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The Real Cost of Your Cruise
That $299 cruise fare is not what you’ll actually pay. It’s the cover charge to get in the door. Start with gratuities. Budget $15 per person per day for service staff. That’s $210 for two people on a week-long cruise. You can adjust these at the guest services desk, but this is the baseline. Beverages…
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Cruise News Roundup
Royal Caribbean just announced their newest ship will have something called a “neighborhood concept.” Icon of the Seas will feature eight distinct areas when it launches in 2024. Each neighborhood has its own vibe and activities. This matters because it means fewer crowds fighting over the same spaces. The surf simulator won’t be next to…
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The Dirty Secret About All Inclusive Cruise Pricing
Cruise lines love to call themselves “all inclusive.” This is like calling a car “transportation included” then charging extra for gas, insurance, and the keys. Your cruise fare covers your room and meals. That part is true. But the list of what costs extra would make a resort executive blush. Internet. Drinks. Specialty dining. Shore…
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The Thermal Suite Is Worth Every Penny
Most cruise passengers walk past the spa’s thermal suite entrance without a second thought. They see the day pass price and keep walking to the free pool deck. The thermal suite is different from a regular spa treatment. You get access to heated ceramic loungers, steam rooms, saunas, and vitality pools. Some ships include snow…
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River Cruising vs Ocean Cruising
River cruising is not ocean cruising with a smaller boat. The differences run deeper than ship size. Ocean cruising puts you in floating cities. Think 4,000 passengers, Broadway shows, and rock climbing walls. You wake up in Nassau. You go to sleep heading toward Cozumel. The ship is the destination. River cruising flips this completely.…
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Why Princess Cruises Gets Overlooked and Why That Matters
Princess Cruises sits in cruise marketing purgatory. Too upscale for Carnival crowds. Not quite fancy enough for Celebrity wannabes. This middle child status might actually be their biggest strength. Princess ships carry 2,000 to 4,000 passengers but never feel chaotic. Their newest ships like the Sun Princess feature excellent specialty dining and spacious suites. The…
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Tasmania Changes Everything You Think You Know About Australia
Most people cruise to Sydney and Melbourne. They skip the island 150 miles south that locals call Tassie. This is a mistake. Tasmania delivers everything mainland Australia promises but rarely delivers. You want unique wildlife? Tasmanian devils actually exist here. You want pristine wilderness? Nearly half the island sits in World Heritage areas. You want…
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The Real Cost of Your Cruise Is Not What You Think
Your $599 cruise will cost $1,200. Maybe more if you like to have fun. Cruise lines advertise interior cabin prices because they look good in ads. They do not advertise what you will actually spend. The base fare covers your room and meals in the main dining room. Everything else costs extra. Gratuities add $15…
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Cruise News Roundup
Royal Caribbean dropped some major news this week. They’re building another Icon-class ship for delivery in 2027. The new vessel will be the fourth in this class, joining Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas, and the unnamed third ship coming in 2025. Icon ships are massive floating cities with everything from surf simulators…
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Royal Caribbean Just Made Basic Balcony Cabins Obsolete
Royal Caribbean quietly rolled out a change that makes their standard balcony cabins the worst value on most ships. They now charge extra for what used to be included. Here’s what happened. Basic balcony cabins no longer include the drink package pre-purchase discount. They removed the specialty dining credit. Most importantly, they stripped out the…