Realistically... the *extras*

[brittknee]

My family of 4 will be going on a Western Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Dream for MG2015, our first cruise!

 

Besides the expenses of the ship and gratuities (that we will pre pay). How much should I plan on spending onboard and on excursions? We won't need a soda card or the bubbles card. We drink tea and water. So what else would be an expense on board that we would end up spending money on?

 

For excursions, we've looked at doing the dolphin swim tours so I know that pricing. Just curious about what others have spent and what I can realistically plan to spend on food and fun.

 

Thanks!

[Davey Wavey]

Extra tips for the room steward or waiters, souvenirs, pictures, stuff you forgot to pack (razors, toothbrush, batteries, suntan lotion, etc.), maybe some for-pay coffee or dessert one night, spa treatments...casino?? Really nothing you NEED to buy if you plan.

[Warm Breezes]

My family of 4 will be going on a Western Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Dream for MG2015, our first cruise!

 

Besides the expenses of the ship and gratuities (that we will pre pay). How much should I plan on spending onboard and on excursions? We won't need a soda card or the bubbles card. We drink tea and water. So what else would be an expense on board that we would end up spending money on?

 

For excursions, we've looked at doing the dolphin swim tours so I know that pricing. Just curious about what others have spent and what I can realistically plan to spend on food and fun.

 

Thanks!

 

You could spend as much or as little as you want. We have done expensive excursions, medium priced excursions, taxi to the beach, or just walking around port. Sometimes we buy souviners, sometimes we don't. Sometimes we buy pictures, sometimes we don't. We don't buy the soda card either. Tea, water, and lemonade are good most of the type....but sometimes we splurge on a virgin frozen drink for the kids or a drink of the day for ourselves....but most of the time we don't. You can go to the specialty restaurant or not. You may want to spend some time in the Casino or play some bingo or not. No one can really tell you what you will spend since we aren't you and don't know what you like to do and what you like to spend on. We've come away from cruises as a family of 4 spending as little as couple hundred to over a thousand. Each cruise is different.

[brittknee]

Thanks! From what I have read it sounded like you really do control what you spend once the cruise is booked! I was hoping that would be the case and there aren't any hidden expenses once we get on board!

[gracie65]

Tips to the porters when you drop your bags off. I always try to get lots of 1's and 5's to have on hand for things like this.

Edited May 15, 2014 by gracie65

[frayedend]

Drinks, candy store, ships store, laser tag. The arcade can set you back a lot if the kids aren't kept busy in camp (depending on ages of kids). Kids will see the towel animal demo and want to buy the book. Then there is the t-shirts in the ports and on the ship. The casino. Coffee shop. Bingo will be going on before the shows and you will need to sit through it if you want a good seat so then you are tempted to play and it ain't cheap (like $30).

 

Even without shore excursions, taxi can be $7/pp then fee to go on the beach. These seemingly little expenses will add up fast. Every person on an island that gives you a tour, taxi drive, hosts something, or smiles at you will be looking for a tip. As a matter of fact the number of people looking for tips is quite high. In Belize the boat driver, bus driver, 2 women doing the talking, all wanted tips.

 

Now, if you are disciplined you can keep a budget in spite of all that. Just be aware that it can easily go very very fast. Give kids a limit on their card. We mistakenly didn't do that and they lost track in the arcade and spent $140 in one night.

[Miller_KC]

There is no average spending amount, it's pretty wide open to how much you want to spend. Our on-board range has been for 2 people between $300 and $800 including standard tips. Plus extra tips for the cabin steward and waiters, and occasionally other crew that gave above and beyond service. Most of the cost is shore excursions.

 

As a first cruise I say would plan most of your excursions through Carnival. After you've cruised a few times and know what to expect it becomes easier to know what is safe to book outside in the port area or on-line before you get there.

 

Carnival excursions generally run from $40-$150 per person depending on what you want to do. You can look them up on Carnival.com and determine how much you might spend. There are others more and less expensive but this is an average range.

 

There is a casino on board and you can use your sail and sign card in the machines. For us it's a nice diversion for up to $20 per person per day. Not a necessity though. Machines are a little tighter than Vegas.

 

Same with the Arcade. It's not great, and not cheap but a few dollars might go here.

 

Bingo sessions can run $10 - $30 per person and includes 1 to 5 games.

 

If you decide on that fancy fruit drink in a coconut monkey's head or mirror ball count in another $15 each. Otherwise drinks can run from a couple of bucks for a soda and around $5 or more for stronger drinks.

 

There is duty and tax free shopping on board. Every day there are sales. Gold by the inch, discounted watch sets, the $10 store, designer watch sales, etc. T-Shirts and ships souvenirs. Rum cakes and Rum fudge. Also high end jewelry stores and discount liquor. Incidentals can be expensive just like in hotel gift shops.

 

Carnival's professional photographers will take pictures in many locations on the ship, boarding, port stops, dining rooms, at sail away, on the stairways, and in front of various backdrops especially on formal nights. These can be great shots and make some really nice family portraits, but they are minimally around $10 per print. Some specials and freebies involved but still pretty expensive. Still I usually get a few on each trip and always get the boarding photo with the date and name of the ship.

 

There is a coffee and dessert shop, upscale steakhouse, candy store, and sometimes a ice cream bar but with so much food included we rarely pay anything extra to eat. One or two Chi Tea Lattes for DW maybe but that's it.

 

Spa treatments are pricey like all spa treatments are. Includes massages, hair, nails, exercise classes, mud packs, detoxes, and just about anything else you can imagine.

 

I would recommend against getting caught up in the Art Auctions. Maybe you can pull a good deal or two out but it's mostly standard prints, nothing real special.

 

I'm sure I've forgotten something since we don't set out to spend much on board.

[maldenmusic]

My daughter and I spend very little onboard; tips for the porters and extra $$ for our room stewards. Sometimes we play a little on the slot machines but not much other than that.

[Vitality08]

Thanks! From what I have read it sounded like you really do control what you spend once the cruise is booked! I was hoping that would be the case and there aren't any hidden expenses once we get on board!

 

 

I don't think there's hidden expenses but I bought a bunch of pictures my first cruise and also the jewelry by the inch. I hear those get many first time cruisers. Learned my lesson though. I've bought a couple of pictures since then and no jewelry. One thing I like to get is magnets of the ships I sail and I always love the tshirts in the gift shop. Plan for those if that's something you are in to.

[Robertac1004]

My first few cruises I bought the usual trinkets and mugs etc. I no longer have room for more souvenirs, as a result I spend very little, extra tips for those that go the extra mile and maybe a cocktail or two. I don't go to the speciality restaurants so never spend on food or coffee unless you count Irish coffee. I always use the ship excursions they may cost a little extra but it's worth it not having to worry about getting back on time, but these prices are listed ahead of time so I know what I am spending.

So I can honestly say I spend almost nothing once I get on the ship, and I go home with almost all the extra cash I bring, there are no surprises once you are on board.

[bunchesofun]

Most spent, first cruise, $800 family of four 7 night cruise. We bought lots of photos, Camp Carnival late night fees.

 

Least spent $400, party of 3. Less photos, more t shirts.

 

One thing I don't think was mentioned was internet. I think a 240 minute package was $89. That was enough to check email every day and do a little surfing.

 

We are moderate drinkers 1-3 per person per day.

 

Both trips 2 adults.

Edited May 15, 2014 by bunchesofun

[beachbum53]

My family of 4 will be going on a Western Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Dream for MG2015, our first cruise!

 

Besides the expenses of the ship and gratuities (that we will pre pay). How much should I plan on spending onboard and on excursions? We won't need a soda card or the bubbles card. We drink tea and water. So what else would be an expense on board that we would end up spending money on?

 

For excursions, we've looked at doing the dolphin swim tours so I know that pricing. Just curious about what others have spent and what I can realistically plan to spend on food and fun.

 

Thanks!

 

I've found that it helps to do your research beforehand on each port that you'll be visiting and see what interests you and your family most, whether it's a tour, shopping, a day at the beach, or whatever. Those costs should be included in your budget for the cruise. As far as additional spending for on board purchases or souvenirs ashore, set a limit (plus 10% just in case) and stick to your budget as closely as you can. As others have said, there are no hidden costs. Unless you're an out-of-control shopaholic, you should be able to stick to your budget and have an affordable, enjoyable cruise.

[Miller_KC]

 

One thing I don't think was mentioned was internet. I think a 240 minute package was $89. That was enough to check email every day and do a little surfing.

 

 

 

Right, we usually get that package, spend all week watching our minutes then trying to use up all the extras on the last night.

 

For next week I have activated Global Roaming with my Cell phone carrier who is partnered with Carnival. Using the phone as a WiFi hotspot I'll pay $25 per 100MB transferred. We use less that a 100MB during a week at home so even going up to 300MB while traveling will be cheaper. Also the ship's internet is slow so being content based rather than time based we won't need to worry about how much time passes while we are waiting. Should be great for sending a few emails but will need to avoid high graphic sites like the weather channel. I scheduled Global Roaming to end at the end of the cruise otherwise I would get charged $25 per month. It includes global phone and texting too, but those are still too expensive to use except in emergencies.

[watermelonqueen99]

It would be so easy to spend hundreds onboard the ship! Between the shops, the pictures, the coffee shop, the casino, the specialty restaurants, the alcohol, etc. It all depends on what you want and what you do. If you booked early saver, be sure and check for price drops to get some onboard credit. We had over $300 in OBC, and didn't have to put any money on our account until the end, and even then it was under $50. We had drinks, souvenirs from the shops, dessert from the coffee shop, etc, all covered by OBC. Where our budget really took a hit was in port, where EVERYONE and their dog wanted a tip. And the taxi ride alone in Cozumel, round trip with tip, was $40. :eek: We easily dropped $100 in tips just in 2 ports. (We had to skip Grand Cayman due to high seas.) I say bring more money then you think you will need, and go home with some. That's better than not having enough while on your cruise!

 

I do respectfully disagree with the poster who said that first-timers should stick with Carnival excursions. We took our first cruise last month, and both of our excursions were through independent companies, and they were both fantastic. The key is doing your research and finding safe, reputable companies that have legitimate reviews on places like Trip Advisor. We saved money by booking independently.

 

Enjoy your cruise! :)

[Miller_KC]

 

I do respectfully disagree with the poster who said that first-timers should stick with Carnival excursions. We took our first cruise last month, and both of our excursions were through independent companies, and they were both fantastic. The key is doing your research and finding safe, reputable companies that have legitimate reviews on places like Trip Advisor. We saved money by booking independently.

 

 

And I respect your skill and willingness to take control in unfamiliar situations. For me it is part of the excitement, but for many it's just a little beyond their comfort zone.

[mpcaruth]

We do not spend very much on the ship. I give each of the kids $25 for drinks, arcade, souvenirs, etc. I limit myself to two photos at $22 each. I spend $20 on the slots, and then sometimes I buy t shirts on the ship (they will have port shirts for $10 each near the end of the cruise). We usually have free drink coupons through are Carnival credit card reward points, but may buy a couple of drinks each during the cruise (typically when we go to the comedy club).

 

We do not go to specialty restaurants (on Carnival), play Bingo, purchase soda cards, or go to the spa. We do not drink much. So, our family of four usually spends less than $150 on the ship (except for gratuities). And a majority of the time, we have enough free OBC to cover charges and gratuities.

 

As far as spending money in ports... I pay for what I really want to do. We do nice excursions, but typically I book private tours at a much cheaper rate than the ship's tour. My family of 4 spends in the neighbor of $600 for a 3-4 port cruise. Use the port forum pages to get ideas and cost of excursions, taxis, beach clubs, etc. at all the ports. You will find lots of advice on saving money in port.

 

I started a thread, "Frugal Mom's Cruise Savings Tips" on CC where I compiled a lot of my money saving tips. Others have added great tips. It can be found at: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1999585

[kona_wahine]

I like having excursions planned and paid for before we go. One less thing to worry about.

 

I would love to go on a cruise and have a $0 S&S card just to say I did it. Only problem is I do like a drink now and then and DH loves his Millers. :D pictures always seem to get me. As does the scrumptious cake at the specialty shop.

 

I also like gambling and always have cash with me budgeted just for that.

[vamartha]

We aren't heavy drinkers but we probably do average 2-3 drinks a day. We usually eat at the Steakhouse once.

 

We don't do bingo (that could change, I know they are making some changes to Bingo, up till now it hasn't been a good deal to play), but I am happy to drop at least $20 a day in the casino - maybe more on the last couple of nights.

 

We purchase an internet package - with a tablet it is so convenient! Just a few minutes a day and I don't feel so disconnected. We don't usually purchase souvenirs, but I did pick up a few Tervis Cups last trip!

(Red Frog Rum Bar and Blue Iguana Cantina and Tervis is my everyday brand of cup!)

 

We spend the bulk of our money on excursions. But we buy off the ship, I research, research and research some more and I always know exactly what we are going to do at each port. For example we've done an AI in Dominican Republic (about $120 each when you factor in the taxi cost) and I spent exactly $0 in Grand Turk - beach day, spent all day in the water and didn't drink anything. We've spent about $60 each including tip in Grand Cayman on a Stingray excursion and we've also spent exactly $0 in Grand Cayman on shore snorkeling from Eden Rock. We've spent about $100 each on a private power snorkeling excursion in Aruba but only about $20 total walking around Curacao - and we could have done that one for $0 if it hadn't been for those mini bottles of Curacao!

 

So this is one that everybody really does do different. Just depends on how you want to spend your time, both onboard and off!

[fla_momuv3]

Make sure you have some singles & fives to tip for room service. We are very frugal. I take out cash beforehand and divide it into envelopes that I label. & keep in the room safe. One env per excursion will have cash to tip guides, buy souvenirs. & food & possibly the cost of the excursion as well if I haven't paid in advance . Another env will have what I've allotted for the casino, usually about $100. Another has the small bills for room service. It's very simple to keep from overspending with a little preplanning. Last cruise, we debarked owing only 78 cents on our S&S card!

 

 

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[Vitality08]

Make sure you have some singles & fives to tip for room service. We are very frugal. I take out cash beforehand and divide it into envelopes that I label. & keep in the room safe. One env per excursion will have cash to tip guides, buy souvenirs. & food & possibly the cost of the excursion as well if I haven't paid in advance . Another env will have what I've allotted for the casino, usually about $100. Another has the small bills for room service. It's very simple to keep from overspending with a little preplanning. Last cruise, we debarked owing only 78 cents on our S&S card!

 

 

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LOve this idea. Will be using it on my next cruise. My next cruise is a b2b visiting 10 islands in 14 days. Budgeting will be essential this time around.

[PrettyHazardous]

I feel like I've answered this question 100 times lol! I love new cruisers. Ok so DH and I generally budget $100 per person per day and then we always have one cheaply day where we try not to spend a lot. This is normally a sea day. We have never spent the full $100 a day but we like to have a cushion. We are over pictures plus I'm too lazy to search for them. We spend $$ at the steakhouse we have eaten there up to 3 times on a 7 day cruise once. We've also done Chefs Table and may try Behind the Fun. Also we've done the wine pairing. We also like the casino but no more than $20-$50 maybe 3 nights. We will usually have 1-2 drinks a day but I also pay for the fruit punch from the bar sometimes as it is delish. I also get the choco covered strawberries a couple times per week. We may play bingo 1-2x before a show. We never buy jewelry and really don't get souvenirs too much any more. Also we never book excursions with Carnival, either online in advance or at the port. Hope this helps and happy sailing.

 

 

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[Lerin]

There are no hidden fees, anything that is extra is clearly noted as such.

A good idea is to set a budget and stick to it.

I know people who have gone on cruises and spent under $50 extra. Others can spend tens of thousands.

Since you have children, also make it clear to them what they can and can not buy. You will be able to monitor their S&S cards.

[sjb.illinois]

As others have said, this is very personal. Our first cruise as a family we were extremely frugal. We took advantage of everything that was included, and ended up paying for very little extra. We never did the night-owls party, although the kids have asked to do this next time (so we'll budget for that- not sure of the prices exactly- maybe $50 per child?). We didn't do any for-fee restaurants, and were just fine. Next time we might add the steak house or Chef's Table. We aren't pop drinkers, and the kids were happy with the lemonade. We didn't do the arcade, and each kid just got a t-shirt each from the fun shops plus a little candy in the candy shop. DH and I got a few drinks each, and we bought 3 photos. We got a kick out of room service, so did this often, and always tipped for that. Otherwise, the expenses were in port, for taxis, food, drinks, etc. I planned for $100 in cash each port day, thinking we would use cards for everything else. Also plan for cash for porters (figure everyone who touches your bags, including shuttle drivers) on arrival and departure days. We came home with cash leftover as well as a credit on our account since Grand Turk was cancelled (our excursion and port fees were refunded). Only you know your family and your habits. If you're big spenders at home, there will be plenty of opportunities on the cruise to spend. If you tend to be more mindful and frugal about your spending, you can easily follow this guideline on the cruise as well. It truly is all-inclusive, and a great value.

 

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[TPFKAH]

The good news are there are no HAVE TO's. It is absolutely possible to walk off the ship with a zero balance.

[fishtaco]

I feel like I've answered this question 100 times lol! I love new cruisers. Ok so DH and I generally budget $100 per person per day and then we always have one cheaply day where we try not to spend a lot. This is normally a sea day. We have never spent the full $100 a day but we like to have a cushion. We are over pictures plus I'm too lazy to search for them. We spend $$ at the steakhouse we have eaten there up to 3 times on a 7 day cruise once. We've also done Chefs Table and may try Behind the Fun. Also we've done the wine pairing. We also like the casino but no more than $20-$50 maybe 3 nights. We will usually have 1-2 drinks a day but I also pay for the fruit punch from the bar sometimes as it is delish. I also get the choco covered strawberries a couple times per week. We may play bingo 1-2x before a show. We never buy jewelry and really don't get souvenirs too much any more. Also we never book excursions with Carnival, either online in advance or at the port. Hope this helps and happy sailing.

 

 

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We also budget $100 pp per day but in reality it ends up around $50 pp per day! Some days more some days less than $100 but I wouldnt want to go without just to keep the budget down.

 

We have budgeted the $100 per day since my first cruise but its never had to go up since:)