Dreaded question every time I plan a cruise

[SmoothFlying]

This.

 

Ever since we started cruising in 2014 (about to go on our 8th one already lol) pricing of everything is now called "cruise dollars."

 

Example: Shopping at a store and you see something expensive. "I could go on a cruise for that much!!!"

 

Watching a game show and someone wins money. "If that were me, I'd book a cruise."

 

 

 

 

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Ohhhhhhhhhh Doggie,

 

In just 3 years, YOU are already addicted, yes,you're truly a 'cruise addict'. :) But, don't feel alone. ALL of us fellow 'cruise addicts' secretly are saying the same thing every time we see someone come into a large sum of money. It's like 'Hmmm., How MANY b2b cruises could we take if we had that much money??' LOL!

 

Mac

[dna529]

My response: you can't take it with you so may as well spend it

 

 

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I'm going to start saying this!

 

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[Steelers2]

We are planning a cruise in late Sept to the Eastern Caribbean little concerned that the weather wont be the best but its the only time that will work for us any comments from others that sailed at this time in the past i know it will be warm more concerned about rainy weather

 

 

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[Melissalcsw]

I treat my cruises like a layaway vacation. With the initial deposit paid, then a certain percentage every pay period it's paid off in full. It can be done. :)

[LeCruzer]

I am so tired of friends/family or even just random people whom always feel the need to say or ask "How can you cruise so much?"

 

It's gotten to the point I don't even like telling people I am going on a cruise because they are like of course you are, you cruise all the time, how can you afford that, take me with you blah blah

 

I get asked that question, because I cruise every year and sometimes solo. The answer I offer is, I book my cruise a year ahead when pricing's are low and make monthly payments per T/A (travel agent). Works out for me.;)

[grandmarnnurse]

We are planning a cruise in late Sept to the Eastern Caribbean little concerned that the weather wont be the best but its the only time that will work for us any comments from others that sailed at this time in the past i know it will be warm more concerned about rainy weather

 

 

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I have sailed early September, and there was a hurricane brewing in the Caribbean. Although my cruise was up the New England coast to Nova Scotia, we were affected by it. We had high winds, where they roped off all the upper decks. We also had a lot of fog in port, but that was all the way up in Nova Scotia.

[grandmarnnurse]

I get asked that question, because I cruise every year and sometimes solo. The answer I offer is, I book my cruise a year ahead when pricing's are low and make monthly payments per T/A (travel agent). Works out for me.;)

 

Same here. Although I don't use a TA, I book a year in advance when prices are low, and pay on it all year. It's the only way I could afford to do it, on my meager retirement budget, but I still make travel a priority.

[grandmarnnurse]

I treat my cruises like a layaway vacation. With the initial deposit paid, then a certain percentage every pay period it's paid off in full. It can be done. :)

 

I book one year in advance, also, and pay on it all year. Another thing I do, to help finance other travel (2 adult children and their families live out of state) is that I have a savings that is a "vacation fund" only, and I make deposits to that every month (retired, so our money only comes in once a month). I treat that as a usual monthly bill that is written right into my monthly budget, so a deposit is always made. That way if I need to hop on a plane or train to visit my children and grandchildren, I have money available for that.

[squierjosh]

I tell people that cruises are only expensive if you make them expensive. The basic cruise is dirt cheap. We had an inside cabin (well, porthole actually) for 7 nights out of San Juan and it was barely $1000 for two people. That's 7 nights of lodging, all you can eat food and desserts, non-alcoholic drinks, pool, jacuzzi, gym, and loads of entertainment. For two people! You might get all the food and booze you want at an all-inclusive resort, but you won't get comedy shows every night, and musicals, games, live music, etc.

 

I tell them the only thing that makes a crusie expensive is a lot of shore excursions, excessive drinking, or shopping. Otherwise, it's basically paid for upfront with what Carnival charges for your particular cruise.

[bnorris10]

We are planning a cruise in late Sept to the Eastern Caribbean little concerned that the weather wont be the best but its the only time that will work for us any comments from others that sailed at this time in the past i know it will be warm more concerned about rainy weather

 

 

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Might want to start your own thread for this question as this thread has nothing to do with weather concerns

 

Same here. Although I don't use a TA, I book a year in advance when prices are low, and pay on it all year. It's the only way I could afford to do it, on my meager retirement budget, but I still make travel a priority.

 

I will also make it priority when I am old and gray

[Z'Loth]

Oh, I wish I could go cruising more often. The biggest problem is that I'm an older single (never married), thus cruising is more of a challenge than for many of you.

 

But, hey, I go on solo road trips. One example is going up to Idaho in August to see the Total Eclipse. (See this map), and is practically a one-in-a-lifetime thing. $100/day for the motel, about $40/day for gas, and I budget $60 per day for other expenses. I could therefore argue that my road trips are more frugal than my upcoming Alaska cruise.... except that I won't. It's practically an apples-and-oranges comparison in so many areas, especially in the lodging choices. The experience will also be different.

 

I am grateful that I work hard and make good money (albeit sometimes with too much overtime). As several people have stated, it's all about priorities and goals and planning ahead. My top priority isn't travel, it's to save up for my retirement so that I have that option available to travel later on. The secondary priority was to pay off my debts related to getting my degree, and I finally did that last year. That has opened out some options for me, including travel. Yes, I have the money saved up for both by eclipse road trip and my Alaska trip, including the upcoming credit card bill from making the final payment this week.

[grandmarnnurse]

I tell people that cruises are only expensive if you make them expensive. The basic cruise is dirt cheap. We had an inside cabin (well, porthole actually) for 7 nights out of San Juan and it was barely $1000 for two people. That's 7 nights of lodging, all you can eat food and desserts, non-alcoholic drinks, pool, jacuzzi, gym, and loads of entertainment. For two people! You might get all the food and booze you want at an all-inclusive resort, but you won't get comedy shows every night, and musicals, games, live music, etc.

 

I tell them the only thing that makes a crusie expensive is a lot of shore excursions, excessive drinking, or shopping. Otherwise, it's basically paid for upfront with what Carnival charges for your particular cruise.

 

Exactly!! We book only inside cabins, never eat in specialty restaurants (the one exception was on our last cruise. My hubby reserved for us at a specialty for my birthday), and rarely book excursions. We try to do beach days on the islands, or just walk around wherever we are. It is one way that we can afford to cruise in retirement. And we don't feel deprived or that we are missing anything.

[Mo_Cruising]

We truly have found that cruising is a much more affordable vacation than many land based ones we have gone on. We usually have air miles because the airfare can actually be almost as much as the cruise cost. We cruise about twice a year, and Love It!

 

 

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[IntrepidFromDC]

I always take my "We Miss You Already" notification to the office, and walk around from room to room, dropping it on the floor in front of my co-workers and saying "Oh - I think you dropped something"... they pick it up and typically say HOW DID YOU GET ANOTHER FREE CRUISE. I say "Oh, it's nothing - what I like is getting a free cruise while I'm ON a free cruise"...

 

This time we got an offer for upgrade from free inside cabin to GRAND SUITE for $600. $600 for a $4,750 GRAND SUITE with private dressing room, walk-in closet, 3 sinks, whirlpool tub, and huge room and balcony with mini-bar.

 

All this just for dropping $450 in the casino?

 

"It's a value proposition and I would never book in advance to make sure those free cruises keep coming. I know it's not for everybody, but I recommend gambling."

[Gloworm2]

Thanks for the gambling tip[emoji3]

 

 

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[SausageKingOfChicago100]

I can truly feel your frustration. We use all the tricks we can; in if we are going carnival we buy the 100 giftcards for 90. We do FCC. We look for price drops after booking.

 

Just keep cruising, enjoy yourself.

 

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Where do you get those gift cards?

[gremlinbangles]

You can get discount Carnival cards from Verizon, AARP and sometimes at Publix grocery stores in the Southeast. Also around holidays sometimes you will see bonus gift cards. They will say spend 500 in gift cards get 25 free.

 

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[nicki121]

Similar to an acquaintance of mine saying: Oh I hope I can cruise one day..to which I reply save $20 a week in a jar & all your change and in a year or so you will be able to afford the trip of your dreams.....but she never does it!

 

 

 

I just said the same thing to a friend yesterday. Save $25 a week and the rewards you get on my charge cards and it's easy to save for a cruise. She would rather spend $700+ for 2 days at Cape Cod and get her own meals and seek out entertainment. I love the cruise to Bermuda as it's so easy-going. Anyone want to go from Boston port?

 

 

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[nicki121]

I save $25/week and credit card rewards - painless. I also book in advance and keep watch for deals that the cruise line gives. Every time a new promotion comes along I simply call cruise line and ask for it to be added to my trip.

 

 

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[LuckyZ]

This is exactly what I tell people. When you factor in all the food, lodging, entertainment that is included it really is a good value. Plus, I turn the question around on them and ask what they're doing. Going to a beach vacation spot has never appealed to me. You are either laying on the beach all week, go carting, parasailing, or trying to figure where you are going to eat all 3 meals every single day and trying to find something that will please everyone. NO THANK YOU. When cruising it's VERY easy for everyone to find what they want when it comes to food and entertainment. Top all of this off with the fact that you're seeing all these exotic destinations versus just one and you just can't beat the value. People just don't understand the stress free week when on a cruise, especially once we pull away and the phones get turned off until we get back;p:cool:

 

A more direct answer to the question would be:

 

"I cruise because I can't afford a land based all inclusive vacation"

 

Always make them stop and think

[CBuick]

I think cruises are a fantastic value: Here is an example of comparing a 7 day cruise to a Las Vegas trip. If I were to do Disney or Universal I would really be going into the high figures.

 

From my East Coast area: $800 (400 *2)

Hotel - Average Strip: 60 * 7 = 420

Cabs, etc $70

Meals (20*3*7*2) = 840

2 shows in that week = (60 *2) 120

 

A very basic trip for 2 for a week is over $2,250. There are so many good cruises for two that are alot less then that.

[meatloafsfan]

I'm getting to the point where I want to tell people I've started hooking to make my cruise money (which if you know me would be incredulous).

 

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[nicki121]

I save $25/week and credit card rewards - painless. I also book in advance and keep watch for deals that the cruise line gives. Every time a new promotion comes along I simply call cruise line and ask for it to be added to my trip.

 

 

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I love it! I just might use it!

 

 

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[telebax51]

A more direct answer to the question would be:

 

"I cruise because I can't afford a land based all inclusive vacation"

 

Always make them stop and think

 

I pretty much say the same thing when asked how can you afford it i tell them because i cannot afford a land base vacation two expensive that leaves them stump.

[tlw440]

I just did some quick math (well, the calculator did), and with that strategy, it's going to take 8 years to pay for my next cruise. [emoji24]

 

 

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Nice cruise!!!!