David
Pricing Caribbean cruise packages need to take into account all the little extras that can soon make the final cost mount up. So as well as checking out the individual cruise operators and comparing their prices to find cheap Caribbean cruises, think through the other areas that might cause you to spend more, and plan how you will either avoid them completely or keep them to a minimum. Here are a few examples of the extras that can burn a hole in your budget.
The excitement of cruising to enchanting new places, such as Antigua and St Kitts, for example, could tempt you to book yourself into every shore excursion available. However before you do so remember that cruise excursions are usually overpriced and, for cruise lines, they are the biggest single profit centre they have. It’s usually quite simple to research the local attractions before you sail and quite possible to make your own arrangements either in advance or when you leave the ship.
Most people take photographs when on a cruise, while on board as well as when visiting a port. You’ll soon notice that your cruise line photography team does much the same thing at every ‘important’ occasion, such as when you attend the captain’s welcome reception or as you descend the gangplank to set foot on a new island. While it’s lovely to browse the ship’s ‘gallery’ as these photos increase, beware of the extremely high prices the cruise line charge for these and do your best to resist them unless they have managed to capture a particularly great image that you will genuinely treasure.
Experienced cruise travellers know that alcohol and carbonated soft drinks are not usually included in the base price of most Caribbean cruises. There are some exceptions where this is not the case, however, if you are factoring in drinks costs other than tea, coffee and water you may be better off booking an all-inclusive cruise, even if initially it’s a little more expensive than others. Even pre-paid beverage cards which allow you to buy drinks not included in the base price can be expensive, so check these out too before making your final choice.
Base cruise prices include meals, which is good for your budget when visiting expensive cities or countries. However, some cruise operators are offering passengers the option of a premium dining room, where food quality is better – for a price. While this is lovely for a special occasion, such as an anniversary or birthday, if you make a habit of it, that’s another way your careful budgeting could get skewered.
As you are not likely to be booking one of the Caribbean luxury cruises when on a budget, you might think you can at least have a little decent retail therapy on board. Most cruise ships certainly at least one shop that is open at selected times during the trip, often offering duty-free items. As with shops in luxury hotels, their range includes clothing, swimwear and a number of other items of various kinds. Rather than stocking up onboard on day one, spend a little time looking at prices in your ports of call, so you at least get an idea of how much the markup is on the cruise shop prices. Remember also that some ships have a sale on the final days, where prices are marked down. This is a good way to find a bargain.
