My Family of 3 (2 Adults and 1 Child) recently took a cruise on Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas. We cruised on the week of Presidents break (Feb 17th - Feb 25th), and had a wonderful time. I spent quiet a lot of time prior to embarkation day making sure we could afford the trip and understand what extra costs that we planned on incurring during the trip. Now that we are back home, I can tally up the final total to share with you what a vacation of this type may run you.
Some information that you need to know is that we booked this vacation about 1 year in advance and we stayed in a Grand Suite cabin type. Anyone that has booked with Royal Caribbean lately knows that their "dynamic pricing" can give you wild differences for the same room at different points in time. But usually the further out you book your cruise, the better the price will be. We sailed from New York and had three ports that we stopped at; Port Canaveral, Coco Cay and Nassau, Bahamas.
Our Anthem of the Seas Cruise vacation incurred a variety of costs that can be categorized into three main sections: Basic Costs, Extra Paid Costs, and Ancillary Costs. Below is a summary of the financial expenses for the cruise period from February 17th to February 25th.
Basic Costs: - The foundational expenses for the cruise included a comprehensive insurance policy, the cruise fare itself, and standard gratuities. These are considered the essential costs for participating in the cruise. - Insurance was purchased at $350*. The Cruise Fare, the major component of the base costs, was $10,963.07. - Gratuities, which cover tips for the staff on board, amounted to $444.
*We live in the great state of New York that doesn't allow for yearly travel plans, if you live in a state that allows it and travel a lot, I highly recommend it.
Extra Paid Costs: - These are discretionary expenses that were chosen to enhance our cruise experience. The Drink Package, which offered a selection of beverages throughout the trip, was $1,321.28. - Spa services, specifically a Spa Massage, added comfort and relaxation for $215.92. - Dining experiences outside of the included meals were enjoyed at Chops Grill and Jamie's Italian, costing $53.04 and $48.32 respectively. - Shore Excursions provided opportunities for adventure and exploration, with a total expense of $1,152.00 divided among BAHA Bay Water Park ($332.00), Space Center ($465.00), and BEACH CLUB ($355.00). - Miscellaneous expenses, including souvenirs and other unspecified items, came to a total of $503.84.
Ancillary Costs: - These costs accounted for ancillary services related to the cruise. - Pet Lodging for the duration of the cruise was necessary, incurring a cost of $1,150. - Parking for personal vehicle storage while on the cruise amounted to $240. - Extra Tipping to further acknowledge the service staff was $555.
Grand Total: - The grand total cost of the Anthem of the Seas Cruise experience, which includes Basic, Extra Paid, and Additional Costs, amounted to $16,996.47.
I hope this give you a basic understand on what a vacation of this type will afford you. Please comment with any questions!
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