Balitang America Travels: Cruising's Hidden Costs

When it comes to cruises, the phrase "all-inclusive" is used often. But what exactly does "all-inclusive" really mean. Don't be fooled by that phrase because while all the basics - your room, transportation (often including flight to the ship port), food and entertainment - are typically covered, the extras are not part of the package.



Extra-cost Items on Large Cruise Ships (600+ passengers):

* Shore excursions & meals (not included on any cruise ship, large or small)
* Cancellation insurance
* Gratuities
* Specialty restaurants
* Ice cream
* Alcohol
* Espresso beverages
* Soda
* Bottled water
* Laundry
* Spa services/massages
* Gambling
* Certain classes: yoga, kickboxing and others

If you want to know the price ranges of these things, Cruise Critic can give you a good idea. In any case, cruising still offers great value if you're on a budget. According to Douglas Ward, a well-respected cruise critic and author of Cruising: All Questions Answered, a seven-day trip on a mid to large-sized ship with accommodation in an outside cabin costs approximately $1,200. Factor in $100 in port charges, if not already included in the fare, and about $50 in gratuities which brings the cost to $1,350 per person. So, that's about $200 per person per day, Ward explained in his book. That amount, he pointed out, won't even get you a nice hotel room in places like New York or London.

Don't forget the economic slump has opened the door for some unbelievable deals. If you're not big on putting together a budget, Independent Traveler has a budget calculator with a list of typical cruise expenses. Type in your costs and add them up to at least arrive at a starting figure for your trip.

USA Today's Cruise Log also has some helpful information on cruising, deals and a forum where cruisers can exchange tips or experiences. Here's just a sampling of some of the discounts out there.

Deals mentioned in my Travels segment:

Holland America 7-Day Alaskan Cruise
Starting at $499/person

MSC Cruises 7-Night Trip to the Caribbean
* For seniors & those 50+, starting at $499/person
* Kids 17 and under sail free on all MSC Cruises.

Norwegian Cruise Line
Kids and any third guest or more rate, starting at $99/person
*Persons must be sharing cabin to get that rate.

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.