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What hidden cost are in cruise line?

Travel Info
We are going to Cozumel via ecstasy, on the
Western Caribbean 5 Day trip out of Galveston, Texas. What are some hidden costs? I heard they charge you $10.00 a day for gratuity!! What other hidden things are there? Do you have a way to sneak liquor on board? Any tips or suggestions? How much is a beer or other drinks? Where you on ecstasy or another ship?

Travel Tips

I was on that exact cruise 2 years ago. There really arent hidden charges. There is the gratuity that everyone talks about. It is well justified, as the staff does an excellent job. Dont bother buying the picutures that the staff takes of you. Just avoid.

Not only do you have to pose for thier pictures, but then you have to look for your pictures among 1000's posted on the wall, in order to pay an outrageous amount of money for each one. Instead, pack your own camera and take the shot YOU want.

The Excursions cost extra, but they are worth it. Me and my buddy did the Catamaran, sail, snorkel and private beach in Cozumel. It was awesome, all the drinks from when we stepped on the boat at 9 am till we left the private beach were all included in the cost of the excursion. It was so great, I dont remember it!! LOL j/k. I would recommend that excurtion though. very fun.

As for drinks. They werent too strict on the Ecstasy. Me and my buddy put vodka in 7 up bottles in our luggage. Just rap your clothes around your bottles and put them in the middle of your checked bag. We even had a bottle or two in our carry on backpacks, and they never even knew it.

The ecstasy, last time i was on it, had all you wanted to drink as for lemonade and juices (perfect for mixers). So we took our 7 up bottles with us whenever we were on deck. Grabbed a cup, put some juice in it or lemonade, and poured our (7 up) into the cup. Believe me, it was very inexpensive. Then we would take our buzz into the club at night and buy a few drinks, which range from 4 -5 bucks each. So it wasnt too bad.

Hope this helps. Source(s): Cruised on Ecstasy for a 5 day cruise out of Galveston in 05. Leaving on the Carnival Libety in 14 days!!!

Other Travel Tips
There really are no hidden charges on a ship, it is just the things that are not included. Your tips can be pre-paid before you get onboard if you want to get it out of the way, it is the easiest way to go.

Your shore excursions, drinks, any sur-charge restaurants, spa treatments, shopping, etc. is all extra costs. You basically have paid for your cruise, your room, your main food (except for any restaurants or food you choose to pay extra for) and your taxes and fees for the cruise. Most else is extra. But, there is plenty of entertainment, shows, etc. that are included.

Drinks can range from about $2 for soda, to around $12 for mixed drinks. Beer is around $4, wine can vary quite a bit, etc.

I have been on the Ecstasy, but it has been some time now since I was last on there. It is an older ship, but it appears that they are keeping it up pretty good.

I've included a link to Cruise Critic on your ship that will give you a ton of reveiws and more info to help you with your planning.

Have a great time!
http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/revi...
The cruise line says each person can bring a bottle or two; however, they never checked my luggage so I'm thinking you could bring a few more.

- Gratuities are supposedly already paid, but they will leave envelopes in your room at the end of the cruise to try and get you to tip more. Its a guilt-trip thing because the staff takes great care of your room and you feel bad if you leave them nothing. Although that is exactly what I left them!

- Alcohol is cheaper if you buy their drink of the day bottle and keep getting it refilled. The problem is, you won't feel like carrying this bottle everywhere you go, so you end up buying more.

- They are constantly taking professional photos all around the ship that will cost you a lot of money to purchase. Who can resist a good picture of themself. Plan on spending at least $100.00 on these. We spent $350.00!!! The photopraphers great.

- Shore excursions will run you $70.00 to $150.00 per person, per excursion. Some ports really do not have anything else to do and you will want to go on some of these. They are a lot of fun, but pricey.

- You will have a head waiter in the dining room that takes care of you at every meal. They will take excellent care of you and remember everyone's name. You get the same wait staff every night. You will want to tip them at the end of your trip because they are so good. We tipped $100.00 for my family of 4.

- The best advice I can give you is to go, have fun, do everything you feel like doing, and don't pinch pennies. You are on vacation so let go and enjoy it. You will make it up when you get home one way or another. We always do!
The Ecstacy is one of 8 - yes 8 - identical ships that Carnival built in the mid 1990s. Her sister ships are the Fantasy, Sensation, Fascination, Imagination, Inspiration, Elation and Paradise. They are all in the mid-to-large category at 70,000+ tons and carrying 2000+ passengers. Although they all have absolutely identical deck plans, the interior decor varies from ship to ship. However, if you've been on one of them, you'll feel like you know all of them well, and are home on any of them!

I took my whole family on the Imagination last year - 8 cabins - it was their yearly presents all rolled-up into one. We went out of Tampa for 5 nights and had a great cruise.

The Imagination was very well taken care of - nothing seemed to be wearing out or in need of replacement. She only has about 20 cabins with balconys, and those are only in the suites, but even with her age, we found nothing lacking. The buffet gets crowded, but other than that I had no complaints. The food was OK - not great. The entertainment was the best of any ship I have been on - and we cruise at least twice a year, so that's a big endorsement. The bars and night clubs were a lot of fun - especially those on the Promenade Deck.

Your options for your day in Cozumel are almost endless - there are about 60 shore excursions that are offered by Carnival - I have copied the link for you, below. Or you can just stroll the main shopping area downtown along the waterfront for some excellent bargans. I got a beautiful pair of cowboy boots. They were marked $480 - I got them for $100 after "negotiating" with the shop owner. Lots of fun.

By the way, you may not know that Carnival has the largest standard cabins of any cruise line - 185 sq. ft. compared to 155 - 175 on others.

With regard to bringing your own liquor on board, some of my clients tell me that they put vodka, gin, or other clear liquor into empty water bottles and pack it in their luggage. They use empty Coke bottles for dark liquors. None of them have ever told me that they've had any problems. Good luck.

As far as what's included and what's not included in your cruise price, here's a little guide:

- Included - Ship accommodations, ocean transportation, most meals, coffee/tea/juices, most entertainment, and port taxes.

- Not Included - Any item of a personal nature including but not limited to: alcoholic beverages, (beer $4.00 & up, mixed drinks $5,50 and up - Carnival always has the "drink-of-the-day" at a discounted price!), spa and salon treatments, specialty coffees, shore excursions, gratuities, air transportation, transfers, photographs, medical services,

Carnival delivered what it promised and we enjoyed our cruise, and I hope you do too!

Bon voyage!
I am a Certified Cruise Consultant Specialist and very frequent cruiser.

http://www.carnival.com/shoreexcursionss...