| When booking a cruise vacation, the experienced | | | | cost money. You can review and book these |
| cruise traveler knows that the final cost is never | | | | excursions in advance, allowing you to not only |
| truly the final cost. From shore excursions to spa | | | | budget your activities accordingly, but also to look |
| treatments, there a number of additional options | | | | for destinations and ports-of-call where you can |
| and added on activities that can be included in | | | | explore on your own. |
| every cruise vacation. | | | | For example, you may want to indulge in some |
| To learn about the basics of shore-side activities, | | | | structured wine-tasting when your boat docks in |
| keep reading for great tips on how to enjoy | | | | France, but explore Athens on your own with little |
| optional side trips and save money on your next | | | | more than a guide book and a shuttle back to the |
| cruise. | | | | ship at the end of the day. |
| Getting to Your Cruise | | | | Additional Activities On-Board |
| Your first "add-on" is going to be the actual | | | | Not everything is free on a cruise ship; from spa |
| transportation to the ship and your port of | | | | treatments to rock climbing to golf courses, many |
| departure. Sometimes, booking a flight as part of | | | | of the activities on a cruise ship are available at an |
| a cruise package will save you money and other | | | | extra cost. To be sure you understand all the |
| times, it won't. Therefore, it's important to | | | | costs associated with your next cruise vacation, |
| compare the cost of your cruise with a flight | | | | read through your passenger materials thoroughly. |
| package against your own flight prices and various | | | | And read the fine print! |
| airline deals. Or if you are geographically close | | | | For spa treatments and tee times at the driving |
| enough, you might consider driving to the port. | | | | range, book early as these tend to fill up fast. |
| Many cruise lines offer a shuttle service from local | | | | Extra Cabin Amenities |
| hotels or airports in their departure city. To save | | | | Cruise ships offer a number of additional cabin |
| money on a taxi to the actual ship, call ahead and | | | | amenities like a departure gift, champagne on |
| ask. | | | | arrival, laundry service and room service. All these |
| Port Excursions | | | | extras come at additional cost. Again, before you |
| Almost every cruise ship offers port excursions | | | | book and as you budget, be sure to take into |
| at an additional cost. These can range from basic | | | | consideration the extra expenses associated with |
| guided tours to fully-outfitted scuba diving | | | | additional cabin amenities. |
| expeditions. The majority of these excursions will | | | | |