If it is your first time taking a cruise then I am sure that you are very excited. By now you may have already purchased your cruise or you may be in the process of finally completing the transaction.

Before you buy that ticket or even after you book your vacation there are some things that you need to know. One of the more important matters is \”What exactly is included in the cruise price?\”

You may well believe that once you book your cruise that you are home free and don\’t have to worry about spending any more money, of course unless you want to purchase that I love Jamaica t-shirt that the locals are pushing you to buy.

However, that is not exactly true. Yes most of your cruise is already paid for, but there are some things that may not be included unless you paid extra for them.

Tips

While you are on a cruise you are expected to provide tips for the workers on the ship. Some cruise lines, such as Carnival, automatically charge you for gratuities on your onboard account allowing you to adjust later, increasing or decreasing the gratuity amounts.

With other cruise lines you tip the workers on your own accord. Most companies allow you the option to prepay your gratuity amounts.

This is helpful as it helps with the budgeting of your cruise. If you are able to pay in advance then you can be sure to only spend a certain amount. Without prepaying it may be more difficult to know exactly how much money you are spending.

You can visit the cruise websites for guidelines on tipping on their ships to be sure that you are in line with what the workers are accustomed to receiving.

You don\’t want the attendants to ruin your cruise vacation because they become disgruntled with \”cheap\” tips that you thought were generous. Most of the workers on the ships depend on gratuity to make up the majority of their income so providing tips is pretty much expected.

Taxes

If you have already booked your cruise then you already know about taxes and fees included. Don\’t be fooled by the special deal of a lifetime thinking that you only have to pay the listed amount to set sail. There are taxes and fees that have to be paid as well. There is no way around this. It is just part of what is necessary when going on a cruise.

Drinks

When you book a cruise there are some drinks that are included in the price of the cruise, while others are not. You will find that alcoholic beverages and many times only limited non-alcoholic beverages are included in the price.

For example your price may only include water, tea, and lemonade and not include soft drinks or juices. Some cruise lines offer drink cards that you are able to purchase in advance so that your drinks are covered before your cruise as well.

Excursions

Excursions can be a major part of a cruise. On these excursions you are able to receive a guided tour of some of the most popular areas of the destinations during the cruise. But these excursions do cost extra. They are not included in the cost of your cruise.

You may be able to book your own tours in advance that are not associated with the cruise lines and save money. Just make sure you are back in time before your cruise departs since the ship is not affiliated with the private tour that you decide to purchase.

One of the best aspects about going on a cruise is that they are all-inclusive. This is only somewhat true though since there are some things that are not included in the price of the cruise. If you keep in mind all of the extra cost and pay them in advance then you can truly have an all-inclusive vacation.

Author Bio: For information on a Carnival cruise from Tampa or other cruises from Tampa, visit CruisesFromTampa.org .

Category: Travel
Keywords: cruises, travel