How Much Money?

[Rikiw111]

Okay, I am trying to figure out my budget for my Nov. cruise (1st one).

The cruise and shore excursions are already paid for. Here are the other things I think I need money for. Let me know what I am missing?

 

Cruise Tips

Airport to port transportation & back

Other tips (bags, in ports etc.)

drinks

casino

souveniers

what else????

 

 

Thanks for your help

[shuttle-c]

You've about got most things listed.

My HB and I usually bring cash and whatever we have left over sometimes put it toward our ship account.

 

I don't use the casinos, but some people on our last cruises put casino charges on their ship account, got cash extra that way.

[irishgirl]

I always take $50 in ones for tipping cabbies, porters, bus drivers, excursion hosts, etc. Then, always have lots of $5's and $10's to purchase souveniers in the ports. If you need to cash travellers checks or break large bills, they can do it at the pursers desk, or I think the casino.

 

The ship is virtually cash free, so cruise tips, drinks and anything else you puchase on board the ship will be put on your S&S card. The only place that uses cash is the casino. If you use a credit card for your S&S account, it's easier than cash and no waiting in line the last night to settle up your account.

[Maxax]

How much money is just soooo hard to say...it really just varies depending primarily on: 1). How much you drink...alcholic and cokes and other beverages with additional charges for them, 2). How much you spend on souviners - t-shirts, ball caps, whatevers, 3). How much you spend on pictures...we usually spend at least $150 or more...on pictures, 4). Any bonus extras you do like Pay Restaurants on the ship.

 

I typically throw caution to the wind...drink a lot, buy junk, buy pictures, and have a good time...and beyond the already paid for cruise, excursions etc....I usually spend an extra $800-$1,100 dollars....tips, taxis, everything included! My parents are very frugale...(retired - no offense)...but they usually only spend maybe $200 extra...and I have talked to many others that spend $2,000 extra.

 

Its just going to be up to you...in other words...you could expect anything from $200 to $2,000.

[bamagolf]

I think it definately depends on what your style is. Do you drink, do you shop, etc.? My husband and I went on a 5 day cruise and spent an extra $600 on misc. things. You cany by soda cards, if you drink a lot of sodas. The alcoholic beverages are pricey on board. At port is the best place to indulge in adult beverages. Depending on your ports, you may be better off just getting a taxi and going to a secluded beach somewhere..... I am not a shopper, if you are, there are some good places you can shop. Remember, use your bargining skills. You can bargin ANY price.....

[GoinCruisin]

How much???? ALOT!!! LOL! I always work out a budget, then I double it... then I add a couple hundred to it :D It's so hard to say... just as soon as you think you thought of everything, something else pops up!! You can always take what you don't spend home with ya ;)

[Bran8778]

We split our cruise up into either cash or charge. The cash we use in the ports and we use the charge for the ship. The days that we are at sea we set limits and same goes for port days and it all seems to work out well. By reading the boards i know what ports are going to be big spending and which ones are going to be slow.

 

To sum it all up ALOT!!! just like GoinCruisin said

[daveandmisty]

Riki, i am a first time cruiser as well, leaving oct 2.

 

besides the S&S card and shore excursions, i am taking about 100 in 1's and 5's for tipping and small shore buys. A credit card for anything else (contacting CC company to know i am going on a trip and there will be purchases from out of the counrty).

 

I am also taking money to gamble with seperate from this.

 

Other than that the S&S card will take care of everything.

 

I will repost and let you know if it was enough :)

[salty dingo]

Last cruise, I heard to take plenty of ones for tips, etc. I got a pack of 100 ones, thinking I would split them with my dad, but he heard the same thing and had his own stack of ones. Fifty is more than enough, and I don't think I used nearly that many. The folks at the casio rolled their eyes when I used up all the remaining ones at a table to buy chips. They have to handle each bill a special way and the more bills, the harder it is for them! Oh well, at least it wasn't pennies :o !

[Leo Jay]

I echo the posters who mentioned singles. You can't have too many, as far as I'm concerned. You don't want to have to tip room service $5 for that cup of coffee.

 

Also take lots of quarters, if you plan to do laundry. I think it's $2 a load and $2 for soap powder.

[Stacylee]

Bingo - can only use cash here and it will around $10.00 a card I think - anyway, more than you expected, but too much fun to pass up.

 

Another thing - and I do this every time I travel no matter where I go - is to under anticipate what I spend just at the airport! On top of the baggage handlers, I will get something to eat (breakfast, lunch, snack whatever - I gotta eat at the airport) buy a newspaper, maybe a couple of magazines (they always have a huge selection at the airport) and of course a bottle of water. Multiply this by 4 and WOW, I have dropped $75.00 before we got on the plane! Of course I could be frugal :eek: , but THAT is just no fun! I am on vacation! Then we have to sit at the airport for several hours going home... more mags, more food, maybe so airport souveniers... lol! Anyway, just a thought. I would rather skimp and save for a month before my trip just so I can buy whatever I want - and that means no magazines for a month just so I can buy them at the airport the day I leave... hahaha

[4yanx]

LOL, Stacy, I was thinking the same thing about the airport! Several years ago, I was helping my son (13 at the time) budget his own money that he was taking on a vacation. He and his brother explored the DFW airport during a 1.5 hour layover on our way to our vacation. He came back with magazines, a hat, a full belly, sodas, etc, etc. He came to realize that he'd spent about 30% of his budget in the airport! HA!

[TIMETOGOAGAIN]

I'm always conservative on the cash that I bring however I put the tips in an envelope already labeled before I leave home and then if I run short I take that money pay tips on my S&S card. I put everything I can on my credit card. Cab fare and items I buy at the street fairs (the tent thingys) are usually the only thing I need cash for. Also, cash machines are usually available either on the ship or at port.

[cruiselover**]

Here is the best advice I can offer on this subject:

 

1. Go to your bank

 

2. Inquire as to how much is in your checking account

 

3. Take ALL of it out

 

4. Go on your vacation!

 

Just kidding, you may want to leave a couple dollars in your account in case some of your checks haven't cleared!!

[moonvine]

The alcoholic beverages are pricey on board. At port is the best place to indulge in adult beverages.

 

Actually, last time I was in a hotel bar I was thinking how much cheaper the drinks are on the ship.....half the price or less.

[GoinCruisin]

Actually, last time I was in a hotel bar I was thinking how much cheaper the drinks are on the ship.....half the price or less.

 

I'm with ya on that one!! Most of the prices in the bars around here are the same or higher than on the ship! The prices on the ship are very reasonable compared to many bars and restaurants!! :)

 

Be careful about waiting to use the ATM on the ship... it is usually empty by a few days into the cruise, and even when it does have money, their charge alone is $6 I believe, plus your bank charge.

[Sablerose]

We are budgeting as of right now, about $2,700.00 total including $1,190 for our cruise.

 

That's after our $200 S&S credit.

 

So that means as of right now, about $1,500.00 extra we're budgeting for everything. Tips, bar bill, casino, excursions, dining at the Point, souvenier shopping in ports, taxis, gas from San Antonio to Galveston, parking the truck, and gas from Galveston back to San Antonio.

 

(We are staying over, before and after, with family in SA)

 

I think we're figuring on taking $750 in cash to cover non-ship expenses or cash tipping or whatever. The rest will go on the credit card.

 

I'm going to tell myself that if we end up spending $3,000 all together it's worth it.

 

The good news is we've paid our cruise in full, we've saved most of that extra $1,500.00 and have a plan in place for the rest.

 

We've budgeted $100/day between the two of us on the ship for a "beverage budget."