citrusflorida

Great thread! I guess we are super thrifty ( or cheap ) lol. I guess that's why we can go 2 or 3 times a year. First off, we live in Florida , so no flights. 2 hours to Tampa or port Canaveral 4 or 5 to ft. Lauderdale and Miami. This helps a lot. Another thing is we always do inside cabins, which are very inexpensive. I have been told that once we go balcony we will never go back, but so far we have resisted. We don't gamble much, so maybe 40.00 total. We park at offsite park and rides so parking is half price. We do drink, 40.00 a day at the most for both of us. We bring on allowable amounts of wine, sodas, and water. So here's the thrift couple's breakdown of our "biggest " cruise and our "smallest" cruise. Of our 16 or so cruises , they have almost all been " small" and we have enjoyed them all!

January 2013 8 night on RC Independence of the Seas...

1400.00 inside cabin, this includes port fees and tax.

184.00 Prepaid gratuities.

120.00 excursion in St. Thomas. Only did 1, had 4 ports total.

160.00 drinks. We carried on 4 bottles of wine. The couple we were with do not drink wine, so they gave them to us.

60.00 gas

64.00 parking

300.00 misc, which is probably high, but I'm sure I'm not remembering everything.

Total 2288.00

October 2012 5 night Carnival Ecstacy

338.00 inside, including fees and tax

No excursions

115.00 gratuities

100.00 drinks, carried on 2 bottles wine

40.00 gas

40.00 parking

40.00 gambling

100.00 misc

Total 773.00

Hope this helps with someone's info gathering!

It's Doug, hotdog647, again from the roll call thread on here. I always use park n go if I drive down the day of the cruise. The shuttle is free both ways. They drive you right up to the place to drop your luggage and pick you up outside to take you back to your car. Be sure to reserve online to get the $7.99 per day price. I have never had to wait more than 10 minutes either way for a transfer(maybe I was lucky). The drivers are nice, and once even took a 10 minute drive back on the way to the port after OK'ing it with other passengers so a little old lady could get her sweater, even though it was August, close to 90 and we were headed south. You'll be pleased, won't have to carry your luggage down from the garage across the busy street, and you will be able to buy me a bingo card with your savings over parking at the port :D Doug

I loved Park N Go also. I actually think it is easier than toting your luggage to your own car in the pier parking lot , not to mention that it is almost half price! There was a shuttle waiting when we came off the ship. If there is not, they will be there within 5 mins. They know the ships schedules and plan accordingly.

Great review! Thanks

I work in central Florida and several nursing homes have been severly affected and I doubt many of the residents have been on a cruise lately. The virus definitely likes close quarters with infrequent and non thorough handwashing.

Thank you !

We almost always take the stairs and if my kids complain I just tell them to be grateful that they can take the stairs, and to leave the elevator to those who need it.

Karysa

I agree! We rarely take the elevator on a ship, for just those reasons. I was taken aback on our last cruise when a group of YOUNG MEN filled up an elevator which then did not leave enough room for a trio of elderly ladies to board! They did not even consider getting off and offering to wait for the next one.