Cruise Pricing

What is included in the price of a cruise? --Megan, Rockford, IL
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Just about everything!

All your meals are included (and there are usually about 7 or 8 per day from which to choose), all accommodations, shipboard entertainment, all taxes and in some cases your airfare and ground transportation to and from the port is included.

There are some extras that are not included in the price that's quoted to you by your cruise agent. You will need to pay for things like liquor, shore excursions, photos, souvenirs, gambling, specialty restaurants, gratuities, etc. Many ships have you attach a credit card or add traveler's checks or cash to your ship card (used for identification and entrance to your stateroom) which can be used as an onboard credit card so you don't have to carry your wallet or purse around the ship with you.

Happy cruising!

Formal Nights

What is a formal night on a cruise? Is this like a party? --Nicole, Orlando, FL
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"Formal night" simply means the overall atmosphere of the ship is formal for that evening, and the dress for dinner in the dining room(s) that evening is formal attire. The specifics of formal nights vary ship by ship, but in general, this means evening/cocktail dresses for ladies, and suits and ties for gentlemen. There may be more than one formal night, depending on the length of your cruise.

Formal nights are also a good opportunity to get a nice photo taken as a memento of your cruise vacation, and many ships offer different backgrounds for portraits.

For more information about formal nights, make sure you go through the information you get once you've booked your cruise. You can also call your travel agent to get information about the guidelines for your ship.

Remember: even though the attire is formal for the evening, these nights are about getting dressed up and having fun, so don't be afraid to go dance the night away after dinner!

Happy cruising!