What do you spend so much on?

[Redbarnphotog]

I am thrifty but not cheap. I like to splurge on vacations, but I will also stay within my budget.

 

I've been reading here for two weeks and I"m currently on page 35 of the "I wish I knew before...." thread of tips for first time travelers.

 

I am taking a 7 day Eastern Med Cruise with 3 extra days in Venice. I have budgeted for $1000 cash per person for incendentals and shopping - is that enough?

 

This is after all transfers/excursions/hotel/cruise/gratutuies/etc. are paid.

 

But every other person on here talks about how you should bring extra money, bring lots of money.

 

What in the world are you spending it on?

We're not heavy drinkers - maybe 5 beers on night on the ship. I might pick up a few trinkets here and there, but my memories will come in the form of photographs as I am a professional photographer.

 

Am I missing something? Where is all this money going when coffee/tea/water is provided on the ship as well as meals.

 

Thanks in advance!

[cb at sea]

Some folks go "all out" when on vacationing....perhaps some of their funds are for gambling....or perhaps they are going to pay off their shipboard account in cash.....we usually bring between $1000 -$1500 for a weeks trip....and that includes the cash we may gamble. (We don't gamble nearly the amount on a ship that we would in Vegas....ship casinos are TIGHT!) We do not use that cash to pay off our account.

 

If you are a moderate drinker and don't plan on using the cash for any of the excursions/tips/gambling...you should be ok! Just stay within the budget you've planned!

[paul929207]

We spent about $50 per person per day for:

 

Tips

Wine

Tours (all private)

Misc.

[Redbarnphotog]

ok. I'm feeling much better.

 

I do like to hit the casino, but I am actually reserving a different "saving-up account" for that.

 

Not a wine drinker and we are prepaying gratututies and I'll also have ready made envelopes for additional cash tips.

 

Excursions/Taxis/Transfers/Buses will also be prepaid, so it sounds like cash will just be for shopping and the occasional drink.

 

I just thought I was missing something obvious when so many people were saying bring 2x as much as you think you need!

[Sassy's Mom]

On our first cruise last year, we had read the same warnings...bring tons of cash in all denominations....singles to fifties. We took 90% of it back home! We don't gamble and everything on the ship went on our account, except for extra tips for the steward and waiters. If I did any shopping in a port, I put it on a major credit card so if I got home and had an issue, I could dispute the charge.

 

PS - If you plan on using a credit card on the trip, be sure to call the company before you leave with the dates of your trip and the ports you will be in so they don't freeze your account on a fraud concern.

[trumpet56]

Watch where you sit in St Marks square ,

as you often get charged just for sitting in the Cafe

before you order ,but most advise you before you order.

 

Although you will enjoy the experience.:cool:

[aohkay]

I think people who say they spend $100 per day, per person are budgeting everything; excursions, casino, beverage/ alcoholic drinks, trinkets etc.

[ducklite]

Our last cruise was a three day. This was what we spent onboard...

 

Bottle of Champagne $187.85 (tip included)

Spa Services $228.00 (tip included)

Room Service tips $10.00 (two breakfasts)

Laundry $4.75 (pressing)

Gratuities for three $180.00 (servers, cabin steward, concierge)

Wine tasting for two $40.00

Specialty dining #1 $162.20 (upcharge for three plus corkage fee and tips)

Specialty dining #2 $598.00 (upcharge for two plus corkage fee, bottle of Champagne, and tips)

[gerryl12]

We usually budget less than $1,000 per week for the two of us. This includes gratuities, wine, tours and incidentals.

[ARcruisin2]

I think you have planned it just fine.

Chances are you will not need that much money, but it should be plenty in case you find something you want to buy...or in case of emergency.

Outside all the things that you said are pre-paid...you really don't have to spend another dime, except for porter or taxi tips. It sounds like you are right on the money so to speak...between budget conscious and taking enough to have a good time and not worry about running out of money.

 

Have fun!

From another thrifty but not cheap Amy

[Redbarnphotog]

awesome.

 

I wish I was a wine drinker, sounds like it's the thing to do on a cruise. Maybe I will do a tasting just to see.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions and reassurance!

[paul929207]

Most cruise lines allow passengers to carry on some wine. NCL has no limit, but they charge $15 per bottle corkage fee for carrying it on. Most lines only charge the corkage fee for bottles taken to the dining room.

[cb at sea]

Oh..that "bring lots of small bills" is crap...bring larger bills...easier to carry! The ship can break them down as needed. Some folks bring wads of ones....silly and unnecessary! Bring a few smaller bills to get you to the ship...that's all you need. Bring the rest in $100's! MUCH easier to carry around! 10 slivers of paper....hardly noticable!

 

You can get change at the casino or purser's desk (customer service!)

[ducklite]

Oh..that "bring lots of small bills" is crap...bring larger bills...easier to carry! The ship can break them down as needed. Some folks bring wads of ones....silly and unnecessary! Bring a few smaller bills to get you to the ship...that's all you need. Bring the rest in $100's! MUCH easier to carry around! 10 slivers of paper....hardly noticable!

 

You can get change at the casino or purser's desk (customer service!)

 

We generally start with $100 between us in 1's, 5's, and 10's for tips. Depending on how long we'll be gone and where we'll be going, we might have another $100-500 between us in cash, usually 20's and 50's. A lot of places won't take anything larger than a 20 these days, and I don't want to spend my vacation breaking bills.

[Colorado Kat]

Your budget sounds great. We don't spend a lot of money once we're on the cruise. (Aside from excursions).

 

I do bring lots of ones and fives, but that also includes tips at hotels and airports.

[kayhold]

We don't gamble, we don't drink, and I hate clutter so we don't buy souvenirs and like you, prefer pictures. We explore on our own so excursions aren't really a big deal either.

 

I pre-paid our tips and except coffee and a few extra tips and spending money, I plan to spend about $100 a person for our 5 day.

[Dayenu]

Some people buy Murano glass and clothes in Venice.

 

Some buy ship tours every day for a family. Some drink every day, or gamble a lot.

 

Just make sure, in case of emergency, your credit card is not maxed out, and your ATM card will work in Europe. You will spend as much or as little as you wish!

 

Don't bring US currency to Italy, use ATM for better conversion rate.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Tours .....

[Seago2]

I like to cruise often and I have kids and am not independently wealthy. So... If I am bringing the kids I spend almost nothing on the ship. I have cruised and had an onboard account that had the gratuities only on it- not a single other charge. I have also gone hog wild and bought tons of pictures, sweatshirts, specialty coffees and eaten in the specialty restaurants, but it wasn't when I had the kids. I DO bring a ton of $1's, however. I use them for taxis in port, to buy bottles water or souvenirs in port, and to tip extra here and there. Believe me, you do not want to buy a bottle of water from a street vendor and get a handful of mysterious change back. It is also easier to haggle with a straw market vendor when you are not standing there holding a $20 for an $8 item.

 

We almost always take the bus while in port. You see a lot- the bus ride itself is always fun. Good to have a $1 then, believe me.

[chipmaster]

For the Med splurges in order

 

1) Best private tours

2) Gondola in Venice

 

Wouldn't bring my own digital camera and not spend any money on wasteful things like drinks and photos :D

 

I am thrifty but not cheap. I like to splurge on vacations, but I will also stay within my budget.

 

I've been reading here for two weeks and I"m currently on page 35 of the "I wish I knew before...." thread of tips for first time travelers.

 

I am taking a 7 day Eastern Med Cruise with 3 extra days in Venice. I have budgeted for $1000 cash per person for incendentals and shopping - is that enough?

 

This is after all transfers/excursions/hotel/cruise/gratutuies/etc. are paid.

 

But every other person on here talks about how you should bring extra money, bring lots of money.

 

What in the world are you spending it on?

We're not heavy drinkers - maybe 5 beers on night on the ship. I might pick up a few trinkets here and there, but my memories will come in the form of photographs as I am a professional photographer.

 

Am I missing something? Where is all this money going when coffee/tea/water is provided on the ship as well as meals.

 

Thanks in advance!

[Waihekean]

In my case most on board spending went on coffee, juices and a few cocktails.

 

Got tempted by some of the onboard sales. Did buy some lovely clothes that were worthwile, but custom jewellery was bad.

Also bought souvenirs, several photo's and gifts. One good deal was duty free Armani aftershave for hubby, checked price on Sydney airport (OZ) duty free, where price on board was cheaper by $28.

 

A lot of people will spend money on bingo (think that is $20 a pop) and the casin.

[RedInLove]

PS - If you plan on using a credit card on the trip' date=' be sure to call the company before you leave with the dates of your trip and the ports you will be in so they don't freeze your account on a fraud concern.[/quote']

 

That's a great suggestion, I've written this one down.

[cruisinnancy]

We usually book 2/3 excursions, we go to the art auction, we drink, I like to do the spa. I also buy jewelry sometimes on the islands.

 

We are no means rich but I don't like budgeting on vacation, We only go away once in a blue moon (our last vacation was in 07) so I spend what I want. :D

[cruisinnancy]

That's a great suggestion, I've written this one down.

 

Yes, it happened to us. Lol. Our American express got blocked when we were in the Turks. Mama didn't get the watch she wanted.. booo!

[indiana123]

I'm a bit bemused by this. Recently disembarked from one of P and O's finest. 17 nights Western Med. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to go, it was a present.

 

As I can be a bit thrifty I was warned that I must have whatever I wanted and he wouldn't be happy if he thought I was not.

 

We were amazed that bar prices were similar to at home, and the boutique and shops were very reasonable.

 

We had a good bottle of wine every night, plus drinks afterwards and whenever we fancied, I had some costume jewellery, and make up and everything I could wish for.

 

Our bill, including tours, was about £900 plus tips we paid in cash of about £150. That was for two of us. I forgot professional photographs, we have five or six of them.. and I had my hair cut.

 

There wasn't anything else to spend money on. I can't imagine what people bought for thousands.