Virtually everything on board a cruise ship is included in the fare. Gourmet meals, Broadway-style shows and endless activities provide even the most energetic cruiser plenty of excitement. Personal expenses such as gambling, alcoholic beverages and sodas; shore excursions; and alternative dining are not included.
Many new passengers are surprised to learn that ships are no longer class-based. Whether your cabin is in the bowels of the ship or is the owner's suite, you are entitled to use all dining rooms, show lounges, pools and other facilities.
A handful of specialty cruise lines still uphold the tradition of formal attire, but most lines have gone casual. Formal optional nights, on which a blazer and slacks are sufficient, have replaced formal nights on most lines. Some cruisers spend the entire voyage in shorts or bathing suits.
Cruise ships call at more than 2,000 ports in some of the world's most spectacular locales. Nonetheless, the Caribbean remains the most popular itinerary.
Today's mega-ships hold more than 4,000 people, including officers and crew. They are fully self-sufficient and typically carry enough supplies to survive in an emergency for at least two weeks.
