Cruisebore's Money saving cruise tips

[caber]

The OP did a good job winding everyone up with his tongue in cheek post. ;)

 

Everyone is different.

 

I was told years ago by an officer that as long as they fill the cabins, however much people pay, they make the money on the onboard spend.

[richleeds]

A good few years ago on a RCCL ship we got told by a staff member that the target spend per head on drinks daily was £5, we thought this was really low, but we were assured that if the whole cruise averaged out at £5 per person per day on drinks it would be deemed a success.

[daiB]

A good few years ago on a RCCL ship we got told by a staff member that the target spend per head on drinks daily was £5, we thought this was really low, but we were assured that if the whole cruise averaged out at £5 per person per day on drinks it would be deemed a success.

 

 

£5 per day? Should that not be £5 a drink. ;) Tis when you are on large G&Ts. ;)

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[cruisebore]

Boasting how much you spend on board is just as bad as boasting of how little you spend. Is anybody really interested in the expenditure of other passengers. It is a bit like the 'how much you paid' dinner conversation.:eek:

 

or what car you drive or how much your house is worth.

[cruisebore]

One thinks you are in fact a professional, by disclosing your modus opperandi.

Also omitted from your list, taking a last minute cheap re-positioning transatlantic, and letting all that you come into contact with how much was paid.

Not forgetting an early seat at the art auction for a free glass of fizzy wine.

 

Feel you are the new demographic which the new Asda refugee wishes to attract to the brand.

 

Yes, sadly you do actually exist.

 

 

A transatlantic is not a good idea, you could end up spending on the ship, but apart from that there will be less opportunities to sell you beach towels to the locals. :-D

BTW the Pound shops are much cheaper than Asda

Edited November 23, 2014 by cruisebore

[babs135]

On a recent southern transatlantic trip we spent very little. We didn't want 'an inch of gold' or any of the other offerings in the 'flash sales', nor did we feel the need to pay a visit to the casino. Our dinner table companions were extremely sociable, but none of them drank and, as a result neither did we. We might have had a couple of cocktails during the 13 nights but that was all. We still had a great time.

 

However on the return trip New York to Southampton, our table companions drank (one pair went through a bottle a night) and in consequence we realised we were drinking as well (not complaining at all, but we made our bottle last 2 nights; can't do a bottle at a time any more as it gives me terrible heartburn :( ) We also had pre- or post- drinks with them. We also spend money in the shops.

 

Similarly, on our recent P&O cruise our table companions were very friendly and we would have a drink with them most nights.

 

What I'm trying to say is that you can have a fantastic time spending virtually nothing and similarly have a fantastic time spending money. It's a case of swings and roundabouts.

[dsrdsrdsr]

Life really is too short not to enjoy things, I'm yet to hear of a way of taking the money with you when you go :p

 

I wasn't thinking of going just yet. Maybe if I'm ever in a position to know my death is imminent, I will start to enjoy spending money on stuff I don't need, don't want, and won't enjoy. Until then, although there isn't a way to take it with me when I go, there is a way to save it so I can carry on cruising when I retire and don't have to remain a wage slave till I drop.

[Josy1953]

I wasn't thinking of going just yet. Maybe if I'm ever in a position to know my death is imminent, I will start to enjoy spending money on stuff I don't need, don't want, and won't enjoy. Until then, although there isn't a way to take it with me when I go, there is a way to save it so I can carry on cruising when I retire and don't have to remain a wage slave till I drop.

 

Well said, when you retire you will need more money because although you will be in the position of being able to take advantage of saver fares you will also be able to spend a lot more time cruising. We spend a lot more time on cruises and other holidays now that we are retired even though our income is slightly less then when we both worked. We still don't spend money on stuff we don't need, want or enjoy but we do enjoy ourselves having everything that we do need, want or enjoy and plan to continue to do so for as long as we can.

[babs135]

Well said, when you retire you will need more money because although you will be in the position of being able to take advantage of saver fares you will also be able to spend a lot more time cruising. We spend a lot more time on cruises and other holidays now that we are retired even though our income is slightly less then when we both worked. We still don't spend money on stuff we don't need, want or enjoy but we do enjoy ourselves having everything that we do need, want or enjoy and plan to continue to do so for as long as we can.

 

Would agree with this. I don't want to look back in a few years time and regret that we didn't take the opportunity to cruise, etc etc while we could. I always say that as long as we have a roof over our heads, can afford to eat 3 meals a day, why not enjoy life; after all, what's the point of being the richest corpse in the cemetery!!

 

And on that cheery note I will add this: 3 weeks today we'll be on the coach to Southampton to join the QM2. Can't wait.

[GUT2407]

Seriously? Is this even possible and how do you do it. I'm thinking why pay megabucks when I can wait until the very last minute.

 

 

I've seen same great last minute offers, not quite as good as the above, but you need to be able to get there, including time off work to take advantage.

[jeanlyon]

I'm afraid that although the last minute bookings look good, we prefer to have our cruise booked, our cabin chosen and our dining chosen. Couple of things we never spend money on is those awful photographs and the stuff in the shops.

[tartanexile81]

Maybe we're lucky to be able to do it but I don't agree that being retired means you have to take cheaper holidays and be penny-pinching. We have different priorities now - like a much smaller house which takes a lot less to heat and maintain and a smaller car as we don't have to dash from A to B all the time carrying passengers. Yes, we do cruise mainly but not always during school term times but always book in advance so pay top dollar Anticipation is so much part of the joy of cruising for us.

 

Like I said we feel very lucky we're able to do this and don't take anything for granted but we'd hate to be worrying about our on-board account or how little we can spend when we go ashore. Our motto is do it now! We love travelling and want no regrets for what might have been when the inevitable happens.

[geecee1]

I would not offer discounted fares at all, just vary the amount of onboard credit. that way the punters have to spend money aboard the ship ;)

 

all these people spending nothing are being subsidised by the rest of us :mad:

 

 

 

 

 

The only way they are going to fill the ships is to discount late. Cruising is not good value for money unless you get a deal, hence our preference for 4/5* hotels in Mexico, Egypt etc at around £2500 all inclusive for 14 days.

But will continue to look at Caribbean deals on P&O each winter at max £1100 per person, which still equates to c£3000* when you add in bar bills and on shore spend.

Agree with your "Bring back Ocean Village" message.

*Being on relatively small pensions after over 50 years working in the private sector, this is max available each winter.

[richleeds]

Being on relatively small pensions after over 50 years working in the private sector, this is max available each winter.

 

It is something the UK cruise industry is acutely aware of as part of its long term view.

 

Many currently retired cruisers are from an age when they got either a final salary or decent pension which funds their cruising habit.

 

However anyone under 40 is unlikely to have anything like the pensions of old with a more bleak retirement and less disposable income.

[balf]

you enjoy your way of holidaying, I'm sure you'll carry on that way :D

 

Obviously we'll never meet to discuss this as I'll be in one of the bars or the casino 'wasting' my money having an amazing time :p

 

But others have an amazing time just sitting in a lounger looking at the sea. Yes really.

 

David

[Scriv]

My husband is 65 this year and is still working in order to fill the pension pot as unfortunately he also missed out on generous final salary pensions.

 

Our holidays are very important to us, however, and always will be, but we have had to re allocate the holiday budget somewhat. We enjoy 2 weeks as our main summer holiday, a week in the sun at the end of March after the winter and a short break usually in the autumn. We look for value for money where we can without scrimping and saving, but are aware of feeling the poor relation a lot of the time to people who have had very generous pensions. Not pleading poverty here or complaining about our lot - it is just a case of cutting the cloth accordingly.

Edited November 24, 2014 by Scriv

[richleeds]

But others have an amazing time just sitting in a lounger looking at the sea. Yes really.

 

David

 

Surely you spend the morning in half a coma from the night before just sitting in a lounger coming round, then hit the bars and casino again on a night time?

[Scriv]

PS Wrote my earlier post meaning to say that not all of us of retirement age are on final salary or generous pensions or can afford to spend unlimited amounts on holidays. Sadly!!!

Edited November 24, 2014 by Scriv

[GUT2407]

But others have an amazing time just sitting in a lounger looking at the sea. Yes really.

 

David

 

 

I am one of them, I could sit and watch the ocean go past all day.

 

I must be a disappointment yo the lines, I don't drink [but invariably have a non-alcoholic package] I don't gamble, I might visit a specialty restaurant once in 2 weeks.

 

Though I have bought some art, I know a little about it and have snagged some good bargains.

[Daftlad]

My husband is 65 this year and is still working in order to fill the pension pot as unfortunately he also missed out on generous final salary pensions.

 

Our holidays are very important to us, however, and always will be, but we have had to re allocate the holiday budget somewhat. We enjoy 2 weeks as our main summer holiday, a week in the sun at the end of March after the winter and a short break usually in the autumn. We look for value for money where we can without scrimping and saving, but are aware of feeling the poor relation a lot of the time to people who have had very generous pensions. Not pleading poverty here or complaining about our lot - it is just a case of cutting the cloth accordingly.

Pretty much describes my situation to a tee, and probably many more contributors to this forum also.

[Scriv]

Great to hear that, Daftlad. Glad we are not alone!!! I don't want the cruise companies to think we all have unlimited budgets now we are retired or approaching retirement.

Edited November 24, 2014 by Scriv

[Josy1953]

I don't think that many people do have unlimited budgets but we probably would all like to have one. We are amongst those lucky people who do have final salary pensions, after having paid into them for 40 years each we are now reaping the benefits and we know that we are fortunate to be able to afford to cruise several times a year as my husband can no longer fly due to health issues. We do take the saver fares from time to time but equally if there is something that we particularly want to do we do pay the full fare to ensure that we get what we want. When we are on board we don't spend money in the casino (we don't gamble at home) nor do we buy the photos but we do buy the occasional item from the shops for the grandchildren, we usually drink wine with dinner and have a pre or post dinner drink in a bar so even when we take a saver fare I don't feel that anyone is subsidising us.

[richleeds]

We are amongst those lucky people who do have final salary pensions..... I don't feel that anyone is subsidising us.

 

 

Unless you have public sector pensions then yes all us tax payers are subsidising you!

[Scriv]

I don't begrudge final salary people at all, josy, and I have a lot of friends who also benefit from them. But I do feel sorry for those people who, like my OH, have also paid generously into a private pension scheme for over 40 years and through no fault of their own, now cannot reap the benefits due to them in a fair world.

 

I am also making no judgements whatsoever on who spends how much and what on their holidays and cruises. It really is each to their own budgets and I think the majority of us are exactly the same. We all love a bargain - and at other times, we are prepared to pay more for something to get what we want.

Edited November 24, 2014 by Scriv

[hammers]

My husband is 65 this year and is still working in order to fill the pension pot as unfortunately he also missed out on generous final salary pensions.

 

Our holidays are very important to us, however, and always will be, but we have had to re allocate the holiday budget somewhat. We enjoy 2 weeks as our main summer holiday, a weeFebruaryhe sun at the end of March after the winter and a short break usually in the autumn. We look for value for money where we can without scrimping and saving, but are aware of feeling the poor relation a lot of the time to people who have had very generous pensions. Not pleading poverty here or complaining about our lot - it is just a case of cutting the cloth accordingly.

 

I am in the fortunate position to have retired early (56) on a final salary pension. My wife & I go away 5 times a year. We always book last minute and have had some wonderful holidays for a fraction of the original price, for example, 2 weeks on the Ventura last December for £999 for a balcony cabin cruising the Eastern Caribbean. 2 weeks on Azura in February, inside cabin for £1199 (still last minute but more expensive than balcony cabin in December!). 2 weeks in Jamaica in April, all inclusive for £839pp and finally we have just returned from Mexico, 24 hour all inclusive 5* hotel for £800pp. I take the that I would rather go more often and if that means having an inside cabin then so be it. We always say we are not in the cabin during the day and everything else is the same! So you pays your money and take your choice.

Terry