Originally Posted by gpapadop
-I see all these prices advertised. What should I be counting on paying on top of them? Do these prices reflect port fees? I did go through the RC hot deal reservation process just to see what's added and I saw they added about $250 dollars in taxes on top of the advertised prices...Is it normal to assume about $250 in taxes for a cruise between 5 to 7 nights in the Caribbean (or maybe Bermuda too)?
Yes. They always add on port fees and taxes. That's to make the advertised price is more "attractive."
-A draw on cruises is that they are supposed to be all inclusive. Why do they stick you with drinks? Do they also make you pay for water and coffee? Milk for the kids? Should we bring our own bottled water bottles along? Are there water drinking fountains around the ship? Thankfully, we do not drink pop or alcohol.
Water and coffee (regular coffee only, not specialty drinks like lattes, etc.) are usually available free at the buffet stations and sometimes the bars (depends on the ship) throughout the day. Also, milk with meals is free for the kids. Carrying water bottles aboard is a big hassle. Few, if any ships, have lots of water fountains, although you might find a couple (e.g. near the theater, for example). They stick you with drinks because it is a very profitable add-on, although a couple of cruise lines at the upper end have started including wine with dinner and soft drinks throughout for no additional charge. This would not be true of a budget or mid-priced cruise (e.g. Voyager of the Seas).
-A fellow FTer posted to assume about $40 per day in tips. That sounds fine I guess. This means that we do not have to tip the waiters EVERY single time they serve us, right?
Yes, most tipping is done at the end of the cruise, with special envelopes that the cruise line will provide (or some lines let you charge them on your account). An exception is the bar staff - where the tip is added on the bill you sign when you get each drink. They make it clear for you, since tipping is a major part of the employee compensation.
-For air flights seating there is seatguru.com. Is there anything similar for cabins in each ship...ones to avoid, ones highly desirable, etc.?
Not that I know of, but
www.cruisecritic.com can tell you a lot about each ship and line.
-I read of free style dining and formal dining. What does this mean exactly? Do we have to dress up formally for dinner?? I hope not, we are on vacation for pete's sake. Does this also mean we only eat at prescribed times? Are there buffets throughout the day we can munch on if we get hungry? If it's formal dress, I hope it's at most business casual because I refuse to wear suit and tie on vacations
"Free-style cruising" usually means no formal nights and no pre-assigned tables and eating time. If you are not on a "free-style" cruise, your dining time will be preselected and you will be assigned the same table each night in the main dining room. On formal nights, a jacket and tie is highly recommended because you will really stick out, although they won't refuse service. I know some people who either eat at the late afternoon buffet or have room service to avoid dressing up, but a jacket and tie isn't that much trouble IMHO. The other nights are casual (no jacket) or informal (jacket requested, tie not necessary). The main dining room is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner at prescribed times. Other food venues (buffets, grills, etc.) vary but somewhere on board there is almost round the clock food available. You will not go hungry.
-RC hot deals is now advertising a 5 night cruise on the Voyager of the Seas
to Bermuda leaving from New Jersey. This sounds good for us since we can visit relatives in New York who will likely drop us off and pick us up. Only two port stops maximizing our time on the ship which we like to do on our first cruise. $494 if we leave on Oct. 16 for inside room, total for all four of us after taxes $2,250. Would you say this is a good "deal" or pass for something better to come along? On a trip like this how much will trip insurance cost about?
Not a bad deal (although an inside room may be a little claustrophobic - especially if all four of you are in the same room). Maybe just a window? Trip insurance cost (rough gauge is 8 percent of the cost of the trip) is based on the cost of the trip. It is recommended you get trip insurance from a carrier other than the cruise line as an added precaution. This is especially recommended if you are traveling with children, since a sudden case of chicken pox or measles or something similiar means you can't take them and have to postpone the trip. A travel agent can help you here. A cruise is something I have never purchased directly because of all the details.
-Is there free internet access on the ship or do they stick you with exhorbitant rates? If they charge, how much does it cost about?
Absolutely no free lunch here. The fees are enormous (IMHO) for not very fast access. Seems like I remember it being about a dollar a minute or more. But then, phone calls are about $8 a minute, too.
-Actual newspapers on board at all or just computer printout summaries?
Only summaries (extremely brief) in most cases. And not always to your room. Some lines just make them available in a central location. You can sometimes get satellite news on the television - depends on the cruise line and your cruise location.
A travel agent can be more specific for you on the ship you have chosen. These are based on my experiences with a number of lines.