How much extra $ should she plan to bring for ship expenditures?

This is my sister's 1st cruise and she keeps asking me how much $ she should bring for ship expenditures. I've told her just about everything is covered in the price of the cruise except for:

• Steakhouse
  
• Casino
  
• Spa
  
• Specialty Coffee
  
• Pop & alcohol
  
• Dr. Seuss Breakfast
  
• Pictures
  

Am I forgetting anything? BTW, we will be on Freedom.

Groove for St Jude, but they will put that on your sail and sign also.

You don't have to do any of what you mentioned but I think you have it about covered, as long as her gratuities are prepaid. Don't forget any spending money you want to do in the ports, including excursions you may want to do either with Carnival or local vendors. Also don't forget the hotel for pre/post-cruise and transportation to/from the port.

Don't forget about room service after 10pm.....lol

Do you mean cash? Or just things you pay for outside of the cruise price? For example, you wouldn’t need cash for the steakhouse. But it is extra. If you mean things that are extra, I’d add souvenirs.

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Nothing on board is paid for with cash except extra tips and maybe the casino.

Otherwise everything goes onto your sign n sail card.

We use a credit card to pay that at the end of the cruise.

I suppose some pay at the end with cash but that's not necessary if you have a credit card.

None. No cash is accepted on board. Just tie your sign and sail account to a credit card number and you are good to go. Probably a good idea to bring said credit card with you too.

She should bring some cash....you never know what you might need. There's a safe to keep it in...and if she doesn't spend it, it can be redeposited into her bank. We bring around $1500 for a weeks cruise...have never spent that much, but better to have it, than not!

We bring a few hundred dollars but have never used that much on the cruise ship. I give the room steward a $20, room service delivery a few dollars, and the bartenders a few dollars extra in cash. There's also the excursions that have people to be tipped and the porters.

I found I needed more cash for the souvenirs in the ports.

Typically the cash we bring is only for port expenses. It’s easier to barter with cash. So it would depend on how much she wants to spend.

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Thanks everyone. Her gratuities are already paid. She's just trying to budget. Much appreciate your responses.

None. No cash is accepted on board.

Not entirely true ;) We don’t have credit cards so we’ll be depositing cash with guest services to fund our ship account.

This is my sister's 1st cruise and she keeps asking me how much $ she should bring for ship expenditures. I've told her just about everything is covered in the price of the cruise except for:

 

 

 

• Steakhouse
  
• Casino
  
• Spa
  
• Specialty Coffee
  
• Pop & alcohol
  
• Dr. Seuss Breakfast
  
• Pictures
  

Am I forgetting anything? BTW, we will be on Freedom.

Thanks everyone. Her gratuities are already paid. She's just trying to budget. Much appreciate your responses.

For non-ship expenses I also budget tips for luggage handlers, drivers, shore excursion tour guides, port of call souvenirs and off-ship food/drinks.

I'm assuming any excursions/hotels/clothing and toiletry purchases are already covered in her budget or they would need accounted for.

I'd probably add another $50-$500 depending on how much she has to work with for anything we forgot. Probably won't use any of it, but better to budget and not need it than worry about it.

You need lots of $1 bills....

Tips for porter (@ $2/bag)

Tip for steward (optional but recommended)

Tip to waitstaff (optional but recommended)

Payment and Tip for taxis (if not doing carnival excursions)

Tip for servers in port

Money for excursion (if not going through Carnival)

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I’m taking your request about cash to mean she is planning on setting up a cash account onboard. Other expenses:

WiFi

Excursions (or she can DIY of course - but some budgeting for port expenses is essential)

Hopefully she has considered transportation to and from the port/airport or parking if she’s driving

The new room service costs if she’s a late night diner

Tips for taxi/porters/room service/guides on tours

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THe one thing that really surprised me how fast it added up was all the "baggage" tips. One at curbside at home, one from the airport to over night hotel, one to the bellman at hotel, again the bellman the next day, tip shuttle driver to port, tip porters all before you even get on the ship! Pro tip: figure out what you are going to tip for your baggage. Its going to be the same amount each time it gets handled, so bring that bill. For me it was 10 bucks. I should have brought a pile of 10's instead of a giant pile of 5's. I brought 500 in cash for 4 days for 2 people, 100 of that in ones. I could have easily brought half that and half as many ones and been just fine.

THe one thing that really surprised me how fast it added up was all the "baggage" tips. One at curbside at home, one from the airport to over night hotel, one to the bellman at hotel, again the bellman the next day, tip shuttle driver to port, tip porters all before you even get on the ship! Pro tip: figure out what you are going to tip for your baggage. Its going to be the same amount each time it gets handled, so bring that bill. For me it was 10 bucks. I should have brought a pile of 10's instead of a giant pile of 5's. I brought 500 in cash for 4 days for 2 people, 100 of that in ones. I could have easily brought half that and half as many ones and been just fine.

Holy crap! I have NEVER had that much help with bags. We always handle our own luggage as much a possible. When we do have someone take our bags, we only do $1 a bag. Using your method you are already up to $60. That would almost pay for us each to eat in the Steakhouse.

I will say though, I don't like tipping. I do tip when needed (like in restaurants, taxis, auto tips etc.), but I avoid it when we can by carrying our own luggage, not ordering room service, not ordering specialty drinks and just getting our own on Lido or bringing soda on board etc. We are on a tight budget, and while we do factor in the tips, we also try maximize our savings as much as possible and do without some things to have money for something else.

Don't forget about room service after 10pm.....lol

Oh boy.. here we go!!! ;p

Holy crap! I have NEVER had that much help with bags. We always handle our own luggage as much a possible. When we do have someone take our bags, we only do $1 a bag. Using your method you are already up to $60. That would almost pay for us each to eat in the Steakhouse.

 

I will say though, I don't like tipping. I do tip when needed (like in restaurants, taxis, auto tips etc.), but I avoid it when we can by carrying our own luggage, not ordering room service, not ordering specialty drinks and just getting our own on Lido or bringing soda on board etc. We are on a tight budget, and while we do factor in the tips, we also try maximize our savings as much as possible and do without some things to have money for something else.

LOL.... I've learned one thing in my many years of cruising....Tip the Dock Porters well ..... Never want to take the chance of a misplaced piece of luggage. Sometimes I think they have a cage where they place luggage if they get poorly tipped and that cage is rolled on ship last!!

Good call on the arcade, WiFi and upcharge at the MDR.