Like many infrequent air travelers, new cruise passengers are often unaware of hidden cruise fees. They only hear how cruises include everything from the stateroom, to meals and beverages, to the fabulous on-board entertainment.
When one purchases an online cruise ticket, on many, if not most cruise line websites, typically the buyer is not informed about fees and charges, which might be incurred, in addition to the ticket charge, prior to purchasing a cruise, other than taxes, potential fuel supplement charges, and gratuities.
Cruise lines are effectually hiding fees for services and cruise features not included in the cruise ticket, until the cruise is booked, and the passengers are committed to pay for their tickets.
Unfortunately, the reality of cruising on many, if not most cruise lines, is that so many features and services aren’t included, that especially those new to cruising, can be shocked, when they settle their on-board accounts.
Cruise lines counter that criticism, by explaining that fee information about unbundled services and features can be found, searching their websites, or by calling the cruise lines’ help lines. I ask, “If you don’t know the fees exist, how could you think to do that?”
What’s typically included in one’s cruise ticket?
Over at Royal Caribbean, if you search their web site, you can find that your “cruise vacation” price includes: your stateroom, ocean transportation, “most” meals, “some” beverages and “most” entertainment on-board the ship. That sounds very comprehensive doesn’t it?
What’s typically not included in one’s cruise ticket?
There are many services and features on board a cruise ship I don’t think that anyone could reasonably expect to be typically included in the price of one’s ticket, including: money with which to gamble at the ship’s casino, art pieces at auction, gift shop purchases, alcoholic beverages served at the bar, or telephone calls from the ship to home.
On the other hand, I think many passengers don’t expect that meals at any ships’ restaurant wouldn’t be fully included. Passengers have been flabbergasted how expensive a single visit to the ship’s doctor can be. I know many cruisers are surprised to find the use of the ship’s Internet cafe not only wasn’t free, but that the fees for Internet use were so high. Many can’t believe the welcome aboard photographs taken of every passenger aren’t included in the price of their tickets.
Many first time passengers don’t realize that shore excursions, even simple city bus tours aren’t included in the price of a ticket, until they start booking the excursions after they’ve purchased their tickets.
Passengers who cut down on the amount of clothes they take on a cruise to reduce their luggage needs, aren’t surprised the ship’s laundry isn’t free, but are dismayed when they find the fees charged are far in excess of their cleaner at home.
By not overtly, and explicitly, listing the services and features not included in the cruise ticket price, during the purchase process, cruise lines are making their cruises appear less expensive than they actually are.
Please note: Luxury cruise lines generally have few services and features not included in their cruise tickets, and are generally clear about the few items not included, before their tickets are purchased. Tickets on these cruise lines, however, are considerably more expensive than the value and midrange lines.
These extra fees for services and cruise features can really pile up. I priced one week cruises on Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Princess, for an outside cabin for two with balcony, in the Caribbean. The ticket cost including taxes ranged from about $1,830 to $2,850. Then I started looking at potential fees.
Excursions for two could easy cost $300 or more. Dinner twice at “specialty” restaurants could cost $120 per couple. Two copies of those welcome photos will cost about $30 or more. Gratuities for two for a week could cost about $160 or more. Add in Internet charges ($50) to keep in touch with your family, and send them some photos from the ship, and fees total $660.
I’ve added no alcoholic beverage orders from the bar to the tab, or for that matter, wine or other drinks at the dinner table. Many aren’t aware that soda isn’t free except at mealtime on many ships. Royal Caribbean’s fountain soda package averages $6.00/day for adults, plus gratuity. That’s about $42 per week per passenger.
On a recent cruise, my laundry fees totaled a little more than $50. As one can see, without going on a spending spree, estimated fees, in excess of the two cruise tickets could easily total $828, or 29% to 45% of the cost of the tickets.
Cruise lines need to clearly tell their passengers what’s included, and what’s not, in their cruise ticket, and how much the fees might be, prior to their passengers clicking on the “buy the cruise ticket” button.
After many years working in corporate America as a chemical engineer, executive and eventually CFO of a multinational manufacturer, Ned founded a tech consulting company and later restarted NSL Photography, his photography business. Before entering the corporate world, Ned worked as a Public Health Engineer for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. As a well known corporate, travel and wildlife photographer, Ned travels the world writing about travel and photography, as well as running photography workshops, seminars and photowalks. Visit Ned’s Photography Blog and Galleries.
