Welcome to Tightwad Cruising - What Do You Do?

[paul929207]

RazorbackBelle,

Since a lot of people probably have no clue about these old computers, let's not give them any ammunition to guess our ages. :D

Let other people be happy with "Sent from my iPad".:cool:

OK now back to money saving tips.

Think of the thousands we have saved by continuing to use earlier generation technology. :)

[ByByeAmericanPie]

LMAO...you youngsters. My first computer was a Singer 4k

[cruiselover57]

We never book the ship's excursions; they're so much less expensive when going with a small group with a private tour operator (who has been well reviewed on the Boards, of course!)

We look for a deal: Last sailing, (New england and Canada), we got $100 Spa credit, pre-paid gratuitites, and dinner in a speciality restaurant.

We purchase one bottle of wine for a special dinner, and use 2 for 1 coupon for wine on another night.

No spa treatments (unless on an OBC); no buying the ships's photos, stay out of the gift shop. No casino or bingo--not our thing anyway.

Last cruise, we had one bottle of wine (10% discount coupon); I bought a pass to the thermal spa and we had a 2 for 1 glass of wine. My end of cruise bill was $98! (My goal was to stay under 100). We had the time of our lives without all the extras

 

Wouldn't it be funny if nobody decided to book any ship's excursions or drinks from the bar! I know - unheard of in a way but what would they do? Lower the prices just to get some business? I'm sure it'll never happen - just a wild thought that's all!

 

We are always looking for great deals as well and while we're not really drinkers, we do look forward (at least DH does) to drinking wine (just not the ship's wine - we bring on our own, open it in the cabin and then he takes his glass to dinner and it's done ALL the time)! I don't need to gamble either - just like watching people in the casino when I feel like passing time! As for excursions, we will usually do independent tours - one time when we went to Alaska, our tour (on a school bus of all things), followed the Greyhound bus and we paid 50% less than those on the "semi-luxurious" motor coach! A school bus was a bit bumpy but fun!

[gogetter]

Not because the economy is "weak" or gas prices have "skyrocketed" - most of which has been conjured up by the left-wing media - but we tend to cruise on the cheap. We search for off-season or repositioning cruises and then set our sights on a balcony stateroom with the cruise fare saved. We book the next cruise while on-board the current cruise for an OBC, use our C&A benefits for a discount, and use our RCCL stockholder benefits for an additonal OBC. When we have enough RCCL Visa card points accumulated, we cash them in for another OBC. Then, while on-board:

 

We don't buy the over-priced weak drinks in the smokey bars - but once in a while we'll order the drink of the day - or two - before the show.

 

We do not buy the art at the auctions - but do sign up and drink the free champaigne.

 

We don't buy a soda card - but do drink coffee, tea, and juices for free and even make our own "Cafe' Diablo" using their hot cocoa mix, coffee, and creamer.

 

We don't buy a wine package - but do use our C&A coupon for a free wine tasting.

 

We don't use any spa "treatments" but do occasionally sign up for a free lecture/sales pitch.

 

We don't use the laundry service - but do wash out our own quick-dry travel clothing in our cabin.

 

We don't use the high priced/low speed internet service on-board - but do use our own mobile web service when in port and cell phone service is available.

 

We seldom use specialty dining - but do order room service dinners or breakfasts and eat on our balcony where it is much quieter.

 

We DO try to book an excursion or two on-board so that it'll be charged to our sea pass - the one already front loaded with a bunch of OBCs.

 

The result? Most cruises we have a very small balance on our sea pass at the end of the cruise, and sometimes even have a credit.

 

Are you a tightwad cruiser too? If so, what do you do

 

This reallys isnt a guide to tightwad cruising as much as what people do ro dont do.....big deal it is pretty basic to anyone who has cruised ...more than a couple of times....

[simong]

thank goodness that most folks buy the drinks, "artwork", overpriced shore excursions, and the poor odds casino they cause the fares for the rest of us who do not do these overpriced activities to be a screaming buy

[ByByeAmericanPie]

thank goodness that most folks buy the drinks, "artwork", overpriced shore excursions, and the poor odds casino they cause the fares for the rest of us who do not do these overpriced activities to be a screaming buy

 

re casino...the odds are "poor" only if you play slots or certain table games. The slots are usually loose on the first night then they tighten them up for the remainder of the cruise. Other games can be quite lucrative if played correctly. I usually average $1000 to $2000 per cruise in my pocket when the week is over.

[msledge2002]

We are cruising on Voyager of the Seas in March. Any 'to do' suggestions? This is the husband's first cruise and only my second. I will take your previous advice for sure!;-)

[cruzisme]

Highly recommend getting the tickets to the ice show. We got them the 1st day (look at the cruise newsletter in your cabin) for location (for us, it was the casino, 1st afternoon).

Cafe Promenade: great for coffee (free) and snacks (in AM, donuts etc.) then later in morning and thru the afternoon, sandwiches and pizza.

As others have stated, if you go to the art auctions, they provide champagne (but check which days they are doing that) Artwork you might decide to buy at home to avoid their shipping costs, etc.

Have fun on the ship!

[ByByeAmericanPie]

Does anyone know of a website that watches cruise fares? i.e. you enter the cruise and cabin class you want and they notify you of a price drop.

[LITHMIL]

Where do you get the coupons?

[islandchicklet]

Does anyone know of a website that watches cruise fares? i.e. you enter the cruise and cabin class you want and they notify you of a price drop.

 

 

http://www.carnival.com/BookingEngine/FareViewer

[justgr8fl2cruise]

I like to go through the coupon books given by the ship pre-port and see if there are coupons for shirts or hats for a dollar or free. They make great souveniers for the grandkids.

 

I bring some sandwich baggies and order sandwiches from room service so I can take them with us when going to port.

 

I ask people to take our picture with our camera using the ship photographers backdrop when it's set up but not in use (I'm not proud).

 

I once took a van in Ketchikan marked FREE SHUTTLE TO WALMART and got a free tour of ketchikan. lol While at Walmart I bought some snacks.

 

I use a carry-on size suitcase to take waters and a few sodas on board and then use the carry-on to bring back souveniers.

 

I "try" to stay out of the casino.

 

I stay out of the specialty restaurants.... I've tried some and they are not better than the regular dining rooms.

 

There's probably more ways to save that I practice but that's what comes to mind right now.

[askimdog]

We have done 3 cruises, last month was our 3rd and between me, my wife and 7 year old daughter we racked up our highest S&S bill to date, not counting gratuties....$26.00

 

We only choose ports where we have friends living to avoid hotel costs the day before and after the cruise.

 

We fly only on the cheapest days often having to transfer planes 2-3 times.

 

We only book inside windowless staterooms

 

I drink, so I carry a bottle of wine allowed by Carnival for me and my wife's bottle for me. I drink only in ports and do splurge pre-cruise by ordering a BV bottle of the lowest priced rum.

 

We carry on soda

 

We don't gamble or pay for specialty restaurants

 

We have a camera, so don't pose or look at ship photos.

 

We rarely shop on the cruise for anything, anywhere

 

We DO splurge in ports for drinks, beer for me, the 2 or 3 for 5.00 beers one can find away from the ship. Dollar beers in Roatan were discovered.

 

We DO splurge on local foods, a goal of ours, but this is always cheap it seems compared to U.S. prices.

 

Yes, we have a blast too!!!

[oreoandboots]

I like to go through the coupon books given by the ship pre-port and see if there are coupons for shirts or hats for a dollar or free. They make great souveniers for the grandkids.

 

I bring some sandwich baggies and order sandwiches from room service so I can take them with us when going to port.

 

I ask people to take our picture with our camera using the ship photographers backdrop when it's set up but not in use (I'm not proud).

 

I once took a van in Ketchikan marked FREE SHUTTLE TO WALMART and got a free tour of ketchikan. lol While at Walmart I bought some snacks.

 

I use a carry-on size suitcase to take waters and a few sodas on board and then use the carry-on to bring back souveniers.

 

I "try" to stay out of the casino.

 

I stay out of the specialty restaurants.... I've tried some and they are not better than the regular dining rooms.

 

There's probably more ways to save that I practice but that's what comes to mind right now.

 

I love the free tour on your way to Walmart!

[SanDiegoHeather]

Not because the economy is "weak" or gas prices have "skyrocketed" - most of which has been conjured up by the left-wing media - but we tend to cruise on the cheap. We search for off-season or repositioning cruises and then set our sights on a balcony stateroom with the cruise fare saved. We book the next cruise while on-board the current cruise for an OBC, use our C&A benefits for a discount, and use our RCCL stockholder benefits for an additonal OBC. When we have enough RCCL Visa card points accumulated, we cash them in for another OBC. Then, while on-board:

 

We don't buy the over-priced weak drinks in the smokey bars - but once in a while we'll order the drink of the day - or two - before the show.

 

We do not buy the art at the auctions - but do sign up and drink the free champaigne.

 

We don't buy a soda card - but do drink coffee, tea, and juices for free and even make our own "Cafe' Diablo" using their hot cocoa mix, coffee, and creamer.

 

We don't buy a wine package - but do use our C&A coupon for a free wine tasting.

 

We don't use any spa "treatments" but do occasionally sign up for a free lecture/sales pitch.

 

We don't use the laundry service - but do wash out our own quick-dry travel clothing in our cabin.

 

We don't use the high priced/low speed internet service on-board - but do use our own mobile web service when in port and cell phone service is available.

 

We seldom use specialty dining - but do order room service dinners or breakfasts and eat on our balcony where it is much quieter.

 

We DO try to book an excursion or two on-board so that it'll be charged to our sea pass - the one already front loaded with a bunch of OBCs.

 

The result? Most cruises we have a very small balance on our sea pass at the end of the cruise, and sometimes even have a credit.

 

Are you a tightwad cruiser too? If so, what do you do

 

 

 

If you are a stockholder, as I USED TO BE (since you talked about the stakeholder on-board credit), and you have ever bothered to look through the earnings report than you know that RCI is not in the business of selling cruises but rather in the business of selling drinks (water, soda, alcohol and now juice), gambling, shore tours, "crap" at the ports, spa treatments, cookbooks, photos, etc. They cannot make a profit from the cruise fare alone. That being said, I was so annoyed with the policies of even refusing people to bring a reasonable amount of water on-board that I sold my 100 minimum shares last Fall.

 

So - now I just bring a loose Britta water filter and drop it into an empty container I bring or the silver water one they let you use. I also bring my ego water mugs. A company like RCI that is "blue/green" cannot deny those.

 

Since I cannot have caffeine but like soda I bring my soda stream (OK just kidding - I DO buy the soda package but am annoyed with it since I like Diet Coke but really need the Caffeine free version. I'm leaving on a cruise Sunday and am considering this).

 

Wine Package - well worth the $ if you like wine like me. I will always buy this.

 

Spa treatments - the $20-30 massages for 30+ minutes on the islands do the trick for me - I'll never book on the ship.

 

I also wash my clothes in the cabin if necessary. Most ships have coin-opp laundry now though - I've only done that on 14-night cruises.

 

My last text message in port was $0.50. The last photo I uploaded to Facebook cost me nearly $10. I think the ship prices are fine unless I want to waste time at port to use an internet cafe.

 

 

Anyway- the real "tightwad' cruisers are Not me or you - they are people that book interior cabins during sales, don't drink alcohol, don't gamble, and don't take tours.

Edited February 16, 2012 by SanDiegoHeather

[SanDiegoHeather]

I also have to admit - I started bringing Ziplocs around 1997 to take "room service" sandwiches on tours. OK, I do admit to that one. The reason is i don't like "cevice" and I can't know how they sanitize stuff.

 

Heather

[Quixotic]

We just got back so I can tell you what things we did, including a few things we regret and won't ever do again.

 

The good:

* We booked an interior stateroom (K class) on FOS even though I really wanted a balcony, so that we could apply the difference ($1000ish) to great excursions.

 

* We only did ship-organized excursions at Labadee and that's because we had no choice (zip line, aqua park, coaster). Otherwise, I used Cruise Critic reviews to carefully choose independent tour options. A total success, by the way!

 

* We stuck to the free dining options. As vegetarians who sometimes eat fish/seafood but never meat and who don't consume alcohol, most of the $$ options cater to drinkers and steak lovers.

 

* We used the Adventure Ocean Club during normal hours but never after hours (when the $$ charges start).

 

* We turned all our electronic devices to the airplane mode after we left US and did not turn them back until we docked in US.

 

* We bought souvenirs as far away from the ports/piers as humanly possible at all our ports of call.

 

 

The bad:

 

* We blew a lot of money on those darn soda cards. We should have just paid a la carte for the few sodas that we really wanted and stuck to water.

 

* I bought items from the ship that I should have brought from home. Water shoes ($24!) for an excursion. Sinus meds ($15 for SIX lousy pills). Aloe gel (another $15) for hubby's burn despite lathering on the sunscreen in Haiti.

 

* I bought three 8x10 portraits from the photo gallery. I did the math and it would have been cheaper to buy four than three (due to the packages offered), only I never realized it. And obviously, buying ONE or none would have been ideal.

 

* I did not plan well for the transfer after getting off the ship to our WDW resort and ended up paying a staggering amount of $$ for a car service. (On the plus side, it was the kids' birthday that day and we ended up with a limousine. I got cool points at least.)

[operabob]

Well, it's not on board but we hire a cab for excursions (six of us travel regularly) and keep the driver for 3 to 5 hours. In the end we save almost 50% over the excursions and their insufferable constant "shopping" stops. We walked off a Oceania excursion in Salvador, Brazil after paying a fortune to only be taken to kick-back vendors of t-shirts and cheap jewelry. We use Frommers and Lonely Planet to get to see great things off the tourist trail.

 

Oh, OK, I did shop on the last cruise. I said to our driver, "Duty Free Stores are a rip-off. Where do you go to buy alcohol?"

 

He took us to a local no-membership fee Costco equivalent. Same bottle of single malt scotch I bought for $24 was $35 at the ship's duty free and $34 at all the other DFs nearby. $49 at home. Note: Costcos, Sam's Clubs, etc. in the US are usually 20% cheaper than the duty frees near the Canadian border.

[operabob]

Saw the laundry comments. We don't buy the on board detergent but use products similar to these:

 

http://www.magellans.com/store/Clothing___Clothing_CareTL787

 

I don't drink a lot but do:

 

1. pack 2 bottles of wine in each set of luggage for in room consumption. Haven't had any confiscated yet.

 

2. Order the Bucket of Beer (Get 6 Pay for 5) then save a beer glass from one of the bars and pour and walk.

 

3. I do get the specialty coffee card on Princess. I'll drink more Iced Cappuccinos than pop. It's cheaper than Starbuck's and you get complimentary freshly ground coffee which is a heck of a lot better than the (r@p they serve in the restaurants. It also gives you complimentary hot chocolate. Works out to about $2.20 each after tips. (Over $4 at Starbuck's)

 

4. Take more than one glass at a time on Meet the Captain/Formal night.

 

5. Never, the Art. Someone paid $2,800 for a piece of CR@P on our last cruise. They had multiple copies of this item displayed. I thought it might be a shill bidding but the next day someone bought something for $2,200. People, you can get this junk for less than $100 on shore. Think about what you're doing! :)

 

6. Ask the cabbies where they buy their liquor. Bought a liter of single malt for $24 last week at a local no membership Sam's Club equivalent last week on St. Thomas. Same item at the near ship Duty Frees was $34 and on board $35.

[operabob]

On a roll here.

 

Re: Internet

 

I use a multi-directional antenna with my lap top and pick up free WiFi in mycabin when in port about 40-50% of the time.

[JoPublic]

We are cruising on Voyager of the Seas in March. Any 'to do' suggestions? This is the husband's first cruise and only my second. I will take your previous advice for sure!;-)

 

Hiya

 

We were on VOS last month, lovely ship. Agree the ice shows are very good. There was a discount on the tickets for a drink so you can have a cheap drink during the show as well.

 

One thing we like to do is go out for a late night hot tub, one is 24 hours. If you have robes, don't forget them.

If you have a balcony, enjoy a morning coffee with your personal view then go for breakfast a little later.

If you meet some new friends on board, they may share some perks/coupons that you may not have. We were giving a few C&A coupons for 2-4-1 wine or beer as they didn't want to use them.

 

Have fun :)

[jayslilprnces]

1. Don't buy ships excursions

2. Don't play bingo

3. Don't ever by specialty glasses or the drinks that come in them

4. Don't "dine" in the specialty restaurants.. Most of the ships I've been on have had fine food in the regular dining room.

5. Limit the money set aside for the card tables. When it's gone' date=' it's gone. If I double it, I quit and cash in.

6. Don't drink myself silly all day. A Bloody Mary in the morning, a before dinner something and maybe an after dinner drink is about it. I usually splurge on a fine bottle of wine the first night for dinner...and enjoy it for a coupla days. LOVE an ice cold Red Stripe or Carta Blanca beer...ashore only.

7. Never buy ships photos.

8. Stay clear of the gift shops - unless they are having a serious sale on something I might want.

9. Avoid any and all auctions....but will show up for the champagne....

10. Don't buy specialty coffees or patronize "pastry bars"

 

I splurge on having lunch ashore at a favorite restaurant or enjoying an icy cold Pina Colada made fresh in front of me - in a blender - with fresh Pineapple.....at a favorite shore-side watering hole.

 

I'll splurge on a taxi if necessary to avoid those awful shuttle buses in Mexico and on some islands.

 

I am a generous tipper to those who have made my cruise special......[/quote']

I am playing bingo...LoL

 

I won twice last time once for 300.00 and secound time for 500.00!!!

[operabob]

7. Never buy ships photos.

 

Well, I needed a new photo in digital format for my magazine column. Went to several shoots with no intention of buying. Found one I liked then went to the free draw on the last evening. They drew 3 winners. Sure enough, I won the first draw: Free portrait + digital.

 

Had I not won I wouldn't have bought. ;-)

[operabob]

Haven't done this yet but my friends have. They take their own tequila and mix aboard. However, before departing they visit a local thrift store and buy a used blender for a couple of bucks.

 

Margaritas!!!!

[lbullard]

Well, I needed a new photo in digital format for my magazine column. Went to several shoots with no intention of buying. Found one I liked then went to the free draw on the last evening. They drew 3 winners. Sure enough, I won the first draw: Free portrait + digital.

 

Had I not won I wouldn't have bought. ;-)

 

Tell me about the last night with the free draw...I didn't know anything about that...