Adjusting lifestyle to get more cruises in?

[printingchick]

Two years ago, I lost my job when my company was sold to a Japanese-owned firm. What followed was a full-year of unemployment (I NEVER expected it to take so long to find a job...the economy really IS that bad), and eventually settling for a position at a salary over 20% below my previous salary.

 

At the time I lost my job, I had a cruise booked that was paid off. I went ahead and purchased the airline tickets and took the trip. It was a vacation cruise for my son and I didn't want to disappoint him...or me!

 

That was February of 2011. I haven't cruised since. You'll see by my signature I used to cruise at least once a year.

 

For over a year, I've put $25/week or $100/month into a separate "cruise account". I have it direct deposited from my paycheck so I never see it. Given my greatly reduced salary, even that amount is still moderately painful! I brown-bag both breakfast and lunch every day. My car has well over 200,000 miles on it. I trim my own hair. I very rarely eat a meal in a restaurant. I have only one credit card and it earns me points toward cruises on my favorite cruise line. Not having cruised since 2011 has allowed my points to add up. (Although, drastically cutting my expenses means they haven't accumulated as quickly as they might have previously.)

 

In May 2012 I booked a cruise for March of 2014. I figured I'd be able to pay it off given that much time. $100/month for 19 months is $1,900!!

 

I carry that thrifty nature into my cruise planning. I do splurge for a window (waking up to SEE the SEA is a major part of the cruise experience for me), but it's always an OV cabin on a low deck. I limit my excursion expenses, refusing to consider options over $100. (Someday maybe I'll get to swim with the dolphins...) I never eat at specialty restaurants and I don't gamble at the casino. I do, however, enjoy the tropical cocktails!!

 

I've always been thrifty, but I'm a lot more so these days. Cruising is a passion for me and not something I'm willing to give up. I'd rather sacrifice elsewhere!

[Keith1010]

I think many people make adjustments to cruise more.

 

Keith

[JustinPlusLauren]

The main ways I'm looking to cut back to save money are.... bringing my lunch to work every day / eating at restaurants less, and buying coffee when I'm out less. I'm going to try brewing coffee at home and bringing it to work in a travel mug because I spend way too much $ at Tim Hortons/Starbucks! Also, bringing my own lunch from home and cooking dinners at home tends to be healthier! So I will be saving money and hopefully be healthier in the process!

[Warm Breezes]

Just wanted to know if we were the only ones that have changed various parts of our lifestyle to be able to cruise more often (in the near future).

 

I'm interested in what other people do to get more time on a ship. :)

 

Get bigger bonuses :D. Our vacations and any major household repairs/replacements have been paid for by my yearly bonuses for at least the last 10 years. Most of our spending money for our vacations comes from checks received back for FSA and rewards checks from my credit card (most expenses get purchased with the card and paid off monthly). DH puts money away for rainy days and vehicle purchases (paid cash for vehicles for the last 10 years) from his weekly check. I put away for the college fund, vehicle/home insurance, and property taxes from my weekly check. We both put away for retirement weekly. The rest of our weekly funds go towards the mortgage, monthly/daily expenses, dance for DD, and fun money. 2 cruises this year....I love my job :D.

[kitty9]

My sister and I have a "travel cruise account" at the bank and we put money into that account every quarter. We've gotten a nice amount in that account, so that's how we pay for our cruises.

[Bonnie J.]

Used to only be able to do one cruise a year. Then, we both retired. Did 13 cruises last year!

[CowPrincess]

We don't eat out. We don't go to movies. We pay cash for what we MUST buy -- no financing of stuff like home improvements or vehicles. DH's car is 15 years old. Mine is 10 years old. They still work, so we keep driving 'em ;) I gave up manis and pedis a few years ago. I'm currently investigating alternatives to our cable and internet provider, but where we live, there aren't a lot of choices :D We make sure that NO vehicle trip is "single purpose" -- if we must go to the city, there is a long list of stuff that will get done on that trip. Even a trip to the post office will be rolled into a trip to the bank, and grocery shopping.

 

One part of our future planning is moving to a house with a rental unit attached, and living in the RENTAL unit, while renting out the main property.

[navybankerteacher]

Financial down-sizing is always tough, but it is important to have something to look forward to. Congratulations on managing in your new reality. I hope things take an upturn for you.

 

P.S. I agree that, while it might be necessary to book a window rather than a verandah, and avoid the specialty restaurants, you should never experience a sailaway without having a paper parasol in your drink.

[Hlitner]

DW and I made a decision, in our early 30s, to adopt a lifestyle based on lots of travel. This meant finding careers that allowed us substantial time off (she was a teacher and I worked for the state government). While many friends kept buying larger and larger houses and more expensive cars we stayed in our old home, paid off our mortgage, kept dining out to a reasonable level, and saved money. The result is that we spent a lifetime taking great cruises (more then 3 years on ships) and long land trips (have driven thousands of miles all over Europe). Now that we are retired we are like kids in a candy shop since we have no time limitations. Our travel habits mean we cannot own any pets (and we both love dogs) and have arrangements to have our lawn cut and snow shoveled. As a result we can simply take off on a trip at nearly any time and stay away as long as we please (usually about 2 months at a time).

 

We also agree with the comment about smoking. By not smoking, DW and I save thousands of dollars per year. By not eating out as often as we would like we save several more thousand dollars a year. It is all about choices and we made a lifetime decision that we love to travel.

 

Hank

[spookwife]

I have informed my husband that if he re-enlists (navy) I will be going on a cruise every time he deploys.

 

~Katy

 

 

did you negotiate a day for day swap?! there were years when Mr Spook was haze grey 300 days a year....:D

 

affording it is never the problem.. its the being able to take Leave that is the issue. ah well only 2 years til retirement....

[OCruisers]

Adjusting our lifestyle to take more cruises in would mean cruising at times of the year when we had rather be at home.

So, no, we don't wish to do this.

 

LuLu

~~~~

[LandlockedCruiser01]

I'm OK financially, although not enough to get the Bush-era tax cuts :). The problem for me is time. IT is a field with a notoriously poor work/life balance; being reachable 24/7, even on vacation, is an unwritten requirement. And vacations, even unpaid, are something you have to really fight for, as opposed to being allowed to take once you earn it. I got into cruising so I could say "I'll be traveling internationally, so I won't have US reception," with the on-call phone being US-only. (Hey, it's true; I'm visiting a foreign port, aren't it? I guess this is where the Jones Act/PVSA works in my favor.) But with all ships becoming wifi-equipped, work will be following me even onto a cruise ship. I'm looking into changing my career, so could have a genuine, disconnected vacation, the kind where leashes, electronic or nylon, are for dogs only. It'll take time and effort, and I might even have to forget about cruising for a year or two. But it'll be worthwhile in the long run.

[huntm]

In the past 2 years we decided as a family we wanted to increase our travel and cruising is our preferred method.

 

We eat out less, consciously watch our spending in order to save more.

 

We also live in a smaller house than many of our friends and drive economical vehicles.

 

Our son was in a private school which was a huge monthly payment. This year we are home schooling which will allow us to save money AND cruise at cheaper times during the year.

 

We also started a home based business on the side which provides an additional income for our traveling adventure.

 

So far our plans are working. We were able to cruise 3 times this past calendar year and currently have 2 more booked!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Krazy Kruizers]

Just wanted to know if we were the only ones that have changed various parts of our lifestyle to be able to cruise more often (in the near future).

 

I'm interested in what other people do to get more time on a ship. :)

 

 

Until we retired, we could only take 1 cruise a year. Even though we both had seniority in our jobs, it just wasn't possible to get the same vacation time.

Once we retired, then we cruised 70 - 90 days a year.

Now things have changed again -- health issues now prevent us from taking more than 1 or 2 cruises a year.

And the hassle of flying from Pittsburgh also enters into the picture.

[kitty9]

And the hassle of flying from Pittsburgh also enters into the picture.

 

Isn't that the truth? Sometimes I feel I can get to a cruise port faster on my mobility scooter than trying to find flights out of Pittsburgh.

[kgymn]

did you negotiate a day for day swap?! there were years when Mr Spook was haze grey 300 days a year....:D

 

affording it is never the problem.. its the being able to take Leave that is the issue. ah well only 2 years til retirement....

 

Oh how I wish! Lol he already doesn't think we can afford me going on one cruise per deployment,,, but he gets extra pay then lol... He's not entirely onboard with the plan though. He doesn't like that I would go without him. Which as you know its much easier for me to to without him so we don't have to deal with his trying to get leave!

 

2 years is nothing to get through for yours to retire... If mine stays in he's got another 11. Yuck.

 

~Katy

 

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[YB Nrml]

Moved from Kansas to Florida. The airfare, hotel the night before and after the cruise and shuttle/taxi fare cost was as much as the cruise fare. Now we are 1 hour from Tampa and 3 from Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. Oh yeah no winters either. Win Win for us!