What do you spend so much on?

[quirkygrl16]

Wow 1000??!?!?! That's ..wow haha. I'm only taking $150 for a three day cruise..but I also don't drink excessively or anything.. Try to use the Bon Voyage and just byob

[notentirelynormal]

I take a lot because I usually am paying for my adult kids and their kids - and sometimes my mom (she never has to spend a penny). I use the ones for small purchases and tips. If we take a bus tour, for example, as we are getting off I make sure everyone in our group has a dollar or two to tip the driver/guide. I could give $20 for the group but then they think I'm great and the rest are cheap. This way they realize that everyone in our group was giving.

 

The same with tours. If we book through the cruise line, on the credit card, but if I book private then I need cash for 10 people.

 

Add in the tips and expenses for getting to and from airports, hotels, incidentals and it adds up. The great thing about taking too much money, if you don't use it all on the trip, it still works when you get back home.

 

We also tend to take longer cruises - anywhere from 5 to 7 to 10 to 12 days.

[Mom2B&Z]

On our last trip, we had $1000 in cash for an 11 day trip with 2 adults and 2 children. This included paying for 2 tours, incidentals, souvenirs, snacks while in port and tips for the kids club staff. We ended up depositing $400 onto our onboard account before leaving the ship.

You should be fine.

[griffy116]

The taxis or cars at the Med ports only accept Euros so I'll use my cash on that. I know I will be tempted by gelato often and there will be little sourveniors that get bought..nothing fancy or expensive. We pre-purchase the soda card, but we'll be buying soft drinks and a few with alcohol in ports..it's hot out there (LOL). Tours, etc. will be on the credit card. I tip porters, taxi drivers, etc. in cash. I cannot resist the frozen drinks by the pool, thus I will have a bar bill that goes on my seapass. A couple of t-shirts on the ship will be bought, along with a Christmas ornament or two from the shops. I might have the spur of the moment urge to get a spa treatment or nails done. I will fight that urge on the upcoming cruise. I even went for a very expensive haircut on one cruise. I'll make sure my haircut happens before I leave this time. I'll buy an occasional flavored coffee, a Ben & Jerry's ice cream. I even fell prey to the mini-fridge macadamia nuts once late at night. I've yet to be tempted by the art auction or having a temporary tatoo (tacky at my age..LOL). We no longer buy the photos or feel a need to do the specialty restaurants but we will find ourselves in the casino a few times. I don't care for bingo, so that will be easily avoided. I have a weakness for buying bottles of duty-free booze that will find it's way to my cabin on the last night. Most of these charges will be on my seapass card and I'll wonder how I racked up the total until I start looking at the charges :eek: and know it's correct..I spent it! I'll give a few in cash extra after the auto-tipping. I'll pay the porters in cash when we dock and then the shuttle driver...and I absolutely can't wait for the Med cruise in June. I consider myself pretty average, leaning toward frugal in what I spend. Am I wrong? :confused:

[ducklikes2cruise]

We have cruised twice before and do not like to travel with large amounts of cash, about a $1000 is plenty. The only other time we have spent more than this was in St. Thomas and Nassau when we went with jewellery items in mind that we both wanted.

 

We have the shore excursions paid for before we leave and are considering the drink tickets before we go this time. The money mostly goes towards items mentioned above...trinkets, souvinours, maybe some clothing (depending on the port some places have sneakers, etc at very good prices compared to home for us) and food/drinks in port. I always make sure my credit cards are paid before I go and take that as emergency money should something happen, and also for the sail and sign card.

 

 

.....Forgot to mention one cruise was 7 days and the other was 8 days!!

[soggytoast]

Good grief. Reading some of these replies, I feel really cheap. Our total spend, including the $12 per day service charge and excursions, was $608 for a 7 day cruise. We'll try harder next time :D

[paul929207]

Good grief. Reading some of these replies, I feel really cheap. Our total spend, including the $12 per day service charge and excursions, was $608 for a 7 day cruise. We'll try harder next time :D

We each spend what we think is appropriate. Our bill is usually pretty low. Not much besides the autotip and wine with dinner.

[ducklikes2cruise]

Good grief. Reading some of these replies, I feel really cheap. Our total spend, including the $12 per day service charge and excursions, was $608 for a 7 day cruise. We'll try harder next time :D

 

 

It doesn't matter how much you spend as long as you have a super time!! Both myself and my spouse share our $1000 cash that we take, and that includes food the day before we get on the cruise (we fly in to port the day before the cruise starts), taxi's from the airport and to the cruise ship. Also we always have money left when we get home, we take extra because we have had bad experiences with Canadian debit cards while travelling and swore it would never happen again....nothing worse than worrying about if your card will work there or not!!

[Nebr.cruiser]

To me, your $1000 pp for a seven night cruise where the cruise, air, hotel, excursions and gratuities are already paid for is pretty excessive.

 

Most people who rack up big bills spend A LOT on drinks, or gambling or special services like spas and specialty restaurants. Some buy very expensive jewelry or clothes on shore.

 

Since we don't drink or gamble and buy very few souvenirs (we have boxes of such stuff at home already; it has to be something pretty special before we buy) or buy expensive things onshore, we don't spend anywhere near that amount.

 

We buy an a picture or two once in a while, but mostly just take our own pics. We bring more like $500 cash for a week long trip--for both of us, and that includes excursions (though maybe not enough for excursions in Europe) , and often bring most of it home. It just depends on your spending style and needs/wants. We usually tip our steward extra.

 

Twice we've actually gotten money back from unused OBC. We do buy internet minutes and may have a bag of laundry done. We use ATM's in Europe for cash needed in Euros, though we bring a few along left over from other cruises.

 

Just be honest with yourself. Do you want spa services often? Wine or champagne often? Mixed drinks several times a day? Specialty restaurants? Play bingo, or gamble? Want to buy designer clothing or jewelry in port? etc. etc.

 

I actually cannot imagine spending $1000 pp for a week unless you are buying expensive jewelry, but that's just me.

[Martini Mom]

We tend to spend a decent amount on drinks. When we were new to cruising, we spent a LOT on professional pics. DH just shook his head ;). Excursions can also get pricey, even through independent vendors. We have been spending less and less with each cruise as we learn tips, tricks, and what really matters to us.

[notentirelynormal]

I actually cannot imagine spending $1000 pp for a week unless you are buying expensive jewelry, but that's just me.

 

Ummm, I'd appreciate it if you would not mention this to my husband. After many years of marriage and many explanations of how it works, I've pretty much convinced him that it is against the law to NOT buy jewelry on a cruise. My daughter has also explained that to her husband. :D The funny - or bad - part of this is, I seem to only buy jewelry on cruises and that is where I wear it. The older I get the less I wear it but on a cruise, yup, I've got it.

 

Funny story: we were on a Tahitian cruise and I was sitting around at the end listening to others comment on their bill. I had bought a very nice black pearl necklace and earrings for myself, a pair of earrings for my DD and DIL along with our usual purchases... this guy is complaining about his bill. I listen to the amount and think " wow, my husband would kill for a bill that low". Heavy sigh....

[irukandjisting]

Like your style kayhold.... dont drink - well thats 7.50 a beer, per beer I don't spend... dont do the wine - thats 9.00 a glass... etc etc

 

If you are a heavy drinker and gambler - you will spend lots

 

Like kayhold, we do our own tours.... sometimes its just 3 dollars in a taxi into town... just because you spend heaps on tours - does not guarantee fun:cool:

 

~~Iru~~

[MissCruiseAddict]

Hmmm I don't really splurge on anything. I take that back.. .I don't go overboard on my splurging.

 

 

I get one or 2 drinks a day... usually a Kiss on the Lips my fave!

 

I know that the pictures are a waste of money to some but I always at least buy one but I wait till the last day so I can go through them all and pick the best.

 

My cruise on the Dream I bought a $10 wallet because my wallet broke.

 

I partook once on the buy one get one free deal on the shirts.

 

I'm not much of a gambler so I don't do much but some. On my first cruise in 2009 I put $20 in a slot machine on the first day and cashed out on the last night at $420. I was proud of myself because I never win at the casino.

 

In port minus costs of excurisions I really don't spend any money. We had drinks at Costa Maya one cruise other than that I don't remember spending money in port. Ooh take that back I bought some postcards in Jamacia for my scrap book.

[Nebr.cruiser]

Ummm, I'd appreciate it if you would not mention this to my husband. After many years of marriage and many explanations of how it works, I've pretty much convinced him that it is against the law to NOT buy jewelry on a cruise. My daughter has also explained that to her husband. :D The funny - or bad - part of this is, I seem to only buy jewelry on cruises and that is where I wear it. The older I get the less I wear it but on a cruise, yup, I've got it.

 

Funny story: we were on a Tahitian cruise and I was sitting around at the end listening to others comment on their bill. I had bought a very nice black pearl necklace and earrings for myself, a pair of earrings for my DD and DIL along with our usual purchases... this guy is complaining about his bill. I listen to the amount and think " wow, my husband would kill for a bill that low". Heavy sigh....

 

Okay, mum's the word. If he asks, I'll be sure to play up what a necessary part of cruising buying jewelry is. We almost bought a very expensive diamond ring once, in St. Thomas, but chickened out. I'm happy to report that I received an even nicer (much nicer) ring for Christmas that year from our hometown jeweler.

 

Here's the thing; if you enjoy doing something, like shopping, or drinks, or the casino, etc. on a cruise and can afford it, then that's just fine. I was trying to get across that you can have tons of fun without spending tons but that spending habits are individual and vary widely. Either way, splurgy, thrifty, or in between is fine; you don't have to spend thousands unless you want to.

[sherilyn70]

We spent just under $700 for the two of us last week on a 7 night cruise. This included a snorkling excursion in Labadee, dinner at 150 Central park, and several drinks a day. It also included $150 in pictures and $100 in internet minutes. So it really depends on what you want to spend it on. We normally wouldn't get the drinks but we had many on board credits to use from our honeymoon registry and our TA's offer. We only paid $195 out of pocket in the end.

[SPacificbound]

We are going "all out" on our suite, so that will definitely be the big expense.

We rarely drink alcoholic beverages, I doubt that we will go to the extra pay restaurants, no interest in bingo, I like casinos but only in Las Vegas, not really interested in bringing back "stuff", no way would I buy jewelery on a vacation, we've been on many flight/land vacations to beach destinations out of the US, so no interest in doing beachy stuff, so I don't know that we will spend a whole lot extra. I will get an internet package and specialty coffee, maybe a pedicure if I don't get one in Sydney. :D The cruise is our destination. By the time we board we will have been traveling for almost 3 months so the cruise will be to relax. :)

[id2nv2nj2ca]

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)

 

Will you adopt me? :)

[Hlitner]

We have done more then our share of cruising (excess of 2 years on ships) and would normally expect to spent about $400 per person on a typical 7 day Caribbean cruise. Most of that would be for gratutities (about $ 168) and the remainder for drinks and shore expenses. We save a lot of money by avoiding the casino (they always welcome your donations) and avoid sucker games like Bingo (the cruise ships skim too much from the pot). On shore we do not take overpriced excursions and routinely use public transit to get to where we want to go!

 

Hank