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DEL.ICIO.USThe Bill
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Before leaving on our cruise we paid:
Cruise rate — $840 for two Port charges and government taxes — $242.10 for two Insurance — $69 for two Total: $1,151.10
This is our tab from the sail and sign card aboard the ship:
(All of the drink tips were automatic)
Service gratuity - $40 (Each person pays $10 a day for each day)
Service gratuity - $40
Chopins - $8.90 — Alcohol plus $1.33 tip
Brassiere Grill - $4.95 – Alcohol plus .74 cents tip
Beauty Salon - $55 – pedicure plus $13 tip
Rhapsody in Blue - $10.45 plus $1.57 tip
Gift shop - $1.98 (no idea what this bought)
Shore tours — $268 for snorkeling and horseback ride for two. (Also gave some cash tips to the leaders.)
Beauty Salon - $20
Kickboxing class for two — $4 tip
Gift shop - $21.95 (underwater camera and waterproof case for money while snorkeling)
Violins — $11 – Alcohol – plus $1.66 tips
Violins — $11 – Alcohol – plus $1.65 tips
Rhapsody in Blue - $16.50 – Alcohol plus $2.48 tips
Paris Lounge - $11 – Alcohol plus $1.65 tip
In cabin call - $20.97 (two-minute call home to check on the kids – we were told it would be easy to find a calling card in Mexico and use a pay phone; we couldn’t find a calling card anywhere)
Beauty Salon - $10 – Pilates class plus $2 tip
Beauty Salon - $145 – body polish and massage – plus $22 tip
Violins $9.45 plus $1.42 tip
Violins $11.45 plus $1.72 tip
Candlelight $3.95 plus 59-cent tip
Rhapsody in Blue - $3.95 plus 59-cent tip
Candlelight - $3.95 plus 59-cent
Total of incidentals: $786.44
Experienced cruisers: Has this been your experience on incidental costs on your cruises? More? Less?
Tomorrow: Would we cruise with Carnival again?
Permalink | Comments (5) | Categories: Cruising
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By RICK
May 24, 2005 3:19 PM | Link to this
Those seem to be about the norm for incidentals, except for the salon and pedicure. My wife always goes to the hair salon a week before we leave, it’s alot cheaper that way. To me those charges do not seem out of the ordinary, as the cruise line does need to make money elsewhere to stay afloat so to say. Coke card is best way to go for soda as individual bottles will get expensive, as far as alcohol goes I tend to stick with beer and only have the occasional liquor drink as in after dinner. We always book tours thru cruise line, a little more expensive but if something happens that the group is going to be late the will hold the ship in port. If you take a tour not connected to the cruise line they will not wait for you, believe me I have seen this happen. All in all i would say you did quite well on this cruise.
By Randy
May 25, 2005 4:56 PM | Link to this
All the ships that I have been on, and there were several, use the same sales pitch. Photos, gifts, alcohol are extra. You don’t have to buy them. Take a camera with you and capture your own memories. Drink if you want. Take in some of the local haunts in each port you stop at.Book excursions on line or when you get in port just wing it. If you are a first timer, book with a reputable travel agent that can answer your questions and help with the details. Alot of the complaints I hear about cruises could just as well apply to any vacation. You have to eat, If you want liquor, you have to pay for it, and other incidentals will cost almost the same if you are on dry land.
By Ken Schwartz
May 26, 2005 10:35 AM | Link to this
On one cruise in particular the photographers were VERY pushy. There were lines to get off the gangway because they ‘required’ all passengers to get a picture made even if you didn’t want one. On formal nights you could barely walk around the ship due to the lines.
We complained to the officer in charge and he ‘called off’ the photographers.
With each photo costing $9.95 or $2995 for the ‘formal’ sets that is one way to really increase revenue.
We eventually told the photgraphers we were in the witness protection program and could not have our pictures taken!
By Carol B
May 26, 2005 10:49 AM | Link to this
Spa specials are excellent on last day or two, watch for specials to slide in with Carnival Caper sheet under your door in middle of night. Have taken trip or two that Carnival did not offer and had nooo problems at all. Rented Mopeds in St. Thomas and hubby seemed to FIND (??) nude beach used by locals. Each trip is memorable. Be careful and still be adventurous.
By Karen
May 27, 2005 10:53 AM | Link to this
My Husband and I have gone on 3 cruises so far. We love that you only have to unpack once, but get to stop in many locations. Our first was Carnival. We were on an older ship and we did not like the decor or smoky smell in the room (something from the late 70’s I think) But it was full of entertainment. Our next was Royal Carribbean. We LOVED this ship and the quality seemed much better, but the price was of course more as well. So it just depends on how much money you have to spend. On Royal Carribean there were many more surcharges for things like special icecream/ coffee, Johnney Rockets, and finer dining. But hey your on vacation! Usually our sail and sign card is almost as much as the cruise. So I try to find a deal on the cruise part and enjoy the rest. I’m now a Cruser for life. I love to cruise more than just going to one location or an all-inclusive….And I feel you get more for your money. We plan on going on a Celebrity cruise next because we have heard great things about it. The only bad part of cruising is the motion of the high seas if the wind is up. And this seemed to be the case on both Gulf of Mexico trips. But just take some drammamine and you should be ok! Happy Sailing!