One of the items to check on when booking a cruise, is how you are going to keep in touch with family and friends at home. If the brochures don't provide all the information you need, the cruise line's website may hold the answers. But still, you want that confirmed before you purchase your ticket. Communications aren't one of the items that often swing people to book with this line or that one, but they can be a significant shipboard expense, if you aren't careful.

Almost all ships, provide the ability to make ship to shore calls from your stateroom, and if not there, then from somewhere else onboard. But the rates for these can be extremely high, running anywhere from $8 per minute and up. The charges for this service will appear on your “bill” or “ticket” that tracks other expenses during the cruise, such as spa treatments, dry cleaning, etc.

You might think it's cheaper for the family to call you “direct”, but it's not. The rates charged by the cruise line are the same per minute, but instead of going on your bill, must be paid up front by the caller, using a credit card.

Unless it is an emergency, or very special occasion, keeping in touch is less expensive via email and the Internet. But even those charges onboard can be more than they would be in your ports of call. So the wisest course may be to check into phone rates from your destinations to home, as well as the rates of Internet cafes in the ports you call at.