Last week, we discussed how cruises are priced. As Paul Harvey, the great radio commentator used to say “and now for the rest of the story!” Cruise pricing is also influenced by the type of cruise line you choose. There are 39 different cruise lines with 189 different ships ranging from Mega ships holding nearly 5,000 passengers and crew to small niche ships carrying less than 100. Each ship has a large number of categories of staterooms that can be quite confusing. There are over 5,000 different itineraries in the world. Because of the myriad of factors that come in to play, I highly recommend using a travel agent to book your cruise. Unlike booking an airline ticket where your choices are pretty straight forward such as whether you want to be at the front or back of the plane, aisle or window, cruises are much more complex. The internet is full of traps for the inexperienced or unknowing! What you see is not always what you get. An experienced agent can guide you through the maze and help ensure you have a great vacation. The cruise line compensates the agent so it generally costs you nothing to avail yourself of the expertise of the agent.
First and foremost, it is important to pick the cruise line and ship that’s right for you. That is a function of matching your personal preferences, lifestyle, budget, age and interests with a cruise line and ship where you will feel comfortable. Cruise lines and ships are a lot like hotels or cars. There are different categories that by design cater to different travelers and the price you pay will follow accordingly. They range in style from very traditional and formal with a lot of structure to very relaxed and casual with latitude on how and when you do things.
The first category is the Luxury Category. This is 5 and 6 star with exceptional service, amenities and unique identity. This would be comparable to driving a Mercedes, Lexus or Cadillac and staying in the Fairmont Four Seasons hotel. The luxury category typically has ships ranging from 300 to 750 passengers with the exception of Cunard’s Queen Mary II accommodating 2800 passengers. These ships are typically sailing longer itineraries to exotic destinations. The major luxury cruise lines are Silversea, Crystal, Regent, Cunard, Seabourn, Sea Dream Yacht Club and Windstar.
The Premium Category used to be much more defined and differentiated from the Contemporary Mass Market Category. The introduction of new amenity filled ships with enhanced dining experiences in both of these categories has virtually erased the distinction in my opinion. The premium category consists of Princess, Holland America, Celebrity, Oceania and Disney. The Contemporary Mass Market Category is made up of Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, Costa, Fred Olsen and MSC. As I indicated, when you sail on the newer ships in both of these categories it is very difficult to draw a distinction in service, quality and value. Pricing is all over the board because of competitive pressures.
The Niche Category is smaller boutique style ships accommodating fewer than 150 passengers. They sail unique itineraries and offer an experience you would simply not find on bigger ships. These are typically adventuresome, up close and personal style journeys that focus on destination and activities as opposed to the ship. Cruise lines in this category are Cruise West, Majestic America, Abercrombie and Kent, Viking River Cruises, Uniworld, Clipper and Windjammer Barefoot cruises.
Once you have selected the cruise line and ship that’s right for you, the question often asked is “what’s included in the price?”
Typically included in the price of your cruise is:
- Your accommodations on board the ship in the stateroom category you have selected.
- Most food and non alcoholic beverages while onboard the ship
Exception: some alternative restaurants have small cover charges
Coca Cola and Pepsi products that can be purchased on a weekly drink card. - Entertainment including Broadway style shows, comedians and a variety of musical performances
- Onboard activities
Typically what’s not included are:
- Gratuities which are optional and determined by you based on the quality of service you receive. (Gratuities based on the American Express Tipping Guideline of approximately $9.50 per passenger per day will be automatically added to your room charges. At the end of the cruise if you are satisfied with the service you received you need do nothing. If you are dissatisfied you can contact the Pursers Desk and reduce or eliminate the gratuities.)
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Shore excursions, shopping, etc.
A cruise is a great value when you consider all that’s included in the price in comparison to a land based vacation. Customer satisfaction with the cruise experience is among the highest in the travel industry with over 85% of first time cruisers repeating the experience within two years.
Bon Voyage!