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How much money do you spend?


cruisentn
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Again, probably a stupid question.

But, TYPICALLY, on a 7 night cruise, how much extra do you spend? Above what you've already prepaid?

I know there is a wide variety of people, habits, indulgences, preferences, etc.

Buying excursions onboard or just taking a taxi and being on your own.

Buying a pair of sandals at Nassau or buying an expensive piece of art.

Eating at the buffet the whole time, or room service with tips.

As I get ready, I was just wondering a, as we say here, 'ballpark' figure.

Thanks.

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Again, probably a stupid question.

But, TYPICALLY, on a 7 night cruise, how much extra do you spend? Above what you've already prepaid?

I know there is a wide variety of people, habits, indulgences, preferences, etc.

Buying excursions onboard or just taking a taxi and being on your own.

Buying a pair of sandals at Nassau or buying an expensive piece of art.

Eating at the buffet the whole time, or room service with tips.

As I get ready, I was just wondering a, as we say here, 'ballpark' figure.

Thanks.

 

Usually somewhere around $500 - $600. Can be more if we visit the spa several times. We've actually had up to $1000 when we've done that.

I don't eat in the buffet, but will do room service (with tips), main dining rooms mostly, but will sometimes go for a specialty dining venue (fee).

Our bar bill is usually $200-$400.

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I've been wondering this as well. Thanks for asking. I was planning on having about $500 cash. Is there any way to get OBC as a first time cruiser?

 

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We usually get OBC from our travel agent. Also, there will sometimes be past guest specials that will include OBC. And, sometimes the cruise lines will have sales and will include OBC.

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I've been wondering this as well. Thanks for asking. I was planning on having about $500 cash. Is there any way to get OBC as a first time cruiser?

 

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If you served in the Military Princess will give you a generous OBC from $50 to $250 depending on the length of the cruise.

 

All you have to do is provide proof of service and then they keep that record on file for future cruises. Just make sure to black out your SSAN before sending in the proof.

 

Bob

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I've been wondering this as well. Thanks for asking. I was planning on having about $500 cash. Is there any way to get OBC as a first time cruiser?

 

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Some travel agents will give OBC. If you have booked, you are no longer in a good negotiating position.

 

Cruise lines have different reasons for giving OBC. For instance all the lines owned by Carnival Corp give OBC to anyone who owns at least 100 shares of their stock. This includes Carnival, Princess, HAL, Costa, Cunard and others. You can purchase the stock after booking. $50 to $250 depending on the length of the cruise.

 

RCCL also gives OBC to shareholders.

 

Princess gives OBC to anyone who served in the military for US, Canada, UK, Australia and NZ. $50 to $250 depending on length of cruise.

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Great replies. I was actually thinking somewhere around the $500.00 mark.

I have the credit card on file, but I'd rather use my debit card, if possible.

I'd think it's safer to use the cc on file and then pay off later with debit after returning.

 

 

The tip thing seems to be a big topic on here. Since I've already paid for gratuities it does seem odd to be prepared to tip again. But, apparantly that's expected as well..if the service warrants, which I hear it should.

 

Or..do you just carry cash? I'm not sure that's safe, but I've never been on a cruise yet. I know you have a 'safe' in your room.

But, anything can happen and I'm not sure who has access to that safe.

I'm sure I'll need some cash for tips and buying stuff at ports.

 

Again, thanks for the thoughts and replies. I like being prepared when I can.

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The tip thing seems to be a big topic on here. Since I've already paid for gratuities it does seem odd to be prepared to tip again. But, apparantly that's expected as well..if the service warrants, which I hear it should.

 

Or..do you just carry cash? I'm not sure that's safe, but I've never been on a cruise yet. I know you have a 'safe' in your room.

But, anything can happen and I'm not sure who has access to that safe.

I'm sure I'll need some cash for tips and buying stuff at ports.

 

Again, thanks for the thoughts and replies. I like being prepared when I can.

 

The gratuities that are prepaid or charged to your onboard account don't cover everyone. They do cover your room steward staff, wait staff in the buffet and main dining rooms. They do not cover room service, or bar staff, or spa staff,, etc. Each drink you buy will have 15% added to it so you don't have to carry any ones if you don't want to. You also may have the option to add tips on any bill that you have to sign.

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Your on board purchases, such as shore excursions, photos, items from the gift shop, etc. will be charged to your Sign & Sail card (or whatever it's called on your cruise line), which is tied to the credit card you use when setting up your on board account (unless you use cash for that). Probably your best bet is to set a spending limit for yourself and add about 20%, in case you come across something that you just have to have, whether it's on the ship or when you're ashore. Of course, if you're like our daughter, you'd probably want pants with asbestos-lined pockets, so that extra $20.00 doesn't burn a hole if you don't spend it on something.:rolleyes::D

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Speaking of tips. When are tips expected/appropriate? We have MTD. I knew room service is tip appropriate but what else? What about on shore excursions?

 

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We only tip extra if the service is very exceptional. Some people always seem to tip extra........

We do keep a stack of ones in our cabin for room service and occasional bar staff.

We do sometimes tip on shore excursions. Even if you're on a ship excursion, they are not ship staff so your gratuities do not go for them.

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Speaking of tips. When are tips expected/appropriate? We have MTD. I knew room service is tip appropriate but what else? What about on shore excursions?

 

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It's no different than when you tip (or not) for something at home or a land-based vacation. A suggested guideline is a dollar per item for room service (example: pot of coffee & croissants = $2.00). Tip for shore excursion guide? At your discretion (whatever you feel is appropriate). If we've been on a tour and the guide was just so-so, we may not tip anything. On the other hand, if the tour guide has been really outgoing and informative, and has kept our group entertained, we might give a $10.00 tip.

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I spent $500.00

This was consisted of

a) Internet (teen daughter)

b) Mini bar (we drank alot of the Evian water & packets of M & Ms were irresistable)

c) souvenirs & gifts

d) make a wish t-shirts

e) daily glass of champers

f) One cruise photo

 

Port tour was paid before cruise, I only bought one cruise photo, did not go to the Casino, I did not go to Latitudes (where you pay for coffee etc) and tips were pre-paid.

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After drinks, specialty restaurants, tips, excursions, photo's, and souvenirs our bill is usually about $1,400 for a one week cruise. We prepay a lot of things and also receive a good amount of OBC. We usually owe about $500 on the end of our cruise.

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I'm so glad someone started this thread. I've been thinking about this all day. In the past I've spent $400-$500 a week. Mostly drinks or non covered food items. I'm heading out in a couple of weeks for a total relaxation cruise. No dress clothes, no formal dinners, no clubs, shows or casinos. Just shorts, t-shirts, flip flops. We're bringing two bottles of wine and I've loaded my Kindle Fire with books, music and movies. I just want to be a hermit on my aft balcony and read and drink wine and snack and take naps. So I'll bring a stack of ones for room service. I'm challenging myself to keep my tab under $100. But normally I'd spend about $500+/-.

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Okay what would you say your tab would be if there were zero charges for alcohol, casino, or morning coffee. We're some of those "weirdos" that don't drink, gamble, or even drink coffee. :) we'll probably do a specialty dinner for our anniversary and maybe room service a couple times.

 

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Okay what would you say your tab would be if there were zero charges for alcohol, casino, or morning coffee. We're some of those "weirdos" that don't drink, gamble, or even drink coffee. :) we'll probably do a specialty dinner for our anniversary and maybe room service a couple times.

 

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Hello fellow Weirdo! I can't drink anymore like I used to. Bloody Marys and Mimosas for breakfast, frozen drinks in the afternoon, wine at dinner, cocktails at the casino and beer at the comedy club... those days are over. A heart healthy glass of wine or two a day is all I can handle now. No more smoke filled clubs and casinos either. And decaf coffee in the morning. So to answer your question; room service is generally included (free) but have a couple of ones on hand to tip the delivery person. Specialty dinners are usually around $35 pp depending on ship. You could probably get away with less than $100 as well. If you're like me, I don't want any more 'stuff' so there won't be any souvenirs or photos either.

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Hello fellow Weirdo! I can't drink anymore like I used to. Bloody Marys and Mimosas for breakfast, frozen drinks in the afternoon, wine at dinner, cocktails at the casino and beer at the comedy club... those days are over. A heart healthy glass of wine or two a day is all I can handle now. No more smoke filled clubs and casinos either. And decaf coffee in the morning. So to answer your question; room service is generally included (free) but have a couple of ones on hand to tip the delivery person. Specialty dinners are usually around $35 pp depending on ship. You could probably get away with less than $100 as well. If you're like me, I don't want any more 'stuff' so there won't be any souvenirs or photos either.

 

Haha greetings! Weirdos unite! ;) we likely will get some souvenirs and maybe a cute something for our daughters back home. I'm a photographer so I've got s weak spot for photos. I can't see myself buying more than one though. How much are they? Oh and what is an appropriate tip for room service?

 

Also - I've never been to a club and really wanted to go on the ship. Are they usually smoking zones? I'm asthmatic so I may have to avoid it. :/

 

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