How much???

[kipper630]

How much money did/do you expect to take on the cruise???

[JanineM]

Are you talking about cash?

 

I take about a hundred bucks in small bills for tips (room service) and small purchases on the islands.

 

Some people spend nothing, other people spend thousands and thousands of dollars - drinks, casino, art auction, spa, beauty salon, shops, internet, phone calls, specialty restaurants. There is no average - it just depends on your budget and what you plan to do. If you drink or gamble - it is easy to spend hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in a week. But if you don't drink, don't gamble, and don't shop, you'll only spend your tips.

[Quilting_Cruiser]

That's very subjective. I love to shop on vacation, so I take quite a bit. But, my "quite a bit" my be an enormous amount to some and a pittance to others.

 

Just take a look at how much you need for tips, will you buy a soda card, photos, drinks, casino, etc? Ask questions on the boards about how much things cost so that you can get an idea of how much to budget...

 

And, most of all, have fun!!

 

Jayne

 

:D

[Loves_Dogs]

Like midimarv said, thats a very subjective question. Myself, on all 3 of my cruises I always started with $100 in cash (lots of $1 and $5 for tips) and then took $1000 in travelers checks. As I ran low on cash I would just cash one at the desk. I also always take a check with me ($100) into each port in case I saw something I wanted to buy.

[CaptData]

Here a bit of a list on what some things cost on average. All these charges can go on your seapass card (or whatever your line calls their card).

 

Drinks $3.45 to $10.00 per drink ($3.45 is beer and some specials/happy hour sort of thing. Most drinks are around $5.50-$7.00) More if you get the souvanier cup. There is a 15% tip added on top as well.

 

Photos around $15.00 a piece. (sometimes there is a package deal but they are even more).

 

Sp Restaunts/Supper Clubs Start at $20.00 to about $30.00 per person. some if you a wine pairing will cost alot more per person. If you order wine this is extra.

 

Tips are general $10.00/day per person in the room. If you are in higher end suite accomodation this could be more.

 

Casino $$$$$$$$

 

Bingo starts around $25.00/card (group of six or nine cards depending on ship.

 

Pop is $1.75-$2.00 per can. but you can buy a Fountain drink card for about $6.00/day, must be purchased for entire trip.There is a 15% tip added on as well.

 

Shore excursions from the ship start around the $39.00 mark and go up from there. This depends on how long, where you are going, if meals or drinks are included ect.

 

Arcades cost money depending on how much you play.

 

Golf simultors cost around $25.00 for 30 mins.

 

Wine costs about $22.00 up to $165.00 plus the 15% tip per bottle. By the glass around $5.25 on up to about $28.00 plus tip.

 

If you order Room service you should have a bunch of small bill for the tip. If you order pop with Room Service it will come in a can and you will pay for it.

 

Ice cream is free at Dinner and some cruiselines have free ice cream during certain hours in the buffet area. Others such as Ben and Jerry's or Scoops charge, this starts at around $3.50 on up.

 

Specialty coffees also cost, Seattles Best, Cova Cafe etc. This gose for around $4.00 on up, plus if you a a liquor it is more.

 

Art Auction/wine $$$$$$$$$$$.

 

Tea and regular coffee is free so is the juice in the buffet area (all day and night). Ice tea too.

 

The shows are all free, movies in the theaters, lounge entertainmnet too.

 

Shops sell all sorts of things but they are duty free. (Except the three NCL ship around Hawaii). $$$$$$$$

 

Pay for view movies are available but expect this to cost. This I have no idea as I don't do this at all.

 

Laundry, unless your ship has a lundry room for guests cost about the same as a large city. $$$$$$$$

 

I usually budet $100.00 per per person. I book my excursion on line sometimes with the ship but I have used private companies too. If I book the ship ones it come off my CC right away expect Princess. If I book private sometime they ask for a down payment, others don't. Read all of the print here as you will lose your down payment in some cases if you cancel.

 

There may be others that I have not listed but this will give you an idea.

 

I always buy insurance as soon as I book as I have a pre=existing condition. But you can wait for final payment too. Read carefully here.

[2Cruise4Ever]

Between DH and I we've cruised 15 times. Our rule has always been to spend about $100 per person per day. We like to gamble and drink. I like the spa. And, we always bring home liquor from one or more ports. We bring about 1/3 of that total amount in cash, another 1/3 in traveler's checks and the final 1/3 we put on the credit card. We know this going in so we save and budget for it when planning a cruise. Sometimes we spend a little less, sometimes more, but that's been our overall average.

 

Happy Sailing!!! :D

[Cotton]

Kipper - I am assuming you are talking about CASH...? Many of the above postings list things that will be charged to your ship's account. There will be very little cash required while on board.

 

Almost everything goes onto your account. Gift shop purchases, excursions, automatic tipping, photos, drinks, etc. - all go on your account, no cash accepted. However, Bingo, Casino, any extra tips you want to give - cash. Otherwise, everything will be on your account.

 

At ports, you'll be wise to take smaller bills like fives and tens. If you pay for something with a large bill, you're likely to receive your change in their currency.

 

On which line are you sailing?

[trish1c]

As people have said cash vs. budget / overall spending are different.

 

Cash: I take something between $100-$200 in small bills for tips & incidentals to/from the ship, on excursions etc.

 

Budget: I've read a good rule of thumb is $100 per day. That will depend on your spending habits. I was just talking to a friend about ship accounts. Her bill for the entire cruise (not counting tips) was about 1/2 my bar bill per day. :eek: Think about what you spend money on & budget accordingly.

[kipper630]

Yeah, I meant cash..guess I should have specified..lol.

 

I don't plan on drinking a LOT just because I can't seem to spend large amounts on alcohol and not feel bad...lol.

 

I was thinking of taking about $1000.00.

[jlp20]

While on the subject, some people get carried away using your cruise card, which is a credit card in fact. On the second or third day, go to the purser’s desk and ask for a copy of your account. You can find out if your spending is getting out of hand or if there is some other problem with the ship’s book keeping. Do this early in the cruise so that you don’t get a nasty surprise on the last night of your trip.

__________________

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[bububr]

Between the two of us we spent nearly 3000.00 total, including excursions, souvenirs, drinks, spa, tips, and BINGO.

 

If we needed cash we would go to the casino as the cash is posted as a purchase and not a cash advance so the interest rate is lower.

 

Dave:eek: