So you want all the details, or maybe you want to go yourself?
Here is what you may want to know.
Location:
Cost:
Who wants to hear about a trip if it's to expensive to go yourself? I've always hated travel shows that show you an incredible location and never mention the price, or the price mentioned doesn't include taxes or fees which can be up to 25% in some areas. Or worst of all is when you check the price for yourself you find that prices are ridiculous and only for the super rich.
Cruise Ship Room and Board
Interior Room Rate with Tax and Fees for 2 people.
$2,130
Activities
Bar Tab : $400
Island Taxi Tour for 2 : $140
Martini Tasting for 2 : $35
Flights and Transfers
Flight : $25 (Airline Miles, expect $250-$300 per person rd trip)
Taxi from the Aiport to the Cruise Port : $60
Bus Transfer from Cruise Port to Airport : $62
Parking at RDU Airport (Fast Park): $42
Flight and Transfers
A definite recommendation for “Fast Park” at the RDU airport. If you get to the Airport via the 70/540 intersection you are right at the Fast Park lot. Only about $1 more a day than the airport park and ride lots, the service was much faster and they picked you up and dropped you off directly at your car. At to this the a small sun and rain roof and this beats parking at the airport hands down.
In short, if the cruise ship offers a bus transfer from the airport to the cruise ship take it. Yes, it’s possible to save a little money taking a taxi but after tips and etc, it’s the same price. It’s also a more comfortable ride.
Activities
Drinking, Shows, and more Drinking
Since we knew we would have 3-4 days at sea we knew there would be plenty of drinking on this trip. One of the new options that Royal Caribbean offers is an “all you can drink” plan for $55 per person per day or $110 per couple per day. Finding out the prices for drinks beforehand is almost impossible and we never found the mythical $6 base drink price the people online mentioned. Add the mandatory 15% Bar drink gratuity and you are looking at a more realistic $8.50 per drink. We decided against going with the plan and just paying as we went and it was a much better deal for us not to go with the plan.
There are a couple of deals we found. The first night at dinner they offered a 2 bottles of wine for $46 (w/fee) where they would hold the second bottle for you for latter in your cruise. On the third night we asked and they would still offer the deal even though it was no longer listed. They have a daily “drink of the day” that normally saves a dollar or two, but the big winner is shots. Get a shot of Bookers, Chivas, or Patron, for about $9. If you get it neat and un-chilled it’s never just a shot’s worth and most times we had a double or even triple. And of course the best bet is the sail away cruise night or a couple other events where they offer free champagne It’s what you expect for free champagne, but hey, it’s free.
The Cabin
We had an exceptionally lucky break with this one. When we book the base prices for a balcony room were about $600 more per couple than an interior room so we decided to book an interior room. 48 hours before the cruise we found out we had gotten a free double upgrade to a balcony room that was great.
Something to be aware of when booking rooms is that the quoted rate or base rate, will not be the price you pay. Our base rate of $1648 for two people increased to $2,250 after taxes, mandatory gratuities, port fees, and cruise insurance, a 37% increase !
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