for those who booked cruises

[T2urtle]

This is my first time booking a cruise. I'm on orbitz.com and booking the Norwegian Sky in may.

I was looking around and i've heard about dock charges when you board the boat of prices in the area of $100-150. Maybe this was in the older days and it doesn't apply anymore.
I thought everything would be covered. But i'm not too sure, adding $150 on top per person is going to cramp thing up.

This seems like a popular cruise line thru a popular site so i was hoping on of the AT members here have already done in the past to let me know of the hidden fees.

sidenote i did see small stuff like
"17. Norwegian Cruise Line will add a $12 per guest/per day service charge to your onboard account. These charges will be applicable to all guests ages 3 and over."


I really just want a BOTTOM LINE dead set price. Rather then tell me $900 for cruise, $15 per day for this, $3 for this and that, which are automatic. Obviously i dont expect phone,TV and special events to be free but give me a bottom line price if i was to decline all activities.


This is all i see, i looked thru the terms and etc. I didn't see a mention of dock fees.

Summary of Charges:

Cruise Total: $698.00

Airfare: Declined

Taxes: $186.46

Processing Fee: $24.99

Insurance: $78.00 Remove Insurance


Total Cost: $987.45

Please Note: Any insurance policy is not in effect until full payment of the insurance premium is received.

 

[bobdole369]

There are also "tipping" which is essentially mandatory. You can "pre-tip" and pay now. Else your cabin attendant, waitstaff, etc will remember you and slaughter you during that last day at sea.

Often they've been adding a "fuel surcharge".

I didn't pay "dock charge" if I did it was included in the cruise price. For a 3 day BS bahamas/key west during hurricane season it was under $750 for my wife and myself on RCI.

 

[Slick5150]

For those WHO booked cruises

Grammar nazi, ahoy!

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

No advice for grammar failures.

 

[T2urtle]

lol, you guys are horrible!

i didn't see anything related to a fuel charge as of yet, will keep looking.

thanks for the heads up on the tipping, me and the other couple going are pretty good "tippers"

 

[rcpratt]

For those who misuse whom...

edit: Gah, beaten.

 

[blackdogdeek]

lol, you guys are horrible!

i didn't see anything related to a fuel charge as of yet, will keep looking.

thanks for the heads up on the tipping, me and the other couple going are pretty good "tippers"

onboard you will be presented with the tipping guidelines which will include your waiter, the headwaiter, the maitre'd, and the room attendant. you will be surprised by the amounts.

 

[GoSharks]

You won't typically pay anything more than what they charge you at the time of booking/final payment plus about $11-12/day per person for tips.

Only thing you need to keep any eye out for is the fuel surcharge, typically they have a set max price per barrel, and if the market exceeds that, the lines have the OPTION to add on a surcharge.

 

[T2urtle]

^ thanks.

the GF said she saw it somewhere on orbitz thats its covered. Hopefully no fuel surcharges, i would expect it tho.

Anyone personal reviews on Norwegian Sky or their whole line in general? I've been reading reviews on this cruise critic site, its seems hit or miss pending on the crew members you get. One thing that seems to show up a lot is the HORRIBLE bed material.

 

[nace186]

Have you try local travel agent? I booked a cruise through them and they gave me the cheapest price compare to online one.

 

[Raizinman]

We were upset when we found out that many of the finer restaurants in the ship were pay to eat. Likewise, tipping is almost mandatory. Don't forget excursions that are very expensive. They also try and hit you up for photographs before you even get on the ship. Gambling, on ship stores, drinks, and other things will also run up your bill.

Cruises are at an all time low. I'm not sure how long you are going or where you are going, but as a general rule, $50 to $60 per day for a cruise is a great deal. $100 to $120 per day is pretty normal. Also suggest that you surf the cruise web sites. You can find answers about cell phones, sea sickness, best cabins, upgrades, and other things. Too much info for me to put here. Have a good time always go for the early dinner seating. That allows you the ability to enjoy the midnight buffet!!

 

[FallenHero]

We were upset when we found out that many of the finer restaurants in the ship were pay to eat. Likewise, tipping is almost mandatory. Don't forget excursions that are very expensive. They also try and hit you up for photographs before you even get on the ship. Gambling, on ship stores, drinks, and other things will also run up your bill.

Cruises are at an all time low. I'm not sure how long you are going or where you are going, but as a general rule, $50 to $60 per day for a cruise is a great deal. $100 to $120 per day is pretty normal. Also suggest that you surf the cruise web sites. You can find answers about cell phones, sea sickness, best cabins, upgrades, and other things. Too much info for me to put here. Have a good time always go for the early dinner seating. That allows you the ability to enjoy the midnight buffet!!

Listen to this man.

Been on 4 cruises. Your booking costs basically pay for you to get on the ship and eat like a pig plus enjoy 95% of the shows/entertainment provided. Booze always costs more...its where they make their money actually. You want to save in that department, always get a mixed drink. Knock you on your ass with 1 or 2.

Generally, when I get on the ship, I bring 500 for gambling + 500 for additional expenses I might occur along the way. I never spend that much, but just budgeting for it makes a difference to me so I am not worried about expenses while I'm cruising.

 

[edro]

The tip thing is stupid. Just pay your workers a decent wage so your customers don't have to worry about it.

$10/day in tips for cleaning my room and making me a towel monkey? No thanks.
It is free at any other hotel. I don't leave $10 at Holiday Inn when I leave.

If you drink booze, pack it in your checked baggage. Beers are ~$8 and mixed drinks are ~$10.

 

[Lean L]

My god people... It's not that hard to learn the difference between who and whom... Did the title honestly sound right at all?

 

[bobdole369]

The tip thing is stupid. Just pay your workers a decent wage so your customers don't have to worry about it.

$10/day in tips for cleaning my room and making me a towel monkey? No thanks.
It is free at any other hotel. I don't leave $10 at Holiday Inn when I leave.

If you drink booze, pack it in your checked baggage. Beers are ~$8 and mixed drinks are ~$10.

Oh it really is that too. For some reason these folks absolutely rely on your $50 at the end of the cruise. THey make damn sure to slit ur throat if you aren't going to tip.

 

[richardycc]

there are port fees that you paid upfront, also the service charge at $12/day. If you are looking for an all inclusive vacation, cruise is not for you. I always get a bill of over $1000-$2000 at the end of my cruise from my on board charges.

 

[GoSharks]

The tip thing is stupid. Just pay your workers a decent wage so your customers don't have to worry about it.

$10/day in tips for cleaning my room and making me a towel monkey? No thanks.
It is free at any other hotel. I don't leave $10 at Holiday Inn when I leave.

Many cruise lines automatically put it onto your account at the end of the cruise. You don't actually have to "worry" about it in that way.

The $10 or whatever it is doesn't just go to your cabin steward, it goes to your waiters too. It actually isn't too much, considering how many times you will be getting attention during the day. You're paying less in tip than if you were to go to a restaurant on land for all of your meals.

 

[blackdogdeek]

pro tip 1:

if the dining room isn't fully packed, you might be able to get more than one appetizer and more than one entree and more than one dessert during your dinner seating. and it doesn't hurt to ask your waiter even if the dining room is fully packed.

pro tip 2:

not sure about norwegian but on royal caribbean the foods represented at the dinner seating were also available at the buffet dining area so we would sample them before dinner and then know what we wanted during our seating in the dining room.

 

[tk149]

pro tip 1:

if the dining room isn't fully packed, you might be able to get more than one appetizer and more than one entree and more than one dessert during your dinner seating. and it doesn't hurt to ask your waiter even if the dining room is fully packed.

I never had a problem getting extra food on either Carnival or Royal Carribean or (the now defunct ) Renaissance Cruises during the scheduled dinnertime. But it's been a few years.

 

[GoSharks]

pro tip 1:

if the dining room isn't fully packed, you might be able to get more than one appetizer and more than one entree and more than one dessert during your dinner seating. and it doesn't hurt to ask your waiter even if the dining room is fully packed.

"might???? ----> Always.

 

[blackdogdeek]

"might???? ----> Always.

first time cruisers might not realize this. in fact, we never even thought of it until after a few cruises ourselves.

of course, after gorging ourselves at the buffet area an hour prior to hour dinner seating, we really didn't feel like ordering more food.

 

[chalmers]

Wow, I went on the Norwegian Sky in September of 2009 for 4 nights and the total cost after booking and fees was like $225ish. Why is yours so expensive?