Joined: 19 Nov 2004
Posts: 1568
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Many cruise lines offer guaranteed cabins, this just means a cabin of your booked grade or better. These could be on any deck or in any position on the ship.
If you want a particular cabin & position then make sure you book a cabin by number, you will not get any up-grade that is going, but you will normally get the cabin you have booked.
Some cruise lines will only offer guaranteed cabins to you, mostly early booking by US cruise lines.
All cruise lines use an onboard personal card which you use to pay for all purchases, you settle at end of cruise either by cash or (best) credit card which must be registered beforehand.
The modern way of tipping staff is by adding a set amount to your daily room charge, or by including tips in cruise price. Be aware that this could add up to £280 to a two-week cruise, up to time of writing this could sometimes be adjusted or stopped at reception. You can also give tips to any staff on top of those taken. These tips are shared between all crew except bar, shops, entertainment & casino who are paid fixed rates or have had fixed tips added. (Service charge).
Ships tours are expensive, so select the ones you want to do carefully, ballpark standard is if a tour is over five hours long, then doing it by taxi or local transport is not a good option. The shorter tours (morning/afternoon) can usually be done cheaper & in more comfort by taxi. Do bear in mind that a ship tour will normally have a very knowledgeable local guide, who gives you great detail about what you are about to see, and sometimes proves to be real value for money, for me these are historical sites.
Again some cruise lines will let you add a few days before of after a cruise at home ports, while you will pay for hotels no charge is made for change of flights. This obviously is subject to them being able to get a new flight for you.
Transatlantic or re-positioning cruises are good value if you just want to chill out, and do involve many ‘sea days'
Cheapest cruises are early December and late January.
Holiday Watchdog has many members who have cruised so if you have any questions about cruising or ports you visit, then ask away, but do pop-in from time to time to the site as answers maybe slow coming, or I maybe away doing what I love best,
CRUISING
Cruising is like being in the Garden Of Eating.
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Cabins, Tips, Tours ect.
