Things to Know About All Inclusive Cruise Deals
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In recent years, all inclusive deals have become some of the most popular vacation options, and cruise deals lead the way. It’s hard to imagine anything more convenient – once the planning is done and the cruise is booked, there’s not much left to do but show up and enjoy the vacation. Travelers have the advantage of knowing that everything is paid for, and that they won’t be blind-sided by budget surprises. Is an all inclusive cruise right for you?
For that matter, what is an all inclusive cruise anyway? Don’t all cruises include everything? Not all and not everything. Even the most basic cruise deals include a lot, of course. There are the accommodations on the ship, the traveling from port-to-port, meals in the dining room and a variety of activities while on board ship. But what about the things that aren’t included?
Many cruises, for instance, do not include beverages outside of meals, and don’t include alcoholic beverages at all. Meals might be included in the dining room, but there may be an extra charge for other restaurants on board. The pool and the fitness center are free, but shore excursions carry an additional price tag, and so do spa treatments. Airfare to the port city will be extra, as will the transfer from the airport to the ship. And of course, gratuities for the crew are expected.
An all inclusive cruise, on the other hand, will include much more, although the specifics will vary with different cruises on different lines. For instance, Norwegian and Carnival offer Caribbean cruise deals that include such items as airfare, airport transfers, port charges and fees, as well as both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and 24-hour room service. On luxury cruises, it’s common for wine to be included with the meal, and for gratuities to be prohibited.
Like any vacation package, when considering an all inclusive cruise, part of your planning should be to learn exactly what is included. Just like other types of all inclusive vacations, there are things that you can expect to cost extra on an all inclusive cruise. There may be some restrictions on certain drinks or foods – for instance, a bottle of wine may be included, but the bottle of Dom Perignon probably is not. Spa services, the beauty shop and the barber shop may have an additional charge.
There may be some activities offered on shore that are included, typically a beach or a picnic outdoors. Other tours may be priced separately. Some souvenirs may be provided, but shopping is going to be at your own expense. And of course, if you gamble at the ship’s casino, you can expect to be gambling with your own money!
In the end, before choosing the best cruise deal for your trip, do your research. Once you’ve compared the options, you can make an informed decision about whether an all inclusive cruise is right for you.
