Free drinks packages? Don’t get caught out by marketing speak

Free drinks packages are constantly part of the discussion when I talk to people looking to cruise.

Sadly, many people are caught up in all the marketing speak of the cruise lines and genuinely believe they are actually getting a “drinks package” for free. What do you think?

Well, I hate to disillusion you but you’re not really getting anything for free. The cost of a drinks option is a very carefully calculated extra that is seen as a great extra profit earner for the cruise lines.

Think it through. How could a cruise line possibly give you drinks for free. They are paid for somewhere along the line and you are the one picking up the cost.

Cruising has always been regarded as the best value all-inclusive holiday when compared to traditional package holidays but, alas, the “all-inclusive” tag is, with some cruise lines nothing of the sort. Most mainstream lines have the customer believing all inclusive. Perhaps “more-inclusive” would be better for these lines.

Cruise line-organised shore tours, spa treatments, casino gambling, cocktails drinks, and Internet access have long been well-established extras.

I have heard from many clients over the years who have told me their initial cruise purchase cost was eclipsed by their extras bill at the end of the cruise.

This proved that if you’re not careful, you too could spend your cruise fare again on all those extras as many of my clients have.

In fact, I would go as far as saying that some years ago, the majority of items were included in the cost you paid at the outset. Now, you could say that the list of extras far exceeds the included elements.

I have even been told that tours of the ship’s bridge, kitchens and galley, at one time free, are now chargeable items.

Typically, your cruise cost would not include many of the following:

Dining at Speciality Restaurants

Excursions ashore

Spa and Beauty Salon services

Gambling (including bingo)

Photographs

Art Auctions

Laundry and Dry Cleaning Services

Golf Simulators

Alcoholic Beverages

Non-Alcoholic Beverages (excluding water, lemonade and iced tea).

Actually, the list of optional extras could be significantly longer than this.

Naturally, not all of these items are obligatory and you need to choose what you really want.

Nevertheless, the problem here is really quite simple.

Customers choosing some cruise lines above are obsessed with getting a “deal” and the cruise lines, pandering to this, artificially lower prices, offering hope of a saving, but cruising costs, and they cannot get prices below a price that’s commercially sensible without something giving. They pay their staff less and less and expect them to make up the loss of income on tips. But, bargain hunters can be very mean and often will not tip either. Ultimately everyone loses out.

Also, dropping the prices means a drop in standards and one or two cruise lines I am hearing more and more now of standards getting poorer each year. At some time, the bubble will burst and pricing will inevitably return to more sensible levels.

We all want exceptional value-for-money so, the answer then is crystal clear. If booking any cruise, simply go for the elements of the trip that you HAVE paid for and forget the optional extras.

Or, if you are really wanting the best, and ARE prepared to pay for it, because it will mean a life enriching travel experience you’ll never forget, then opt for Silversea Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Oceania, Seabourn or Crystal Cruises.

As always, I can be reached on my direct line 0330 303 8397 or by email [email protected] when you are planning a trip.