Cruising

[RachM84]

Hi. So i enter competitions as a hobby and I was contacted by a cruise company a few weeks back to tell me that I’d won a 7 night cruise. It’s all legit and above board and whilst I was initially happy to accept the prize i’ve since been stressing myself out as I’m now worrying if we can actually afford to go. I know you could say I should’ve thought about the extras before entering the competition but in no way did I expect to win it was just meant for a bit of fun. I’ve been speaking to a few people about cruising and the shock I got when I realised about all the extra costs eg gratuities, the cost of drinks packages, the fact both me and my partner will need a whole new wardrobe as we both live in jeans joggers t shirts trainers and have nothing fancy to wear. I’m seriously considering not going as I’m not only worried about the cost but also that we won’t fit in with the other people on board. AIBU?

I've been on a few cruises and have never paid for a drinks package, doesn't stop you buying alcohol and I'm told that unless you drink a fair bit it's not worth the price, also a lot of branded drinks aren't included in some packages so you'd have to pay extra anyway.

Drinks are included on the line we cruise with, you can buy a package if you want a wider choice of wines and spirit brands but we never bother as the “house” ones are usually fine.

Can't disagree with that, KimberleyClark, and it's worse still if they're given a balcony since that would quickly become another "must"

Then there's Grills Class (I just had an amazing deal to go in it and oh wow!!) and what happens if she discovers the real premium lines such as Oceania, Seabourn and the rest

Never mind ... there's always the lottery

You pretty much do have to tip (which almost everyone does by paying the "gratuities" charge). Even if it's notionally a British cruise line, the staff will be paid on an American model, which is to say, badly. I treat tips like added VAT — something annoying but unavoidable.

You don't need the drinks package unless you plan to drink quite a lot. Individual drinks will be at hotel prices, so a bit more than a pub, but not £30 for a pint or anything too stupid.

Cunard drinks menu below - but bear in mind a 18% service charge will be added to anything bought:

https://www.cunard.com/content/dam/cunard/my-voyage/pdfs/qv/qv_deck_bar_menu_aug_2022a.pdf

We’re looking at going on a cruise next year. From what I’ve seen gratuities are included in the coat of the cruise so no need to tip on board. Drinks package is expensive unless you drink a lot of alcohol but the drinks prices seem reasonable on board. You can pay extra for excursions but not necessary. If you’ve won a cruise you could do it without spending out anything I’d you wanted to!

The service is an add on on Cunard and is about £12 a day ($16) - it is superb though and you can't begrudge it; the staff really work hard and at least the you don't have to worry about tipping.

There is a 15% service charge on top of the drinks, but they are not unreasonably prices - DON'T get the drinks packages they are not worth it.

As others have said, it's not any way as formal as the website makes out- smart casual seems the norm. Even on 'gala nights' lots of people are in short dresses not evening wear.

You can spend as much or as little as your budget allows on a cruise.

Cunard do add tips daily for each passenger. Just go to the pursers desk (reception) and ask for them to be removed - you can be honest and tell them you won and can't afford it OR just say you'll be tipping as you go.

The tea coffee and water is included. NOT soft drinks - juice is available at breakfast time in the restaurant and buffet. But you can take your own bottle of squash and water bottle on.

There's no pressure to buy drinks and if you eat in the buffet you don't have to dress up.

If you want to I would look on facebay / vinted / charity shops - you can find some really cheap dresses and accessories!

Also you need a credit or debit card to register at check in for them to charge your spend to - then you use your room key card to py and it gets charged to that.
If yiu have a credit card use that as they do pre authorizations which means sometimes they put a hold on your mon
To check you have money in the account on a debit card - this can take a few days to come off and mean you can't access your money when you get home - another way to get ahead of this is to take cash and pay it in at reception so that they never need to charge your account - you can add as you go or withdraw what you don't spend at the end.

Cruising is amazing and you will meet all sorts of people. Don't be put off by the anxiety of it being different the crew are lovely and can always answer your questions.
If I were you I'd go and enjoy it!

I've been on a couple of cruises and loved them. I'm incredibly scruffy. Extras - I did tip - particularly our room attendant who was lovely, bought maybe one or two drinks over the week (don't get the drinks package). I sneakily took a water bottle. Almost all entertainment was provided (we didn't do the gambling or casino). We also paid extra for a massage. I didn't get any new clothes.

You'll have a fabulous time OP. Enjoy 😄

Cunard are probably the 'smartest' of the cruise lines in terms of dress.

Some, but not all, passengers dress to the nines every night. Most people dress as if going to a smart restaurant to go to the main dining room and theatre - men are requested to wear long trousers and a collared shirt but no jacket and tie except on Formal/Celebration Nights. Women go from black trousers (could be non-ripped jeans) and a nice top, to (rarely on non-formal nights) the full long dress.

On Formal Nights dark suits or dinner jacket and bow tie or national dress eg kilt with all the trimmings, is expected in the main dining room, with many women in long dress or certainly quite smart cocktail dress. Some people go completely over the top eg with fancy embroidered silk jackets etc (both sexes), which is fabulous to see.

You can wear more-or-less what you want in the buffet and some of the bars, but no shorts, sleeveless tee shirts or sportswear after 6pm.

BUT, travelling on Cunard is a unique experience. The main dining room has a real Wow factor, specially when it is fully of beautifully-dressed people. It would be a shame to miss the whole point of a Cunard voyage for the sake of a trip to the charity shop for a lovely dress or a DJ or dark jacket for OH. And in the midst of it you might regret not throwing yourself into the whole thing when it's the norm - it's not often you get the chance. They even provide ballroom dancing lessons so you could bravely try a little turn in the Ballroom; there are some real experts there to enjoy, but they are very tolerant of shuffling (or stopping-for-an-argument-about-feet) beginners.

As PP said, drinks are hotel prices, but it's part of the experience to sit in a lovely bar with a cocktail. You can take a litre of wine on board to drink in your cabin to keep costs down.

Tips are an issue. Cunard add them as a daily charge and it does add up. You can ask for them to be removed, but when you meet the lovely staff and see how thoughtfully, tirelessly and cheerfully they work for you, for very low wages, leaving their families for weeks on end, you might want to think about saving a little elsewhere in your life in order to be able to leave the tips on. They also go to the people you don't meet who keep things running like clockwork behind the scenes.

Oh you lucky thing! Cunard never been as I’d be spoilt forever. Get to a charity shop for a couple of dresses. It be a shame to miss the formal party night atmosphere.

And it's an opportunity to get some lovely photographs taken of you in your finery too.

You have nothing to worry about. Cruises are all-inclusive, unless you want extras, which are not obligatory.
Formal outfits are only required for fine dining, which is optional.
Booze can be expensive, but how much are you going to need to drink?
Afterall - its best to check with the cruise company. They will give you all the details.

Cunard is generally for people who enjoy a more dressy experience but, as others have said, the buffet and the pub allow non- formal dress on the celebration nights (2 per week, usually themed). Bear in mind though, on formal nights even to go in to the theatre you do need to dress accordingly. I saw the staff very charmingly refuse entry to one chap in his shorts.
Wi-fi is also extra.
There are many less dressy cruise lines under the Carnival umbrella. Could you get your prize transferred to one of them?