Cruises have long been unaffordable and were only accessible to people with significant material means. In recent decades, this is no longer the case, the cruise has become more democratic and there are many destinations accessible to all budgets. Many tour operators offer unbeatable prices to heavenly destinations such as:
Whether you want to join a short cruise or for a longer vacation, you are spoiled for choice, but beware, some services are not included in the prices advertised at the base.
When you buy a cruise from a tour operator, pay attention to the services that are included in the price. In general, are integrated:
Thus, all public entertainment is available and included in the cost of your ticket. There are also organized games, various attractions or conferences on board, the cost of which is also included in your trip. If you have children, the clubs for them are free as well as the gym open to all. On some luxury cruises, free consumption at the bar, unlimited Internet access and butler service are included in the starting price, but this is quite rare. In any case, ask the tour operator to clarify what is included in your trip and what is not before signing your contract.
Some cruises don't appear to be expensive at first, but you have to be careful because there are many additional costs that you will be asked for throughout the trip. Thus, service charges and tips for staff are at a fixed rate and are not included in your ticket. The average amount is around €10 per day. This prize is intended for butlers, waiters and stewards. Drinks are also not included on most cruises. In addition, it takes about 10% more for the tax that will be added to your bill for drinks consumed on board the ship. Satellite Internet connection is often extra and very expensive. You are charged for this access each day. You will also pay:
To avoid unpleasant surprises, find out from the start and pay these fees when purchasing your ticket. This will give you peace of mind.
The "all-inclusive" or all-inclusive package saves you from having unpleasant surprises, because it offers you to take charge of the options without exceeding the budget you have set for yourself. Thanks to it, you will be able to enjoy:
To give you a typical example of an affordable cruise, here is, for example, an eight-day cruise departing from Barcelona and for two people. First of all, if you leave Paris by plane, you can count the return flight at 320 € for 2. If your cruise leaves from Marseille, for example, you will find a cheaper plane ticket. On the ship, if you choose an inside cabin for two people, it will cost you around €600 for the week including full board. You can also add the cost of visits and monuments that you will see over the week, the price of which is around €420 for two people. So, for two and a week with a return flight from Paris to Barcelona, you will spend €1,340. Know that for the same road trip with visits every day, you would have spent more than €1,900.
If you are traveling further, such as to the Caribbean, for example, the price of the cruise will not necessarily be higher, but it is your plane ticket that will necessarily be more expensive since the departure destination is further away. If you want to save more, we advise you to monitor different tour operator sites and buy your tickets when there are promotions. You will pay much less and for the same services. Good navigation and good wind!
