Why did you choose that ship and that itinerary?

Hi David, yup, sounds like you chose the wrong cruise for your family. Comparing Asia with USA is always going to be cheaper to visit the former. A 5-star hotel room in Bangkok is under $200 a night in some cases! Perhaps you’d prefer a smaller ship with smaller ports? I’m hosting an Adriatic and Greek islands cruise this year, some ports will be busy (like Istanbul), but others won’t be. And my Christmas Markets cruise along the Danube also won’t be heaving with tourists. Plenty more itineraries out there you might enjoy by sea. – Megan

Our RC cruise to the Bahamas was 5 days and cost about $5,000 or $1,000 day. I included Boston to Miami flight and hotel for 1 night. On the same days, we could flown to Helsinki, Finland or Lima, Peru for the same cost. So the figure double the price for a cruise unless you live next to the port.

Missed seeing areas that weren’t full of tourists in the Bahamas. Personally, it was like a Disney park and I hate Disney. Crowds, high prices and all fake stuff. I’d rather see foreign places without following around a mob.

Oh dear! If you like cruising as such though for the destinations and unpacking only once, but with fewer people, you might prefer a smaller boutique ship like Ponant or Windstar.

Great helpful information Megan thanks

Hi, gratuities will differ depending on each ship but you should allow around $10-$12 per person per day. It can add up, but for that you get butler service in your room and your own waiter at the restaurant – if you dine at the same table each night. I would also advise you to look into buying a drinks package either when you get on board or via your travel agent before you go. The most recent one I experienced was about US$22 per day and that included all soft drinks and wine, beer. I think it might have even covered cocktails. It was only available though if both people in the same cabin bought it, i.e. $44 per day for 2 people. In the end we decided not to go for it as my husband doesn’t really drink, but a cocktail by the pool and a couple of glasses of wine with dinner, let alone any other drinks and it probably would have been worth it. Otherwise drinks were just at normal bar prices. I didn’t feel they were extortionate.

Hope that helps!