How do people afford $20,000 suites?

[Sigyn]

I keep trying to figure this out. Who is it paying $15,000 and $20,000 for suites on cruise ships and going multiple times a year? Are they putting it on credit or are they paying cash? 

 

Since this is an anonymous board, I can say that my spouse and I are very successful without sounding like I am bragging. No one knows me here. 🙂 

 

We each make well over six figures and our income easily places us in the top 3-4% of all households in our state. I am a vice president at my company, and my husband is quite successful as well. And it's not just our annual income. We have over $2 million already saved for retirement and we're still many years away from that time in our lives.Yet, I can't fathom spending $20,000 on a suite.  It's not that we're against spending. We love fancy things. We live in a lovely home, we drive luxury cars and we have taken our three kids to Europe and we go regularly to Napa and drop $600 a night for a 4-5 night stay, and do $300 dinners. But again, $20,000 on a suite? That is another realm of spending. 

 

Who is it spending this much on a suite? If my husband and I can't afford to do it, who can? There's not that many people who make more than us, to be frank. I just don't get it. 

[smokeybandit]

2 minutes ago, njsmom said:

We have over $2 million already saved for retirement and we're still many years away from that time in our lives.

Plenty of people aren't saving for retirement and are just spending money as they get it.

And of course, there are plenty that $20k is a drop in the bucket for.

[Sigyn]

4 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

Plenty of people aren't saving for retirement and are just spending money as they get it.

And of course, there are plenty that $20k is a drop in the bucket for.

I guess there's that. We each put away 10% of our incomes into our 401K, in addition to other savings we accumulate. I save $1,500 a month just for travel. And add to that pile as needed. Sigh. $18K a year for vacations feels very extravagant. I need to just feel fortunate that I can do that. 

Edited March 30, 2023 by njsmom

[twangster]

Some suites scale best when the number in your party is greater than two.  For families of four or more some suites are pretty reasonable on a per person basis.  Especially so when in Star Class and everything that is included (UDP, DX, Internet, Gratuity).  Six or eight in an aqua theater suite can be reasonable.  Two people not so much.  The first two pay the lion share of that while add on guests are often $600 to $800 each.  

 

$20k for two or $23k for six.  Big difference in the per person breakdown.  

[A&L_Ont]

Some would sooner sail 6-10 times a year and others go once for the same amount of money. Everyone is different. 

[Husky1987]

If I had a dollar for every "I'm rich" thread I've read on CC, I'd now have a dollar.

[neverbeenhere]

Be an accountant and have a doctor for a wife.

 

But, some choose not to spend like that.

[Tlbecker1]

Everyone chooses to spend their money differently. 

[HicksRA]

Maybe they only have one million in retirement savings and spend the other million on suites….

[poocher]

But no, not bragging.  Personally, I use coupons!!

[S.A.M.J.R.]

The most bragging "non bragging" post I've read in the last two days (not just on this board).  

[Another_Critic]

You are confusing being able to afford with willing to spend.

 

1) Some people can afford, but aren't willing to spend.

2) Some people can't afford, but spend anyway.

3) Some people can afford and choose to spend on suites.

 

I think you are in the 1st category but apparently you'd rather spend on other things.

[Sigyn]

2 minutes ago, S.A.M.J.R. said:

The most bragging "non bragging" post I've read in the last two days (not just on this board).  

I swear! It wasn't even a humblebrag. I was just thinking about spending $5K earlier today to move to a sky suite on a cruise we're doing this summer, and I was like, but no, we need new carpet that we're saving for, and we want to update our garage. I was literally like, WHO does this?????

 

5 minutes ago, poocher said:

But no, not bragging.  Personally, I use coupons!!

hahahaha. me too!

[Sigyn]

3 minutes ago, Another_Critic said:

You are confusing being able to afford with willing to spend.

 

1) Some people can afford, but aren't willing to spend.

2) Some people can't afford, but spend anyway.

3) Some people can afford and choose to spend on suites.

 

I think you are in the 1st category but apparently you'd rather spend on other things.

I cannot afford to spend $20K on a suite and have any travel money left over for the year. So if it was the only vacation I took all year, sure. But that wouldn't be any fun at all. And it would still be painfully expensive because it's not just the cost of the cabin but also airfare and excursions. From the way I read it on CC, some people do this 2-3x a year or more. 

 

I guess it's why I didn't see my original post as bragging. I'm saying that I CAN'T afford to do this. 

[time4u2go]

Cash.  Well actually credit card (to get the points) but then it's paid off immediately.

 

Edited March 30, 2023 by time4u2go

[poocher]

And you don’t have to spend $20,000 to stay in a suite.  I think you are using the extreme end of the scale.  I stay in a suite every cruise, probably twice a year and, with all the related expenses, don’t spend $20,000 total.

[Another_Critic]

1 minute ago, njsmom said:

I cannot afford to spend $20K on a suite and have any travel money left over for the year. So if it was the only vacation I took all year, sure. But that wouldn't be any fun at all. And it would still be painfully expensive because it's not just the cost of the cabin but also airfare and excursions. From the way I read it on CC, some people do this 2-3x a year or more. 

 

I guess it's why I didn't see my original post as bragging. I'm saying that I CAN'T afford to do this. 

You "can't" afford it because you spend on other things.  Others making the same or less money choose to spend on suites.

 

I personally go for the best value in almost any purchase I make be it cruises, houses, cars, groceries, etc.

[Sigyn]

1 minute ago, Another_Critic said:

You "can't" afford it because you spend on other things.  Others making the same or less money choose to spend on suites.

 

I personally go for the best value in almost any purchase I make be it cruises, houses, cars, groceries, etc.

Very good point. I chose to put more into my house than, say, cars, at a certain time in my life, because that seemed like the best expenditure. Then, as our incomes increased, we bought nicer vehicles, etc. 

[RFerrington]

A lot of high end Suite passengers get very good rates using casino discounts so while it may look like they are spending big $$ they are not spending exorbitant amounts.

 

Some people book their high end suites and pay small amounts over time.

[ARandomTraveler]

Every single one of my clients at work could easily afford this. It blows my mind the amount of money some people have. Most of my clients have $1billion or more, and got it from being owners of huge mega corporations, inventors of popular products, or investors in major real estate and tech companies.

 

3 of my current clients are single men with no wives and no children, and they're happy as can be 😂. One of them owns a mansion and a yacht on the coast of Italy (as a 3rd home) that he spends several months on, but has never been on a cruise ship. But his "regular" house is just 20 minutes down the road from mine, it's a tiny 1500sqft ranch house that only cost him $1.5mil, and you'd never know a billionaire lived there. 
 

It's crazy to me how many people have that kind of money. 

[HaveWeMetYet]

There is a tidal wave of people hitting the land of retirement, medicare and social security. Many of them have met there money saving goals and are in spend mode. It is use it or someone else will. As in a Will. The value of things starts to change as the clock gets closer to midnight.

[Mapleleafforever]

59 minutes ago, njsmom said:

I keep trying to figure this out. Who is it paying $15,000 and $20,000 for suites on cruise ships and going multiple times a year? Are they putting it on credit or are they paying cash? 

 

Since this is an anonymous board, I can say that my spouse and I are very successful without sounding like I am bragging. No one knows me here. 🙂 

 

We each make well over six figures and our income easily places us in the top 3-4% of all households in our state. I am a vice president at my company, and my husband is quite successful as well. And it's not just our annual income. We have over $2 million already saved for retirement and we're still many years away from that time in our lives.Yet, I can't fathom spending $20,000 on a suite.  It's not that we're against spending. We love fancy things. We live in a lovely home, we drive luxury cars and we have taken our three kids to Europe and we go regularly to Napa and drop $600 a night for a 4-5 night stay, and do $300 dinners. But again, $20,000 on a suite? That is another realm of spending. 

 

Who is it spending this much on a suite? If my husband and I can't afford to do it, who can? There's not that many people who make more than us, to be frank. I just don't get it. 

Why drive luxury cars when a Toyota Corolla will get you to A and B and back to A just fine? Just remember no matter how well you're doing there are people who are doing much much better......and also people who are doing much much worse. 

 

 

[poocher]

Yup, different priorities.  I drive a 10 year old Toyota and the one before that was 19 when I finally sold it.  Could not care less about what I drive as long as it means no car payments.  And we live in the same 1600 sq ft Cape we bought in 1992.  It was big enough for our family so I certainly don’t need anything bigger now that it’s just the 2 of us.  From the day I started working (in the Stone Age), I had money taken out to purchase Savings Bonds.  Remember those?  By the time my 2 kids went to college, I had amassed enough to pay for both.  I have funds put away in many places for many purposes.  One of them is our vacation account.  Our tax refunds, my little retirement part time job & my annuity payments go in there.  Somehow that well never runs dry.  

Edited March 30, 2023 by poocher

[Thisguylikestocruise]

Not everyone saves millions for retirement, or if they do perhaps there’s no children to leave money to. I used to be a big saver but my healthcare job changed my perspective. Life is short and fragile. I don’t want to save a lot and end with up with cancer, or mobility issues to the point I can’t enjoy my money. I’d rather spend while I’m in good health. Personally I wouldn’t spend $20k on a suite, I still like to look for value in purchases.

Edited March 30, 2023 by Thisguylikestocruise

[WinksCruises]

49 minutes ago, njsmom said:

we need new carpet that we're saving for

Well no wonder you can't afford a 20k suite!