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Budgeting


catsea
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If you use a drink package that's prepaid and order a drink while still at port, you could be charged the sales tax on the drink. But if you're not taking any shore excursions and not eating/drinking beyond the included taxes you can absolutely finish the cruise with no additional charges.

 

Factors to budget:

 

*Parking or getting to/from the port (plus any meals you may encounter while traveling, like at an airport)

*Small bills to tip porters at the port

*Your cruise fare + prepaid tips/DSC + 18% gratuity on the included "perks"

*Any pre-cruise prep shopping you decide to do - such as binoculars, new bathing suit, etc.

*Trip insurance (I don't if it's under 4 days and my home port, I add on if the kids are coming or any airfare is required to embark)

 

You do NOT need cash on the ship at all. There are many Cruise Critic members that will at times tip on top of the prepaid gratuities, but it is not a requirement. You may decide that you've had above and beyond service from a staff member that you'd like to reward with extra tip. You can do this in cash, or through your shipboard account.

 

If you decide to add on shore excursions, they can be variable in price. Caribbean cruises are easy to find much less expensive third party operators. Alaska excursions are more expensive and the price differential between booking through the cruise and independently is less, although still there.

 

Something else to consider is communication. Personally I cruise to be "offline" and put my phone in airplane mode and forget it. If, for some reason, you need to be in communication with home, you'll want to research calling cards/prepaid phones/internet packages on the ship.

 

 

I noticed the insurance, does it ever really come in handy? I do not have to fly and it's only 3 nights so I'm thinking of not doing it but it makes me nervous only because they pointed it out. I guess that's how they make the money though. How do you tip through your account? I read somewhere that NCL doesn't even give you a receipt to sign for drinks if you have the beverage package so, in that case, would I need cash if I wanted to tip a specific bartender?

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I noticed the insurance, does it ever really come in handy? I do not have to fly and it's only 3 nights so I'm thinking of not doing it but it makes me nervous only because they pointed it out. I guess that's how they make the money though. How do you tip through your account? I read somewhere that NCL doesn't even give you a receipt to sign for drinks if you have the beverage package so, in that case, would I need cash if I wanted to tip a specific bartender?

They make you prepay gratuities as a part of the package, so extra tipping isn't needed. For a bartender though, if you want to do more you'll want ones to do so.

 

Insurance is always about risk. For a 3 day where I don't have to fly, I don't buy it. But on the first cruise where I brought my kids my youngest had an injury at sea and I had this flash of what it would cost to helicopter him out had it been more serious. So now I pay for it if they're coming along or if I've spent a lot on the crusie or airfare. We have an upcoming trip to Alaska and airfare alone was $4500 plus our cruise, so I wanted to cover our bases if anything unexpected came up...and kids can be so unpredictable.

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I don't buy insurance for short cruises where we will be mostly close to the USA. It is a risk. But, one I decide I can take in those cases. For longer cruises that take us farther away with more time in a foreign port I do buy insurance. Stuff happens and on these longer cruises I would be out thousands of dollars vs hundreds for a shorter one if we had to cancel. Never mind a medical emergency that would require you to be flown back home from overseas. That cost would be very high, no doubt.

 

Regarding spending money, as others have stated, if you have pre-paid drinks and gratuities there is no reason to spend even 1 more dime. Everything on board is about WANT, not need. Personally we budget for photos, internet and tipping of porters or room service attendants. And buying stuff we don't need

 

On shore if I'm not taking an excursion, then I budget about $100/day, more or less depending. I usually research the area and see if there is anything I might want to do that requires an entry fee. Other than that it's lunch, transportation, if necessary, and souvenirs.

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Hi all,

 

I'm trying to set a number to save up for a cruise next year, but I'm not really sure how much to aim for. If you don't eat at the specialty dining options and with the beverage package food and drinks are included in the price as well as most of the tips, so what would not be included that you usually expect to spend money on? I know you should definitely set some aside, but I'm not sure how much. Also, do you usually carry much cash? Are there ATM's and are the fees bad?

 

Thanks a bunch

- C

C

Not sure what you are looking for. Are you thinking in terms of everything (cruise cost, transportation to/from port, etc.) or just what you would need on the ship? Are your tips included in your fare cost? Do you plan to use cash for your onboard account or a credit card? If you plan to use a credit card, you do not need cash on the ship. Everything will be placed on your account and it will settle to your card at the end of the cruise. I tip baggage handlers at the ports so I have cash for that (3 - 5 $ per bag depending on the bag). I like to get coffee in my room in the morning so if there is no coffee maker and I order room service, I tip the steward (a buck or 2) when the coffee is delivered. If I had an exceptional waiter or cabin attendant, I tip extra at the end of the cruise, your call to do it and how much. If I order drinks around the pool, that is charged to the shipboard account and the tip may or may not be included for the attendant. Check your cruise line for that. Off ship, while in ports, I like to get a bite to eat and a local drink so I have cash for that but it can be charged to a credit card in most places. Any gifts to take home or T-shirts can go on the card in most places. You said 2 ports and $200 and that would be plenty. I carry a little cash and a credit card. I have not used an ATM but your bank will tell you what the fee will be. Remember though, there might be a local fee to use the ATM, a foregien currency fee if that is involved, a hometown bank fee, and a cash advance fee if that is how you draw your money. There will be a safe in your room so you do not have to take all your cash when you visit the port so taking cash is easier for me. Now, is all of that clear as mud?:D

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... How do you tip through your account? I read somewhere that NCL doesn't even give you a receipt to sign for drinks if you have the beverage package so, in that case, would I need cash if I wanted to tip a specific bartender?

The only cash you need aboard is for small incidental tips. Otherwise the ship is a cashless environment. These tips would be room service, maybe sometimes occasionally bartender. [i assume that your general gratuities are prepaid in your fare.] At the end of the trip you might want cash to leave as an extra for your steward and waiters. But maybe not even that since on such a short trip you won't be building much of a relationship with the staff. If you go ashore, expect to pay tips like anyplace else - bars, restaurants, tour guides... For your short cruise, I would probably take $50 = 2@$10, 4@$5, and 10@$1. And I would expect to bring half home to buy a fast-food meal on the way home.

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I very rarely spend a lot onboard. Things that I would think about budgeting for would be things like:

 

Room service,

Gym classes,

Laundry,

Buying photos,

Internet,

Special shows

 

Maybe a few other things! (List from http://cruisingisntjustforoldpeople.co.uk/2016/12/27/infographic-the-hidden-costs-of-cruising/)

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

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C

Not sure what you are looking for. Are you thinking in terms of everything (cruise cost, transportation to/from port, etc.) or just what you would need on the ship? Are your tips included in your fare cost? Do you plan to use cash for your onboard account or a credit card? If you plan to use a credit card, you do not need cash on the ship. Everything will be placed on your account and it will settle to your card at the end of the cruise. I tip baggage handlers at the ports so I have cash for that (3 - 5 $ per bag depending on the bag). I like to get coffee in my room in the morning so if there is no coffee maker and I order room service, I tip the steward (a buck or 2) when the coffee is delivered. If I had an exceptional waiter or cabin attendant, I tip extra at the end of the cruise, your call to do it and how much. If I order drinks around the pool, that is charged to the shipboard account and the tip may or may not be included for the attendant. Check your cruise line for that. Off ship, while in ports, I like to get a bite to eat and a local drink so I have cash for that but it can be charged to a credit card in most places. Any gifts to take home or T-shirts can go on the card in most places. You said 2 ports and $200 and that would be plenty. I carry a little cash and a credit card. I have not used an ATM but your bank will tell you what the fee will be. Remember though, there might be a local fee to use the ATM, a foregien currency fee if that is involved, a hometown bank fee, and a cash advance fee if that is how you draw your money. There will be a safe in your room so you do not have to take all your cash when you visit the port so taking cash is easier for me. Now, is all of that clear as mud?:D

 

Thank you, that does cover most of it! What did you mean when you said "use cash for your onboard account or a credit card?" I didn't even know cash would be an option in that case. How would that work?

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Thank you, that does cover most of it! What did you mean when you said "use cash for your onboard account or a credit card?" I didn't even know cash would be an option in that case. How would that work?

 

Some cruise lines let you deposit cash with them when you first arrive at the port (think in terms of 50 - 75 $ per day of cruise, per person in the cabin) instead of using a credit card for the on board account. Then they reduce the cash account as the daily charges mount up. When the account gets low, they call you to the front office and require more cash. NOT a way I recommend but some folks keep low credit limits and a card would be overpowered. Some only use a debit card and most ships require cash or credit card. IMHO, use a credit card, fewer worries.

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  • 3 weeks later...
I'm referring more to necessary expenses, not add-ons like gambling/shopping/excursion money. Like what kind of expenses are not covered in the price of the room that you should definitely plan on spending? I'm planning on getting the beverage package, so with that and not dining in specialty restaurants, food and drink should be covered. I've read that there is also an 18% charge with that package, so does that cover tips? Who should be tipped that is not covered already and is there anything that you need cash for that cannot be paid for with a card? I've never been on a cruise before where I was in charge of the finances, so I'm trying to figure it all out well in advance as to not be blindsided with unexpected charges.

Don't drink anything from the fridge in the cabin...there is a charge for those

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-T337A using Forums mobile app

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The one I am looking at is NCL. Is room service not included or are you referring to tips? I think I've heard somewhere that room service is not included during regular hours, but I'm not sure how that works.

 

That's a good point, I'm also pretty sure it coincides with Spring Break. It should be fun to get a feel for cruising before doing anything longer in the future.

 

On NCL, there are all kinds of extra charges:

bowling

casino

drinks

specialty restaurants

Arcade

room service (beyond the continental breakfast they serve - there is a flat fee for ordering room service)

spa

bingo

exercise classes

Deal or No Deal

Ship's infirmary (should you need to see the doctor or a nurse while onboard)

Special shows (on the mega ships)

laundry

photos

internet

phone calls

on demand movies

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