Cruise budget

Hi All,

My partner and I are planning to sail to the UK on the Arcadia in February (read bucket list) and I am trying to work out how much to budget for spending money on the voyage.

Can people who have sailed with P&O please tell me how much you spent, on average per day for on board spending and excursions, including tips but excluding the cruise fare. I.e. if you spent $500 on a 10 day cruise then that would be an average of $50 per day. I know the amount will vary from person to person and will be different for different trips, I am trying to determine an overall average so would really appreciate a response from as many people as possible.

Thanks in advance,

PandR

I don't think anyone can give you an average 'spend'. I have noticed that people who cruise a lot don't spend as much as first-time cruisers who are excited about all the opportunities the cruiseline gives you to part with your money. I suggest you try to calculate what your spending will be by considering the following:

1. Alcohol. I am not sure of the prices on P&O UK, but allow $26+ per bottle for wine, probably around $12 for a cocktail, around $8 for a beer. Consider how much you and your partner will want to drink.

2. Gambling. We don't go to the casino, but this is an easy way to make a "donation" to the cruise line. Bingo - is it $20 or $30 to play on P&O UK? On some ships bingo is available twice a day on sea days. Unless you love bingo, go for a walk on deck instead. :)

3. Tipping. The cruiseline will state what the recommended amount is. It is probably around $11 or so per person per day. You do not have to tip additional money, but if P&O UK have this as a standard tipping charge, then the staff wages are fairly low on the assumption tips will be paid.

4. Purchases on board. Totally up to you. They will have everything from souvenirs, to clothes, to costume jewellery, watches and expensive jewellery.

5. Shore tours. Look at the list relevant to your cruise and make your selections. In most ports you can do your own tour either planned ahead or with a tour operator on the dock for around half the price of the ship's tour. Join the roll call for your cruise and you might find another passenger has arranged some shore tours at a reasonable price. Safety in numbers. If you don't feel comfortable doing that in a strange country, you might be better to take the ship's tours.

When you consider all the above, I don't think $50 per day would go far unless you are very restrained with your spending.

The amount people spend per day will vary terribly - probably from nothing to hundreds of dollars a day. We spend less than $50 per day. We usually cruise on Australian ships where we don't pay tips. Our spending you be just for wine (probably 5 bottles in a week) and maybe a T shirt when they have their sale specials. We don't do ship's tours and are not interested in gambling.

Hi All,

 

My partner and I are planning to sail to the UK on the Arcadia in February (read bucket list) and I am trying to work out how much to budget for spending money on the voyage.

 

Can people who have sailed with P&O please tell me how much you spent, on average per day for on board spending and excursions, including tips but excluding the cruise fare. I.e. if you spent $500 on a 10 day cruise then that would be an average of $50 per day. I know the amount will vary from person to person and will be different for different trips, I am trying to determine an overall average so would really appreciate a response from as many people as possible.

 

Thanks in advance,

PandR

Hello PandR and welcome to cruise critic we cruised onboard Arcadia from L.A to Melbourne this year and for the two of us our onboard spendings for the 26 nights was £495 and that included our gratuities. We aren't big drinkers, most days we shared a pint of beer in the afternoon and in the evening had a G&T and V&T ..... and spent very little in the onboard shops.... ;)

Best part was as our sector was for over 20 nights we were entitled to buy a bottle of spirits each for use in the cabin... so our nightly G&T and V&T expense dropped in price to just that of the tonic....got a little sneaky and swapped to orange juice... taken from the buffet at breakfast of course... :D think we got the voucher around the 14 day mark..... We purchased our internet before we left Australia.... worst onboard connection ever..... and the casino was woeful so not much money wasted there........ We had a great time, world cruisers are so different to the everyday cruiser... and our roll call was fantastic..... This time we didn't do any cruise shore tours, had been to all the ports before so organized our own, like all other cruise lines they are on the expensive side but for some ports we wouldn't do anything but.....:)

We are waiting for the 2016 bookings to open on 9th Sept to book Arcadia's Sydney to Southampton sector.... great ports many we haven't been to... so looking forward to being back onboard..... not getting excited or anything but i am already seeking out a private tour operator to take us to see the "Great Wall of China " lolololol................

Thanks Aus Traveller. We are more interested in how much to budget for on board bits and pieces, such as snacks, coffee shops, wine with dinner, afternoon drinks etc.. We don't gamble (gambling is a voluntary tax paid by the stupid) and the shore excursions we can work out as we go.

Hi BadgerBill (Shiona),

Thank you very much for your reply. It helps a lot.

Since you are already looking at the Great Wall, when you get to Hong Kong make sure you visit the Tian Tan Buddha on Lantau Island - spectacular.

Cheers,

PandR

Thanks Aus Traveller. We are more interested in how much to budget for on board bits and pieces, such as snacks, coffee shops, wine with dinner, afternoon drinks etc.. We don't gamble (gambling is a voluntary tax paid by the stupid) and the shore excursions we can work out as we go.

Snacks are free. Coffee can either be free from the buffet or pay for specialty coffee. Of course, the cost of drinks is dependent on how much you drink and what price drinks you choose.:)

Hi BadgerBill (Shiona),

 

Thank you very much for your reply. It helps a lot.

 

Since you are already looking at the Great Wall, when you get to Hong Kong make sure you visit the Tian Tan Buddha on Lantau Island - spectacular.

 

Cheers,

PandR

My pleasure sorry can't help with wine prices, love my wine and drink it on land but when at sea..blahhhhhhhhhhh.......;):D:D this link might help

https://ask.pocruises.com/help/PO/life-on-board/drink_cost

Thanks for info on Tian Tan Buddha will put it on my list :D

Little more info......

Tips onboard were a little over £3 each so just over AUD5 per day...one of the cheapest around..... food is on the go 24/7 ...whether it's meals or snacks.....the "Belvedere" buffet has a great afternoon tea, toasted tea cakes were my fav ..... and much to the horror of our waistlines...we found late night snacks including samosa's, spring rolls and lots of other goodies in the buffet after 10.00pm :D ....... for curry lovers it is often, much too much in our opinion, on offer in the buffet.......

If you are a specialty coffee addict like most other ships you will pay for it as well as the specialty "gateau" type snacks .....we found the free coffee which is available anytime and via sachets drinkable... and having a kettle in your cabin is handy for late night hot choc... and a cup of tea first up......

For dining we opted for freedom and it works brilliant... we were always happy to be seated with large groups so no waiting.... :D food was fantastic so never felt the need to visit the specialty restaurants...