Cruise Policies That Hurt Cruisers

(John*Sisker) wrote:

Cruise lines don't seem to emphasize the term
"all inclusive" as much as they did in the past,
no-doubt for many of the reasons that was
brought up here. And yes, all these so-called
extra cost services and options are available
only if and/or when one chooses to take
advantage of them. Yet, it seems that these
extra type services and options are not
emphasized to the same degrees as what is
indeed included in the base price to begin
with. This can get a bit confusing to new
cruisers, thinking that just about everything is
included for that one price.

It seems to me that at least in their brochures the cruise lines
explicitly list what is included and what is for an extra fee.

Though you could get a very different impression from their commercials.
If you watch Samantha Brown on a cruise ship on the Travel Channel (for
all intents and purposes an infomercial for RCL), you could easily get
the impression that drinks and excursions are free.

When someone comes to you as a travel agent and they are new to
cruising, do you make sure that they know what is and is not included
when they pay the fare?

On 6/17/2010 11:19 AM, Jeff Gersten wrote:

When someone comes to you as a travel agent and they are new to
cruising, do you make sure that they know what is and is not included
when they pay the fare?


I would think that most good travel agents do. Usually the first thing
we have to explain is that the prices listed on the cruise line's
websites don't include taxes. For a family of 4 on a seven day cruise,
that could add up to another $400.

Then there is tipping.... figure $10 pp per day on most of the
mass-market lines. That adds another $280 to the bill for the family of 4.

Another cost is passports. Add another $400 for a family of 4 if they
are needed.

After that... the fees are mostly optional. Sodas, drinks, shore
excursions, purchases, alternative restaurants... all add to the total
cost but are not mandatory.

I know of people whose onboard purchases are more than the cruise
fare..... but then there are people like me who hardly spend anything.
I think most people can budget their onboard purchases to stay within
their means.


--
George Leppla

Countryside Travel http://www.Countryside-Travel.com
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/CruiseMaster

On 6/17/2010 12:53 PM, Harry Cooper wrote:


Hi George,

Cruise line rates for ship to shore phone service used to be one step
below armed robbery. Now that most people have a cell phone surgically
implanted, I don't hear anything about that "service". Is it still so
costly?

Harry Cooper

Harry, the last time I looked it was $7.50 a minute but that was a few
years ago. On my very first cruise in 1989, it was $14.50 a minute.

Like you said, with cell phones and good internet connections readily
available, using the ship's phone system to call home would be very rare.


--
George Leppla

Countryside Travel http://www.Countryside-Travel.com
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/CruiseMaster

On Thu, 17 Jun 2010 12:53:39 -0500, "Harry Cooper"
wrote:



"George Leppla" wrote in message
...
On 6/17/2010 11:19 AM, Jeff Gersten wrote:

When someone comes to you as a travel agent and they are new to
cruising, do you make sure that they know what is and is not included
when they pay the fare?


I would think that most good travel agents do. Usually the first thing we
have to explain is that the prices listed on the cruise line's websites
don't include taxes. For a family of 4 on a seven day cruise, that could
add up to another $400.

Then there is tipping.... figure $10 pp per day on most of the mass-market
lines. That adds another $280 to the bill for the family of 4.

Another cost is passports. Add another $400 for a family of 4 if they are
needed.

After that... the fees are mostly optional. Sodas, drinks, shore
excursions, purchases, alternative restaurants... all add to the total
cost but are not mandatory.

I know of people whose onboard purchases are more than the cruise
fare..... but then there are people like me who hardly spend anything. I
think most people can budget their onboard purchases to stay within their
means.


--
George Leppla

Countryside Travel http://www.Countryside-Travel.com
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/CruiseMaster

Hi George,

Cruise line rates for ship to shore phone service used to be one step below
armed robbery. Now that most people have a cell phone surgically implanted,
I don't hear anything about that "service". Is it still so costly?

Harry Cooper


Apples and Oranges
Thumper

"George Leppla" wrote in message
...
On 6/17/2010 11:19 AM, Jeff Gersten wrote:

When someone comes to you as a travel agent and they are new to
cruising, do you make sure that they know what is and is not included
when they pay the fare?


I would think that most good travel agents do. Usually the first thing we
have to explain is that the prices listed on the cruise line's websites
don't include taxes. For a family of 4 on a seven day cruise, that could
add up to another $400.

Then there is tipping.... figure $10 pp per day on most of the mass-market
lines. That adds another $280 to the bill for the family of 4.

Another cost is passports. Add another $400 for a family of 4 if they are
needed.

After that... the fees are mostly optional. Sodas, drinks, shore
excursions, purchases, alternative restaurants... all add to the total
cost but are not mandatory.

I know of people whose onboard purchases are more than the cruise
fare..... but then there are people like me who hardly spend anything. I
think most people can budget their onboard purchases to stay within their
means.


--
George Leppla

Countryside Travel http://www.Countryside-Travel.com
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/CruiseMaster

Hi George,

Cruise line rates for ship to shore phone service used to be one step below
armed robbery. Now that most people have a cell phone surgically implanted,
I don't hear anything about that "service". Is it still so costly?

Harry Cooper

On 6/17/2010 10:02 PM, Cruise Crazy wrote:
The closest we ever came to a truly 'all inclusive cruise' was the one
we recently tool on Regent Seven Seas. Gratuities. drinks, excursions
and the specialty coffees and all sodas were included. BUT...the price
is much higher and not everyone wants or need all that is included. We
even had a SBC which I probably spent in one of the shops.

A co-worker did the Celebrity Xpedition to the Galapagos, which truly is
all-inclusive. She had OBC and I think they had to refund it to her
because there was nothing to spend it on. Of course this was back before
they started with non-refundable OBC.

Bill

They are no different from the airlines charging for every little thing
now. I heard they were going to offer early boarding FOR A FEE.

On 6/17/2010 3:48 PM, John Sisker wrote:

"Jeff Gersten" wrote in message
...
(John Sisker) wrote:

Cruise lines don't seem to emphasize the term
"all inclusive" as much as they did in the past,
no-doubt for many of the reasons that was
brought up here. And yes, all these so-called
extra cost services and options are available
only if and/or when one chooses to take
advantage of them. Yet, it seems that these
extra type services and options are not
emphasized to the same degrees as what is
indeed included in the base price to begin
with. This can get a bit confusing to new
cruisers, thinking that just about everything is
included for that one price.

On 6/17/2010 9:24 PM, Bill wrote:
A co-worker did the Celebrity Xpedition to the Galapagos, which truly
is all-inclusive. She had OBC and I think they had to refund it to her
because there was nothing to spend it on. Of course this was back
before they started with non-refundable OBC.

Bill

Let's hear it for non-refundable OBC. Thbbbtttt!

Becca

On Thu, 17 Jun 2010 11:38:21 -0500, George Leppla wrote:

I know of people whose onboard purchases are more than the cruise
fare..... but then there are people like me who hardly spend anything.
I think most people can budget their onboard purchases to stay within
their means.

Being frugal when poor is an admirable thing, George. Kudos.
--
Ari's Fun Times!
http://tr.im/hrFG
Motto: Run, rabbit, Run!

On Fri, 18 Jun 2010 10:28:42 -0500, Barbara Brown wrote:

They are no different from the airlines charging for every little thing
now. I heard they were going to offer early boarding FOR A FEE.

They do it's call First Class. Or whatever.
--
Ari's Fun Times!
http://tr.im/hrFG
Motto: Run, rabbit, Run!