Cruise lines have made a sport of obscuring “what’s included” in their pricing. Sticker price looks great until you board and start swiping your room key for everything from coffee to gratuities to bottled water. Here’s the plain-English version of what’s actually included in EWT Tours’ 12-day Mediterranean cruise — and what’s not.
The cruise itself — what’s included
- Your stateroom for 11 nights aboard the Enchanted Princess
- All meals in main dining rooms and buffet venues — breakfast, lunch, dinner, plus 24-hour casual options
- Entertainment — production shows, comedy, live music, movies under the stars
- Pools, hot tubs, fitness center access
- Standard tea, coffee, water, juice at meals
The EWT Tours layer — what’s included
- Daniel Cope as your tour host — onboard for the full 11 nights
- Welcome dinner in Rome the embarkation evening
- Group dinner at a private venue in Athens before disembarkation
- Recommended group shore excursion in each port — vetted, booked at group rates, optional to join
- Group airport transfer in Athens on disembarkation day
- Trip packet pre-departure with restaurant tips, local etiquette, and what to pack
What’s NOT included (book separately)
- International flights to Rome and from Athens — flexibility for you to use miles, choose dates
- Travel insurance — required, sold separately. Costs ~3-5% of trip price.
- Specialty restaurants onboard — main dining included; specialty venues like Sabatini’s, Crown Grill etc. carry fees ($25-50 per person)
- Drinks packages — alcohol, soda, specialty coffee at meals. Princess Plus (~$60/day) and Princess Premier (~$80/day) packages available; bring on if you’ll drink 3+ alcoholic drinks daily
- Gratuities for ship crew — automatic ~$17/day per person added to your folio. Can be prepaid.
- Visa fees — most travelers won’t need them, but check Turkey-specifically (sometimes required for Kusadasi)
- Shore excursion fees — Princess offers tours at most ports; EWT Tours’ recommended group tours are typically $80-150/person
- Personal expenses — souvenirs, internet, spa, casino
The big questions people ask
“Do I have to do the EWT shore excursions?” No. They’re optional and booked at group rates if you join. You can do your own thing in any port — explore independently, book directly with Princess, or stay onboard.
“What’s actually free at the bar?” Standard coffee at the buffet, tea, basic juice at meals, water. Anything bottled, espresso drinks, alcohol — those carry charges or need a drinks package.
“Should I prepay gratuities?” Yes if you don’t want a ~$200 surprise on your folio at the end of the cruise.
“Princess Plus vs Premier — which?” Plus ($60/day, drinks + WiFi + crew appreciation) is enough for most. Premier ($80/day) adds specialty dining and premium WiFi — only worth it if you’ll genuinely use specialty restaurants 4+ times.
Real total cost example
For a couple in an interior cabin (entry-level), realistic add-ons beyond the EWT Tours base price:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| International flights | $1,200-2,400 |
| Travel insurance | $150-300/person |
| Princess Plus drinks package (per person) | $660 |
| Group shore excursions (5-6 ports x $100 avg) | $500-600/person |
| Gratuities | $187/person |
| Personal spending | $200-500 |
That’s roughly $2,500-3,500 per person on top of the tour base. Most are optional — drinks package is $660 only if you want it; shore excursions are à la carte.
Questions about what’s included for your specific situation? Request a consultation call — we’ll walk through everything. See the full Mediterranean tour itinerary →
