Want to help me figure out a budget?

[Alaskabound77]

I'll tell you a little bit about our cruise and ourselves and you tell me how much you think I need to budget (or not if you find this boring).

Alaska 7 night cruise on the Westerdam out of Seattle on July 29th booked in SB8140 (aft balcony)
DH (38), me (36), DS (4) and DD (8 months)
DH likes coffee, coffee drinks, soda, wine, and cocktails
I like soda and a few drinks a week
Excursions are already booked and paid for (but no tips)
I'll probably do 1 day at the Thermal Spa (hard to get away from nursing baby), probably one cooking class
We are treating for 6 people to dinner one night at the Pinnacle Grill
We will be spending a lot of time on our balcony with my parents and my sister

So what do you think we will spend? Assume we tip relatively well (over and above the standard tip that is charged to everyone).

THANKS!!

[RuthC]

I know what I would do---
I'd budget anywhere from $125-$150/day for all four people, and get my mind adjusted to that. Then I would be very relieved (and happy) when it came in lower (and I think it may).

Figure it's $40/day just for the service charge, and $20/day for the Pinnacle Grill (averaged out). There's not only extra tips, but there's tips to guides on excursions (maybe $5/person for a half-day tour). Photos ($20/day). Drinks $15/day. Cabs, trinkets.
It adds up fast.

[lorekauf]

I usually budget about $100 for myself per day. I'm not a crazy spender but I don't watch every cent either. Sometimes it's just right....other times I come home with $$.

[Alaskabound77]

Thanks!!! I've got $2200 budgeted so I feel pretty good about that. I just want to make sure that I'm tipping enough and not upsetting anyone.

[Crusing Bob]

I think you should think about what you would hope for if you were in their shoes and without feeling an obligation to tip beyond the auto tip in place unless you feel exceptional service rendered. As to excursions, again it depends on how well the service and experience impacts you.

[Alaskabound77]

I guess I just hadn't even considered some tips before - like to the HAL Club people, tipping for room service both when the food comes and then putting money on the tray, tipping the NL people, tipping the maitre D' etc.

[bepsf]

I generally plan on $1000/week for myself....
...Have never come in under budget yet!
;)

[sail7seas]

Good rule of thumb.... :D

Bring half the clothes you planned and double the cash! ;)

[dlbaqua]

I have no clue about the budget, other than it always costs more than I think it should and we don't even drink!
However, I think you're on the same cruise as me, but it's July 27th, not the 29th?
If so, come join our roll call!

[Alaskabound77]

Whoops - I meant June 29th. I looked for a roll call for this cruise and didn't see one. As I am new here, I felt sort of weird starting one myself.

[dlbaqua]

oh darn, I was hoping we had another CC'er for our roll call, only 3 of us so far
go ahead and start one if you're sure there isn't one there, I started ours because I was so darn excited, and that was back in Feb!

Can't wait to see what you end up doing in port!

[prescottbob]

Ahoy!

I'm one of those sorts that pencils out a budget for all vacations including cruises. In so far as cruises, we usually book at least a year out (so far two this year : 50 days, 2009: 24 days thus far).

Just an example of a ten dayer we did this past March:

Item / Budget (Pre-cruise) /Actual (Post-cruise)

1. Cruise: /$3625 / $3725

2. OnBoard Acct: 1000 / 1125

3. Tips (Auto +): / 300 / 325

4. Travel Ins.: / 125 /189

5. AL Tickets: / 750 / 640

6. Hotel (Embark): /125 / 0

7. Excursions: /600 / 570

8. Misc. Spending: 600 / 710

Total: $7000 / $6834


*1.Cruise : standard outside, dolphin deck amidships, added fuel charges.
*2.On board: includes booze, beauty appts., certain exercise classes and a PG visit or two. We don't gamble.
*3.Tips (the autos really go on the on-board but I still break them out seperately ((used to doing this prior to the auto-tip)) plus extra tips)
*4. Travel Ins.: usually just med evac and cancellation coverage with no pre-existing conditions for cruises only. However, I did just get some insuranve for the plane tickets for this Nov. and paid an additional $15/ticket insurance (via travelocity) for cancellation stuff due to the current AL "mess", as it were.
*5. AL tickets: self explanatory (the trip examined: PHX to FLL RT)
*6. Hotel: Try to use reward points (via the Visa Choice Program: good at the Comfort Inn /Sleep Inn Chain, etc).
*7. Excursions: We usually try to book our own versus joining the bus and tag HAL tours. However, we have used HAL for tours in the past and they are always quite enjoyable.
*8. Misc. Spending: This covers airport parking fees, baggage handler tips, airport libations & meals, spending money at ports, purchasing wine at ports, purchasing that crazy dolphin carved from ironwood, etc. You get my drift.

This was just an example from us. I have yet to treat DW to a balcony, aka, verandah suite. I think if I do she'll never want to return to the 'bilge'.

We save 1-1.5K /month for our vacation fund (land & sea) via an internet account and pay pretty much everything (including the shipboard accout) with the choice rewards for the freebie rooms and a United Visa & Amex for AL mileages on United and Delta. And needless to say, pay them off pronto by using the internet savings accout (in our case ING, which is only paying 3% / annum these days).

Anyhow, have yourself a WONDERFUL CRFUISE! I'm sure other will pipe in and give you even better advise.

Bob Voyage & Good Health!
Bob:)

[Alaskabound77]

Bob-
I love your post! I too am a bigger planner and big budgeter. This is great information! I'm thinking we'll be fine with $2200 as we really don't buy much. I'm sure I'll have to spring for some small things for the 4 year old. I would rather spend our money at the spa, doing classes and drinking!

[prescottbob]

Bob-
I love your post! I too am a bigger planner and big budgeter. This is great information! I'm thinking we'll be fine with $2200 as we really don't buy much. I'm sure I'll have to spring for some small things for the 4 year old. I would rather spend our money at the spa, doing classes and drinking![/quote]

Ahoy!

I failed to mention we usually have that $100 onboard credit thing for booking a cruise while on a HAL cruise and another 100 clams of credit from the stock ownership program (we actually bought a couple hundred shares several years ago while it was in the in the mid-20's : didn't really buy it at the time for any sort of credit, but it worked out just fine). Now the credit will take care of the additional 100 dollar, or whatever it is, fuel charge on the next "float".

Have a WONDERFUL CRUISE!
Bon Voyage & Good Health
Bob:)

[O2B@C]

... booked in SB8140 (aft balcony)
DH (38), me (36), DS (4) and DD (8 months)
DH likes coffee, coffee drinks...

Since you are in a suite with Neptune Lounge access, you will be able to save a little bit by steering DH to the NL for his coffee and coffee drinks rather than buying them at the Explorations Cafe. The NL has a very nice cappucino machine, and it's free! They also have snacks (fruit, little sandwiches, canapes, cookies, pastries), which may come in handy if your four-year-old gets hungry. Enjoy your cruise!

OTOH, you may want to budget something for tips for the NL concierges.

[Alaskabound77]

O2B@C (ah, I figured out your name!!)
Thanks for the tips. Very cool on the coffee for DH and the snacks for the boy. I also heard that you can have a snack tray/platter thing delivered to your room for you and some guests. I thought this would be free but now I'm wondering since I got the price list for things on the ship and it has an assorted snack tray priced out.

[O2B@C]

You're welcome! My CC name was chosen to express my love for cruising and the ocean - glad you like it!

You can ask the NL concierges to have a tray of canapes delivered to your room before dinner. I haven't done this myself, but from what I've heard, it should be ample for your entire family group. This service is free for suite guests - or at least it was when I was on Westerdam in November.

[JimVrhovac]

My wife Ruth is very budget concious.

She spends everything she can squeeze out of me and then some more....I take away her credit cards prior to the cruise.

Ruth & Jim

[bepsf]

My wife Ruth is very budget concious.

She spends everything she can squeeze out of me and then some more....I take away her credit cards prior to the cruise.

Ruth & Jim

Jim - You always crack me up!
:)

[babyher]

My wife Ruth is very budget concious.

She spends everything she can squeeze out of me and then some more....I take away her credit cards prior to the cruise.

Ruth & Jim


I hear that :)

My wallett with all my credit cards was stolen over a year ago. I have yet to report it.

The crooks spend less money than my wife *LOL*

[sail7seas]

I hear that :)

My wallett with all my credit cards was stolen over a year ago. I have yet to report it.

The crooks spend less money than my wife *LOL*


:D :D ROFLMAO....... I did literally laugh out loud reading this! :)

[lorekauf]

I hear that :)

My wallett with all my credit cards was stolen over a year ago. I have yet to report it.

The crooks spend less money than my wife *LOL*
Good one!:D

[babyher]

:D :D ROFLMAO....... I did literally laugh out loud reading this! :)


Glad I gave you a chuckle Sail *LOL*

[Alaskabound77]

O2B@C-
I forgot to add that I am planning on tipping $50 per NL concierge.

[JimVrhovac]

Something you may want to consider.

We take along Victoris Secrets Shower Gells or Lotions for the ladies plus a modest cash tip and they always seem to appreciate it...

Ruth & Jim

[joeinsb]

Our rule of thumb for cruise costs is $200 a day for the two of us. That covers wine at lunch and dinner, a glass of champagne while dancing in the evening and a little blackjack here and there. It pretty much comes out right on target cruise after cruise. I wish we could spend less because then we could take even more cruises, but frankly we like our cruise lifestyle the way it is.

[Alaskabound77]

It seems like the rule of $100/per person/per day is a pretty good one. Thanks to everyone for their input.