7 days On the Glory, How much do you budget for a 7-day cruise? (Cruise Only)

[Thad409]

We will be sailing on July 2 on the Glory. KeyWest. Freeport and Nassau, Myself, DW and DS 15yo, we are beach people so excursions if any will be just that if we do anything in the Bahamas. KeyWest we will probably just go on our own. But my question what is the average budget that people bring and spend on a 7-day cruise while on the ship, I'm the only drinker and that's on carnival this trip due to my casino offer. I'm thinking 3500 for the 7 days my reasoning for this is that on most of our 5-day cruises in the past I usually bring 2500 and depending on how the beating goes from the Casino I usually have around 300-500 left at the end of the 5 days before we disembark

[Squirreladd]

Technical answer: A 7 day cruise is 40% longer then a 5 day. As a result you would expect to spend that much more on the ship. That gives you a budget of around 3500.

 

I recently did a 7 day Mexican Riveria. Between me and my spouse we spent 600$ on board. Neither of us are drinkers. We are both from Nevada as a result we don't gamble much. In all we spent 200 on specialty dinning, I spent 70 on replacing my misplaced headphones at the fun shops, Tips on dinners and due to my caffeine addiction around 75 including tips at the cafe, she gambled a little 150 of it.

[BoozinCroozin]

We are a bit different. We don't spend too much money other than our excursions. Our next cruise is 3 port days. The total for excursions/car rentals is $500. We don't spend much on other things other than dining an small souvenirs. Maybe $1,000 for the excursions ($500 of that is for dining, drinks, excursions). $500 or so to gamble.

[Thad409]

29 minutes ago, Squirreladd said:

Technical answer: A 7 day cruise is 40% longer then a 5 day. As a result you would expect to spend that much more on the ship. That gives you a budget of around 3500.

 

 

Defiantly makes since

[Tapi]

Family of 4. We rarely spend more than $1000 between our onboard account and activities ashore on a typical Caribbean/Bahamas cruise. We never book excursions through the cruise line (we do a lot of advance research and do things on our own). In the Bahamas, it’s easy to enjoy a day at the beach cheaply. For example, on our last cruise (a quick 3 day in February) we spent $52 (for 2) on transportation to the beach and admission to Pirate’s Cove.

 

We don’t do specialty dining and don’t drink enough (alcohol, sodas, specialty coffees, etc) to justify purchasing a drink package. The wife may get one massage at the spa during the week. None of us care about the casino. Merchandise wise, I may buy a hat or t shirt for myself. 
 

We do spend relatively more money if cruising in a different region of the world or if we’re going somewhere we’ve never been to before. Yesterday, I was totaling the money already spent on activities ashore (all booked independently) for our upcoming summer cruise and it’s about $800 before we spend anything onboard. Still not bad considering that we’re going to four ports in Norway that we’ve never visited before, where just one excursion for 4 purchased through the cruise line can easily exceed that amount. 

 

Edited April 9, 2023 by Tapi

[Drazil65]

I think you answered your own question.  You know what you spend and how you like to spend it, its a question only you can determine.  

[sparks1093]

About $150 for photos in the budget, $200 or so for souvenirs both on the ship and ashore. Maybe another $200 for what we'll spend on excursions. Everything else is paid for.

[May1cruiser]

1 hour ago, sparks1093 said:

About $150 for photos in the budget, $200 or so for souvenirs both on the ship and ashore. Maybe another $200 for what we'll spend on excursions. Everything else is paid for.

This ^^^ is about right. Then add casino spending using calculus math and exponential calculations. 

Edited April 9, 2023 by May1cruiser

[Thad409]

I guess I've been doing it wrong, make me feel like I've been going way over budget. I usually bring 500 for souvenirs and 200 a day for the casino, 75 a day for DS sail and sign, 250-300 for DW spa day, no specialty dining, then about 150 for extra tips, I have to rethink my habits and spending. also 200 for pictures LOL

Edited April 9, 2023 by Thad409

[roguebandit1441]

I guess we are doing more on the cheap, we bring $200 to go with the $ 200 OBC for a 6-7 day cruise, and on average come home with $1000 to $800 more than I brought on board. I don't get off the ship because of mobility issues, I have a phobia of having my photo taken, and I don't use wifi at home so why buy it on the ship. Our philosophy is several thrifty vacations instead of one big blow out. But everyone is different and I respect them for their choices as long as they respect mine.

[Thad409]

23 minutes ago, roguebandit1441 said:

I guess we are doing more on the cheap, we bring $200 to go with the $ 200 OBC for a 6-7 day cruise, and on average come home with $1000 to $800 more than I brought on board. I don't get off the ship because of mobility issues, I have a phobia of having my photo taken, and I don't use wifi at home so why buy it on the ship. Our philosophy is several thrifty vacations instead of one big blow out. But everyone is different and I respect them for their choices as long as they respect mine.

Yep,  I agree, we are able to do what I consider 1 big vacation every couple of years so when were on vacation I don't want to have to say no if the family is wanting to do something that they otherwise wouldn't normally get to do, within in reason, this well be our first cruise back post covid and can't wait.

[Uff da]

41 minutes ago, Thad409 said:

Yep,  I agree, we are able to do what I consider 1 big vacation every couple of years so when were on vacation I don't want to have to say no if the family is wanting to do something that they otherwise wouldn't normally get to do, within in reason, this well be our first cruise back post covid and can't wait.

If this is your big vacation and the $3500 you have budgeted is something you can afford to do, then do it! Don't cheap out or over spend based on what others spend. I think what you described is very nice and reasonable for you and your family. Have a great time!

[staceyglow]

Other than the cruise fare, taxes and port fees (and IMO, gratuities), everything you purchase on a cruise is completely optional.  What you spend after that is up to you.

 

An important question to consider: Are there splurges that you planned and saved for, or will your "What the hell - I'm on vacation!" mindset give you a credit card bill at the end that you will be paying off for months and months?

 

Personally, I don't buy photos.  The only  gambling I do is with the free slot credit I get for being a Platinum member and the occasional "Deal or No Deal" game.  Our shore excursions tend to be on the modest side, and often with less expensive third-party operators.  I buy Christmas ornaments for my souvenirs, which is usually under $50 per trip.  DH and I buy a modest wine package and each have 2-3 drinks per day other than that.  We buy Wifi, but we need it for business reasons, and we get the least expensive one that meets our needs.  We usually go to a specialty restaurant once per cruise.

 

Even with the gratuities on it, our combined S&S account at the end of a Caribbean or West Coast cruise averages well under $150/day.  And we don't ever feel like we are skimping on anything.

 

Only you can decide what your budget should be.  And whatever you decide that is, you can make it work if you focus on what's important to you.

[Thad409]

Unless something goes terribly wrong, we should have money left over, I booked a casino offer that included Drinks on us anywhere on the ship ,200 OBC and 1000 casino credit. And we deposit cash on our S n S account, so other than initial booking we try to never apply any charges to the credit card. I guess it's just a comfort level of having Just in case cash on hand if its needed.

[carrieluvsgreg]

This next trip we have booked and prepaid for our specialty dining, prepaid for the internet package and have CHEERs included with our rate... the only thing left is tips and excursions in port and a few souvenirs.  I don't anticipate it to be too much-I think $1000 will be what we take for a 7 day and I expect to come home with a lot of it. 

[skiorcruise]

For the two of us (70 year old adults), I prepay gratuities, never buy drink packages, gamble little or nothing.  I generally plan on $150-200 per day, including shore excursions, meals, shopping, etc.  $200 x 7 days = $1400.  Your $3500 for a 7 day cruise sounds like overkill to me, but you do you.  My splurges come on winter ski trips.

The old adage is pack your bags for your trip, then take out half your clothes.  Fill the empty space with money.  Then you are ready to sail.

[MississippiMom]

On 4/9/2023 at 5:56 PM, Thad409 said:

I guess I've been doing it wrong, make me feel like I've been going way over budget. I usually bring 500 for souvenirs and 200 a day for the casino, 75 a day for DS sail and sign, 250-300 for DW spa day, no specialty dining, then about 150 for extra tips, I have to rethink my habits and spending. also 200 for pictures LOL

You aren't doing it "wrong," you are doing it the way that you like to vacation.  There is no right or wrong answer, just what works for your household.

 

In a few months, my family of five will be sailing with fifteen additional family members.  That's a whole lot of different vacation habits and vacation spending.  It was very noticeable when we selected cabins - insides, oceanviews, balconies and suites.  

 

Enjoy your vacation!!!

[Thad409]

40 minutes ago, MississippiMom said:

You aren't doing it "wrong," you are doing it the way that you like to vacation.  There is no right or wrong answer, just what works for your household.

 

In a few months, my family of five will be sailing with fifteen additional family members.  That's a whole lot of different vacation habits and vacation spending.  It was very noticeable when we selected cabins - insides, oceanviews, balconies and suites.  

 

Enjoy your vacation!!!

Yep, from your explanation and experience if we were all the same it would be a boring boring world