Panic Attack

[BonnieVA]

Holy moly. I read a post last night about tipping costs for kids. I am so embarrassed to admit this bit I COMPLETELY forgot about the tipping cost when planning our family cruise. I don't know why - I was aware of it when I planned the Bermuda cruise for me & dh. But I completely forgot about it w/ this 2nd cruise. It'll be $420 for our family of 6!!! Holy geez!

 

When you add up the costs: cruise, tipping, excursions, eating at ports (we'll minimize that as much as possible - I'm pretty good at that), transportation & hotels pre/post cruise, tipping drivers/bag handlers/etc how in the world do you guys deal with it & justify it?????? I'm not even going to add it all up or I'll have a coronary.

 

This cruise planning has all been fun but that tipping post made me really step back & realize that there's so much more than just the price of the cruise ... I mean, I knew it before but it just really sunk in last night. I think I got so caught up in the excitement of the vacation & experience & planning that I forgot to add it all up.

 

Thanks for letting me vent!

[KatSt]

Holy moly. I read a post last night about tipping costs for kids. I am so embarrassed to admit this bit I COMPLETELY forgot about the tipping cost when planning our family cruise. I don't know why - I was aware of it when I planned the Bermuda cruise for me & dh. But I completely forgot about it w/ this 2nd cruise. It'll be $420 for our family of 6!!! Holy geez!

 

When you add up the costs: cruise, tipping, excursions, eating at ports (we'll minimize that as much as possible - I'm pretty good at that), transportation & hotels pre/post cruise, tipping drivers/bag handlers/etc how in the world do you guys deal with it & justify it?????? I'm not even going to add it all up or I'll have a coronary.

 

This cruise planning has all been fun but that tipping post made me really step back & realize that there's so much more than just the price of the cruise ... I mean, I knew it before but it just really sunk in last night. I think I got so caught up in the excitement of the vacation & experience & planning that I forgot to add it all up.

 

Thanks for letting me vent!

I know the feeling. We try to book as far in advance as possible and pay off things, such as tips, each month. This way by the time the cruise rolls around the only thing we'll be paying for is what we spend onboard.

 

It's still worth it to me, even with all the extra charges.

[Carnival Game]

I also needed digital camera, new luggage, swim suit, "dressy" clothes, etc. Where does it end? :D

[AZ Karaoke Girl]

My TA included it in my bill so it was just part of the cruise cost. Much easier to swallow when you know up front how much you are paying. All I will have is onboard purchases, alcohol/pictures etc. and I have money set aside to pay for that. Excursions are even paid for.:)

[LHP]

We just prepay our tips when we book the cruise, so it is just a part of the cruise price to us.

[tinkerbell_82]

I see your cruise is in June- Save that free $$ from Uncle Sam!! That's my plan! ;)

[orlandofl]

We just prepay our tips when we book the cruise, so it is just a part of the cruise price to us.

Thats why i took a six year rest from cruising and did the all-inclusive resorts to Mexico and the caribbean,it's a much better deal,but now i am sick of it so it's back to cruising until i get fed up again.

[BonnieVA]

It's not like we don't HAVE the $ for this cruise ... whether we pay before or after - we have the $. It's just that I always look at expenses & the overall, total cost is SO much! Ugh.

 

And, yes, thanks a lot Carnival Game, for reminding me of all the things we have to buy before the cruise FOR the cruise! ACK!

[DebBrown]

I try and look at it like this....if I were on a land vacation and ate at a restaurant even twice a day, stayed in a hotel, flew to said destination and had to take a cab anywhere, I would spend an average of $10 per day, just for myself. I think the difference is that you are seeing it all at once instead of small increments. I am starting to buy drink coupons every other week and put change aside to cover the tips. The sooner you can start saving, the easier it is when cruise time finally arrives.

 

Happy Sailing!

[dclark]

My TA included it in my bill so it was just part of the cruise cost. .

 

My TA did one better- she paid for our gratuities! It will appear as a credit when board.

[grandmato4]

It's not like we don't HAVE the $ for this cruise ... whether we pay before or after - we have the $. It's just that I always look at expenses & the overall, total cost is SO much! Ugh.

 

And, yes, thanks a lot Carnival Game, for reminding me of all the things we have to buy before the cruise FOR the cruise! ACK!

 

I completely agree with you ! I guess it all depends on the kind of vacations and money people normally spend on their vacations and how many of you there are. When our children were young I could have NEVER justified spending the $ needed for all of us to cruise for 7 days. We had great 7 day vacations, none of which cost close to what taking everyone on a cruise would have cost. Now that we're older with no debt other than normal bills we can afford to splurge on ourselves, but its still lot of money when I add it all up !!

[BonnieVA]

I completely agree with you ! I guess it all depends on the kind of vacations and money people normally spend on their vacations and how many of you there are. When our children were young I could have NEVER justified spending the $ needed for all of us to cruise for 7 days. We had great 7 day vacations, none of which cost close to what taking everyone on a cruise would have cost. Now that we're older with no debt other than normal bills we can afford to splurge on ourselves, but its still lot of money when I add it all up !!

 

Yes, our usual 7-day vacation (or even 2 summers ago when we were gone for almost 2 weeks) NEVER comes remotely close to what we're spending for this cruise. I'm just not used to this kind of expense ... I'm pretty tight w/ the cash (usually!). But I AM looking forward to this new experience for all of us. I'm hoping it's going to be a vaction none of us ever forgets. But, believe it or not, I'm actually hoping we don't like it TOO much because then we'll want to cruise every year, LOL!!

[In2why]

Holy moly. I read a post last night about tipping costs for kids. I am so embarrassed to admit this bit I COMPLETELY forgot about the tipping cost when planning our family cruise. I don't know why - I was aware of it when I planned the Bermuda cruise for me & dh. But I completely forgot about it w/ this 2nd cruise. It'll be $420 for our family of 6!!! Holy geez!

 

When you add up the costs: cruise, tipping, excursions, eating at ports (we'll minimize that as much as possible - I'm pretty good at that), transportation & hotels pre/post cruise, tipping drivers/bag handlers/etc how in the world do you guys deal with it & justify it?????? I'm not even going to add it all up or I'll have a coronary.

 

This cruise planning has all been fun but that tipping post made me really step back & realize that there's so much more than just the price of the cruise ... I mean, I knew it before but it just really sunk in last night. I think I got so caught up in the excitement of the vacation & experience & planning that I forgot to add it all up.

 

Thanks for letting me vent!

 

 

I did a budget spread sheet for the entire trip and the ticket cost is the least of it. It is easy to forget how quickly it all adds up. But for us it is a matter of deciding what the priorities are and more importantly are not. For me the ports were the most important to add enjoyment and the casino is the least. The supper club for sure, the pictures....not so much. But I agree that the final number took my breath away.

[grandmato4]

Yes, our usual 7-day vacation (or even 2 summers ago when we were gone for almost 2 weeks) NEVER comes remotely close to what we're spending for this cruise. I'm just not used to this kind of expense ... I'm pretty tight w/ the cash (usually!). But I AM looking forward to this new experience for all of us. I'm hoping it's going to be a vaction none of us ever forgets. But, believe it or not, I'm actually hoping we don't like it TOO much because then we'll want to cruise every year, LOL!!

 

I'm thinking that the family cruise will be a great experience that everyone will remember for a lifetime, BUT if you REALLY love cruising than just you and DH need to take a cruise every other year alone to relax without the kids and when the kids are grown (and can afford to pay at least part of it themselves ;) ) you can all do another family cruise !!

 

We prefer 7 night or longer cruises especially since we have to fly to a port, but I did splurge this past year for Christmas and surprised my DH and DD and SIL with a 5 night cruise to the Bahamas. Took care of all present buying for a year for all of them.;) Love my DD's two young children greatly but Grandma wasn't paying for them to go along and DD and SIL are thrilled about their first adult only vacation since their children were born. They admitted that they would have felt guilty planning a vacation without their kids but since this was a gift, they'd have to accept and leave the children at home :D Basic cruise fare/air/insurance are my present, DD and SIL are responsible for all their other expenses which makes it affordable for me ! :)

[MuffyKismet]

We are thankful we live in Florida just 2-3 hours from most of the ports and also thankful that we get the military rate often! Last year we went on a last minute cruise for 5 nights/6 days on the inspiration for $149.00 pp!!! Awesome (of course that did not include the tips or the parking costs) but still fantastic deal,,,,,,,,heck we could not stay home for that much LOL :)

 

I don't know how all of you do it more then 1 X a year or so if you live out of state!! We love cruising and are addicted for sure.........I am always looking for the deals and booking last minute if I have to :)

 

the parking at the ports has gotten ridiculous if you ask me , but I don't dare complain when I know so many of you have to pay for plane tickets, taxis and all that!! We cruise so often I even have "cruise cloths" just add a few new things now and then and I am good to go. The dry cleaner bill is pretty steep too but also a necessity to prepare for the cruise! We try to spread everything out so everything is paid for by the timie we actually board the ship :)

[BonnieVA]

(of course that did not include the tips or the parking costs)

 

OMG!! And the parking!!!! All these expenses I'm aware of but never put them all together in one thought at the same time.

[bplazo]

There are some days that I am happy that I only have one child!

[t34babe]

Have you been to Disney World lately? THERE is something to be upset over! I'm a total Disney freak but when that bill slides under the door, it will get your attention! Not to mention how much food costs! All in all, a cruise is still a great value I think. Relax & have fun, you earned it!!:D

[chipmaster]

Holy moly. I read a post last night about tipping costs for kids. I am so embarrassed to admit this bit I COMPLETELY forgot about the tipping cost when planning our family cruise. I don't know why - I was aware of it when I planned the Bermuda cruise for me & dh. But I completely forgot about it w/ this 2nd cruise. It'll be $420 for our family of 6!!! Holy geez!

 

When you add up the costs: cruise, tipping, excursions, eating at ports (we'll minimize that as much as possible - I'm pretty good at that), transportation & hotels pre/post cruise, tipping drivers/bag handlers/etc how in the world do you guys deal with it & justify it?????? I'm not even going to add it all up or I'll have a coronary.

 

This cruise planning has all been fun but that tipping post made me really step back & realize that there's so much more than just the price of the cruise ... I mean, I knew it before but it just really sunk in last night. I think I got so caught up in the excitement of the vacation & experience & planning that I forgot to add it all up.

 

Thanks for letting me vent!

 

My turn to vent too, more just vent for fun :D

 

Cruising companies over market their ships as some value vacation with food, activities and adventure all wrapped up as some value. But then the companies nail you with expensive soda cards, gambling, high priced photos memorbilia, 2x priced excursion, and of course the required gratuity to their much underpaid foreign employees who depend on our gracious gratuity to make a good living. Then you got the masses all jamed togather at meal time fighting over scarce space around the pools, lined up like sardines to get off on excursion to pile into buses and private cars. Tell me what other vacation do you pay so much for some much aggravation?

 

Don't get me wrong for what you get its a reasonable vacation, but a value, NO WAY. Sometimes I think you can get a far better experience by booking a nice hotel on a beach and fly in and fly out for less. But for some vacations cruising is the only way. I know for one, cruising in itself is a non-value.. But it is fun, and eveyr few years we do it and we love it, but for sure we always remind ourselves once every few years is enough. Life is short so many other fun things to do too!

 

No flames its just a matter of what we like vs. what it offers :D :D

[fla_momuv3]

What really gets me is the nickle and diming for sodas, etc... Don't make it all inclusive like a resort (alcohol is profit, I understand), but soft drinks? $1.50 for a coke is plain ridiculous. I never even spend that for a 2 liter bottle! $20 a day for parking in Miami. Those are my 2 pet peeves at the moment.

[allgeeteredup]

Holy moly. I read a post last night about tipping costs for kids. I am so embarrassed to admit this bit I COMPLETELY forgot about the tipping cost when planning our family cruise. I don't know why - I was aware of it when I planned the Bermuda cruise for me & dh. But I completely forgot about it w/ this 2nd cruise. It'll be $420 for our family of 6!!! Holy geez!

 

When you add up the costs: cruise, tipping, excursions, eating at ports (we'll minimize that as much as possible - I'm pretty good at that), transportation & hotels pre/post cruise, tipping drivers/bag handlers/etc how in the world do you guys deal with it & justify it?????? I'm not even going to add it all up or I'll have a coronary.

 

This cruise planning has all been fun but that tipping post made me really step back & realize that there's so much more than just the price of the cruise ... I mean, I knew it before but it just really sunk in last night. I think I got so caught up in the excitement of the vacation & experience & planning that I forgot to add it all up.

 

Thanks for letting me vent!

Do what we do. Instead of getting hit with a big S&S bill at the end of the cruise, we prepay our gratuities. If we want to add to those tips during the trip we will. The way I see it, the gratuities are part of the cost of the cruise. That's why we prepay them. :rolleyes:

[cruisecastle]

What really gets me is the nickle and diming for sodas, etc... Don't make it all inclusive like a resort (alcohol is profit, I understand), but soft drinks? $1.50 for a coke is plain ridiculous. I never even spend that for a 2 liter bottle! $20 a day for parking in Miami. Those are my 2 pet peeves at the moment.

 

How is 1.50 for a coke ridiculous? Ever eaten out at a restaurant? It's that or more. Heck even at McDonalds it's at least that. People on here are way out of touch

[BonnieVA]

Have you been to Disney World lately? THERE is something to be upset over! I'm a total Disney freak but when that bill slides under the door, it will get your attention! Not to mention how much food costs! All in all, a cruise is still a great value I think. Relax & have fun, you earned it!!:D

 

We've taken the boys to WDW a few times. Most recently in '06 & we stayed at the Polynesian. It was the 2nd yr (I believe) of their special on the meal plan so the week there wasn't TOO bad, since we got our food included in the price. The Polynesian IMO was overpriced but was very conveniently located. But, yes, going to WDW & paying for food is a huge expense. BUT ... you don't typically have a bunch of excursions to pay for that you do w/ cruising. Disney is fun but I also believe overpriced.

[Springbreak08]

Thats why i took a six year rest from cruising and did the all-inclusive resorts to Mexico and the caribbean,it's a much better deal,but now i am sick of it so it's back to cruising until i get fed up again.

 

So, where did you stay? We priced a few all-inclusives in Riviera Maya and they were way out of our price range! We actually thought about the all-inclusive for next year but booked another cruise instead. . .My TA told me that it would be around $5,000 for a family of five, plus airfare. I about fell over! Honestly, do you have any suggestions of nice places to stay?:eek:

[BonnieVA]

How is 1.50 for a coke ridiculous? Ever eaten out at a restaurant? It's that or more. Heck even at McDonalds it's at least that. People on here are way out of touch

 

I think the poster's point was that the cruiselines promote cruising as all-inclusive & that, therefore, soft drinks should be included for no extra cost.

 

But EVERYONE please don't turn this thread into an argument. I just wanted to get some anxiety & adreneline off my chest.