Cruise lines feel gas pinch

[Bulldog]

The "first amphitheatre at sea" with nightly theatrical performances will be a feature of the huge Royal Caribbean Oasis

In these days of ever-increasing fuel prices, everyone is feeling the pinch -- including cruise lines that are sharing the pain with their guests.

With some lines facing a doubling of fuel costs this year, they've added surcharges reaching -- as of this week -- up to $15 a day and some with per-cruise maximums of up to $140 or so a person.

Many cruisers feel nickel-and-dimed as there are added fees for port charges and taxes, $10 to $30 a person for fine dining at alternative restaurants onboard and tipping charges of $10 or so a day a person added (with an option to change the amount or opt out).

There's also the 15 per cent added for service charges on alcoholic drinks, while soft drinks and bottled water usually carry a charge and the compulsory gratuity.

Travel agents say, however, the base price of a cruise is lower now than it was 10 years ago and even with the added fees, cruising is still a good deal for an unbeatable vacation.

Based on new bookings, Regent Seven Seas charges $15 a person, daily while Crystal's fuel surcharge is $12 a person, daily and Norwegian wants $11 for each of the first two passengers in a cabin and $5 daily a person for additional passengers in a cabin.

Celebrity is adding $10 a person, daily for the first two passengers and $5 daily for additional passengers.

Royal Caribbean wants $10 daily for each of the first two passengers and $5 daily for additional passengers while Silversea and Windstar charge $10 a person, a day.

Carnival, Costa, Cunard, Holland America, Princess and Seabourn levy $9 a person daily for the first two passengers and $4 a person, a day for the third to fifth guests.

A long-time surcharge holdout, Disney Cruise Line now charges $8 a person daily for the first two guests and $3 for the third to fifth.

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Are you ready for a big-city cruise experience?

Royal Caribbean offers just that with its next generation of cruise ships led by Oasis of the Seas.

The maiden voyage sails on Dec. 12, 2009 for seven-night eastern and western Caribbean itineraries from Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) Fla. for the inaugural year.

As the "world's largest and most revolutionary ship," it will span 16 decks, encompass 220,000 gross registered tonnes, carry 5,400 guests at double occupancy and have 2,700 staterooms.

It will feature a neighbourhood concept with seven distinct themed areas including Central Park, Boardwalk and the Royal Promenade.

There will be the first amphitheatre at sea with nightly theatrical performances, rock climbing walls, a zip-line and 37 types of accommodation including two-level loft suites. www.oasisoftheseas.com

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Princess Cruises will launch the Ruby Princess a week earlier than expected with an inaugural sailing on Nov. 8.

Speedy completion of the 3,070-passenger vessel allows the earlier seven-day roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale to the western Caribbean ports of Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Princess Cays, the line's private island.

A sister to the Emerald Princess and Crown Princess, the ship will have a piazza-style atrium with small-bite eateries and an array of performing street entertainers.

The Sanctuary will be an adults-only retreat and there's an Italian trattoria, seafood and steak house, giant outdoor movie screen and 900 cabins with private balconies.

Fares for the maiden season begin at $699. www.princess.com

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Even though it's the largest Holland America ship, the just-launched Eurodam has a smaller feel with just 2,014 guests.

Pan-Asian cuisine is showcased at the Tamarind restaurant, high atop the ship, offering ocean views. This includes dim sum, satay and Rijsttafel -- a Dutch adaptation of the traditional Indonesia dinner.

The Silk Den, an adjacent lounge, overlooks the magradome and a "colourful poolside water feature."

Dinner at Tamarind costs $15 a person, $20 for Rijsttafel, while lunch is no additional charge.

The ship will cross the Atlantic Ocean and begin Canada/New England sailings in September, followed by Caribbean itineraries. www.hollandamerica.com

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Cruise ships will return to Costa Maya this fall when Mexico's Riviera Maya is rebuilt after heavy damage by Hurricane Dean last year.

The new docks can handle the largest ships, the first of which to arrive on Oct. 31 will be Holland America's Westerdam, followed in November and December by the Veendam and Statendam.

Others returning include Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas, Carnival Legend and Carnival Glory, Norwegian Spirit, Oceana, Seven Seas Voyager and Navigator.

http://www.canoe.ca/Travel/Caribbean/GreaterAntilles/2008/07/06/6111361-sun.html

[travelchick]

BD - Thanks for the article.  Although I have thought a Caribbean cruise might be great, all the "nickel and diming" is definitely a real turnoff.  After being at All-Inclusive resorts, it is such a hurdle to think of having to shell out at almost every turn while on a cruise.  But that amphitheatre does look spectacular!  Travelchick 

[Bulldog]

That is the one thing holding me back from taking a cruise too, also the air fare to get to the boat 

[flopnfly]

I would be interested in a cruise just so that I could visit several islands in one trip.

But I've watched the ships come in and unload the passengers and it's a zoo, and you only get a few hours on the island so you never really see it.  Of course you can say you've been.

[Gambitt]

Another strike against a cruise:

In Cozumel, they warned us not to go shopping in town on Tuesdays....  That's the day the cruise ships come in so all the merchants jack thier prices for the day!

[huskypup]

We cruised in April, Mexican riveria, and really enjoyed ourselves - so much we booked another one while we were on the ship, we sailed Holland America, not as rowdy as some of the bigger cruise lines - fine dining, formal nights, yes I agree after all inclusives you can forget when paying for drinks, and it can get expensive. 

Holland America are one of the cruise lines that let you take as much wine and pop (soda) on as you like - so this does keep the bill down at the end (we just found a shop before we docked and stocked up), and stocked up again mid cruise (took minutes but saved a fortune)  You can also have spirits placed in your room, not to bad prices - so we had a couple of bottles of rum in our room, and just filled our thermos cups up when we left the room, the room steward made sure our ice bucket was always full of ice.

It was very relaxing, without laying by the pool all the time holiday.

We sail around the Caribean in Jan 09 this time for 10 days, we'll see how we go next time, it may be time back for an all inclusive.

Im not sure if the reason we found it such good value was because we have such a good rate to the dollar. 

I was sure we would feel hemmed in, but it was the oppoaite, we ran out of time to do everything - we did things that we would never have done at am all inclusive holiday.

One thing though - you do have to choose your cruise line wisely though, the one we choose CAN tend to head towards the older clientel, though we found all ages, and mixed well with everyone - that may have had something to do with being the only British on the ship and word so gets round (we booked through a US agent as its alot cheaper than booking through the UK).  The wrong ship and you have wasted your money.