Cruises: Beats any package holiday...

IvanOpinion

Normally the only things not included in a cruise are
- drinks (although some lines offer a soda card or all inclusive)
- tips - usually about $10 per person per day (or £3.75 pppd on P&O)
- ship organised shore excursions - although you can just dander off the ship and do your own thing (there are always loads of taxis etc. available)
- personal items (all the must have gee-gaws that we waste money on).
- special interest lectures (depends on the cruise line though)
- SPA treatments, massages etc.
- speciality restaurants (nominal charge applies)
- casino or bingo charges

Apart from that most prices already include flights, port taxes, cabin, as much food as you can eat, gym, west end shows (in main lounge), secondary shows (in alternative venues), barbecues, on deck entertainment, pools, jacuzzis, sports courts (whatever may be available e.g. tennis, basketball, quoits, minim golf, rock climbing walls etc.)

I can also recommend https://www.cruisecritic.com (American based) and https://www.ship-happens.co.uk (UK based) web sites for research and addiitonal info.

Ivan

missk_ensington

Yeah I don't like the automatic tipping, Id rather know that the staff giving the best service are receiving the tips properly. Think it's an incentive for they to try harder too, rather than think 'well we all get the same tips regardless so why bother making an effort'. In UK restaurants, Ive always found the service better in restaurants where the individual keeps the tips, rather then where its pooled together.

Ocean Village don't charge for tips, its included in the price of your holiday-although on the last day there are boxes around the ship where you can, if you like, put some change in. Anyone know any other ships which don't add tips to your account??

IvanOpinion

The issue with tips is that I am led to believe that some of the lines 'pool' the tips. You might get the warm fuzzy feeling by giving to a particular person but they then have to hand them into a central 'pool'. This ensures that all the people that work hard behind the scenes also get a share e.g. laundry workers, dishwashers, plate decorators and prep, kitchen staff etc. I believe however that they get to keep anything above the 'recommended amount'. Some people provide a tip and then give them a phone card or something more personal.

I have however seen one cabin steward reduced to tears because she had been stiffed by most of her customers (whether or not she was a bad steward I have no idea). I am also disgusted at people who do not turn up at the dining room on the last night to avoid tipping

Ivan

saveapenny

https://www.voyagesofdiscovery.com *Gratuities included for your cabin steward, restaurant waiter and his/her assistant*
Thomson.. if thats your short of ship Destiny is ok Emerald is OK but old but does do some nice cruises.
https://www.islandcruises.com
https://www.windstarcruises.com
https://www.silversea.com
https://www.seabourn.com

There is probably loads more were tips are inculded
you can search on here https://www.choosingcruising.co.uk/Cruiseweb/Lines_CL.asp it gives you the fleet and the tipping policy of each company

saveapenny

I always set aside about £100 for tips on any cruise but I do object with companies like RC that use the tips to pay wages and add 15% (or more) to your bar bill on top

beautifulgorgeous_2

I have just booked cruise only on the Royal Carribean for a week out of Venice. Have also booked flights to arrive four nights before and for a Sunday night at the end. I would like a hotel for the night of 3rd Sept but was looking at apartments for 23rd to 27th for two adults, dd who is 17 and ds who will be 10. Any body any ideas of good value family friendly places to try. Thanks Mary Incidentally my cheap flights at £340 for all of us are with BA!

Anastacia

Is it always this lively on a cruise?
I always thought they sounded a dull as ditchwater but now i am not so sure.;)

alexandra1

Our caribbean cruiise was with Airtours/ Carnival- generally quite lively, but we found you could have it as quiet/ lively as you prefer. There were libraries for quiet areas, and a cinema, my husband loved it first thing in the morning at the front of the ship sailing through the water with hardly anyone around whilst he drank his coffee. We never felt that we were totally over run with people. Incidentally, our deal gave each of us a booklet with vouchers in for monetary value with envelopes noted to give to steward/ cleaner/ waiter etc. Each booklet was worth quite a bit of money, which the staff were able to exchange at the end of their trip, our Indian waiter was so lovely my husband gave him extra in dollars, and it saved us the problem of working out how much to give. Our American table companions said tips usually added up to quite a bit so our deal was even better.

jetboy

try:
http://www.cruisecompete.com/
let the brokers do the hard work for you. I've used it a few times and its pretty good

Diamonds_2

OMG I want to go on a cruise! you all make it sound so fantastic and perfect!!! my inlaws go every year (loaded) and I'd just assumed they were more for the older and richer folk!!! now I've read through about 70% of this thread I'm convinced I've got to go to the caribean this christmas!!!! :eek:

We have 2 lads, aged 2 and 10.
We are in our thirties.
We like a bit of both... quiet time and a good old knees up.
We love the idea of kids clubs (we never have that... ever!).
We love the idea of seeing different places rather than the one boring old location.

Where should I start looking? and is Christmas a really expensive time?

Sorry.. am not a lazy person I will look myself, just thought I'd ask you knowledgeable peeps aswell .

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this thread! thanks everyone! :T