How much will I spend?

[Macjaney]

Hi,

 

Going on a 10 night Med Cruise. We have already booked most of our shore excursion stuff and paid for it so what I'm thinking about now is how much money I'm going to spend on a daily basis. I guess expenses will be drinks on board, extra food and souveniers. I know that some people drink a lot and some only drink soda but I will probably have wine with dinner and a few cocktails daily. I'm worried that the cost is going to add up pretty fast.

 

Jane

until Galaxy

 

[teedee]

You're right about things adding up fast, it just depends on the individual and how much you like to drink (or shop) onboard. One thing I do is buy shipboard credits ahead of time. I put in a little at a time, there is a $25 minumum for buying them, but just like spending on board they add up fast.

 

Terri

 

Skyward - 1989

Carnivale - 1991

Holiday - 1994

Fantasy - 1998

Century - 2002

Century - 2003

Inspiration - 7/04

Century - 9/04

Coral Princess 3/05

[stretch]

On our (DW and myself) last two 11 day cruises, our expenses averaged $ 1900 on the Seapass Card and another $ 2000 cash on each cruise.

This did not include any jewelry we purchased, but did cover casino expenses, t-shirts, in cabin liquor purchases, etc.

Stretch

 

Barcrawlers on ice, where will we turn up next?

 

Carnival Celebration 08/97

Carnival Fantasy 02/99

RCI Explorer 05/02

RCI Brilliance 04/03 The Barcrawler Legend Begins

RCI Brilliance 03/04 The Return of the Barcrawlers

Celebrity Summit 06/10/2005

Barcrawlers in Alaska

 

email address: Stretchcrawler@yahoo.com

[Jimsgirl]

You are the one who controls the spending. If you buy a bottle of wine on board it will be very much higher in price than at your local supermarket or wine store so check price before you order.

 

Bar drinks, again more than you would pay at your local sports bar "happy hour", so you may wish to have one (or maybe two ) before dinner rather than three or four.

 

Extra food, well all food in the main dining room is incvluded, as is food from the grill (in between dining meals), ice cream is also included and can be obtained just about all day. so unless you eat off the ship while in port or go to the "speciality " dining on board you will not need extra for food.

 

Shopping well again that is up to you, just be sure you REALLY REALLY want that item (it is easy to be carried away and what looks good in the tropics loooks really odd back home). Same with clothes.

 

The one thing you may wish to carry is the correct denominations for tips (unless you wish to put the cost on your on board account and pay your credit card later).

 

My personal habit is to take the amount for tips for on board staff, add the tips for porters at airports, embarking and dis embarking. , then add another $100 "mad money"

 

The Limo to and from the airport is booked from home and paid for on my credit card but I tip the driver in cash when I make the ride.

 

I use my credit card to pay my on board account and it is available for an emergency if needed.

 

I do not gamble, so the casino is no problem, and I do limit the number of my pre dinner cocktails, and never buy a bottle of wine, though I do sometimes buy a glass.

 

------

[superjerryw]

It really depends on you. There are people that go a cruise and run up bills in the thousands of dollars in their shipboard account. Conversely, other people run up tabs under $100. You just have to decide how much you can afford to spend and prioritize what you want to spend it on. Do you want that t-shirt from Mykonos or that portrait from formal night. The best thing to do is to set a limit for the amount you want to spend on the trip and then stick to it.

 

 

Donuts, is there anything they can't do....

[yanceycruiser]

Extra food?

 

Yanceycruiser

 

Dreamward 1/95

Norway 1/97

Grandeur of the Seas 1/99

Grand Princess 2/01

Carnival Pride 2/03

 

 

Until the Infinity on

August 22, 2004

 

[nealberk]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by yanceycruiser:

Extra food?

 

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

Maybe during shore excursions?

[thenewkid]

Yum!

You can't possibly do the Med without extra food!!

 

Millie Med. Cruise

 

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<a href="http://www.escati.com/counter98/free_time_codes.htm">

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[JNLROSE]

Ya know, I have this figured out to a fine "non-science!" If you budget $100.00 per day, you will probably end up OK at the end!

 

Now remember, THAT is OVER the tips, extras of ANY kind, just add an extra $100 per day & you'll be fine!

 

Trust me---it works!

 

Rosie

 

E-mail me <a href="mailto:JNLROSE@AOL.COM">here</a href>

 

CELEBRITY MERCURY HERE I COME!!!

 

[ccletzgo]

your science is just the way I plan also. Funny we are always about right there too. $100 a day. (I am talking our ship account here.)

That is with shore excursions already paid for, and does not include set aside tip money. Transportation to and from ship, tip, etc. not included.

 

7 day cruise, we are around 7 to $800. It always falls around there.

 

NExt is a 10 day, so ........

 

Lets Go!

 

Royal's Viking Seranade 1/94

Carnival, Holiday 12/95

Carnival, Jubilee 12/96

Royal's, Song of America 11/98

Celebrity Galaxy 9/99

Royal's, Viking Seranade 6/00

Celebrity, Millennium 12/00

Royal's Vision 2/02

Royal's Vision 12/02

Royal's Monarch 6/03

Celebrity Galaxy 9/17/04 !!

[stretch]

$100 / day is what I budget to lose in the casino. If I win, I keep playing or pocket it but the next day I start over with only $100.

If you drink wine with meals, get the wine package if offered. You still end up paying about $25 / bottle for $10-$12 wine at the store, but it's still about $4 a bottle less than buying them one at a time and you get a bottle for about the same price as 3 glasses.

Stretch

 

Barcrawlers on ice, where will we turn up next?

 

Carnival Celebration 08/97

Carnival Fantasy 02/99

RCI Explorer 05/02

RCI Brilliance 04/03 The Barcrawler Legend Begins

RCI Brilliance 03/04 The Return of the Barcrawlers

Celebrity Summit 06/10/2005

Barcrawlers in Alaska

 

email address: Stretchcrawler@yahoo.com

 

[Macjaney]

Thanks for all your replies.

 

Yes, by extra food I meant shore excursions!! LOL

 

I had also figured about $100.00 a day.

 

I don't believe Celebrity has a wine plan - does anyone know? I wish they did.....

 

Jane

until Galaxy

 

[trcori]

Wow -- and I felt bad for hitting our all-time high, $276, during our Mercury week earlier this month! Actually, when we had $350 onboard credit two cruises ago, we did manage to spend it all ... but that required two rounds of onboard laundry I'm only pointing this out to say for any semi-frugal readers that it IS possible to not run up too much of a tab. Our recent total included my husband's daily Martini Bar martini (the main reason HE cruises), a drink a day for me, $50 in bingo (thank heavens I didn't discover the joy of bingo till the last couple days!), a couple of pieces of laundry, and one trip to the gift shop. I lived in Las Vegas for many years, so the thrill of casinos has long since worn off

 

happy cruising to all,

TR

Millennium 12/12/04

****

Mercury 4/04, Infinity 8/03, Century 3/03 & 9/02

[JNLROSE]

Celebrity does not have wine packages. I have a copy of the wine list is anyone is interested in it! The wines are approx $25-$35 per bottle for average decent wines. They have a lot more expensive ones, but we had some very good selections in that price range at dinner.

 

Hope this helps!

Rosie

 

E-mail me <a href="mailto:JNLROSE@AOL.COM">here</a href>

 

CELEBRITY MERCURY HERE I COME!!!

 

[Lois R]

hmmmm...maybe I am better off to continue to cruise on my own 100.00 a day?...yikes...

Last month was the most I have spent ON BOARD out of 4 cruises....my bill at the end was 344.00 for the week.

I didn't do any excursions...(did all the places on my own).

I actually made one payment towards my bill before the end...of 100.00...Just got my VISA and it says 244.00

Now this cruise....I bought wine (we all did).

I had a pedicure too and used the T-Pool once. I bought one picture...of the table on the 2nd formal night .

I bring exrtra $$ for my tips (that is just the way I do things). I bought a Golf Shirt too...

So the majority of $$ spent was wine and booze LOL

If I start spending 100.00 a day...someone slap me please

 

Next up...HORIZON Sept 18th to Bermuda!

 

See My Century and Mercury Pictures at:

http://community.webshots.com/user/lovescruising

[JNLROSE]

Hey Lois!

 

You SURE you would wanna cruise with us???? LOL Our Summit bill was just a tad under $2000.00!!!

 

Rosie

 

E-mail me <a href="mailto:JNLROSE@AOL.COM">here</a href>

 

CELEBRITY MERCURY HERE I COME!!!

 

[Giorgi-one]

Stretch @ $3900. JNLRose @ $2000. Now I understand why the cruise lines set low fares. I want to thank you guys for subsidizing my cruises. Any chance of getting some onboard credits?

[Mysteryreader]

You people are scaring me! I have convinced my dh that the cruise isn't all that expensive b/c it includes blah blah blah. If we come home from our 11-day Alaska cruisetour having spent $100 a day, I'll never get him on another cruise again.

 

So let's get realistic. Other than shore excursions and tips, what are unavoidable expenses? I rarely drink sodas, will never go to the casino, will find it no great sacrifice not to dump a bundle in the spa, there's no chance he's going to do a helicopter tour. We probably will have a drink or two each each day. Will a bottle of wine be more affordable than plunking down our charge card at the Martini Bar?

 

Some serious advice please.

 

M/R

[Lois R]

Hi....You can get a nice bottle of wine for 30.00...if you drink a bottle each night..that is 210.00.

A Martini is 8.00....x 2 = 16.00 x 7 = 112.00...

just giving you an idea of how easy it is to drop $$$.

It really just depends on how much you drink (or want to drink).

Also, remember all liqour---wine, beer, hard stuff..has an automatic 15% added to the bill.

You really can spend as much or as little as you like. 200.00 or 2,000.00....it varies.

 

Next up...HORIZON Sept 18th to Bermuda!

 

See My Century and Mercury Pictures at:

http://community.webshots.com/user/lovescruising

[JNLROSE]

Lois is right--drinks are expensive. We spent at least $30 per bottle of wine each night for dinner. Martini's START at $8.95, go up from there. I paid $13.00 per glass of champagne. Rum & cokes out at the pool ran about $5.25, beer starts at $3.95, the cheapest glass of wine on the list is $5.50.

 

anything else you would like to know? I have all the bar price lists!

 

Photo's will run at least $8.00 each. Soft drinks in a can are $1.95 each,

AND ON TOP OF ALL OF THESE YOU ADD 15%!!!

 

Hope this helps!

Rosie

 

E-mail me <a href="mailto:JNLROSE@AOL.COM">here</a href>

 

CELEBRITY MERCURY HERE I COME!!!

 

[OceanCruise]

Most expenses are indeed,avoidable but you may decide to pay for some of the following:

-espresso/cappuchino/specialty coffee- $2-3 each

-pictures (usually hard to resist)

-Bingo- was $10.00 per card/ 3 for $25 (also hard to resist)

-Exercise classes- yoga, pilates $10 each class

-art auction- free to watch but tempting to buy

-wine tasting- $10 I think

-laundry/drycleaning- reasonable but can add up

-shore excursions- usually our biggest expense-probably averages $50 per excursion per person although you can do it cheaper on your own

-bottled water and all those frou frou drinks which are everywhere and sooo delicious

-arcade/video games

-pay per view movies

-specialty restaurant $25 per person

-souveniers

-other tips to baggage handlers, tour guides, children's club staff, concierge, etc.

-taxis in port

[Jacqueline]

Lois- you hit the nail on the head- A trip to the martini bar, those fruity drinks by the pool, etc add up.

 

Jacqueline

Constellation 3/20/04

HAL Westerdam 7/30/04

Tahitian Princess August 2003

Grand Princess Western Caribbean 2003

Brilliance of the Seas Baltic 2002

Ocean Princess- Alaska 2001

Celebrity Zenith- Bermuda 2001

Grand Princess Med 2000

 

[Lois R]

Mystery, we aren't trying to scare you. The information is really good...and you can make an educated decision on how you want to spend your money.

Rosie...no way can I keep up with that bar tab

 

Next up...HORIZON Sept 18th to Bermuda!

 

See My Century and Mercury Pictures at:

http://community.webshots.com/user/lovescruising

[JNLROSE]

Yeah Lois,

 

Can you even imagine the one we're going to rack up on the Mercury????!!!!

 

E-mail me <a href="mailto:JNLROSE@AOL.COM">here</a href>

 

CELEBRITY MERCURY HERE I COME!!!

 

[Macjaney]

Do they have a "Happy Hour" where the drinks are half price? Or I guess they just have the "cocktail of the day", which is less expensive than the rest.... ? Don'tforget that this is in American dollars and I'm Canadian, so I have to add 50% on to any number quoted.

 

Jane

until Galaxy