"I've never cruised before - What about....?" (Part 2)

Continuing with the common objections I hear from those who have never cruised, this time I want to address 3 issues - tipping, added costs (such as the spa), and the perceived ‘busyness’ of a cruise vacation.

Tipping

Tipping is a becoming more and more controversial in various parts of life. In the US and Canada, we are used to tipping our waitresses, taxi drivers, and pizza delivery persons. We seldom even question it; the cost of the tip is built in to our expectation of the price. In other parts of the world, tipping is less common. Then again, in some you find yourself always tipping. Go to a grocery store in Cancun and you will notice a little pile of change in front of the person who bags your groceries.

So what is the balanced position on a cruise? Most cruises have an ‘automatic’ tip rate, which is either pre-paid or added on to the bill at the end. Our usual practice is to pre-pay the tips at the automatic rate, and also tip a little extra when we receive excellent service. However, I do know of people who seldom, if ever, tip on cruises, and they seem to get good service as well. My thinking is that, like dinner in a nice restaurant or transportation to the airport, tipping on a cruise is a part of the cost of the trip. This is something to be aware of before you book, or you might have an unpleasant surprise when settling up. Like many things, if it is known going in, it isn’t so bad, but if you didn’t know about it, it can be a rude end to a great vacation.

Added costs

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

The first time we cruised we were shocked at how fast the costs had added up. In particular, services at the spa were much pricier than on land. Of course, your typical spa doesn’t have to house and feed your esthetician or masseur. To some extent you are paying extra for that added level of convenience.

There are often other options though. On port days, spa costs are generally lower. Many have sought out excellent and inexpensive treatments in port, although I would strongly recommend doing your research first. My wife had the best experience at a spa on Roatan; she is still telling her friends about it 10 years later.

Many of the other costs vary widely between cruise lines and even individual fares. Our last cruise we booked a rate with unlimited internet and a drinks package. The only cost at the end of the cruise was the spa bill. Others on the very same cruise had neither ‘perk’, and had to pay hefty charges. My advice to a first time cruiser is to work with a travel agent who specializes in cruises who can help you pick the right cruise, with the right options, so there are no ugly surprises at the end.

Restful vacation versus frantic exploring

Some who have never cruised, and even some who have, feel that cruising is just too busy to be restful. To be honest - it can be. Or it can be the most restful vacation imaginable.

So much depends on what you have planned. Our most recent cruise was a 10 night cruise, with only a single day at sea. I was off the ship at every port, exploring and touring. Someone watching my vacation would conclude that this wasn’t restful at all, that it is an exhausting way to travel. But here’s the thing - that is how I like to travel. I am no different when on a land based vacation - I have to see everything, so I am constantly exploring.

I know others though, for whom the ports are almost irrelevant. They book the ship. They might go ashore briefly to do a little shopping, or walk down a beach, but otherwise they stay on their floating hotel. This type of traveler thinks I am crazy, running around all the time. On the other hand, I look at their trip and get stir crazy just thinking about it.

There is no right answer. Have the cruise vacation you want. If you want to stay on the ship, or get off in every port, do that. Or pick a few favorite ports to explore, and stay on the ship in the others.

Next time

Now that we have dealt with some of the classic objections to cruise traveling, lets get into planning your first cruise.