Wow! There are some fantastic cheap cruise options around and lots of people who've never cruised before are now dipping their toe in the ocean and finding out that the water's very warm indeed. In some cases, a cheap cruise can be less expensive than the same length of time in a hotel in a resort town when you consider the cost of meals, accommodation, transportation, entertainment and sundry expenses. Once you're on board the ship, your budget is very easy to manage. You've paid for nearly everything up front and you can economize as much or as little as you want.
Thus, the draw of exotic locations and pampering at sea is becoming more of a reality for people who never considered a cruise before as a vacation possibility. Booking a cheap cruise doesn't mean stowing away in a dormitory-style, sub-ocean type accommodation. It doesn't mean feeling like one of the herd crowded into claustrophobic cabins and watching ?C-grade? entertainment to while away the hours at sea. You'd be surprised at the standard of living on cruises, and the ports of call that are available for affordable prices. Here is a sample of cheap cruise options that are currently available through various companies. Be aware that the prices shown are for off-peak travel. But, would you mind traveling to beautiful, temperate Mexico in January?
3-Night Baja Mexico cruise (January) ? from $219 Interior: $219; Oceanview: $249 Departs from Los Angeles, CA Ports of Call: Los Angeles, CA and Ensenada, Mexico This beautiful vessel features a five-story shopping lobby with specialist boutiques plus a Champagne bar and entertainment that parallels that found in New York and Las Vegas.
7-Night Bahamas cruise (April) ? from $829 Interior: $829; Oceanview: $999 Departs from New York City and visits Port Canaveral, FL; Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas and Key West, FL. This ship features 10 restaurants, 13 bars and lounges, a bowling alley, two swimming pools, six hot tubs, a day spa and a fitness center.
8-Night Bermuda cruise (April) ? from $899 Interior: $899; Oceanview: $949 Departs from New York City and visits Kings Wharf, Bermuda; Road Town, Tortola, B.V.I. and St Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Passengers also receive free travel insurance, a free gift and up to $150 of on-board credit per cabin.
11-night Southern Caribbean cruise (February) ? from $949 Interior: $949; Oceanview: $1,199 Departs from San Juan, Puerto Rico and visits Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Basseterre, St. Kitts; St. Johns, Antigua; Castries, St. Lucia; Bridgetown, Barbados; Margarita Island, Venezuela; Willemstad, Curacao and Oranjestad, Aruba. Free travel insurance and a free gift are included. Imagine 11 glorious nights visiting some of the most stunning locations and never having to unpack your suitcase more than once!
At the prices shown above, a cheap cruise is an affordable option for a wedding gift, or a special surprise for a 25th or 50th wedding anniversary. The low prices mean that families can go on vacation together and be happy in the knowledge that the financials are taken care of.
Start planning what you will do for your next vacation. Consider taking a cheap cruise. You can go away sooner and enjoy yourself more when you go.
However, this article is not about where you can go to get a great deal, it's about letting you know that your cheap cruise may not be the great bargain you thought it was if you are sailing for the first time and unaware of on ship costs.
For example, the marketing to get people on ships is very attractive; 7 day cruises through the Eastern Caribbean for less than $500 is hard to resist however, there's an old saying which goes something like..."if they don't get you on the roundabouts they'll get you on the swings."
The On Board Cost Factor
In other words, while your initial cost will include some onboard privileges, the cost of staying on a ship for any length of time can be expensive. That's not detracting at all from the experience because there is little to compare with a cruise but many holidaymakers will have suffered temporary high blood pressure levels when it comes time to square up at the end of the trip.
Let's take a look at some of the expenses you could be faced with which can blow your cheap cruise experience into an expensive one:
1. Drinking is one of the biggest expenses on a cruise ship. Just be aware, if you like a drink then be prepared to pay for it. Souvenir drinks are attractive; that is, drinks which come in specially designed glasses which you get to keep afterwards but how many souvenir glasses do you want to end up with?
2. Photos can be a brutal expense. Photographs are a great way to savor wonderful memories and there will be on board photographic services which will be happy to snap your picture everyday. But be warned they are not cheap. If you have your own camera then make sure you pack it.
3. Many inexperienced travelers will often think on shore excursions which are organized are part of the cruise experience but this is not usually the case. This is something you need to check with your travel professional before making your booking.
4. Entertainment is great on board a ship and most of it is free however, if you like to indulge in a little gambling and have a "soft spot" for slot machines be prepared to play the larger denomination machines because the smaller 1 and 2 cent machines can be hard to find.
5. On board staff and generally fantastic and it's hard to beat the service you get on a ship. Again, it can come at a cost via gratuities and this is fair enough however, if you are from a place where tipping is foreign, just be prepared.
6. Some on board services are not included as part of the initial cheap cruise price. These include grooming and beauty services.
7. Likewise, medical services will cost you extra should you need attention on your trip.
Both Linda Woods & Dean Caporella are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Linda Woods has sinced written about articles on various topics from Basketball, Cruises and Entertainment Guide. Linda Woods is a freelance writer and radio talk show host with a focus on healing, self-help and empowerment. Get the latest information on cruising at http://www.takethatcruise.com. Be sure to check out our. Linda Woods's top article generates over 12100 views. to your Favourites.
Dean Caporella has sinced written about articles on various topics from Parenting, Golf Guide and Surveys. Want to know how to score some great ? You'll want to read this informative guide! Plus, read the latest. Dean Caporella's top article generates over 74000 views. to your Favourites.