Cruise Vacation of a Lifetime!! Is this budget realistic??

Hi!!

After 18 years of marriage (and no honeymoon!!), Me and my husband finally feel like we have enough cash to take a long overdue vacation. We've been setting aside money every month for about 2 years now and we think it's time to pull the trigger. :D We narrowd it down to the Carnival Imagination sailing from Miami to the Western Carribean we will be visiting Key West and Cozumel the first week of December. We want one of the rooms with a porthole. We have NEVER taken a vacation literally. We got married young, had a daughter right away, and have literally struggled all of our lives, but our daughter is now grown up and leaving the house, so we think its time for us to splurge a little.

I think I figured out everything, but is this realistic?

Cruise for 2 people with taxes: $540

Tips: $90

Hotel: $50

Gas money: $150

Parking: $60

TOTAL: $890

We are NOT going to buy anything extra, or gamble or take excursions, or drink (we will bring the wine Carnival allows).

So what do you think?? This is very exciting! My husband will turn 36 that week!

Welcome to cruise critic! :)

If possible you may want to budget for a photo or two as a memory of your vacation, not to say you won't be taking pictures. The embarkation photo is nice to have.

Also, when you get on board, you may want to get a drink of the day.:D

Enjoy your cruise!

Do this for your dates and cabin category that you want. Then look at th price including port fees, etc. I think you are low on the hotel cost and the parking costs. Hotel might be closer to 100 a night. Parking iirc is about 30 per day in Miami. Check the sub forum for Miami for more info.

What hotel are you going to stay at for $50.00?

Do this for your dates and cabin category that you want. Then look at th price including port fees, etc. I think you are low on the hotel cost and the parking costs. Hotel might be closer to 100 a night. Parking iirc is about 30 per day in Miami. Check the sub forum for Miami for more info.

Thanks! I'll check it out. The cost of the cruise with taxes included was like $536 on the Carnival website. We found a hotel in Dania Beach, FL on Stirling Rd for $55/night. We would just spend the night before the cruise. We are driving all day arriving in Miami early evening to then sail next day. Wow about parking I thought it would be like $15/night?

You need to give more information. Such as, how far are you travelling to the port, how long is the cruise, where are you leaving from? Things like that.

I get you want to go on the cheap, and you can get a hotel for under $50, I do it all the time, but probably not at the port. But you do not have to stay at the port, you can just finish driving in in the morning.

Do this for your dates and cabin category that you want. Then look at th price including port fees, etc. I think you are low on the hotel cost and the parking costs. Hotel might be closer to 100 a night. Parking iirc is about 30 per day in Miami. Check the sub forum for Miami for more info.

It is clear that your budget is very tight. There is nothing like the excitement of a first real vacation! You do not need to spend any more money than what you have budgeted to have a great time.

There are cruise port parking lots from $8 - $10 per day

The hotel budget may be low - you could probably get something for $60

If at all possible try to put away an additional $50 or so for incidentals.

The great part about these two ports is they both can easily be enjoyed without taking excursions.

I say go for it and have a great time! Sounds like you & your husband really deserve it.

I'm not familiar at all with Miami, but check for a higher priced hotel that does park and cruise (you leave your car parked at the hotel and they shuttle you to the port) -- the total cost may be lower overall

I would definitely factor in a little money for a couple of souvenirs and a few drinks and a photo or 2. Better to take a little too much money and bring some home than feel like you are spending your vacation counting the pennies.

Have a wonderful time, I know you said you didnt want to do any excursions but take a look at http://www.paradise-beach-cozumel.com/fun_pass.php?toppb=&menu=0&facebook=0&youtube=0&ln=en&filename=&video=&links=0&sec=fun_pass.php in Cozumel, VERY reasonably priced and a fun day, $12 each gets you a day pass to the beach, pool and all the amenities, another $2 gets you a sunbed, taxi for 4 of us was $5 each way.

You need to give more information. Such as, how far are you travelling to the port, how long is the cruise, where are you leaving from? Things like that.

 

I get you want to go on the cheap, and you can get a hotel for under $50, I do it all the time, but probably not at the port. But you do not have to stay at the port, you can just finish driving in in the morning.

We live in Americus, GA so about a 9 hour drive, the cruise is the Carnival Imagination for 4 nights to the Western Carribean and it sails from Miami. We don't want an expensive hotel, just some place to rest the just outside Miami after a long day of driving, We found a hotel in Dania Beach for $55. It says 19 miles to port of Miami

I would also budget in for a few trinkets that you might buy at each port. Even if you dont do an excursion looking around at each port can be fun and always very reasonable priced items to take home for yourself and family

Depending on where you stay parking varies. I want to say we paid either 15 or 20 per day the last time we cruised out of miami. There is also the option of finding a Stay/Park/Cruise hotel...you'll pay a little more for the hotel, but the cost of parking and a ride to the port is included, along with pickup from the port when you get back.

Might have to wait a little bit on the drop-off/pick-up, but it might save a bit of $$.

The cruise you selected sounds like the first one the wife and I took...Key West and Cozumel. Key West is a GREAT walking town. just stroll along Duvall and have a blast going into all the quirky shops, take your picture at the southern most point (end of Duvall and hang a right). We went out there with very little for spending $$, I think we ended up spending about $100 on the trip once we boarded. Drinks of the Day, a Key Lime pie in Key West, and little souvineers(sp?) for the kids.

Cozumel is a nice town to walk around (it's a long walk from the pier to the actual town). You might need to get a taxi to a beach or to town, unless your good with a walk. It's doable, but if your not a walker, its a long walk. after the walk your going to want a drink, stop in somewhere and have a beer...or run into one of the many jewelry shops and look around while sipping on a free sample margarhita (not the best, but most of the shops downtown hand them out....cold and wet...and if you drink enough they'll be able to talk you into buying some jewelry:) ).

The first time we took the kids on a cruise (they were older at the time) we recommended that they have $100 in spending money, one came back with $40, the other hit the casino and came back with $1500....damn kid :P

Parking in Miami is crazy. You might also look at some of the hotels that include parking. It might or might not be a good deal; you just have to check. As Steve said, check the Miami departure forum, google and then ask about the options. Don't forget to take some waters or sodas as allowed. The water on the ship is fine but when you go off the ship it is nice to carry a water bottle. You can totally walk off the ship and enjoy both of those ports so you should be good for not having additional expenses there. Have a WONDERFUL time and enjoy!!!!!!!

I certainly understand travelling on a budget, but when you are one thing I believe you have to budget for is insurance. If you are on that tight of a budget you need insurance back up as well as emergency money available somewhere.

I see you are in Americus. It might be possible to save a bit in gas money and travel costs by sailing out of Jacksonville, Pt Canaveral, or Tampa. The cruises for your dates from those ports may be more expensive, but it would definitely be worth checking.

We live a few hours west of you in AL and plan on sailing out of Pt Canaveral--an 8 hour drive for us, but still much a much easier drive than to Miami.

I would also budget in for a few trinkets that you might buy at each port. Even if you dont do an excursion looking around at each port can be fun and always very reasonable priced items to take home for yourself and family

Thank you. We have saved $1000 to pay for everything, and the budget that I came up with was $890 so that should give us some spending money but since the cruise is not until december we should be able to save some more. :D

Dont forget food there and back. I think I paid closer to 15 dollars a day to park the last time we left out of Miami so if you could find a hotel that shuttles you that would be a big savings.

Make sure you get insurance. It is cheaper to get it from a third party rather than Carnival. When you looked up your crusie did it include port fees and taxes as they can be an eye opener.

Good luck.

What about Travel Insurance?

Your medical insurance may or may not cover you outside of the US. Either way,,, one of you trip or fall or get sick,,, it's money upfront, then submit any claims.

Auto accident, blown tire, water pump goes out, causing you to miss your cruise,,,, you're out the money with no recourse.

It's tight, but very doable. Have a wonderful cruise.

I see you are in Americus. It might be possible to save a bit in gas money and travel costs by sailing out of Jacksonville, Pt Canaveral, or Tampa.

Since this is a trip of a lifetime (for us at least) we wanted to see Miami and also go to Mexico. We are actually looking forward to the long drive and going far from home. :D The Bahamas looked nice but Cozumel looks beautiful. I daydream about it!

What about Travel Insurance?

Your medical insurance may or may not cover you outside of the US. Either way,,, one of you trip or fall or get sick,,, it's money upfront, then submit any claims.

Auto accident, blown tire, water pump goes out, causing you to miss your cruise,,,, you're out the money with no recourse.

I feel a lump in my throat thinking about all of that happening. I'll check travel insurance too.

Sounds like you've done your homework and have saved a little over what you'll think you need. You're going to be fine! Try to save as much extra as you can until your cruise and then enjoy your much deserved vacation! ;)

I just want to make sure that you're aware the the gratuities will be automatically added to your "bill" at the end of the cruise. I believe it's $11.50 per person per day. I'm assuming that's where you're $90 in tips is coming in.

As others have recommended, check out the photos that will be taken of you. On Elegant Night we had some photos taken around the ship. You're not obligated to purchase them. We ended up buying ours (they were great) and they were around $20-$25 per photo.

Another thing to consider: if you drink soda or pop (depending on what you call it), you have the option to bring some onboard, so you don't have to pay over $2 for a can.

In Cozumel (in the "port area") there are some stores. We found a store that had a little bit of everything. We brought home souvenirs for everyone including ceramic wind chimes shaped like seahorses, sand in jars, coffee and other little "trinkets". The store is very affordable and you will probably find something to remind you of Cozumel for a few dollars. The water is also beautiful in Cozumel.

I recommend taking a nice camera to capture the memories. I'm sure your family would love to see the photos as well.

If you tend to suffer from motion sickness, definitely pack Bonine. I took it every morning, even if I felt fine.

Have a great trip. This will be the trip that will get you addicted to cruising!

Dont forget money for food on the way down for dinner and breakfast once you get here. Also for the way back.