CRUISE BUDGETING: 101
Did you plan on paying the dog sitter? What about tipping your room attendant, is that thing?
Drinks on a cruise can add up, so make sure to know what is included in the cost of your cruise package.
Cruising can be affordable, the key is creating a budget; knowing the expenses beforehand and making sure you save enough cash to pay for your entire trip. Quite often travelers are left with a larger bill at the end of a cruise than they planned for. So, knowing all the expenses ahead of time can alleviate some of the stress of affording a cruise.
In this article we will discuss the some of the hidden costs you should plan on paying for BEFORE you even step on the ship. This also could apply to any type of travel as these expenses are pretty common.
If you want to learn more about how to save some $$$ before and during your cruise check out our next article 8 Ways to Save Money on a Cruise!
There are so many cruise brands and ships to choose from. The easiest thing you could do is reach out to a cruise travel advisor.
Cost of a Cruise
When budgeting for a cruise, think of the cruise itself as only half the overall expense. Because you may also need to pay for hotels, airfare, excursions, insurance, etc. So if your overall budget for a trip is $4000, look for a cruise that is $2,000 for the entire cabin. And save the remaining $2,000 for other expenses listed down below.
But $2,000 is a good budget for a fun 3-4 night cruise, and even some seven night cruises. No matter your budget, there is a cruise for you:
Mass Market, Family-Friendly Cruises - ($50-100/per person per night) - Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and MSC are the typical brands you see in this price range. They have large fleets of ships in all sizes and offer a variety of affordable itineraries. They usually come decked out with fun attractions like water parks, Broadway shows, and upscale dining, but know that these extras might not be included in the base fee (because the on board costs are where the companies make the most $$$).
Premium Cruises- ($100-$400/per person per night) - Virgin, Celebrity, Princess, Holland American and Disney are more expensive brands that cost more upfront, but may include more while on the ship (like drinks, specialty dining, etc.). Typically these cruise lines are for older travelers and couples, but Disney and Princess can also cater towards families.
Luxury Cruises - ($500 and up/per person per night) - Azamara, Viking, Oceania, Seabourn, Silverseas, etc. are high-end brands with smaller ships that offer a luxury experience. You will find personal concierge and other amenities like included spa packages or lobster dinners on these ships. They may seem expensive, but because the ships are smaller, they go to more exotic destinations like Antarctica or Iceland. So they are worth saving up for!
Finding the brand that is the BEST fit for you and your family is future article. For right now, the simplest thing you can do to get the base cost of a cruise is contact a Cruise Travel Advisor and ask for suggested cruise itineraries that you can afford. You can browse and search cruises, but to save time personally reach out via phone or email because they will help you find and secure the perfect itinerary for your family. Here are some suggested travel advisors to contact (if you are an agent and want to be added, please reach out to teachatsea@gmail.com):
We booked highly rated hotels in Athens within our budget using Tripadvisor. Always plan for an extra day of travel on both ends of your trip to account for traffic or flight delays.
Additional Expenses
So half of your budget pays for the base cost of your cruise, but where does the rest of your hard earned cash go? Here is a list of things to plan for when paying for a cruise:
Travel to/from port - This includes airfare and Uber/taxi drivers OR daily parking fees if you are driving to port. Although you may try to get a cheap flight the day of your cruise, you want to avoid this because of delays. Always search the lowest airfare for a day or two ahead of your embarkation, not the day of. Also some hotels offer overnight parking and free shuttles to airports or cruise ports at a more discounted rate than regular lots near the cruise terminal. Check out Rightway Parking for local discounted parking lots!
Hotel stays - We HIGHLY recommend staying in a hotel near the port, the night before your cruise and the night after your cruise. There are so many horror stories of families missing cruises because of flight delays or traffic. Not only is it money lost because there are no refunds for natural events (so purchase travel insurance) but you also miss out on your long-awaited vacation. So, stay close to the port the night before, enjoy a local breakfast the next morning and leisurely make your way to the port, worry-free. Also, the same goes for departure. Cruise ships disembark in the early morning, so you can get a plane flight in the afternoon or hop right in the car and head home. But, give yourself time to relax and enjoy your last day of vacation and don’t immediately put yourself through the stress of traveling home the day of departure. Unless you are trying to save money. But arriving a day early before your cruise and staying near the port are a MUST DO! Also, don’t forget to sign up for membership programs such as Hilton Honors or Expedia One Key to earn $$$ towards future stays.
Insurance - Always add the full coverage of insurance offered when purchasing your cruise. If not, shop around before your trip to insure your flight, hotel and everything else included in your travel. Insurance will cover you if there is an emergency or traffic delay (although we hope you never need it). Also, travel insurance will cover the costly medical expenses on the ship in case you every get stitches from falling on an excursion (speaking from personal experience). Insurance is also a MUST DO! Allianz actually offers a year long insurance policy that can cover multiple trips for typically the cost of covering just one trip.
Drink Packages, Specialty Dining & Spas - When booking your cruise, figure out what is included. Most cruise lines make the majority of their money with upcharges that are made onboard. One drink could cost you between $10-20! So check out additional drink packages to see if they are worth the additional cost, or budget for al a carte drinks, or just stick to water ;) Also, all cruises include dining at the buffet or main dining room, but then try to sell you a more upscale specialty restaurant experience. These dinners are usually worth the additional cost, just make sure you budget for them. Same goes for spas, massages, and salon experiences on board; they come at a premium and you need to budget for them. Some cruise travel agents will offer free on-board credit for these experiences, so always ask what they can get you for FREE!
Excursions/Tours - Cruises will sell you additional experiences in ports called excursions. However, there is no way to tell if the event is worth the money, so it is sometimes better to book these tours using Tripadvisor/Viator who include ratings. Of course you can always forgo this expense and plan to walk around and explore the port on your own. I planned an entire day of partying with friends in Cozumel using just Google Maps and ratings. Stay tuned for future articles on the BEST excursions and things to do in various ports. One final point about excursions, cruise-based excursions guarantee return to the ship in case of an emergency, so if you are in a port that is far from your excursion like Zeebrugge to Bruges, you may want to book the excursion through the ship (one of the most stressful days of my life).
Tips - Most cruise companies add tips for your room attendants and waiters to your account at the end of your trip. You can pre-pay these gratuities upfront, or better yet, see if your travel agent will cover this cost ;) Regardless, you will not avoid this additional expense. Also, you can bring additional cash to tip extra for exceptional service, but this practice is not expected.
Pet sitters & Care Givers - If you are leaving behind any dependents of the four-legged or two-legged variety you may need to set up care for them while away. This could be a baby sitter or a pet sitter and could cost you on average $50-75 additional per day. If you have family or friends to take care of them, make sure to check early that they are available and not on their own cruise!
The last thing you want to worry about while on a cruise is the care of a pet or dependent. Make sure to book trust-worthy pet sitters or in home care well in advance. Ask for references from your neighbors or local veterinarian.
These expenses may seem like a lot, but it is good to know what to expect and to plan for covering these costs. We hope this helps alleviate some the stress in planning your next cruise. Stay tuned for more interesting and information-packed articles on cruising. We will do our best to post one article every Sunday. And don’t forget to join our Facebook Group!
