budget for cruise

[MikkiDawn]

Okay I know there are lots of different opinions but just curious as to whether my plan sounds good ? Also do you have any opinions as to what I should leave on my Visa Check card and what I should bring as cash ? We are trying to get a credit card so hopefully by December we will have one. We are going on MOS 7 nt. Eastern Caribbean

 

one soda pass (dh needs his pop) 45.00

tips 200.00

parking at Port Can. 100.00

food and drinks (ship and offshore) 300.00

misc. (taxi's, tips, excursions) 250.00

SHOPPING 800.00

[Stormlover]

Looks Like You Are Planning To Shop.:d We All Love To Shop. Looks Like You Have The Basics Covered.;)

[Bruin Steve]

Okay I know there are lots of different opinions but just curious as to whether my plan sounds good ? Also do you have any opinions as to what I should leave on my Visa Check card and what I should bring as cash ? We are trying to get a credit card so hopefully by December we will have one. We are going on MOS 7 nt. Eastern Caribbean

 

one soda pass (dh needs his pop) 45.00

tips 200.00

parking at Port Can. 100.00

food and drinks (ship and offshore) 300.00

misc. (taxi's, tips, excursions) 250.00

SHOPPING 800.00

Whatever you've based this on, you'll be off...

But it all really depends on your choices...

What you spend on some of these items depends on the specific itinerary...ie how many ports does your cruise visit? The more ports, the more opportunity to spend money on excursions or tours... BuUT that also depends on what you like to do in port...Walking around and shopping is generally cheap--until you want to start buying stuff...Going to a beach can be cheap, renting jet skis or parasailing isn't...If you want to visit historical sites and take a tour on these islands, there's a cost for that...You can do it cheaper with taxis and on your own...or you can take the ship's excursions--and there's a known cost for that, just look it up on the website...

 

For tips, figure the tips for the crew at approximately $10 per day per person--but we like to give a little more for extraordinary service--or extra services such as room service, etc.

 

But also figure on tipping for shore excursion guides, luggage handling, etc. (Tips for bar service are automatically added to your bill).

 

You left off onboard internet service (a must these days, but ships' internet charges are high...

 

"Shopping" is impossible to judge...If you find that piece of Jewelry tou want, you could end up spending thousands...Most Caribbean cruises, we don't seem to end up buying any more than a couple of T-Shirts and a couple of bottles of Rum to take home, IOW, less than $50 of "shopping"...

 

Your bar bill may be high or low...depends on individual drinking habits...If your DH is drinking enough soda to make that soda card worth it, maybe he's not drinking booze...Is the $300 all you? Also depends WHAT you drink...

 

And I take it no Bingo or Gambling for you? Smart...

Some folks always end up buying at least a couple of those ship photos...

 

I always take VERY LITTLE cash...but you will need it for some things IN PORT...Some small shops or street vendors don't take cards...and you'll feel silly using a credit card for a pack of gum or can of coke...But most restaurants and larger shops accept credit cards...

 

On the ship, there is no cash used...Everything goes onto your shipboard account...DO have a credit card for this...it makes things so much easier...

 

Good luck...

[Inshape]

That sure is a bigger budget than we have and we are a family of with kids. Unless there is something you have researched and know about to buy in another country---why are you cruising to shop???? With the internet anything can be bought without wasting cruise time for this. You seem on a limited budget since you are waiting on getting a visa...so why allot for this? There are things you just cannot get away with and some you can. First off : tipping. This is a must, unless you get the worst service ever...which will not happen! But there are other things you do not need to do...you do not need to buy specialty stuff that cost extra when their is enough coffee/ice cream/drinks without spending. They have unlimited iced tea, juice, lemonade and water! We use our RCI visa to get a some on board credits to use. We also book with a TA who gives us more on board credits to use. Oh you forgot the pictures which to me are important items. Beats a sitting fee in a studio for the family and kids pictures once a year!You can get the regular drinks while on board not in the take home plastic cups which will save a bit.

[Inshape]

That sure is a bigger budget than we have and we are a family of with kids. Unless there is something you have researched and know about to buy in another country---why are you cruising to shop???? With the internet anything can be bought without wasting cruise time for this. You seem on a limited budget since you are waiting on getting a visa...so why allot for this? There are things you just cannot get away with and some you can. First off : tipping. This is a must, unless you get the worst service ever...which will not happen! But there are other things you do not need to do...you do not need to buy specialty stuff that cost extra when their is enough coffee/ice cream/drinks without spending. They have unlimited iced tea, juice, lemonade and water! We use our RCI visa to get a some on board credits to use. We also book with a TA who gives us more on board credits to use. Oh you forgot the pictures which to me are important items. Beats a sitting fee in a studio for the family and kids pictures once a year!You can get the regular drinks while on board not in the take home plastic cups which will save a bit. Are you staying in a hotel the night before the cruise. Many will let you leave the car there for free...and then they shuttle you to the port...check into that...that is a big savings too.

[angelpug]

We book all of our excursions before we ever leave home, and we save change for a few months and "cash it in" to pay for tips. We figure $500.00 for onboard expenses (drinks, gambling, photos, shopping), and another $500.00 in cash for off the ship (cabs, souviners, food.) We've always budgeted on the high end, and brough extra money home. (It seems we spend more WITHOUT the kids then with....we tend to buy "guilt" gift if they aren't with us....yikes!)

 

Cashed in my change jar today, and cashed out at $350.00 and change, so tip envelopes for our first cruise are ready, and the jar has a bit of change rattling in the bottom, waiting to be cashed out for the October, Bermuda cruise.....as you can tell, we budget all year long!

 

Take Care,

Jaime

[mercedesmom2002]

Advice on the credit card to. We got a card where you load the money on, that way there are no additional fees except $5 per month so no late charges because you can only charge what is on your credit card. The one downfall with this is you can only load $1,000 per day up to a total of $2,500 on the card and you can only charge up to $400 per day on that card. We got 2 cards and it still is cheaper than having the regular credit cards. They are available here in Michigan at check cashing places like First Class or at Rite Aid Stores. We've had ours since 2003 and used it for our first 2 cruises and will use it for this one in July. Having the 2 will be better if we want to purchase more than $400 when we're in port. They will also let Royal Caribbean charge the total from your cruise all in one lump sum, done it both previous cruises with no problem. Called them ahead of time to inform them so they didn't block charges in foreign places too.

 

Main use for cash is the tips for taxi's, porters, etc. so make sure you have cash. But you can always get cash charged to your sea pass account from the casino if you run low. Spend what you can and just enjoy the ship and the crew and scenery!

 

Sue

[Mofred]

Once the TA is called and confirmed that we have a cabin, we get te envelopes ready. Each week from the grocery budget we put aside $12 - $15. that is 8 weeks. Next budget envelope week 9 the Gambeling budget from the grocery budget $60 per month for 5 months. We are not big drinkers so the free drinks on board is fine with us. Must have photos, Ports, formal night and a portrait, Grocery budget is tapped again this time after the 6 months $100. this can be from various and sundry budgets, and depending on what your gaming habit is.

Keeping in mind you will be giving up spontanious shoppings, nice to have and do not have to have. This sounds complecated. It works if you have a year to plan. When it is time you will require only the grocery budget for that week and any other monies you would have spent during that week. We do it and we do not feel the pinch when we get home.

[Nliedel]

Spending is so individual. I figure $150.00 per day for my husband and myself on top of planned shopping. I always come home with money in my wallet. Some people think that's a lot of money, some think I'm cheap.

 

My spending breaks down like this:

$30.00 per day for drinks (I drink, Gene does not).

$10.00 per day for tips

$25.00 per day excursions (I do not do excursions in every port so it evens out).

$25.00 a day for shopping

 

That's $90.00 a day for one. I double the excursion fee when it's for two that brings me close to $150.00 a day.

 

I don't shop much when I travel anymore. I don't need anymore straw bags etc. I might buy a nice piece of jewelry, but that's a seperate budget. I do buy a small gift for each of the boys, but they would rather I purchased them a special thing at home when I return these days.

 

I pay my deposit in cash. I know it's a pain, but there was a credit card issue a few years ago and I learned my lesson.

[Treven]

I use cash or traveler's checks for my expenses when I check in for my cruise. My rationale is that I don't want the cruise company putting a big block on my VISA which might impact my ability to use it to check into a hotel for my post cruise stay as my credit limit isn't all that high.

[airboss]

one soda pass (dh needs his pop) 45.00

tips 200.00

parking at Port Can. 100.00

food and drinks (ship and offshore) 300.00

misc. (taxi's, tips, excursions) 250.00

SHOPPING 800.00

 

I would highly recommend arriving the night before and do a park and cruise deal. If you are gonna spend 82$ for parking at the port, spend the night there. It is a lot less to worry about when you wake up only 1/2 mile from your ship.

 

I brought minimal cash, and charged everything. Spent less than 1800 for 2 people on vacation, which included room, tours, shopping, and gambling.

 

Enjoy.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=319356

 

Here is a link to my trip with pictures. ENJOY!

[csbenedict]

Does anyone know if there is a limit on amount of traveler's checks that you can cash in one day? Can you cash them at purser's desk or casino or both? I know you can get cash on your seapass card at the casino but I like to keep the $ amount separate and not charged to my credit card!!!

[fla-red]

I usually budget about $200 a day for both of us. This would include drinks, excursions, photos and shopping. I have found the we always overpack and don't bring enough money. Next time we are reversing. More money less clothes.

[cds2423]

hi there csbenedict, you sure can cash TC at the pursers office, i don't believe that there is a daily limit, TC are supposedly just like cash so i can't see why there'd been any restrictions. I've never tried cashing in anything at the casino, seems i always leave there with just a little bit less than i walked in with, hmmmmm.......

[IBookHePays]

The money we saved for the cruise is in the bank, then we charge everything on our RC Visa to get points for the next cruise.:)

[MikkiDawn]

Thanks for all the advice !!!:)