Oh yes, there are hidden cruising costs!

I guess cruise lines generate more revenue from these hidden costs.

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Most of those aren't hidden costs, they're optional extras. That's a big difference.

Come on. Does anyone really believe that massages are included? How do you spell "naive" or "doesn't do their homework"? Truly "all inclusive" would require buying your own yacht. Go buy and staff the "Eclipse" and then everything is "included."

No offense, but I don't feel any of those are hidden costs. This article confuses me, to be quite honest. :o

Yes some of them build their business models on on-board revenue such a Carnival. They aren't hidden though.

Keith

Not getting that five minutes back.

I totally agree that these costs are better referred to as options rather than hidden but I think some of y'all are failing to recognize that this is the "First Time Cruisers" board. I'm assuming Laura posted on this particular board for the benefit of first timers who may not know about the extra costs....not for the benefit of seasoned cruisers.

I totally agree that these costs are better referred to as options rather than hidden but I think some of y'all are failing to recognize that this is the "First Time Cruisers" board. I'm assuming Laura posted on this particular board for the benefit of first timers who may not know about the extra costs....not for the benefit of seasoned cruisers.

Exactly! When we took our first cruise, we had no idea what was or was not included, especially when everyone talks about cruising being all inclusive.

Actually, I was surprised to find out we had to pay for many drinks because I thought inclusive meant inclusive.

I totally agree that these costs are better referred to as options rather than hidden but I think some of y'all are failing to recognize that this is the "First Time Cruisers" board. I'm assuming Laura posted on this particular board for the benefit of first timers who may not know about the extra costs....not for the benefit of seasoned cruisers.

Very likely right.

I totally agree that these costs are better referred to as options rather than hidden but I think some of y'all are failing to recognize that this is the "First Time Cruisers" board. I'm assuming Laura posted on this particular board for the benefit of first timers who may not know about the extra costs....not for the benefit of seasoned cruisers.

I agree.

I actually missed complimentary things bc I was afraid they’d charge me.

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I don't consider them hidden.

No offense, but I don't feel any of those are hidden costs. This article confuses me, to be quite honest. :o

Agree completely. Nothing hidden in any of these extra charges. All, with the possible exception of the gratuities, are options and information on all are available to the new cruiser through the cruise lines and TA's prior to making a booking. So no, Laura, there are not hidden costs!

Not a very helpful article IMO.

It's click bait.......attracting those new to cruising who want to feel like they'll have information that no one else will have (i.e. those hidden secrets that cruiselines don't want you to know!)

...... Sorry - nevermind :)

I believe everything that is printed in a brochure is available in the website. Gratuities and other items that are not included in the fare are spelled out. I think anyone who pays for a cruise and does no research really is naive.

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Cruise line business plans have morphed into a model that has much of the line's profits based on maximizing onboard revenue. As a forty year cruiser we have seen the industry change...again and again. When we started cruising the onboard shops often had amazing deals, photos were inexpensive, Bingo was cheap, alternative restaurants did not exist (and the MDR food was about as good as many alternative restaurants these days), etc. etc. On Monday we returned from 21 days on the Celebrity Reflection (we have spent more than 1000 days on cruise ships). At every port, when we walked off the ship, we had to run the gauntlet of ship photographers (usually 3 to 4 layers of photo jocks). On Board I walked into a shop and priced out a decent bottle of Cognac...which was about the same price as I would pay in Pennsylvania (which is a high priced liquor state). The shop manager came over to me and asked if I wanted to buy a bottle and I told him it was not worth the hassle (taking it home) since I could get it in a "State Store" for about the same price. We did hear one fellow cruiser mention that he saved $10 on 2 bottles of Vodka :).

Bingo, which used to be a fun activity, has now become a profit center with ridiculous prices and silly marketing ("$20,000 Jackpot" etc etc). And yes, eventually (perhaps a year from now) somebody will win the jackpot. But not until the cruise line has pocketed 10s of thousands of dollars profit on what used to be a simple fun activity. Alternative restaurants on some lines now cost over $50 per person (and that is after you have already paid for the cruise, food, etc) and then they have the nerve to have a space for extra tips (you are already paying a daily fee for tips). Shore excursion prices have gotten to be silly (we have seen 3 hour walking tours for over $60 per person). On our Celebrity cruise we were actually offered discounts on excursions (we rarely take any kind of excursion). Even with discounts, the pricing was ridiculous! But there are always some folks who will pay the prices for their own reasons.

But lets be clear about the cost of cruising. Around 1985 we took a 14 day European cruise on RCCL (now RCI) Sun Viking. We had a tiny outside cabin (with porthole) which cost us about $100 per person/day. This past October we snagged a good last minute deal on the Regal Princess where we had a nice high category balcony cabin for a net cost of $41 per person/day (after adjusting for OBCs. In real dollars (adjusted for inflation) that $100 we paid in 1985 is worth about $223 today. So that Regal Princess cabin (about twice the size of the Sun Viking cabin) cost less than 1/4 of what we paid over 30 years ago.

The cruise industry is now very competitive and in terms of real dollars....cruises are a real bargain. But once aboard you must accept that the lines need to make money. DW and I do not shop on ships, avoid the casino, do not play Bingo, think art auctions are a modern scam. and do not pay for the photos. We rarely take any kind of cruise line excursion preferring to do our own thing (all over the world). Consider that a moderate hotel in NYC, Paris, or London can easily cost over $400 a night (which does not include any food) and yet you can take a cruise to those same places for a fraction of that cost!

Hank

Cruise line business plans have morphed into a model that has much of the line's profits based on maximizing onboard revenue. As a forty year cruiser we have seen the industry change...again and again. When we started cruising the onboard shops often had amazing deals, photos were inexpensive, Bingo was cheap, alternative restaurants did not exist (and the MDR food was about as good as many alternative restaurants these days), etc. etc. On Monday we returned from 21 days on the Celebrity Reflection (we have spent more than 1000 days on cruise ships). At every port, when we walked off the ship, we had to run the gauntlet of ship photographers (usually 3 to 4 layers of photo jocks). On Board I walked into a shop and priced out a decent bottle of Cognac...which was about the same price as I would pay in Pennsylvania (which is a high priced liquor state). The shop manager came over to me and asked if I wanted to buy a bottle and I told him it was not worth the hassle (taking it home) since I could get it in a "State Store" for about the same price. We did hear one fellow cruiser mention that he saved $10 on 2 bottles of Vodka :).

 

Bingo, which used to be a fun activity, has now become a profit center with ridiculous prices and silly marketing ("$20,000 Jackpot" etc etc). And yes, eventually (perhaps a year from now) somebody will win the jackpot. But not until the cruise line has pocketed 10s of thousands of dollars profit on what used to be a simple fun activity. Alternative restaurants on some lines now cost over $50 per person (and that is after you have already paid for the cruise, food, etc) and then they have the nerve to have a space for extra tips (you are already paying a daily fee for tips). Shore excursion prices have gotten to be silly (we have seen 3 hour walking tours for over $60 per person). On our Celebrity cruise we were actually offered discounts on excursions (we rarely take any kind of excursion). Even with discounts, the pricing was ridiculous! But there are always some folks who will pay the prices for their own reasons.

 

But lets be clear about the cost of cruising. Around 1985 we took a 14 day European cruise on RCCL (now RCI) Sun Viking. We had a tiny outside cabin (with porthole) which cost us about $100 per person/day. This past October we snagged a good last minute deal on the Regal Princess where we had a nice high category balcony cabin for a net cost of $41 per person/day (after adjusting for OBCs. In real dollars (adjusted for inflation) that $100 we paid in 1985 is worth about $223 today. So that Regal Princess cabin (about twice the size of the Sun Viking cabin) cost less than 1/4 of what we paid over 30 years ago.

 

The cruise industry is now very competitive and in terms of real dollars....cruises are a real bargain. But once aboard you must accept that the lines need to make money. DW and I do not shop on ships, avoid the casino, do not play Bingo, think art auctions are a modern scam. and do not pay for the photos. We rarely take any kind of cruise line excursion preferring to do our own thing (all over the world). Consider that a moderate hotel in NYC, Paris, or London can easily cost over $400 a night (which does not include any food) and yet you can take a cruise to those same places for a fraction of that cost!

 

Hank

The question I have is would you be willing to pay more if you could get the same experience you had on that 1985 cruise? I think I would, but you have a longer cruise history under your belt so I'm interested in your thoughts.

Those new to cruising may not realize there are additional cost for some things.

Those new to cruising may not realize there are additional cost for some things.

While that may be true, those additional costs are not "hidden", or in any not disclosed to the consumer, which IMO is the typical implication with the wording of title of this thread.

As most responses indicate the "hidden" costs referred to are all well publicized and easily understood with a little research or conversations directly with the cruise line of choice or the TA involved with handling the booking.

What I find unfortunate about this thread - and choice of title - is that the OP is on staff with CC. I think it conveys a misleading message to the very audience CC is trying to help.

The question I have is would you be willing to pay more if you could get the same experience you had on that 1985 cruise? I think I would, but you have a longer cruise history under your belt so I'm interested in your thoughts.

I started cruising in 1996 --- and, yes, I would be willing to pay more to cruise today to have the same sort of experience.

I think my main problem is as already stated, missing out on things I could have, thinking I couldn't. I'd really like to enjoy everything I can on our cruise, but I tend to have an inferiority complex and stop myself. I'm going to try very hard to take advantage of everything I can. But not in a nasty, entitled way.

While that may be true, those additional costs are not "hidden", or in any not disclosed to the consumer, which IMO is the typical implication with the wording of title of this thread.

 

As most responses indicate the "hidden" costs referred to are all well publicized and easily understood with a little research or conversations directly with the cruise line of choice or the TA involved with handling the booking.

 

What I find unfortunate about this thread - and choice of title - is that the OP is on staff with CC. I think it conveys a misleading message to the very audience CC is trying to help.

I think they are "hidden" in the sense that you don't know what you'll be paying for or how much you'll be paying until you get onboard, unless you do extensive research.

Respectfully disagree, sparks1093, and nothing directed to you personally. But IMO "hidden" means not revealed or disclosed and are costs that would be included on your bill without option - such as miscellaneous fees, etc.

Re-read the list - prices for excursions, alternative dining, beverage cost (packages), gratuities are all clearly published or easily determined in advance through the cruise lines or your TA and IMO do not require extensive research to determine.

The additional on board activities listed that cost extra that may not be published typically only include gambling, bingo, art auctions, spa, etc., are discretionary anyway, and would be determined on board based on individual budget and desire to participate. Others such as souvenir spending - really? Why is this even on the list??

All of the above - except for gratuities in most cases - are also optional costs, not mandatory, and certainly not "hidden".

Respectfully disagree, sparks1093, and nothing directed to you personally. But IMO "hidden" means not revealed or disclosed and are costs that would be included on your bill without option - such as miscellaneous fees, etc.

 

Re-read the list - prices for excursions, alternative dining, beverage cost (packages), gratuities are all clearly published or easily determined in advance through the cruise lines or your TA and IMO do not require extensive research to determine.

 

The additional on board activities listed that cost extra that may not be published typically only include gambling, bingo, art auctions, spa, etc., are discretionary anyway, and would be determined on board based on individual budget and desire to participate. Others such as souvenir spending - really? Why is this even on the list??

 

All of the above - except for gratuities in most cases - are also optional costs, not mandatory, and certainly not "hidden".

It all comes down to point of view and since all of those costs are only disclosed once onboard in that sense they are hidden until the passenger boards, from my point of view. Many cruise lines are using the term "all inclusive" in their advertising, if they don't use the term explicitly they use it implicitly. In any event articles such as this one are good for newbies to give them a heads up (and yes, even mentioning souvenirs is a good thing because in the excitement of taking a cruise it may be overlooked as a budget item). This has nothing to do with being mandatory or discretionary but just a heads up this is something you may need to spend money on if you choose to. (I would want to read an article such as this if I were to visit an all inclusive resort for the first time, just so I know exactly how "all inclusive" it actually is.)