Do Newbies Spend all the $$$$'s

[richstowe]

I'm glad that many CCers agree that it's not so cut and dry that new cruisers spend more more then more experienced ones.

I have been reading this opinion since first discovering CC. Never understood it.

Not to say that newer cruisers don't splurge on things that frequent cruisers don't but sometimes it's the other way around.

As an example, it seems fewer newbies are in the supplemental restaurants.

It also seems that higher category cabins are filled with multiple time cruisers.

 

I also have a confession. There are many here at CC angry at Carnival for, in their opinion, cheapening the product .

They also believe that this is part of a deliberate policy to get rid of experienced cruisers by treating them poorly and ignoring their loyalty.

All this may be true. I don't know.

Many of these people believe Carnival does this because they make more on these newbies.

 

I don't believe people who have been on many cruises are particularly less profitable to the cruise lines.

Perhaps CCL's corporate strategy is to introduce people to cruising with Carnival and push the more experience ones to their higher priced brands.

[Acklander]

I agree that your vacation style will dictate how you vacation, I think the seasoned traveller are more experienced on getting the most bang for your buck than the newbie.

On my first cruise, I booked the same amount of excursions as now, but I book directly instead of thru the ship. I've gone up in cabin type, but I'm not really spending that much more as I've found ways to save on the booking than the first. I've always paid for photos, but got many more on the first one , now I just get an updated photo of everyone dressed up. I will still buy drinks and one night in the specialty restaurant - I think that's the only thing that's the same.

[AngAndBoys]

Like many others, I started cruising when I could barely afford to get on the boat! I booked NO excursions, bought 0 photos, wouldn't have even considered the specialty restaurants, and spent maybe $200 total in the casino, cash. $400 total on the s&s for a family of 4. That was maybe 10-12 years ago.

 

NOW I book balcony always. Do excursions in almost every port, though I've evolved from using the cruise line to booking my own, buy around 10 photos because it's the only time I get my whole family together for a nice pic, won't EVEN disclose what I spend in the casino...and end up with a total bill of about 2-3000 for 4 of us for 7 days on s&s, spent on specialty restaurants, camp carnival extras, soda cards, DODs, duty free purchases in the stores...not so much the trinkets and crap. And we go more often now. Up to 3 in the last 14 months or so on Carnival.

 

I would say that we don't fit the theory at all.

[patrice1]

Origional cruise, we booked IG, but in the last few years only book aft wraps. Spend the same amount every cruise, around $200/pp/pd - which includes specialty restuarant, spa, and drinks. Extra tips not included, nor are excursions or casino. it,s been the same on the last 10+ cruises. That's what we like about cruising, we can easily plan financially for each vacation. BTW, we always get a check back on departure, after pre-paying that $200/p/d on our account. Part of the planning!

[nlktx49]

Your theory was certainly true for me! Got a late start in cruising, first one was just over 4 years ago. Everything was a novelty to me, I hadn't discovered Cruise Critic yet. Made two trips to the spa, bought most of the crap they were pushing, first time in a casino and fell in love with the slots, had my first Kiss on the Lips followed by many others, bought stuff in the gift shops, bought liquor to take home. We spent every penny of our cash, nothing left to tip anyone, stopped on the way home for a burger, had to charge it! Oh, bought lots of photos, too. And ship's excursion. And this was only a 4 day cruise! Of course I was shocked when I saw our final bill.

 

I still love to cruise, we try to go twice a year, but I'm much wiser now. And some of the novelty has worn off. So yes, Carnival isn't making as much off me now.

[Sh1035]

I don't really think you can compare an AI to a cruise unless it's a cheap one in Mexico or the DR. I have done sandals twice and it's like eating in a specialty restaurant every night, all the water sports you want from learning to scuba dive or going snorkeling. Having your own pool,butler,breakfast in bed,etc. We honestly spent 5 bucks last time in 7 days. However the cost was 5k for the week.

 

However if you paid 3k for a cruise and spent another 2k on food, drinks and excursions it would maybe be close to the same experience minus the luxury and being spoiled.

[bplazo]

I did not buy one thing on our last cruise.

[ronandannette]

I don't really think you can compare an AI to a cruise unless it's a cheap one in Mexico or the DR. I have done sandals twice and it's like eating in a specialty restaurant every night, all the water sports you want from learning to scuba dive or going snorkeling. Having your own pool,butler,breakfast in bed,etc. We honestly spent 5 bucks last time in 7 days. However the cost was 5k for the week.

 

However if you paid 3k for a cruise and spent another 2k on food, drinks and excursions it would maybe be close to the same experience minus the luxury and being spoiled.

 

The problem for us is that the cost of airfare takes so much of our budget that it limits our cruise choices. Thinking now of trying an AI as they are mostly marketed here packaged together with the airfare already in the total price, with as several have implied, the "luxury and being spoiled" added back in!!

[Tipbob]

We took a 14 day cruise to Alaska in August. My hubby's first, my second. We booked late, so got a great deal. ($699 pp). So we booked two excursions from the ship (Princess). White Pass Rail and the tram in Juneau. Train was great, tram not so much. But because we saved so much on the cruise, we felt open to a private tour in Ketchikan and the Chef's Table. Expensive, but well worth it once in your life. We wait for deals, then we feel ok about spending money on board or on tours. We will book inside cabins for the same reason. Save money here, spend it there. In April, we will be going from Tampa to Barcelona to Venice back to Barcelona. 39 nights on Carnival Legend. Looking at tours now!

[misstopgun]

We spend a lot more money now than we used to first of all, because we can afford to now.

 

Second, because we have cruised so much we seem to always spend more to upgrade our experience. We now buy the wine packages, go to Chef's tables, go for cabanas rather than a chair on the beach.

 

The shows don't change so much except for the comedy and if we don't like the comedy, we kick ourselves for waiting and being scrunched in a standing room only enviornment. What we do enjoy is the casino so you know we are spending money there to upgrade our entertainment. Bon Voyage goes without saying. Prices are 3x what they were when we first started cruising.

 

I have to admit we don't spend as much as we used to on photos because we have aged and are not paticularly happy with our looks. We don't by trinkets, been there done that.

 

We do spend more on our cabins for comfort. A balcony is the least we will get and upgrade often to extended balconies and occasionally get suites.

 

So no, they aren't losing any money on us. I am wise enough to know how to cruise economicly if I had to, but I don't, so I will continue to spend what makes us happy.

 

Now the question being asked is if I feel like they are trying to send a message and send us elswhere. I have to admit after all the changes this year especially with the VIFP I was beginning to feel that way. I had a couple of other issues that bothered me as well. Finally I addressed those issues with Carnival, someone who could actually do something about it, rather than whining and complaining here and other media sites as I had been doing.

 

When all was said and done, my issues were addressed and I felt that my business was valued. My faith in Carnivals good will has been restored.

 

That doesn't mean that I agree with everything they are doing while trying to do their business. Now that I am no longer angry though, I find I look at what they are doing in a different light. I am not always trying to find the negative in every change. Doesn't mean I have to like them, but I don't look for an ulterier motive behind every change either.

 

An example would be the FCC change. Two weeks ago I would have been livid and saying this was just one more thing that is pushing me away. Now that I feel Carnival resolved my issues in good faith, I can look at it more objectivly. Really, how is $100 going to make or break my cruise?

[kaseykahnefan]

I think it depends on the person. I didn't spend that much on my first cruise but Im not a gambler or a drinker. I probably spent more on the fourth one (the last one I went on) because i finally gave in and got that massage. But on this fifth one I won't. So I say all that to say i don't think one can catergorize it as all newbies because it really depends on the person. Now the first time I went to Europe I went crazy with suveniors and buying food and stuff. The next time I go I will spend far far less :D

[askimdog]

Yes, depends on the person. We have done 3 cruises and still get the cheapest room available, never buy pictures, drinks etc...just cheap folks. Perhaps frugal? A rare occasion things have been purchased, so we try to keep $100.00 saved for S&S Bill ( not counting gratuities). 3 cruises the S&S Bill has always been between 16-30.00 dollars. for 3 people, 7 days.

[kaseykahnefan]

Maybe that's it. I am frugal not cheap.. LOL. I do usually end up with a picture though. I justify this to myself by saying well I don't drink my vacation funds away. HAHA I guess whatever works right?? :D and i like to get a milkshake and one of those chocolate fruit cup thingies, you know what i am talking about. DELICIOUS

[Wolfie48]

Leaving soon on our 14th cruise with Carnival. Our S&S bill has always been around $1,200.00. We don't go to shows or use room service. We don't smuggle booze, in fact we order from bon voyage. Most of the time we are in a balcony cabin or even a suite. I think they make plenty of money off of DW and I.

[Ehpride]

I'm going to go with it depends on the person. For example, I don't gamble or spend money at spas at home. That doesn't change just because I'm on a cruise. I do tend to buy pictures, drinks and some souvenirs but nothing pricey. I think if you're a careful or frugal person at home, that win't change just because you're on a cruise and that doesn't matter if it's your first or your 100th.

[CJ0226]

[quote name='SueG']

I hope this does not scare people away because it would be very easy to only spend a couple hundred and still have a great time.[/quote]

Totally agree! On our first cruise in 2009, our tab at end of cruise was somewhere between $200-300. We spent another $300ish in ports for some excursions/souveniers, etc, so for $500 extra added to cost of cruise we managed to have a great time. In fact we could have spent spent ZERO extra and still had a great time.

This time we know it will be more and have already accepted that. However last time we paid extra for balcony, this time we paid less for interior w/ ocean view. Balcony was just not worth it to us, we were always on the go between the shows, karaoke, eating, etc.

Fact is, if you like to have some alcoholic beverages, you like to live it up, gamble, etc, etc you will spend some extra cash thats a given

Lesson 1: Consuming alcohol on the ship will wreck your budget in a damn hurry
Lesson 2: Drink enough to forget about it............