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All-inclusive cruises cover most costs, including transportation, meals, entertainment, and basic amenities. However, additional services like alcohol, gambling, and specialty activities may cost extra. These cruises offer attractive rates and savings, but vacationers should carefully check what is included and research options before booking.
The term “all-inclusive cruises” can make it sound like all costs for a cruise vacation are covered. However, it would be more reasonable to say that these cruise deals cover most or most of the costs. Typically, all-inclusive cruises cover the price of a stateroom and port-to-port transportation on a cruise ship, basic meals, soft drinks, use of the pool and gym, and onboard entertainment. Other goods and services, such as alcoholic beverages, gambling, and specialty activities like scuba diving, often cost more.
All-inclusive cruises have several advantages that make them attractive to many vacationers. They tend to offer very attractive rates and as most costs are paid upfront, holidaymakers can better budget for their holiday. The fixed-price cruise itself offers inherent savings. There are no hotel bills to pay on a cruise vacation, and basic meals and entertainment are covered, along with transportation between ports.
While meals are included at mainstream cafeterias in all-inclusive deals, many large cruise lines have added more independent restaurants. Guests usually have to pay extra for meals if they wish to dine beyond the standard fare. Other costs often not covered on all-inclusive cruises include alcohol, gambling, shore excursions beyond the most basic, and tipping, although tipping is prohibited on some cruises.
A ship’s gym will likely be covered by an all-inclusive rate, but passengers usually have to pay extra to use spas, barbers and beauty shops. Snacks and soft drinks will sometimes be covered between meals, depending on the cruise line and package purchased. Alcoholic beverages may be included with meals or not at all. On occasion, airfare to the cruise departure port and local transportation transfers will be included in all-inclusive cruise packages, along with port taxes.
With the advent of the internet, where major cruise lines compete primarily on prices that consumers can instantly compare, many cruise lines have added a la carte options to their basic all-inclusive cruise offerings, in a similar strategy to airlines that charge extra fees for baggage and other services. Either way, the rate that appears on an internet search appears low, but may not reflect all possible costs.
It’s wise for vacationers seeking all-inclusive cruise deals to carefully check what is and isn’t included. Prices and services can vary widely across the industry, depending on the season and the state of global and local economies. Each cruise line has different policies and prices, so it pays for vacationers to thoroughly research options online or use a trusted travel agent.
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