CRUISE TIPS – THE SOLUTION

In my final part on cruise tips – see the last two weeks blogs, Cruise Tips – The Problem (2nd Feb), followed by Cruise Tips – the Reality (9th Feb) – I now would like to discuss Cruise Tips – The Solution…   and there is one, of course.

Many cruise lines over the years have introduced compulsory gratuities, and for good reason. As prices of cruise holidays have fallen dramatically, allowing many more people to take this type of holiday, when they might not otherwise have been able to afford to do so, this has inevitably attracted people to cruise who are on very strict budgets.

People do like to know where they stand when they book a holiday, and so budgeting is quite vital and especially if you are cruising with family. You really do need to know the cost is not going to run away, once you’re on board the cruise.

With this in mind cruise lines have now, almost across-the-board, introduced compulsory gratuities. Well, I say compulsory but actually, towards the end of your cruise you could, if you were very brave, challenge the amount that’s been added on to your bill to cover the gratuities.

As I said in last week’s blog, optional gratuities are actually nothing of the sort. They really are expected, and why not? The crew work jolly hard to give you, and me, a very memorable cruise experience…    you could even call it “red carpet” treatment.

So, what’s the solution?

Two answers here. If you really are on a strict budget, and there’s nothing wrong with that, then look at our chart on our website http://www.cruise.co.uk/guides/cruise-information-gratuities/ and check out, before you travel, just what is expected for all the major cruise lines, when it comes to the paying of gratuities, so you’re not in for a shock.

For those who really do expect the very best that money can buy, and are prepared to pay for it, then talk to me direct on 0330 303 8397 and I’ll share with you many of my first hand experiences of cruising on board many of the world’s finest cruise ships.

The modern term for these is ultra luxury and I have personally cruised on many of them eg. Silversea, Seabourn, Crystal and Regent Seven Seas. On these, gratuities are simply not an issue. These cruise lines include them within the cruise price. Onboard gratuities are not expected, and it is the pleasure of those serving you, to do so, with a smile. This makes for a very different type of cruise holiday.

Meeting new people becomes a pleasure when almost all the things that you might expect to be extras on board other cruise ships eg. fine wines and spirits, exceptional service that goes above and beyond expectations – are, in fact, often all included.

Remember, there’s always a choice and I’m here to guide you through the minefield.