How do you spend your time and money?

[misty57]

I read alot of posts related to drinking and "partying". Just interested if there are people who enjoy cruising without drinking or gambling? Not judging either activity.. just curious.:)

[newmexicoNita]

I read alot of posts related to drinking and "partying". Just interested if there are people who enjoy cruising without drinking or gambling? Not judging either activity.. just curious.:)

Everyone does do thier own thing and I don't judge but I can pretty much give you a quick run down on how we spend our time on a cruise.

 

If it is port day; we will probably eat in the buffet or maybe order room service; then we get ready to go ashore unless it is a port we have visited many times and prefer to spend the day on board (this only happens about once every cruise or so) After spending 1/2 to the whole day in port we come back, relax with a drink in the cabin and get ready for dinner. If we only spend 1/2 the day in port I may have a spa treatment (again, only once or so each cruise) if there is afternoon trivia we will probably play that. Again, after getting ready for the evening we may have a drink before dinner, maybe not. After dinner we usually go to the show or to the piano bar if the music is something we really enjoy. Later you can find me in the casino but probably not DH. If he gambles at all it is for only a few minutes.

 

Sea days: we are early risers so will usually have coffee in the cabin and wander to breakfast about 7:30 or 8am. Sometimes we eat in the dining room, sometimes the buffet. After breakfast we change into our swim wear and head for the deck. If there is a bridge game, I may opt for that instead of the pool area. DH takes his book and will lay out for an hour or so. After we clean up and have lunch we will head back to the cabin. Actually during both morning and afternoon we love trivia or some of the demostrations. Maybe we will take part in wine tasting or the maritni clinic. If time permits and the tables have low min bets DH will play craps for awhile. If you can't find me anywhere else you will find me at the slot machines. Our evenings are spent the same on port days as sea days. As I said we are early risers so normally lights are out by 11pm or so. Always we read for awhile, both in the afternoon and again before bedtime. Some days we will take short naps (rarely though) We spend very little time in the cabin.

 

NMnita

[melika091900]

i never drink on cruises.. since im not a drinker and i still have a great time...

i guess it depends on the person.. im in my late 20's so you would think i would want to party and drink, but i mostly like to kick back and relax,,,

I do love the casino though !!!!!

 

:rolleyes:

[serene56]

My last few cruises -- we spent less then 300. total. Most of it was the tips. (Of course I got a towel- maybe a soda here and there- a picture and a frozen foo foo drink too)

 

Yes, It is very easy to cruise and not spend money.

[NAS-KARR]

First of all we ALWAYS get a balcony cabin and while on board at sea if it isn't meal time or time to lie in the sun around the less crowded aft pool we're on our balcony. We're not drinkers,gamblers or partyers nor are we duds either.

We mainly enjoy eachother,the cruise,the scenery,the excursions and the destinations.This is why we're on that ship.We want to enjoy as much of God's world as we can WHILE we can.We brought up our four kids and they have given us our eleven grandones.We want to get away from the whole scene and simply rest.

Have a great cruise whenever e CIAO,

[Spikesgirl]

I like to have a glass of wine or cocktail with dinner, but that's usually the end of it. We usually spend the bulk of our cruise tab on excursions, so when in port, we are ashore. Sea days, the DH likes to check out the computer classes and I like to sit on our balcony and either read or quilt. We don't gamble, play bridge or bingo, although I do like to work on the ocassional jigsaw puzzle in the library.

 

Charlie

[GORDONCHICK]

We don't drink, but I may "donate" $5 to the casino over the voyage. I usually spend $100 in photos when they are good. It's the only time we are all dressed up and not running off to something. I shop a little on board but not much. My big purchase on the ship last month was a bottle of perfume I'd never heard of before and I loved. It's called Violet Angel. Other than that, we hang out, read a lot, and enjoy each other. In some ports we shop or just sightsee. We vacation for R&R, and it's nice to meet new people and catch up with ones we already know if we are in a group.

 

We aren't terribly extravagant people, though we do enjoy nice things.

[Happy ks]

We may enjoy a cocktail before dinner and wine with dinner, but we're not big partiers. Many people, myself included, have found that partying the night away might be fun, but it ruins the following day. I like to be awake and moving during the day, so my party nights ended years ago :) .

 

We love to relax and read during the day. Sometimes we'll go to a seminar or (art) auction as observers. Sometimes we'll see a movie, sometimes we take a nap. We prefer to eat in the dining room b'fast and lunch on sea days (port days too, if open). We may wander throught the shop onboard on sea days, but we stopped buying souvenirs quite a few cruises ago.

 

We both love to be up on deck early in the morning and late at night. Both times can be the most beautiful moments at sea, yet there are hardly any people to enjoy it, we sometimes have the whole top deck to ourselves. We love to watch the approach into port, look at location photos of these port towns, colorful, clean and beautiful and that is what you see in person. Once you are at dock, the view is definitely different.

 

My husband, being a Type A personality, finds that he can totally relax on a cruise and not feel guilty about doing.....nothing at all.

 

We probably spend far less than most onboard ships. We may gamble $10 each, we don't choose expensive excursions, don't drink by the pool or in the disco, don't play bingo and we usually only buy one photo, two if we find another we really love.

[isujim]

Maybe I'll have two drinks a day......but usually just one before dinner. A cruise is my way to just relax........totally........

 

Just off a 15 day Panama Canal cruise with 7 sea days and had the best sleep I have had all year.........

 

Love the solarium and we do hit the casino in the evening after dinner.

[agabbymama]

I did not put any money into the casino, and only ordered sodas from the bars. I think they were $3.50 each though, and I had three. My biggest spending problem is souvenirs. Each port has to provide at least a thimble, but usually much more. I spent more in the shops onboard this last cruise than I usually do, I purchased bonine, 2 cartons of cigarettes, a book, and a hat. Our photos did total $99 which we had planned for. I get them all if they turn out at all good. We checked our account nightly and were doing great. Our total account for two for 11 day cruise on the 9th night was $448. Thought we were in good shape. Then on the last day of the cruise made the mistake of visiting the shops. They were having sales, and my friend couldn't resist a diamond ring and I couldn't resist a diamond pendant, so we doubled our bill, but feel we really got some good bargains, and wasn't a necessity, but something we just wanted. But paid the bill in cash the last night, so our balance was zero when we received the final bill. It is possible to cruise on a budget. have a great cruise, just watch your bill daily, as it can add up quickly.:p

[serene56]

Cans of soda on a ship costs 1.75 plus a 15% gratutity.

 

$2.03

[BobBeaSea]

How do I spend my time and money...wisely :D Smuggled Bailey's our room service coffee first thing in the morning on the balcony is a great way to start the day. Go have some breakfast, buffet or dining room, it doesn't matter. If a port day, get ready to go ashore, we usually do our own thing, I pretty much know where to go and what to do...see the sites, do some gift shopping for folks back home etc.. Stop at some nice patios for snacks and a few of the local beers and generally operate in vacation mode.

 

On seadays we will be up top relaxing in and around the pools, talking with people and enjoying bucket(s) of beer. There is tons to do OR not do onboard, that is the beauty of cruising. Nights onboard are great what with before dinner drinks with friends or acquaintances, dinner (the wine package on RCI is a good deal), the shows and other entertainment and finishing up in the nightclub. Don't hit the Casino to often....keep forgetting to go :).

 

All in all, a great way to have a vacation.

[cruisinbuddy]

Wine, women, and gambling:D Thought that would be fitting after most people stating that they don't drink or gamble. I guess I shouldn't say that DW & I spent $1000.00 CDN (@$800.00 US) on alcohol when we were on the Disney cruise with our 3 brats, so I won't say it. We like to have fun. We save up for 2 years and blow it on a cruise. Oh by the way that cruise was close to $17,000.00 total,I worked two jobs for that one. Disney's expensive, and they don't have a casino, so no $ there. I know a lot of people like to be frugal on a cruise, hey to each his own. But we're frugal for 2 years at a time, and then have fun. See you in January on the Liberty.

[caviargal]

I have never gabled in my life and have no interest in doing so.

 

I am up early, at the gym and then back to wake up my SO for coffee on the balcony.

 

In port, we head to a great beach, have lunch off the ship and come back late.

 

On the ship, we like to sun, swim and avoid all the group participation, games and activities.

 

In the evenings, its a martini before dinner, a nice meal in the dining room or ala carte restaurant with a good bottle of wine, then some dancing.

 

That's it, no shows, very little shopping, no art auctions, etc.

 

Money is spent on the better restaurants, good coffee and nice wine.

[caribbean dreams]

I only have a drink at the bar after dinner, (a foo foo desert type) ok i also have one when i first arrive on the ship but thats it, I am to cheap to gamble so i love to spend time on my balcony or find me a nice place to curl up and people watch, at night I like to dance with my DD's especially when there is music on deck.

We spend the majority of our money on shore with tours and trinkets from each stop.

And we also like to tip extra.

[PrincessDaphne]

It depends on whether my daughter is with me. If she is not with me, I'm in the casinos, clubs and late night comedy shows...and drinking.

On the cruise with a kid, I'm at bingo, shopping, watching movies in the cabin or laying by the pool...and not drinking (okay, one or two!!).

On our cruise this December, we will have a balcony. I am hoping to have a lot of reading time out on that balcony. Whatever happens, I know it will be fun!

[misty57]

First of all we ALWAYS get a balcony cabin and while on board at sea if it isn't meal time or time to lie in the sun around the less crowded aft pool we're on our balcony. We're not drinkers,gamblers or partyers nor are we duds either.

We mainly enjoy eachother,the cruise,the scenery,the excursions and the destinations.This is why we're on that ship.We want to enjoy as much of God's world as we can WHILE we can.We brought up our four kids and they have given us our eleven grandones.We want to get away from the whole scene and simply rest.

Have a great cruise whenever e CIAO,

 

My DH and I enjoy our cruises in the same way as you Nas-Karr. I just wondered if we were the exception. We also have four children, but no grandchildren yet. Two daughters married this past spring ( hence no cruise this year) two sons in college or about to be. We've taken 4 cruises without the kids and one with them. We relax and enjoy the ship also, but don't drink or gamble as that isn't our lifestyle at home either. We're on RCCL Freedom of the Seas in March. Now THAT should be a great vacation!:D

[KKB]

We have had balcony & an outstide cabin. We have booked an inside GTY for the next one...we shower & sleep (&:p ) in the room. We really didn't use the balcony, no need to spend $ (Mom & Dad ONLY get balconies).

 

We LOVE sea days...breakfast in dining room, morning bingo, swimsuits and pool, lunch by pool, watch pool games, play water volleyball, late bingo, change for dinner (late sitting), have drinks & gamble, dinner & dancing until late. We enjoy our cocktails, like bingo & the casino, see an occasional show, dance most nights. Few, if any, excursions. Buy a few photos, little shopping.

 

I like to get the most value for my dollar...I search high & low for great airfare & cruise price. I don't do the spa, most excursions, or shop on the ship cuz I don't feel those are good values. I'm sure others would say drinking & gambling aren't good values either (usually not), but those are the things I enjoy & will spend $ on.

 

Our vacations are rarely cheap in the end...but we ALWAYS have a great time!

Happy cruising!

Kris