One of the big draws with cruising is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a good time. However, like any other mode of travel, there are tons of ways that cruise lines can “help” you if you want to spend more.
And there’s big money in appealing to rich cruise passengers wanting to spend more on their vacation. If a balcony cabin sells for $1,000 per person on a cruise, a suite can sell for double, triple, or even more. It’s not unheard of for some rooms to reach more than $10,000 for a week-long cruise. (See some of the wildest cruise suites here.)
When spending thousands and thousands on a high-end suite, the rich passengers that book these trips don’t just get a larger room or some fuzzy slippers to wear around the cabin. They are showered with perks that you and I don’t get.
So what do rich cruisers get that we don’t see? Here’s just some of the perks they receive that prove the adage that “the more you pay, the more you get.”
Drink Package Included With Their Cruise
Drinks are always popular on a cruise, but they are no doubt expensive. You can pay $12-$14 for a cocktail, plus an additional 20% gratuity. Cruise lines sell drink packages that allow you to enjoy yourself without worrying about the bill for each individual drink adding up. Those packages are expensive as well. It’s not unusual to pay $100 per person, per day for a drink package. On a 7-day cruise, that would be $1,400 for a couple sailing.
For rich cruise passengers sailing in the highest-end suites, this drink package is no extra charge. Sure, they are technically “paying” for it with the cost of the room, but they don’t have an additional outlay of money to be able to enjoy whatever they want to drink on the ship.
Wi-Fi Service at No Extra Charge
Compared to the cost of drinks on the ship, wi-fi is downright cheap. However, compared to the price you’d pay on land, it’s insanely high. It’s not unusual to spend $20-$30 a day for wi-fi. Meanwhile, that’s for only one device at a time and the speeds usually don’t approach what you get back home.
Even so, staying connected is a nice perk for many and if you sail in the nicest (most expensive!) rooms, you’ll have it included with your stay.
Best of all, it will be the fastest tier of internet service and it’s often for multiple devices meaning that everyone can connect at once without having to share a connection.
Your Very Own Butler?!
Perhaps no luxury is more synonymous with having wealth than having your own butler. Now, not many people have a real butler like you’d see in the movies. On a cruise ship, however, it’s a perk that’s relatively common for the highest-spending passengers.
Cabins will have a butler that can help you with anything you need on the ship from simply bringing you a snack to helping with reservations and everything in between.
Now, for some people — even big spenders — having a butler on call may be overkill. We’d personally prefer privacy and being left alone, but then again, we’re not shelling out thousands of dollars for a high-end suite either.
Exclusive Spaces The Rest of the Ship Doesn’t See
For rich passengers, cruise lines have made it a point to create what they like to call a “resort within a resort.”
Put simply, those staying in the most expensive cabins get to enjoy the entire ship from the theater to the casino to the restaurants to the pool area. But everyone gets to use these areas. If the crowds are too much, the highest-end cabins also have their own exclusive spaces for use.
For instance, The Haven on NCL features its own bar and restaurant, as well as its own pool and sundeck where the well-to-do can relax without the crowds found on the rest of the ship.
So while these passengers get to enjoy the entire ship, there are areas that lower-tier passengers won’t ever see.
Priority Boarding and Dedicated Services
Don’t want to stand in line? In that case it pays to be wealthy and spend that money on a cruise ship.
Given the number of people on a ship, it’s actually impressive how cruise lines are able to manage crowds. Still, there are some spots where lines form… if you’re not spending a lot of money on your cruise.
If you’re able to shell out for the nice rooms, then lines aren’t a thing anymore. There is priority boarding with your own special line to avoid the crowds and board more quickly. You’ll also be able to have your own Guest Services line to meet with a staff member should you need to address any issues during your cruise.
Priority Reservations
With thousands of people on a cruise ship, you often need to have a reservation for things like restaurants and even some shows. Miss your chance and you can be on the outside looking in. If you’re a rich passenger, however, you need not worry.
One of the perks they get with suites is priority reservations or sometimes even spots set aside for them no matter what. So instead of coming early to the theater to ensure a good seat, they can simply arrive right at showtime and know they have a spot waiting for them. And if they want to eat at a certain time, then it’s no issue to be able to get a reservation for whenever they like.
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