Tourism is good. Because of stiff competition, airlines, cruise ships and hotels are creating all-inclusive sailing vacation packages that are very affordable. You can even bring the whole family to the cruise. That is how easy on the budget some packages are.
However, there are some deals, especially on the Internet that are not. They may appear very affordable at the onset but when purchased, you will soon find out that it is not what it is supposed to be. Some of these supposedly all inclusive packages for sailing have hidden and extra charges that you may not be able to afford especially if you are paying for a lot of people. You see, these hidden charges are often charged per person and not per package.
Here are some of the things that you should do and the things that you should look into when purchasing an all-inclusive sailing vacation package.
1. Check the inclusions
All inclusive packages may be advertised as complete packages but most of them are not. When they say that it includes food, clarify if the meals included are for the whole day— breakfast, lunch and dinner. Often, hotels will just offer a breakfast for you. Some cruise ships may offer their food for free onboard while others have additional charges.
City tours will also have additional charges except if it is already included in the package. Make sure that you consider all these when buying the package.
2. Ask questions
When purchasing a package, do not just rely on the advertisement that you see in the newspapers, on TV or on the internet. These ads are shorter versions of the real thing and most of the time they will not include the details that will not sell the product. That is why, it is important to give the company a call and to ask as many questions as possible. Clarify the packages, including the inclusions and the exclusions. Sellers will be forthright with that if you ask the question but otherwise, they will not tell you.
3. Ask their name
After asking questions, make sure that you ask for the name of the person you were talking to. This will be your insurance when you encounter some problems with the package. That way, the person you are talking with will also be aware that whatever he or she says can be directly traced back to him or her.
4. Watch out for taxes
Most packages will be priced without the taxes on it. When you are computing for your budget for the all inclusive sailing vacation package, include the taxes that you may incur. This is especially true if there are many of you in the group because the charges will be per person and not per package. Hotels, restaurants, cruise ships and airlines will have different taxes and additional charges so ask about it. It is better to be prepared.
5. Know what season
Really good all inclusive sailing vacation packages are often created for the off peak season when few people are actually travelling to these places. If you only have a target date when all of you can go, make sure that the duration of the offer will include the date that you are targeting. Otherwise, purchasing it will just be a waste of good money.
So, instead of flying off to a distant land for a much needed vacation, why don’t you spend almost the same amount on a sea sailing vacation. There are lots of destinations and before you select one, it is good to know what is included in the package.
Despite its price tag, a lot of vacationers have said that an all inclusive sailing vacation saves you money because you don’t have to shell out any more money for food when you have already paid for this when you book the trip. All you have to do is check out the cuisines being offered and then dig in.
Naturally, you will already get a room throughout your stay so you can rest assured that some say is similar to what a five star luxury hotel can offer.
So guests don’t get bored while they are onboard, you also get to watch live entertainment, engage in activities planned by the ship’s crew and the use of their facilities like the gym or pool with no extra charge.
But there are a few things that are not included in the package. These include the tips, the spa services, equipment rentals and the cost of shore excursions. All in all, you will probably spend an extra $1,000 to $1,500 which does not include the cash you will spend buying souvenirs and eating when your ship is docked in port.
We mentioned earlier that food for the entire trip was free. Surprisingly, this does not cover the drinks that you will be consuming. So, passengers are advised to bring in a few refreshments of their own. Keep in mind though that there is usually a corkage fee for those who have hard liquor while in some sailing companies, this is not allowed.
The other option is to buy a prepaid card that allows you to order as much as you want at a flat fee. It is usually $30 for kids and $45 for adults.
Another thing that comes with some sailing vacation packages are airport transfers and airfare. With that, you won’t have to worry anymore about how to get to the port especially when you have never been to this place before.
One question that a lot of people forget to ask before booking on a trip is if there is a cancellation policy included in the sailing vacation in the event that the trip does not push through. The weather could postpone it indefinitely so you should know if you are able to get a full refund, given a voucher for another vacation or compensated in some other way.
A lot of sailing vacation companies post what is included in their packages by posting this in their website or in their brochure. If you don’t have the time to look through them, call your travel agent so he or she can do the research and present to you the options that fall within your budget.
Once you know what is inclusive in a sailing vacation, it will already be easy for you to decide where you want to go. You just have to pack your bags and make it to the airport or the port of departure hours before they leave so you won’t feel you are in a rush when you are supposed to take it easy and just relax.
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