Real cost of a cruise

[ferfoodle]

I just did a percentage breakdown of my budget cruise spreadsheet. Broken down into 3 categories: My Cruisefare and Taxes,My Required Extras(airfare, hotels, parking, transfers, gratuties, trip insurance, fuel surcharge, pre-stay meals) and My Desired extras(shore excursions, alcohol, gambling, souveniors, extra tipping). For our 7 day cruise, we will be gone a total of 9 days including the travel. We booked a balcony and we drink like fishes on vacation;). We also do an excursion at each port. The breakdown:

Cruisefare: 33.94%

Required extras: 34.66%

Desired extras: 31.40%

 

So to answer your question, the cruise at $67 pp/per day(inside rate, not balcony rate) might quickly triple depending on the individual's traveling needs and desired purchases.

[Peachie1]

If I get up at 5 am and drive down to galveston, so just pay to park at discounted EZCruiseparking ..and pay tips. My extra cost could be a whole lot less than someone who has to fly in, get a hotel etc.

 

Since these other costs are so different, there is no way I would expect Carnival to give a extra cost average in their estimate.

 

Nothing other than tips to me has to be charged to my account...and often I have OBC to cover the tips...so no extra cost to me.

 

 

Same here. If I go on a land based vacation, I spend way more than a cruise.

 

Hiya there FireFly, hope to see you on another cruise. Soon...lol

 

Peaches

[APDMOM]

I just did a percentage breakdown of my budget cruise spreadsheet. Broken down into 3 categories: My Cruisefare and Taxes,My Required Extras(airfare, hotels, parking, transfers, gratuties, trip insurance, fuel surcharge, pre-stay meals) and My Desired extras(shore excursions, alcohol, gambling, souveniors, extra tipping). For our 7 day cruise, we will be gone a total of 9 days including the travel. We booked a balcony and we drink like fishes on vacation;). We also do an excursion at each port. The breakdown:

Cruisefare: 33.94%

Required extras: 34.66%

Desired extras: 31.40%

 

So to answer your question, the cruise at $67 pp/per day(inside rate, not balcony rate) might quickly triple depending on the individual's traveling needs and desired purchases.

Budget cruise spreadsheet... Somebody speaks my language! :D

[patrice1]

For us, there's no point in taking a vacation if we have to scrimp and worry about money while on the vacation. We only get to take one 7 day & maybe one 4 day/year. So... we have aft wraps ('cause it's what we like!), even if they're suites, have a large S&S prepaid (and usually get some back), go the night before and stay in a hotel near the port, and rent a car each way to save wear & tear on our one vehicle. Including extra tips and pet sitters, our total cruise costs are $400+/pp/pd.

We work hard, don't eat out, don't spend on anything that doesn't improve our home, and save. It's the 1 to 1.5 weeks a year we splurge and act like we're filthy rich!:D And it wouldn't work on any other cruise line. We've tried.

[JennLuvs2Cruise]

I have a cruise booked in June on the Dream - Our final bill is $4,333.46

 

This is for three people ( me, DF & DS ), and this total includes the cruise fare for a Deluxe OV cabin, airfare from Boston to Orlando, shuttle to & from pier, prepaid tips, taxes, and travel insurance. To me - this price is priceless for the amount of fun I will be having with my family. We sailed the Dream last summer, and had a fantastic time.

 

We have about $1,200 saved away to buy clothes, shoes, hygiene products, and stuff that we will need for our cruise.

 

We probably spend around $1,500 in gambling, bingo, drinks, pictures, shopping, & shore excursions.

 

We like to go all out for our cruise since its the only vacation we do per year & that is what our tax refund money goes towards.

[mimgan3]

I see people posting that they booked a cruise and it only cost $67 a day per person.

 

My question is , Is that the real cost of a cruise or is it the cost of the booking a cabin, plus what is on your final bill like tips tours ,drinks etc plus transportation and hotel or parking if needed. These low numbers for a cabin seem to be misleading to me. What is the real cost of a cruise?

 

Those numbers are fairly accurate, but you must consider most of these numbers are only speaking of your actual cruise passage, which includes your stateroom, unlimited food and certain beverages, as well as maid or butler service, entertainment and visiting 3 or 4 different venues.

 

Now compare that to a 7 day Disneyworld vacation at $87.53 per day per person, and that is just to get in the gate, cruising is a great bargain for a vacation.

 

Mimgan

[OnTheBrink]

Our family of four (husband, two kids and I) are about to do four nights on the Inspiration. Here's our breakdown:

 

stateroom (oceanview), taxes, etc for the four of us (one stateroom):

$1,100

 

parking:

$50

 

husband's alcohol estimate (I don't drink):

$50

 

tips:

$200

 

souveniers:

$50

 

Paradise beach (day pass, lounge chairs)

$64

Paradise beach food/drink

$100

 

I think that's it. We live 40 minutes from the port, so no hotel or air.

 

So that's $1614. Per person (4), that's $404, or about $100 per person per day. I think that's a good deal!

[mikel24m]

For us, there's no point in taking a vacation if we have to scrimp and worry about money while on the vacation. We only get to take one 7 day & maybe one 4 day/year. So... we have aft wraps ('cause it's what we like!), even if they're suites, have a large S&S prepaid (and usually get some back), go the night before and stay in a hotel near the port, and rent a car each way to save wear & tear on our one vehicle. Including extra tips and pet sitters, our total cruise costs are $400+/pp/pd.

We work hard, don't eat out, don't spend on anything that doesn't improve our home, and save. It's the 1 to 1.5 weeks a year we splurge and act like we're filthy rich!:D And it wouldn't work on any other cruise line. We've tried.

 

You just rolled a Yahtzee:)

 

We try to go on 2 per year and get the Lido Balcony , the boss makes me buy the pictures,we gamble our butts off,drink too much, eat too much

 

I prepay our tips and bring a bunch of $5 and $1 bills to tip as we see fit

I usually go to the pursers desk and deposit about $1000 the first day

I smuggle some liquor

I buy some from bon Voyage just in case :)

we always book a balcony ( fresh air and quite a view .Dont try it once because once you do it you probably will never do inside or OV)

we never book excursions through carnival except once in Roatan

I save ,save and when I think i have saved enough I add some;)

 

Just a side note I would share an entree in the steakhouse ,just pay the $60

I also would and will share my soda card will my girlfriend and tip the bartender $1 every single time I get a soda or 2 ;)

 

cheers

[1965]

I see people posting that they booked a cruise and it only cost $67 a day per person.

 

My question is , Is that the real cost of a cruise or is it the cost of the booking a cabin, plus what is on your final bill like tips tours ,drinks etc plus transportation and hotel or parking if needed. These low numbers for a cabin seem to be misleading to me. What is the real cost of a cruise?

 

For us the per day cost is the base on which we decide if it's a good deal. We're taking a 16 day transatlantic from Barcelona to Galveston on the Magic for $650 per person. That's $40 a day, a great deal. But we know it's not the entire cost. We have flight to Barcelona, flight from Houston to Dallas, transfers, etc. The Real final cost depends on many factors, and varies from passenger to passenger.

[careywv]

Our cruise fare for 3 ppl w/ taxes and grats included was around $1300

 

But then comes the fun part - planning the excursions, stops, etc. and SAVING for the FUN!

 

Hotel, parking, and transportation in JAX for 6 ppl - $270

Estimated Gas and Travel expenses - $250

Boarding our 3 dogs for 11 days - $400

Blackbeard's Cay (Nassau) for 6 ppl - $198 [+ snacks, food, and drinks possible $60]

Cabana (Half Moon Cay) for 4 adults - $199 [+ drinks possible $40]

Cabana (Grand Turk) for 4 adults - $130 [+ snacks, food, and drinks possible $100]

 

A week of fun in the sun with the family is well worth the saving and expense! :)

[G'ma]

I see people posting that they booked a cruise and it only cost $67 a day per person.

 

My question is , Is that the real cost of a cruise or is it the cost of the booking a cabin, plus what is on your final bill like tips tours ,drinks etc plus transportation and hotel or parking if needed. These low numbers for a cabin seem to be misleading to me. What is the real cost of a cruise?

 

The dollar a day amount is the fare only. Taxes and port fees are extra. How much more you spend is up to you. Your fare includes food, meals, your cabin, all the activities aboard the ship, all the shows, entertainment, etc.

 

Personal items are on you... How much your bill may be at the end of the week depends upon you. How much you drink, how much you spend shopping, what you spend on shore excursions, casino, etc., is all under your own control.

 

Plenty of people cruise with only the gratuities to be paid at the end of the week.....others have bills that run into the thousands. Up to you.