Has anyone ever cruised and NOT had an on-board tab?

[onlyonetrevorfrancis]

I'm still paying off my last tab and I regret nothing!:D

 

I'm with you on this one :)

[Tucker in Texas]

Yep. Had so much OBC that it covered everything plus I got some money back. Alas, no more stacking so no more big OBC (lol).

 

Had one tab of 41 cents (postage stamp) on NCL and, yes, they put the charge through on my credit card (lol).

 

Tucker in Texas

[Desert Cruizers]

Only way we would have a ZERO bill is for DH to stop drinking his Beer.:D Our upcoming cruise, the tours are already covered and with 3 cruises I dred the thought of the bill. I stay with an occasional soda but mostly ice teas, a formal night photo. Haven't been fortunate to get OBC, not Dimaond yet, but will reach that, at the end of the Transpacific & starting the Hawaii to Vancouver next year.

[Getting out there]

The only cruise we've been on was back in about 2000. They didn't have OBC (that I know of). We didn't buy any excursions and I couldn't find anything in the gift shop. I bought a stamp. The last night when the staff saw our bill they said they had to keep it and post it because no one would believe it.

I have $200 OBC for my 4 night on Majesty. I suspect I won't have much of a bill. We don't drink, but they have more shops now.

[cruisePAC]

To not have a tab at the end of a cruise would be great! Would you all be willing to let the rest of in on the secret to racking up a lot of OBC? In the past, we've had OBC of $25 for inviting friends or $150 for booking onboard. However, this doesn't cover the amount that we spend on board. What are other ways to accumulate OBC? :)

[Getting out there]

We got $50 for booking and then $100 for applying for the Royal Caribean credit card. Then earned $50.

I would like to know how people got OBC back. I thought if you didn't use it, you lost it.

[FLACRUISER99]

We got $50 for booking and then $100 for applying for the Royal Caribean credit card. Then earned $50.

I would like to know how people got OBC back. I thought if you didn't use it, you lost it.

In the past it was refunded to you. Now folks take it out in the casino. In fact at one time there was no fee to take out cash in the casino until folks were taking out large amounts to get points or cash back on their credit card and bragged about it on cruisecritic.

[aurelius180]

I'm still paying off my last tab and I regret nothing!:D

 

I'm with you on this one :)

 

 

You can add another one to that! :)

 

Although for the upcoming cruise we have $450 in OBC....it still won't get us anywhere near $0 though. :cool:

[Onessa]

Last two RCCI cruises no charges for our family of three. Baltic and Med. Prepaid our tips. And both times without really even thinking we ended up with no charges.

 

DD and I are water drinkers. DH likes beer, but prefers to drink one or two local brews in port than overpay for the run-of-the-mill stuff you can get on board.

 

None of us are gamblers or video game players. DD brings her tablet with preloaded entertainment (some movies and games). We are all of the opinion that since we are on a family vacation so we don't need to get on-line (DH and I are both in IT, and really want to get away from it when we are on vacation).

 

We plan independent shore excursions, many DIY ones at that (for the Baltic cruise we pre-purchased the Copenhagen card and the Stockholm card, did Helsinki and Tallin on our own and pre-booked an independent tour for our time in SPB. We spend our money for nice local lunches in port rather than specality restruants on board

 

The stuff they sell on board can be found on-line for 1/2 the price -- we seek out local goods in port.

[EmpressofPurple]

I use a list to plan ahead and budget for extras so no sticker shock at the end anymore...

 

plan to bring x amount of cash for casino, tips, shopping and meals in port, plus any independent excursions and ship transfers...

 

ensure enough credit card card room for planned onboard spending (soda/fancy coffees, specialty dining, gym classes, spa treatments, shore excursions, photos, internet, bingo, laundry, and gratuities if not paid in advance).

 

I can plan a "budget" cruise with virtually no extras other than grats, or a"splurge" cruise with pricey shore tours, etc. It's all about planning ahead... and then sticking with your plan! :-)

 

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Forums mobile app

[dreamer976]

On Oasis this past winter, my total bill at the end of the week was $28 dollars and some change. I do not qualify for the Diamond or Concierge Lounges, had no onboard credit.

 

I had prepaid gratuities because of MTD and only used the SeaPass card account for one drink at a fun show and Luggage Valet at the end of the cruise. I did use the casino once, but used cash for that and ended up $200.00 ahead there. WIN - WIN for me (there has to be a first time, and probably last, for everything)!:D

 

A couple of years ago, a friend of mine and her husband got a stateroom account bill in excess of $2,000.00 for a 7 day cruise! I know they had made some jewelry purchases on land as well and just can't imagine what could have added up to that much for 2 people who are not independently wealthy.

[dogchopper]

We do it all the time.....thanks to On Board Credit and the Concierge Lounge. I get a real chuckle on that last morning when I see the pages and pages of charges at some people's cabin doors.

ME TOO! I love sitting by the desk on the day people get their bills and just watching them in major panic mode. I guess that's kind of cruel. I especially love it when people give their kids the ability to charge and then are so surprised that they run up a huge bill.

 

We don't drink or gamble so usually not counting gratuities we are well under 100 bucks. We usually buy a souvenir like a Christmas ornament or two. When the kids came with us we bought then t-shirts or something like that.

[SRQfireman]

O.K. ladies and gentleman......I regret to inform you that you all of been set up ! Royal Caribbean is sitting back taking names of the "cheapskates" and informing the upgrade fairy of such.............you're toast :D:)

I'm sorry I had to break this news to you, but I felt it was my civic duty to inform my fellow cc'er's of the trap they just fell in :eek:

[dogchopper]

Well im in huge trouble then!! Cuz I'm as cheap as they come!!

[spiritkat090909]

I know someone (ex brother in law) who had ZERO OBC...he had pre-paid tips... and had a TEN DOLLAR ship bill. He couldn't resist the watch sale. :D

[katydyd]

[quote name='jstraw20']I'm still paying off my last tab and I regret nothing!:D[/QUOTE]

Right there with you!! LOL

[Tucker in Texas]

[quote name='SRQfireman']O.K. ladies and gentleman......I regret to inform you that you all of been set up ! Royal Caribbean is sitting back taking names of the "cheapskates" and informing the upgrade fairy of such.............you're toast :D:)
I'm sorry I had to break this news to you, but I felt it was my civic duty to inform my fellow cc'er's of the trap they just fell in :eek:[/QUOTE]

I have a friend who only has his grats on his tab and twice has been upgraded from a balcony to a JS! At the end of the cruise, he is down at the casino getting OBC back that he has gotten from booking on board and his travel agent. O.K, he's not bragging on CC, I'll give you that.

Tucker in Texas (whose only upgrade was the first cruise on Princess)

[dogchopper]

[quote name='Tucker in Texas']I have a friend who only has his grats on his tab and twice has been upgraded from a balcony to a JS! At the end of the cruise, he is down at the casino getting OBC back that he has gotten from booking on board and his travel agent. O.K, he's not bragging on CC, I'll give you that.

Tucker in Texas (whose only upgrade was the first cruise on Princess)[/QUOTE]
Once I went on a carnival cruise and had all kinds of OBC due to price drops, at the end of the cruise I got over 200 bucks back. And we weren't cheap that cruise, used the OBC on excursions and trinkets. It was awesome!!

[erin_cruisers]

I'm thinking back, and... the smallest seapass bill was about $700.00 for 7 days, most expensive was our first cruise - over 2K. (mostly because we got married during that cruise.)
As zero bill could never happen. :rolleyes:

[Esilef]

I'm hoping to minimise our on board tab.

Would rather prepaid for things such as the gratitudes.

Also it must be said that by prepaying for the drinks packages you are saving some of the bill shock.

I expect we will have some charges for specialty resturants and shopping.

I will also be checking our account daily.

Nothing worse than a brilliant holiday & then a large bill.

I would rather budget & save than have to pay off debt.

[skylark131]

We never have any charges. There are so many free things to do on the ships...why pay for anything? We don't drink or gamble, so that's not a temptation for us. We eat all the free food, take in all the free shows. We pay gratuities in advance, and bring our own snorkel gear for an "excursion". We like that cruises can be very affordable vacations

[SRQfireman]

OMG.......I must have scared everybody away from posting now :)
I'm sure nobody wants to give up the chance of being able to have the upgrade fairy pay you a visit.......Now if you want to maybe reverse the bad fortune, you may want to post on new thread about "who has the highest bill at the end of the cruise?" Posting on there could bring you redemption....it's worth a shot :D
Pick out a nice cabin when you book....because it's not going to get any better I'm afraid.
Have a great cruise

[Sinppu]

I could easily manage a zero tab, but wouldn't enjoy my vacation as much in that case.
If I'm cruising with just my husband, I might have one drink in a week. Two, if I'm feeling particularly wild.
I always buy a few photos, I love them.
I come from an expensive country, so the $10 sales are bargains to me.
Depending on the ship, we usually eat at a specialty restaurant once during the week.

My tab is around $100.
If there is an art auction with animation art, it's a little higher. ;)

Like I said, I can manage without all of these things, but I'm happier spending a little.

My husband is a gambler. No zero tabs for him, ever :rolleyes::D

[mr walker]

we pre pay T&G and don't normally have OBC. We drink a bit and gamble a little and buy whatever we want - it is a vacation & it's only money. If we were on a land vacation, we would do the same.

That said, last time we cruised our final account was $6.50 thanks to some OBC & a bingo jackpot :D

I saw a TV show once about how cruiselines make money. They interviewed people at the end - one lady proudly announced that she has spent not one penny on board - now which one of you on here was that lady?:)

[senior lady]

I'm in awe.............. At $9 for a glass of wine I'm expecting my bill to be high on my upcoming cruise on the Allure. I don't drink during the day, but do like to have a couple of drinks in the evening. Haven't been on Royal for a few yrs, so am amazed at the cost of their wine.
Princess is only $6.75 for house wine, and it's Woodbridge so not a bad one.
Even when Princess used to allow lots of wine brought on the ships, a 7 day cruise my bill would probably be around $500-$700.