Little or no money for extra is it possible?

[jenndun]

I'm doing a surprise 16th birthday cruise for my daughter this summer. She has no idea. The cruise was paid in full months ago. I have gas money put back and gift cards to cover the cost of meals on the drive down and home that I've been saving. I've already paid for parking. I have reservation for the night before at a motel but I can stay with my sister four hours from port and drive down the day of if I have to. I was not worried about money for the cruise until in the same month my work cut hours and my ex has decided not to pay his child support any more so financially I'm stressed right now and don't see that changing before the cruise. Is it possible to go on the cruise and still have a great time without all the extra stuff. Has anyone done it or should I just cancel. I've been on one four day cruise before and I thought I was being cheap but still spent $500. I'm not a drinker. Last cruise I had one drink the whole time so I'm not worried about that. I'm not a spa person at all. I loved the bingo games last time and would love to do them but could do without. I'm not a gambler. I lost $10 in slots on my last cruise and never went back. I was really wanting to do the steak house but don't think I need to spend the extra money just for food. I don't want to be in port stuck the ship since I don't have lots of money for a excursion. What do you do when you have little or no money for excursions? We are going to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Montego Bay. I've been crunching the number and think I can do around $150 per person for extras while on the cruise. Am I being unreasonable?

[JLee1973]

I would say it is doable. You have a place to sleep and your meals are paid for. The only thing is you would have to come back to the ship on port days to eat but you can do it.

[meatloafsfan]

Spending little to no extra isn't a problem (outside of tips of course).

 

Cozumel is an easy port, take a cab to a beach and enjoy the day (look at the Cozumel forum for one with little to no cover charge).

 

Pick one of the other 2 ports to stay onboard the ship and enjoy the waterslide/hot tub/pool etc with no lines or crowds.

 

Bring a 12 pack of water or soda on board for each of you ($2-$3 in the grocery store for 12 versus $2 a can for each individual soda/water onboard).

 

Stay out of the shops.

 

Stay out of the casino.

 

Stay out of the spa.

 

Stay away from the bars.

 

Enjoy the evening shows, the kareoke, the comedy club, the pools, the hot tubs, etc.

 

Enjoy the food that's included ($70 for the steakhouse would probably cover a lot of other things).

 

Turn off the phone and tell your daughter no internet (those charges can really add up!).

 

And relax and enjoy.

[grumpyjr88]

My first cruise, I spent $50 (not including tips). I was a poor 20 something that had just moved to DC so it can be done. Research 'Free' for each of your ports.

[SadieN]

Yes, it is very doable. We rarely spend more than the auto-grats and a few drinks. Could do without the drinks.

[Throwdownmyace]

I spent almost nothing. Took my own drinks and wine, went to the beach for free in progesso, had a 2 dollar beer. Had maybe 2 drinks on the ship 20 bucks. Took a $10 cab to the beach in cozumel and snorkeled, maybe 10 bucks in beer and had a 30 dollar massage, spent 10 bucks in the casino. Won't do bingo again as it was 30 and was over in a few minutes. I will be going to trivia and line dancing and laying out by the pools and the comedy clubs. Plenty to do for free! Cheopo souvineers in Mexico, again spent maybe 10 bucks and had lots of free tequila tastings

[maldenmusic]

We rarely spend anything on the ship and very little in the ports. If we end up with any OBC due to a price drop we usually blow that in the casino but otherwise we spend very little.

[TahoeBob]

My wife and i did a 4 day out of LA about 4 years ago, and we spent under $50.00 total on the ship, we only had one port day and that was in Catalina island and we rented a golf cart to drive around the island, split the cost with another couple for $35.00.

 

just do the free stuff on the ship, yes it can and has been done.

[Susiecruisey]

I'm doing a surprise 16th birthday cruise for my daughter this summer. She has no idea. The cruise was paid in full months ago. I have gas money put back and gift cards to cover the cost of meals on the drive down and home that I've been saving. I've already paid for parking. I have reservation for the night before at a motel but I can stay with my sister four hours from port and drive down the day of if I have to. I was not worried about money for the cruise until in the same month my work cut hours and my ex has decided not to pay his child support any more so financially I'm stressed right now and don't see that changing before the cruise. Is it possible to go on the cruise and still have a great time without all the extra stuff. Has anyone done it or should I just cancel. I've been on one four day cruise before and I thought I was being cheap but still spent $500. I'm not a drinker. Last cruise I had one drink the whole time so I'm not worried about that. I'm not a spa person at all. I loved the bingo games last time and would love to do them but could do without. I'm not a gambler. I lost $10 in slots on my last cruise and never went back. I was really wanting to do the steak house but don't think I need to spend the extra money just for food. I don't want to be in port stuck the ship since I don't have lots of money for a excursion. What do you do when you have little or no money for excursions? We are going to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Montego Bay. I've been crunching the number and think I can do around $150 per person for extras while on the cruise. Am I being unreasonable?

 

In Cozumel there is a beach at the port and in grand cayman you can walk to 7 mile beach. In mo bay not much there close

[Miller_KC]

Are you counting in the $160 of recommended tips? You can have them taken off you Sail and Sign but hopefully you'll be able to give your servers and room steward something.

 

Overall a cruise vacation should be one of the easiest vacations to take without spending extra money since all of the basics are already paid.

 

In some ports you can also get a pretty good tour by asking cab drivers what they would charge to show you some of the significant sights. Sometimes its barely a drive around the city and pointing out some buildings and statues but sometimes we were able to stop and get out while the taxi driver walked around with us and told us about places. We have been able to get a lot better understanding of the local culture and what is important to the people that live there than on formal tours.

[GatorGirl57]

I think it can be done. Outside of tips, I have spent only the cost of a drink or two on the boat, and then I have done free/cheap things in port like go to a beach, snorkel at a free beach, etc, maybe just a taxi cab cost, or we walk many places.

 

Is the $150/pp is what you have left before or after tips? Tips will be about $161 for both of you for the cruise ($11.50x7x2), so you will want to keep that in mind.

Edited April 11, 2014 by GatorGirl57

[Warm Breezes]

I'm doing a surprise 16th birthday cruise for my daughter this summer. She has no idea. The cruise was paid in full months ago. I have gas money put back and gift cards to cover the cost of meals on the drive down and home that I've been saving. I've already paid for parking. I have reservation for the night before at a motel but I can stay with my sister four hours from port and drive down the day of if I have to. I was not worried about money for the cruise until in the same month my work cut hours and my ex has decided not to pay his child support any more so financially I'm stressed right now and don't see that changing before the cruise. Is it possible to go on the cruise and still have a great time without all the extra stuff. Has anyone done it or should I just cancel. I've been on one four day cruise before and I thought I was being cheap but still spent $500. I'm not a drinker. Last cruise I had one drink the whole time so I'm not worried about that. I'm not a spa person at all. I loved the bingo games last time and would love to do them but could do without. I'm not a gambler. I lost $10 in slots on my last cruise and never went back. I was really wanting to do the steak house but don't think I need to spend the extra money just for food. I don't want to be in port stuck the ship since I don't have lots of money for a excursion. What do you do when you have little or no money for excursions? We are going to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Montego Bay. I've been crunching the number and think I can do around $150 per person for extras while on the cruise. Am I being unreasonable?

Did you take into account gratuities added to your S&S Card? That will be an extra $12 pp/pd. Other than that you don't have to spend a dime on-board and still have a great time. Bring on your own soda and wine (1 bottle per adult) if you want that. Stay away from the casino, photos, spa, store and bingo so you won't be tempted to spend there.

 

In Cozumel grab a taxi ($20 for a taxi incl tip each way) to Paradise Beach. $3 pp gets you use of the facitilities including pool, chair, umbrella...they ask you spend $10 pp in food or drinks. In Grand Cayman there is a yellow hut when you get off the ship that has $20 pp tours of the island ending at a public beach where you can swim or layout on your towel for free. They will come back after a couple hours to take you back to the ship. The tour goes the Tortola Rum Factory, the Dolphin place where you can watch people interacting with the Dolphins, and to Hell. You get to see some of the island and enjoy some beach time. Or take the public buses to the public beach. See the Port of Call board on information on how to do that. I can't help you with Montego Bay.

[jenndun]

Are you counting in the $160 of recommended tips? You can have them taken off you Sail and Sign but hopefully you'll be able to give your servers and room steward something.

 

Overall a cruise vacation should be one of the easiest vacations to take without spending extra money since all of the basics are already paid.

 

In some ports you can also get a pretty good tour by asking cab drivers what they would charge to show you some of the significant sights. Sometimes its barely a drive around the city and pointing out some buildings and statues but sometimes we were able to stop and get out while the taxi driver walked around with us and told us about places. We have been able to get a lot better understanding of the local culture and what is important to the people that live there than on formal tours.

 

I've already paid tips when I paid the cruise.

[GatorGirl57]

I've already paid tips when I paid the cruise.

 

Yay! Good. Then I am sure you can do it and have a great time!!

[scubaman]

Don't sweat it. It is very double. We hardly spend any money on the ship outside of tips.

[PSkinner]

In Grand Cayman you can catch a cab to Royal Palms Resort. I think it is $2 per person entry and about $10 ea to rent chairs, take some bottled water with you and enjoy the beach!

[NicoletteBory]

Did you take into account gratuities added to your S&S Card? That will be an extra $12 pp/pd. Other than that you don't have to spend a dime on-board and still have a great time. Bring on your own soda and wine (1 bottle per adult) if you want that. Stay away from the casino, photos, spa, store and bingo so you won't be tempted to spend there.

 

In Cozumel grab a taxi ($20 for a taxi incl tip each way) to Paradise Beach. $3 pp gets you use of the facitilities including pool, chair, umbrella...they ask you spend $10 pp in food or drinks. In Grand Cayman there is a yellow hut when you get off the ship that has $20 pp tours of the island ending at a public beach where you can swim or layout on your towel for free. They will come back after a couple hours to take you back to the ship. The tour goes the Tortola Rum Factory, the Dolphin place where you can watch people interacting with the Dolphins, and to Hell. You get to see some of the island and enjoy some beach time. Or take the public buses to the public beach. See the Port of Call board on information on how to do that. I can't help you with Montego Bay.

 

 

I have a question about this, if we pre-paid our tips when booking our cruise. Do they still charge your S&S card once on board, even if they credit the S&S card with the pre-paid tip money. I would like to know, so I can know what to expect.

[PhoenixDawgCruising]

Totally. When we cruise, our cabin has myself, DH and DS (9). We put $500 cash on our account, never credit. At the end of the trip we ALWAYS get money back, sometimes as much as $300-$350. So for the 3 of us we usually spend less than $200. Most of that is on casino, arcade, excursions and photos. And on RCCL, Johnny Rockets food charges!:D

 

I should say that I never drink, DH has maybe 3-4 drinks the entire cruise, but we do both gamble.:)

 

Stick to your budget, you can do it!!!:D

[Warm Breezes]

I've already paid tips when I paid the cruise.

 

Then you should have no problems. Enjoy your cruise.

[Warm Breezes]

I have a question about this, if we pre-paid our tips when booking our cruise. Do they still charge your S&S card once on board, even if they credit the S&S card with the pre-paid tip money. I would like to know, so I can know what to expect.

 

I can't answer your question since I have never pre-paid our tips. I would assume they wouldn't charge you again but you may want to check with the cruiseline.

[Budget Queen]

Very doable, I'm never interested in shopping, so that is not an issue for me. But I do see it for other's.

 

Anyway on this itinerary, I'm a snorkeler. If you want to try it, I recommend Cpt Marvin- I've been going out with them for over 20 years. They have a 3 stop trip for about $45 pp, cheaper and nicer than ship shore excursions. For Cozumel, I don't like the "bar" beaches, too much pestering. I do like Chankanaab because they leave you alone. Very clean, nice to walk around, shade. There usually is an online discount coupon. A cab is per cab, not person, so reasonable in costs for a full day.

 

You can't take food off ships- like fruit, sandwiches etc. but, I've gone with a few boxes of cereal, since it's "packaged". A couple boxes per person, works great, with eating a full breakfast, leaving shortly after, then returning mid/later afternoon for a late lunch.

 

I stay on board in Jamaica. Nothing of interest for me there.

Edited April 11, 2014 by Budget Queen

[Out to sea!]

I've already paid tips when I paid the cruise.

 

Then you're golden. Go have a great time!

[SkyMaster]

Just use your head, and do "walking tours" near the ship while in port, or do what I do, and stay aboard, and enjoy the pool, hot tubs, and ship, all by yourself! IMO, that's GREAT. As others have said, stay away from the bingo, casino, and drinks, and you should be just fine. There is plenty to do aboard the ship without spending a dime. Have a FANTASTIC cruise.

 

"SKY"

[mykiddiewinks]

In Cozumel you can take a taxi to Paradise Beach, $12 each will get you entry, and a wrist band to use the inflatables is the sea, if just your daughter want to use the toys I think it is $3 for you and $12 for her. Food isn't expensive there, take a look at their website it has all the prices on it, just search Paradise Beach Cozumel.

[francina]

I have done it. Did not have a penny to spend. But me my mom and gd had a great time. The best times are made when your broke.

 

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