? to figure out budget

[crystalh256]

;) I am sailing 5/10 and trying to figure out how much $$ I need. Two silly questions.....would it be better to buy travelers checks rather than cash? Second ? is really dumb...I have never played organized Bingo.....do they play several games b2b and if so, do you buy new cards for each game? Thanks!!

[Brenda Bell]

I carry cash it work better for me, once you get on the ship they can cash your traveler checks.

Bingo they do play b2b on the same card. I think its $10. or $20. a card and you can put it on your sign&sail card or pay by cash. Good Luck!

[Travelitis]

We carry cash, because on the ship we use our sail and sign card and just need cash for in port. We don't do bingo. You can put your cash in the safe and take it out as needed, so you don't have to stand in line to cash traveler's checks.

[alfngf]

My husband and I took traveler's checks on our first cruise but we didn't know any better. We probably wouldn't do it again. We got the double signature ones though so if we were apart we had to use any cash or find the other person.

I took cash on my last cruise and like someone said just lock it up in the safe. I only took what I wanted to spend into each port to kind of keep me on a "budget".

[lcpagejr]

It depends...Is the cash to pay your S&S bill or for port visits?? If it's to pay your S&S you will still need to provide a credit card number for the charges to be applied against at the end of the cruise, Of course, you can settle your account at the Pursuers desk (in cash) the last night of the cruise and your credit card will not be charged. If you do not provide a credit card at embarkation you will be required to place a cash deposit against your S&S account (at Pursers office)which will be debited as you buy drinks, photo's and other services onboard. Again you would see the Pusuer desk last night of cruise to reconcile and get any cash balance back

[Horseshoe H]

If you plan of going in the casino, take more money. But a smart person woud just make the casino forbidden territory.

[trock]

AND if playing Bingo do not remove the tabs and listen to the instructions carefully!! they are very strict!!;)

[crystalh256]

AND if playing Bingo do not remove the tabs and listen to the instructions carefully!! they are very strict!!;)

 

 

I saw that thread the other day Trock!! Thanks for all the anwers!! We do not use credit cards, so everything is in cash. No way am I using my debit card away from home. We are figuring $1200 for our cruise...$200 each S & S, $175 for parking and gas to Mobile the rest for taxis and garbage to bring home to the kids. We have already paid for dolphin swim thru dolphindiscovery, and we really don't drink so I am thinking this is a reasonable amount. Does that sound feasible or am I forgetting something?:p

[trock]

I saw that thread the other day Trock!! Thanks for all the anwers!! We do not use credit cards, so everything is in cash. No way am I using my debit card away from home. We are figuring $1200 for our cruise...$200 each S & S, $175 for parking and gas to Mobile the rest for taxis and garbage to bring home to the kids. We have already paid for dolphin swim thru dolphindiscovery, and we really don't drink so I am thinking this is a reasonable amount. Does that sound feasible or am I forgetting something?:p

 

 

Extra tip money?

"emergency" MONEY

 

You really should bring at least one credit card 'just in case' and let the credit card company know your travel dates/locations.

How long is this cruise? If possible, i would bring some extra, but i am paranoid!!

[allgeeteredup]

I saw that thread the other day Trock!! Thanks for all the anwers!! We do not use credit cards, so everything is in cash. No way am I using my debit card away from home. We are figuring $1200 for our cruise...$200 each S & S, $175 for parking and gas to Mobile the rest for taxis and garbage to bring home to the kids. We have already paid for dolphin swim thru dolphindiscovery, and we really don't drink so I am thinking this is a reasonable amount. Does that sound feasible or am I forgetting something?:p

There is a minimum amount of cash you are required to deposit per person on your S&S card. I believe it is $250 per person on a 7-day cruise. I'm sure if I am off on the amount someone will respond. I am just going by what I remember from the carnival web site. But I believe it is $250 per person for cash. If you use a debit card there is a large hold put on your account that will stay for approximately 10 days upon your return. I would not suggest using a debit card for your S&S card. I hope this was helpful. Oh, let me know how you do on Bingo. I may have to try it. Good Luck!!!!!

[allgeeteredup]

Extra tip money?

"emergency" MONEY

 

You really should bring at least one credit card 'just in case' and let the credit card company know your travel dates/locations.

How long is this cruise? If possible, i would bring some extra, but i am paranoid!!

I agree. We are going to bring an extra $500 over and above what we consider our absolute, you better not go over this amount, but of course I will, limit. Maybe we should bring an extra $1,000. Whew!!!! Scared myself there for a minute. Always plan for emergencies and then plan for more emergencies. Never under estimate. Take much more than you need and then just deposit it back when you get home. And take an emergency credit card. You don't have to use it.

[trock]

I agree. We are going to bring an extra $500 over and above what we consider our absolute, you better not go over this amount, but of course I will, limit. Maybe we should bring an extra $1,000. Whew!!!! Scared myself there for a minute. Always plan for emergencies and then plan for more emergencies. Never under estimate. Take much more than you need and then just deposit it back when you get home. And take an emergency credit card. You don't have to use it.

:D theres never enough, right LOL

I am panicking about my 8 day cruise!

[crystalh256]

Extra tip money?

"emergency" MONEY

 

You really should bring at least one credit card 'just in case' and let the credit card company know your travel dates/locations.

How long is this cruise? If possible, i would bring some extra, but i am paranoid!!

 

Definately bringing a credit card just for an emergency. Just got one for this purpose. Told Hubby since we are not getting passports until we know we enjoy cruising we may need it for a cash advance to pay someone to sneak us back across the border, LOL!! He said a man from his work still has his home in Mexico and we could just shack up there!!:D

 

Only a 5 day cruise since we are first timers.

[trock]

Definately bringing a credit card just for an emergency. Just got one for this purpose. Told Hubby since we are not getting passports until we know we enjoy cruising we may need it for a cash advance to pay someone to sneak us back across the border, LOL!! He said a man from his work still has his home in Mexico and we could just shack up there!!:D

 

Only a 5 day cruise since we are first timers.

 

GOOD! Just let them know you are traveling!

Enjoy.. it will not be your last cruise!!!:D

[allgeeteredup]

Definately bringing a credit card just for an emergency. Just got one for this purpose. Told Hubby since we are not getting passports until we know we enjoy cruising we may need it for a cash advance to pay someone to sneak us back across the border, LOL!! He said a man from his work still has his home in Mexico and we could just shack up there!!:D

 

Only a 5 day cruise since we are first timers.

Really.... no passport? That would definitely worry me more than the money issue. I know DHS put out the passport restrictions but still, Good Luck on that one. It only took us 12 days from the day we applied to the day it arrived in the mail. :confused:

[crystalh256]

Really.... no passport? That would definitely worry me more than the money issue. I know DHS put out the passport restrictions but still, Good Luck on that one. It only took us 12 days from the day we applied to the day it arrived in the mail. :confused:

 

Kind of worries me too. Hard to explain but I try to be a biblical wife, so I give him my opinion one time and if he agrees great, if not, I'm not going to fuss. He works 60+ hours most weeks so maybe he is hoping to be stuck out of country....:confused: ;) :D

[bcs819]

If you have ANY credit card, use that for your Sign and Sail and then you can go pay it off in cash before the end of the week, or randomly throughout the week. From what I hear, using cash for your S&S is becoming a bigger and bigger hassle. If you don't drink, what you have budgeted sounds about right. Don't forget soda costs $$$ and if you're 1st timers, you will probably buy some pictures (they are usually good).

 

Have fun!

[lcpagejr]

No need to worry about Passport. Bottom line..IT IS NOT NEEDED!!. Some people may never vacation outside US for quite awhile...so why invest in extra cost in todays shaky economy when you likely will not have a need for it in the future. Yes, there is small (but very unlikely) risk which could make it more difficult to leave foreign country in a emergency...But this is where the local consulate office comes into play. You will never be stranded...just have to go through some beaurocratic paperwork and contacts in the unlikely event you must go home early.

[crystalh256]

Thanks everyone for the info. I would die before drinking a Coke product (MT DEW FIEND) so I will be carrying these aboard. Also I can drink unsweetened ice tea.....I'm really a yankee that came south and never moved back, so I do not have to have the sugar syrup version prevailent in the south, though it sure is good!!:p

[LakerMom]

If you have ANY credit card, use that for your Sign and Sail and then you can go pay it off in cash before the end of the week, or randomly throughout the week. From what I hear, using cash for your S&S is becoming a bigger and bigger hassle.

 

 

I had planned on carrying cash for my days in port but I was going to use a credit card for my S&S. When you say "go pay it off in cash before the end of the week, or randomly throughout the week" does that mean you can not leave the charges on your credit card and take care of paying the credit card off when you get home from the cruise.

[itsme_jj]

Not sure which cruise you are taking, I assume Mexican Riviera?

 

In Mexico, either carry all $1.00 and don't expect change or change to peso's.

 

If going to Mexico, and you stop first in Puerto Vallarta you can go to the cruise terminal (white building by the big bird cage) and there is an exchange place to change your Dollars to Peso's.

 

This will save you lots of $$

 

Also the ATM on the ships tend to run out of cash. So just take some extra and put it in the safe. Never had a problem. Also bring an extra credit card for emergencies and leave it in the safe.

 

Personally I take $30 per person per day as budget, to cover in port meals, taxis, shopping, etc. I think this is extremely tight budget, but hey if you can hold it down to your amount more power to you.

 

The items everyone spends money on and is shocked how it adds up is:

BAR BILL they add 15% to everything wine, soda, beer, smoothies.

Casino

SPA

SHOPPING

TIPS

PARKING

SHORETRIPS

 

Of course I do like my wine, and my husband drinks beer. So that's usually where are charges go. Unless of course you take box wine aboard and some other drinks... 2 bottles of champagne are definitely allowed!

Bottle Water & Mt Dew also if you do that you'll save.

 

May be too late, but can you stay at a hotel that will let you park for free?

 

Also can you use your marriott rewards free hotel certificate for a free stay? Or other hotel program?

 

Are you included to do shore excursions on your own? Are you positive you won't miss the ship, can you keep ship/shore time straight? Maybe try

http://www.shoretrips.com usually the same excursion the cruise passengers are on, but not marked up.

 

In Mazatlan you can take the time share tour of EL CID and you get to use the all-inclusive resort all day, including meals, drinks, beach toys, pools.

You just have to give up an hour of your day. They pay for the taxi both ways, you can eat and drink as much as you want, and there's little shops around the hotel to shop at for gifts, etc. Its like a San Diego scene where the resort is packed with families on vacation.

 

I always tell the timeshare employees that I am not interested in buying one, but will take their freebies for a tour. So I'm upfront and honest.

 

Just don't buy the timeshare, politely stand up at the end of your 60 minutes, heck I even asked if my kids could go and play in the pool while they did the presentation and my husband was served a margarita and me a cool diet coke.

 

They gave us a nice tour of the hotel and the condo, the condo had a wonderful view and we asked about the history of Mazatlan and what it was like to live there. Very informative. Then promptly at 60 mins. I stood up, thanked them very much and slowly walked out.

 

Cabo, you could just walk the town, but maybe save some cash for some type of water taxi to a nice hotels beach for lunch and swimming.

 

Puerto Vallarta... here is where I'd save my excursion money for. John Houston's private island tour is definitely worth it. Or something similiar.

Puerto Vallarta is beautiful coast line almost requires you to take to the sea!

 

Have fun on your budget....remember you won't remember what you ate or drank 20 years from now, what things you bought, but you will remember your adventures! Enjoy!

[ala-kat]

I'm really a yankee that came south and never moved back:p

 

That makes you a 'damn yankee' :D :p

 

Anyway, $1200 - for two? After S&S deposit, gas & parking, that leaves you about $600, give or take. With a back up credit card, that should be plenty. The deposit p/p will cover your tips, and other expenses - pictures, drinks, etc. You'll just want to keep up on what your spending on board.

 

Are you going to be doing some excursions or just play it by ear while in port? If playing it by ear, not big drinkers, and just bringing back the usual stuff for those left behind, me thinks you will be fine.

 

Bring small bills. You'll need them for tipping, taxis, purchases (don't want to hand them a 20 when you've bartered from $10 to $4).

 

I see you're going on the Holiday. I love that ship. Have a wonderful time!!

[ala-kat]

I had planned on carrying cash for my days in port but I was going to use a credit card for my S&S. When you say "go pay it off in cash before the end of the week, or randomly throughout the week" does that mean you can not leave the charges on your credit card and take care of paying the credit card off when you get home from the cruise.

 

What they are trying to say is you can use the credit card for your deposit (for your spending pleasure), but that you can - before the cruise ends - go to the pursers desk and pay the balance with cash. This way it does not hit your credit card. The info for the c/c is not sent to the c/c company until the cruise is over.

[karen s]

What they are trying to say is you can use the credit card for your deposit (for your spending pleasure), but that you can - before the cruise ends - go to the pursers desk and pay the balance with cash. This way it does not hit your credit card. The info for the c/c is not sent to the c/c company until the cruise is over.

 

 

I don't understand why people don't want to use a credit card! :confused: I use mine for EVERYTHING and pay it off each month. Heck, I got $2000 back this year when I bought my daughter's car because of all the points I earned. And I haven't paid any credit card interest in over 7 years. If you have the $$, then there is no difference it paying it to the credit card co or on the ship (after waiting in a LONG line at the pursers desk on the last night). Only downfall for me is that I am always forgetting my ATM PIN because I hardly ever use it -- maybe 4 or 5x a year. But I do bring cash for the ports and taxi fare - usually $300-500, depending on location and # of ports.

[ala-kat]

I don't understand why people don't want to use a credit card! :confused:

 

Personal choice. What works for me, doesn't work for everyone (and I use mine too much :eek: ).