One of the great things you can get as a bargain before you set foot inside your Cruise ship are the number of inclusions i.e accommodation, meals and other entertainment that is covered within your fare. So with the exception of a few Luxury liners most Cruise lines charge extra for drinks, gratuities and shore excursions, so it is in your interest to get it included in your fare.
Cruisers can opt to buy these items onboard along with Spa passes before they set sail since Cruise liners are more likely to offer discounts when cruise values are brought before the voyage and ultimately you are the recipient of a well-earned cruise with a good idea of your vacation is gonna be.
From extra fee options such as excursion and roller coaster rides to special dinning packages at specialty restaurants, these are values that Cruisers should most likely buy.
Pre paid Gratuities : While most Cruisers are appreciative of crew from cabin stewards to restaurant servers, and are quite happy to show it by paying it as most Cruise lines refer it to as appreciation fees, so you have one less to pay when you come aboard. Another reason is that you lock in the price since Cruise lines regularly access their onboard service fees and occasionally increase them.
Stay hydrated with bottled water package : if you are travelling to the Caribbean or the Mediterranean or to any other warm-weather destinations, where you would be engaging in out-door excursions such as kayaking or hiking, then make sure you are adequately hydrated and a bottled water package will keep you fortified.
Pre-purchased Coffee package : If you are an avid Coffee drinker and your daily caffeine fix is necessary then investing in a pre-purchased package that offers premium brand coffee is vital. So while some Cruise lines offer standalone coffee packages or include premium within the other drink packages, there are others that do not include premium coffee labels in their drink packages.
Pre-purchase shore excursions on specific cruise tours : If you plan on going on shore excursion also known as Cruise line sponsored tours, then it makes sense to pre-purchase them to avoid any disappointment or hassles later, since on peak travel season and on popular itineraries they are most likely to sell out, and you may have to re-organize your tour again. You can check on reviews from some cruise lines to get an idea of what to expect on shore excursion trips.
Wi-fi package to stay connected : If you also need to check on your business and office mails briefly while vacationing, it would make sense to include wi-fi on vacation. Since Cruise lines wi-fi packages differ from line to line and although now most liners offer Starlink technology it would be wise to include pre-purchased wi-fi in your fare since it will save you time and money onboard.
Specialty Restaurants : Pre-purchase from various gourmet food avenues with deals from specialty restaurants of your choice, and therefore lock in your price and your dining time. The choices range from Mexican, Italian, French, Japanese and even barbecue style cuisines presented by cruise line specialty restaurants with some offering specialty dining package combining multiple venues such as Royal Caribbean’s three-restaurant package an Ultimate dining Package, and some cruises like the MSC Cruises offer discounts for specialty packages booked in advance.
Indulge in Onboard Activities not included in the program : There are also onboard programs offered by Cruises on first come basis ranging from games to wine tasting and culinary experiences to thrilling rides. You can buy Fun Passes on cruises such as the MSC cruises which cover bowling and dodgems activities and these differ among cruise lines depending on destination and duration of the cruise, and special discounts of up to 20% are offered with additional perks for purchasing pre-cruise.
There are other cruise lines that offer ‘Behind the Scenes ‘ tours that give passengers a peek into the crew-only spaces which includes laundry, provisioning areas, engine control room and even the ship’s navigational bridge, so be sure to include them into your pre-paid plans to have an amazing hassles free experience.
If you are figuring out which pre-paid packages to buy or what to purchase once you get on board, join the conversation on the Cruise message boards for convenient tips from fellow cruise travelers.
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