Dreaded question every time I plan a cruise

[Mr & Mrs Happy]

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.

 

I agree. Once I did the spread sheet of our expenses for our upcoming cruise, I realized how much we were spending for booze, excursions, etc and so I cut back on a few things. Especially after reading some posts here. The one thing I decided to do was reserve a cabana for Grand Turk. That was after eliminating the expense for the steak house. It (cabana) was $124 for 4 people (split though between me and my sis n law and her hubby). I deal with severe fatigue, so it'll be nice to have a spot to take a nap.

 

I also plan our cruise a year in advance and then pay on it monthly or upfront, depending on if we can do so. I try to pay for as much as I can before the cruise so as to not worry about it once we're on board. Between my husband and I, I dont think we've spent over $300 outside of the cost of the cruise itself. Most of that was on booze :')

 

I would be okay with an inside cabin, but the hubby not so much. Last cruise, we had a balcony and didn't utilize it as much as we thought we would, so we're okay with an ocean view.

[cocoaloco]

:D My simple answer "Because I have to..." then walk away....:cool:

[ski_mom]

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."

 

I don't know much (anything) about earning anything through gambling on the ship. I don't gamble much, but my husband spends a decent amount of time at the blackjack table. Do you get rewarded there? Does he need to do something special, or do they just notice you? We have never gotten anything from his gambling, and he's definitely dropped $450 before...

[CruisingUS]

I personally don't mind what others say. Goes in one ear and out the other.

[Woodfaerie]

:D My simple answer "Because I have to..." then walk away....:cool:

 

classic.

[CruisingUS]

oh, and the OP seems like a humble brag...I hope it isn't.

[LuvBotswana]

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?"

 

Interesting, my initial thought about the intention behind the question was "How can you cruise so much? Doesn't it get boring?". I didn't realize it was a cost question.

As someone who doesn't get the hype about cruising, can you guys explain what draws you back time and time again. I'm very curious.

[CruisingUS]

Interesting, my initial thought about the intention behind the question was "How can you cruise so much? Doesn't it get boring?". I didn't realize it was a cost question.

As someone who doesn't get the hype about cruising, can you guys explain what draws you back time and time again. I'm very curious.

 

1. price

2. you can customize it to do w/e you want. I cruise with my family, and we are VERY different people. so we can all go and do our own stuff w/o dragging someone who doesn't wan to go along. But we do pair up a lot though as there are overlap in interests.

 

3. destinations

 

4. food (well not on CCL for me as the food is trash imo)

 

5. drinking

[LuvBotswana]

1. price

2. you can customize it to do w/e you want. I cruise with my family, and we are VERY different people. so we can all go and do our own stuff w/o dragging someone who doesn't wan to go along. But we do pair up a lot though as there are overlap in interests.

 

#1&2 make sense.

How do you explain people repeatedly going to the same destinations time after time? There's only so much one can see or do on a tiny island before one gets bored.

[CruisingUS]

#1&2 make sense.

How do you explain people repeatedly going to the same destinations time after time? There's only so much one can see or do on a tiny island before one gets bored.

1. Alcohol.

 

2. I have gone to the same destination

 

a. on a different ship years after my previous visit, making some aspects of the experience new again

b. go with a different group of people. An island exp is going to be diff depending if you go with your mother vs grandmother vs infant daughter vs gal pal

3. Go on different excursions

 

4. stay on the ship and eat, sleep, and....

[Warm Breezes]

Interesting, my initial thought about the intention behind the question was "How can you cruise so much? Doesn't it get boring?". I didn't realize it was a cost question.

 

As someone who doesn't get the hype about cruising, can you guys explain what draws you back time and time again. I'm very curious.

 

 

 

1. Value

2. The ocean relaxes me. The motion at night and the sound sitting out on the balcony....puts me right to sleep.

3. Being catered to. They cook, clean, entertain, and take me to exotic islands. I just need to relax and enjoy.

4. We always make sure to have either a new ship, new embarkation port, or new itinerary. Even if we have been to an island before there is always a different excursion to try or we can go back to a favorite beach or stay on the ship and enjoy the places that are packed on sea days.

 

We mix up cruises with land vacations, sometimes combining them into one and we also mix up cruise lines and sizes of ships. This helps keep things fresh and keeps the boredom away. I always come home from cruises more relaxed than I do from any other vacation.

 

 

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[dyin2cruz]

My DD and her long time boyfriend are pizza hut delivery drivers. They are very frugal and booked our upcoming cruise a year in advance. paid a little each month... and now cruise, gratuities, shore excursions, and drink package paid in advance. Almost anyone can cruise, just takes budgeting and planning.

Edited July 4, 2017 by dyin2cruz
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[13cheermom]

We often get these same responses from friends and family. I just got to the point where I don't like to tell anyone until couple weeks before we are to leave. We work hard to earn the money to enjoy ourselves and don't need to feel guilty because we are going on yet another cruise. The year we took 3 cruises I thought I'd never hear the end of it. To each his own and we love to cruise, so everyone should just do what makes them happy. [emoji16]

 

 

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[cruizinrican]

It is annoying and I get it every year!? But I just tell them, I'm lucky I guess!! 🙄😀😂👍

 

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[meatloafsfan]

My DD and her long time boyfriend are pizza hut delivery drivers. They are very frugal and booked our upcoming cruise a year in advance. paid a little each month... and now cruise, gratuities, shore excursions, and drink package paid in advance. Almost anyone can cruise, just takes budgeting and planning. [/quote]

 

Those are 2 words few people want to hear.

[Sciphack]

I also put away $20 every pay and you would be surprised how fast it ads up

[JaniceB]

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

 

We must have the same friends/family. I work, earn vacation and I guess I am just lucky. It does get old!

[kappagirl222000]

Cheaper than a nursing home!

 

 

 

So we were actually talking about this as work last week. One of my coworkers said they were on a cruise and one of the people that was seated at their table for dinner ( every night) was telling them how they just go on back to back cruises because it is cheaper than living in an assisted living place.

 

I guess she takes one and then when she gets back hops on whichever one is going out later that day.

[EBFURR]

I agree with the budgeting & setting priorities comments. We are cruising more now than we did even a few years ago since our kids are grown and pay their own way if they choose to go. I always shop and price watch for good deals. When I did a lot of business travel I would use airline miles to help with flight costs. Now we just tend to book ports that are "driveable". We live in NC so that includes Charleston, Norfolk, and Port Canaveral (about 7 1/2 hours for us).

 

Regarding the $20 per week post. That is $1080 in a year. If you can drive to a port you can easily get a 3-5 day cruise and maybe even a 7 day on a real deal for that. You would probably have to get an inside or possibly OV cabin. If you really shop you might be able to get a short cruise including airfare for that. That may not be a "dream vacation" to an experienced cruiser but to someone who has never been, it just might be.

[Sneezykevina]

You can apply this question to a lot of things in life. People sometimes ask me how I can afford to drive 2 high powered sports cars with the cost of gas ect. I tell them my wife drives a Prius and off sets the gas bill! She really does but it has no effect on my gas bill.

 

Just tell them you can because you are smarter than they are.

[wander]

Depending on the questioner, frequently my temptation was to say - "We sold our kids when they each turned 10 and saved the money for travel". :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

 

Actually I never said this, and we NEVER sold any children, but I was tempted to use this reply.

[bnorris10]

The year we took 3 cruises I thought I'd never hear the end of it. To each his own and we love to cruise, so everyone should just do what makes them happy. [emoji16]

 

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We have 3 booked this year and did 3 last year and I did 4 the year before that

 

I am just going to have to come up with something clever to say to people

[CruiseHealing]

I

"How can you cruise so much?"

 

Living in Florida I rarely get that question much. A lot folks here cruise frequently, or knows many people that do. I get that question from folks up north. I try to explain, but I can tell they can not grasp what I mean. I usually follow up my comments with "it's not for everyone, which is a good thing because the ships are crowded enough and more people would make the price go up"

 

I will say this, when a sceptic returns from their first cruise they can't stop talking about it, like they were the ones that first discovered cruising. I usually respond with I'm glad you enjoyed it, too bad you wasted so many years being a sceptic!

[Woodfaerie]

True, if we had to pay airline fees as well, we wouldn't cruise as much. Being in Florida has lots of advantages.

 

that is most definitely a perk. the cost of the flight and the hotel (I never fly in the day of departure), cabs and food adds on another $400. If I lived in Florida, I think I would be addicted to those mini 3 day trips that can be dirt cheap!

[Bkchero]

Haha I might steal that

 

 

 

I know I tell people all the time cruising is not that expensive and if you save your daily pack of smokes and put that money aside you can go also

 

Or your $7 grande mocha frappe at Starbucks. . .