Help-1st time cruiser-What are the "extra" charges we can expect once onboard?

[rgfeldman]

We are considering a family cruise in January 2013 and seem to have found a good deal on Carnival Liberty. While the price appears less than what it would cost for an all-inclusive resort in the Carribean, I know gratuities, drinks, and excursions are not included. We are not big drinkers (1 drink at dinner and maybe one during the day) and hope to just do beach trips, but we have no idea how much extra to expect while on board. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Also, Carnival mentioned an extra charge if gas/oil is above a certain price. Is this fee usually imposed?

Thanks.

[big_duck]

You pretty much have it covered. Other things that cost on board but are totally optional would Steak Houses, premium coffee, the spa, gambling and photos.

[imlulu]

It depends on your preferences. Our biggest expenses were the gratutities and 2 excursions on our last cruise. While 2 drinks per day seems not much, drink prices depending on whether you choose premium alcohol, can add up.

 

Extras:

Photos

Gift shop, candy shop

Bingo

Steakhouse

Coffee shop

Capp and espresso in MDR ( was no longer free on Miracle)

Spa

Casino

Arcade

The build a bear thing

Laser tag

 

Have fun.

[jburk]

There is a charge for after hours babysitting. I believe cc stops at 10 pm.

[susie8862]

We are considering a family cruise in January 2013 and seem to have found a good deal on Carnival Liberty. While the price appears less than what it would cost for an all-inclusive resort in the Carribean, I know gratuities, drinks, and excursions are not included. We are not big drinkers (1 drink at dinner and maybe one during the day) and hope to just do beach trips, but we have no idea how much extra to expect while on board. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Also, Carnival mentioned an extra charge if gas/oil is above a certain price. Is this fee usually imposed?

Thanks.

What islands are you going to???? We can help you with beaches, etc...instead of paying for $$$$$$ excursions.

[rgfeldman]

Thanks! We are going to Half Moon Cay, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, and Grand Turk. Also, do you know if they having been imposing the gas surcharge?

[combatboots2jimmychoos]

If you are a wine drinker, each adult can bring one bottle on board in their carry on. You can also bring a 12pk of soda instead of purchasing the soda card for the kids (I can't imagine spending so much for soda!). If you're going to the beach in each port then look into how much the taxi fee is to get there from the ship. Since you'll be off the ship during those days you'll want to budget for lunch while at the beach. I didn't realize on my first cruise that I'd want to purchase a few of the photos.

[Alliezona09]

Here's a link with what's included and what's extra~ I'm sure there are some things that aren't on the list as it's a bit old but it should help since it's all on one page~

http://www.carnival.com/cms/fun/cruise_control/first_time_included.htm

[PegNRay]

Thanks! We are going to Half Moon Cay, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, and Grand Turk. Also, do you know if they having been imposing the gas surcharge?

 

The best deal in San Juan is the free trolley. You pick it up about 1/2 block from the pier. It takes you around to the forts, shopping etc. You can google it for more info.

[etwright]

Thats a great cruise. It is the one we did for our first cruise:)

[Room Service!]

Thanks! We are going to Half Moon Cay, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, and Grand Turk. Also, do you know if they having been imposing the gas surcharge?

 

Apparently they are not imposing the surcharge. Believe me if they were it would dis'cussed' here.

Have a great cruise. :)

[FlaGrl4Evr]

The best deal in San Juan is the free trolley. You pick it up about 1/2 block from the pier. It takes you around to the forts, shopping etc. You can google it for more info.

 

 

So cool. Great advice, thanks !

 

:):)

[FlaGrl4Evr]

We are considering a family cruise in January 2013 and seem to have found a good deal on Carnival Liberty. While the price appears less than what it would cost for an all-inclusive resort in the Carribean, I know gratuities, drinks, and excursions are not included. We are not big drinkers (1 drink at dinner and maybe one during the day) and hope to just do beach trips, but we have no idea how much extra to expect while on board. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Also, Carnival mentioned an extra charge if gas/oil is above a certain price. Is this fee usually imposed?

Thanks.

 

 

 

In addition to what others have listed, we also brougt a box of granola bars and some individually bagged trail-mix on board. We would slip this in our bags to carry off the ship for port excursions and such. We also brought a box of the Crystal-Lite mix ins for our reusable water bottles. Our carry-on 12 pk of pop each and 2 bottles of wine were also enough for the week.

 

Good luck and have fun.

 

:)

[divingmedic]

You will pay for any thing that is not served on the Lido buffett or the MDR. Any and all sodas are extra and about $2.50 for a 12oz can.

 

I can still get 7 days at an AI for very close to the same cost as a cruise. You are probably doing a apple to orange comparison and not an apple to apple.

[RuthlessBoss]

Purchase Funship dollars and drink coupons . It won't save money in the long run, but it will reduce your final bill at the end of the cruise.

[JeanieTheMom]

Capp and espresso in MDR ( was no longer free on Miracle)

 

 

What???!!!:eek::eek::eek:

 

This does not make me happy!

[jmcancruise]

When they say that it is an all inclusive vacation, I know it can be. We took 1 cruise where our sail and sign bill was almost nil. Other cruises we have taken quite a bit and spent quite a bit. Yes budget for extras, but you can have a wonderful vacation without spending hardly a dime on ship.

[kyrisong1]

It depends on your preferences. Our biggest expenses were the gratutities and 2 excursions on our last cruise. While 2 drinks per day seems not much, drink prices depending on whether you choose premium alcohol, can add up.

 

Extras:

Photos

Gift shop, candy shop

Bingo

Steakhouse

Coffee shop

Capp and espresso in MDR ( was no longer free on Miracle)

Spa

Casino

Arcade

The build a bear thing

Laser tag

 

Have fun.

Do you have a picture of that menu from the MDR??? I'd love to see documentation that this is true!!!

[Robthorn]

My wife and I normally have a sail and sign bill around $250 together. That is a shirt or 2 each. A few drinks and all of our gratuities.

We had to pay the Fuel charge once in 11 cruises. It was a big uproar and people swearing to never cruise that line again. I haven't seen it since. Hopefully never will.

[conchead]

The room service is also free but tipping is not added in for that.

Most usually say $1 or 2 for room service tip.

(alcohol and sodas are not free on room service).

 

You can also "pre pay" tips, in other words add it in at the time of

booking, to stretch it out some and keep the S&S bill lower.

 

Prepay the tips, and it would actually be quite easy to get off the ship

with a zero balance on your S&S card.

I don't think we'll see any fuel surcharges any time soon, if ever.

[cluelyss18]

Thanks! We are going to Half Moon Cay, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, and Grand Turk. Also, do you know if they having been imposing the gas surcharge?

 

Half moon cay is amazing. I'll try to insert a pic if I remember. You won't need to spend extra here unless you want to. If I remember correctly, we got off the ship, set up on the wonderful beach, walked over to the BBQ the ship provided. Wonderful!

 

Grand Turk is another great expense free day if you want it to be. We had a great time on the beach, then spent a while in the pool at Margarita-ville. I think we spent $5 for two sodas while at MV.

 

St. Thomas, check out the ports section...there are some great ideas there for beaches so you don't have to dole out a ton to an excursion.

 

I am all about saving money when we can so we can afford more trips a year. Bring a bottle of wine each, bring zip-lock baggies so you can bring snacks on shore, bring some soft drinks and water to save $ on that stuff.

 

The only things usually on our bill at the end are gratuities, a couple drinks, my slot tournament fee($20-my splurge), maybe a picture or two, and if he can't help himself, a watch purchased by my bf. :D

 

Scour these boards!! They are filled with valuable information!! Any other questions, feel free to ask, I can't begin to tell you how helpful the cc members have been in our previous and upcoming trips.

 

 

This is the pool at margarita-ville, located right behind the beach

 

 

grand turk beach, I don't think we paid for these chairs.

 

 

The beach at half moon cay.

 

 

Another pic of the beach on HMC, not sure if they still do this, but Carnival set up a BBQ for everyone on the island that was included! The cabanas were extra$ I think, we didn't get one.

[cluelyss18]

This doesn't really have to do with onboard expenses.....unless you should need them.

A few weeks before the trip, I start a checklist in the kitchen, when I think of something I add it....don't forget bandaids, ibuprofen, pepto, tums, sunscreen, aloe, immodium....all of these are easily forgotten and can cost a bit when you realize you need one! I just pack a baggie with a few of each.