Cost Of Cruising

T hings to consider               cruise fare are airfare, shore                                     excursions, alcoholic beverages,   Cruises are convenient and      spa treatments, souvenirs and      fun, and they offer nonstop           casino games.                      excitement that no other vacation                                        can match. No worries about where     Types of cruises                   to go to dinner or where to have                                         fun, and -- best of all -- no         The cruise you choose will also    packing and unpacking to visit        affect your total cost. A longer   the next destination. So how can      cruise costs more than a shorter   you afford a cruise and what can      one, of course, but the cruise     you expect to spend during your       line matters, too. Cruise lines    cruise? Here is some insight on       are divided into three             what to expect.                       categories: contemporary,                                                premium, and luxury. Contemporary  Cruising - what's included            cruises are typically less                                               expensive, but the staterooms,     A cruise isn't an all-inclusive       food and service are not as        vacation, but it can be a great       lavish as on premium and luxury    deal because of what is included      cruises. Luxury cruises are the    in the cruise fare - generally,       most expensive, but they           all meals, snacks, entertainment,     typically offer smaller ships,     games, activities and most sports     gourmet cuisine and individual     and fitness activities. Of            attention. In the middle are       course, there are many extras you     premium lines, like Princess       can spend money on, and these can     Cruises, which generally offer a   certainly add up at sea, just as      diverse fleet of medium-sized and  they do when you stay at a            larger cruise ships, along with    shoreside resort. Things that         accommodations and services and    aren't included in the basic          fall between contemporary and      luxury offerings.                     How you get to the port of                                               embarkation will have a            Your stateroom                        significant impact on the overall                                        cost of your cruise vacation. For  If you are on a tight budget you      long distance travel, you may      can save money on your cruise by      want to compare the cost of        choosing an inexpensive cabin         airline tickets, bus tickets or    such as an inside stateroom. On       train tickets. Air travel is       the other hand, if you want to        usually the most preferred method  enjoy the scenery and have your       of travel, but it is the most      own place to escape to, then          expensive. Sometimes it pays to    choose a balcony stateroom or         drive your own vehicle to the      suite. Stateroom rates can vary       port city. Your cruise line can    widely. For example, on Princess      give you information for           Cruises' Alaska sailings, there       long-term parking.                 is a $500 per person difference                                          between the least expensive           Onboard extras                     inside stateroom and the least                                           expensive balcony stateroom. No       Cruise lines have always charged   matter what stateroom you choose,     additional fees for shore          you have access to the same           excursions, alcoholic beverages    dining rooms, pools, public           and spa treatments, and now they   areas, amenities and shore            are offering many new onboard      excursions as any other passenger     extras -- everything from artwork  on the ship, so the choice of         to alternative restaurants and     stateroom is purely a matter of       wine tastings. Almost all cruises  budget and comfort.                   operate on a sign-and-go basis,                                          which means you can select any     Getting to the ship                   fee-based activity and use your                                          stateroom key as a charge card.    This system is very convenient,       you will also have account access  but it also makes it very easy to     through your stateroom television  run up a large tab by the end of      screen.                            the cruise. Take a look at your                                          bill periodically -- every two        Cruising isn't a cheap vacation,   days or so -- just to make sure       but it certainly offers a          you know what you're spending.        tremendous value for each dollar   The purser's office can always        spent.                             provide you with this                                                    information; on many new ships,       Bon voyage!                        About the Author Anita Dunham-Potter is a Pittsburgh-based travel journalist specializing in cruise travel. Anita is a weekly travel columnist for http://MSNBC.com and Tripso, and she is a contributor to Fodor's "Complete Guide to Caribbean Cruises 2007". Published At: www.Isnare.com