how much money should i bring?

[redangel2560]

My husband and I are going on our first cruise through Royal Caribbean on July 12. It is a four night cruise and we are celebrating our 5 year anniversary. We will each be paying for our own expenses and I am on a budget. I already have prepaid a soda card and our only excursion. I have decided not to drink any alcohol as I know that is a major expense. So my question is, how much money should I plan on spending? I would like to be able to bring home a few souvenirs like jewelry or crafts (i.e no cheap tshirts :p). Thanks in advance for your help.

[romnan]

My husband and I are going on our first cruise through Royal Caribbean on July 12. It is a four night cruise and we are celebrating our 5 year anniversary. We will each be paying for our own expenses and I am on a budget. I already have prepaid a soda card and our only excursion. I have decided not to drink any alcohol as I know that is a major expense. So my question is, how much money should I plan on spending? I would like to be able to bring home a few souvenirs like jewelry or crafts (i.e no cheap tshirts :p). Thanks in advance for your help.

Bear in Mind that everything goes on your Seapass Card which is backed by a credit Card or Cash deposit. Cruise lines try not get involved handling too much money. The only cash you are going to need is what you want to spend in th casino, or when you go on shore.

 

Without knowing what you are going to do ashore,it's hard to estimate I think $100 per day should cover he both of you for the most part

[paul929207]

Some people will spend $10 or $15 ashore on your cruise. Others will spend $1000 or more.

[travlnblueberries]

The question you should be asking yourself is how much DO YOU WANT to spend on souveneers (sp?) Then if you come across something, you'll be able to say if you could afford it or not.

[chipmaster]

Congrats on the anniversary, it sounds like you have it figured out for the most part.

 

But cruiser beware how much you spend is related directly to how much you spend. :D

 

As others said everything on the cruise can be "charged" which is good and dangerous. If one splurges one can spend a lot in port too billed to the ship thru sponsored excursions or do it really cheap with just a stroll in town to the local beachs and nothing more. You also got lots of other little things on the ship to think about; premium coffee, deserts, pictures, bingo and on and on :eek:

 

If one doesn't drink, gamble, buy souveniors, nor partake in anything expensive in port one can escape with little more than the daily tips but even that is a sizable sum as 10-15/day/person adds up to.

 

Enjoy your first cruise!

 

My husband and I are going on our first cruise through Royal Caribbean on July 12. It is a four night cruise and we are celebrating our 5 year anniversary. We will each be paying for our own expenses and I am on a budget. I already have prepaid a soda card and our only excursion. I have decided not to drink any alcohol as I know that is a major expense. So my question is, how much money should I plan on spending? I would like to be able to bring home a few souvenirs like jewelry or crafts (i.e no cheap tshirts :p). Thanks in advance for your help.

[cb at sea]

Bring more than you want to spend....the bank will let your redeposit it when you get home.

No one can tell you how much you're likely to spend... (you've already said you won't be doing souveniers "on the cheap"!)

It's your money, and your budget...bring what you want, and budget around it!

[Bakincakes]

I read the OP post at least three times..I'm not sure I'm understanding this..

 

They are celebrating their 5th wedding anniversary and they are each responsible for their own expenses onboard?:confused:

[redangel2560]

Thanks for all the great advice! I will set a budget ahead of time for souvenirs like some have suggested. My husband and I each have our own bank accounts (and as we have different spending styles) so it is safer for our relationship :D for us to each cover our own stuff while on board.

[cruzcitement]

Thanks for all the great advice! I will set a budget ahead of time for souvenirs like some have suggested. My husband and I each have our own bank accounts (and as we have different spending styles) so it is safer for our relationship :D for us to each cover our own stuff while on board.

My husband and I are heading toward our 30th anniversary and learned early on that if we were going to stay married, we needed separate banking accounts. Like you two, we are very different in our saving/spending habits! Happy anniversary to the two of you and enjoy your cruise!

[Putterdude]

If you stay out of the Casino and away from the liquor (wow, what a job) then I would allow for about $100/day for souvenirs, gifts, photos, tips and alike.

[springfire]

Thanks for all the great advice! I will set a budget ahead of time for souvenirs like some have suggested. My husband and I each have our own bank accounts (and as we have different spending styles) so it is safer for our relationship :D for us to each cover our own stuff while on board.

 

Wow!!!

[Roadtripster]

If you stay out of the Casino and away from the liquor (wow, what a job) then I would allow for about $100/day for souvenirs, gifts, photos, tips and alike.

 

 

I do that every cruise. I would have a ton of money left over if I allotted $100/day. I can't see how I would ever spend that much a day for extra stuff. I don't buy a single souvenir, gift... etc...

 

It truly is up to each individual and others can really only give you an idea.

[lolakat]

As the previous posters have pointed out this is a very subjective question based on your spending habits.

 

As and example on our last 7 day cruise I traveled with 3 adults and 1 child. We didn't do any paid excursions. We drank 2-3 alcoholic drinks per day and about 6 sodas daily. I bought my daughter one doll, an inflatable raft and a disposable camera. Our balance at the end of the cruise was about $600 including general tips. (we had some additional tip expenses because we were in a suite but I won't list those here). I lost about $500 in the casino.

 

BTW: My hubby and I have been together for 8 years and we keep seperate accounts too. It works for us. Different strokes for different folks :)

[Cristallo]

We wrote down a budget based on our ideal spending totals and then added $200 just to be safe.

 

Side note: Another separate account holders here. I used to recommend it when I worked in banking. We have two individual accounts and one household account. That way I have my own money and he doesn't see that I spent money for decorating our cabin and cake for our anniversary. :D

[Dr. Jack Daniels]

Wow!!!

 

Judgemental much? Not everyone does things the same as you. Deal with it!

 

Not really any of your business anyway.

[househunter]

Judgemental much? Not everyone does things the same as you. Deal with it!

 

Not really any of your business anyway.

 

I agree! We also have seperate accounts and it has worked for us for 16 years!:)

[DonnaK]

I don't see a mention of tips...they are approx $10 per passenger per day and need to be budgeted for. On RCI, you can arrange to have them charged to your onboard acct, or you can choose to paid the cabin steward and wait-team in cash on the last day. You will receive envelopes and information about the breakdown of the tips, so you'll know how much to give each person. You should also tip the porter at the pier about $1-2 per bag, and if you order room service, tip the delivery person a dollar or two.