What can I expect to pay at the end

[newtravelers]

We paid for the cruise only and insurance. How do we settle up at the end and what will be on the bill (in general)? We are on RCI majesty. I think they include the tip for booze.

[klfrodo]

I see you're from Vegas so, I'll answer you question with a question.

 

I'm going to Vegas next month. How much money can I expect spend for the entire trip?

[TrentS]

We paid for the cruise only and insurance. How do we settle up at the end and what will be on the bill (in general)? We are on RCI majesty. I think they include the tip for booze.

 

No way anyone can answer this question... How much do you drink? What, if anything are you going to buy in the shops? Are you buying any of the photos?

 

Yes, the tip is automatically included when you buy a drink at the bars.

 

As for settling up, you register a credit card when you check in.

[newtravelers]

Oops, I should have been more specific. I meant for gratuities, etc. I have never been on a cruise, so I don't get the whole process quite yet. Soon to find out. I plan on drinking a good amount. I am from Vegas after all. ;)

[deckgirl]

when you check in at the dock for your cruise you'll have to present your credit card. onboard the ship, during the cruise, you won't be allowed to actually spend cash (except the casino) - you sign for everything and it gets added to your room charge (just like a hotel). this includes drinks, gift shop, photo shop, specialty restaurants, etc. also, a daily gratuity of $10 per day/per person also gets added. on the last night of the cruise your statement will be either slipped under your door or placed in your cabin. if you're okey-dokey with the charges it will be automatically charged to the card you presented prior to boarding the ship. if you have any questions about your charges, go to the customer service desk. you can also monitor your account balance daily on the television in your cabin. somehow there's not so much sticker-shock when we see it every day. it would be nice to be able to know in advance how much things on board cost, such as the photo's and various gift shop items. i've never looked at our check-out bills and my hubby hasn't had a heart attack yet, but know that there are several sales during the week on different things, and you can browse around before you buy.

happy sailing!!!!:)

[Keith1010]

I see you're from Vegas so, I'll answer you question with a question.

 

I'm going to Vegas next month. How much money can I expect spend for the entire trip?

 

I'm sorry but the OP was not asking how much money the bill would cost but rather how to pay the shipboard account and what items might be on it. A good question from a first time cruiser.

 

Keith

[Keith1010]

Oops, I should have been more specific. I meant for gratuities, etc. I have never been on a cruise, so I don't get the whole process quite yet. Soon to find out. I plan on drinking a good amount. I am from Vegas after all. ;)

 

No need to apologize.

 

In terms of paying for what you charge on board all of your charges go to your shipboard account. The easiest way is to provide the reception desk with your credit card that they can charge the outstanding bill to following the cruise.

 

Any on board purchases you make will be billed to your account. This would include gratutiies, you bar bills (wine, alcohol, etc which includes the cost of the drink plus gratuity), shore excursions, photographs, internet, spa/salon, and any shopping you do on board the ship. Each time you purchase an item you will receive a bill so keep them together so you can keep up on your expenses. Also, at any time stop by the reception desk and they can print out your current on board account to give you a feel as to how much you have spent so far.

 

I don't believe you are asking how much you will spend as this is something that varies by person.

 

Enjoy the cruise.

 

Keith

[Fredr]

Hello,

 

The night before your cruise ends, delivered to your cabin you will find in an evelope from the cruise line/ship a list of charges that you authorized. For example, you purchased a t -shirt in one of the ship's shops. The amount you paid will be on this list. This list will also have the amount you paid in gratuities if your cruise line does this automatically.

 

The total amount you authorized goes on your credit card that you told the cruise line you wanted to use for this purpose. Please make sure that the card has not expired or there are no other problems.

 

VERY IMPORTANT...always look over this list of charges very carefully and immediately see the Purser's Office (or Customer Relations desk) if there are any errors. Over our 30 cruises there has been some double billing for excursions so you need to pay attention as to what appears on your bill.

 

And if there is a mistake please be calm and fair about getting the charges reversed. Remember that thousands of transactions have been handled on the ship during your cruise, so understandably there may be some errors.

[firefly333]

We do the automatic gratuities on RCL, $9.75 per person per day ... other than this its all up to you... thats the only thing I consider mandatory.

 

I own RCL stock, which usually takes care of most of the tips, so thats why I add it to my onboard bill, but some like to give out cash, and dissapear from the dining room the last night ... I dont think RCL has made it as automatic as Carnival, I think you have to agree to it being added still on RCL.... I always sign the paper, so not sure. They will give out the paper to sign about half way thru your cruise.

[cb at sea]

Plan on spending about 1/2 of what the cruise cost you....that's about standard for most people...especially 1st timers.

 

Alcohol, sodas, excursions, photos, specialty restaurants....all cost extra.

 

Your tips of $9.75 per person, per day, can be either charged to your account, or paid in cash on the last night. That covers the room attendant, waiter, ass't waiter and head waiter.

Any drink you order that has a charge (sodas included!) will have a 15% tip added to the bill.

Of course, gambling (which you are better off doing in Vegas--better payouts!) will add to the overall cost!

[ATL2LAS]

I would bring a second budget for gambling expenses instead of putting it on your shipboard account. It lets you set your limit before you cruise. Count on drinks , on average, to cost $6-$8, photos are the bread and butter items. They can be anywhere from $20-25 a picture. If you are a soda drinker, invest in the soda card...sodas are about $2 a can onboard. No free drinks in the casino though :(

[RoofingPrincess]

By the way, on Royal Caribbean (unlike some other lines), your tips are NOT automatically added to your onboard account UNLESS you fill out a form and drop it off at the purser's desk.

[Fredr]

Hello

 

Plan on spending 1/2 of what the cruise costs you...what is the source of this interesting fact? I am not disputing this but I am wondering where does this statistic comes from?

 

For those of you new to cruises, this is a new experience money wise. There are some who spend freely and there are others who don't. Please remember though that there are several ways to have a great time and not spend very much at all.

 

Some ideas...excursions are very nice but in some ports you can see a lot just by walking around and using public transportation. Dublin, Copenhagen, Buenos Aires, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, Puerto Limon, San Diego, San Francisco, Seward, Kechikan, and Juneau are among several places you can see easily by public transit or by walking or relatively inexpensive taxi rides.

 

Watch your alcohol intake on the ship...this doesn't mean going without, just keep it within reason.

 

Stay out of the casino.

 

Specialty restaurants are truly nice but there is usually a special fee associated with dining ($20- 30 per person). This is for a special occasion

 

Buy token souveniors...most ships' shops will have sales and some of the t -shirts are really very nice at a reasonable price.

 

Spas, hairdressing, nails and so on are great but expensive on ships.

[klfrodo]

Hello

 

Plan on spending 1/2 of what the cruise costs you...what is the source of this interesting fact? I am not disputing this but I am wondering where does this statistic comes from?

 

I'm sure it's not a standard published statistic, but, it sure is a close "rule of thumb" to use as a guideline.

 

Of course you'll have the outlyers. Those who do a 7 day cruise and their final bill is $50, or, those like me whose final bill is a couple of G.

[Fredr]

Hello,

 

Thanks. And if you are wondering what my DW and I spend...it depends on the itinerary becaue there are ports where an excursion is the best and maybe the only option. Puntas Arenas, Costa Rica is one such port, and Le Harve France is another. On a recent 29 day cruise of South America, not including gratuities or the extra money we gave our waiters and cabin steward, our bill came to about $800.00 and this included some excursions, specialty restaurants, on board purchases, and some miscellaneous expenses.

 

Generally though we managed to have a great time on our 30 cruises without having to deal with horrific credit card bills afterward.