Go Cheap or Stay Home???

[printingchick]

OK. So this is kind of just for fun, but would maybe make you think if you were given this ultimatum. If you were given the choice to go on a 7 night cruise but had to be on a very tight budget, would you do it or would you just stay home?

 

What I mean by being on a tight budget or "frugal" as I like to call it is

 

-flying in the same day as the cruise, therefore, no overnight hotel, no buying drinks and supper the night before the cruise and no buying breakfast the morning of the cruise. Have done this before to save money, particularly on cruises out of San Juan, which do not depart until 8:30PM.

 

-we are diamond, so we would just have the drinks in the DL from 5-8 every night. No foo-foo drinks around the pool:eek: Not diamond, but I could - if I HAD to - give up the foo-foo drinks by the pool. I admit, it would NOT be the same without them! ;)

 

-no wine at vintages every afternoon Don't do this anyway.

 

-no specialty restaurants, just eat in the MDR every night Don't do this either. I'm already pretty much a budget traveler!

 

-no excursions, just enjoy the empty ship Would NOT do this. If I could not enjoy the ports of call, I would not cruise. I cruise for the ports, not the ship.

 

-no souvenir shopping--have all the t shirts from every island anyways No big deal.

 

-no casino:( Not a gambler.

 

-no picture buying I usually buy a couple of the formal shots, but I could skip it if necessary.

 

-and last but not least, stay in an inside cabin instead of our usual balcony:o Have never gone for the balcony. I typically stay in an ocean view. I'd be hard-pressed to stay inside. I cruise for the PORTS and the OCEAN and I really like to be able see the SEA outside my window the SECOND I open my eyes in the morning. But if it were the difference between a cruise and no cruise, I guess I could live in the DARK all week.

 

So if you had to decide, what would you choose?? Go cheap and still be able to cruise, or just stay home!!

 

REMEMBER People...this is just a hypothetical situation. Would you be able to give all these things up to go on a cruise???

 

 

I'm already a budget cruiser, so I have to make these kind of decisions all the time. I don't book a balcony because the excursions are more important. Then again, I don't book excursions which cost over $85/pp - usually significantly less. I don't eat at the specialty restaurants because the MDR is very good and INCLUDED. And I've had to fly same day before, sometimes with some stress. What I won't do is give up anything that directly impacts my enjoyment of the ports of call or the experience of being AT SEA. THOSE are the things I cruise for!!

[dsrdsrdsr]

If "foo-foo drinks" by the pool were compulsory, but you could pay extra to avoid them, that's an extra I would pay for. Sitting by the pool is a boring activity anyway, for me - I'd far rather watch the sea than a swimming pool.

[Northshorecruisers]

We'd be staying home. When we cruise it's for a much needed vacation and usually to celebrate something (birthday, anniversary), so we don't want to have to watch pennies. And part of that experience is spending a day or two in the departure city to have some fun and board the ship relaxed and ready to cruise.

 

Now, if it was just me - I'd like to try a frugal cruise. Inside cabin, go carry on only, spend my time laying by the pool and on beaches.

[fostermom2012]

I am cruising with my mom, my sister, and my sister's 3 children in a few weeks and this is how we always vacation: on a tight budget! We are driving 18 hrs to Miami from Ohio because we can not afford airline tickets, we will not be doing any shore excursions and we don't drink. For us it is the time to be together and to not have to be at work.

[OCruisers]

OK. So this is kind of just for fun, but would maybe make you think if you were given this ultimatum. If you were given the choice to go on a 7 night cruise but had to be on a very tight budget, would you do it or would you just stay home?

 

What I mean by being on a tight budget or "frugal" as I like to call it is

 

-flying in the same day as the cruise, therefore, no overnight hotel, no buying drinks and supper the night before the cruise and no buying breakfast the morning of the cruise.

 

-we are diamond, so we would just have the drinks in the DL from 5-8 every night. No foo-foo drinks around the pool:eek:

 

-no wine at vintages every afternoon

 

-no specialty restaurants, just eat in the MDR every night

 

-no excursions, just enjoy the empty ship

 

-no souvenir shopping--have all the t shirts from every island anyways

 

-no casino:(

 

-no picture buying

 

-and last but not least, stay in an inside cabin instead of our usual balcony:o

 

So if you had to decide, what would you choose?? Go cheap and still be able to cruise, or just stay home!!

 

REMEMBER People...this is just a hypothetical situation. Would you be able to give all these things up to go on a cruise???

 

Absolutely NOT! Much rather stay home!

 

LuLu

~~~~

[Markanddonna]

flying in the same day. If it was a minor cruise, I might fly in the day of the cruise. I can live with an inside although we typically get some type of upgrade. My last balcony on a TA just wasn't worth it.

 

Most everything else- photos, foo foo drinks- I can do without.

[jamessemaj]

Yes, I would suffer these inconveniences on this hypothetical spartan cruise. Somebody has to do it. I might cheat on the wine and drinks though. The rest I will struggle through, somehow.

[slidergirl]

Not possible. You must not notice the oxidation that begins a day or so after opening.

 

I guess I don't notice... But, it's a cheap Reisling that tastes darn good cold on a hot summer night at midnight after 8 hours at work :-)

It's a little taste of it and I'm straight to bed, since sometimes I draw the 7am shift after that :( Actually, I used some leftover Santa Christiana Tuscan to perk up my pasta sauce tonight. That's the other place my wine goes...

[Laughing Angel]

Gee, that's a tough question. I think I'd be inclined to go on the cruise anyway, even with the restrictions. I suppose I could deal with no specialty restaurants (just the MDR), inside cabin, no excursions, no souvvies, no gambling or no frufru cocktails by the pool, etc. These elements are not the totality of the cruise experience.

 

That said, it would not be my optimum cruising choice. If I can't get a balcony, I need at least an oceanview cabin (I love being able to see those waves). Also, I don't like feeling rushed. I enjoy arriving the day before without any anxiety or nervousness. I try not to leave a lot to chance.

 

Don't need a whole lot to make me happy, so those two issues would be my only "must haves" for cruising.

[Cruisin' Chick]

OK. So this is kind of just for fun, but would maybe make you think if you were given this ultimatum. If you were given the choice to go on a 7 night cruise but had to be on a very tight budget, would you do it or would you just stay home?

 

What I mean by being on a tight budget or "frugal" as I like to call it is

 

-flying in the same day as the cruise, therefore, no overnight hotel, no buying drinks and supper the night before the cruise and no buying breakfast the morning of the cruise.

 

We do this when leaving from the Port of LA because we're within driving distance -- and even then we always leave in the morning. But we would never fly in the same day of the cruise. What if something goes wrong with your flight? Then all the frugality in the world would be wasted as you could miss your cruise. So it's not being frugal, but risky (and IMO impractical).

 

-we are diamond, so we would just have the drinks in the DL from 5-8 every night. No foo-foo drinks around the pool:eek:

 

We go on Princess and will be platinum on the next cruise, but in all honesty, I don't need drinks, foo-foo or otherwise. We do bring in our own soft drinks, as I don't care for Coke products.

 

-no wine at vintages every afternoon

Not into wine. So no biggie.

 

-no specialty restaurants, just eat in the MDR every night

Not foodies, so the MDR or the buffet is fine with us.

-no excursions, just enjoy the empty ship

 

You don't need to do excursions. Just research the ports and do sightseeing. If the ship docks a bit away from the town, you may to take a taxi or shuttle. We've had ports where we can walk the whole time.

But even if you stay on the ship, there could be others (those who have been on the itinerary many times and just sailing for the ship) who stay on the ship and enjoy the peace and quiet. Some people will go to the spa (often there'll specials), do their laundry in the self-service laundromats, or just hang out by the pool.

 

-no souvenir shopping--have all the t shirts from every island anyways

 

If you just look at the sights, maybe do a little window shopping, you can keep your wallet closed.

-no casino:(

 

I don't go to the casino.

 

-no picture buying

 

We'll usually buy a photo or two if we like them, but you can skip them.

 

-and last but not least, stay in an inside cabin instead of our usual balcony:o

 

We skip balconies anyway. We always book an inside or OV. To us, it's being out and about the ship.

 

So if you had to decide, what would you choose?? Go cheap and still be able to cruise, or just stay home!!

 

REMEMBER People...this is just a hypothetical situation. Would you be able to give all these things up to go on a cruise???

 

I guess our end-of-cruise folio is much less than yours. The only real mandatory cost would be the autotips. Every thing else is dependent on the person.

[GlendaleCruiser]

Absolutely would go! I am not a big drinker, I always eat in the MDR with very rare exception, if you can't buy excursions--in many ports you can get off the ship and look around really close at least a little bit.

 

Only exception: I would buy a picture on elegant night.

 

A week cruising, even frugally, is better than sitting home.

[ducklite]

Absolutely would go! I am not a big drinker, I always eat in the MDR with very rare exception, if you can't buy excursions--in many ports you can get off the ship and look around really close at least a little bit.

 

Only exception: I would buy a picture on elegant night.

 

A week cruising, even frugally, is better than sitting home.

 

I guess that depends on your home. I'm very comfortable in mine. I enjoy cooking, am low maintenance (don't find being "waited on" all that important) and have a very busy life doing things I enjoy. I'd rather have a CIA trained private chef come in and give me a cooking lesson than go out to a restaurant for example. I don't mind making my bed, and it's cheaper to have a cleaning service come in than to pay for a cruise. Have a wine collection, so I can just grab a bottle.

 

I cruise to see the world, not to see the ocean and sit on a ship while it's in port because I can't afford the train fare to Pompeii or bus fare to Oia or shore excursion to Tulum or a rental scooter in Hamilton. Many if not most ports--particularly in the Caribbean--have very little of interest within walking distance. They are just one market after another with vendors harassing you to buy cheap junk. That isn't my idea of seeing anything. Getting off the ship in Cozumel and walking next door to Carlos and Charley's and saying you've seen Cozumel is like flying over France and saying you've seen the country.

[calliopecruiser]

I guess that depends on your home. I'm very comfortable in mine. I enjoy cooking, am low maintenance (don't find being "waited on" all that important) and have a very busy life doing things I enjoy. I'd rather have a CIA trained private chef come in and give me a cooking lesson than go out to a restaurant for example.

 

Interesting you should say that in reference to cruising......I was talking to someone who was musing how nice it would be to spend 3 or 4 months on a world cruise, and one of the first things I thought of was that I would miss cooking. I don't want to eat in a restaurant all the time - certainly not for months at a time.

[happy cruzer]

Wow, so many "have" to have the balcony. Now I see why I can go a cruise in an inside and enjoy most of the same amenities for 1/2 the price. It pays not to be picky.

 

So yes, go on a budget. I imagine you may not have to give up all things. But the savings on a inside vs. balcony will let two cruise for the price of one.

[celle]

First, it would depend on the itinerary! 7 days on a ship that just goes to a few islands would be OK, but I'd probably stay home. But ft it went to interesting ports, I'd be much more enthusiastic about going. I can go ashore and spend nothing - have done it several times - so that wouldn't present a problem. I like just walking around and looking, taking photos etc.

 

I could manage the inside cabin, but DH says he'd feel claustrophobic.

 

On balance, since we like longer cruises, I'd probably choose to stay home.

[calliopecruiser]

Wow, so many "have" to have the balcony. Now I see why I can go a cruise in an inside and enjoy most of the same amenities for 1/2 the price. It pays not to be picky.

 

So yes, go on a budget. I imagine you may not have to give up all things. But the savings on a inside vs. balcony will let two cruise for the price of one.

 

I could say the same about shopping for clothes, or about home electronics, or about cars......We all have things we are "picky" about, and neither is right or wrong. All the amenities in the world wouldn't make up (to me) for the lack of natural light and the size of an indoor cabin, and I wouldn't sail in an indoor cabin even if it was free - your mileage may vary (and apparently it does). But it's not about "being picky" or not, it's about valuing different things.

[herbanrenewal]

I'd have no problem with booking the inside - we've done it before and will definitely do it again.

Then I'd try Fishing for a sale that would enable me to upgrade to oceanview :p

But if I end up in an inside, its fine with me...I still get all the other benefits of a relaxing cruise. We're usually just in the cabin to shower, change and sleep, and have even gone to the gym to shower when we are cutting it close after an excursion and both needing to get ready for dinner.

 

I wouldn't rule out going on shore, but google/bing for DYI self-guided tours or activities in port.

[beachchick]

I'm afraid we would stay home and save more for later. We could do without most of the extras, but no balcony is a deal breaker for us.

 

Interesting you should say that in reference to cruising......I was talking to someone who was musing how nice it would be to spend 3 or 4 months on a world cruise, and one of the first things I thought of was that I would miss cooking. I don't want to eat in a restaurant all the time - certainly not for months at a time.

 

There's no way I could go without cooking or baking for that long. I enjoy it and my hubby loves the results.

 

Wow, so many "have" to have the balcony. Now I see why I can go a cruise in an inside and enjoy most of the same amenities for 1/2 the price. It pays not to be picky.

 

So yes, go on a budget. I imagine you may not have to give up all things. But the savings on a inside vs. balcony will let two cruise for the price of one.

 

It's just a matter of preferences. We are picky about cabin, ship, and ports. You are good with the inside cabin; we are not. That doesn't make either of us "better" than the other, just different.

 

beachchick

[Markanddonna]

I cruise to see the world, not to see the ocean and sit on a ship while it's in port because I can't afford the train fare to Pompeii or bus fare to Oia or shore excursion to Tulum or a rental scooter in Hamilton. Many if not most ports--particularly in the Caribbean--have very little of interest within walking distance. They are just one market after another with vendors harassing you to buy cheap junk. That isn't my idea of seeing anything. Getting off the ship in Cozumel and walking next door to Carlos and Charley's and saying you've seen Cozumel is like flying over France and saying you've seen the country.

 

I agree with this thought. I save my limited funds to travel to new places that are really different. I find some countries much more interesting than others. The Caribbean sort of all looks the same to me although the beaches and water are lovely. I look at museums the same way though. After you have seen some of the major Egyptian collections, you don't get excited about seeing a relatively minor or redundant one unless that is your thing! How fortunate many of us are that we can travel like this!

[RNRcruisers]

I would definitely go! We are always on a tight budget, that is why we like to cruise. We can have nice meals, see fun places and not pay any more than the upfront cost if we don't want to. We've never had a balcony, usually inside rooms, so no problem there. I can live without the foo-foo drinks, although I like a glass of wine or two a day. The on-board shops aren't very exciting (although I usually spend some time browsing anyway!), never been to the specialty restaurants, don't do the casino. We do usually buy a few pictures which I could probably do without. The tough one would be flying in the day of the cruise. We have done that several times and I am always a nervous wreck. And I do like to do excursions in most ports but depending on what the ports are, we could skip that. After all this talk of cruising, I want to book a cruise!

[suzyed]

I look at cruising as having a "flavor" or feel...each is different or unique from the previous one (different ships, different ports, different cabin types, etc.) Our preference to do a variety.

Sometimes we will book a two week TA cruise with several Med. ports in a mini or a 7 day cruise to beautiful Alaska in a suite and then we will book an ocean view on a 3-4 day, last minute Bahama cruise...each one is different than the others. We love cruising and love the variety of options available!

Sometimes we go for the specialty restaurants, more expensive shore excursions and sometimes we don't. It depends!

 

It's all good! ;)

[ducklite]

Interesting you should say that in reference to cruising......I was talking to someone who was musing how nice it would be to spend 3 or 4 months on a world cruise, and one of the first things I thought of was that I would miss cooking. I don't want to eat in a restaurant all the time - certainly not for months at a time.

 

I'd love to do a world cruise on The World in a suite with a kitchen. The idea of getting off in port and shopping at the local markets for fresh produce, local sea foods, fish, and meats, local wines, and then throwing something together for a simple dinner sounds like my dream come true.

 

Right now I have mahi mahi marinating in fresh squeezed lime and cilantro. I've got broccoli under the boiler with a spritz of olive oil and some fresh chopped garlic and red peppers. In about 10 minutes I'm going to put the fish on the same pan and broil that along side the broccoli. Lunch is served. All fresh and delish and total prep time was about 10 minutes. :)

[ducklite]

Wow, so many "have" to have the balcony. Now I see why I can go a cruise in an inside and enjoy most of the same amenities for 1/2 the price. It pays not to be picky.

 

So yes, go on a budget. I imagine you may not have to give up all things. But the savings on a inside vs. balcony will let two cruise for the price of one.

 

In the Caribbean a balcony is a must for me. In port intensive Europe or on a TA, any outside room will do. I would never ever get an inside. Way too claustrophobic.

[dsrdsrdsr]

I can never quite reconcile the apparently vast numbers who are too claustrophobic to have an inside cabin, with the equally vast numbers who crowd into the lift. If you have claustrophobia, you can't get into a lift. :confused:

[calliopecruiser]

I can never quite reconcile the apparently vast numbers who are too claustrophobic to have an inside cabin, with the equally vast numbers who crowd into the lift. If you have claustrophobia, you can't get into a lift. :confused:

 

Part of it is duration and expectations -- I am not really, typically claustrophobic, but under certain circumstances, I feel panic when I don't have enough room around me. For instance, in an elevator I have an expectation of a limited amount of time there and so my personal comfort isn't really a big deal. I don't care about being uncomfortable for 3 or 4 minutes. However, in my "bedroom", whether it's a hotel room, a cabin, or my room at home, I have an expectation of spending longer amounts of time there and want to feel relaxed and comfortable. I wouldn't want to feel uncomfortable or panicky when I'm trying to relax to go to sleep, and I wouldn't want to feel like I'm rushing to leave every time I went in there.