| Onboard expenses can quickly mount up when you're | | | | provide you with an onboard email address. Don't use |
| at sea. So unless you want a nasty surprise before | | | | this as it will be slow and expensive. Before you |
| you disembark at the end of your cruise, here's how | | | | leave, set up a free web based email account. There |
| to reduce your costs without reducing the quality of | | | | are plenty to choose from, such as Yahoo, or |
| your vacation. | | | | Google's Gmail, and they're all free. They can be |
| Food | | | | accessed from anywhere in the world and are |
| If you want to go a la carte, it's possible to spend | | | | generally much faster that your onboard email |
| vast amounts of money dining at the alternative | | | | account. |
| onboard restaurants. But with a dining room and | | | | Laundry |
| various buffets as part of your fare, you can eat | | | | Most laundry services will be charged per item, at |
| virtually round the clock at no extra expense. If you | | | | rates commonly applied in land based hotels, so your |
| want to experience the delights of alternative dining, | | | | costs can rise quickly. However certain cruise ships |
| why not treat yourself to it every three or four | | | | provide a complimentary laundry service in the top |
| days instead of daily. | | | | rooms. But I guess if you can afford those rooms |
| Likewise, it's possible to spend a small fortune in | | | | you won't be too worried about a few onboard |
| select cafes and coffee bars. But most ships provide | | | | expenses. |
| complimentary tea and coffee 24 hours a day. | | | | So if you think you'll need to do laundry while |
| Gratuities | | | | onboard, look for a cruise line that provides a low |
| Onboard tipping is rather a thorny issue. A number of | | | | cost self service laundry facility. Alternatively, pack a |
| cruise lines include tips and gratuities as part of the | | | | bottle of washing liquid and hand wash essential items |
| fare. Other companies don't include tips, but strongly | | | | in your bathroom. |
| advise that you reward good service. And on many | | | | Medical Expenses |
| ships, the management suggest a daily gratuity level | | | | Injury or illness can happen to anyone at anytime, so |
| which may or may not be automatically added to | | | | it's best to prepare for all possible eventualities. First |
| your onboard account. If you don't agree with this, | | | | check out the position from the point of view of |
| take the matter up at the Purser's Office. | | | | your home country. For citizens of the US, medicare |
| Ultimately, it's up to you. But I will say one thing; the | | | | does not apply when they're out of the country. |
| staff on most cruise ships are low paid. Most of them | | | | Next, look at the medical insurance position. If you |
| rely on tips to supplement their income. If passengers | | | | already have medical insurance, make sure it will |
| don't provide tips, many of the staff may leave and | | | | cover you when at sea. If not, consider buying |
| seek work elsewhere. And in many cases that will | | | | medical travel insurance to provide you with |
| lead to a drop in the quality of service, or a rise in | | | | adequate cover. Even the cost of a simple visit to |
| ticket prices (if the cruise lines have to pay higher | | | | the ship doctor will account for the whole cost of a |
| wages to attract workers). | | | | simple travel insurance policy. |
| Internet | | | | Photos |
| Internet access from ship to shore is normally | | | | Most ships will have a photographer who is willing to |
| expensive. It's not unusual to see charges of up to | | | | take a portrait photo of you and your travelling |
| $10 per minute. So if you have to use the internet | | | | companions...for a price. So save money by taking |
| make sure that you keep your eye on the clock. | | | | your own camera and asking one of your fellow |
| Alternatively, some ships provide each person with a | | | | passengers to take a few photos. |
| set amount of minutes online as part of your overall | | | | Shopping |
| fare. | | | | Onboard ships stock many exquisite items that will |
| If you want to keep in touch with people while at | | | | remind you of your days at sea forever. Everything |
| sea, email is cheaper then telephone, but the | | | | from jewelry and ornaments to cigarettes and |
| connection speed on some ships can be rather slow. | | | | alcohol is available, but it will cost you dearly. So try |
| So if possible, wait until you arrive in port. Either the | | | | to limit yourself to things that are necessary. And if |
| price of the onboard connection will be cheaper or | | | | you forget to pack anything, it can often be cheaper |
| you can use one of the onshore internet cafes which | | | | buying them at the next port of call rather than |
| are much faster and much cheaper. | | | | paying the inflated prices at the shops onboard. |
| Oh, and one final word on email. Most ships will | | | | |