There is one vacation you can plan with little or no hassle and that is a cruise. It has everything you will need for your vacation. It includes your room, food (all day and night) and entertainment.
According to them, the only thing you have to purchase outside of your cruise will be your airfare and transportation, to and from the port.
During your cruise, they tell you that you will enjoy yourself immensely and there is something for everyone in your family.
The sun, the pool, activities and of course the different ports you will visit. You will also have the opportunity of going on excursions at the different ports. You will be in heaven, not a care in the world and that is exactly what the cruise lines want for you.
What the cruise lines offer you is the dream vacation. The one you will never forget. But just like the airlines, cruise lines have secrets too. There are a lot of things they won’t tell you. The purpose, to make sure you book that cruise. One thing is for sure, they will do all they can to get you on the cruise and give you the time of your life but that doesn’t always happen.
SERVICE
One thing you can expect, while you’re on your cruise, is that the service will not match the cruise ship. The ship itself may be extravagant or fancy but not the service. Due to the economy, they have had to cut back on the staff due to high cost of fuel, food and labor. So while on your vacation, have patience, it’s not the staff’s fault if they are running behind.
A LITTLE EXTRA MONEY
If you have been on a cruise, when you are going to a particular port, they give you store maps. You will only find certain stores and that’s because they paid a fee to be on these maps. Also, another way the cruise line makes a bit of money is off of excursions. This is their big moneymaker. You can save by just avoiding these excursions and going out on your own. Save a few extra dollars for souvenirs.
ALL INCLUSIVE
According to certain sources, everything isn’t included. You get most of your food, some entertainment and of course coffee. If you enjoy having a few drinks, make sure to take extra money. Check out their drink specials. Spa services are not included or pictures that they take while you’re on the cruise. Also, save some money for tips, all restaurants charge a fixed gratuity.
HEALTH HAZARD
While you are on the cruise, you are around a lot of people, eating in the same area, breathing the same air and basically sharing small spaces. In 2002, three cruise lines had hundreds of passengers that became ill with norovirus. There was an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness in fifteen cruise ships in 2009. While on the cruise, make sure to wash your hands with soap and water often. Also, the CDC will post any recent outbreaks. Check that website out before you go on your cruise.