How much do you spend?

  • Thread starter Thread starter randk
  • Start date Start date
R

randk

Guest
I was sitting here going over our budget and looking at receipts from our last cruise and got to thinking. Do we spend average, above or below. I have not seen this question before so I will ask. How much do you spend on your cruise. I realize that everyone is different, souvenirs, tours, drinks, gambling and so on and so on. For our last cruise which was an 8 day we spent $1200.00 on the ship, this included dinner in the Nouveau Supper Club, tips, 3 tours for 2, some t shirts and other souvenirs, and some gambling.What do you think over, below, or average?
 
You know, I can't say what average would be but the last two years I think we would spend around $800.00 with excursions, souveniers, drinks for our 2 seven day cruises. We are really pretty frugal too. The first year we did all of our excursions through the ship. The 2nd year we trusted ourselves and saved more than 400.00 and we were so proud of ourselves that we lived it up a dash more on the frozen thingys :) The first year we drank viturally nothing in the way of alcohol. The 2nd year we had wine a couple times per day and at least one frozen thingy per day for each of us. This year I am bringing my own wine :)

I REALLY would like to splurge on a facial or message this year, but just don't know if I can part with the $100.00 bucks it is going to cost me! I am always excited when I have money to bring home and put back in the bank!

We passed that 40 day mark Randy!!! Getting closer..... :lol Nan
 
I have only been on one cruise (Jubilee, 2001) and will be going on the Miracle on 3/15. The cost per person for an extended balcony cabin came to $866 with all taxes, insurance, port fees, etc. My wife and I will put two hundred dollars on the ship and sail card at the beginning of the cruise. We will opt to not pay the automatic tip and tip on our own. On our first cruise (5 night), we ate in the dining room one time and did not feel that required tipping the recommended amount per day, I tipped everyone that night. We do tip the room steward well even though we never saw him (which we really liked). So say around $60 for tips. I will bring my usual $100 to donate to the blackjack table (although the last cruise I took $300 of their's). We both bring $200 for off ship spending. So our total is around $1300. We also bring some alcohol with us to keep that expense down. Our philosophy when we go on a vacation is that we are going to enjoy ourselves and not sit and add up how much we are spending. If we can't afford to do it that way then we wait until we can.
 
I think between $800 - $1000 for the 2 of us. We like to have drinks in the evening and we book about 3-4 excursions on a 7 day cruise. However, we are learning that it is much cheaper to grab a taxi and go where we want. So our excursion costs keeps
getting less and less. Depending on how much you gamble, the average would change too. We like gambling!
On our last cruise, I was in a wheel chair so we did not go on excursions, and I was taking pain meds so I didn't drink much. Wow was that trip cheap!! We only spent around $400 for the 2 of us. But I did shop more! and gambled a bit more.
 
I don't gamble or drink, and I have all the t-shirts I need. The cruise line does get me, however, on the PHOTOS.
 
Our last cruise (feb 2003-7 days out of Miami) we spent 600.00 on our S&S card but did buy a few souveniors maybe totalling 200.00....

and the S&S card charges included tips for the 2 of us and a picture we purchased thru the ships art auction.



Post Edited (02-11-04 16:47)
 
thanks for the input. Just to clarify something, the budget is to pay ahead while we are gone not for our trip. Since I am self employed I need to watch that stuff. So I would think that our spending is about average. Nan, time to try on some of the summer clothes, and do some shopping it we get time this weekend. Wife has to work and so do I so time is getting short. Would like to meet you folks on the ship it at possible. Let me know. I guess you can say we are getting ready now.
 
I'm getting our things together too. This winter is getting too long and I'm looking forward to the sun and sand. Hope to meet you, Randy and Nanni. Lisa
 
My husband and I are sailing out of Baltimore on the Miracle on May 16th ... for a seven day cruise to Key West, Nassau, and Freeport.

We booked a Category 9A. This past October, we also booked a Category 9A on the Legend. We absolutely loved that stateroom! We wanted an extended balcony ... which the 9A does have. We also loved the room which was 225 square feet ... and, I loved the recessed lighting in the room. The cabin was perfect for us ... thus, why we booked another Category 9A on the Miracle.

However, after reading your post, I am wondering how you and your wife got what seems like such a great deal ... for a cabin with an extended balcony ... for just $866.00?! Would you mind sharing with us if you went through a travel agency or through Carnival to make your reservations?? And, what type category you booked?

I am asking because although we booked a Category 9A ... we are still paying $3,198.24 for our booking on the Miracle. We are sailing out of Baltimore on May 16th. We live near Leesburg, Virginia ... so, it is less than an hour's drive to the port in Baltimore. It seems as though we are paying more than we should ... maybe I am wrong.

In all fairness to Carnival ... last week they did offer us an upgrade to a Category 11 Suite. At first we excitedly accepted the upgrade. That is, until we discovered that the suite being offered to us only has a standard size balcony ... not enough room for two lounge chairs that both my husband and I were looking forward to enjoying with the Category 9A stateroom. Also, the Category 11 suite is located near the laundry room.

Of course, there are perks having the Category 11 Suite ... one being the Skippers Club, supposedly allowing one to board the ship ahead of the more standard booked cabin passengers. And, the Category 11 suite was larger ... although our 9A stateroom is 225 square feet, large enough for us. In addition, the Category 11 suite has a whirlpool bath. However ...

After weighing what my husband and I really wish to enjoy on our cruise in May ... we decided to keep our Category 9A stateroom. The whirlpool bath in Category 11 is not as important to us ... as the extended balcony in our 9A cabin is ... we like having room for two lounge chairs. The 4235 Category 11 Suite offered just the standard balcony ... not enough room for two lounge chairs. There are only two Category 11 staterooms with standard balconies ... the other suites offer larger extended balconies.

In addition, we liked being on a deck further up from the Main deck ... it was convenient bringing back breakfast from the Lido deck ... breakfast that we enjoyed having on our private balcony. Also, our Category 9A room is nearer the elevators ... very convenient.

The Category 9A room also is large ... 225 square feet. We thought it was the perfect size for us. And, by the way, again, I loved the recessed lighting in that cabin!

So, again, weighing all of the considerations as to what we really wanted to enjoy on our cruise in May ... we chose the Category 9A over the Category 11 suite. I know, some of you must think we're nuts! : ) But, on the other hand ... we know what makes us happy. And, personally ... I don't need a Category 11 suite just to be classified as a member of the Skippers Club. I don't mind waiting in line a little longer with other cruisers booking more regular type cabins ... I love people no matter what type cabin they book! ; )

The only thing that does honestly bother me is finding out that some of us are offered such difference pricing in cruise fares. I hate that ... it seems almost as bad as the game one sometimes has to play when buying a new car! I really wish that we were all given the same fare prices. Fare prices ... as in fair. ; )

Again, if you wouldn't mind, cruisinright ... could you share with us how you and your wife got what seems like such a good deal for your cabin with the extended balcony? I'd really appreciate your feedback on this. My husband and I are retired and love cruising ... and, of course, we would love to find the best deals possible for future cruises.

I hope that you and your wife have a wonderful and fun cruise in March! I'm sure that you will have the best time ever!

Needless to say ... we are looking so forward to our cruise in May on the Miracle! Anyone else here sailing out of Baltimore on May 16th?

On another note ... I have enjoyed reading all of the messages on this board. All of you sound like such a wonderful bunch of people!
 
My wife and I booked a category 8G cabin on the Veranda deck....total price for both of us was $1733 including all taxes, port charges, etc. That is a five night cruise and works out to be $346 per night/day. Based on your price and for seven nights you are paying around $456 per night/day. The main difference is the category, I think you are in a slightly bigger cabin. I don't have the figures here with me but I think our stateroom is around 186 sq. ft. So taking that into consideration it would appear the larger room is the main difference. We booked directly through Carnival.

The last time we cruised we had an ocean view and although we really enjoyed sitting in the window with our morning coffee/evening cocktail we upgraded just for the balcony and the ability to be outside for the morning coffee, evening cocktail, and the fresh air at night. The size of the room isn't as important as having access to the outside. I have seen debates on these boards regarding inside/outside cabins and the main thing said regarding inside is that they don't spend much time in the room anyhow. However, my thought is that if you have that outside area, would you spend more time in the room. I can see why not having even a window would result in me spending less time in the room.

As far as differences in prices in what people pay I think there it is alot like comparing apples and oranges, really hard to do. I look at the price and consider if it is reasonable and within my budget. Another issue I just thought of is if you are driving or flying, we booked without air fair. We are driving down on saturday as we have the time and my wife gets room rates of $25.00 per night so total for transportation/food/lodging for both of us shouldn't be more than $200.

Hope this sheds some light on your question.
 
Thank you for responding to my post and answering my questions. What you express makes perfect sense to me in regard to individual preferences ... and, that's why we chose the lower category over the upgrade that had a larger suite. We prefer the larger balcony over the other amenities that were offered to us in the upgrade.

Now, in October, Carnival has us booked for the Baltimore Cruise to Nowhere on the Miracle. Since that is only a two nighter ... and the weather that time of the year is usually very cool in this part of the country ... we booked a cabin on the Veranda deck with a standard size balcony. It will probably be too cold to spend much time out on a balcony ... and, with only one full day of cruising, time will pass in no time! On that cruise, we're hoping to get our pictures taken in the old fashioned costumes for Halloween night ... the Carnival photographers process the pictures in black and white ... really unique and special as a souvenir of the cruise!
 
Wow...We booked our March cruise last year and we paid 1700.00 for 3 of us in an oceanview cabin on the Inspirationn (7 day cruise). I wouldn't pay 1700 for a 5 day cruise for only the 2 of us. That to me seems high.
 
we are booked on the destiny for 9/5/04 for 3 people.
we paid 1271.92 for 3 people for an inside guart cabin hoping to be upgraded to an oceanview or a balcony. seeing it is sept and all the kids are back to school and this is our 5th carnival cruise, we are hoping. We booked it thru a TA that we have used for all the booking of our cruises. I checked the internet sites and all the prices were the exact price that she and carnival quoted us. I feel much safer booking thru a TA than online.
You get a different person to speak to everytime you call.
We were on the Glory last august and in a penthouse suite with a balcony. Cat 12.
It was grand. I wouldl ove to get another balcony but this year we can only do an inside cabin, but at least we are on the Cruise. Cant wait.
The air out of cleveland is almost as much as the cruise, so we found some air from detroit to San juan on Spirit air. 881.00 for the 3 of us compared to 453.00 person out of cleveland. But we have to drive to detroit which is 2 hr drive/ we are staying over 2 nights in san juan. figured the ship leaves on sunday and why not leave on friday.
its a holiday weekend anyways.

Thanks
Cruising on Destiny 9/5/04
Glory 8/03
Fantasy 8/02
Esctsy 6/97
Fantasy 8/00
 
I must be honest with you. I booked the cheapest thing on the ship & I am just glad to be going on vacation. I couldn't care if I will be sleeping in the crew quarters. 7 days & no bosses or problems with clients. Just family, gambling, drinking, sports, eating, sleeping, etc.

Anybody with me??
 
I always book the least expensive cabin - allows for more cruises, and I have never had a bad cabin.
 
That sounds about average to me....at least that's about how much we spend per cruise
with excursions, gambling, pictures, souveniers...etc.
 

Latest photo/videos

The Gang
Family
The Gang
First dinner in Athens before we boarded the ship
Our waiter with local beer
Love trying local food! These are grape leaves.
Octopus with a chick pea sauce
Dinner in Athens
The Whole Gang
The Gang
Back
Top