Extra Costs ~ Teenagers :)

[Plaidlulu]

First Time Celebrity Cruiser. We are cruising with three teenage boys and have the AI with Premium Drink Package for everyone in our party.  I want to be prepared for the extra onboard expenses I should expect and it is my understanding that zero proof cocktails and smoothies are included with the premium drink package, but I'm certain there are other things not included that we should be except - gelato? ice cream? milkshakes?  Would appreciate any input or experience others have had so I can ensure I set a reasonable budget.  Thank you! 

[Northern Aurora]

Welcome to Celebrity.

 

The closest item to a milkshake will be the frozen "iglu" drink at the Cafe al Bacio.  Gelato is available at an additional fee.  There is no extra fee for the ice cream which will be available at the Ocean View buffet daily.  I don't drink smoothies so am clueless.  

[bama4cruisin]

Gelato is at an added cost.  Ice cream is free (and very good) in the Oceanview Cafe;  my DH prefers the ice cream to the gelato.  I have never seen milkshakes on any Celebrity ship; I guess the closest would be a Virgin Mudslide . . . 

[Whinenowine]

From the Celebrity website for the Premium non-alcoholic package:

 

"Enjoy all Coca-Cola soft drinks, premium bottled water from Evian, Perrier and San Pellegrino, specialty coffees and teas, non-alcoholic frozen drinks and smoothies, Red Bull Energy Drink and specialty waters from vitaminwater."

 

We were on the Edge last month with this package and the only extra we had to pay for the kids was the gelato (which unfortunately they preferred to the free ice cream!).

 

[cruisestitch]

Beyond beverages, watch out for pay-per-view movies, video arcade games, and a variety of other extra cost items

[newtocruiseinblue]

10 hours ago, cruisestitch said:

Beyond beverages, watch out for pay-per-view movies, video arcade games, and a variety of other extra cost items

They have video arcade games? I never realized that….

[chemmo]

11 hours ago, Plaidlulu said:

First Time Celebrity Cruiser. We are cruising with three teenage boys and have the AI with Premium Drink Package for everyone in our party.  I want to be prepared for the extra onboard expenses I should expect and it is my understanding that zero proof cocktails and smoothies are included with the premium drink package, but I'm certain there are other things not included that we should be except - gelato? ice cream? milkshakes?  Would appreciate any input or experience others have had so I can ensure I set a reasonable budget.  Thank you! 

When we cruised with our teenage son the only thing we found we really needed extra money for was the excursions. If I am not mistaken all over 12s pay full price. This tends to be on local tours as well as X ones. With five of you it may be worth while looking at ‘private’ tours too. You may be able to arrange a vehicle, driver and personalised itinerary for the same cost as five of you sharing a coach with others. 

 

Encourage your boys to interact with the bar staff, showing their card which will indicate their drinks package and then asking if they can have ‘something like a strawberry milkshake’…most staff will be more than willing to sort them out with something to their liking!

 

10 hours ago, cruisestitch said:

Beyond beverages, watch out for pay-per-view movies, video arcade games, and a variety of other extra cost items

As cruisestitch says there are things they could/may want to spend their money on. Perhaps you could set each of them a $ budget they are allowed to spend on board either in the arcade, on videos, in the shops or on gelato? Easy to monitor on TV daily. 
 

I assume your oldest is under 18 and you are cruising in the Caribbean? If over 18 I am fairly sure he can access the casino. If he is over 18 you may want to have a discussion with him before boarding. We also had a bizarre situation when our son was between 18 and 21 that he could drink alcohol when we cruised in the Far East and Europe but then had to revert back to soda when we took a Caribbean cruise…

 

Sincere best wishes for a fantastic family cruise!
 

[miched]

13 hours ago, cruisestitch said:

Beyond beverages, watch out for pay-per-view movies, video arcade games, and a variety of other extra cost items

And the snacks and drinks in the mini bar in your cabin.   
 

There  will also be shore excursions and I think there are video games in the teen room that have a fee. 

 

Happy cruising🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

[lobsternight]

37 minutes ago, miched said:

And the snacks and drinks in the mini bar in your cabin.   
 

There  will also be shore excursions and I think there are video games in the teen room that have a fee. 

 

Happy cruising🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

Forgot about the mini bar.  My boys were good about not touching that, but there are also a couple of expensive bottles of water on a shelf above the mini bar.  One kid used a bottle to brush his teeth, he was mot aware he could use the tap water, or the cost of the water

[MarKay525]

19 minutes ago, miched said:

And the snacks and drinks in the mini bar in your cabin.  

Happy cruising🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

You can request that your Room Steward empty the mini-fridge to remove temptation. (BTW, I don't think it is a fridge, just a "cooler." It can keep cooled things cool, but not chill a room temp item.)

 

If you haven't already, you might want to post on the Family Cruises forum. Readers there would probably know if there is a way to set a daily spending limit on their cards through Guest Services.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/28-family-cruises/

[MarKay525]

With thanks to the Cruise Critic member who compiled this list, all of these would generate extra onboard expenses Obviously, many are not relevant to teens, but you'll get an idea of what items create charges.

...........................

Because this gets asked so often, I've compiled a list of things to spend OBC on. The only thing I know of now that you CAN'T buy with OBC is a deposit on a Future Cruise. You need a credit card for that.  Also, there may be some card game in the casino with a cash only buy-in.   If they do a fundraiser, like selling t-shirts to “Save the Reefs” and the like, expect to need cash for that.  Otherwise, here you go:

*Acupuncture

*Airport transfers

*Alcove Rental (some ships)

*Apple products etc. and I-lounge classes

*Art Auction Purchases

*Babysitting

*Barber Shop services 

*Beverages -- Alcoholic, carbonated soft drinks, specialty coffees and teas, bottled water — if not in your package, also beverages above your package limits

*Bingo and Deal or No Deal

*Bottles of wine

*Casino

*Chef’s Table

*Corkage charged if you bring your own bottles of wine to the MDR

*Duty free liquor and cigarettes

*Extra cost entrees and other items in Main Dining Room and specialty restaurants

*Extend Your Stay program

*Fitness classes

*Flowers

*Gelato

*Gift shop souvenirs, purses, watches, cosmetics, clothing, jewelry, etc.

*Gratuities, and extra gratuities

*Guests dining with you in Luminae (applies to Suite Passengers only)

*Guest entertainers' CD's and DVD's

*Hair and nail salon

*Hollywood hot glass experiences (some ships)

*Internet if not in your package, also Internet upcharges 

*Laundry/pressing/drycleaning

*Liquor Tasting events

*Luggage Valet

*Martini Flights

*Medical Center purchases (but not treatments)

*Mini bar

*Portrait photo sessions

*Pay-per-view movies

*Persian Gardens passes

*Personal Training Sessions

*Photos & cameras

*Room service up charge items, and late night delivery fee

*Ryde spinning classes

*Shore Excursions

*Shuttle to town (some ports)

*Spa -- massages and treatments

*Specialty restaurants

*Teeth Whitening

*Telephone calls using ship's system

*Transfer to another passenger's account

*Voyage in Review DVD

*Wine and liquor tastings

*Zumba

Edited May 24, 2022 by MarKay525

[SbbquilterUT]

Check out the smoothie offerings in the spa cafe - just not sure if there is a charge with the premium package.

[DCPIV]

54 minutes ago, SbbquilterUT said:

Check out the smoothie offerings in the spa cafe - just not sure if there is a charge with the premium package.

 

The smoothies are included with the Premium package, but they aren't quite what most folks have in mind when they hear "smoothie."

[Plaidlulu]

12 hours ago, chemmo said:

Encourage your boys to interact with the bar staff, showing their card which will indicate their drinks package and then asking if they can have ‘something like a strawberry milkshake’…most staff will be more than willing to sort them out with something to their liking!

I will definitely do this! Thank you all for your suggestions! I feel much better about what to expect!!!