Unexpected Expenses? Even small ones...

[amydresh]

They might. Depends how many children are on board. Go on the first day and talk to them. Good luck.

 

Thanks! We cruise in Jan so I'm hopeful that there won't be many kids. I will definitely talk to them right away the first day.

[A&Jfamily]

Here is my list of extras that I am planning for:

 

soda

alcohol (we are not doing Cheers)

milkshakes, specialty coffees

cake for my son's birthday

water

arcade

candy store

tips (room service, kid's club, etc)

steakhouse

internet

kid's/teen clubs on first night (it's extra money only that night, I have heard)

pictures

laundry

taxis/shuttle/bus at ports if you don't do excursions

hotel the night before cruise and food on the way to port

gas

parking at Machu Picchu

uber/taxi to get around NOLA the day before cruise

souvenirs

 

Unless you are taking a South American cruise that stops in Peru, you are not going to Macho Picchu....at least not the ancient Inca Citadel high in the Andes....

[A&Jfamily]

My first cruise for our family is coming get up...Thanksgiving week on the Miracle, and I'm trying to budget and plan for expenses that I may not be aware of (or even optional, but decide I want when I'm on the ship). I've prepaid tips already. Here are some of the items I'm thinking...what am I missing?

 

Hotel w/cruise park n stay for the night before

Porter tip/luggage $10- $20

Case of water for room $5

Steakhouse for 1 night - $100

Room service if we ever want to order

Drinks (still deciding whether to Cheers or not)

Bubbles package for the kids

Off shore excursions (if we decide)

Casino...thinking $100 per day at most...we go to Vegas frequently so casino not a priority

Bingo - how much is bingo usually? Do I bring my own dauber?

Arcade for kids - is the arcade free, or cost typical to a usual arcade?

Any unexpected expenses with the kids programs?

Souvenir for kids - $20 each

 

What other potential expenses? I'm expecting a few "little" expenses, which I know will add up, but I have no idea what they would be...so I'm trying to plan for those. Depending on the added expenses, I may be at the point of choosing between Cheers and an excursion - La Caletas or Rhythm of the Night...not sure if I can swing both.

 

What other items were you charged for or spent money on...and how much were they?

 

We don't worry so much about breaking it down. We don't do Cheers, and the kids are allowed $25-50 to spend as they want. We don't get the kids soda cards (except on Princess where it includes the non-alcoholic beverages, because my 18 year old hates it and my 12 year old would turn into a pile of carbonated sugar if allowed). Our excursions are all pre-paid or else taken out of our cruise cash ($500-700). I would guess that our total bill for a week is between $750-850, including gratuities for 4 people (I don't pre-pay them) - so about $100 per day for our family of 4.

 

All these things like soda, milkshakes, bingo, spa etc can really add up. And we have learned that it stinks to be nickel and dime-ing yourself and it's just easier to decide in advance to pass of these little things. There is plenty of free food, pizza, room service, tea, lemonade, juice (room service), ice cream and activities that we just don't "need" these things.

 

So, if you pass on lots of these little things, you will be able to afford your excursion, and Cheers - if you think you and your other half can drink between you at least 12 ($10) drinks a day for 7 days, it becomes worth while. We might drink 12 drinks a day on a sea day, but on embarkation and port days, we are less than 6-8. And the excursion will make better memories than all the little things. Just my $.02:D

[jsglow]

Kind of an interesting discussion. We basically pay for all our pre and post cruise transportation related expense ahead of time. Sure there are minor tips involved but nothing too exciting.

 

We do all our excursions with independent operators. Most expect payment in cash. We typically anticipate those at somewhere between $50-$75pp, per port. Sometimes more, sometimes less.

 

We typically purchase both the wine package ($134 for the middle one) as well as a bottle of vodka/tonics ($75?) for our room. We try to limit ourselves to about 2 adult beverages per day, per person outside that.

[cruisequeen4ever]

You've already covered most; good job! I would add...

ship souvenirs like a Carnival shirt or mug or magnet

 

Duty free liquor

 

Extra tip money for any crew who go above and beyond

 

Food while in port

 

 

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[mmsydny4@aol.com]

The steakhouse on the sunshine is $35 per person so for 4 people that would not be enough. If you're just ordering the upcharged meals in the mdr it would be though.

 

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[terri-eddie]

Remember to budget for expenses on your travel days to and from the cruise. If driving, factor in gas and meals. If flying, meals in airports are expensive, so definitely set aside some money for that.

[sparks1093]

You've already covered most; good job! I would add...

ship souvenirs like a Carnival shirt or mug or magnet

 

Duty free liquor

 

Extra tip money for any crew who go above and beyond

 

Food while in port

 

 

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If you wait until the last night they might put t-shirts on sale and they may not be near the Funshops. We found a table up on Hollywood Boulevard on Fascination that had 3 t-shirts for $25.

[thanna86]

1. We have 4 kids and bought them bubbles the last cruise. Definitely not worth it because the only place to get soda was at the bar. They do not have it readily available in the buffet area. So you have to go to the nearest bar and stand and wait to get to order. It was really inconvenient. Won't do it again.

2. The candy store

3. They have build a bear on the ship. It's pretty basic but my girls loved it.

4. They will snap pictures you completely forget about that are great. With kids, I bet you want some. The formal pictures are nice. Watch for deals.

5. Souvenirs. They sell port shirts at a pretty good deal towards the end of the cruise. You can also get a ceramic ship figurine. $15-$20

 

 

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[BEEZALAR]

If you are on a budget....stay away from art auction lol. And the cruise photos ......The hardest part is NOT buying pictures. So if you don't want to, either don't let them take any or don't go look. They are up to $30 for 8x10 I think .....ugh. They used to do 5x7 for the boarding pic but last couple cruises they were 8x10 ......more $$ that way [emoji57]

 

 

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[pmms052999]

I didn't see it mentioned but since you said you'd play at the Casino - if you don't bring cash - there is a small fee (don't remember the exact amount) but it's some percent of what you want in chips from the cruise card account. If you bring cash - you'll avoid the fee though so may be N/A.

 

 

The fee was 3%.

[sparks1093]

The fee was 3%.

 

It was 5.5% on Fascination with a $5.50 minimum (so it would cost $25.50 to get $20).

[amydresh]

Unless you are taking a South American cruise that stops in Peru, you are not going to Macho Picchu....at least not the ancient Inca Citadel high in the Andes....

 

Machu Picchu is a parking garage in NOLA which is why I said parking there.

[elainmir]

Make sure to take a first aid bag with medication, tampons,etc. Don't forget deoderant,etc...or take extra $ for forgotten items!

 

Once we forgot the deoderant it was 7 bucks for a 1.00 speed stick on board and tampons were 10 bucks for a small 8 pack... ;)

[A&Jfamily]

Machu Picchu is a parking garage in NOLA which is why I said parking there.

 

Learn something new everyday!

 

Ok...now I gotta ask...why on earth did they name a parking garage in NOLA after an ancient indian temple/city?

[amydresh]

Learn something new everyday!

 

Ok...now I gotta ask...why on earth did they name a parking garage in NOLA after an ancient indian temple/city?

 

That I have no idea. :p

[pmms052999]

It was 5.5% on Fascination with a $5.50 minimum (so it would cost $25.50 to get $20).

 

 

Well that sucks...sounds like the fee went up.