After paying for Cheers and gratuity upfront beside excursions what is NOT included?

I want to plan well and don't like a lot of surprise bills. Cruise is now paid for as well as gratuity and Cheers package. So now besides a bottle of wine or excursions what is NOT included.

Spa Services

Specialty restaurants

Shore Excursions

Gambling

Shopping onboard

Behind the scenes ship tours

Bingo

Souveniers

Lunch/taxis when you are in ports of call

We tip our bartenders and bar servers by the pool or Serenity area. Knick knacks at the Fun Shops. Casino

Gambling, all the for-fee food venues (e.g. steak house, other fee-based food venues like specialty coffee, sushi, etc.), on-board shops (jewelry, Carnival gear) are all additional expenses to consider but they're all discretionary and under your control

Internet access or texting on the hub app if you want that.

Room service after 10pm, photos, Seuss at Sea Breakfast, premium teas at the afternoon tea event

We tip our bartenders and bar servers by the pool or Serenity area. Knick knacks at the Fun Shops. Casino

But tips are already included, right?

I think coevan is suggesting that the OP bring extra cash if he/she wants to tip above & beyond. Not an unusual suggestion as I’ve read/heard it often. But obviously completely optional.

OP, please keep in mind for budgeting purposes that there is an additional 15 % charge on bar drinks that will be added to your S&S account.

And you want to make song requests in the piano bar, tips are customary.

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I think coevan is suggesting that the OP bring extra cash if he/she wants to tip above & beyond. Not an unusual suggestion as I’ve read/heard it often. But obviously completely optional.

 

OP, please keep in mind for budgeting purposes that there is an additional 15 % charge on bar drinks that will be added to your S&S account.

OP is on cheers. So there won’t be 15% added to each drink.

Bring lots and lots of ones for tips. Porters, servers, bartenders, taxi drivers in port, etc. Yes, you pre-pay gratuities, but we tip above and beyond even though we have Cheers. Makes a difference. ;) We also tip extra to our room steward at the end of the cruise.

OP is on cheers. So there won’t be 15% added to each drink.

True because they already paid the 15%.

plus, we still tip a dollar a drink with Cheers

Gambling, all the for-fee food venues (e.g. steak house, other fee-based food venues like specialty coffee, sushi, etc.), on-board shops (jewelry, Carnival gear) are all additional expenses to consider but they're all discretionary and under your control

Specialty coffees are included with Cheers the way I read it.

I think the only necessary cash you need to bring is for tipping the porters and tour guides for shore excursions. It's a good idea to have a lot of small bills. On board, if you have prepaid your tips, it is not necessary at all to tip additional amounts. Some people do and some people don't. If you feel like tipping more than the prepaid tips, that is up to you. I have occasionally tipped a small additional amount for drinks and I always leave a $20 bill at the end of the cruise for the person who cleans my room.

There are many additional things available on the ship for purchase, but they are are optional and you can have a great cruise without spending any additional money. I think the total bill on my last cruise was $130, and this was with only the soda package. If you like to gamble, use the internet, play bingo, buy souvenirs, have spa treatments, or eat at specialty restaurants, then those will be added expenses.

I want to plan well and don't like a lot of surprise bills. Cruise is now paid for as well as gratuity and Cheers package. So now besides a bottle of wine or excursions what is NOT included.

Pretty much, everything else is NOT included:D

Room service costs extra after 10pm now? It didn't when I sailed in 2012. How much extra?

Room service costs extra after 10pm now? It didn't when I sailed in 2012. How much extra?

It changed a couple of months ago. The for fee items cost between $2-$6 or so. Here is a link:

https://www.carnival.com/~/media/images/explore/dining/menus/room-service-menu.pdf

It changed a couple of months ago. The for fee items cost between $2-$6 or so. Here is a link:

https://www.carnival.com/~/media/images/explore/dining/menus/room-service-menu.pdf

Well dang... that is sad. Late night room service was always one of my favorite things to count on!

Even though you have Cheers, you will get charged sales tax on your drinks from the time you board until you are out in international waters. In California it appeared to be about 9%, varying between $0.50 and $1.00 per drink depending on its price. This will automatically go on you on board account and will show up on the receipt that you will sign. Unless it was just getting a bottled water we always tipped the bar tender, in cash, about $1.00 per drink. Also tipped, in cash, any cocktail server as well. Ensured that the server frequented our location on deck. Our favorite bar tender also knew our drinks and pretty much started making them as soon as she saw us walk up!

Even though you have Cheers, you will get charged sales tax on your drinks from the time you board until you are out in international waters. In California it appeared to be about 9%, varying between $0.50 and $1.00 per drink depending on its price.

Not that this is a big deal but more of a curiosity . How do you know when you are out in international waters? How long from Long Beach?

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong but it's usually 2-4 hours after you sail from most ports til you reach international waters... except for the port of New Orleans, which takes 8 hours or so just to navigate the Mississippi River to get to the gulf.

You'll be able to tell when the casino opens.

If you'd like to purchase any of the pictures they take of you, that will be additional.

Even though you have Cheers, you will get charged sales tax on your drinks from the time you board until you are out in international waters. In California it appeared to be about 9%, varying between $0.50 and $1.00 per drink depending on its price. This will automatically go on you on board account and will show up on the receipt that you will sign. Unless it was just getting a bottled water we always tipped the bar tender, in cash, about $1.00 per drink. Also tipped, in cash, any cocktail server as well. Ensured that the server frequented our location on deck. Our favorite bar tender also knew our drinks and pretty much started making them as soon as she saw us walk up!

I'm so glad you mentioned the tax thing. People always forget that! Not that it adds up to too much, but it's still a surprise when you look at your bill.

I'd suggest travel insurance if you haven't purchased that yet.