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Onboard Cruise Ship Expenses How To Keep Them Under Control Part 2
nboard expenses can
quickly mount up when Gratuities
you're at sea. So unless
you want a nasty surprise before Onboard tipping is rather a
you disembark at the end of your thorny issue. A number of cruise
cruise, here's how to reduce your lines include tips and gratuities
costs without reducing the as part of the fare. Other
quality of your vacation. companies don't include tips, but
strongly advise that you reward
Food good service. And on many ships,
the management suggest a daily
If you want to go a la carte, gratuity level which may or may
it's possible to spend vast not be automatically added to
amounts of money dining at the your onboard account. If you
alternative onboard restaurants. don't agree with this, take the
But with a dining room and matter up at the Purser's Office.
various buffets as part of your
fare, you can eat virtually round Ultimately, it's up to you. But I
the clock at no extra expense. If will say one thing; the staff on
you want to experience the most cruise ships are low paid.
delights of alternative dining, Most of them rely on tips to
why not treat yourself to it supplement their income. If
every three or four days instead passengers don't provide tips,
of daily. many of the staff may leave and
seek work elsewhere. And in many
Likewise, it's possible to spend cases that will lead to a drop in
a small fortune in select cafes the quality of service, or a rise
and coffee bars. But most ships in ticket prices (if the cruise
provide complimentary tea and lines have to pay higher wages to
coffee 24 hours a day. attract workers).
expensive. Before you leave, set
Internet up a free web based email
account. There are plenty to
Internet access from ship to choose from, such as Yahoo, or
shore is normally expensive. It's Google's Gmail, and they're all
not unusual to see charges of up free. They can be accessed from
to $10 per minute. So if you have anywhere in the world and are
to use the internet make sure generally much faster that your
that you keep your eye on the onboard email account.
clock. Alternatively, some ships
provide each person with a set Laundry
amount of minutes online as part
of your overall fare. Most laundry services will be
charged per item, at rates
If you want to keep in touch with commonly applied in land based
people while at sea, email is hotels, so your costs can rise
cheaper then telephone, but the quickly. However certain cruise
connection speed on some ships ships provide a complimentary
can be rather slow. So if laundry service in the top rooms.
possible, wait until you arrive But I guess if you can afford
in port. Either the price of the those rooms you won't be too
onboard connection will be worried about a few onboard
cheaper or you can use one of the expenses.
onshore internet cafes which are
much faster and much cheaper. So if you think you'll need to do
laundry while onboard, look for a
Oh, and one final word on email. cruise line that provides a low
Most ships will provide you with cost self service laundry
an onboard email address. Don't facility. Alternatively, pack a
use this as it will be slow and bottle of washing liquid and hand
wash essential items in your
bathroom. Most ships will have a
photographer who is willing to
Medical Expenses take a portrait photo of you and
your travelling companions...for
Injury or illness can happen to a price. So save money by taking
anyone at anytime, so it's best your own camera and asking one of
to prepare for all possible your fellow passengers to take a
eventualities. First check out few photos.
the position from the point of
view of your home country. For Shopping
citizens of the US, medicare does
not apply when they're out of the Onboard ships stock many
country. Next, look at the exquisite items that will remind
medical insurance position. If you of your days at sea forever.
you already have medical Everything from jewelry and
insurance, make sure it will ornaments to cigarettes and
cover you when at sea. If not, alcohol is available, but it will
consider buying medical travel cost you dearly. So try to limit
insurance to provide you with yourself to things that are
adequate cover. Even the cost of necessary. And if you forget to
a simple visit to the ship doctor pack anything, it can often be
will account for the whole cost cheaper buying them at the next
of a simple travel insurance port of call rather than paying
policy. the inflated prices at the shops
onboard.
Photos
About the Author:
If you want to learn more about the secrets of discount cruises, Kristen Olsen runs www.HolidayCruisesGuide.com.
Read more articles by: Kristen Olsen
Article Source: www.iSnare.com |
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