Budgets for older children

[E&B]

We just made the decision to do a Carnival cruise next August (2016) for our oldest daughter and her boyfriend as a 21st birthday celebration and our younger son as a high school graduation gift. The subject came up about how much the older two are allowed to spend on drinks and if there was an unlimited package. We'd like to treat them to a reasonable number of drinks, but we feel the Cheers package could either be abused or simply not worth the money. So, we figure a budget of $25 per day is reasonable and for my 18 year old as well. Obviously he won't be drinking, but why should they have a bigger budget because they are?

 

So, is there a way to pre-pay their account by a certain amount per person and not per cabin? And then have any unused funds (probably for my younger one) be refunded?

[Dpondex]

Interested in seeing the responses here as I'm waiting to do the same for my 17 y/o brother on our cruise.

[Sweet Dutch Girl]

Well....If you would like to "treat" your children and your daughters bf just decide on a gift amount and let them use it for whatever they like and then let them put their own money on the account if they want to buy more of "anything". 21 is an adult...if they want to blow everything on alcohol, that is their choice.

[AngAndBoys]

You can go to guest services and set whatever limits you like for your kids. No problem.

[Vitamin_Sea]

just got back from a Splendor cruise on Tuesday with my 18yo DD.

 

She got $100 from me and $25 OBC from CCL. A total of $125

 

So, she could spend it any way she wants on the ship

 

It was enough but she decided she wanted a spa package and used that money for it.

 

Was a great 8nt cruise :)

[E&B]

They will have the option of "blowing it" on whatever they want, but I think my question was more like this specifically. Can I put a certain amount on each person's account in advance, not the cabin as a whole? And if they don't spend it (I'm sure my younger one won't) can I get it back? And then can they pay the rest with their own debit card? I don't necessarily want limits, just a limit on what I spend. Although I'm sure with these limits, they'll be drinking less.

Edited July 9, 2015 by E&B

[javafish]

Each will have there own sail & sign card so you can load it as you see fit

 

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1138/kw/sail%20and%20sign

Edited July 9, 2015 by javafish

[AngAndBoys]

They will have the option of "blowing it" on whatever they want, but I think my question was more like this specifically. Can I put a certain amount on each person's account in advance, not the cabin as a whole? And if they don't spend it (I'm sure my younger one won't) can I get it back? And then can they pay the rest with their own debit card? I don't necessarily want limits, just a limit on what I spend.

 

Yes, you can put only a certain amount on each person, but not in advance, have to do onboard. They can also add more of their own money if they want. I don't know about getting it back though if they don't spend it. That never happens with mine. By day 5, they're broke.

[singbluesilver1]

125 won't buy many drinks at all , maybe 12 which isn't even two a day

[Sweet Dutch Girl]

Remember that tips are added to each persons account so there needs to be enough to cover them or you need to make sure your account is covering everyone's tips.

[Namelocg]

When you do the on line check in you can set up individual accounts for you daughter and her boyfriend using their personal debit/credit cards. Give your younger son charges on your account if he doesn't have a debit card of his own. Then, once you get on board go to guest service and put the amount of cash you want to give each one on their individual account. If all the cash is not used it will be refunded on the last night by going to guest services. If they spend over the amount of cash available the balance will be charged to their individual cards. If you keep your son on your account you will be able to see how much he spent because each person has a different folio number and you will get a breakdown of charges for each folio number on each account. Hope this helps.

[Vitamin_Sea]

125 won't buy many drinks at all , maybe 12 which isn't even two a day

 

haha ......at 21yo... they buy there own drinks!

 

Welcome to the real world

Edited July 9, 2015 by Vitamin_Sea

[Namelocg]

Remember that tips are added to each persons account so there needs to be enough to cover them or you need to make sure your account is covering everyone's tips.

 

If you want to cover everyone's tip and not have them go on the sail and sign card you can pay them before you board the ship. Just contact whoever you made the reservation with and tell them you want to prepay the daily service charge.

[Luke gs Daddy]

haha ......at 21yo... they buy there own drinks!

 

Welcome to the real world

 

Yep!

I also hope you did not book ES.

:eek:

[omalley16]

Being a 19 year old myself.... I would say the 21 year old is on their own. At 17, I was on my own for my cruise, I had just gotten a debit card in preparation for college (I graduated HS at 17). My 8 night, I personally spent $20, so I would say $100 is absolutely PLENTY for your son, maybe an allowance of $50 would be good and a little set aside for the last 2 days if you see that the $50 or whatever was spent wisely. If you want him to get drinks (sodas), I would say buy the package for the cruise and give him $25 OBC. Then again, I was 17, not 18. If you think the 18 year old will be in the casino, if you "allow" it (he's 18, legal onboard, not much you can do other than not be the bank for him), maybe $20 or $25 like you suggested, you don't want him hooked. I went alone with my grandma just last month for my first time in a casino, and my parents gave me $200 for a week, whereas I was only going to bring $100. I wasn't looking for more money, but if I had it, I spent it, just be warned that he will spend it if it's available.

 

For your daughter, I would say she's on her own, if you want to pay gratuities that is fine, but I would assume she has a part time job or something to set aside some money. I would say if she does have a job, give her less. Tell her to start saving, and I have a great savings plan: Starting as soon as possible, put away one dollar. One week later, put away two dollars. Each week, put $1 more into a savings account, mason jar, etc. to save money. In one year, it is equivalent to $1,378, and that is PLENTY I would find. For me, I only work 15 hrs/wk at minimum wage, so the most I could save was $25, so I would go the first 25 weeks at the schedule, and then deposit $25 each week after, or however much I could afford. I ended up with about $500, and did not see a difference in my checking account, where my savings had a MAJOR boost. Then again, I'm a college student with only food bills. I would say make a deal with her that if she can save so much money, like $500 over the next year, you'll give her an extra $100 or whatever for drinks, or whatever you deem appropriate.

 

Have fun, and hopefully your kids won't break the bank ;)

[E&B]

125 won't buy many drinks at all , maybe 12 which isn't even two a day

 

 

I said $25 per day.

[E&B]

Remember that tips are added to each persons account so there needs to be enough to cover them or you need to make sure your account is covering everyone's tips.

 

 

We plan on pre-paying tips. I like having as much paid for in advance as possible.

[singbluesilver1]

I thought it was 125 for a week sorry

[E&B]

Thanks all!

[Cruisegoer]

We just made the decision to do a Carnival cruise next August (2016) for our oldest daughter and her boyfriend as a 21st birthday celebration and our younger son as a high school graduation gift. The subject came up about how much the older two are allowed to spend on drinks and if there was an unlimited package. We'd like to treat them to a reasonable number of drinks, but we feel the Cheers package could either be abused or simply not worth the money. So, we figure a budget of $25 per day is reasonable and for my 18 year old as well. Obviously he won't be drinking, but why should they have a bigger budget because they are?

 

So, is there a way to pre-pay their account by a certain amount per person and not per cabin? And then have any unused funds (probably for my younger one) be refunded?

 

Just let me know what my budget will be, I'll be happy with nearly anything since you're already paying for my cruise and airfare.

[skittl1321]

I'd think it was pretty generous if my parents gave me $25 a day for drinks.

 

Yeah, that isn't that many drinks- but it is not like drinking is mandatory. And they can bring on a bottle of wine and a 12-pack of soda to defer what they need to spend. (Myself- I rarely spend anything at all on a cruise. $25 a day would be HUGE.)

Edited July 10, 2015 by skittl1321

[katiel53]

I know I am not answering your question, but I just wanted to make a comment about using a debit card. As with credit cards, a hold is put on the account and unless your children have a decent amount of money in the bank, using a debit card may cause a problem.

 

I say this because the last day of the cruise, all charges go through and it takes a few days to remove the hold that has been placed on the account thereby leaving less money to use for a couple of days. I, personally, wouldn't use a debit card even though I have enough money to cover the hold etc.

 

I had someone steal my credit card number once when on a Carnival cruise and had it been my debit card, I might have been up the creek. That only happened one time out of all my cruises, but just mentioning it because it can happen.

[ASchaff]

They're adults, let them spend what they want to spe d, if their own money. I am assuming you're paying for the cruise so....lol

[coevan]

The younger one, just buy a soft drink card and your done. Not much else to spend money on

[RaiderFaninNM]

Just let me know what my budget will be, I'll be happy with nearly anything since you're already paying for my cruise and airfare.

Agreed, that is enough, @ 21 and legal drinking age, then they should be on their own, when we decided to take a cruise when our oldest was 21 she was excited until...................we cut the stings, at 21 and on their own they are responsible for their vacation costs. She was more then welcome to go but at her expense, there comes a time to pay for yourself we all went threw that and now is the time IMHO.