Diplomacy

Cruise pricing can be tricky sometimes.  It’s been a bit more simplified thanks to a new transparency law in California that requires companies to include taxes and fees in their advertised prices.

But even with taxes and fees included, there are often many other amenities that are not included.  And unless you’re sailing with an all-inclusive cruise line, these costs can sneak up on you.

Oceania Cruises, known for its luxurious small-ship cruises, has just announced that gratuities will now be included in its “Your World Included” packages.

Currently, gratuities with the cruise line are set at $18 and up to $23 per day, per cabin, with the higher recommended price being set for the higher cabin categories.

This move also transitions away from the “simply MORE” pricing package.

But two other amenities are also being excluded from the listed price with Oceania.  The complimentary beverage package and shore excursion credit will not be included in the pricing for “Your World Included”.

President of Oceania Cruises, Frank Del Rio, said that the move was based on cruise passenger comments.

“Oceania Cruises’ promise to show our guests Your World, Your Way has been at the heart of our business since we launched more than 20 years ago.  The change has come following feedback from guests, highlighting that they would prefer that we include amenities valued by all versus amenities valued by some,” he stated.

So what else is included in the new “Your World Included” pricing?

The package includes crew gratuities, specialty dining, sodas and juices, specialty coffees and teas, still and sparkling water, unlimited Wi-Fi, laundry services, group fitness classes, and fruit smoothies and gelato, just to name a few.

When does the change go into effect?

The new “Your World Included” package will apply to all new bookings made after October 1, 2024, for sailings departing on or after January 1, 2025. Guests who book before October 1 will continue to receive the “simply MORE” package.

Frank Del Rio believes the new changes are exactly what the cruise line’s clientele have been wanting.

“Not surprisingly, our guests place the greatest value on our core inclusions such as free specialty dining and free Wi-Fi; including gratuities creates the richest possible array of amenities and benefits for our guests globally,” Del Rio added.

I am currently on a seven-night cruise with Virgin Voyages that is part of the cruise line’s Virgin Celebration Cruises.

This roundtrip cruise out of Barcelona has special guests with appearances that include Sir Richard Branson and Boy George. After spending a few days on board, here are my brief first impressions of the cruise.

Virgin Voyages invited me onboard for this special sailing and it is my first time cruising with them in Europe.

It’s cruise day on @VirginVoyages Scarlet Lady. Sir Richard Branson will be joining this Virgin Celebration Voyage. pic.twitter.com/rjcUlN8yPe

— Cruise Fever (@CruiseFever) September 1, 2024

One of first things I’ve noticed is that Virgin Voyages has made some good changes from when they first starting sailing in 2021. I was on their first ever sailing and the experience on board is now so much better. It’s a night and day difference.

I will cover this more in depth after I get home from the cruise. I’m glad to see that are no longer trying to be edgy or provocative and now offer things that cruisers (Sailors is what they are called on Virgin) want.

The food on Virgin continues to rank among the best of all the mainstream cruise lines. All restaurants are included, although there are a few items that come with a surcharge. But most of the menu has no extra charges.

I ate at Extra Virgin last night and it’s without a doubt the best Italian restaurant that I have dined at on a cruise ship.

There’s no main dining room, just specialty restaurants and casual eateries that are all included in cruise fares.

There is food all over the ship, The Dock is an awesome spot for lunch when you are at sea.

The crew have been a highlight of the cruise so far. They have been fantastic in every way. A special shoutout to Laurence at the Casino Bar, can’t say enough good things about him.

Virgin Voyages’ CEO, Nirmal Saverimuttu, just held a talk with sailors and he gave some insight on why the crew on Virgin is so awesome. He said that they’ve created a culture for them to thrive and it’s evident all around the ship.

They take a different approach than every other cruise line. Crew members can be themselves they are managed by exception rather than rules.  This creates a better experience for guests.

I’ll have more on this later, back to the cruise ship.

One of my favorite parts of the ship is Richard’s Rooftop. This exclusive area at the top front of the ship is reserved for Rockstar Sailors. It’s a great relaxing space and one of the quietest spots on the ship.

You can see a few photos from this area in my X post below.

We are loving Richard’s Rooftop on @VirginVoyages Scarlet Lady. An exclusive area for Rockstar Sailors. pic.twitter.com/eTBt73pYjL

— Cruise Fever (@CruiseFever) September 3, 2024

I have a Central Sea Terrace cabin on deck 9. I love that Virgin has a hammock on every balcony. It may sound like a gimmick but greatly enhances having a balcony. I love to sit in it drinking a cup of coffee each morning.  

I rarely spend time on my balcony on cruises but find myself out there a lot more than usual due to the hammock. Every cruise line should add them.

I also love how a tablet in the room controls everything from the curtains, to lights, to the TV. You can control your entire room without getting out of bed.

I forgot how much fun Scarlet Night is, and I am not a party person. It’s so cool to walk around the ship when it’s all lit up in red. While most cruise lines have parties in one area of the ship, this one takes over everywhere.

It’s cruise day on @VirginVoyages Scarlet Lady. Sir Richard Branson will be joining this Virgin Celebration Voyage. pic.twitter.com/rjcUlN8yPe

— Cruise Fever (@CruiseFever) September 1, 2024

I will write more about this sailing after the cruise is over so stay tuned for that. We have a sea day today and I want to get out and enjoy what the ship has to offer.

You can follow along on my cruise on social media (@CruiseFever for all).

For a cruise port, being the homeport for the world’s largest cruise ship is a fairly big deal.  It shows not only that the port can handle such a large vessel, but it also makes for great branding in a heated competition among U.S. cruise ports.

Recent discoveries on the Port of Galveston website have driven speculation about Icon of the Seas having a potential home in Texas.

According to news reports, the website may have inadvertently put Icon of the Seas in a drop-down menu for parking reservations.

A screenshot by Chron.com showed the words “RCCL Icon of the Seas” under the “Select Your Ship” heading.

The link for the drop-down menu didn’t have a destination so perhaps it was an accident, but recent comments by port director and CEO Rodger Reese have only fueled speculation when he said in April, “We can handle it”, referring to Icon of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean has not given any new information about the ship moving to Galveston and the website has removed the ship from the drop-down menu as of this morning.

On top of this, Rees made comments again on Thursday which added to the speculation.

“As the fourth most popular cruise port in the U.S.—and one of the fastest growing—Galveston would be honored to welcome the Icon of the Seas to our state-of-the-art Royal Caribbean Cruise Terminal,” Rees said. “We’re one of the few cruise ports in the country that can accommodate this class of ship.“

Cruisers should keep in mind that this is purely speculation and no announcements have been made.  It’s fun to think about where the world’s largest cruise ship will go next, but until we hear concrete news, it’s all just fun to think about.

Some other large cruise ships have recently begun offering sailings out of Galveston, including Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas and Carnival Jubilee, Carnival’s largest ship.

Icon of the Seas currently sails out of PortMiami.  Sailings out of the Florida cruise port are available through April of 2026.

The 248,663 gross ton ship is capable of carrying up to 7,600 passengers and 2,350 crew and has been the world’ largest cruise ship since it was launched in December of 2022.

See our video tour of Icon of the Seas here.

Carnival’s Brand Ambassador John Heald gets asked all kinds of questions from passengers, and he often posts them on his social media page.

This time he posted a cruiser’s question along with a poll to see where everyone stood on the issue.

The cruise line is often asked about certain televised events, usually major sporting events that many passengers want to see while on vacation.

In a Facebook post today, Heald revealed the question he was asked about the upcoming presidential debate in the U.S.

“John please consider the wishes from many on writing on ——– for the 9/10 Presidential Debate to be shown on the jumbotron. If not in a bar or at the very least in the rooms,” the question read in part.

The issue with showing every major game on lido deck screens is that the cruise line needs to have the rights to show these events.

But Carnival’s answer on a political debate carries a different reasoning.

Heald responded simply with this:

“Respectfully, we will not be showing it.  [Regardless] of political preference is that this is not something you would want to spend your cruise time watching? Or am I wrong?”

The social media post already has received 1.5k comments as cruisers gave their own preferences on the issue.

But Heald also put a poll in the post with three options:

• It is not something that I would need to see on my cruise
• It should be shown, but only in cabin because if I was on board, I would want to watch it
• I agree it should be put on the big screen

So far 79% of respondents said they would not want to see the debate on their cruise.

19% said they would want to watch it in their cabin.  Just 2% said putting it on the big screen was a good idea.

While it is an important event, more people on a cruise just want to get away from reality for a while.  And because politics can be divisive, a polarizing environment just wouldn’t make for a great getaway at sea.

Everyone on a cruise ship has a lot of responsibilities back home when the cruise is over.  And there’s a reason the news isn’t usually shown on the big screen of a cruise ship. 

People just need a break from all of that.  That’s what a cruise is all about.

Still, many comments stated that it would be nice to be able to watch the debate in their cabin.

One comment stated it like this:

“Get that off of public screens, this is vacation we don’t need political arguments it would create . Let’s watch with our own opinions if we want in our rooms. I do think it deserves that.”

Is your family still not convinced that a cruise is one of the best vacations possible?  They are probably using the same old excuses mentioned in this article.  This will help you persuade them to at least try a cruise.

Family vacations are some of the best parts of life. Many families plan one big vacation each summer, while others prefer multiple, smaller trips throughout the year.

This is usually dependent on work and school schedules, prior commitments, or finances. 

The possibilities for family vacations are literally endless. Booking a condo at the beach is a favorite for many. Renting a cabin in the mountains is a huge love of mine.

Of course, cruises are the favorite for most of us reading this article! 

Several people have told me that they cannot convince their families to take a cruise with them. One friend in particular wants her husband to take a cruise, but he only wants to take land vacations.

He thinks all-inclusive resorts are just superior. 

Let’s dig a little deeper to see how it may be possible to convince your friends and family to take a cruise, rather than a land vacation.

Below, I have listed several common “excuses” or “rebuttals” for not wanting to take a cruise, and how you can combat their silliness. 

“Cruises are too expensive”

Unless you are adamant on cruising specific lines like Regent Seven Seas Cruises or Silversea Cruises, cruises can be very affordable. Many of the larger cruise lines frequently offer great sales or perks for past guests.

Sometimes 3rd and 4th guests in a cabin can get an even cheaper rate. 

Always keep in mind that cruise rates vary throughout the year. Holidays do tend to be more expensive, so choose accordingly. 

Recently, my family went to a popular beach town in Florida. Our portion of the condo for the week was $1700.

That was only accommodations for two people. That did not include activities or food. Our most recent cruise for the same length of time was half the price. 

“There are too many extra fees involved. Cruise lines will nickel and dime you”

While this statement is true in some cases, it does not have to be your reality. Before you leave for a cruise, prepay your gratuities and book any shore excursions you may want to do ahead of time.

Allot yourself a certain amount of cash for the casino or for souvenirs in-port. 

Once you get onboard, extra charges that are essential will be minimal. Keep in mind the word, “essential”.

Yes. There will be opportunities to purchase things everywhere but they are probably not necessary to enjoy your cruise. 

“Everyone gets seasick on cruises”

Modern cruise ships were built with stabilizers. This keeps the ship from swaying back and forth in the water.

Of course, your ship may get caught in a storm or rough seas, but the stabilizers usually keep most people from feeling tremendously sick. 

If you are worried about this, take non-drowsy dramamine each morning with breakfast as a precaution.

Check with your doctor if you are worried about any possible drug interactions.

There are also several alternative remedies that many people swear by. Ginger is a popular, natural option that some people enjoy. Vitamin B6, peppermint, and essential oils are also helpful. 

Read more: 15 dumb things people still believe about cruise ships

“There’s really nothing to do on a cruise. I’ll get bored”

Many cruise lines make sure their passengers have plenty to do throughout the day. This is especially true for days at sea. When everyone is onboard, activities are needed and cruise lines make sure the schedule is full. 

Sun lovers can take in the glorious rays all day if they want to. Pair that with the pool and a daiquiri for an unforgettable day at sea.

If you prefer to stay indoors, rounds of trivia are likely to line the schedule, along with music, shopping and more. 

If you have kids, they can attend the kids camps that are on many cruise lines. They will be occupied while you can enjoy a day at the spa or relaxing with a book on the promenade.

 “I’ve heard the food is terrible”

Are you a food critic who regularly reviews food at Michelin 5-Star restaurants? Yeah, probably not. In that case, cruisers will have enough options to please their palates and their stomachs. 

Start your day with a hearty helping of food from the breakfast buffet. If you are a coffee-lover, be sure to visit the coffee shop for a latte or Americano.

By the time lunch rolls around, the smell of Guy’s Burgers will entice you to the Lido deck. Once the evening is near, dress up as much or as little as you’d like for dinner in the dining room. 

The next time your significant other refuses to take a cruise, tell them, “If you love me, you will go on a cruise with me”. 

Of course, I am only joking!

Explain the above points to them. Ask them to reconsider your request and maybe try a short itinerary for their first experience. They very well may find out that they do enjoy cruising if they give it a chance.