Semi-All Inclusive Vacations

While many of the small cruise lines are truly all-inclusive, the main line cruise lines tend to be what I call semi-all inclusive. The larger cruise lines do include accomodations, taxes, fees, most food, and most entertainment in the bottom line. However, shore excursions, sodas, alcoholic beverages, gratuities, internet access, and spa treatments are not. Upgraded restaurants, some exercise classes, and many enrichment classes also carry an extra charge. One of these cruises costs much less than the smaller, upscale lines though. This makes them an outstanding value vacation especially if you don't really need the extras.

We have been on four of the main lines (and one now defuct line) over 17 years and have never had what I would call a bad cruise. Have they all been perfect? No, but we tend to make our own fun and go with the flow. We have faced delays into ports, a missed port, an ice cream shortage, long lines, trips to the ships doctor, and even the death of a friend while on board yet we've still been able to go home feeling refreshed. Our motto is "a bad day on a cruise is still better than a good day at work" so attitude can be everything. This is true on a land vacation as well.

Many feel that the main lines are now "nickel and diming" people to death. As I see it, since we have been paying the same and sometimes less for a cruise than the cost of our first one, I don't mind the extra charges. Why should everyone subsidize the cost of things that not everyone uses? Of course the cheapest plan would be to never leave the ship and only have the extra cost of gratuites (this is a must - the staff works very hard!), but this isn't very practical. After all, you actually will want to see the parts of the world you are visiting. When planning your vacation budget for a cruise, simply include an amount for the things that you would like to indulge in on the ship and for whatever you decide to do in the various ports. Just be careful - everything on board is charged to your cabin with the bill being paid at the end. Make sure you don't lose track of the things you have signed for. You'll feel better leaving the ship at the end of your cruise if you haven't had to take out a second mortgage to be able to get off the ship!