How not to break the bank while onboard?

[filomene]

Hello PackedReady,

 

Thank you so very much for your post. You are the ONLY person so far who has given me concrete information on how to save with NCL. Their website makes it sound like "impossible" to bring anything aboard.

If you have anymore of these saving tips feel free to share. It is VERY appreciated.

 

Ciao

Fil

[Swabbie]

What would you normally give your cabin steward, abve to automatic, for good service, on a 7-day cruise.

[filomene]

Well no more wondering what to do !

We ordered the Anniversary package and this week I will be ordering the bar set-up. I'd rather go this way than have problems at the arrival. After all it is a vacation and splurging a bit is part of it.

 

Night all and thanks for your advice

Filomene

[Anni_M]

Norwegian told me I could bring 1 bottle of wine on board. Yes, you can take a bottle of wine to the dining room. they may or may not charge you the $15 fee.

Anni

[Packedready]

You have about a 95% chance that NCL will charge you corkage. They are ready to charge for anything they can. I had to bring my anniversary package letter with me to the dining room when I brought the package wine and they still charged me for corkage, and then reversed it.

 

They also charge corkage when you board the ship if they find the wine regardless to whether you drink the wine in the dining room or your room.

[travel girl23]

One of the things I do to save money, or I guess not actually "save" money but at least not have it all hit at one time is: When we book a cruise at least several months in advance, I add money to our account so that when we board, our S&S card already has a credit on it. This allows me to pay our tips and other expenses over a several month period rather than have a huge bill hit when we return from the cruise. Really helps. I don't know about other cruise lines but you can do this with Carnival. Joan

[vgordon]

We are sailing on the Norwegian Sun on February 4th and I booked the bar set up today. A 1 liter bottle of Absolut was $40.00 I was surprised to find out that they will not include mixes (Bloody Mary, etc.).

 

Am I to assume that I can take my own on board myself?

 

Any help you can give would be appreciated.

[deppong]

Is there any way that I can buy myself gift certificates or put money on my s and s card before the cruise. I thought if I put 200.00 each month that should take care of shore excursions and most drinks. We are sailing the star princess.

[travel girl23]

That's what I do on Carnival. Don't know about Princess but since they are owned by the parent company that owns Carnival, I'll bet they do. Check their website for gifts or call and talk to someone in the gifts section. Good luck. Joan

[cusyl]

Stay out of the casino and the gift shops, or at least set yourself limits on what you can spend there. You can get juice, coffee and tea in the buffet and pool area free all day. If you must drink go to the captain's party for free drinks and the art auction. If you must keep in touch with those back home, buy an internet package. I have very few entries on my sign and sail card.

[Jonx6]

Are we still waiting for a Crock Pot reference?

[Onbec]

This is not so much a way to safe money as it is to keep track of your spending. Ask for a print out of your account each day, and you can see where you stand and adjust your spending accordingly.

[dyslexic pirate]

By carefully taking notes and reading up on this site I was able to keep our on board account for a family of six at: $0 (daily and extra tips are not counted as those were fully paid)

 

In the past our ss account has been closer to $2000.

 

We realized that we never really wear all the t-shirts or jewelry that we buy on board. Stayed out of the casino. Smuggled our own wine/water on board. We were on Costa so never registered our Credit Card so that really helped eliminate the temptation. Still window shopped and browsed just didn't buy anything.

 

Planned all of our excursions on our own. Everyone in our family is really healthy and athletic so we did a lot of walking and planned active things to do. Rode the city buses, talked to the locals had a great time! We did buy a few things at the ports but were exceptionally choosey and thought about what specifically we'd want ahead of time. (Kids were amazed that the same excursion we took to a beach cost us 5.00 each round trip as the beach was free but those who'd booked through the ship paid $60 each for the very same thing!)

 

We do not live by the saying "this is a once in a lifetime thing!" I think that's why some people lose their minds and get carried away. We love to cruise and we're doing it again in September. By keeping that in mind we were able to stick to our budget because rather than accumulate more stuff that'll wind up in a garage sale we just took lots of video and soaked up the moments and tucked money away for our next adventure.

[killintime]

Hi! I just wanted to say thanks for all of the great tips you all have shared! We went on Carnival Victory for a 7 night cruise and managed to only spend $53 on our account all week between the 2 of us. This IS in addition to the automatic tips and a stack of $1 bills we handed out as cash tips for room service and to other deserving members of the staff.

 

We had a wonderful time, and did not feel like we deprived ourselves of anything that would have made the cruise better. We did bring our own alcohol onboard, and we had our digital camera for photos instead of buying the ship's pictures. We privately booked tours and prepaid those to decrease expenses during the cruise week. We were never lacking for something to do!

 

There are sooo many things that will suck your bank account dry while on these cruises. We were amazed at the amount of money that the cruise lines can make off of you after you are onboard. We didn't miss out by not taking the extras, and we had a fabulous honeymoon!

[lougee1043]

the only tip not mentioned in the money saving department is to stay out of the casinos

[Nyiles]

I I am much more likely to tip MORE with cash then I would if it is on the credit card. I love to reward great service with a big tip.

 

Same with me....that's why I rather have them on the S&S account. I will tip cash at the end of the cruise for those that provided me great service but if I tip cash all the time it would probably run me alot more then the $10/pp/pd.

[musicmansmom]

Congrats on taking a honeymoon cruise.:) I usually take five night cruises, and I'm a solo cruiser. I'm not a cheapskate, but I am budget-minded.

 

Beverages - I take 3 bottles of wine on board. I buy one bottle of wine in the dining room (the waiter re-corks it and brings it back out the next night). I purchase the Drink-of-the-Day in the regular cup instead of the Carnival souvenier glass, as it's a coupla bucks less that way. I don't get carried away in the moment and tip extra for those drinks - the 15% tip is already included in the price. I also take a 6-pk of 16-oz. bottles of Coke on board at embarkation. (This is allowed by Carnival.)

 

Photos - I do buy ONE photo, the smallest one, 5x7? I usually buy the one they take just prior to boarding the ship, as it has the date and port of departure. I use that as the cover for my cruise scrapbook. Otherwise, I ask fellow passengers to take pics of me anywhere on the ship that would make a nice keepsake. They never seem to mind.:)

 

Excursions - I haven't done an excursion since my first cruise in 1987. I like exploring island and ports on my own. I just grab a cab and go wherever I want. (I do a lot of homework prior to the cruise, so I know what I want to do at each port.) MUCH less expensive to go out on your own.

 

I take advantage of the complimentary champagne at the art auctions. I also like having a respite from the daily activities by going to 'tea time' at 3pm on sea days. Lovely way to spend a few minutes, and the tea sandwiches and petit fors are wonderful.

 

I don't scrimp on anything I want to do, see, eat, drink..... I do it all, but my S&S bill is always VERY low. It can be done, believe me. Some folks do get carried away, and are shocked when they see their account.

 

(My son's S&S bill for his cruise last year was more than his cruise fare....!):eek:

 

Hope y'all have a wonderful voyage!

 

cotton said it all . i also stay out of the casino. there are 3 gambling boats 30 miles from my home that i can LOSE my money on. and i am very careful to not buy alot of things in the ships gift shop. i can usually find great bargains in the ports. take the spa tour. they have drawings for free massages and things. you just have to be there to win if they pick your name. i also buy drink coupons ahead of time to have on hand. they are paid for already and i dont have to pay the 15% gratuity when i use them. order cookies and things from room service the night before you get off at the ports. they are handy to have for a little snack on your outings ( just make sure you take some zip-lock bags in your suitcase. have a great honeymoon.

[gone_cruisin]

Met a couple on our first cruise who had a 7 page bill (front and back). :eek:

 

This couple didn't buy any excursions or gifts on board. We saw them buy 2 photos. The best we can figure it, they spent most of their money on drinks and the casino.

 

I have managed 450 with tips, 1 excursion, 3 photos and a watch on a 7 days cruise. Not too shabby. We could have easily cleared 300 with no problems if we were tighter.

[Nyiles]

My wife and I setup a budget system. We know how much money we are willing to spend during the week. We set aside a certain amount for the different things we want to do. FOr instance, I like to gamble a little. I know I have about $200 set aside for that. If I lose it all the first night, so be it. My gambling is done for the week. We both like an occasional cocktail, but we limit ourselves to a few a day max. We already paid for our excursions so that is done. We take a certain amount of money for shopping and never go over our limit. We do have a good amount set aside for the week but we are not extravegant people and will probably come home with a good amount of extra cash. Either way, we won't be spending more then we can afford.

[musicmansmom]

Met a couple on our first cruise who had a 7 page bill (front and back). :eek:

 

This couple didn't buy any excursions or gifts on board. We saw them buy 2 photos. The best we can figure it, they spent most of their money on drinks and the casino.

 

I have managed 450 with tips, 1 excursion, 3 photos and a watch on a 7 days cruise. Not too shabby. We could have easily cleared 300 with no problems if we were tighter.

 

:eek: :eek: :eek: OMG. if they did spend it all on booze and the casino i wonder if they remember anything about the cruise ??? congrats on you doing so well though.

[Thanksforyourinfo]

I am all for relaxing, but Carnival soda deals are for people who cannot do without their soda. Drink water and the free lemonade and tea that Carnival offers nearly 24 hrs a day, along with coffee and tea. If your cruise line allows it, bring bottled water aboard.

[Sea Breeze]

I planned a family cruise two years ago (17 of us) and we are all huge water drinkers. SO I found a brita water filter sports bottle and we all took that with us. We saved on bottle water on the ship and when we went into ports, and by the pool... so no more large water bills.. the water taste really good too ! You can just take one and filter water and put in any glass so you don't need to buy one for each member of you family. :p

[sailboater1]

I have heard people reference shipboard credits. How do you get them? Are they free or do you merely pay extra money when you pay for the cruise that they hold for you?

[musicmansmom]

i found the water on the spirit to be just as good as any bottled water without using a filter. and you can get ice from the lido deck or your cabin anytime you need it for your drinks.

[gfsmith]

LOl I never get out for less then $1000 You guys amaze me