Cruise Budget ~*~ Anyone have one they sticked to?

[raina*faith]

I really don't want to blow my budget. Does anyone have one (an outline maybe) that they can share? I've got a family of 4 going and wondered if anyone else had a budget that actually worked!

[DavidO]

Hello. I do not have a budget to tell you but we have taken our two kids (family of 4 people) on several cruises. Since there are 4 of us and we are a normal middle class family we travel frugally but have a great time.

 

I am not sure if you have the cruise booked yet or not. If not, there are several tips to save money on the booking. If you can drive to a port then you save alot. Also, the date you want to cruise makes a huge difference. We always book the least expensive cabin (inside usually).

 

We usually pick one port and do a more expensive excursion there and then do more inexpensive excursions at the other ports. This usually works out well.

 

On the ship we have very few charges besides tips and sometimes no extra charges (we do not drink alcohol).

 

I hope this helps. If you have a more specific item in mind post a more specific reply to this thread.

 

David

[raina*faith]

Thanks, this is a great idea about the inexpensive excursions. We will definately do that. I have budgeted for:

1. Excursions

2. Transportatioin to the Port (we are driving)

3. On board? (I haven't thought about this expense)

4. Getting Home

5. souviners

and extra drinks for the kids

Did I forget anything? Thanks for you help!

[dforeigner]

Some cruise lines offer soda cards. You purchase a card per person (probably per kid in this case) instead of paying for each soda. I believe if your kids are going to drink 4 or more drinks per day, then you are better off purchasing the soda card.

 

Also, I read that some cruise lines allow you to bring your own soda for consumption in your own room.

[newlywedcruisers]

Also, I read that some cruise lines allow you to bring your own soda for consumption in your own room.

 

They do, and bottled water as well, for a healthier alternative.

[CruisinOnWheels]

Hi...

 

being handicapped & my wife teaches preschool, we had very limited monies to make our cruise happen and DEINITELY had to develop a budget and stick to it. First was we decided what length cruise, ship and cabin we wanted. Second we set our date far enough out, that every paycheck we set some money aside. It has worked great, sure we had to give up some of local going out times, etc. The payoff for us was knowing what we have to look forward to.

 

Anyhow, we put together a budget month by month in a 3 ring binder...with a picture of our cruise ship on the cover...to remind us of our goal.

 

Two weeks ago we paid off our cruise, yeah! Until 12/3 all the money we save goes to pay for our drive down to Galveston, shoer excursions and "play money" on the ship.

 

Let us know if we can be of any more help...

 

Brian & deb

[bdcbbq]

Thanks, this is a great idea about the inexpensive excursions. We will definately do that. I have budgeted for:

1. Excursions

2. Transportatioin to the Port (we are driving)

3. On board? (I haven't thought about this expense)

4. Getting Home

5. souviners

and extra drinks for the kids

Did I forget anything? Thanks for you help!

 

Parking fees at the port.

[lougee1043]

extra cash for tips

 

what about the casino-- bingo -- on board purchases--- internet use--

[Happy ks]

Stay away from shopping. There is always something you think you love, but actually will question why you bought it when you return home.

 

If you plan on buying any photos from the professional photographers, wait until the last sea day and select one. Don't buy their specials or frames, you can get frames for less at your local art supply.

 

Unless your kids drink an enormous amount of soda, the stickers are not really worth it. While $1.75 plus tip sounds like a lot, if you only drink one or two per day, it's cheaper than the sticker. One can will equal 2 or even three of the small servings they give you at the bar. We don't bother with them, but then again, we may only drink one or two sodas per week. There is lemonade available at no additional cost at the buffet, juices at breakfast, milk at the Windjammer and the dining room. I sometimes wonder why so many parents let their children (or themselves) drink unlimited amounts of soda, there are healthier choices.

 

Put a limit on your gambling, if any. We're not real fond of gambling, so $10 each per week is plenty for us.

 

Instead of expensive excursions, read a guidebook about your ports of call and see if you can find something to appeal to the whole family. We prefer sight seeing and a walk on the beach to souvenir shopping. Museums are great to visit, I always enjoy visiting local churches. Our fondest memories have been from the time together, not the excursion. Our biggest waste of money has been on ship sponsored excursions.

 

You can cruise for little more than the cruise fare and gratuities if you're careful. While I don't like feeling cheap, I've been on enough trips, both cruise and land, to know what is worthwhile and what is not. I enjoy my photos and throw out souvenir junk.

 

We do have a few pieces of local art from some of our trips, not from the "art" auction onboard the ship, but prints or very small crafts from artists living on the islands. We only shop if we have the time left over, we never get off the ship with the intent of shopping. I do enough of that at home :rolleyes: .

 

For the kids, I have found that giving them a set spending amount works best. They can spend it on whatever they want, but when it is gone, it is gone. I've also made them save their own allowance and birthday money for spending. It's never too early to start teaching them to live within a budget.

[Happy ks]

As if there could be anything else to mention :rolleyes: (I do go on at times), one area where I save money is to use the laundry/dry cleaning services onboard.

 

Instead of buying your kids extra clothing they will probably only wear onboard the ship (dinners, formal nights), I spend a much smaller amount on having the clothes they do take cleaned and re-worn.

 

Some people think it is expensive, but I'd rather spend $3 - 7 having a pair of pants washed or dry cleaned vs. $15-50 on a pair that will never be worn again.

 

I doubt that anyone will notice if clothing is worn more than once and if so, they have the problem with it, not you.

[ncdazz]

:) budget???? You gotta be kidding!:eek:

 

My husband used that ugly word with me before and we just about had a knockdown/dragout LOL :D

 

Just kidding! I'm typically frugal (I prefer not to say tightwad). I don't buy expensive souvenirs,pictures, and things like that. The only budget we stick to (most the time!) is in the casino. We have a certain amount per day and if/when its gone, we quit. Then we go drinking to forget how much we just threw away!!:D

[cruisinbuddy]

I couldn't imagine going on a strict budget. Calculating every time you have a drink and are we still under budget. Sorry hun you can't have anything else til tomorrow, our budget is maxed out for this day. Now I'm no where near being rich, I usually have an extra part time job to pay for the cruises we've been on.Check out what I replied to for this thread, http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=97. I just didn't want to type it out again. We save save save and then blow it, it feels good.

[lovemylab]

We went on our first cruise last fall and we had no problems sticking to a budget. We did some research and figured out how much we would realistically need for each port, onboard spending, etc. and saved enough for this. We also took along a bit extra for things we may have forgotten (afterall, this was our first cruise).

 

When we went into port we only took with the money that we had allocated for that port. Not once did we run out of money while onshore.

 

We have another cruise planned for next November and we will be doing the same thing. I think it is very possible to still have an enjoyable cruise while following a budget. The key is to be realistic about how much money you will need.

 

I only bought one photo on our cruise and it was from the first formal night. Anytime a photographer offered to take our photo on the ship we politely declined.

 

I hardly ever drink alcohol and my husband had one drink on the ship. The price of drinks on the ship is expensive. If you do want to drink it is much cheaper to do so on land.

 

For many ports you will be able to easily book things on your own - especially if you are just planning to go to a beach. You can easily take a cab yourself vs. paying for a beach excursion through the ship.

[CruisinOnWheels]

Here are our tips for making a successful budget, it has worked for us:

1. Always in determining your budget, figure a bit high for each item.

 

2. Determine first if your going to drive or fly to your port of departure: Flying to port of departure - budget for total cost of tickets for all persons, gratuities to porters at airport and cost of transfers/transportation from airport to where your staying. Be sure you know the current "security level" before you leave, the airline should be able to advise you how early you need to be there. Before you leave make a specific commitment to the transportation service your going to use at each airport, and take with you a phone number to contact them from the airport, or know how to reach them once you have your bags.

 

Driving to port of departure - first determine total mileage to & from your departure port, divide that total by the miles per galllon your car gets to determine the # of gallons of gas you will use. Then budget $3.00 per gallon for your gas expenses. Additionally, depending on the length of your drive you will need to budget meal stops if your driving straight down & back (or if your staying overnight on the way down & back). We budget $20 per person per meal as a high estimate.

 

Staying overnight at the port of departure? Budget the total cost of your motel/hotel including local taxes, and also $20 per person per meal. You also might want to look at the local tourism website to find local things to do & see while there.

 

Once at the ship...the budget items you need to plan for:

 

1) plenty of $1 bills, you will use to first tip the porters that handle your luggage, and also use them for tips for room service, etc. We have budgeted to take $50 in $1 bills.

 

2) Budget enough money to cover your cruise lines "suggested gratuities & tipping" for each person ($9.75 per person/per day for standard room, $12.00 for suites). How you settle the account last night of your trip is up to you, by cash or credit/debit card.

 

3) Shore excursions: concentrate on finding ones that are "family friendly", this will eliminate alot of headaches trying to keep kids entertained as mom and dad do something else. Our experience is you can get alot of info about schore activities from each port of calls website.

 

4) Budget for the "extra expenses" these are items you will need to buy to make your cruise a little easier, some of the items on our list are:

over the door clear plastic shoe organizer (the clear plastic pockets work great as a place to put/organize your items), sticky post it notes, a highlighter, one of those "tide" stain spot pens (they really do work!), cost of dry cleaning/pressing any formal attire your going ro bring (yep kids also need to take something dressy for formal night) and keep those items in the plastic dry cleaner bags when packing, bandaids, toiletries, sunblock & bug reppellent, aspitirin, seasick meds (just in case), a battery operated alarm clock, etc

 

Onboard expenses you should budget for: money to gamble with in the casino, cost of alcoholic beverages & sodas you may want to purchase, on board and port of call purchases, extra putchases such as ice cream, pizza etc.

 

Once you have determined all of your cruise expenses get a 3 ring binder to write them down in. Total all expenses up as your "cruise goal", then each paycheck set money aside in a seperate account to pay for these expenses. We never touch our cruise $$$ unless we are making a purchase related to our cruise. It does work...especially if you put a big picture of your cruise ship on the cover. Record each deposit you make into your account, its fun to see the progress your making towards your goal!

 

I hope these things help....it has for us

[AerynSun_JohnCrighton]

#1- Tips per person... since this is a MUST!

 

#2- Excursions/sight seeing...figure out what you wanna do, price it through the ship/ on your own *through the ship if it's a long excurison so you don't get left behind*

 

#3- Drinks *per person per day... soda, alcohol etc..*

 

#4- Speciality resturant *if applicable*

 

#5- Postcards/stamps

 

#6- Gifts/ trickets to take home

 

#7- Extra cost onboard activities/pics/gift shop stuff *wine tastings, computer classes...evenning purse you forgot to bring and the like. Figure out the cost of extra activities, decide what you wanna do, and count on buying a watch, scarf, purse etc...you WILL forget something..

 

and lastly..

 

#8- Spa *if you want to do anything in the spa...*

 

I believe that's it..

 

you won't necessaily do ALL these things...but you can look at them...and then decide which items can go and which can not.

 

Meg

[serene56]

Our first cruise was 5 of us-- 4 kids and myself.

 

I did not buy soda cards-- each kid carried on their own 12 pack of soda -- when it was gone-- gone. (they each had more then half left on the last day) plenty of free beverages onboard.

 

Get over on the port of calls board-- this is where i save my most money. Buying excursions from the cruiselines will be almost double. research each place really good. Read the pros and cons. watch the times.

 

We are not drinkers but ona cruise like to try a new drink now and then./ So I get one while watching the show.

 

Our biggest expense on a cruise is tipping. 10.00 per person per day is a lot. I try to prepay them now with the final payment.

 

I also will buy one formal photo and the phoot of us getting on the ship. (under 30 bucks)

 

Taxi to and from the ship= tips, porters, room service tips (take lots of $1s) We stay away from bingos...expensive.

 

Our last cruise our sign and sail bill was under 300. total.

[funcorn]

Mine was not a "budget" per se, but on my cruise to AK last year I got thru security at the airport (45 minutes) and realized I didn't have my wallet with my credit cards and over half of my cash. I had left it in my friend's daughter's car. Even though she offered to drive back and bring it to me, I decided not to go thru security again (and another 45 minutes or more). Even though it made me nervous at first, I had a wonderful time and just watched very carefully what souvenirs I bought and skipped some of the impulse buying and some of the drinks onboard. I even paid my onboard account (without having to borrow from my friend). This was a real lesson learned that I really could go with much less money than I had before. (Granted-our hotel and excursions had been pre-paid--booked independently). I had a blast and found I didn't have to overspend at all. BIG LESSON LEARNED!