4 ms·

I had no idea cruises were so cheap. Wow - it is literally cheaper than rent alone to live on a cruise ship.

by cm2012 13y ago

jlongster 13y ago
Well, only if you compare SF prices :)
jcdavis 13y ago
These are particularly cheap because they are 1) Per person for a 2 person room 2) extremely last minute (< 30 days out).
r00fus 13y ago
Remember, these prices are per-person. A room assumes 2-person occupancy.
larrys 13y ago
Cruises can be a real bargain for sure. Plus the boat takes you around to different ports. There are "at sea" days and days when you arrive somewhere, get off the ship, walk around, return that evening. Personally it can be tiring and a typical cruise might have 4 days where you arrive in different places and 3 days when you are just sailing. Some people would like to be in a different place every day. Some people prefer more at sea days. But no big deal it's still nice (you don't have to get off the ship but you sort of feel you should or you would miss something). The only added expense would be for liquor typically on some cruise lines and almost always what is known as "shore excursions". Like if you wanted to snorkle, rent a jetski or something like that. As long as the weather is good and the cruise line isn't bottom end it's a good experience I've found. The inside cabins are the cheapest it gets more expensive if you want a veranda (balcony) or ourside (with a porthole) but the inside cabins are ok. After all you don't spend much time in the cabin you are on the ship at the pool or the rock climbing wall etc and you get to take advantage of the same things that anyone can. Other added expenses might be internet access or if you want to eat in a fancy restaurant one night (you don't have to the "regular" food is quite good. And it's always available (you can get food at any hour and it's typically free at least on any cruise I have been on). Since you had no idea you might want to take a cruise, blog about it, and maybe you can figure out a way to help the cruise lines with marketing toward the age group that has never cruised. (I'm serious about that it could be a business opportunity..)
Avalaxy 13y ago
Well, there's more besides the 'rooms are 2p'. It doesn't include food for example... You have to buy that, and it can be pretty expensive because the restaurants on the boat have a monopoly. The other thing is that cruise ships usually have mandatory gratuities that can be pretty expensive.
- letney 13y ago
  No. Every US based cruise I've ever been on or heard about has free meals. Its common to hear people talk about gaining 10 lbs on a cruise because they ate so much.
  - Avalaxy 13y ago
    Seriously? On European cruises (at least the ones I've been with) the food cost money (and lots of it).
    - letney 13y ago
      Yes. At the sit down dinners I often couldn't decide on an entree -- so I would just order both. Drinks (including soda, coffee, and of course alcohol) are very much not free though. You are also not allowed to bring any alcohol on board. Some cruises have begun charging "charging extra for new premium amenities such as fancy alternative restaurants" [1] -- but the run of the mill buffets are all you can eat and free. [1] http://www.aarp.org/travel/cruises/info-08-2012/cruise-ships-food-excursions.html http://www.aarp.org/travel/cruises/info-08-2012/cruise-ships...
was_hellbanned 13y ago
I know nothing about this site, but I went on a cruise with some friends several years back. The cruise itself was, by far, the least expensive part of the entire trip. Flying to Miami was probably the greatest expense. If you do the cruise the way the cruise company wants you to, you'll be blowing money in the casino and (especially) on alcohol. The group I was with was composed of particularly ingenious tightwads, so we found out exactly how much water you're allowed to bring (2L per person, or something similar), bought appropriate water bottles, filled them with vodka from Costco, and each took our allowed bottle of wine. In general, I found the whole thing to be fairly dull, since I don't care for gambling or hanging out at the pool, but it was relaxing, and a great way to get a quick view of several areas in a short time. In my case, we hit Key West, somewhere else I forget, and Cozumel.

I had no idea cruises were so cheap. Wow - it is literally cheaper than rent alone to live on a cruise ship.

by cm2012 13y ago

I had no idea cruises were so cheap. Wow - it is literally cheaper than rent alone to live on a cruise ship.

jlongster 13y ago

Well, only if you compare SF prices :)

jcdavis 13y ago

These are particularly cheap because they are 1) Per person for a 2 person room 2) extremely last minute (< 30 days out).

r00fus 13y ago

Remember, these prices are per-person. A room assumes 2-person occupancy.

larrys 13y ago

Cruises can be a real bargain for sure. Plus the boat takes you around to different ports. There are "at sea" days and days when you arrive somewhere, get off the ship, walk around, return that evening. Personally it can be tiring and a typical cruise might have 4 days where you arrive in different places and 3 days when you are just sailing. Some people would like to be in a different place every day. Some people prefer more at sea days. But no big deal it's still nice (you don't have to get off the ship but you sort of feel you should or you would miss something). The only added expense would be for liquor typically on some cruise lines and almost always what is known as "shore excursions". Like if you wanted to snorkle, rent a jetski or something like that. As long as the weather is good and the cruise line isn't bottom end it's a good experience I've found. The inside cabins are the cheapest it gets more expensive if you want a veranda (balcony) or ourside (with a porthole) but the inside cabins are ok. After all you don't spend much time in the cabin you are on the ship at the pool or the rock climbing wall etc and you get to take advantage of the same things that anyone can. Other added expenses might be internet access or if you want to eat in a fancy restaurant one night (you don't have to the "regular" food is quite good. And it's always available (you can get food at any hour and it's typically free at least on any cruise I have been on). Since you had no idea you might want to take a cruise, blog about it, and maybe you can figure out a way to help the cruise lines with marketing toward the age group that has never cruised. (I'm serious about that it could be a business opportunity..)

Avalaxy 13y ago

Well, there's more besides the 'rooms are 2p'. It doesn't include food for example... You have to buy that, and it can be pretty expensive because the restaurants on the boat have a monopoly. The other thing is that cruise ships usually have mandatory gratuities that can be pretty expensive.

letney 13y ago
No. Every US based cruise I've ever been on or heard about has free meals. Its common to hear people talk about gaining 10 lbs on a cruise because they ate so much.
- Avalaxy 13y ago
  Seriously? On European cruises (at least the ones I've been with) the food cost money (and lots of it).
  - letney 13y ago
    Yes. At the sit down dinners I often couldn't decide on an entree -- so I would just order both. Drinks (including soda, coffee, and of course alcohol) are very much not free though. You are also not allowed to bring any alcohol on board. Some cruises have begun charging "charging extra for new premium amenities such as fancy alternative restaurants" [1] -- but the run of the mill buffets are all you can eat and free. [1] http://www.aarp.org/travel/cruises/info-08-2012/cruise-ships-food-excursions.html http://www.aarp.org/travel/cruises/info-08-2012/cruise-ships...

was_hellbanned 13y ago

I know nothing about this site, but I went on a cruise with some friends several years back. The cruise itself was, by far, the least expensive part of the entire trip. Flying to Miami was probably the greatest expense. If you do the cruise the way the cruise company wants you to, you'll be blowing money in the casino and (especially) on alcohol. The group I was with was composed of particularly ingenious tightwads, so we found out exactly how much water you're allowed to bring (2L per person, or something similar), bought appropriate water bottles, filled them with vodka from Costco, and each took our allowed bottle of wine. In general, I found the whole thing to be fairly dull, since I don't care for gambling or hanging out at the pool, but it was relaxing, and a great way to get a quick view of several areas in a short time. In my case, we hit Key West, somewhere else I forget, and Cozumel.