How many of you spend nothing extra while on a cruise?

[Flatbush Flyer]

By spending as little as possible allows us to take these wonderful trips or otherwise we couldn't do it. We don't have any monies to "take with us" later, so enjoying what little we do have now.

 

Would you deny us this pleasure?

 

 

No - just yanking your chain.

However, reading through the posts on this thread suggests that some responders may be "penny wise and pound foolish".

For example, one could try to do a DIY excursion in an antiquities rich place like Rome. But, you'd end up spending a lot of time getting where you're going and standing in line over and over. Though a top rated private tour with a licensed guide and driver may cost a bundle, you're often spared the long line experience and transit time is greatly reduced. The net effect of this is that you see and experience far more in a shorter time period - perhaps so much more that it would require the DIY folks to incur the significantly greater cost of extra days in the city or even a return trip to see/do everything you have because you were willing to pay for it.

 

 

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[crochetcruise]

We never purchase ship sponsored shore excursions and typically prepay our gratuities. We usually have some amount of OBC on board and with our loyalty status on RCI have BOGO's for the specialty restaurants, have complimentary bottles of wine in our stateroom, and have access to the Concierge and Diamond Lounges for complimentary cocktails between 5:00 - 8:30 each night which covers the majority of our alcohol consumption . We gamble very little and rarely spend on board for spa's, etc., (but also have discounts for that if we do).

 

So as a result, our typical on board account is very low and on one cruise - as just the two of us - we actually had a credit back. But even when it is with family members our on board spending is usually pretty low.

 

Please, what does BOGO mean? I'm a wanna-be cruiser quietly gathering lots of useful information for when I can book my 1st ever cruise-a 2 night Melbourne, Australia to Sydney, Australia on 04/17/2016. With multiple disabilities involving balance and eyesight, I don't want to overcommit, and a 50 year history of travel sickness at the most inopportune times-kindly answered on another forum, Stemetil, and I have taken it on prescription with no reaction to my normal medication, so 1 hassle ruthlessly eliminated. Every time I come on here, whatever thread I'm reading, I find something useful-BTHANKS EVERYONE!

 

Crochetcruise :cool:

[grandmarnnurse]

If necessary, it would be my preference to save a bit longer before I vacationed and be able to have a few extras and treats. That is what makes a vacation special. I'd hate to have to deny myself any treats. JMO..... Each to their own.

 

Some get great glee out of not spending. I enjoy spending with common sense and within my 'sensible' limits. I

don't begrudge the cruise line making money...... they are a for profit business and without profit, they will cease to exist.

 

I agree. Yes, to each their own. If they choose not to ever spend money on a cruise, I just don't see how that can happen! LOL! Even when we are "careful", we spend money! I guess because we do like our wine with dinner, and cocktails, etc. I bought my hubby a very nice watch on our last cruise, also. But if you can get away with never spending, and you are happy, all the more power to you! The least we ever spent was around $500 on a 5 day New England Fall cruise. The most? Gotta be the time we took two (over age 21) daughters when they were still single, and ran up a bill nearly $3,000!! Yes, that WAS insane! But we had a blast!!

[cruisemom42]

However, reading through the posts on this thread suggests that some responders may be "penny wise and pound foolish".

For example, one could try to do a DIY excursion in an antiquities rich place like Rome. But, you'd end up spending a lot of time getting where you're going and standing in line over and over. Though a top rated private tour with a licensed guide and driver may cost a bundle, you're often spared the long line experience and transit time is greatly reduced. The net effect of this is that you see and experience far more in a shorter time period - perhaps so much more that it would require the DIY folks to incur the significantly greater cost of extra days in the city or even a return trip to see/do everything you have because you were willing to pay for it.

 

 

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Nothing could be farther from the truth (although it's what cruise lines and private tours would like you to think). I am one who enjoys the challenge of traveling "on my own" when possible. I like the challenge of it; it gives me a sense of accomplishment to figure it out on my own.

 

Since you use the example of Rome:

 

There is a very good public transportation alternative to taking an expensive hired car, taxi or ship transportation into Rome: the local train. For about 12 euro you can buy a comprehensive ticket that includes not only your ROUND-TRIP train fare but also free use of Rome's buses and metro for the day. The trains depart frequently and (until recent construction in the area has gummed things up slightly) was easily walkable from the port. Transit time is about the same and may even be faster than driving if traffic on the roads is bad.

 

Once in Rome, the savvy researcher will have learned that you can pre-purchase your tickets for sights that are likely to have long lines (this is primarily the Vatican museum and the Colosseum; most other things do not require much if any wait).

 

The Italy board here has frequent reports from travelers who "did it on their own" and saw as much or more than those on a private tour or ship tour.....although in my opinion, almost ALL tours try to cram too much into a day in Rome. I don't think anyone could see everything in a day to the extent that they would feel they never need to return....:rolleyes:

[cruisemom42]

Please, what does BOGO mean? I'm a wanna-be cruiser quietly gathering lots of useful information for when I can book my 1st ever cruise-a 2 night Melbourne, Australia to Sydney, Australia on 04/17/2016. With multiple disabilities involving balance and eyesight, I don't want to overcommit, and a 50 year history of travel sickness at the most inopportune times-kindly answered on another forum, Stemetil, and I have taken it on prescription with no reaction to my normal medication, so 1 hassle ruthlessly eliminated. Every time I come on here, whatever thread I'm reading, I find something useful-BTHANKS EVERYONE!

 

Crochetcruise :cool:

 

It means "buy one, get one" -- as in, if you buy one at regular price, you get another free.

[navybankerteacher]

One often-posted comment which I do not understand involves pre-paying gratuities to "get them out of the way". While interest earnings are negligible, I cannot see paying things much in advance - if I can pay them before the cruise, I will certainly be able to pay them after - of course I would never not pay a credit card bill in full - but I must wonder if any of those who pre-pay things like gratuities ever carry a credit card balance due.

[Talisker92]

There are some people (present posters excluded) who "know the cost of everything and the value of nothing".

While in Le Havre, we took a private tour of Giverny and Rouen. It was not cheap, but the feeling of standing where Monet painted and not being surround by hundreds was "priceless".

[CowPrincess]

One often-posted comment which I do not understand involves pre-paying gratuities to "get them out of the way". While interest earnings are negligible, I cannot see paying things much in advance - if I can pay them before the cruise, I will certainly be able to pay them after - of course I would never not pay a credit card bill in full - but I must wonder if any of those who pre-pay things like gratuities ever carry a credit card balance due.

 

On HAL we can't pre-pay grats but we can buy OBCs, so that is what we do. We have to book well in advance, and that gives us lots of time to buy whatever OBCs we plan on spending. Two advantages for us:

 

1. as we are Canadian, we select times when the exchange rate is favorable (or at least at a level that doesn't make us gag :D )

2. we usually leave the cruise owing about $20 which will show up on the next credit card statement, and that is (for us) a really nice feeling.

 

No I don't carry a credit card balance. :)

[Flatbush Flyer]

There are some people (present posters excluded) who "know the cost of everything and the value of nothing".

 

While in Le Havre, we took a private tour of Giverny and Rouen. It was not cheap, but the feeling of standing where Monet painted and not being surround by hundreds was "priceless".

 

 

Thanks for this comment. It is so true. We were in Sicily (not a cruise) and, on our final day of a week with the same bus driver, his mother made us the best Arancini I've ever had. Likewise our local guides made antiquities come alive with facts and stories you just don't find in a Rick Steves guide book (which we do love and use as well).

Fortunately our group was small enough (and from the same regional cultural society) such that we weren't crowded or rushed places.

 

We've also done a crewed yacht charter in the Caribbean (vs. a bareboat charter, despite being accomplished and "bareboat certified" sailors). Having a skipper and cook found us in uncrowded anchorages eating great food that actually would've cost more if we had done our own provisionng.

 

There's nothing wrong with DIY and it does have that "exploration" factor going for it. But, sorry, i'm not doing public transit in any crowded city or standing in any line (even with advanced purchase tix) if I can afford it.

 

 

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[Nebr.cruiser]

Thanks for this comment. It is so true. We were in Sicily (not a cruise) and, on our final day of a week with the same bus driver, his mother made us the best Arancini I've ever had. Likewise our local guides made antiquities come alive with facts and stories you just don't find in a Rick Steves guide book (which we do love and use as well).

Fortunately our group was small enough (and from the same regional cultural society) such that we weren't crowded or rushed places.

 

We've also done a crewed yacht charter in the Caribbean (vs. a bareboat charter, despite being accomplished and "bareboat certified" sailors). Having a skipper and cook found us in uncrowded anchorages eating great food that actually would've cost more if we had done our own provisionng.

 

There's nothing wrong with DIY and it does have that "exploration" factor going for it. But, sorry, i'm not doing public transit in any crowded city or standing in any line (even with advanced purchase tix) if I can afford it.

 

 

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I agree. There are things to splurge on that are worth it for us, especially awesome private tours when going to somewhere wonderful like the Amalfi Coast, Santorini, etc. for the local guides, small groups and personalized service.

 

That said, we still do research and find the best deal--which is usually not a ship tour. We do like DIY in some cases, but especially in unique or huge city cases, not so much. We did do 3 days post cruise in Rome once, wandering the whole city (didn't even use any type of transport) and had a wonderful time. We didn't see everything, but what we did see was perfect.

[LHT28]

We get a nice OBC from the cruise line loyalty program plus our TA usually gives us one

Last cruise I had a hard time spending it all

We do not drink much

 

I bought a Watch & t-shirt just to use it up

[navybankerteacher]

On HAL we can't pre-pay grats but we can buy OBCs, so that is what we do. We have to book well in advance, and that gives us lots of time to buy whatever OBCs we plan on spending. Two advantages for us:

 

1. as we are Canadian, we select times when the exchange rate is favorable (or at least at a level that doesn't make us gag :D )

2. we usually leave the cruise owing about $20 which will show up on the next credit card statement, and that is (for us) a really nice feeling.

 

No I don't carry a credit card balance. :)

 

Picking favorable time to exchange currency does make sense - have you some sort of formula for picking when, or just act when the timing/price feels right in your gut - the way I decide when to book a cruise?

[grandmarnnurse]

Have to agree with you. When we're on a vacation, that is not the time to be saving for the next one! We'll wait until we save a bit more if necessary before we go on a vacation. We want to have fun, treat ourselves better than we do at home when we're on vacation. I couldn't enjoy myself passing up all those opportunities to try something new, go somewhere interesting, do something special. We drink more, party more, eat better food, and even pay to have a knowledgeable expert show us the unique sites in the places we visit.

 

If we had to vacation on so tight a budget that we couldn't - or wouldn't - spend extra to have the maximum fun, we'd just stay home and try to have fun counting the money we were saving.

 

Boogs---Bravo!! Well said! In total agreement with you! I work my a** off all year, maintain my budget, pay my bills, but when I plan a vacation, I also budget to SPEND! I will raise a glass of bubbly (not tea!) to you on my next cruise! LOL!! But as I said earlier--to each their own. If some people get pleasure out of not spending any money, all the power to them! I just don't see the fun in that, but that's just me!

[cruisemom42]

Thanks for this comment. It is so true. We were in Sicily (not a cruise) and, on our final day of a week with the same bus driver, his mother made us the best Arancini I've ever had. Likewise our local guides made antiquities come alive with facts and stories you just don't find in a Rick Steves guide book (which we do love and use as well).

Fortunately our group was small enough (and from the same regional cultural society) such that we weren't crowded or rushed places.

 

We've also done a crewed yacht charter in the Caribbean (vs. a bareboat charter, despite being accomplished and "bareboat certified" sailors). Having a skipper and cook found us in uncrowded anchorages eating great food that actually would've cost more if we had done our own provisionng.

 

There's nothing wrong with DIY and it does have that "exploration" factor going for it. But, sorry, i'm not doing public transit in any crowded city or standing in any line (even with advanced purchase tix) if I can afford it.

 

 

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I guess that's why there are nearly as many styles of traveling as there are different types of people. ;)

 

I can nearly guarantee you that I know more about most sites I've visited through researching them extensively on my own before I go than most people do even after an excellent, guided private tour. (Anyone who's seen my 50+ pages of notes on Pompeii will vouch for me....) Rick Steves, while excellent, is barely even a starting point for me.

 

I can't tell you how many times I've had dinner with folks after a private tour in a major city like Rome. When I ask them what they saw, the answer I usually get is something like this:

 

"We had a great tour! We saw everything."

 

"What things did you like the best?"

 

"Oh, um, the Vatican...and the Colosseum."

 

"And where else did you go?"

 

"Well....a lot of places. But we had a top notch guide at the Vatican. He really knew his stuff."

 

"What were your favorites at the museum, other than the Sistine chapel?"

 

"uh...., um..... I really liked that statue. The marble one. With the guy....you know the one, right?"

 

(P.S. A lot of the stories told by private guides are just that -- stories. No basis in fact whatsoever...)

 

Mind you, I have no problem spending $$$ on a private tour or private driver if I have no other way to get to see or do what I want to do in a given port. I've spent $500 for a private tour for one person -- couldn't find anyone to share my rather esoteric interest. But clearly that kind of thing gets expensive if done in every port, so I am quite happy to go it on my own as well.

[grandmarnnurse]

One often-posted comment which I do not understand involves pre-paying gratuities to "get them out of the way". While interest earnings are negligible, I cannot see paying things much in advance - if I can pay them before the cruise, I will certainly be able to pay them after - of course I would never not pay a credit card bill in full - but I must wonder if any of those who pre-pay things like gratuities ever carry a credit card balance due.

 

No--I never carry a balance on my credit card after a cruise. I budget for my spending, and pay it off as soon as the bill comes. But then again, I never carry a balance on a credit card ever! And I do like to pay for my gratuities ahead, just so that they are out of the way. I like having them on the bill rather than the old way of filling envelopes with cash. That was a pain! And I do still leave a little extra for our room steward if the service was exceptional. But I see your point--pay ahead or later, it doesn't really matter, as long as you don't leave it on your bill accruing interest.

[CowPrincess]

Picking favorable time to exchange currency does make sense - have you some sort of formula for picking when, or just act when the timing/price feels right in your gut - the way I decide when to book a cruise?

 

We are not terribly successful with choosing the "best rate this month" or anything :( I tend to go with my gut. If I don't gag it is usually a "not too bad rate" ;) We generally buy year-round and at least that keeps us from the experience a friend of mine has had three times -- buying all the needed US $ at the worst rate seen in a year, because she NEEDED US $. The first time it happened to her, she and I were going on a cruise. Every night at dinner I got to hear how she'd paid nearly 20% for her US money.

 

She has not yet started emulating my way of buying $US, so I guess her way is better :D

[wassup4565]

Don't be so quick to write off local transportation as waste of time. Some of our best experiences have been on the transport local people take to get around. I would not, for example, have missed the experience of taking the local bus to Nelson's Dockyard on Antigua. The bus likely took the same route any tour operator would use, but it stopped often to pick up and drop off passengers. This meant we actually got time to look at housing and local businesses as we went along. The bus driver had a call-in show playing on the radio, and we would never have heard what the local people were talking about if we hadn't heard that. Many of the people on the bus seemed to know each other, so we could listen to them talking about their day, and so on. I believe we really gained some insight into life on Antigua on that bus ride.

 

I agree with Cruise Mom. When you go around on your own, you're much more likely to encounter unexpected things that give you insight into the place and its people. Something you rarely get on an organized tour with people who are just like you. It's not mostly about the money for me.

[jamessemaj]

I don't do the tours, casino, shops, etc. but do spend for drinks. If I didn't enjoy that my bill would be zero.

 

About the exchange rate with Canada, it is so close to par as to not be worth worry. When I was there, after calculating the exchange fee I just decided to go with US dollars. For all of the arguments I heard to exchange for Canadian, I just didn't see it.

[screwsmcernst]

I had to laugh at that. My wife made her own mocha the same way. Well, they had actual hot chocolate dispensers on our last cruise (Carnival Glory) so she did half and half coffee and hot chocolate.

 

I do the same thing. :)

[grandebarca]

...I believe we really gained some insight into life on Antigua on that bus ride.

 

I agree with Cruise Mom. When you go around on your own, you're much more likely to encounter unexpected things that give you insight into the place and its people. Something you rarely get on an organized tour with people who are just like you. It's not mostly about the money for me.

 

We've had similar experiences taking public transit in Nassau and in St. Maarten/Martin. There were actual real locals on the buses and minivans/collectives. School kids, adults commuting to work, that sort of thing.

 

On our last cruise we toured Belize City on foot. With the map saved on my phone, we saw all we wanted to (and more!) including the local schools, local housing, etc. With our kids!

 

On a side street off the main tourist drag, I bumped into a tout trying to sell us on taxi services and ended up chatting with him for 30 minutes about life in Belize City, him working 3 jobs (school teacher, call center customer service rep, and taxi driver/tour guide), his real estate ventures, state of the Belize economy, politics, the corrupt local taxi union, history of Belize, etc. I let him know I only had $10 with me (forgot to bring cash on the cruise!) but I think he just enjoyed the chat. I don't think you can buy that kind of authentic interaction.

[sapper1]

When we first started cruising we did all the typical new things. Pictures, enough to fill a photo album all kinds of drinks. Now other then a drink as we sail away and the wine package for dinner that's about it. We love to do tours after all that's why we're on a cruise to explore and get a small sense of other cultures and countries are about. I think after a few cruises most people come to the conclusion that there are a lot of things that they can do with out paying all those extras. We always book an inside cabin as we spend very little time in it other then to sleep and change for dinner. That way we save money to take more cruises.

Allan & Marlane

 

Hi Marlane---nice to see you posting. Have a wonderful cruise on the Prinsendam.

 

We really don't have much of an onboard charge as we pre pay any excursions, beverage cards and specialty restaurants. We always have several hundred dollars in OBC which takes care of the Hotel Service Charge. We spend very little in the casino and got over the photo thing years ago (no more display room).

Since we take longer cruises a trip to the spa for a nail fill is a necessary evil but that is all I use it for.

[abeillejoyeuse]

Our only bill is usually a very small amount of Internet minutes (just enough to copy paste a message to our family every couple of days and scan for red flag messages). We do spend on shore though (excursions mostly).

 

When we pass by the casino and bars, we often joke "look at all these people who are paying for our cruise" :) . To each his own, for us, all the extras are not that appealing and I'd rather splurge on excursions our cruise more often than pay for extras on board.

[Gloria Mundi]

Don't be so quick to write off local transportation as waste of time. Some of our best experiences have been on the transport local people take to get around.

 

<snip>I agree with Cruise Mom. When you go around on your own, you're much more likely to encounter unexpected things that give you insight into the place and its people. Something you rarely get on an organized tour with people who are just like you. It's not mostly about the money for me.

 

DH and I have had similar experiences using public transportation as well as shopping in local grocery stores (although I should mention that 2 of the 3 times DH has been pickpocketed have been on subways, in Rome and Barcelona). One of the best was a trip to Pushkin out of St. Petersburg with a private guide, who quoted a much higher price if we went in his car. So, we got a taste of the St. Petersburg subway system, impressive in itself, as well as an unofficial cab system run by Georgians driving vans. You get in, pass your rubles to the front via the other passengers, and your change is returned the same way. No way we would have ventured in without a guide! The guide came highly recommended on another site and was well worth it; DH and I are Russian history buffs so we really wanted someone who knew his stuff.

 

It all boils down to research and priorities. There are times when we say "this is a tourist trap ripoff" and we'll skip it or go on our own. And sometimes we know it's a tourist trap ripoff but it's the best way to experience the place. I'd find it very constraining to go on a trip and be focused on spending a minimal amount of extra money beyond what was prepaid, but if that's the only way some people can work travel into their budgets, I can understand that.

Edited September 26, 2014 by Gloria Mundi

[ski ww]

We are not terribly successful with choosing the "best rate this month" or anything :( I tend to go with my gut. If I don't gag it is usually a "not too bad rate" ;) We generally buy year-round and at least that keeps us from the experience a friend of mine has had three times -- buying all the needed US $ at the worst rate seen in a year, because she NEEDED US $. The first time it happened to her, she and I were going on a cruise. Every night at dinner I got to hear how she'd paid nearly 20% for her US money.

 

She has not yet started emulating my way of buying $US, so I guess her way is better :D

 

We find the best thing is to buy a little US$ all year, because the exchange rate goes up and down so much. At the beginning of this year it was $0.97 now it's down at $0.90 A couple of years back when we did a cruise to Australia we were getting a $1.15US for $1.00 Canadian. The other thing is if you're going to be doing a lot of travelling down south or cruising get an American dollar account at your local bank.

Allan & Marlane

[INGODWETRUST]

That the joy of cruising. You have the luxury of spending a lot, or nothing. The cruise ship need the revenue to build,d renovate and to enhance a more enjoyable cruise line and cruising. I to enjoy just cruising and I have paid a little and sometime a lot it depends on my budget but just being out there is good enough for me.