First timer has some questions

Hello All

Ok so my fiancé and I want to go on a short cruise for our honey moon and had a few questions.

I see that several places offer 3 day cruises. We will be leaving out of Orlando and going back to Orlando. While we have not decided what cruise ship to use yet we have some very basic questions

For two of us in a standard room we are looking at $850 with tax.

I saw that a lot of places on the ships for food that it is included. And it lists the ones that are not. So is it safe to say we can eat all our meals for free? Drinks that are not acoholic as well?

I guess what we are trying to figure out since only part of our honeymoon will be the cruise. If we eat our breakfast lunch and dinner at the free places (even saw most have a free buffet). And see the shows that are no extra charge. What type of other things would we need to bring money for or should we expect to spend on since we wont drink adult beverages and we have no plans to gamble?

Thanks in advance.

Jim

Yes, you can eat all your meals for free.

Drinks can vary by line, but will include coffee, tea, water, some juices at breakfast, probably iced tea and lemonade (questionable quality with some lines).

You will need to budget gratuities, most lines add about $13 pp pd to your account to cover these.

I’ve been on cruises and spent nothing extra.

You will need to pay for Soda and alcohol on most lines, any gambling (including bingo) or souvenirs.

You might decide to buy some of the photos that the ship's photographer takes of you. Those can be pricey.

Any shopping you do on board ship in the gift shops.

And if you take any ship (or private) excursions at your ports of call.

You might decide to buy some of the photos that the ship's photographer takes of you. Those can be pricey.

 

Any shopping you do on board ship in the gift shops.

 

And if you take any ship (or private) excursions at your ports of call.

Gotcha but if you just walk around the ports and see the sites there is no charge for that correct?

And how pricey are the pics?

Pictures can range from $8-20 depending on size. Walking around in port doesn't cost a thing. EM

Hi Jim, and welcome to Cruise Critic,

You don't quote which cruise line, but all cruises include breakfast, lunch & dinner in your choice of buffet or serviced dining room. The standard varies depending on the cruise line, but I've always found it somewhere between very acceptable and excellent. All mainstream cruise ships also offer "premium-pay" restaurants - most cruises we don't find the need, we've used them less than half-a-dozen times and always it's been for a special celebration.

Included snacks too from various outlets, usually including the buffet and somewhere up on deck during the day.

Beware that on some ships a few snack outlets are premium-pay - just ask if it's not obvious. Speciality coffees are premium-pay too.

Tea and mud :eek: included. Available at drinks stations except during the wee small hours. If you prefer coffee rather than mud, you might want to bring your own instant (or if you're OK with decaff, on some ships it's in sachets) - you can draw hot water at the drinks stations. (I guess the coffee served at dinner is different, I find it OK). Also rather sickly lemonade on RCI ships, mebbe others too. Drinking water and ice at the drinks stations too, or free from a bar if you're too lazy to go find a drinks station. It's the same water as in your cabin basin, ships' kitchens, etc - and it's fine.

Usually fruit juices around breakfast time.

Most entertainment is free. Ditto most activities - the exceptions tend to be activities like cookery or flower-arranging that involve consumables.

Grammatically-incorrect "gratuities" (though some cruise lines have checked out a dictionary & now call them "service charges") will be applied to your on-board account if you haven't prepaid them - reckon on about $14 per person per night. Unless you use room service (we don't - sometimes the order is wrong or the food/drink like-warm & often it's quicker to go get) you'll need no cash on-board, and other than those daily service charges no need to spend anything on the ship.

Of course you'll need card and cash for whatever you want to do ashore. 3-days out of Orlando (presumably Canaveral?) US dollars are the only currency you need.

Have a great first cruise.

JB :)

Hi Jim

Welcome to cruise critic.

There are lots of included options on all the cruise lines. Food, entertainment, and some non alcoholic drinks are the main selling point.

I just have to say, that a 3 day cruise is very short. It's almost like the cruise is over before you get used to the ship.

If cost is a consideration, you have many choices being in Florida. Obviously time of year plays a big part in prices, but if you are able to leave from Miami, for instance you would have many more choices for any departure date. My upcoming cruise in Nov. is a 4 day cruise and I am in an oceanview cabin and it only cost $640 for two people. An interior cabin on this same sailing would be hundreds less.

As others have said, daily gratuities are per person and billed to your account once onboard. Other than that, some spending money for your ports of call. There are many inexpensive or free things you can do at most stops. You would be able to research those on this site...there is a "port of calls" section, that you can find if you go to the "boards home" page an scroll down.

I really just wanted to make that suggestion to look at a longer cruise (if only by one day), if it at all possible for your schedule. While you will be doing your own thing, those 3 day cruises are notoriously considered "booze cruises".

congratulations on your wedding

have a great cruise

Welcome to Cruise Critic! :D

You can eat all of your meals for free as long as you don't go to extra cost restaurants.

Shows on the ship are at no extra charge.

Enjoy your Honeymoon! :)

Look for a cruise that includes the cruise ship’s private island. This is free but if you want to do an activity such as jet skis that is an added cost. Many times you can find specials that include drink packages and certain large internet based travel agencies include paid gratuities if you book with them. Shop around!

Gotcha but if you just walk around the ports and see the sites there is no charge for that correct?

 

And how pricey are the pics?

It sounds like you're trying to be somewhat economical with this trip. Just FYI ... the pictures are not worth it. Maybe 1 with a cool background, if you're dressed up in nice clothes. But with digital technology, cell phones take great photos.

Also know that short 3 day cruises are BOOZE cruises .... LOTS of drunk people and not big on the entertainment and the ports are very limited.

Check out MSC cruises. They have great prices and would be close to that amount of $ for a 7 day cruise, and maybe include adult drinks for the whole cruise.

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Homepage.aspx

Orlando is in the middle of Florida. You fly into Orlando then have about 60 miles to the port of Cape Canaveral. You can ask here about the best way to get to the ship from the Orlando, (We drive from NC.)

You will pay for all alcohol and sodas but each person can usually take a 12 pack of soda on board. But, do not check them- carry them on then you know you'll get them!

Most lines will allow you to bring on a couple of bottles of wine to drink in your cabin , 3 day cruises are normally older ships.

Orlando is in the middle of Florida. You fly into Orlando then have about 60 miles to the port of Cape Canaveral. You can ask here about the best way to get to the ship from the Orlando, (We drive from NC.)

You will pay for all alcohol and sodas but each person can usually take a 12 pack of soda on board. But, do not check them- carry them on then you know you'll get them!

Some cruise lines prohibit bringing on anything, including bottled water and soft drinks. Many will allow it, however. So check with your cruise line. On Princess, for example, they allow both bottled water and soft drinks, plus one bottle of wine per adult. We bring soft drinks because we prefer a certain flavor the cruise lines rarely have. We simply apply a luggage tag to the 12 pack carton and it will be delivered to our room along with the regular luggage. No need to carry it on. Never had a carton go missing.

A 3 "day" cruise, is 3 NIGHTS.

So you board on Day 1. Sail the next two days, then the last day, you will be in port early, and off the ship.

So really it is 2 DAYS.

Just be aware of what you will be getting.

For a bit more, you can probably get a 5 night cruise, which is more time to enjoy the experience. And honeymoon, versus rushing around.

A 3 "day" cruise, is 3 NIGHTS.

 

So you board on Day 1. Sail the next two days, then the last day, you will be in port early, and off the ship.

 

So really it is 2 DAYS.

 

Just be aware of what you will be getting.

 

For a bit more, you can probably get a 5 night cruise, which is more time to enjoy the experience. And honeymoon, versus rushing around.

Yeah only issue is we need to leave out on the 7th of Feb and the only things going out that day from Orlando are 3 day cruises so that's what we must do

Yeah only issue is we need to leave out on the 7th of Feb and the only things going out that day from Orlando are 3 day cruises so that's what we must do

My wife and I agree that if we were in your situation, we would find another way to celebrate our honeymoon and wait until we could take a longer cruise. 7 nights is the minimum for us, and 10 to 14 days is the perfect length. And then we almost always stay a few days pre and/or post cruise in the start and finish ports. By adding time to explore on your own before and/or after the cruise, you can experience a very nice vacation with only one trip from home.

3 night cruises won't give you the best experience of a cruise, with a very different demographic on those short cruises which are popular with people on very tight budgets, or people who just want to spend three days as drunk as they can get.

Do yourself a favor and wait to celebrate your first anniversary on a longer cruise. You will have a much better time.

Yeah only issue is we need to leave out on the 7th of Feb and the only things going out that day from Orlando are 3 day cruises so that's what we must do

This itinerary with Carnival has 6 days/5 nights. It's about $250 more (including taxes/gov't. fees) than your $850 mentioned earlier. But you'll have sea days that will give you time to sit by the pool, explore the ship, go to the ship's events & entertainment or NOT. If you have any flexibility in your dates, this might work.

https://www.carnival.com/itinerary/5-day-eastern-caribbean-cruise/pt-canaveral/sunshine/5-days/ec3?Military=N&PastGuest=N&Senior=N&numGuests=2&rateCode=&roomType=IS&sailDate=02102019

My wife and I agree that if we were in your situation, we would find another way to celebrate our honeymoon and wait until we could take a longer cruise. 7 nights is the minimum for us, and 10 to 14 days is the perfect length. And then we almost always stay a few days pre and/or post cruise in the start and finish ports. By adding time to explore on your own before and/or after the cruise, you can experience a very nice vacation with only one trip from home.

 

3 night cruises won't give you the best experience of a cruise, with a very different demographic on those short cruises which are popular with people on very tight budgets, or people who just want to spend three days as drunk as they can get.

 

Do yourself a favor and wait to celebrate your first anniversary on a longer cruise. You will have a much better time.

I hear what a few of you have said but can it really be that bad? I mean we will not be going into any dance clubs or the casino, or the bars so will we really have to deal with that many drunk people issues?

This is out first cruise but we are also on a budget people and we spending 6 days at Disney hence why the shorter cruise as well.

I hear what a few of you have said but can it really be that bad? I mean we will not be going into any dance clubs or the casino, or the bars so will we really have to deal with that many drunk people issues?

 

This is out first cruise but we are also on a budget people and we spending 6 days at Disney hence why the shorter cruise as well.

TONS of drunk people at the pools .... just fyi. There's a video that was loaded here a couple of days ago. Very eye opening.

TONS of drunk people at the pools .... just fyi. There's a video that was loaded here a couple of days ago. Very eye opening.

Where does one go to see this video?

Where does one go to see this video?

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2657000&highlight=fight

Yeah only issue is we need to leave out on the 7th of Feb and the only things going out that day from Orlando are 3 day cruises so that's what we must do

Port is not at Orlando, so why not look at Ft Lauderdale and Miami cruises?

But just wanted to point out what you are really getting, so you have reasonable expectations.

Hi Jimlab

I have already made a comment on this thread.

I think what most are trying to point out, is that you are doing yourselves a disservice because you are paying a lot for very little.

We really enjoy cruising. This is your first cruise (and your honeymoon), don't you want to have an experience that is worth it.

For the amount you are paying, if it were me and I didn't have any other choice, I would stay in the Orlando area and see other things there. $850 for a three day cruise is a lot of money, maybe if you had all the bell and whistles, but it doesn't sound like that's what you are getting. I personally would use that money in a better way and if I still wanted to go on a cruise, I would plan and research for a much better experience, perhaps for my 1st. anniversary.

again congratulations on your upcoming wedding

 

I think what most are trying to point out, is that you are doing yourselves a disservice because you are paying a lot for very little. ...

 

For the amount you are paying, if it were me and I didn't have any other choice, I would stay in the Orlando area and see other things there.

I have to agree with this. PPs have tried to explain the downside of these 3 day cruises- especially for a first timer on a honeymoon. I think you would be very disappointed with the experience. OTOH, you could take that budget and easily extend your stay either at WDW (We usually spend 10-12 days there per visit) or perhaps at Universal. Or just head to the beach for a few days.

OK, it appears the Carnival Liberty & Disney Wonder are your 2 choices. Significant price differences.

Looking at interiors (not an upper/lower on Carnival--you don't want that on your honeymoon!) on a major online TA...

Carnival $650/2--stops at Nassau

Disney $1500/2--stops at their private island

The 2 things DCL has going for it--you likely will encounter fewer drunks; on the private island food is included.

BUT for the price difference, I just can't see it, imo.

A 3 day cruise is only 2 full days (tho I am one to board as soon as I can to get as much out of that first day as possible).

Nassau is not known for being cheap but again, with that price difference, I'd go with Carnival. Seriously, DCL isn't THAT much better.

$650 for 2 for a 3 day cruise is quite good. This does include your room, all food & entertainment (shows & bands)

Additional expenses on the ship:

--about $20/day for tips (either added to your bill or you can tip personally to steward, waiter, etc)

--sodas--about $10/person/day for the package if you think you will drink that much per day. Water, coffee, cocoa, tea & lemonade are free.

--photos--about $20 each. We buy one nice one, as we figure a sitting fee would be more than that. But that is optional.

Plus whatever you would buy at Nassau, be it food, drinks or souvenirs. But you do NOT have to eat there; you are there 10-6...you could sleep in, grab a late breakfast or early lunch & still have several hours on the island without having to pay for food.

ONE CAVEAT--this is a weekend cruise; it will likely be pretty much a party cruise (as I imagine most 3 day Carnival cruises over a weekend are). It's not spring break yet, but for those looking for a long weekend party, this could be it for them.