What to consider not skimping on?

[Countrygirl44]

I think that a lot of people that cruise do so within a budget. DH and I are retired and cruise once a year or maybe ever eighteen months. I see on the boards that lots of folks have four, five, or six cruises stacked, many within the same year.

We do not have the finances to do that. We do have our cruises paid for before we leave as well as our airfare and money in our on board account for gratuities and excursions. We do like nice excursions. We also book balconies or mini suites. DH has some health issues and he dearly loves to sit on the balcony and just enjoy the ocean. For this reason, we do book this category of rooms. It is more expensive than an inside. What do we "give up" for the room? Well, we do not drink, purchase a lot of things from the onboard shops (well, I do have to have a t-shirt or two), go to the casino, eat in the speciality restaurants or do the spa. But we have a great time. I did used to purchase the photographs, but have given that up on the last couple of cruises.

We live in the mountains of Southwest Virginia, therefore, we have to drive to Charlotte NC for our flights (about three hours). This means we spend the night before our flight in a motel in Charlotte as well as the night we arrive back in Charlotte. We then have to add two nights motel there to our cruise cost. And yes, we always fly to the port a day early. Another motel and some sightseeing. Sometimes maybe two days early.

O.K., kinda off topic there on what we do instead of how we save. Since we are retired, our retirement funds come in monthlty. I save X amount of dollars for our vacation fund. We live a frugal life style. When we eat out, it is with coupons or on a special rate day. All our clothings is purchased on sale. I love Belk's 50 percent off with additional 50%. By the end of the month, if I have extra, into the bank it goes with the vacation fund. You might say I have "cut back" on all expenses except my church tiths

It is truly all about choices. Many people will cruise in an inside cabin, dine in the speciality restaurants, have a few drinks daily, play some in the casino and not spend any more than I do. I think the bottom line is spend what is necessary to make the cruise memorable to you.

Our last cruise was to Alaska in May (our fifth to Alaska). Our next cruise is on the POA to Hawaii (our first) in September 2012. Sixteen months to save for Hawaii.

[chipmaster]

Skimp on cabins, drinks, views, ship photos, come to think of it ship board anything:D

 

Don't skimp on excursion, go private where and when you can, take lots of your own pictures.

Edited August 14, 2011 by chipmaster

[Poodle Lady]

We've only been on one cruise, so you can take my post for what that's worth.:p We found that the inside cabin actually fit our needs better than a balcony would. I don't mind doing without the wine & beer package or the soda card. We dont drink enough of either one to make it worth the price. We dont gamble, shop on board, or attend art auctions and i can do without the specialty restaurants. I like the MDR just fine.

 

The two things that I would not skimp on were the excursions and the spa. I do love me some spa and i completely justify the expense because i save almost everywhere else. On this cruise each of us had at least one spa treatment and i had two(cuz i'm the mama) :D We took a really good excursion in Costa Maya out to a small pyramid, Chacchoben. We had a very knowledgable, completely bilingual tour guide and the trip was very rewarding. I would definitely do one excursion, unless I was in Jamaica. Been there before and really don't like it.

[MMMD]

On vacation we tend not to skimp on anything. We like to try new things or restaurants while traveling.

 

On our cruise we ate in the Specialty Restaurants, had new & different cocktails & shopped just as we do when on a land vacation.

 

Vacations are a time to splurge.

[Marian Paroo]

I'm no expert, have only done one cruise (MSC, 7 day Mediterranean in May), but if I had to skimp, the first thing I would skimp on was the cabin.

 

Would do interior, at least like the ones I saw on MSC MUsica in a heartbeat.

 

I always figured the drink cards are a waste of money, so I wouldn't take them to start with.

 

Was very happy with the food, so when the food is good in the MDR, I could easily give up the specialty restaurants.

 

Would not want to give up the bars -- it is hard to find a nice quiet elegant bar where I come from, and it is so nice to have a neat whisky with a book and mood music in the background.

 

I only gamble a pittance for the entertainment value, so not much to give up there.

[cardbucfan]

Our vacations are our splurges. We live fairly frugally the rest of the year so when we vacation, we make certain to do it right. I am a champion researcher so always looking for the most bang for our buck from flights, hotels and cruises. We typically will do two trips per year-one land based and one cruise.

 

On our cruises we splurge on our cabin. When our boys were younger we would get a suite and stay in one cabin. The extra space was great (we are not petite people!) and the suite perks were wonderful (especially the free laundry in Alaska!). Now that they are older and much bigger, we do 2 cabins. I can't do less than a balcony. I've done one cruise with just a window and even though we were so busy we weren't in the room much, I missed having the balcony to get away from everybody and just read a book and listen to the ocean. We put the boys in an inside across the hall and DH and I have the balcony. Neither of us drinks much so DH will bring a box of wine to have a glass on the balcony while I'm getting ready for dinner and he's set for the night. We don't gamble and I am horrified by the spa prices when I can get the same treatment on land for a fraction (especially with a Groupon!). I'm also perfectly happy with the food in the MDR so have never done a specialty restaurant. Folks will say it's the best $25 you've ever spent but for 4 of us that's $100 and I can do one dive trip for $100!

 

We will also spend money on excursions. We'll do one of a kind things like a helicopter/glacier hike in Alaska but we will do independent trips rather than use the ship's operator. Diving isn't cheap but it's something the entire family enjoys and since we live in Florida, just hanging at the beach is kind of boring for us so we try to dive in ports that are known for diving.

[terracool]

I don't skimp on:

 

• Room - balcony, no cabin mates.
  
• Economy air travel - I will spend the $25 to get an aisle seat near the front on flights more than 2-3 hours. I will also spend $25 to check a bag if I have a long layover.
  
• Departure port hotel - I spend the money to get to the port a day early to avoid sailing-date travel drama.
  
• Food in port if I'm in another country - might not get another chance!
  

I don't spend on:

 

• I barely spend any money on the ship. No casino, no bingo, a drink or maybe two a day, no spa. I attend art auctions but don't buy anything. No photos. No specialty restaurant except sushi. No soda card
  
• 
  
• No shopping at all on board and very little in port. I prioritize experience over objects, and will only buy souveniers as gifts or if they will singularly remind me of the experience.
  
• 
  
• Little on shore trips, except as described below. I do my homework on the ports and do DIY as much as possible. I try to take subways and other public xportation where I can.
  

 

I will spend or even splurge on:

 

• Ship sushi - I will spend extra for the sushi 2 or 3x per trip. The best sushi I ever had - and nothing else even remotely close - was on the Pearl. I tip the sushi chefs generously too - they are truly artists.
  
• 
  
• One shot of outrageously expensive scotch. I will spend $20 on a shot of scotch - just one - only because I know it's the only way I'll ever get to try it. No way I'd ever pay $250 for the bottle ashore.
  
• 
  
• One really nice shore experience. I had a flightseeing tour over the glaciers in Alaska for one hour (fixed wing plane, not helio), and it was the most amazing thing I've ever done. I will never forget that. For Cairo, I am hiring a private guide for just me to see some of the tourist sites but also to just show me Cairo - the real city. This is an indulgence, but I can't imagine I'll regret it. I considered spending the money on a Turkish rug, but could only do one and chose the experience over the rug.
  
• 
  
• I may splurge this time on a whiskey, beer or wine tasting if it looks like an opportunity to try something I can't get at home.
  
• 
  
• I would probably splurge on a cooking lesson or class if offered.
  

Edited August 20, 2011 by terracool

[Dancer Bob]

I do not skimp on gratuities. I'm single, but it's almost as much work to clean a cabin for one as for two, so if my steward does a good job, I pay the two-person rate. I do not use alcohol, so 15% of my drink purchase is not very much. Adding $1 won't break the bank, and the bartenders always recognise me.

I've never had a specialty restaurant meal that was worth the extra price.

If I'm flying, I arrive the day before. Day-of-cruise flights are not skimping but gambling, you're betting one night hotel against the cost of your cruise.

[simplelife]

Over our 6 cruises we have learned a lot about saving and spending.

We have learned to save by:

Not buying pictures (We get better shots from our digital camera).

Not buying an excursion in every port (research! - we buy those which offer something exclusive, Free drinks etc)

Not eating in port (Drinking in port is usually cheaper than on the ship though)

Eating in the MDR all or most nights (not paying for specialty restaurants)

Reading your daily activities paper carefully and taking advantage of as many free activies as possible.

Driving to port (and paying slightly more for a closer port)

 

We have learned that it's worth it to spend for:

An OV cabin (Our one experience with an inside was not good; better to spring for the lowest priced OV if money is tight. For us, a balcony is not worth the extra expense, though, unless you get it VERY cheap)

One really good excursion each cruise

[wassup4565]

If you see something unique and beautiful (an artwork, a piece of jewellery) in a port, buy it. You won't ever get the chance again and you'll always remember that you bypassed it.

 

If you are having a great time with new people in a bar or over a meal, buy a round or a bottle of wine. Good times are worth it.

 

Tip the people who work hard to make your journey enjoyable. They deserve it.

 

If you're a northerner, go for a balcony, even in December. You will not have to wear your parka and mittens to enjoy the outdoors.

[CourtneyLovesCruising]

If you see something unique and beautiful (an artwork, a piece of jewellery) in a port, buy it. You won't ever get the chance again and you'll always remember that you bypassed it.

 

If you are having a great time with new people in a bar or over a meal, buy a round or a bottle of wine. Good times are worth it.

 

Tip the people who work hard to make your journey enjoyable. They deserve it.

 

If you're a northerner, go for a balcony, even in December. You will not have to wear your parka and mittens to enjoy the outdoors.

 

I love the way you think :)

I lived for nearly nine years on the East Coast.. oh man, godbless those winters I left behind.

[Happy ks]

I'm surprised so many people will skimp on their cabin. Especially if they don't live near the ocean. We live only 20 minutes away from some beautiful beaches, but for us cruising is being on the ocean. An inside cabin, you just don't get much ocean, you have to leave the cabin to realize there is even an outside.

 

For me, being up on public decks just doesn't do it, I want the ocean right outside my door morning, noon and night. I'd rather do without many other things than give up the ocean, and not just the sight of it out a window.

 

I've gotten to the point where I don't always compare prices any longer, I go straight to the balcony pricing. When cruising RCI we get a decent discount so it's not much more than an OV fare. We also book early and have had a few times where we are paying less at sailaway for a balcony than last minute fares for an inside cabin.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Having fun...

[Mxlady]

I will not skimp on a balcony our first cruise was an OV and I spent the whole time looking out the window so, won't do that again. We do spend lots of time to warrent the extra in the price. Our son now he wants to sleep all day and stay up all night so it is an inside only for him then no one can open curtains and wake him up.MDR is just fine for us and we don't gamble, we do like to have maybe 1 or 2 drinks each per day. We don't excessivly spend at home or on vacation but I am comfortable and can be entertained very easily and cheap.

[EithneMay]

I won't skimp on the balcony cabin! I will always fly into port at least one day early, and I will splurge on excursions. I won't spend a ton of money on alcohol (a drink or two a day and a bottle of wine 2-3 times per cruise is fine for DH and myself), I only drop a dollar or two in the slots each night, I never buy ship photos, and I only need one specialty restaurant per week of cruising.

[Quixotic]

We are looking forward to our 2nd cruise in March 2012. Our first was with DCL in 2005 when our kids were aged 10 and 8. During that cruise, we really treated ourselves...

 

For our day in Cozumel, we splurged and booked a private charter to Chichen Itza to see the ruins. A taxi met us at the port, drove us to the airport where we boarded a Cessna, flew alone with the pilot to the ruins, met with a guide for a private 2-hour tour followed by an unguided walkabout and then flew back. It did not come cheap ($1200+ if memory serves me well for the four of us), but it is one of our fondest memories. I heard a while back that visitors are no longer permitted to climb the pyramid...well, we did get that chance and I have never regretted spending that chunk of change. The year prior, we took a private charter over the active volcano on Hawaii's Big Island while vacationing in Maui and that too is a great memory...the picture of my then 7-year-old sitting in the co-pilot seat is priceless! Obviously, we make sacrifices to do these occasional splurges...but if bringing my lunch to work instead of eating out allows me to walk where Mayans once did...well, bring on the tuna sandwiches.

 

I came to this realization after a missed opportunity... I went to China once for business but because it was likely I would go back a second time, I never bothered to pay out of pocket to stay an extra night and visit the Great Wall. I left the company shortly thereafter...that was 11 years ago...I will probably never get another chance to go to China.

 

My mother died in December from cancer at the age of 64 (very young). During her three months of unsuccessful chemo treatments, I never heard her once say "I wish I didn't do such and such" but I often heard her say "I'm so glad I did such and such."

 

We don't splurge on our cabin (one inside for all four of us), soda cards, shopping or specialty restaurants...the cabin stays behind, the soda is bad for us anyway, you can only have so much stuff and good food can be had in the MDR at no extra cost...but the memories of the things we do, well they're the only things we ever get to take home with us.

 

Thank you for posting this. We have booked the FOS for Feb 2012 and it's our first family cruise. I have been ripping my hair out trying to decide how to handle excursions, and this was a good reminder to take advantage of the special things and not go crazy on things you can do anywhere (spa, room upgrades, etc).

[griffy116]

Things we don't do anymore:

*Spa treatments (better saved for a slurge on land)

*Cruise Photographer Photos (ran out of frames at home..we love the candid snapshots and we put them in a book through Shutterfly).

*Specialty Restaurants (just don't feel the need).

*Multiple excursions at each destination (too expensive, too tiring)

*New, expensive, elegant formal wear (nice LBD and accessories now)

*Drinks in the souvenior glasses (ends up in a yard sale or the trash)

*Bingo (too expensive and I've NEVER won)

*t-shirt sales on the ship (too many already)

 

We still splurge on:

*Soda card (still a good buy for us and convenience)

*Milk Shakes at JR (love 'em, gotta have a couple during cruise)

*Frozen drinks (same taste, regular glass..gotta have 'em)

*Casino (I feel the need/urge)

*Drinks at sail-away (tradition)

*Excursion (at a new destination)

*Pre-Hotel stay (I consider this a necessity)

*Christmas Ornament from new destination (my x-mas tree NEEDS it)

*Laundry special onboard (saves luggage space and I love it)

 

I know some who will shake their heads at some of my choices on my splurge list, but all of us have our "must haves" and these a just a few of mine.

[jnc411]

We do not skimp on excursions, we really enjoy seeing new places or new things to do. We would rather get a less expensive cabin, no specialty restaurants, or soda cards, etc. And spend the money on the excursion . We a perfectly happy with the dining room , the provided drinks, we bring a couple bottles of wine onboard. And are out and about on the ship and spend little time in the cabin. So it works fine for us. However some folks have different likes and needs so to each their own and enjoy your cruise. What ever works for you. :)

Cori

[FunShipCruiser05]

Well I won the 500.00 slot tournament on the last cruise I went on 3-4 years ago. I love the 20.00 investment for a chance to pay back the money that paid the cruise :) Kinda like a free cruise. But playing freely in the casino, that's a no no and usually will come out a losssssa

[relaxedPax]

We are looking forward to our 2nd cruise in March 2012. Our first was with DCL in 2005 when our kids were aged 10 and 8. During that cruise, we really treated ourselves...

 

For our day in Cozumel, we splurged and booked a private charter to Chichen Itza to see the ruins. A taxi met us at the port, drove us to the airport where we boarded a Cessna, flew alone with the pilot to the ruins, met with a guide for a private 2-hour tour followed by an unguided walkabout and then flew back. It did not come cheap ($1200+ if memory serves me well for the four of us), but it is one of our fondest memories. I heard a while back that visitors are no longer permitted to climb the pyramid...well, we did get that chance and I have never regretted spending that chunk of change. The year prior, we took a private charter over the active volcano on Hawaii's Big Island while vacationing in Maui and that too is a great memory...the picture of my then 7-year-old sitting in the co-pilot seat is priceless! Obviously, we make sacrifices to do these occasional splurges...but if bringing my lunch to work instead of eating out allows me to walk where Mayans once did...well, bring on the tuna sandwiches.

 

I came to this realization after a missed opportunity... I went to China once for business but because it was likely I would go back a second time, I never bothered to pay out of pocket to stay an extra night and visit the Great Wall. I left the company shortly thereafter...that was 11 years ago...I will probably never get another chance to go to China.

 

My mother died in December from cancer at the age of 64 (very young). During her three months of unsuccessful chemo treatments, I never heard her once say "I wish I didn't do such and such" but I often heard her say "I'm so glad I did such and such."

 

We don't splurge on our cabin (one inside for all four of us), soda cards, shopping or specialty restaurants...the cabin stays behind, the soda is bad for us anyway, you can only have so much stuff and good food can be had in the MDR at no extra cost...but the memories of the things we do, well they're the only things we ever get to take home with us.

 

 

Thanks for this post! I'll be cruising for the first time and this was extremely helpful.

[Moby58]

Great tips! :)

[slm517]

What I splurge/don't skimp on:

- For this Oasis cruise DH and I splurged on a D1 balcony. This cruise is our late Christmas and DH's grad school graduation present so we wanted to go all out. We would love to move up to a GS but it but they appear to be sould out.

- Shellac mani and pedi prior to cruising. Don't have to worry about chips from all the sandy beaches and it typically last well past the cruise itself.

- One speciality dinner with a nice bottle of wine each cruise.

 

What I save on:

- The Spa, see above. All the relaxation I need on the ship is a Mojito by the pool.

- The photos. We rarely purchase any, and if we do it's only one. I typically prefer the candid shots I take with my dSLR to the more pose photos.

- Bingo, I just don't get the appeal.

[askimdog]

We will sail in January on our 3rd cruise. I was one of those who dreaded the first cruise thinking I would hate it. I was wrong.

 

Skimp...well, most things...

 

I am pretty frugal, I don't buy any drinks. I pay for a Bon Voyage bottle ( which seems like a splurge- until you realize ship prices on drinks)

 

For beer I drink in port, where often 1-2 dollar beers can be found

 

I don't do specialty restaurants, so much free food around

 

Photos: nope, we own a camera ourselves :)

 

No Spa, don't get that at home, so why at sea?

 

Excursions, first 2 cruises none, just wandered town to see what it offered, tried to see the real locales, got away from the tourism areas as fast as possible.

 

No gambling, I live 5 miles from a Casino and don't go, so why on a ship?

 

Souviners; nope, got to much junk in my house already

 

Cabin: cheapest available, I am never in the room during the day, so why? Up at 6 AM, off for the day, back in the room by 8PM for vacation homework with my 7 year old and bed for her, so then I am in the room asllep by 9 or reading a book with a booklight.

 

Never have used room service yet, never a need yet?, so save the little tips there.

 

Splurges:

 

This coming cruise I will do excursions in 3 of the 4 ports, they are running 20-40 pp per port. A big splurge on our budget, but time to try this.

 

Extra day or two in the departure town...always warmer than home and a chance to roam that town off the beaten path a bit.

 

The best thing I like to do on a cruise is fix myself a drink and find a quiet place all alone to read a good book, be it on deck or inside the ship near a window.

 

Big K

Edited December 1, 2011 by askimdog

[Linco711]

We seldom do "excursions"....if you research your ports, there's hardly ever a need to pay someone to entertain you. We don't really care about a location's history...we like beaches and they're easy to do on your own! Many times, we'll just stay on the ship and use it's facilities on a port day...the ship is what we've PAID to use, and it almost our's alone on port days! Very nice!

We don't do the "spa" or cabanas....rarely will we do a "specialty" restaurant.

 

We do enjoy space, so we do book a larger cabin, usually a mini-suite....I want to be at LEAST as comfortable on vacation as I am at home...and I don't have a teensy bedroom!

 

I guess what you "splurge" or ''save" on depends on your lifestyle and what's important to you!

'

I,m glad someone else feels the same about excursions as I do..I wasbeginning to feel like there was something wrong with me. The few I've taken we're overpriced and a disappointment. I just love sitting on a beach reading, or our balcony, or just enjoying the ship..guess I'm boring....but that's what I enjoy:)

[tcandjcc]

If you see something unique and beautiful (an artwork, a piece of jewellery) in a port, buy it. You won't ever get the chance again and you'll always remember that you bypassed it.

 

If you are having a great time with new people in a bar or over a meal, buy a round or a bottle of wine. Good times are worth it.

 

Tip the people who work hard to make your journey enjoyable. They deserve it.

 

If you're a northerner, go for a balcony, even in December. You will not have to wear your parka and mittens to enjoy the outdoors.

 

I know this was written a while ago but it is fantastic! We are about to leave on our first cruise and I will take this to heart. Thank you!