs. $15.
We almost always book the drink package. With the cost of a drink on a cruise ship these days, you only need 4 drinks per day along with a couple of coffees and a bottle of two of water to break even.
Def depends. I went on allure of the seas, me and my husband had 4-6 alcoholic drinks a day each, some coffees and bottled water and still ended up saving 200 bucks not buying the drink package.
Going on a cruise next month. Would appreciate if you can provide any other excursion companies that guarantees to get to the port. Heading to aruba, bonaire and curacao
After our 3rd cruise, my wife and I bought a really nice camera to take pictures around the ship. The staff is always graciously helpful with taking pictures for us, and tipping them is less than paying for the photo packages
Regarding cruise ship sponsored, last December we were on an excursion that took us from the lake at the Panama canal through the three sets of locks to the Pacific. Due to having to wait for a large tanker to slot in behind us twice in the locks, we were two and three quarter hours late to the celebrity constellations sail away time of 5 pm. The ship had to wait for us 140 passengers. If we had booked on our own, we would have had to make arrangements to fly to our next port in Costa Rica. Explore the city once you are back from your excursion. Hi from Bob and Jill in Connecticut
Hi Bob and Jill great to hear from you. That sounds like an extreme example, but there are certain some tours you book with the cruise line like something unique. When is the next cruise?
I have seen a number of people and some friends miss the ship because they're private, and you end up getting back late. It happens almost on every cruise I have been on, and that has been over 35. So people need to be very careful about getting their private tour. The ship will not wait for you.
We enjoy gambling, and cruise on Royal Caribbean. Most of our cruises, 2 to 4 per year, are free through the casino. We only pay port fees and taxes. We don't gamble a lot--we take only a set amount and usually come home with at least some of that money. If we had to pay for the cruise, we would still end up gambling the same amount, so getting the cabin for free is a win. I also get unlimited drinks from the casino bar on every cruise, and I often get myself a bottle of water for the room whenever I go to the bar.
Can't argue that stuff is more expensive onboard than on land, but Massage Envy and Ruth's Chris don't have to room and board their employees. I think it is good to be thoughtful about how much is being spent while onboard but I also think it is healthy to remember that vacations don't have to be hyper-optimized.
An added on jewelry bought on board. Be sure you are getting what is promoted as 14k or 18k gold. Sometimes that shinny 14k bracelet is only gold plated or filled. Hint for checking, get a magnet if the piece sticks to your magnet it is Not what you think. Base metal under that gold wil grab the magnet, this trick works anytime your not sure.
I agree with most of these with a couple of exceptions. I typically book cruise-sponsored shore excursions because the ship will wait. On 4 separate occasions I would have missed the boat if I'd booked private. If you're in port for 9 hours and the excursion is slated for 7 hours. If anything goes wrong you're screwed. Unless you booked through the ship. Booking a private tour brings limitations. A private tour will be shorter/won't go as far, to make sure they get you back in time. Or if they fall behind, they will skip part of the tour to get you back. If you're not going very far, or for very long, then private is usually better. But I usually try to get the most out of a port, so I generally take longer excursions. I usually book a ship excursion about 2/3 of the time. And typically it costs about $20/ person / excursion. So, in the end, it might cost about $100-150 total, for the entire cruise for 2 people. This is acceptable for the guarantee. On premium dining; if you're on a budget then certainly skip it. The food in the main dining room is pretty good. But I typically go to a specialty restaurant once or twice per cruise. Change things up with a fine dining experience. Unless you're working, Wi-Fi is not necessary. Coverage in the ports should be good enough. And as someone who doesn't drink, drinks packages are not worth it. Even the soda packages. In the end, I think people should try and get the most out of their cruise vacations. And if you are completely happy with the inclusions then that's great. But on a trip that costs several thousand dollars, it's definitely worth it to spend a few hundred extra to enhance your experience. For most people, these are rare experiences.
@@stephenjensen5358 that is cutting it close. Only a short time span to spare. In this case yes it is better to take the ships excursion. If it was a longer time period I would compare a private excursion.
I’ve not seen a ship excursion that costs $20. I just came off of a ship and paid $75-$100 each. And there were many others that cost more. What kind of excursion are you getting for $20?
@chevelleflorida perhaps I didn't make clear what I was saying. When I said it cost $20/excursion I was talking about how much more you pay by booking with the cruise line. For a similar private excursion. It's not the total price of the excursion. So, I was saying I thought it was worth an extra $20/person/excursion for the guarantee that the ship will wait.
@@stephenjensen5358 gotcha! 👍 sometimes, but if you take a taxi to a beach on your own rather than a ship purchased to the same beach. We have saved a fair bit over the years by doing this and knock on wood, no problems so far. But it all boils down to whatever a person is comfortable with. We’ve been to several ports where the tour group is standing in the sun waiting for their excursion to start and we were getting into a cab and on our way.
@TripReviews totally agree. I use taxis for beach excursions. The type of excursions I was mostly talking about were ones where the length is similar to the time in port.
When on a seven day cruise, we will use the thermal suite usually twice a day sometimes more and we normally get a cabin right beside it. It’s just a great way to relax and get away from the crowds.
You can often find the same excursions in port as the ship offers and cheaper. I’ve never had a problem getting back in time. Make your own excursion as an option. Beware of the clock just like you should be doing regardless of what type of excursion you are on. After all you and only you are responsible for yourself.
We go with Shore Excursions and they have refund policy if ship misses port stop. We also use OBC for ship excursions, so it’s no extra money out of pocket.
@@MB-uy5kh Agree. The experts in this video said not to use the ship's excursions. Just showing that there are hidden dangers to making your own arrangements. We have a cruise coming up that goes to dangerous ports along Mexico. I feel safer going with the cruise line's excursions.
My cruising was years ago and mostly European river cruises. All tours and excursions were included in the fare, and there were no "packages" for food or drink. Small (40 - 100 passengers) ships and affordable for someone on a schoolteacher's salary! I wouldn't want to travel with people who have more than 8 alcoholic drinks every day. ;-)
One advantage to booking an excursion through the cruise line is that if return will be late, they may hold the ship OR help you get to the next port, but yes it can be more expensive. If you're a "new" cruiser booking through cruise line may be a good idea, but when you get more experienced going "on your own" may be a good idea.
I agree wholeheartedly with avoiding eight out of the 11. Because I purchase Royal Caribbean's Key, I get WiFi included for one device. As far as the bottled water goes, I'll gladly spend the $15 for the dozen liters. I get through two bottles a day (with electrolytes) and will bring the rest home (I only do four-day cruises). Royal's Izumi Restaurant offers a sushi/sake pairing lunch, which I look forward to every time I sail.
Great tips & i agree with them all. I generally buy the soft drink package as im not an alcohol drinker. My spending is very minimal on any cruise. It doesn't have to be expensive once you have paid for your cruise. The included dining is always sufficient.
We have done at least 16 cruises. We have purchased the art on board. Some really nice and others just prints. We get the Wi-fi for us. Photos are too expensive. I'll spend some money in the casino and the wife nothing. My wife fell for the spa deals at the beginning, but not recently. We don't do the restaurants or shore excursions and drinks packages. We do have a cruise booked for 2026 with Princess and everything is included. The money saved going Premiere is worth it. It will be our only one we purchased. Bingo is fun and we have won and made our money back. It's a matter of choice and how much your budget is.
Water is cheaper to purchase "precruise" than once the ship has sailed. Even excursions that offer beverages only provide it at certain times. Having your own water supply on an excursion for 8 hours is crucial.
The problem with private excursions is if they don’t get you back to the ship on time, the ship will leave you behind. Then it’s up to you to get to the next port/final port. Which can be quite expensive.
That's why I only take ship tours if I'm going a distance from the port. The White Pass/Yukon train from Skagway, Alaska recently had a mudslide and travelers couldn't get back to the ship. The ship went to a different spot on the coast and coordinated picking up the passengers on their tours, but I can't help but think that others were probably stranded because their tour guides had no way to communicate to the ship. I don't take ship tours if they're for something near port, where I can easily hire a taxi to get back to the ship.
Private excursions are the best and far better than cruise excursions. Not only do you save money but you also have more options than what the cruise line offers. I have never had a problem with a private excursion getting you back to the port in plenty of time. They know they will go out of business if they can’t get you back to port in a timely manner. Give it a shot and you will not be disappointed.
This almost happened to me in belize. Though we finished the excursion on time on our way back there way a accident that blocked the road to the port for a few hours, lucky another group that booked their excursion with the cruise was behind us so the ship had to wait for them. Always book with the cruiseline😂
Haven’t had any issues yet with private excursions or diy excursions. They’ve always been conscious of the time and never forget that you too have to watch the clock regardless of what type of outing you do.
@@b4cats1 problem I have is this though, if, and if you don't make it back, then what? Exactly you are stranded. I'd enjoy taking a 3rd party excursion if they are willing to actually hold themselves accountable.
The photo thing though, our last cruise they offered an unlimited pkg that got us a USB with all the photos on it, for a really cheap price. I honestly think that for the almost 2 week cruise it cost us less than $30 for the memory stick with a couple developed pictures included. And my massage is my treat on my cruises. I really enjoy the main included dining room and have had a couple unexciting meals at paid for options. Just my thing.
The drink, internet package is a big rip off. We only did a few photos one time. Never do painting purchases, spas never unless there is a really good deal.we don’t gamble.
When I go on a cruise I do not spend a dime on the ship. I am already spending plenty just to go. I do not need unhealthy addictively sweetened drinks all day nor to become an alcoholic. The included food is fine for me. I have never taken a cruise shore excursion and I have done quite fine venturing out on my own on land.
Still on the fence on cruising (haven't taken a cruise yet, the price is a lot higher than my usual kayaking day trip staycations and I find that daunting), but I think I would take the drinks package for the reason listed so often here...and it's the same reason I go to all you can eat buffets on land: the utility is in the lack of worry, not the volume. If I have a drinks package, I won't hesitate to go ahead and have a cocktail or a glass of wine. Otherwise, I'll be in money saving mode and won't drink anything but tap water, which isn't why I want to go on a "luxury" (rather than outdoors) vacation.
I agree the spa is not worth it but the thermal suite is a god send. I have spinal damage and when i start to feel like crap i change and go enjoy a 30-60 minute bask on the thermal suite chairs. On my last cruise i used it probably a dozen or more time.
I make sure I get my money's worth for the drinks package. Last time on the Jubilee, I'd go to the bar with my card and my wife's card and get two pours of Blantons neat. I'd tell the bartender, as soon as the five minutes is up, I'd like another two. Usually they're back after a couple minutes. Then I'd do it again. Takes me about 6-7 minutes and I'd walk out of there with a full tall glass of bourbon. I emptied so many bottles I took home three horse stoppers...
I was one of those passengers that didn’t go to the casino earlier in my cruise experience however I’ve changed and now I do because as I have increased my cruising it has become an advantageous experience to go to the casino and play the slots. With playing the slots and getting the points for another cruise at a steep discount is worth it, this applies to my experience on Royal Caribbean cruises, other cruise lines are not as transparent about the process of gaining the opportunity to cruise at a steep discount via casino play (Carnival). I’m not encouraging others to play in the casino, I’m just saying that you should be cognizant of the reason for playing, be deliberate with your play and don’t go over board with playing the casino.
Sounds like us. Just got off of a B2B 2 days ago we came off with 2 new cruises and was down less than $400. I have had 25 cruises in last 2 years less than $15,000 cost.
@@richardstrick My family and I were going on cruises once or twice per year however since we started playing in the casino our cruising has increased significantly. We don’t regret not playing in the previous years but now we have been “enlightened.”
Cheapskates will never spend money on specialty restaurants, spa treatments, on-shore excursions, espresso coffee, drinks packages and shopping. When we go cruising we want the full experience. We nearly always eat at a specialty restaurant because we love good food. My wife refuses to drink American coffee so she is a regular at the barista cafe first thing every morning. We also fully support cruise-sponsored excursions because it's easy and we are guaranteed not to miss the ship. Once we did a 24 day Mediterranean cruise and booked 19 shore excursions!
It must be nice to have pot fulls of unlimited money to spend, its yours to spend how you wish. Some others are not do lucky and probably have to budget a little more or prioritise their spending. I wouldn't do a cruise but if I did I would only do it if I could afford one or two treats...bit like going to disney
Use reputable companies like ‘tours by local’ and never had problem getting back on time. Also use excursions when flying in for airport pickup, tour, and then drop off at hotel
Bring a stainless steel water bottle like a thermos type of thing. Something that holds 16 ounces or more (more is better). Then ask your cabin steward to bring a bucket of ice to your cabin every day. Fill your bottle with ice, then fill it with the tap water. Tell everybody it's mineral water from France.
@@sandyc5428The water plants on most ships put out higher specification of drinking water than some American cities can It’s quite safe, I assure you. The process is very technical and meticulously monitored.
If you enjoy it and you are fine with the price, its not a rip off. Just because you dont like/want to do those things doesnt make it a rip off for the ones that do.
I agree with almost all of these. I take only repositioning cruises so I buy WiFi for sea days and shell out for some specialty restaurants, esp. if there is an unlimited package offered. I cruise solo and almost never eat in the MDR. Rarely drink alcohol. If I have a lot of OBC I try to liquidate it with minimal casino play daily.
Some of these really depend. Ship water has higher levels of salt in them so some people have to buy water bottles so they don't have issues related to that Cruise lines like MSC have a small upcharge for their drinks packages so you're not paying that much more for it
The only thing we pay extra for is a balcony room. I just have to get away from all those people & share a nice bottle of wine with my husband once in awhile.
Agree about pretty much all of these. I get the Wifi because I need the constant data drip (as does my wife) - on my most recent Carnival cruise, the Wifi actually worked quite well. I totally agree about the drinks package: My wife isn't really a drinker and I cannot possibly drink enough to cover the cost of putting us both on the package (which would be required). On our most recent cruise, it wouldn't even have been worth it, even if I could have gotten the package on my own (and I drank as much as I wanted to).
Hello my fellow RUclipsr. Firstly I would like to thank you for taking the time, effort and resources it took, in making this very informative film about cruise culture and cruise ships, I have been thinking about a cruise for some time, I have never been on a cruise before, I have been on many ships over the years and I enjoy them, but never on a cruise or even a cruise ship, in my entire life. My Parents loved them and did many cruises over the years on many different ships, and I thought I might like them as well, but what your production has made me realise, is several issues I would have on a cruise ship, and the culture around them. After watching this I realized that cruise ships and being on a cruise is not for me I really won’t go into long explanations it would just fill this page with what I think, feel and understand and what I see wrong about a ship cruise in today’s modern world. But I would say that the days of adventure on the high seas, in luxury and comfort with awesome company, in wonderful exotic and interesting locations on land or at sea, are a thing of the past, and in short, I would probably end up just spend all my time in my cabin. I thank you again for your time and effort and for saving me a lot of money and so much wasted time if I had gone throw with my plans.
Broke a nail once getting in a cruise so i went to get it fixed... WAY over proved and looked awful- never again! I'll wait till I'm in a port and massive get someone w actual experience
Exceptionally good video, well organized! One thing my wife and I do on a cruise is book another cruise while on board for several reasons. 1. prices are usually better, 2. Sometimes they'll include on board credit that you can use to go to the spa, and specialty restaurants. On our last Princess cruise, we received a total cruise credit of close to $400.00 dollars which we used on the photo package, and specialty dining. Also if you cruise often on a line you like, join their loyalty program. We are in Celebrity's Captain's club elite level, we haven't paid for a drink yet!
I forgot to mention the drink package. This is a tough one if you are a drinker. When I’m on a cruise, I’m in full vacation mode. I may not be drinking hard liquor the whole time, but having a beer here and there can add up! I pace myself on the heavy liquor for every other night. I’m too old to go hard every night. With that said, the drink package is worth it for me. Those drinks get expensive real quick! If you know you’re only going to have one or two drinks max per day, don’t bother with it!
My wife missed her email while on our recent cruise. But I liked disconnecting for a week. However I'm planning a cruise without her, and will buy an internet package to stay in touch with email and voip.
Take the water bottle and fill with the fruit juice or iced tea if you want, same for a coffee thermos cup. I bring two bottles of wine. Not allowed to have 1 drink package! My husband has not had a drink in over 30 years how would you prove that!
Well Done as always. Your content reminds me of Cruzely with Tanner. One video every two weeks or so which makes the info a novelty. I wish NCL had rates without the drink package as I don't need it and it would be way more affordable.
they do have rates without drink package i don't drink you can get drink i get the package that includes 2 specialty dinner and the minute they give you for internet plus 50 dollar off for shore excursions i go my travel agents web site i pick the cruise i want to go one do like an on line booking when you do that i pick cabin and it says price pick cabin then do down then it shows options for drink package and other pick what you want and gives total price for your cruise then i call my agent and book then i know everthing and tell them what i want there suprised i''ve done many cruises with them
We gamble after all shows and dinners. My wife and i just use 1 players card and have a 1k limit per cruise. We signed up for the blue chip club and we constantly get free cruise offers. We took 8 cruises last year all complimentary. So gambling pays off for the comps. Oh btw theres been a few times we even won more than a 1000 so that's a free cruise.
We avoid the Spa because of the waiver they make you sign on RCCL. The Spa required my husband to sign a waiver for a pedicure. When we read the waiver, the waiver literally included the risk of loss of life and you're signing prohibits your family from filing a law suit if you die because of getting the procedure. Why on earth would any spa treatment, perhaps with the exception of a surgical treatment, be a risk for loss of life? Since the Spa is run by a third party entity, nope, not going to do it.
@@Eatsleepcruise1lol! We actually read the waivet on a couple of RCCL ships and they all said the same thing. When we questioned why it had that wording no one could explain.
It's a long shot, but a theory could be a diabetic that gets a foot infection as a result. A diabetic foot infection could result in an amputation of a toe, portion of a foot, or if untreated go to sepsis. Signed, a diabetic with 9 toes. Ps would I get 10% off on a spa pedicure?
I agree with these tips except one. I rather be cattle in a ship organized short excursion, than to go on my own to save a few dollars, and be concern that by chance we get delayed coming back and the ship won't wait for us.
Gratuities should not be expected ,tip at the end of your cruise if you want to all your doing is subsidizing there wages ,cruise companies should be paying competitive wages 🤔
If all cruise companies are paying the same than by definition that is 'competitive'. Wages, like everything else, are determined by the law of supply and demand. Maybe $1000 US (tax free) free room and board isn't much to you, but to most people in third world countries it's fantastic,
2 areas you can really get burned is the art gallery and shops selling expensive jewelry and luxury watches. You could spend thousands for art that is not worth what you paid. The same goes for jewelry and watches. The spa is also a waste but you at least get the service you paid for.
Pre pandemic photos were a great value. Since the restart, the cruise lines have been price gouging the photo package. Pre pandemic, I used to pay $300 and I would get all of my photos that I took for the trip . since the restart that $300 gets you about 15 to 20 photos.
I needed a haircut and a beard trim bad. On embarkation day while still in port I got a men's cut, a beard trim, a fascial and eye treatment for $100. That's a great deal on land let alone on a ship.
You will need to spring for specialty dining on Norwegian because their Main Dining Room is SO substandard! (Think sub-microwave dinner-quality….and the menus don’t EVER change!)
I always buy ship photos! That is, the shots taken on the gala nights, where we get all dressed up and photos are taken with softboxes, i.e. good lighting. I've never gone to a photo studio at home - what could be more convenient than to have professional photos taken when you just walk by? I don't buy the photos taken on shore, as I can take these shots more easily with my phone. As for the price - fair enough for professional services.
@@Eatsleepcruise1 Always digital copies - these become profile pics on my Ancestry tree. Prints of items that become gifts - pictures that I frame for my parents, for instance. A couple of times I brought kids, so I printed their pictures for their parents who trusted me with their kids.
We skipped specialty dining on our cruise last month on Carnival. Last January, we did a four meal dining package on our 11 day cruise with MSC. We didn't buy the drink package on either of our last two cruises, but the one before that and the one we are taking in November include the drink package. We won't buy the drink package unless it's included. Too much for what we drink. We may buy a one or two meal specialty dining package in November. Still deciding.
Regardless of where you are going, why would you spend your time doing the things you can do anywhere ? It’s like going to the same resort year after year and spending the entire time drinking, no excursions, etc. It’s absolutely pointless. And to go on a cruise ship and not be outside where you can see the ocean/water or go on land excursions… Makes no sense.
We enjoy the casino only been on 1 ship and my husband hit a 3000 jackpot and now we have 8 free cruises booked suites , premier , elite , balcony , it’s worth it to gamble
I agree in the most part with your videos. I would highly suggest booking shore excursions that have any sort of travel distance from your ships port. If you book a shore excursion with the cruise line you are guaranteed the ship will not leave without you. You just never know if the tour bus runs into traffic or a collision or breaks down. We aren't serious drinkers in any way so the drink packages are not even remotely worth it.
My wife and I have participated in almost every “ misadventure “you mention in your video on our first cruises, but coming out a bit wiser in later cruises. However, you are there to have some fun, and spending on some things is mad money, and being a total skinflint is no fun. I think the biggest ripoff are the shore excursions, which can be a major scam; e.g. our tour of Alcatraz could have been done for about 1/3 the price we paid for the ship tour. We took an excursion to visit Mt St. Helens, which cost us a boring, long excursion, a dried out box lunch, to stare at a mountain, and which took an entire day. Oh well, live and learn.
It took us ONE time to buy those damn prints in the art gallery and getting fleeced to avoid it like the plague on future cruises. We don’t so much as sneeze in the direction of that damn art gallery. The spa depends on what we are cruising for and the mood I’m in. I paid for the professional makeup before our photos when we cruised for our 10th anniversary. I also booked a pedicure for my husband on a cruise we took that fell over Father’s Day. We also never pay for the drink package. The time we got it included with our suite, we felt like we weren’t making good use of it because we don’t really drink so then we tried to drink more to feel like we were getting out money’s worth. I do like that on our last cruise on the RC Icon of the Seas that you could buy just a coffee card to redeem for the speciality coffee drinks. My husband and I are coffee drinkers so this was perfect. Specialty restaurants, we’ve only done for special occasions and it was a dinner with a “feature” (e.g Le Petite Chef on Celebrity). Here you got a cute little show as well as the dinner. Or like the behind the scenes tours that a have a meal following. I always pay for WiFi for my phone. My husband is the one that likes to be disconnected from bothers so he never gets it and if he does need to check something then he just uses my phone, but I need to look at the news and chat with family and friends and check social media.
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We have done about 25 cruises and we always book excursions through the cruise line. We have found the price to be the same or maybe $10 more. The best thing about booking through the cruise line is the ship will wait for you if there is a delay. We arrived over and hour late because of a flat tire and a bent rim. The ship was waiting for us.
The added cost of an officially sanctioned excursion is in knowing that if something happens to delay your return to the ship that they will either wait for you or find a way to get you back on the ship at the next stop. On a recent cruise to Greenland dozens of cruisers who bought an excursion from a travel agent were denied refunds when the port was canceled. My cruise line provided excursion cost was credited to my account immediately with no action required on my part. I too have had the ship wait for me when my officially sanctioned bus tour broke down and was 40 minutes late returning to the doc. Any of the most popular cruise bloggers on RUclips have many reported cases of what happens when people gamble on cut rate excursions and something goes wrong.
@@trainme100 I won't claim it doesn't exist, but I have never seen that guarantee on an independent tour. First of all, the ship will not wait. They don't even know where you are, so a tour operator cannot guarantee that. I've done independent tours, but I make sure the return time is very early, just in case. Generally though, I stick with the cruise line excursions. Some cruise line travel insurance policies also will not cover you on an independent excursion, so I make sure have independent insurance if I book an independent excursion. I usually do that anyway, since cruise line insurance doesn't cover medical evacuation back home.
@@CH750TN BINGO! As Tony at La Lido Loca says: “Nothing is ever a PROBLEM until it’s a PROBLEM!” As heavyweight fighter Mike Tyson says: “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face!” ARE ANY OF YOU GETTING ANY OF THIS ADVICE?
Sam, Towson, md
Agreed. I only book private excursions when the ship will be at port over night. This way if there is any mishap we have extra time to get back to the ship. Otherwise we book with the ship.
Pro tip, you can save money in the spa on port days and your services will be about half price
Bottled water as a premium beverage is hilarious!
Clearly an effort to reduce the environmental impact.
We took a cruise to Mexico and did a private (not cruise sponsored) excursion. It became apparent we might not make it back in time. We informed our guide. He was gracious and told us which bus to take to get back. Basically, watch the clock folks, and don't be shy to ask for help to get back to the ship. It ain't rocket science.
Never giving up a spa day on a sea day. I’m on vacation and I deserve it no matter the cost
definitely understandable. it’s subjective. i’d love to get a massage on my upcoming cruise but it’ll cost about twice what it’ll cost at salons near me at home, so i’m going to save on that.
We spend about $200-300 in the casino and get free rooms on our next cruise. Ex: we just got back from Alaska and got a free oceanview room for 7 days. Early this year we had to opportunity to get a balcony for $150. So playing in the casino can save you thousands as long as you stick to a budget and don't go over your budget. We also book our short excursions when we go into town.
Yes! My wife has been getting endless "free interior cabin" offers which can be upgraded for nearly nothing. Going to Panama Canal for 12 days in a Suite at 40% of retail cost WITH drinks, WiFi, etc.
How do you let them know that you are a player?
Cool 🆒 thanks from a former travel advisor in Mexico
on most ships now your cabin key card now works as your players card. So they will automatically know your level of gaming. Good luck. Peace.@@robertjackson4303
I never see anybody winning at the casino slots.
My husband and I do purchase the drink package because it includes coffee drinks, fresh squeezed orange juice, bottled water and pop along with the glasses of wine or a cocktail during dinner and the evening show. . The best thing is not worrying about a large bill at the end of the cruise.
Those large amounts that they charge for those drink packages are way too expensive. I will never drink that amount of alcohol in a day lol
I used to think this but our last cruise I decided to put it to the test and ended saving 200 bucks not getting the drink package…and we didn’t give ourself a limit.
We get the package before sailing and it’s usually discounted. It comes out to about 6 alcohol drinks a day. I can’t necessarily do 6 but over a day my husband can.
They also have you buy two drink packages if you are a couple. It has to be the same. Even if one of you do not drink alcohol.
@@onthego41 I know that sucks.
I work hard and when I go on a cruise I am not gonna be a penny pincher. I get multiple massages, gamble, get the drink package, eat at specialty restaurants, get the WiFi because you can’t ever disconnect when you own a business and go on excursions at a port of call I have never been to. Oh, and I always have my laundry done the day before I disembark. Having said that, I would never ever buy the picture package, buy jewelry, or go to the art auction.
Sounds like the right attitude to me!!
One exception, I might attend the art auction if they're giving something away, like maybe a free print or champagne. And I might ... _might_ ... buy some cheap bauble of jewelry if it has the ship's name and logo on it. Like I always buy a souvenir shot glass everywhere I travel, and cruise ships don't always have shot glasses.
I don’t drink so not buying a drink package is not penny pinching. I also have no interest in throwing money away in a casino. I do get wifi but it is such a ripoff!!
you can GO to the auction just don't buy
Everyone just has to do themselves. I can’t see me ever wasting money on overpriced wifi, I go on a cruise to truly disconnect. There’s not much I can do to solve problems whilst in the middle of the ocean… but I don’t own a business. I’ve gotten it for a day here or there just so that I could call my kid for his birthday and things like that.
I’d also never get the photo package or spend money on jewellery, art or expensive purses where I can’t return things and am truly paying way too much!
Agreed. I think this video is a useful guide on how to 'pick your over-priced luxuries', where everyone has to individually decide which service will enhance your cruise experience. For me, I always get the cruise long Spa Pass that gets me access to the experiental showers, suanas and such. Even if I don't use those showers every day, I like knowing that I can without second guessing myself. I also like to get the Cruise Port Excursions when going to places that I know will be a little difficult to navigate, like an isolated port or one of the more unsafe cities.
TUH! I won $2,000 playing Wheel of Fortune on a cruise ship. Only put in $20. Paid for some graduation fees with that windfall.
As a mom, I'm the one who's taking photos of everyone else and I have very few taken with us all in one photo. I think it's worth getting one or two photos.
Our friend's wife sadly died of cancer some years ago. The husband said to us, soon after, that it was only when he was sorting through their years of photos and albums, that he realised how few of their snaps were of their entire family together - for exactly this reason! Just a thought people...
While I completely agree regarding purchasing art on a cruise, there is one exception. On a recent cruise, my wife (an artist) and I attended an art trivia event and won a “free” print which we actually liked. We decided to have it framed by the vendor which included shipping and delivery to our home. Since my wife has a lot of experience with buying frames, we have to say that the quality of the one we purchased was excellent and the price was something of a bargain. Professional framing is incredibly expensive so this was a nice surprise.
So, basically avoid all of the overpriced extras. I agree.
For my wife and I, I have to admit that we do enjoy the spa as a luxury vacation purchase. That said, I try to be savvy and make those appointments on port days. Coming back to the ship an hour early can save a lot of money on a massage.
I also enjoy the casino because it’s not something I get to normally do. My wife on the other hand is not a gambler. On our last cruise, I tried the ships bingo for the first time. The price was outrageous given that they only played three games of bingo and spent at least an hour talking about a whole lot of nothing.
Really really good tips. I disagree with not using shipboard excursions for the obvious reasons. Did the drink package our first cruise never again. Never did all the rest for the same reasons you mentioned. Doing a Mediterranian later this month. One is Naples a 10 hour excursion no way I would do it without the guarantee the ship will wait. I was in Progresso a couple years back we were hour and a half late ( Cruise excursion)...so were 4 other tours. Only in Cozumel do we do our own thing. Many other ports we stay real close to ship and wander around.
On the drink package, you forget you also can get your coffee and bottled water from them. We do the drink package and never run short of any type of beverage.
A cruise ship will wait if a shore excursion booked through them is delayed. Not so for third party excursions that arrive late for departure.
Regarding the drinks package, I see a lot of vloggers talking about the monetary value of the drinks not being worth it and not "getting your money's worth" however that opinion doesn't factor in the convenience of having all your potential alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages paid for your cruise. Personally, I'd rather pay an upcharge and not have to worry about the cost of drinks during the cruise than to have to weigh each drink for if I want to pay for it, it detracts from vacationing if I have to worry about my budget each time, I want a drink.
For me (and my dad who usually cruises with me), the convenience of a drink package is not having to worry about paying for those drinks at the end because we paid for it in the beginning. Whether or not its monetarily worth it isn't a factor, it is worth the convenience.
Being able to try all the fancy drinks and not feeling that you have to drink the ones you don’t like would also be an upside
Also on Royal carribbean they have soo many sales, including a buy one get one half price on sailaway day, it makes it more affordable.
By all means, if you think you’ll come close to value, go for it.
For me it wouldn’t be worth it: not only do I dislike most alcoholic drinks, I also avoid drinking too much sugary caffeine & won’t touch artificial sweeteners.
Don't have the disposable income to pay half again the price of the cruise for the drink package. It's over $850 for the drink package Foe a 7 day cruise nope can't do it.
@@TheRecon1a don’t forget you have to pay for all adults in the room too. (Unless you know how to get around that) so you can double that price.
But at $20-$25 a cocktail you’ve only got to drink 5 a day to save money
I personally purchase the drink package on every cruise. The premium Cocktails now on most ships are $14.00 and 5 of those you have bought the drink package. Also included, as you said, is unlimited water and specialty coffees are also included with the drink package. The drink package is well worth the money not to have that bar bill at the end of the cruise!
I think that depends on the line. As I recall, when I was on RCL two years ago, they had a package for alcohol and a package for soft drinks and a *third* package for specialty coffees. Now Princess, which we'll be cruising on this coming November, the *single* "Plus" package includes alcohol, soft drinks, specialty coffees, bottled water and fruit juices. Then there is the "Premium" package which includes the same, with some extra stuff, and the drinks can be up to $20 vs. $15.
Your mileage may vary
I don't drink anymore but met some groups where the ship was really loosing money on the drink packages
The excursions we book now are more docent type tours. No shopping, no dining - we just want to hear the stories and see the area
We almost always book the drink package. With the cost of a drink on a cruise ship these days, you only need 4 drinks per day along with a couple of coffees and a bottle of two of water to break even.
Depends on the line and package as well as if you get it on sale.
Def depends. I went on allure of the seas, me and my husband had 4-6 alcoholic drinks a day each, some coffees and bottled water and still ended up saving 200 bucks not buying the drink package.
We only book outside excursions with companies that have guarantees to get you to next port if you miss the ship. Viator is one.
Yes. There are others too that guarantee you will back on the ship
🆒 👍🏼
Going on a cruise next month. Would appreciate if you can provide any other excursion companies that guarantees to get to the port. Heading to aruba, bonaire and curacao
@@jackvalkyrie4769 Viator is pretty reliable with guarantee back to ship and they are pretty much all over.
After our 3rd cruise, my wife and I bought a really nice camera to take pictures around the ship. The staff is always graciously helpful with taking pictures for us, and tipping them is less than paying for the photo packages
Thanks for sharing! Good tip. What type of camera?
@@Eatsleepcruise1 I got a Canon eos Rebel. Really decent camera, in my opinion, for the novice photographers like myself
Regarding cruise ship sponsored, last December we were on an excursion that took us from the lake at the Panama canal through the three sets of locks to the Pacific. Due to having to wait for a large tanker to slot in behind us twice in the locks, we were two and three quarter hours late to the celebrity constellations sail away time of 5 pm. The ship had to wait for us 140 passengers. If we had booked on our own, we would have had to make arrangements to fly to our next port in Costa Rica. Explore the city once you are back from your excursion. Hi from Bob and Jill in Connecticut
Hi Bob and Jill great to hear from you. That sounds like an extreme example, but there are certain some tours you book with the cruise line like something unique. When is the next cruise?
November 2024. January, October, and November 2025 and March 2026
Common occurrence in Panama. Do your research first.
I have seen a number of people and some friends miss the ship because they're private, and you end up getting back late. It happens almost on every cruise I have been on, and that has been over 35. So people need to be very careful about getting their private tour. The ship will not wait for you.
We also did this excursion, it was awesome and we got back late.
Lunch a Speciality Restaurants usually 30-40 % cheaper than dinner
We enjoy gambling, and cruise on Royal Caribbean. Most of our cruises, 2 to 4 per year, are free through the casino. We only pay port fees and taxes. We don't gamble a lot--we take only a set amount and usually come home with at least some of that money. If we had to pay for the cruise, we would still end up gambling the same amount, so getting the cabin for free is a win. I also get unlimited drinks from the casino bar on every cruise, and I often get myself a bottle of water for the room whenever I go to the bar.
Can't argue that stuff is more expensive onboard than on land, but Massage Envy and Ruth's Chris don't have to room and board their employees. I think it is good to be thoughtful about how much is being spent while onboard but I also think it is healthy to remember that vacations don't have to be hyper-optimized.
An added on jewelry bought on board. Be sure you are getting what is promoted as 14k or 18k gold. Sometimes that shinny 14k bracelet is only gold plated or filled. Hint for checking, get a magnet if the piece sticks to your magnet it is Not what you think. Base metal under that gold wil grab the magnet, this trick works anytime your not sure.
I agree with most of these with a couple of exceptions. I typically book cruise-sponsored shore excursions because the ship will wait. On 4 separate occasions I would have missed the boat if I'd booked private.
If you're in port for 9 hours and the excursion is slated for 7 hours. If anything goes wrong you're screwed. Unless you booked through the ship.
Booking a private tour brings limitations. A private tour will be shorter/won't go as far, to make sure they get you back in time. Or if they fall behind, they will skip part of the tour to get you back.
If you're not going very far, or for very long, then private is usually better. But I usually try to get the most out of a port, so I generally take longer excursions. I usually book a ship excursion about 2/3 of the time. And typically it costs about $20/ person / excursion. So, in the end, it might cost about $100-150 total, for the entire cruise for 2 people.
This is acceptable for the guarantee.
On premium dining; if you're on a budget then certainly skip it. The food in the main dining room is pretty good. But I typically go to a specialty restaurant once or twice per cruise. Change things up with a fine dining experience.
Unless you're working, Wi-Fi is not necessary. Coverage in the ports should be good enough.
And as someone who doesn't drink, drinks packages are not worth it. Even the soda packages.
In the end, I think people should try and get the most out of their cruise vacations. And if you are completely happy with the inclusions then that's great. But on a trip that costs several thousand dollars, it's definitely worth it to spend a few hundred extra to enhance your experience.
For most people, these are rare experiences.
@@stephenjensen5358 that is cutting it close. Only a short time span to spare. In this case yes it is better to take the ships excursion. If it was a longer time period I would compare a private excursion.
I’ve not seen a ship excursion that costs $20. I just came off of a ship and paid $75-$100 each. And there were many others that cost more.
What kind of excursion are you getting for $20?
@chevelleflorida perhaps I didn't make clear what I was saying. When I said it cost $20/excursion I was talking about how much more you pay by booking with the cruise line. For a similar private excursion. It's not the total price of the excursion.
So, I was saying I thought it was worth an extra $20/person/excursion for the guarantee that the ship will wait.
@@stephenjensen5358 gotcha! 👍 sometimes, but if you take a taxi to a beach on your own rather than a ship purchased to the same beach. We have saved a fair bit over the years by doing this and knock on wood, no problems so far. But it all boils down to whatever a person is comfortable with. We’ve been to several ports where the tour group is standing in the sun waiting for their excursion to start and we were getting into a cab and on our way.
@TripReviews totally agree. I use taxis for beach excursions. The type of excursions I was mostly talking about were ones where the length is similar to the time in port.
When on a seven day cruise, we will use the thermal suite usually twice a day sometimes more and we normally get a cabin right beside it. It’s just a great way to relax and get away from the crowds.
Sounds very soothing. Do you cruise with Celebrity Cruises?
We love the thermal spa. We tend to go early or late to unwind.
I’m sorry it’s not a vacation without drinking so I will always get the drink package
You can often find the same excursions in port as the ship offers and cheaper. I’ve never had a problem getting back in time. Make your own excursion as an option. Beware of the clock just like you should be doing regardless of what type of excursion you are on. After all you and only you are responsible for yourself.
Our friends booked their own excursions for a Hawaiian cruise and due to weather they didn't get to go and lost all their money.
We go with Shore Excursions and they have refund policy if ship misses port stop. We also use OBC for ship excursions, so it’s no extra money out of pocket.
@@MB-uy5kh Agree. The experts in this video said not to use the ship's excursions. Just showing that there are hidden dangers to making your own arrangements.
We have a cruise coming up that goes to dangerous ports along Mexico. I feel safer going with the cruise line's excursions.
My cruising was years ago and mostly European river cruises. All tours and excursions were included in the fare, and there were no "packages" for food or drink. Small (40 - 100 passengers) ships and affordable for someone on a schoolteacher's salary!
I wouldn't want to travel with people who have more than 8 alcoholic drinks every day. ;-)
It is true this is more about ocean cruising. Have you sailed recently?
One advantage to booking an excursion through the cruise line is that if return will be late, they may hold the ship OR help you get to the next port, but yes it can be more expensive. If you're a "new" cruiser booking through cruise line may be a good idea, but when you get more experienced going "on your own" may be a good idea.
Depending on the port we do recommend first timers stick with cruise line tours, or give themselves plenty of time to get back to the ship.
I agree wholeheartedly with avoiding eight out of the 11. Because I purchase Royal Caribbean's Key, I get WiFi included for one device. As far as the bottled water goes, I'll gladly spend the $15 for the dozen liters. I get through two bottles a day (with electrolytes) and will bring the rest home (I only do four-day cruises). Royal's Izumi Restaurant offers a sushi/sake pairing lunch, which I look forward to every time I sail.
Specialty restaurant lunch is a hidden gem many cruisers don't discuss much. Any other suggestions?
Great tips & i agree with them all. I generally buy the soft drink package as im not an alcohol drinker. My spending is very minimal on any cruise. It doesn't have to be expensive once you have paid for your cruise. The included dining is always sufficient.
We have done at least 16 cruises. We have purchased the art on board. Some really nice and others just prints. We get the Wi-fi for us. Photos are too expensive. I'll spend some money in the casino and the wife nothing. My wife fell for the spa deals at the beginning, but not recently. We don't do the restaurants or shore excursions and drinks packages. We do have a cruise booked for 2026 with Princess and everything is included. The money saved going Premiere is worth it. It will be our only one we purchased. Bingo is fun and we have won and made our money back. It's a matter of choice and how much your budget is.
Water is cheaper to purchase "precruise" than once the ship has sailed. Even excursions that offer beverages only provide it at certain times. Having your own water supply on an excursion for 8 hours is crucial.
The problem with private excursions is if they don’t get you back to the ship on time, the ship will leave you behind. Then it’s up to you to get to the next port/final port. Which can be quite expensive.
That's why I only take ship tours if I'm going a distance from the port. The White Pass/Yukon train from Skagway, Alaska recently had a mudslide and travelers couldn't get back to the ship. The ship went to a different spot on the coast and coordinated picking up the passengers on their tours, but I can't help but think that others were probably stranded because their tour guides had no way to communicate to the ship. I don't take ship tours if they're for something near port, where I can easily hire a taxi to get back to the ship.
Private excursions are the best and far better than cruise excursions. Not only do you save money but you also have more options than what the cruise line offers. I have never had a problem with a private excursion getting you back to the port in plenty of time. They know they will go out of business if they can’t get you back to port in a timely manner. Give it a shot and you will not be disappointed.
This almost happened to me in belize. Though we finished the excursion on time on our way back there way a accident that blocked the road to the port for a few hours, lucky another group that booked their excursion with the cruise was behind us so the ship had to wait for them. Always book with the cruiseline😂
Haven’t had any issues yet with private excursions or diy excursions. They’ve always been conscious of the time and never forget that you too have to watch the clock regardless of what type of outing you do.
@@b4cats1 problem I have is this though, if, and if you don't make it back, then what? Exactly you are stranded. I'd enjoy taking a 3rd party excursion if they are willing to actually hold themselves accountable.
I set my phone to manually select the network when on a cruise, it stops the phone connecting to the ship system or a non-roaming country.
The photo thing though, our last cruise they offered an unlimited pkg that got us a USB with all the photos on it, for a really cheap price. I honestly think that for the almost 2 week cruise it cost us less than $30 for the memory stick with a couple developed pictures included. And my massage is my treat on my cruises. I really enjoy the main included dining room and have had a couple unexciting meals at paid for options. Just my thing.
$30 for all digital photos? That’s a bargain. What cruise line?
The drink, internet package is a big rip off. We only did a few photos one time. Never do painting purchases, spas never unless there is a really good deal.we don’t gamble.
What’s your favorite cruise line?
When I go on a cruise I do not spend a dime on the ship. I am already spending plenty just to go. I do not need unhealthy addictively sweetened drinks all day nor to become an alcoholic. The included food is fine for me. I have never taken a cruise shore excursion and I have done quite fine venturing out on my own on land.
Still on the fence on cruising (haven't taken a cruise yet, the price is a lot higher than my usual kayaking day trip staycations and I find that daunting), but I think I would take the drinks package for the reason listed so often here...and it's the same reason I go to all you can eat buffets on land: the utility is in the lack of worry, not the volume. If I have a drinks package, I won't hesitate to go ahead and have a cocktail or a glass of wine. Otherwise, I'll be in money saving mode and won't drink anything but tap water, which isn't why I want to go on a "luxury" (rather than outdoors) vacation.
It is nice to not have to worry about the bill at the end of the cruise. What cruise lines have you been looking at?
I agree the spa is not worth it but the thermal suite is a god send. I have spinal damage and when i start to feel like crap i change and go enjoy a 30-60 minute bask on the thermal suite chairs. On my last cruise i used it probably a dozen or more time.
We are fans of thermal suites too, but usually only go once or twice a cruise. Which cruise line do you think has the best thermal suite?
@@Eatsleepcruise1 only been on carnival but only a few of their ships have it.
@@Eatsleepcruise1We were on the Norwegian Escape recently their thermal spa was heaven.
Photo packages absolutely a waste for most. We do try to take a few pictures (not with the ship image in the background) then pick one or two.
I make sure I get my money's worth for the drinks package. Last time on the Jubilee, I'd go to the bar with my card and my wife's card and get two pours of Blantons neat. I'd tell the bartender, as soon as the five minutes is up, I'd like another two. Usually they're back after a couple minutes. Then I'd do it again. Takes me about 6-7 minutes and I'd walk out of there with a full tall glass of bourbon. I emptied so many bottles I took home three horse stoppers...
In 7 days the last full day I got off on the wrong floor found the casino. Walked through.
I was one of those passengers that didn’t go to the casino earlier in my cruise experience however I’ve changed and now I do because as I have increased my cruising it has become an advantageous experience to go to the casino and play the slots. With playing the slots and getting the points for another cruise at a steep discount is worth it, this applies to my experience on Royal Caribbean cruises, other cruise lines are not as transparent about the process of gaining the opportunity to cruise at a steep discount via casino play (Carnival). I’m not encouraging others to play in the casino, I’m just saying that you should be cognizant of the reason for playing, be deliberate with your play and don’t go over board with playing the casino.
Does playing Bingo count towards your casino points? I love Bingo versus the slot machines
Sounds like us. Just got off of a B2B 2 days ago we came off with 2 new cruises and was down less than $400. I have had 25 cruises in last 2 years less than $15,000 cost.
@@jenstravelblog Unfortunately it doesn’t, it’s about the casino play.
@@richardstrick My family and I were going on cruises once or twice per year however since we started playing in the casino our cruising has increased significantly. We don’t regret not playing in the previous years but now we have been “enlightened.”
"don't go over board" no pun intended?? 😆😆😆🤣🤣🤣
Cheapskates will never spend money on specialty restaurants, spa treatments, on-shore excursions, espresso coffee, drinks packages and shopping. When we go cruising we want the full experience. We nearly always eat at a specialty restaurant because we love good food. My wife refuses to drink American coffee so she is a regular at the barista cafe first thing every morning. We also fully support cruise-sponsored excursions because it's easy and we are guaranteed not to miss the ship. Once we did a 24 day Mediterranean cruise and booked 19 shore excursions!
Wow! That sounds amazing
It must be nice to have pot fulls of unlimited money to spend, its yours to spend how you wish.
Some others are not do lucky and probably have to budget a little more or prioritise their spending.
I wouldn't do a cruise but if I did I would only do it if I could afford one or two treats...bit like going to disney
Use reputable companies like ‘tours by local’ and never had problem getting back on time. Also use excursions when flying in for airport pickup, tour, and then drop off at hotel
Same here. Do you book direct or with a third party company?
Bring a stainless steel water bottle like a thermos type of thing. Something that holds 16 ounces or more (more is better). Then ask your cabin steward to bring a bucket of ice to your cabin every day. Fill your bottle with ice, then fill it with the tap water. Tell everybody it's mineral water from France.
😌 yup
@whatthe3131 Why what?
I don't trust tap water to drink on cruises.
Do not drink the tap water on a cruise. You never know.
@@sandyc5428The water plants on most ships put out higher specification of drinking water than some American cities can It’s quite safe, I assure you. The process is very technical and meticulously monitored.
If you enjoy it and you are fine with the price, its not a rip off. Just because you dont like/want to do those things doesnt make it a rip off for the ones that do.
I agree with almost all of these. I take only repositioning cruises so I buy WiFi for sea days and shell out for some specialty restaurants, esp. if there is an unlimited package offered. I cruise solo and almost never eat in the MDR. Rarely drink alcohol. If I have a lot of OBC I try to liquidate it with minimal casino play daily.
1. Photos
2. Art auction
3. Salon and spa services
4. Casino
5. Bingo
6. Shore excursion
7. Wifi
8. Jewelry
9. Bottled water
10. Specialty restaurants
11. Drink packages
Exactly 💯. Big waiste
We also never pay for the specialty restaurants. I have been very happy with the food in the dining room and even the buffet.
SOWEE, BUT I GOT TO DO BINGO, SHORE EXCURSIONS ( NOT VIA THE CRUISE LINES) & SPECIALTY @ $8! 😊😊
Some of these really depend. Ship water has higher levels of salt in them so some people have to buy water bottles so they don't have issues related to that
Cruise lines like MSC have a small upcharge for their drinks packages so you're not paying that much more for it
@@Violet3017 exactly there is plenty of food on the ship i won’t pay for specialty dinning
We get the drink pkg for the water and the specialty coffees & teas :) as well as the wine options
The only thing we pay extra for is a balcony room. I just have to get away from all those people & share a nice bottle of wine with my husband once in awhile.
Balconies are definitely not a rip off. What’s your favorite cruise line?
That's exactly what we thought... our cruise is in a month.. got a balcony..🎉🎉🎉
Wish I would have opted for that amd not sure if I can change it. The cruise is not until next September.
I remember on my first cruise on the ecstasy, wifi was not a thing. I remember paying $7/minute to use the computers set up in a common area
Wow! The internet at sea has come a long way.
7:34 New England accent confirmed 😂 “Tour Operatoraaaa”
Haha. Can’t hide it for long. You from New England?
@@Eatsleepcruise1 yes
Agree about pretty much all of these. I get the Wifi because I need the constant data drip (as does my wife) - on my most recent Carnival cruise, the Wifi actually worked quite well. I totally agree about the drinks package: My wife isn't really a drinker and I cannot possibly drink enough to cover the cost of putting us both on the package (which would be required). On our most recent cruise, it wouldn't even have been worth it, even if I could have gotten the package on my own (and I drank as much as I wanted to).
Hello my fellow RUclipsr.
Firstly I would like to thank you for taking the time, effort and resources it took, in making this very informative film about cruise culture and cruise ships, I have been thinking about a cruise for some time, I have never been on a cruise before, I have been on many ships over the years and I enjoy them, but never on a cruise or even a cruise ship, in my entire life.
My Parents loved them and did many cruises over the years on many different ships, and I thought I might like them as well, but what your production has made me realise, is several issues I would have on a cruise ship, and the culture around them.
After watching this I realized that cruise ships and being on a cruise is not for me I really won’t go into long explanations it would just fill this page with what I think, feel and understand and what I see wrong about a ship cruise in today’s modern world.
But I would say that the days of adventure on the high seas, in luxury and comfort with awesome company, in wonderful exotic and interesting locations on land or at sea, are a thing of the past, and in short, I would probably end up just spend all my time in my cabin.
I thank you again for your time and effort and for saving me a lot of money and so much wasted time if I had gone throw with my plans.
Broke a nail once getting in a cruise so i went to get it fixed... WAY over proved and looked awful- never again! I'll wait till I'm in a port and massive get someone w actual experience
Exceptionally good video, well organized! One thing my wife and I do on a cruise is book another cruise while on board for several reasons. 1. prices are usually better, 2. Sometimes they'll include on board credit that you can use to go to the spa, and specialty restaurants. On our last Princess cruise, we received a total cruise credit of close to $400.00 dollars which we used on the photo package, and specialty dining. Also if you cruise often on a line you like, join their loyalty program. We are in Celebrity's Captain's club elite level, we haven't paid for a drink yet!
Great advice on the cruise next. Royal and Celebrity loyalty program drink vouchers are a great money saver. When is the next cruise?
@@Eatsleepcruise1 New Year's, going to try no drink package, no wifi, inside cabin. We'll let you know!
At this point are private excursions safe?
I forgot to mention the drink package. This is a tough one if you are a drinker. When I’m on a cruise, I’m in full vacation mode. I may not be drinking hard liquor the whole time, but having a beer here and there can add up! I pace myself on the heavy liquor for every other night. I’m too old to go hard every night. With that said, the drink package is worth it for me. Those drinks get expensive real quick! If you know you’re only going to have one or two drinks max per day, don’t bother with it!
I said I would not buy the Spa package, then immediately purchased the Spa package last cruise 😅. (The price was better this time)
My wife missed her email while on our recent cruise. But I liked disconnecting for a week. However I'm planning a cruise without her, and will buy an internet package to stay in touch with email and voip.
We would miss our email, RUclips, instagram, etc. 😂 which cruise line are you sailing solo on?
@@Eatsleepcruise1 P&O
@@Eatsleepcruise1 P&O. But it will be a while before I go.
Take the water bottle and fill with the fruit juice or iced tea if you want, same for a coffee thermos cup. I bring two bottles of wine. Not allowed to have 1 drink package! My husband has not had a drink in over 30 years how would you prove that!
Great point about filling the bottle with other included beverages. What is your favorite cruise line?
I analyzed the value of a drink package. Looking at our drink history we found that it was a good deal for us.
It really depends on your drinking habits and cruise line. Who do you typically sail with?
@ I sail with Princess
Well Done as always. Your content reminds me of Cruzely with Tanner. One video every two weeks or so which makes the info a novelty. I wish NCL had rates without the drink package as I don't need it and it would be way more affordable.
Thanks, we are fans of Tanner and Cruzely too, but we put out a new video every week.
they do have rates without drink package i don't drink you can get drink i get the package that includes 2 specialty dinner and the minute they give you for internet plus 50 dollar off for shore excursions i go my travel agents web site i pick the cruise i want to go one do like an on line booking when you do that i pick cabin and it says price pick cabin then do down then it shows options for drink package and other pick what you want and gives total price for your cruise then i call my agent and book then i know everthing and tell them what i want there suprised i''ve done many cruises with them
I won't go on a cruise until ships add a ski-slope to the on-board offerings.
Don’t give them any ideas! It was only a few years ago that people joked there would be a rollercoaster on ships and now…
@@Eatsleepcruise1 Yah it's a shame, I'm 70 years old and weigh 300 pounds. *I can't ride **_anything!_*
Oh, but 30 years ago ...
Drink package is great! It's happy hour somewhere at any time!
One couple won a $50k suite upgrade for their cruise winning their bingo game. Of course, that's a one in a million chance.
We don’t like those odds. lol. Have you ever won anything at bingo?
We gamble after all shows and dinners. My wife and i just use 1 players card and have a 1k limit per cruise. We signed up for the blue chip club and we constantly get free cruise offers. We took 8 cruises last year all complimentary. So gambling pays off for the comps. Oh btw theres been a few times we even won more than a 1000 so that's a free cruise.
We avoid the Spa because of the waiver they make you sign on RCCL. The Spa required my husband to sign a waiver for a pedicure. When we read the waiver, the waiver literally included the risk of loss of life and you're signing prohibits your family from filing a law suit if you die because of getting the procedure. Why on earth would any spa treatment, perhaps with the exception of a surgical treatment, be a risk for loss of life? Since the Spa is run by a third party entity, nope, not going to do it.
Wow, we have never read the waiver that sounds a bit extreme. Hopefully he made it through the pedicure safe and sound?!? 🤣
@@Eatsleepcruise1lol! We actually read the waivet on a couple of RCCL ships and they all said the same thing. When we questioned why it had that wording no one could explain.
It's a long shot, but a theory could be a diabetic that gets a foot infection as a result. A diabetic foot infection could result in an amputation of a toe, portion of a foot, or if untreated go to sepsis.
Signed, a diabetic with 9 toes.
Ps would I get 10% off on a spa pedicure?
@@roncrouch4090 😂
My mom bought one kislux and she loves it. It had been there for over 10 years when she went out with it.
I've gotten haircuts on cruises. They aren't any more expensive than the cuts I get back home. The massages are about twice as much.
I agree with these tips except one. I rather be cattle in a ship organized short excursion, than to go on my own to save a few dollars, and be concern that by chance we get delayed coming back and the ship won't wait for us.
Gratuities should not be expected ,tip at the end of your cruise if you want to all your doing is subsidizing there wages ,cruise companies should be paying competitive wages 🤔
If all cruise companies are paying the same than by definition that is 'competitive'. Wages, like everything else, are determined by the law of supply and demand. Maybe $1000 US (tax free) free room and board isn't much to you, but to most people in third world countries it's fantastic,
6 to 8 drinks a day,?? I’m up for that challenge. !!!!!
What ship?
You have to be careful on excursions. Your day trip doesn’t get back in time the ship will leave without you
I agree with all these on the list
Thanks. Any to add?
We don’t purchase the drink package if we have a “port heavy” cruise. There is just not enough time on the ship to warrant it.
Thank you for the information
They also over charge for perfume
2 areas you can really get burned is the art gallery and shops selling expensive jewelry and luxury watches. You could spend thousands for art that is not worth what you paid. The same goes for jewelry and watches. The spa is also a waste but you at least get the service you paid for.
Yes, unless you really know art or jewelry then it should be a hard pass.
I never gamble on the ship. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for my husband. Lol
Hopefully he has earned some “free cruises”?
@@Eatsleepcruise1 He calls it prepaying for our next vacation. I'll play along with the ruse if it means I'm his plus-one!
Pre pandemic photos were a great value. Since the restart, the cruise lines have been price gouging the photo package.
Pre pandemic, I used to pay $300 and I would get all of my photos that I took for the trip . since the restart that $300 gets you about 15 to 20 photos.
I needed a haircut and a beard trim bad. On embarkation day while still in port I got a men's cut, a beard trim, a fascial and eye treatment for $100. That's a great deal on land let alone on a ship.
You will need to spring for specialty dining on Norwegian because their Main Dining Room is SO substandard! (Think sub-microwave dinner-quality….and the menus don’t EVER change!)
Not so
I always buy ship photos! That is, the shots taken on the gala nights, where we get all dressed up and photos are taken with softboxes, i.e. good lighting. I've never gone to a photo studio at home - what could be more convenient than to have professional photos taken when you just walk by?
I don't buy the photos taken on shore, as I can take these shots more easily with my phone.
As for the price - fair enough for professional services.
Do you get the prints or digital copies?
@@Eatsleepcruise1 Always digital copies - these become profile pics on my Ancestry tree.
Prints of items that become gifts - pictures that I frame for my parents, for instance. A couple of times I brought kids, so I printed their pictures for their parents who trusted me with their kids.
for the casino, I'll set a limit of $50 when it's gone it's gone. I've come out ahead at times and not others.
We skipped specialty dining on our cruise last month on Carnival. Last January, we did a four meal dining package on our 11 day cruise with MSC. We didn't buy the drink package on either of our last two cruises, but the one before that and the one we are taking in November include the drink package. We won't buy the drink package unless it's included. Too much for what we drink. We may buy a one or two meal specialty dining package in November. Still deciding.
What ship are you sailing on in November?
Regardless of where you are going, why would you spend your time doing the things you can do anywhere ?
It’s like going to the same resort year after year and spending the entire time drinking, no excursions, etc. It’s absolutely pointless. And to go on a cruise ship and not be outside where you can see the ocean/water or go on land excursions… Makes no sense.
Totally agree with this video
Thanks! Anything to add?
We enjoy the casino only been on 1 ship and my husband hit a 3000 jackpot and now we have 8 free cruises booked suites , premier , elite , balcony , it’s worth it to gamble
That is amazing! What line was it?
I agree in the most part with your videos. I would highly suggest booking shore excursions that have any sort of travel distance from your ships port. If you book a shore excursion with the cruise line you are guaranteed the ship will not leave without you. You just never know if the tour bus runs into traffic or a collision or breaks down. We aren't serious drinkers in any way so the drink packages are not even remotely worth it.
My wife and I have participated in almost every “ misadventure “you mention in your video on our first cruises, but coming out a bit wiser in later cruises. However, you are there to have some fun, and spending on some things is mad money, and being a total skinflint is no fun.
I think the biggest ripoff are the shore excursions, which can be a major scam; e.g. our tour of Alcatraz could have been done for about 1/3 the price we paid for the ship tour. We took an excursion to visit Mt St. Helens, which cost us a boring, long excursion, a dried out box lunch, to stare at a mountain, and which took an entire day. Oh well, live and learn.
It took us ONE time to buy those damn prints in the art gallery and getting fleeced to avoid it like the plague on future cruises. We don’t so much as sneeze in the direction of that damn art gallery.
The spa depends on what we are cruising for and the mood I’m in. I paid for the professional makeup before our photos when we cruised for our 10th anniversary. I also booked a pedicure for my husband on a cruise we took that fell over Father’s Day.
We also never pay for the drink package. The time we got it included with our suite, we felt like we weren’t making good use of it because we don’t really drink so then we tried to drink more to feel like we were getting out money’s worth. I do like that on our last cruise on the RC Icon of the Seas that you could buy just a coffee card to redeem for the speciality coffee drinks. My husband and I are coffee drinkers so this was perfect.
Specialty restaurants, we’ve only done for special occasions and it was a dinner with a “feature” (e.g Le Petite Chef on Celebrity). Here you got a cute little show as well as the dinner. Or like the behind the scenes tours that a have a meal following.
I always pay for WiFi for my phone. My husband is the one that likes to be disconnected from bothers so he never gets it and if he does need to check something then he just uses my phone, but I need to look at the news and chat with family and friends and check social media.
Thanks for sharing. When is the next cruise?