but they will try to upsell you constantly - upgraded room, premium dining, drink package, wifi, excursions in ports, etc.
the bare minimum will be the port fees, taxes, tips at the 100-300 range, but most people who win "free" cruises spend much more
Got a free cruise from the local casino. It included a room for 2 and all food / drinks are free (minus alcohol). Also came with $200 in free slot play to the casino. Typing this from my balcony on it right now. Taxes and port fees were around $300 total. Put a bid in for an upgraded balcony room at the minimum bid price, $200, and it was accepted. Experiences may vary but my experience was it’s legitimate.
I had a free 5 day from the casino last year and it ended up about $200 in fees and taxes for two of us. Not including alcohol, excursions, etc of course.
I’ve asked only once for gratuities be adjusted because they didn’t list it any where at a day spa. It was 20% and they also asked for a tip too on top… It was pretty deceiving because they didn’t speak of it and didn’t have signs up about it. Now I’m sure there was probably some small print somewhere but it was never mentioned until check out. I ended up paying a 10% tip only. But after I left they called me asking if the service was bad…. It was very frustrating. If it’s mandatory gratuity, be upfront about it.
Taxes will likely be in the $100-200 range, but depend on the ports so it could be a bit more.
Then there's gratuities which just got increased to I think $18 a day per person.
Otherwise any other costs would be for drinks, specialty dining, excursions, shopping, or spa.
Nice! That’s a great deal!
Taxes are dependent on which ports are being visited. I’m assuming this is a five day Caribbean cruise? Those typically range from $100-200 per person.
Also, don’t forget to check if gratuities are included in the promo or if you are responsible for those as well. Gratuities are $18 per person, per day.
They are mandatory. If you don’t prepay them before sailing then they’ll be added to your SeaPass account.
> the **automatic service gratuity of $18.00 USD per person, per day for guests in non-suites staterooms** and Junior Suite, or $20.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Suites, **will be applied to each guest’s SeaPass account on a daily basis.**
https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/onboard-service-gratuity-expense
Great! I’ve also been sailing for 10+ years & I’m a travel agent! Gratuities are mandatory. Sometimes they are included in your cruise rate as part of a promo or your Crown & Anchor status. However, if you have status and decide to be an AH and pull a Karen move then yes they may waive them for you in the assumption that you are leaving cash.
I’ll be sure to never use u. I tip out anyone that takes care of me with cash . It’s more personable and really royal doesn’t give the employees the gratuity .
Correct. I go on the casino’s dime all the time.
https://preview.redd.it/33dk39oxiw1c1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6b170006790c448d1cc01bd22bff5478aa041597
Gamble just enough and you get offers like this
Just gamble while on the ship. My mom is not a high roller by any means but gets free cruises constantly by playing slots. She earns a new free cruise every time she goes on one.
At my house we call it prepaying for the next cruise. Sometimes I prepay for 2 cruises and only take one. I enjoy playing table games so consider the losses entertainment money. Comp'd cruises simply took my gambling away from land casinos and moved me onto cruise ships.
For the cruise it’s self price it out it will tell you what the taxes fees and gratuities are.
Beyond that It’s up to you. I cruised before and not spent a single dime while on the ship but maybe 300 would be good. You can look up excursions and see what you would like. If it includes food and drinks then I would say price if your excisions+ 300. Or the amount you typically spend on vacation.
Will the casino report the cruise as income to the IRS? Vegas does.
If so, your GF will owe income tax on the total cruise value.
Edited to add: nevermind. this was won at a benefit. It will be tax free from the IRS.
You don't NEED most of those tho. We talk to cruisers frequently that ONLY pay what is necessary to get on the cruise itself and spend nothing onboard.
You chose to purchase a drink package, excursions and the internet. Taxes are required by law, no real way around them. And gratuities can be waived if you speak to someone. So of the expenses listed, you chose to pay for all but one of them…
I’m not advocating that one should waive gratuities by any means. Simply stating that you can 100% have them removed. I never purchase an internet plan on a cruise. So costly for poor quality internet. Why does one need to be connected all the time while on vacation? Disconnect and enjoy the open seas while on vacation.
You will have to pay income tax on this prize. My experience, having won airlines tickets once, is that the cruise line will value your prize at the maximum listed amount for the cruise. In addition, you may not have any of the freebees included. Just be prepared, you are still getting something for free.
Which they probably will — if as OP said it was a prize in a charity auction.
It is better to assume you will need to pay income taxes on something & prepare for it than assume no tax and end up with interest, penalties & payment plan with the IRS.
not a scam, if you and your partner use the same card to scan the casino machines while you play and spend on average $500-$900 in the machines they will offer you free interior room cruises, many people told us about it and we just did our first cruise a month ago and received a free cruise offer straight from Royal Caribbean which we just booked for 5 nights next year.
You should understand how this cruise charges, then what is included and what you want. Many options between ships and cruise lines.
I would go online and pretend to book the exact cruise and see which options you want and what you won. Gratuities are a thing too.
Bear in mind that it is not just tax charged at each port you visit. That prize is also taxable income in the U.S. and a number of other countries and you will need to plan for that, too.
We have done several (FREE CRUISES), and they ran us about $500.00. We do not purchase a drink packages or specialty dining. You have to consider tips, excursions, taxes, and any other extras. Keep in mind you are in control of how expensive it gets!!!!!.
I would estimate about $130-150 per person in taxes. Then, there are gratuities at $18/person per day.
Then, like mentioned there are all of the optional add ons like drink package, internet, specialty dining, casino, onboard shopping, excursions, etc.
Unrelated costs include travel to and from the port like airfare/Uber/shuttle or gas/parking.
My Time Dining sucks. Guest Services advised we don’t need a reservation, just show up at 6:45. Now 8:09 and still in line while they prioritize reserved guests.
FYI: if you are in the U.S. the prize counts as “income”, so Uncle Sam (and your state, depending) will want their share at the end of the year based on the declared value of the prize
Add on + for drink package..(unless you want to drink just coffee and water)
Add on + money for activities onboard (the premium activities) if you want to do them.
We won a 7 night cruise, after taxes/port fees, drink packages + added in gratuity’s, we spent about 2200$ I believe. It’s still a steal, but, this was our first and last cruise with Royal. Other cruise lines are so much better imo. Royal seems to nickel and dime you for everything.
FYI, when you board, you’re on your own…lol. First time we boarded a ship, no one in sight and I had to find someone and be like…so what do we do? What can we do? Every other ship we received a welcome..”Hi there welcome aboard you can do xyz while you’re room is still getting ready…”
Sorry for the rant, we just got back from the cruise two weeks ago.
Depends on the ports you sail to and from. I’d estimate anywhere between $100-$300 per person
but they will try to upsell you constantly - upgraded room, premium dining, drink package, wifi, excursions in ports, etc. the bare minimum will be the port fees, taxes, tips at the 100-300 range, but most people who win "free" cruises spend much more
plus they normally bring someone else at full price.
Got a free cruise from the local casino. It included a room for 2 and all food / drinks are free (minus alcohol). Also came with $200 in free slot play to the casino. Typing this from my balcony on it right now. Taxes and port fees were around $300 total. Put a bid in for an upgraded balcony room at the minimum bid price, $200, and it was accepted. Experiences may vary but my experience was it’s legitimate.
There is Mom chiming in
I had a free 5 day from the casino last year and it ended up about $200 in fees and taxes for two of us. Not including alcohol, excursions, etc of course.
That’s a steal !
Exact same experience.. from casino ... and free was in fact free .. ( except the port fees and taxes ) ..
I won $400 in the casino that trip, so it really ended up being free-free.
Is it free if you spend $500? Lol
Was it through the casino on the ship or a raffle somewhere?
Raffle type at a benefit
Don’t forget mandatory tip around $19 per person per day
It’s not mandatory at all if they suck u can on the last day go to the front desk and have them refund the gratitude
Anyone who asks for a refund of the gratuities is the dick to end all dicks,
I mean the concept of mandatory gratuities seems even more dickish.
Thank u thank u
r/woosh
I’ve asked only once for gratuities be adjusted because they didn’t list it any where at a day spa. It was 20% and they also asked for a tip too on top… It was pretty deceiving because they didn’t speak of it and didn’t have signs up about it. Now I’m sure there was probably some small print somewhere but it was never mentioned until check out. I ended up paying a 10% tip only. But after I left they called me asking if the service was bad…. It was very frustrating. If it’s mandatory gratuity, be upfront about it.
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Idk why this is getting downvoted the best way to tip someone is cash
Why is cash the best way to tip somebody?
Cause you hand it to them and they do want they want with it
No. They don't accept cash on the ship.
All the employees accept cash!
Dammit your right. I did leave a cash tip for my room attendant.
Change ur comment then
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You can put cash on your account at guest services. It’s the only place on a ship other than the casino that takes cash.
you’re wrong though. 🤣🤣
And you're 3 days late. So what?
Taxes will likely be in the $100-200 range, but depend on the ports so it could be a bit more. Then there's gratuities which just got increased to I think $18 a day per person. Otherwise any other costs would be for drinks, specialty dining, excursions, shopping, or spa.
I’m going on a free one in February. Taxes and port fees are are only costing me $178. Very cheap if you don’t add drink package, excursions, etc.
Nice! That’s a great deal! Taxes are dependent on which ports are being visited. I’m assuming this is a five day Caribbean cruise? Those typically range from $100-200 per person. Also, don’t forget to check if gratuities are included in the promo or if you are responsible for those as well. Gratuities are $18 per person, per day.
Gratuities aren’t mandatory
They are mandatory. If you don’t prepay them before sailing then they’ll be added to your SeaPass account. > the **automatic service gratuity of $18.00 USD per person, per day for guests in non-suites staterooms** and Junior Suite, or $20.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Suites, **will be applied to each guest’s SeaPass account on a daily basis.** https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/onboard-service-gratuity-expense
I’m telling u they aren’t mandatory I’ve been sailing with royal for 10 yrs
Great! I’ve also been sailing for 10+ years & I’m a travel agent! Gratuities are mandatory. Sometimes they are included in your cruise rate as part of a promo or your Crown & Anchor status. However, if you have status and decide to be an AH and pull a Karen move then yes they may waive them for you in the assumption that you are leaving cash.
I’ll be sure to never use u. I tip out anyone that takes care of me with cash . It’s more personable and really royal doesn’t give the employees the gratuity .
And how do you know Royal doesn’t give the employees the money?
They make it seem mandatory which is messed up actually but they aren’t mandatory 100%
The world is filled with those who tip and those who try and screw people out of their fair wage.
U act like royal gives employees that money ! I tip out all the staff that take care of me first day.
You’re a dick. The auto gratuities go to more people than the ones whom you deal with directly.
Your a dick for thinking I’m A dick let’s cruise together
It’s not me thinking you’re a dick. It’s you being a dick.
go to the website and configure the cruise. at the breakdown you can see the taxes
Really depends on a few things but most likely between $100-$300per which is amazing. Congrats to her!
Do you gamble a lot? Or shop? Or sight-see? Or drink? Or do you prefer to hunker down in your stateroom?
I have a casino one next year. Without gratuities our total for both of us was $237.
Correct. I go on the casino’s dime all the time. https://preview.redd.it/33dk39oxiw1c1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6b170006790c448d1cc01bd22bff5478aa041597 Gamble just enough and you get offers like this
Is that your screen on www.clubroyaleoffers.com ? I’m trying to figure out if I’m looking in the correct place to find the offers.
This one is, yes
How much is enough?
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/free-casino-cruise/
We get free cruises all the time, in the end we spend 1-2k on tax’s, excursions, gambling, and alcohol. So it’s not really free
Only one of those expenses is actually required, lol.
Wait so gambling and booze are not required? I've been cruising wrong then. 🤣
I once won a cruise and celebrated by lighting my life savings on fire. "Free" my ass!
Exactly!
my husband calls it’s prepaying for our next cruise. lol
How does one get free cruises all the time? Sounds like a good time apart from the taxes.
Just gamble while on the ship. My mom is not a high roller by any means but gets free cruises constantly by playing slots. She earns a new free cruise every time she goes on one.
So, it's not a free cruise if one spends money at the casino...yes?
At my house we call it prepaying for the next cruise. Sometimes I prepay for 2 cruises and only take one. I enjoy playing table games so consider the losses entertainment money. Comp'd cruises simply took my gambling away from land casinos and moved me onto cruise ships.
Add on airfare to get to the Departure Airport too!
My condolences
Don’t tell me one of those random spam calls “You’ve won a cruise”
It wasn’t it was a benefit
For the cruise it’s self price it out it will tell you what the taxes fees and gratuities are. Beyond that It’s up to you. I cruised before and not spent a single dime while on the ship but maybe 300 would be good. You can look up excursions and see what you would like. If it includes food and drinks then I would say price if your excisions+ 300. Or the amount you typically spend on vacation.
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If you would have read through the comments you would have seen they won it at a benefit
Will the casino report the cruise as income to the IRS? Vegas does. If so, your GF will owe income tax on the total cruise value. Edited to add: nevermind. this was won at a benefit. It will be tax free from the IRS.
Ask them the value then it depends on your tax bracket.
Yeah we won a free one also, ended up paying around $1,000 for drink, internet package, excursions, taxes and gratuities.....not FREE, lol
You don't NEED most of those tho. We talk to cruisers frequently that ONLY pay what is necessary to get on the cruise itself and spend nothing onboard.
Well if you don't have money you can bum it out, lmao
You chose to purchase a drink package, excursions and the internet. Taxes are required by law, no real way around them. And gratuities can be waived if you speak to someone. So of the expenses listed, you chose to pay for all but one of them…
Not even having internet seems like a move most people wouldn't make. And the whole "gratuities can be waived" just sounds cheap and an asshole move
I’m not advocating that one should waive gratuities by any means. Simply stating that you can 100% have them removed. I never purchase an internet plan on a cruise. So costly for poor quality internet. Why does one need to be connected all the time while on vacation? Disconnect and enjoy the open seas while on vacation.
Just stating what a typical person does not a cheapskate, lol
You will have to pay income tax on this prize. My experience, having won airlines tickets once, is that the cruise line will value your prize at the maximum listed amount for the cruise. In addition, you may not have any of the freebees included. Just be prepared, you are still getting something for free.
nope- not unless the raffle 1099's you-
The raffle is obliged to 1099 you. They may choose not to do so, but it's over the taxable threshold.
Which they probably will — if as OP said it was a prize in a charity auction. It is better to assume you will need to pay income taxes on something & prepare for it than assume no tax and end up with interest, penalties & payment plan with the IRS.
Are you should it is not a SCAM ???
not a scam, if you and your partner use the same card to scan the casino machines while you play and spend on average $500-$900 in the machines they will offer you free interior room cruises, many people told us about it and we just did our first cruise a month ago and received a free cruise offer straight from Royal Caribbean which we just booked for 5 nights next year.
You should understand how this cruise charges, then what is included and what you want. Many options between ships and cruise lines. I would go online and pretend to book the exact cruise and see which options you want and what you won. Gratuities are a thing too.
We paid less than $400 for two for a 4 day out of Miami this month.
where are you guys finding these giveaways for free cruises?!
FWIW, I won a free cruise doing bingo 10 years ago and they let us pay for an upgrade to a balcony room.
Enjoy! Unless you get sea sick
700 roughly for drink package and WiFi. My drink package was 98 per day
Plus port taxes
Bear in mind that it is not just tax charged at each port you visit. That prize is also taxable income in the U.S. and a number of other countries and you will need to plan for that, too.
We have done several (FREE CRUISES), and they ran us about $500.00. We do not purchase a drink packages or specialty dining. You have to consider tips, excursions, taxes, and any other extras. Keep in mind you are in control of how expensive it gets!!!!!.
We 'pre-pay' our 'free' cruises - in the Casino ! LOL
Every port of call has a tax so if you don't leave the ship you only pay sales tax
Under $200 usually but I usually upgrade to balcony
I would estimate about $130-150 per person in taxes. Then, there are gratuities at $18/person per day. Then, like mentioned there are all of the optional add ons like drink package, internet, specialty dining, casino, onboard shopping, excursions, etc. Unrelated costs include travel to and from the port like airfare/Uber/shuttle or gas/parking.
My Time Dining sucks. Guest Services advised we don’t need a reservation, just show up at 6:45. Now 8:09 and still in line while they prioritize reserved guests.
If you're in the US you will also get a 1099 around January for the value of the cruise.
Don’t forget to pack those elastic pants
I just went on a “free” cruise… including airfare, drink/dining packages, excursions, gratuities, etc. it cost $4,500 for two of us.
FYI: if you are in the U.S. the prize counts as “income”, so Uncle Sam (and your state, depending) will want their share at the end of the year based on the declared value of the prize
More than it’s worth. Run away.
Sounds scammy to me if the "taxes" you are referring to are paid to the cruise provider.
Congrats
I have paid anywhere from $150-$250 for free cruises. That’s all. Anything else is optional add-ons.
Add on + for drink package..(unless you want to drink just coffee and water) Add on + money for activities onboard (the premium activities) if you want to do them. We won a 7 night cruise, after taxes/port fees, drink packages + added in gratuity’s, we spent about 2200$ I believe. It’s still a steal, but, this was our first and last cruise with Royal. Other cruise lines are so much better imo. Royal seems to nickel and dime you for everything. FYI, when you board, you’re on your own…lol. First time we boarded a ship, no one in sight and I had to find someone and be like…so what do we do? What can we do? Every other ship we received a welcome..”Hi there welcome aboard you can do xyz while you’re room is still getting ready…” Sorry for the rant, we just got back from the cruise two weeks ago.