Hidden Fees

My first cruise is in April on Carnivals Ectasy going to the bahamas, the lady said we would be charged $11 a person everyday for tips. Is there any other hidden fees i should know about so i dont get my final bill and get blown away?

I don't know about "hidden" but there are other things on the cruise that will be extra. Specialty restaurants, hard scoop ice cream, soft drinks, alcohol, shopping, casino, photos, excursions, spa, etc. are all additional fees.

A good rule of thumb is if they ask for your ship ID card then it is not free.

There is nothing "hidden". A little reading on the Carnival website, or on the Carnival board, or in any Carnival brochere if you happen to have one, would have told you this.

Here is the Carnival board for your research:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=215

As others have said they aren't really "hidden" but they can surprise a new cruiser. My 1st cruise which was $236 pp ended up costing me almost $1,500 by the time I was done with all the "extras".

You have already learned about the auto-tips. If you buy alcohol, you will be charged a tip, usually 18.5% & it will be added to your bar bill each time. The stevedores who take your luggage at the port expect to be tipped. The excursions guides expect to be tipped as do taxi drivers.

The "extras" on board include alcohol; gambling: specialty restaurnts; buying the photos they snap of you all the time; excursions; souveniers & Spa treatments. It can really add up.

Bon Voyage.

As everyone said, they are not "hidden" but can add up. We always pre-pay for our specialty dining by making the reservation before we board, same with the bottle of Bailey's we have brought to our cabin. If we are doing a cruise ship excursion (very rare, we usually do private tours) we will pre pay for that.

Our bill for a 7 days cruise is usually $1000. That is wine or corkage fees, cocktails, pictures, a couple of wine tastings for both of us, a cocktail making class for me, pictures, stuff from the shops, a little time in the casino, unlimited laundry. We now pre-fund our account with $1000 in OBC because that seems to be our standard amount. (One cruise it was just shy of $900 and a trip to the shops took care of any refund). Last cruise we got back $23.

I'd rather come home and start saving for the next cruise rather than have to pay off the one I just finished.

You want to keep your bill low...here is what you do. Only drink the free ice tea (or ask for a glass of water) and do not purchase any soft drinks or alcoholic drinks. Do not stop in the Casino to give them donations. Do not buy anything in the shops. Do not buy any photographs. Do not play BINGO. Do not dine in any alternative dining venue that has a fee. Do not pay for ice cream (you can get it for free in the dining room). Bottom line is that if its costs money just say NO. When you get to ports do not take any of the overpriced excursions. Do your port homework here on the CC Port Boards and consider doing your own thing at most ports using your feet, public transportation and shared taxis. Oh, and my pet peeve. Do not pay for bottled water (except on an island or in many foreign countries). On cruise ships the tap water is perfectly safe and usually tastes just fine.

Hank

Nothing is hidden and it's very easy to keep your bill low. With prepaying for specialty restaurants, excursions, and tips we have walked away with bills of no more than $300.

Also, if you want to check on your tab during the cruise go to guest services. Most of the Carnival ships now allow you to check your "portfolio" on the cabin TV or at a kiosk near guest services.

I agree with the suggestion to preload your account with OBC. Takes most of the shock out of the final bill.

http://luv2cruise.blogspot.com

And to avoid a surprise after you get home, leave your cellphone at home. EM

There is nothing "hidden". A little reading on the Carnival website, or on the Carnival board, or in any Carnival brochere if you happen to have one, would have told you this.

 

Here is the Carnival board for your research:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=215

I get so amazed when I realize that many people going on their first cruise don't seem to have read up on the FAQs that are on the cruise line's website. Before my first cruise in 1994 (and before I really had access to the Internet), I read the booklet that Carnival sent us with the cruise docs. My hubby (then bf) had been on his first cruise before meeting me, but he also read the booklet, just in case things had changed in the year and a half since his previous cruise. And before every cruise, I still read the current FAQs and "cruise answer book" online.

And for my first cruise, I still remember us taking out bills and figuring out how much cash to put in each of the tipping envelopes. So much easier to have the tips automatically put on our account. Now we just have to figure out any extra tips we want to pass out and which crew members to fill out "make a difference" cards for.

Anytme you are asked to produce your ship's ID card when you consume/use something, there will be a charge added to your shipboard account.

There is no reason you should be surprised by a 'shocking bill' unless you do not keep track of your activities. If you read your cruise line website, all of the included items are indicated and you can deduce (or ask us here on the forums) about specific items that may bear an additional charge.

Keep track of what you are spending so you won't have an unpleasant end of cruise surprise.

I think it also costs money to park and leave your car at the port. Maybe 15.00 or 20.00 a day.

I think it also costs money to park and leave your car at the port. Maybe 15.00 or 20.00 a day.

Depends on the port. It's $12/day to park at the Port of Los Angeles.

Don't over pack! If you need help with your bags when you get off the ship, you will need to tip.

Are you flying or driving? If flying, not only is there a charge to park at the airport, it may also cost you to get to port.

Make sure you bing back the beach towel. If you take it ashore and don't bring it back, there will be a charge.

If you bring on wine and take it to the dining room, they will charge you to open and serve it. You can only keep it in your room at no charge.

And to avoid a surprise after you get home, leave your cellphone at home. EM

Yes those cell phone talk and data bills can pile up fast at sea. I put mine on airplane mode, turn it off, take the battery out, and leave it in the safe all week unless I need it in port or an emergency. Yes, I am paranoid about it, how could you tell?? :D

On our last cruise I heard our next door neighbor on his balcony talking on cell phone on several occassions for long periods of time. I hope his business or someone was picking that bill up, or he got a shock.