Spending money

[itscrackers25]

It will be our first cruise and was wondering how much spending money we will need including tips' .. but not Trips. its for nine days.

we are not big drinkers.

[alymb03]

It will be our first cruise and was wondering how much spending money we will need including tips' .. but not Trips. its for nine days.

we are not big drinkers.

 

tips on the boat? they're automatically added to your sign and sail account at $11.50 per person, a day. they can be adjusted though.

 

if you're talking outside of the automatic ones added to your account and the automatic ones added to drinks you buy from the bar, it really depends.

 

how many people are in your group? you will want to bring tips for the porters when you get one (they'll take your baggage and deliver it to your room) and tips for the room service guys (if you plan to order).

 

you'll also want to tip any drivers or waiters while you're in port, but you said not including trips so i'm not sure if you mean not including any time while in port.

[bruisin4cruisin]

Also, if you order room service, tips are generally given to the staff so that is something you will have to consider. Here is my plan for a 7 day, when it comes to tips I know I will need.

1. 7 days of room service in the a.m. $14-$20

2. Porter $5-$10 depending on what I have

3. Shuttle driver $2 if they help my wife with anything, more if we have luggage.

4. Cab drivers when in ports.....various amounts $10 or so should cover it.

5. Room steward $25 - $50, depending on treatment.

 

Hope that helps and have a great trip.

[Colorado Kat]

Depending on the itinerary, I alternate an inexpensive beach day, with something more planned. What ports are you visiting? We might be able to suggest some fun, inexpensive day trips.

[ooomwizard]

Don't forget a little spending money while in ports. Not much. Enough for a souvenier or drink. Find some people to share taxi's with if venturing away from port for more savings.

 

For the really frugal, stay on the ship while in port.

 

Have fun!

[itscrackers25]

Im not tight but us English dont tip and if we do its little . on here i hear about tips for this tips for that and we have already paid tips up front. now im thinking another $200-$300 is need for tips. just seems a heck of a lot of TIPS.

[harlekuin]

Im not tight but us English dont tip and if we do its little . on here i hear about tips for this tips for that and we have already paid tips up front. now im thinking another $200-$300 is need for tips. just seems a heck of a lot of TIPS.

 

Because you have paid your tips up front, no, that is too much for tips. A few dollars for room service, for your bags, unless you handle them yourself, cabs.... If you WANT to give people extra that is up to you.

[cb at sea]

Bring more than you think you'll need....you can always redeposit any unused funds! Better to have it, and not need it, than to need it, and have to pay ATM fees!

[LoopyLee]

Im not tight but us English dont tip and if we do its little . on here i hear about tips for this tips for that and we have already paid tips up front. now im thinking another $200-$300 is need for tips. just seems a heck of a lot of TIPS.

 

Hi itscrackers,

 

We too are English and I agree it came as a shock on our first trip just how many people need a tip and how much:eek: I was told to double the tax on a resturant bill and that is the amount the tip should be, way more than we would tip over here.

 

But having travelled to the USA many times now we have come to realise tipping is the norm and many people rely on tips as part of their salary. When we cruise we tip the porters a couple of dollars per bag and always pre pay our tips, but also tip an additional $10 to our steward and our MDR waiter.

 

If you pre-pay when you pay for your trip you will not need the additional $200-$300 you are thinking about.

 

Have a great first cruise:D

[bunchesofun]

Hi itscrackers,

 

We too are English and I agree it came as a shock on our first trip just how many people need a tip and how much:eek: I was told to double the tax on a resturant bill and that is the amount the tip should be, way more than we would tip over here.

 

I think the norm is 15-20%. And you are right, some service people in the US are given way below the minimum wage if there is an expectation that they will be receiving tips. I've heard it as low as $2.50 per hour because it is assumed they will make up the difference in tips. Of course if the service is terrible then I still leave a tip, but only 10%. And I only do that because some places pool tips and divide them up. If I didn't leave a tip at all that would be punishing maybe the cook, or busboy, who IS doing their job.

[travlngrl1996]

Bring more than you think you'll need....you can always redeposit any unused funds! Better to have it, and not need it, than to need it, and have to pay ATM fees!

 

I totally agree. I always bring more than enough and put a cash payment for my sail and sign account. After the cruise I get a big check on what I don't spend, which is a bonus for me :D. Enjoy your cruise!!

[SmileEh]

I have travelled all my life and my golden rule is... $100.00 per day, per adult.

[mrsd912]

I'm American and I was shocked at all the additional tipping! I'm not cheap since I work for tips, just not well travelled. For our additional tips we paid:

$10 for shuttles to and from POM

$10 to the porter

$15 to various tour guides

$20 to our room steward

$40 total to our dining room staff

I think that was everything, and that was above and beyond d the auto tips. We never got room service or drinks so your figures may vary.

[NewKansasKruiser]

It depends. There are things on the ship to spend $$ on.

 

If you like the pictures, they are $10 to $20 each (depending on casual/formal) taken by the ships photographers and go all the way up to big $$ if you want a large package.

 

Do you scrapbook? They have AWESOME scrapbooks and stickers! I spent $45 on that (plus bought some for my daughter to do her cruise).

 

Do you like Starbucks type coffee? Extra for that. Chocolate dipped strawberry or a fancy piece of dessert for your room? Extra for that ($3 for the cake looked like a real bargain, though we didn't buy it!). Tips...all up to you. We prepaid the $11.xx a day per person.

 

After that...we did not see our room steward once and I have no clue who it was. Didn't ask for ice, any extra accomodations (no bed moving, etc), I keep a very neat room and clean up after myself in the bathroom and room and did not tip extra for the room steward. If we asked for extra or they went above and beyond, I would have.

 

We bought the bottomless bubbles and I did tip a few $1 bills here and there as we drank a lot of pop. :)

 

We tipped the taxi driver to/from the airport, the porter that took our suitcases at the curb at the cruise terminal.

 

We only ate in the MDR 2 or 3 times and we did not tip extra there. We were a party of 2 and each time had to wait until the table for 8 filled up (we were not ATD, we were 6:00 set time dining). Some nights it was 15 to 20 minutes before he would "give up" waiting on our table mates to show up and go ahead and serve us. He liked to serve all 8 as a group but there was never a night all showed up. The tables for 4 would come in at the same time as us and eat WAY before we did as they did not have to wait on others. I didn't like that system but didn't get worked up about it or complain (we booked too late to get ATD). We don't drink, so no bar fees.

 

It will be our first cruise and was wondering how much spending money we will need including tips' .. but not Trips. its for nine days.

we are not big drinkers.

[Mhurst]

I think the norm is 15-20%. And you are right, some service people in the US are given way below the minimum wage if there is an expectation that they will be receiving tips. I've heard it as low as $2.50 per hour because it is assumed they will make up the difference in tips. Of course if the service is terrible then I still leave a tip, but only 10%. And I only do that because some places pool tips and divide them up. If I didn't leave a tip at all that would be punishing maybe the cook, or busboy, who IS doing their job.

 

I worked as a waiter when I was 18 and I made 2.13 an hour at Applebee's

[Surfwench]

It will be our first cruise and was wondering how much spending money we will need including tips' .. but not Trips. its for nine days.

we are not big drinkers.

 

Might as well pre-pay your gratuities and get that out of the way. $5.00 for the porter at the port who takes your suitcases. Couple bucks if you order room service. Tips already built into drink prices. If you take excursions it is customary to tip the tour guide, bus driver and ferry captain. I do not tip the cruise staff extra unless I request something out of the ordinary from them.

 

We are not big drinkers either. Last 7 day cruise we ordered a bottle of Captain Morgan and diet cokes from the Bon Voyage department--it was waiting for us when we arrived. Plus we brought 2 bottles of wine for dinner. Outside of that we indulged in 1 DOD every afternoon, plus the occasional fancy drink after dinner. Our BV bill was approximately $100.00, our drinks bill $150.00.

 

We do not gamble, we do not shop, we bring our own camera.... so we had zero additional charges on our S&S except those outlined above.

 

Truth is, outside of the cost of your cruise ticket, gratuities, everything additional cent spent is entirely up to you. It is possible to have a fabulous time without a big S&S balance.

[serene56]

It

If you like the pictures, they are $10 to $20 each (depending on casual/formal) taken by the ships photographers and go all the way up to big $$ if you want a large package. .

 

 

formal 8x 10 photos are 22.00 you can not get smaller ones unless you buy that 8 x 10 first.

 

they do take smaller photos like when you are getting off the ship- they are closer to 12 bucks and are 4 x 6s

 

 

bingo = 20 bucks a game. They spend more time selling the cards then the actual game.

 

specialty coffees-- specialty cakes-- (YUM) 2.50 a slab choc strawberries 4 for 5 bucks.

milk shakes 4 bucks.

 

casino- $$

 

 

we prepay our tips with final payment. Our last sign and sail account was less then 5 bucks

[hannahouse]

It will be our first cruise and was wondering how much spending money we will need including tips' .. but not Trips. its for nine days.

we are not big drinkers.

 

I think everyone has covered the tips ;)

 

Onboard, there are a variety of extras you might want to budget for. Pictures, casino, spa, speciality non alcoholic drinks and duty free shopping. You are able to purchase liquor, cosmetics and cigarettes at a significant discount.

 

In port, aside from your excursion costs, you might eat, take a taxi, or shop...for ideas on the amounts to budget it's good to visit the ports of call boards.

[NewKansasKruiser]

Must vary by ship. On the destiny it was $9.95 for the casual shots around the ship or at HMC, etc. Formal shots were $19.95.

 

I forgot about Bingo. I spent $30 (3 games and 1 pull tab). It took all of about 6 minutes and it was over. Fastest 3 game in history. Didn't do that again! Slots I spent a little longer on and had a blast. Also entered the slot tournament. $20 and it was also veeeeery fast but fun!

 

formal 8x 10 photos are 22.00 you can not get smaller ones unless you buy that 8 x 10 first.

 

they do take smaller photos like when you are getting off the ship- they are closer to 12 bucks and are 4 x 6s

 

 

bingo = 20 bucks a game. They spend more time selling the cards then the actual game.

 

specialty coffees-- specialty cakes-- (YUM) 2.50 a slab choc strawberries 4 for 5 bucks.

milk shakes 4 bucks.

 

casino- $$

 

 

we prepay our tips with final payment. Our last sign and sail account was less then 5 bucks

[serene56]

Must vary by ship. On the destiny it was $9.95 for the casual shots around the ship or at HMC, etc. Formal shots were $19.95.

 

I forgot about Bingo. I spent $30 (3 games and 1 pull tab). It took all of about 6 minutes and it was over. Fastest 3 game in history. Didn't do that again! Slots I spent a little longer on and had a blast. Also entered the slot tournament. $20 and it was also veeeeery fast but fun!

 

 

was that for this past July? Wow

 

I have not been to a bingo game where you got more then one card--

 

that was like that for the past two years.. one card 20 bucks.

(remember when you got one card for 10 3 for 20--lol

 

 

I wonder if the destiny is different until it becomes the SUnshine