How much do you think the onboard average account

[fdk71265]

We took 2 ncl cruises. We had picture window rooms and we paid about $1500 for the cabin. Our onboard account on both cruise averaged a little over a $1100. That was for excursions/alcohol and the mandatory tipping fee per person. Just wondering what everybody else's onboard account was and where we stand be it the high or low end or average. Keep in mind that we also spend cash money on shore, in the casino, and for extra tipping. Probably about an additional $700 or more. Man a cruise sure adds up. Thanks FDK71265

[dmm]

We took 2 ncl cruises. We had picture window rooms and we paid about $1500 for the cabin. Our onboard account on both cruise averaged a little over a $1100. That was for excursions/alcohol and the mandatory tipping fee per person. Just wondering what everybody else's onboard account was and where we stand be it the high or low end or average. Keep in mind that we also spend cash money on shore, in the casino, and for extra tipping. Probably about an additional $700 or more. Man a cruise sure adds up. Thanks FDK71265

 

Our onboard account came to $1,079.00. That's only because we double tipped each time we ordered a drink...We failed to notice the "autogratutity" and generously added an extra 3-5 dollars, even $15 one round. We only booked two shore excursions with ncl, and bought a few things on board. I'm convinced that it is the alcoholic beverages that send the accounts soaring!

[sjbdtz]

We took 2 ncl cruises. We had picture window rooms and we paid about $1500 for the cabin. Our onboard account on both cruise averaged a little over a $1100. That was for excursions/alcohol and the mandatory tipping fee per person. Just wondering what everybody else's onboard account was and where we stand be it the high or low end or average. Keep in mind that we also spend cash money on shore, in the casino, and for extra tipping. Probably about an additional $700 or more. Man a cruise sure adds up. Thanks FDK71265

 

On our Baltics cruise last year, we did a few shore excursions, bought some art, played in the casino (got most of my drinks free there, because I gambled quite a bit).

 

My onboard account was approx. $14,000 at the end. I'd say that if your onboard account was $1100 for 2 people, for a 7 day cruise, that's

$78 / day.

 

Subtract the $10 / day service fee, and you've got $68/day of discretionary spending, per person.

 

Assume that your excursions cost $200 each over the 7 days, and you are down to $40 / day of discretionary spending, or about 3 drinks / day.

 

Not excessive, also assumes no specialty restaurants, photos, gift items, and I may have low-balled the excursions...since I don't know which ones you took.

 

I spent 3 times your total spending for 2 people, in a single art auction.

 

NO, I'm not rich. We were staying in an inside cabin! I did have some casino luck, which paid for all of the art work, and a little bit extra....but with Shore Excursions in the Baltics running at about $189 pp, you're right...it can add up!

[1st time crusier]

Is there a way you can find out during your cruise how much you have spent so far?

 

Also, can someone anwer a question? I sent two messagea last night and the one keeps disappearing and the other one ended up in the roll call board. Will this get read and what am I doing wrong? They were titled Jewel cruise dec.17th till 24th and more questions from 1st time crusier.:confused:

[IMACRUZRNOW]

Is there a way you can find out during your cruise how much you have spent so far?

 

Yes. you can go to the front desk and ask for your account balance anytime.

 

As far as my expenses go. It was 4 of us dh me and 2 ds's 4 and 8. Our total was about $1500. One excursion, 2 spa treatments, $40 worth of photos, auto. tips...and well you already know where the rest came from! And yes, we also paid for excursion out of pocket, etc.:cool:

[ute_fan]

We normally run between $400 and $500 total per person for a 7 day cruise. We don't drink alcohol, so that eliminates a BIG portion :D . Our charges will normally consist of the mandatory gratuity, soda cards, a couple of photos, a couple of NCL shore excursions, internet time (unless the kids are with us), and some gift shop purchases.

 

The biggest portion, other then the $10 gratuity, is the shore excursions. I know we could do them cheaper, but as fairly new cruisers we normally feel more comfortable booking through NCL. On the last 2 cruises, we've done a fairly expensive one (around $150) and a cheaper one (more in the $50 range), so about half our bill is for shore excursions.

[garycarla]

Extra expenses can double or triple what your "discount" cabin cost in the first place. Drinks at $5-10 each, dinner wine at $30-40+, add up fast.

 

If you book the crazy priced pre and post cruise package, that can kill you. Add if some tours, soon to filed in the closet photos, some never to be seen again souveniers and you have really put a dent in what could be used for another vacation.

 

Have fun, enjoy, but be careful. It adds up REALLY fast. You can see your balance on the TV on some cruise lines, others you have to go to the front desk. Unless you are really good at tracking expenses, you will be surprised. We have traveled a few cruises and started out with $300 credits and you would swear there was a hole in the account where it drained out. But, it is always right.

[DroopySails]

Back when the Jewel was brand-spankin'-new, there was some talk about having interactive TV down the line. You'd be able to check your account balance, make restaurant reservations, etc., on your cabin TV.

 

When we sailed her in November, I believe the in-cabin amenities sheet even listed this as a "coming" feature.

 

Haven't heard anything about this in a while. Is this still in the works for NCL, or has this been abandoned?

[Another ship trip]

Droopy, having the interactive account accesss in your room would be great for the passenger but might not be so good for the cruise line. You have to walk to the desk and stand in line to see you account. If available in room, more would check it, freak out, and stop spending so much!

[DroopySails]

Droopy, having the interactive account accesss in your room would be great for the passenger but might not be so good for the cruise line. You have to walk to the desk and stand in line to see you account. If available in room, more would check it, freak out, and stop spending so much!

 

Oh, I agree. I just like toys!

[honestguy]

4 cruises never more than 200 dollars. my dad is even cheaper lol all we usally have is the auto grat

[garycarla]

Droopy, having the interactive account accesss in your room would be great for the passenger but might not be so good for the cruise line. You have to walk to the desk and stand in line to see you account. If available in room, more would check it, freak out, and stop spending so much!

 

Logic would agree with this, but how many of us are that logical when we are on the ship. I remember when I showed the printout to our adult children on a cruise - shocked them and slowed them down. They were busy trying to visit every bar on the ship. Of couse, they still have not paid us back. LOL

[7SeasLover]

Our art is always on a separate charge through Park West. Never has it been added to our onboard account. We have maybe one cocktail on any given cruise, but we do order a bottle or two of wine. We will dine at Cagney's. I don't recall shore excursions on the least few cruises with my husband; we normally just do the town on our own. We spend about $1,000 including the gratuity.

 

When I cruise with my girlfriend, the amount adds up because we always take the NCL excursions at every port.

 

We buy a few things in the shops. We don't have drinks - I think that's what adds up on your bill.

[sjbdtz]

Part of my outrageous charges was a $1500 watch....I forgot that.

 

Don't forget...bingo is $60 each time for the machine, and krackits for $20....it really does add up....and I'm not even 40 y.o. yet.... I dread how expensive it'll be when I'm retired and this type of behaviour is EXPECTED of me! :rolleyes:

[sjbdtz]

Our art is always on a separate charge through Park West. Never has it been added to our onboard account.

 

I'm not sure who Park West is, but on the Jewel last year it was Fine Art Wholesalers out of Miami, and it all appeared on the shipboard account.

[maurick]

Our artwork charges came out on our ship board acct also.

[goldmom]

Our first trip on the Dawn, our bill was about $1500. The next time before we went we decided to trim the bill down so we cut down on some of the spa visits, specialty restaurants and bingo which seemed to have been our biggest expense. We still did some of these but not to as large an extent, so our second trip the bill was around $800.

 

DD was just on the Spirit and spent the evenings in the Disco. She said there was a lot of drinking there and the guys were always buying drinks for them and others. She said one guy was called to the pursers the next morning cause he maxed out his credit card! She was pretty good, her bill was only $280.

 

I read an article which had an interview with a CEO in the cruise industry who said the even if they gave the cabins away for free that they would still make money on the cruise because of the extras (shore excursions, liquor, bingo, casino, etc). Hmmm, maybe they should start doing that. But I guess that explains why the sometimes really discount cabin prices if a ship isn't full.

[Texrails]

Also, can someone anwer a question? I sent two messagea last night and the one keeps disappearing and the other one ended up in the roll call board. Will this get read and what am I doing wrong? They were titled Jewel cruise dec.17th till 24th and more questions from 1st time crusier.:confused:

 

If you use the post a reply button at the bottom of any page, it will post the reply to the bottom of whatever link you are currently in.

[garycarla]

Regarding missing posts and posting replies.

 

Quite often people use the back button after posting and do not see their posting. That is because the computer is showing the page as it was a few minutes earlier. Get in the habit of hitting the REFRESH button. In internet explore, it is the little button at the top that looks like two arrows going in a circle. Try it.

 

I did a search and found some of your posts. I noticed that you have two posts with a TITLE of "1st Time Cruiser". In the future, you might want to put your question in the TITLE line. You might also want to read through all the postings from the past few weeks to help you get an idea of the information that is out there.

 

By the way, everybody here was a "1st Time Cruiser" at one time.

[babyof8]

My DH and I have cruised many times and have always had a bill over 1000. We tend to drink to much, I buy some pictures and I love to shop...I plan on spending twice as much in the casino but that is always cash. We hardley ever do excursions but we will be this time around. I figure I am on vacation and spending money should not be an issue because if I had to worry about how much I was spending maybe I should not be on vacation. I always bring xxxx amount with me and usually always go home with nothing to put back into savings. I enjoyed myself as did my DH and that is what a vacation is for to be enjoyed. We brought our kids the last time and they were told no internet unless they pay for it and no special drinks unless we ok it..My daughter was good about it and mostly drank soda my son was not as good but he did give us cash in return..So all in all it worked out ok...

[F5Loar]

Average? It's possible to leave the ship with only your tips on the account.

No one twists your arm to drink, gamble, play bingo, do excursions or buy photos. I'd say you are in control of what you need extra. After all everything you need to do on a cruise is already paid for.

[beachchick]

Droopy, having the interactive account accesss in your room would be great for the passenger but might not be so good for the cruise line. You have to walk to the desk and stand in line to see you account. If available in room, more would check it, freak out, and stop spending so much!

 

We love having the interactive access on RCI. I'm disappointed to hear that NCL has not put it in place. It's so nice to be able to check the account periodically to make sure that there aren't errors. I hated to stand in line every time I wanted to make sure my account was correct. We've wasted the time doing that on a some cruises, but I hate to deal with errors on the last morning even more.

 

Does this also mean that NCL doesn't have interactive access for room service and spa/restaurant reservations, etc.? Bummer if they don't.

 

beachchick