Frequent Cruisers

[Steven_&_Daniel]

Is it just me or is anyone else amazed at how often some people cruise? It takes us a couple of years to save up enough to go on a cruise (or any other vacation for that matter). I can't believe how many people I've seen counting down to three, four, or five cruises!!! Some appear to cruise six times a year or more. I can't even comprehend a life where you can afford to do that. Are they all wealthy retired folks or what? :confused:

[tsj]

I also hope to cruise often in the future, one thing is for sure once my children are grown (educated, married and well established) we will pay for two to cruise not four and maybe we will cruise twice as often. However, I bet we will decide we love cruiing with them so much we will want to help them bring the next generation along. LOL.

I must say that in looking at your cruise history, you may have to save up but you do have great taste in the cruises you choose!

[mtaylor04]

We are not wealthy by any means but we are cruising twice this year. I am an accountant and my husband is a teacher. For about three months out of the year we do tax returns for cruise money. Could we spend the money on something else? Sure, but we think the extra work for a few months is worth the relaxation we get on a cruise.

 

I would love to cruise once a quarter but that is not to be while we still have two kids in college. One day, I hope to be able to do so.:D

 

Mary

[CruiseFever]

Is it just me or is anyone else amazed at how often some people cruise? It takes us a couple of years to save up enough to go on a cruise (or any other vacation for that matter). I can't believe how many people I've seen counting down to three, four, or five cruises!!! Some appear to cruise six times a year or more. I can't even comprehend a life where you can afford to do that. Are they all wealthy retired folks or what? :confused:

 

Its a matter of priorities.

 

Forget that college fund for the kids, let 'em get a job and student loans like the rest of the world. Do they really need to have an inheritance when you die?

 

We used to go out to eat, buy fancy cars, go to movies, buy Christmas, anniversary and birthday gifts, celebrate holidays, etc.

 

(how's the comprehension coming along?)

 

When we stopped all that and came here to suck all the el cheapo tips and tricks out of the cruise critic board members our cruising frequency increased dramatically.

 

but some are wealthy too....

 

You can cruise more than you ever dreamed by following as many of these simple rules as possible or making up your own in the same spirit:

 

• Do not go see any movies in movie theatres- on a yearly basis this adds up really fast- if you and one other person (let alone if you bring the kids) go see a movie for, say, $30 with popcorn and drinks thats $1560 a year, easily and inside cabin for two or more than enough for a balcony for one
   
  
• Skip dinner out- if you went out to eat at a casual dinner restaurant like Olive Garden or Red Lobster before or after the movie where the check average is $10 to $15 per person that's another $1500 a year- now your cruise is paid for
   
  
• Reevaluate those household priorities- Do you really NEED that new Barbecue grill, deck, landscaping, or car? I'm not saying to neglect your property. Keep up on maintenance and repairs. For us, though, once we discovered cruising the "keeping up with the Jones'" game became meaningless and we funnelled all that money into cruising.
   
  
• Avoid being on "the cutting edge"- having the latest and greatest is expensive- be happy with the good (insert "thing" here) you have that does the job
   
  
• Give cards instead of gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and special events - on the card include in the signature "__ days till we cruise! again"
   
  
• Cook. You'll save money and eat better, live longer and go on more cruises.
   
  
• DO give back to the community. Continue or start giving to a charity that means something to you. You can be thrifty, cruise often, and still do your part to make the world a better place
   
  

[donna5]

Cruisefever,

 

We're with you on this. We don't travel as much as we would like too. Some of our friends and relatives are always going on weekend trips, new car every three-four years, big expensive houses(with big mortages), eating out almost every night and buying their lunch instead of taking a healthy lunch to work. We quit buying each other Presents on Holidays and Birthdays and then get what we want, when we want and then say this is our present for (fill in the blank).

 

Like you said "you have to decide what your priorities are.

[msraye]

I also think it depends on HOW you cruise. I have been astounded at the $$ some people rack up for Bingo, Booze, jewelry, the Casino and just general buying! I am not saying don't if that is what you want to do. I just went for btb cruises on the Mariner of the Seas--the hurricane changed our itinerary dramatically but wound up with a bill of only $109 for the first week and $380 for the second week. ( I don't think the 2nd should count--I got sickand had to go to the Dr. and get meds.) A friend traveling with me spent over $4k in CASH and I don't even know what the ship charge was. My point is that the cost of the cruise, and what I spent and the airplane( I live in Ca. and did the Caribbean) and the rental car and the hotel the night before was well under $1000. Of course I brot my own water on ( not carried on the ship) and my own wine (better than available on ship and much cheaper!). My point is maybe people like me can go on more vacations than some others because of how we do it. I am not wealthy buy any means but then I have finished putting someone thru college!

[davoni]

Maybe they're doing what some of our other Aussie friends are doing.....

"skiing.".... Spending the Kids' Inheritance! ;)

[Coral]

A couple of comments - I am in my 30's and by no means wealthy (I consider myself working class). I am single and don't have any children (this part probably helps the most). I also live in the middle of nowhere (Lincoln, NE) and I can't do all the fun weekend trips that my friends do that live in Texas, California and the East Coast. I am 9 hours from Denver and 9 hours from Chicago so no weekend trips for me. I also don't drink and somewhat limit going out to dinner and movies. I also don't buy Christmas gifts for many.....I know friends who spend thousands per year on this.

 

When I cruise - I often use FF miles for my flights (I get these by using airline charge cards), priceline for hotels and I am not against booking a cheap inside room. I try to cruise 3x a year and usually 2 of those are in inside/outside rooms and one will be in a minisuite (and thankfully I have been upgraded a few times to a sutie). I will often wait until after final payment to book a cruise where cabins can go as low as $399 or $499 pp for a 7 night cruise.

 

I think "msraye" hit the bullseye correctly - part of it is how you cruise. I don't drink, use the casino or have spa treatments on the ship. I have cruised enough - the sales on the ship don't interest me. My souveniors of the trip are often my photos. I do book excursions (part on the ship and part privately) so I don't skimp on those but outside of excursions and tips - I usually don't have much else on my sign and sail card. Cruising can be expensive once on the ship but it doesn't have to be.

 

I have a family history of people who have died early for various reasons and I don't want to be one of those people who saves their entire life to travel when I am in my 60's and god forbid, have something happen to me before I have a chance to live out my traveling dreams. I don't want to have any regrets later. I will probably be one of those poor elderly people but I will have my memories to keep my mind rich.

[DrivesLikeMario]

I don't want to be one of those people who saves their entire life to travel when I am in my 60's and god forbid, have something happen to me before I have a chance to live out my traveling dreams.

 

I couldn't agree more. ;) It's all a matter of priorities and where you are in life. 10 years ago, we couldn't afford to go on even 1 little cruise. Things change, you work hard, and make cruising a priority.

 

We're the opposite of a lot of posters below. We spend a lot when we cruise. It's not my choice - I'd be happy in an inside cabin and driving ourselves to the airport or port, but DH insists on it. :rolleyes:

[CruiseFever]

I have a family history of people who have died early for various reasons and I don't want to be one of those people who saves their entire life to travel when I am in my 60's and god forbid, have something happen to me before I have a chance to live out my traveling dreams. I don't want to have any regrets later. I will probably be one of those poor elderly people but I will have my memories to keep my mind rich.

 

I forgot about that part. If family history holds true I'm done about retirement age. I'm trying to break that chain but you never know. DW's brush with Cancer a few years back accelerated our move to Florida plans....and our cruise schedule.

[marie24]

Sometimes having a family member employed by a cruiseline helps.

[Times Prince]

I definitely agree with many of the comments below. When we started cruising it was to let my wife get totally away from her 24x7 crisis pager. Since then we've found that it usually costs about the same to cruise as to go on a land vacation, and is a LOT less stressful. This Thanksgiving we drove four days for a two day visit with family - for the cost of a balcony cabin on a 7 day cruise, and we arrived home exhausted.

 

I disagree that one has to skimp on things that help keep relationships alive, like dinner out, flowers, and remembering birthdays in a special way. We don't drive the cars we could afford, but do drive nice cars. We live comfortably, and for a long time it took both of us working to afford cruising. We give of our time and talent to our church.

 

On cruises we have never spend whatever the minimum is in the casino, or bingo. We have bought art, when we could afford it and the picture was right. Drinking is not our thing. We usually overtip to show our appreciation to those hard working people on the ship. And we only book expensive tours if they are worth it to us - or no tour at all. We enjoy snorkeling, and hiking on shore.

 

And we LOVE cruising. Being with each other. Enjoying exotic places together. It's a great vacation.

[hershey555]

My goal is to cruise once a month. I am currently doing around 8 or 9 cruises a year. My husband is retired, my kids are both grown and out of the house. We have a little nest egg that we don't touch and we live comfortably. I usually travel with girlfriends as my husband does not care to cruise. That saves because I am only one person. I also travel with my sister and my mother. Life is too short to sit home and not do what you want to do. I am not hurting anyone and I am enjoying life. I think that is what it is all about.

 

I didn't take my first cruise until I was 45 and have done almost 70 in 10 years. The funny part is that my sister had pull me kicking and screaming to go on my first one. Now they can't get me off ships.... We all talk about that all the time. I also take my kids and my grandson also comes with me.

 

hershey

[hershey555]

sorry for the duplicates

[travellady]

I am very fortunate, and lucky, to be working for one of the top high tech companies in the world, not only currently but have done so for the past 15 years. So, I have both time since I get 5.5 vacation weeks per year, and a little extra cash, and choose to spend some of that time and cash cruising. My 2 oldest are grown with high tech careers of their own and the only one left at home is my 12 year old son. So, 2/3'rds done paying for college.

 

And, I value time with my family and because my job is so intense, we find we can reconnect when cruising since everything is taken care of for us.

 

Also, I've learned to enjoy life and not put off those things you'd love to do until after retirement. Within the space of 5 years I lost my last 2 remaining grandparents, my brother-in-law died in a car accident, my newborn daugher was diagnosed with a fatal disorder and died at 3 months, I lost my sister to domestic violence, my dad died suddenly of pancreatic cancer, and my 2 oldest sons, 16 at the time, were in a horrific car crash and it was only a miracle they survived (one of them had his heart stop twice as he was being airlifted to a trauma center). I know this sounds almost unbelievable but it's all true and caused me to value life in a way many people have trouble understanding. I honestly get up each morning, go outside with my dog, smell the roses (when they're in bloom) and thank god I'm alive to enjoy yet another day.

 

Let's also add the fact I'm descended from Viking stock - my dad grew up on an island off the soutwest coast of Norway and I spent some of my childhood there. His whole life was spent on boats and I joined him when I could. The sea gives me solace and it's the one place I can go to talk to my dad and hope he's there listening.

 

Bottom line, thankfully we have the means to cruise more than once a year, but also it's the place I need to go to rejuvenate so I can get back to everyday life with the intensity needed in today's work environment.

[spongerob]

It's easy enough. Just budget the luxuries first! :)

 

my dad grew up on an island off the soutwest coast of Norway and I spent some of my childhood there. His whole life was spent on boats and I joined him when I could. The sea gives me solace and it's the one place I can go to talk to my dad and hope he's there listening.

 

That's one of the most moving statements I've read on these boards.

[CruiseAholic]

We buried my mother at age 53, she had always said "We'll do that when we retire" she never go to. That is when I decided I'd live life to the fullest, even if it means leaving a trip on a credit card for a while until it is paid off.

 

I do consider myself fortunate, but do work a part-time job for cruise $$.

 

At age 47, I've been lucky enough to be on 66 cruises and have no plan on stopping. Am hoping to retire in 3-5 years and only work part time so then I suppose the cruising may slow down a bit.

[sunprincess]

Reading all of the posts clearly says we all have our reasons & priorities for cruising.

I too love cruising. I work full time, earn a decent salary and have no children. I tell my VP all the time I work to travel - work hard/play hard.

I also lost a brother to cancer 10 years ago. He was 33 when he died.

Watching his battle my philosophy changed to a "Live for today" mode.

 

Happy Cruising to ALL :)

[Budget Queen]

I too am very fortunate, with 8 paid weeks off per year and an overpaid job. :) I cruised 3 times this year, for total of 35 cruises, which was more than usual since I also do a several land vacactions yearly. I travel overall cheaply and hunt out bargains. It is me in the cheap inside cabins. I also have 2 kids in college, fortunately at state schools but am paying $20,000/ year out of pocket.

 

 

I do live for today with no regrets. :)

[madelinerose]

Steven & Daniel...I've often thought the same. BigTimeCruiser, Curt, is sailing with us on the Crown and I was amazed when I first saw his cruise history and wondered when he ever spent any time at home! lol!

 

The Crown will only be our second cruise, but we do land vacations also. It seems many on these boards cruise exclusively. Financially, we couldn't do 6 cruises a year, nor would we want to...we prefer the diversity of land vacations also. We live 2.5 hrs from the ocean, so getting our beach/ocean fix is easily attainable.

 

Reading some of these posts makes me realize, however, that even a single cruise every other year is enough to make me count my blessings.

[Cruisinforever]

Hello~ I haven't posted in a while, but felt inclined to post to this thread.

 

I just moved to Wyoming to be closer to my one sister and her family. I have terminal cancer which has recently been the cause of my early retirement. I'm 49....

 

I managed to sqeeze in a few nice cruises in the past couple of years. I squeezed more than I would normally because I knew I had limited time. I am so very, very glad I did!

 

As I am now, there's no way I could cruise. I want all of you to go for me, and post here, so I can come here, read your posts, and live your cruise experiences through you, OK?

 

It did cost more for me, living in the midwest. I have been so jealous of those of you who live in FL....

 

But, I have no regrets. Have a blast, all you you sea-fairing folk!

[oceandrive]

Steven & Daniel,

 

I'm with cruisefever ! My partner and I work hard but play (cruise) hard as well. We hardly go to restaurants, bars or movies...we just don't have time ! However when we go on vacation, we REALLY go on vacation. This being said, we don't rack up a huge cruise bill and we select inside cabins.

 

That's why we just came back from a 16 days Mediterranean and Transatlantic cruise and we will be on the Sapphire Princess next month for 3 week ! (14,21 and 28 Jan) Mexican riviera X 3...Did we say we love cruises !

[Oink]

:) Hi Fellow Cruisers! Like others have commented, it's all about priorities. We are a child-free couple in our mid/late 40's. We choose to live a bit below our means, thus allowing for multiple vacations and long weekends away throughout the year. We drive decent reliable vehicles, eat out only occasionally and often spend weekends watching movies at home or playing cards and games with my sister and her family. Since we live a low key lifestyle most of the year, we like to indulge ourselves with balcony cabins and deluxe hotel rooms when it's vacation time. :D My motto is "always have something to look forward to"....it makes the daily stress and drudgery very tolerable.

 

I have many friends who rarely or never travel. They complain that they can't afford it. Never mind that they can always scrape together enough cash to sit at a bar 6 or 7 nights a week while smoking a pack or two of cigarettes.....and that's not all they smoke! :eek:

 

Or there's the other friends who spend all their disposable income on kitchen renovations, new landscaping, designer everything, expensive sports cars, boob jobs and tummy tucks. :rolleyes:

 

Like we've been saying....it's all about priorities! Later....Oink! :)

[devinc]

DW and I are in out late 30's w/ 2 kids. I am self employed and have worked in the financial services business for 15 years. DW works as a FT mother. When I have a good year we buy a car, furniture or high end items. This is true for our travel as well. We cruise when we can afford to. We have no debt except a 18 yr mortgage on our home. Being our kids are 6 and 8, we feel like they will take more of our income each year until after graduation. We are saving for college each month but know that things will become even more of a challenge in the years ahead. So, the bottom line for us is we will probably slow down over the next 10-15 years and then, hopefully, join the frequent cruiser list. We love to cruise and hope to get our kids on one some day. We have our first mini ever in Jan and we will soak it in!!!

[Pam in CA]

Cruisinforever... my thoughts and prayers are with you.

 

Years ago, I thought spending money on a vacation or cruise was money slipping through my fingers that I could have used to better my life in other ways. My attitude has since changed. I've worked very, very hard at two jobs (one on the internet which is flexible) for the past 12 years since being divorced and didn't have much time or money for myself or relaxing for the first 5 of those years. Now that my daughter is grown and living elsewhere, I have more discretionary income. I'm doing very well financially now and one of my pleasures is to cruise to new and interesting places, see and experience new things. I cruise the Caribbean only with my daughter because it's warm in the winter. Otherwise, I wouldn't cruise there. I'm careful about what type of cabin I book and how much I spend. I don't use the casino, play bingo or spend a lot while onboard. I'm not particular about where my cabin is and prefer the smaller, older ships which are generally better value. If I can book a longer cruise for the same amount it would cost me to cruise for 7 days, I'll do it.

 

From my perspective, I cruise because I love it and the ship is the destination.