Does anyone else use "fuzzy accounting" when costing a cruise?

[pcur]

My husband finds my explanations about the cost of a potential cruise very entertaining?  All he has to say is, "how much is it going to cost?", and sits back for the show.

 

I am a retired Project Manager, so "costs" to me are "tangible". “Benefits” are "intangible" (i.e. the value, benefit, or good will you get for spending the money). 

 

He is a retired Master Auto Technician, which is a fancy name for an auto mechanic with the equivalent of a degree in certain types of cars.  He used to amuse his co-workers because he would take the factory and technical manuals home to study when he had a big repair job to do the next day.  He also corrected the NAISE oral exam committee, because their question wasn't specific enough for the answer they wanted.  So, the question "how much is the cruise going to cost" is Software Development Project Manager with user-friendly features in mind, versus Master Mechanic with "it breaks, you fix it" in mind.  Makes for lively conversations.

 

Anyway, he asks the question and sits back to wait for the animated, hand flapping, multi-faceted, multi-layered explanation.

See, I take into account the cost as a bundle of options, some included/some not:

• Base cost of the cruise
• Balcony discount, if the price is the same or less than an ocean view
• Tips
• Extra wifi over our D+ allowance
• OBC, if any, subtracts from the expected spend for tips and wifi
• Other perks, like complimentary specialty dining (that’s an intangible, because we wouldn’t pay for it on our own)
• Air fare paid with points, travel fund with the airline, or direct statement credit from credit card points
• Pre-cruise hotel with points, if possible
• Savings on credit card for regular expenses not incurred (groceries, gas, utilities, etc.) I have a daily average amount already calculated
• Post-cruise Big Box shopping card: this is free food or gasoline

 

The result is the actual out-of-pocket money spent.  That’s what I focus on at the end:  how much is actually going out after all the variables come into play.

 

Add to this will be any particulars that make the cruise more appealing (intangible benefits), like itinerary, b2b, location of cabin, we can piggyback a trip to the grandbabies afterwards (I mean, if we are east of the Mississippi, then we gotta go), etc.

 

When I’m done explaining, he says, “more fuzzy accounting”, and tells me he wants to go.  It’s like a verbal dance we do.

 

The current Princess Plus Package is a little challenging, because it includes many things that we would not buy independently, but also direct costs like free tips.  So, in all fairness I had to calculate what we would definitely have paid for to reduce some of the “fuzziness” in the accounting.  I laughed when I told him about our latest booking with Princess.  “If I included the value of ALL the Princess Plus benefits included, THEY would be paying US to cruise.  That’s because this particular cruise will be reduced by 47% due to a Chase Sapphire points statement credit we will have by final payment time.

 

So, does anybody else do this, or am I just weird? (I can hear Coralc now in my head, "you are weird, Peggy, but in a good way") 😉

[pasodancer]

I do the same thing you do --- but husband has NEVER known the cost of a cruise (or any vacation).  He is VERY cheap and if he knew the cost of a cruise - we would be doing our cruises in a row boat!

[Bailey & Sophie]

 

We're going. Here's my card. 

[CSHS1979]

We just go, but I like your style

 

Use it to justify STAR Class sometime

Edited July 24, 2020 by CSHS1979

[pcur]

39 minutes ago, pasodancer said:

I do the same thing you do --- but husband has NEVER known the cost of a cruise (or any vacation).  He is VERY cheap and if he knew the cost of a cruise - we would be doing our cruises in a row boat!

 

Well, he knows they're not free, so it's like he wants to be in denial.  HA!

[pasodancer]

Well, he knows they're not free, so it's like he wants to be in denial.  HA!

 

Denial is better than knowing how much money I am spending!!

 

[pcur]

22 minutes ago, CSHS1979 said:

We just go, but I like your style

 

Use it to justify STAR Class sometime

Sounds like a plan!!

[Merion_Mom]

53 minutes ago, pcur said:

 

 

So, does anybody else do this, or am I just weird? (I can hear Coralc now in my head, "you are weird, Peggy, but in a good way") 😉

 

I am so glad that I sail solo!  😄  😄 😄 😄 😄

[pcur]

2 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

I am so glad that I sail solo!  😄  😄 😄 😄 😄

Yes, MM, you only have yourself to convince!

[RKHOOKER]

No.

Don’t forget to take into account how much you’ll save on food, energy, water, fuel etc. whilst being on the ship rather than living your normal life. 😉

[pcur]

4 minutes ago, RKHOOKER said:

No.

Don’t forget to take into account how much you’ll save on food, energy, water, fuel etc. whilst being on the ship rather than living your normal life. 😉

 

I did:  it's my 9th bullet statement. The daily rate even has our suspended cable TV for longer trips, and that savings is included in that a trip.

[mayleeman]

We just say the invoiced price when we talk about it, carefully ignoring all the add-ons for hotels, side-trips, shopping, drinks onboard, excursions, home-or-garden sitters, internet, etc etc etc. 

 

It is a wonderful excercise in self-delusion. 

 

I read a report of a survey taken over a number of days where they asked people leaving LV casinos how their gambling went. Over 75% said they came out about even, and claims of being winners outnumbered losers in the remainder. 

[CSHS1979]

10 minutes ago, RKHOOKER said:

No.

Don’t forget to take into account how much you’ll save on food, energy, water, fuel etc. whilst being on the ship rather than living your normal life. 😉

 

Pet sitting fees can eat that up, as well as parking

[RKHOOKER]

4 minutes ago, pcur said:

 

I did:  it's my 9th bullet statement. The daily rate even has our suspended cable TV for longer trips, and that savings is included in that a trip.

 

I gather you must be retired or financially independent.

[CSHS1979]

3 minutes ago, RKHOOKER said:

 

I gather you must be retired or financially independent.

 

Aren't those the same thing?

[RKHOOKER]

2 minutes ago, CSHS1979 said:

 

Aren't those the same thing?

 

Not in Australia.

Retired: receiving tax free income/pension usually over 65 years old.

Financially independent: living off investments & still paying tax.

[zekekelso]

If I looked at all the costs, I’d never cruise. Just focus on the published price. No taxes, fees, transportation, parking, tips and the big one, bar tab. 

[ipeeinthepool]

2 hours ago, pcur said:

Post-cruise Big Box shopping card: this is free food or gasoline

 

Always take the free food.  You get a 4% rebate with their card on gas but only 2% on food.   So buy gas with real dollars and get the 4% rebate.

[CSHS1979]

1 hour ago, RKHOOKER said:

 

Not in Australia.

Retired: receiving tax free income/pension usually over 65 years old.

Financially independent: living off investments & still paying tax.

 

So retired folks aren't financially independent?

How sad

[Iamcruzin]

3 hours ago, pcur said:

My husband finds my explanations about the cost of a potential cruise very entertaining?  All he has to say is, "how much is it going to cost?", and sits back for the show.

 

I am a retired Project Manager, so "costs" to me are "tangible". “Benefits” are "intangible" (i.e. the value, benefit, or good will you get for spending the money). 

 

He is a retired Master Auto Technician, which is a fancy name for an auto mechanic with the equivalent of a degree in certain types of cars.  He used to amuse his co-workers because he would take the factory and technical manuals home to study when he had a big repair job to do the next day.  He also corrected the NAISE oral exam committee, because their question wasn't specific enough for the answer they wanted.  So, the question "how much is the cruise going to cost" is Software Development Project Manager with user-friendly features in mind, versus Master Mechanic with "it breaks, you fix it" in mind.  Makes for lively conversations.

 

Anyway, he asks the question and sits back to wait for the animated, hand flapping, multi-faceted, multi-layered explanation.

See, I take into account the cost as a bundle of options, some included/some not:

• Base cost of the cruise
• Balcony discount, if the price is the same or less than an ocean view
• Tips
• Extra wifi over our D+ allowance
• OBC, if any, subtracts from the expected spend for tips and wifi
• Other perks, like complimentary specialty dining (that’s an intangible, because we wouldn’t pay for it on our own)
• Air fare paid with points, travel fund with the airline, or direct statement credit from credit card points
• Pre-cruise hotel with points, if possible
• Savings on credit card for regular expenses not incurred (groceries, gas, utilities, etc.) I have a daily average amount already calculated
• Post-cruise Big Box shopping card: this is free food or gasoline

 

The result is the actual out-of-pocket money spent.  That’s what I focus on at the end:  how much is actually going out after all the variables come into play.

 

Add to this will be any particulars that make the cruise more appealing (intangible benefits), like itinerary, b2b, location of cabin, we can piggyback a trip to the grandbabies afterwards (I mean, if we are east of the Mississippi, then we gotta go), etc.

 

When I’m done explaining, he says, “more fuzzy accounting”, and tells me he wants to go.  It’s like a verbal dance we do.

 

The current Princess Plus Package is a little challenging, because it includes many things that we would not buy independently, but also direct costs like free tips.  So, in all fairness I had to calculate what we would definitely have paid for to reduce some of the “fuzziness” in the accounting.  I laughed when I told him about our latest booking with Princess.  “If I included the value of ALL the Princess Plus benefits included, THEY would be paying US to cruise.  That’s because this particular cruise will be reduced by 47% due to a Chase Sapphire points statement credit we will have by final payment time.

 

So, does anybody else do this, or am I just weird? (I can hear Coralc now in my head, "you are weird, Peggy, but in a good way") 😉

It's very scary but I completely understand because that's how I plan. My wife won't even listen. She says," Tell me where and when I have to be"?  If someone asks her about our upcoming cruise she tells them to ask me. A day or two before she will ask me what the itinerary is. The only rule is I can't book anyplace cold. No Alaska for me but I can live with that.

Edited July 25, 2020 by Iamcruzin

[zekekelso]

2 hours ago, mayleeman said:

Over 75% said they came out about even, and claims of being winners outnumbered losers in the remainder. 

I find the phrase, “up a little, down a little, overall came out about even” covers a wide range. 

[pcur]

2 hours ago, CSHS1979 said:

 

Pet sitting fees can eat that up, as well as parking

 

We Uber to the airport, or, at least we did before.................................

[pcur]

2 hours ago, RKHOOKER said:

 

I gather you must be retired or financially independent.

 

Retired, but still cost analyzing after all these years.........................................

[newcruzer2]

I laughed so hard because I can totally relate to the picture you painted of you being animated and hands flapping ...is me to a tee.

And the more animated the more he knows I want to go 😁

because it's not so much the money as "getting a deal, aka our money's worth"

After all the years of selling him on "the deals i got", he now expects a deal and a show from me 😃

[pcur]

1 hour ago, ipeeinthepool said:

 

Always take the free food.  You get a 4% rebate with their card on gas but only 2% on food.   So buy gas with real dollars and get the 4% rebate.

 

We use our Sapphire credit card for the purchases, and our Big Box membership for the 2% rebate.  Get the points with the card, and $$ with the rebate.