I am hoping this is not inappropriate....

[Boytjie]

It's convoluted to think the tips are pooled.

 

Well, depends on the quality of the thinking. ;)

 

Had lunch at the diner, tipped my server and it went straight into their pool of tips. Who would have thunk!? (Actually anyone that knows how tipping usually works).

Edited January 26, 2016 by Boytjie

[rafinmd]

I'm very much a late comer to this thread, but will try to add a few things. I've found that HAL's excursion prices are pretty much comparable to Crystal's with some a little more and some a little less. As your cruise approaches, you will be able to see the actual prices and prepay if desired on the online checkin system. Others have discussed laundry; I will add that HAL's laundry and dry cleaning prices by the piece are somewhat lower than Crystal's.

 

Have a wonderful cruise on the Konigsdam (I assume that's your ship)

 

Others have offered a lot but if I can add anything else, please let me know.

 

Roy

[gwsster]

Noticed you live in Jamestown NY....I have a daughter there.

 

 

 

Our biggest expense will be the spa - my husband loves his massages and I love the thermal suite.

 

We buy our shore excursions ahead of time. And this time we will have the Explore 4.

 

But once, my husband left a 7 day cruise with and $800.00 bill - me? $250?

 

depends on what YOU plan on doing on your cruise

[TheCalicoCat]

......but new to HAL and am used to cruiselines that were pretty close to all inclusive.

We wanted to try something different on a new build.

In october we will be on a 2 week on Koningsdam and we put down our deposit. We started to count up all the items we will have to pay out of pocket once on board and we came across a figure which is what it is :eek:

On your recently past cruises once you disembarked what was your final bill and how many days was your cruise? I am working too hard at trying to be prepared w/o fainting!

Please forgive me for being nosy:o

 

My aunt & uncle always leave the ship with the ship owing them something. (Various cruise lines - various "gifts" that can have cash value at the end. Other gifts do not have cash value at the end so YMMV)

 

On the other end of the spectrums are people who spend in the casino, on Bingo, on photographs, on gifts, on excursions, on soda, on specialty coffee, on alcohol, etc.

[TheCalicoCat]

I am really amazed how little some of you have stated (excluding OBC's as offsets). The auto-tip alone is $25/day (per couple), if you do any drinking (HH) that's going to be $15-20/day, specialty restaurants are $29 per couple (for 4*), just the little incidentals, specialty coffee, soft drink, bingo, internet $250 for 500 minutes, a bottle of wine, laundry (if not 4*) and the list goes on.....

 

I think the OP wants to get an idea what to budget, its great if you have OBC's to offset the charges but I don't think that is what the OP is asking about.

 

Thanks for a little truth telling. :)

 

Maybe the answers should be, how much do you (would you) spend without Mariner perks, without future cruise credits, without a package that isn't available to everyone on every sailing, etc.

[jimbri]

[quote name='jaspersmycat']You can get away just with $12.50 per day per person ($13.50 if in a suite) if you don't:
shop in onboard shops
eat in specialty restaurants
drink specialty coffees
drink cocktails or wine
play bingo
play in the casino

You can still have a good time without any of the above.[/quote]

All good points - that's the way we cruise. There are so many things to do on the ship that doesn't cost anything. I don't feel deprived at all. I will go to the casino and lose my $2.00 :). Free music, free food, free entertainment and beautiful free views. Sometimes we go on excursions but I think you would have to pay for that on any cruise. As others have said, make up a list and you will be able to get a better idea. Have a wonderful cruise!!