How Do You Do It?

[silentkink]

Not trying to be mean here i come by a lot and post on the other RCI boards more but I see that a lot of you go on so many cruises each year like 3 back to back cruises and 3 non back to back cruises and I am just wondering how you can afford that every year do you save up for years to afford it? My family and I aren't poor by any means, but we only go on one cruise a year which I think is fine and we are going on two this year, but i cant imagine going on like 7 cruises a year I would love that. Again i am not trying to be mean or pry into life by any means.

[catlady27]

Not trying to be mean here i come by a lot and post on the other RCI boards more but I see that a lot of you go on so many cruises each year like 3 back to back cruises and 3 non back to back cruises and I am just wondering how you can afford that every year do you save up for years to afford it? My family and I aren't poor by any means, but we only go on one cruise a year which I think is fine and we are going on two this year, but i cant imagine going on like 7 cruises a year I would love that. Again i am not trying to be mean or pry into life by any means.

 

DH and I have asked that exact same question many times :) We go on our third cruise next year and we are amazed that some folks seem to be cruising every few months. Heck, I can't get that much time off work even if I could afford the cruise :)

[bayou cruiser]

When I first joined Cruise Critic I wondered the same thing. I've come to the conclusion that cruises take two things: time and money. If you've got the time and the money you're good to go. Hopefully when I retire or stop paying tuition for the kidlet I will have both time and money.

[eroller]

For one it helps to be a DINK (duel income, no kids). That is what myself and my partner are. We both receive substantial time off from work. Lastly, I don't think cruises are that expensive ... at least not the 7-day Caribbean garden variety. I've taken enough cruises now that I don't buy anything onboard such as pictures, gift shop, bingo, etc. That novelty has long since wore off. I also don't book shore excursions and I don't gamble. I do drink and I like the specialty restaurants so that is where I spend my money along with gratuities. I live in Atlanta which is a short (and cheap) flight to Miami/Ft. Lauderdale (just booked a r/t ticket on Spirit for $134) so that is not expensive. We can also drive fairly easily to Tampa and Port Canaveral.

 

Although we eat out a lot at home, we don't spend a lot of money on things like plays, concerts, etc. We use that money for vacations and average about five cruises a year.

 

Ernie

[catlady27]

For one it helps to be a DINK (duel income, no kids). That is what myself and my partner are. We both receive substantial time off from work. Lastly, I don't think cruises are that expensive ... at least not the 7-day Caribbean garden variety. I've taken enough cruises now that I don't buy anything onboard such as pictures, gift shop, bingo, etc. That novelty has long since wore off. I also don't book shore excursions and I don't gamble. I do drink and I like the specialty restaurants so that is where I spend my money along with gratuities. I live in Atlanta which is a short (and cheap) flight to Miami/Ft. Lauderdale (just booked a r/t ticket on Spirit for $134) so that is not expensive. We can also drive fairly easily to Tampa and Port Canaveral.

 

Although we eat out a lot at home, we don't spend a lot of money on things like plays, concerts, etc. We use that money for vacations and average about five cruises a year.

 

Ernie

 

Ernie,

 

What do you do for a living because I need to change careers :) I work for a law firm and the most we EVER get for a vacation is 3 weeks a year. We can't carry time over. God forbid should we take more than 3 weeks a year off. So, even if we could afford it (no kids, but we are involved in animal rescue), I don't have the time off from work :(

 

Edna

[NathanJax]

I have the exact same questions for some of the people on these forums...

 

My wish is to be like some of y'all when I grow up :D

[dougp26364]

Some of it is what you're comfortable cruising in, how you book and where you go. For instance, if I could drive to port, if we enjoyed the caribbean, if we could book within a 90 day window and if my wife wasn't claustrophobic to the point she can't cruise in an inside cabin, we could cruise a LOT if we wanted.

 

We get the equivilent of 7 weeks paid time off each year. This includes sick days. Fortunately, we're not sick all that often. We take 6 vacations each year as it is now. We just don't cruise for the majority of them. Most are land based vacations. We still enjoy cruising but, we're not big on the caribbean.

[tiggerman101]

For one it helps to be a DINK (duel income, no kids). That is what myself and my partner are. We both receive substantial time off from work. Lastly, I don't think cruises are that expensive ... at least not the 7-day Caribbean garden variety. I've taken enough cruises now that I don't buy anything onboard such as pictures, gift shop, bingo, etc. That novelty has long since wore off. I also don't book shore excursions and I don't gamble. I do drink and I like the specialty restaurants so that is where I spend my money along with gratuities. I live in Atlanta which is a short (and cheap) flight to Miami/Ft. Lauderdale (just booked a r/t ticket on Spirit for $134) so that is not expensive. We can also drive fairly easily to Tampa and Port Canaveral.

 

Although we eat out a lot at home, we don't spend a lot of money on things like plays, concerts, etc. We use that money for vacations and average about five cruises a year.

 

Ernie

 

Crazy. You sound just like us. We are DINKs, live in Atlanta where most air is reasonable, we both have jobs that allow a good amount of time off, and we don't spend much on a cruise itself. We don't drink much at all and rarely gamble. We do spend some money on our cabins, but we spend time in them usually.

[Karter]

In my case my company requires me to take four weeks of vacation a year and I think cruising represents an excellent value. So by booking off season I get great deals. It also helps to live in Florida with the resident discounts and being able to drive to the 5 florida ports. So far for 2010 I am booked on the Oasis, Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas. Still looking for a good deal for the fouth cruise.

[Head Shot]

I imagined many are up there in age in retired or semi-retired mode. For those of you with paid 3,4,7 weeks vacations, that's not normal :D

[waterbug123]

When I first joined Cruise Critic I wondered the same thing. I've come to the conclusion that cruises take two things: time and money. .

 

Exactly. My BF owns his own business and has a very competent 2nd-in-command, so has a lot of flexibility to take time off. I work parttime and also have a lot of schedule flexibility. We are both divorced, so if we are gone, his kids are with their mom and mine are with their dad (or grandparents), so childcare isn't a big issue for us. And, he earns an income that affords us the opportunity to cruise as frequently as we do.

[waterbug123]

When I first joined Cruise Critic I wondered the same thing. I've come to the conclusion that cruises take two things: time and money. .

 

Exactly. My BF owns his own business and has a very competent 2nd-in-command, so has a lot of flexibility to take time off. I work parttime and also have a lot of schedule flexibility. We are both divorced, so if we are gone, his kids are with their mom and mine are with their dad (or grandparents), so childcare isn't a big issue for us. And, he earns an income that affords us the opportunity to cruise as frequently as we do.

[Cruise_Kitten]

we are looking forward to 2 cruises this year (yay can finaly say this year lol) 1 which is a 4 day on Indy to Cork when she comes back over to the UK and a 2 weeker B2B on Oasis in October.

The Indy sailing sits over the last May Bank holiday weekend and as i don't work on bank holidays it makes it easy for us to holiday then.

When we go on Oasis we are going while all the schools are in so travelling is cheaper. We are a young couple with no kids both working in full time employment when we book holidays we book way in advance, Oasis was booked in March last year so we have had almost a year and a half to save and prepare.

But we are hoping to fit a lot more in when Indy is here in the UK, i think a few more cruises could be squeezed in even if it is only a few long weekend cruises.

 

CK x

[loudbmw]

We have 3 cruises taken or planned between Dec '09 and May '10. How we do it:

 

Dual incomes and lots of overtime (kids are joining us on 2 of the 3 cruises)

Look for bargains like our $599 spring break cruise (3/14/10) on the Freedom. OK the Oasis was no bargain but we had to try it.

Inside cabins (two cabins don't cost much more than 4 in a cabin)

No bingo or shopping binges (can't resist the casino though)

Senior or resident discounts

No air fare - drive to the port

On board credit from T/A and also from being stockholder

Drink only in the Diamond lounge

Few shore excusions, if we take one we book ourselves

 

P.S. - we always tip over the recommended amount, the crew works very hard.

[Parkay]

I get 3 weeks off per year, and my partner gets 4 weeks off. Plus, our company closes for the two week Christmas break, which is paid and not included with our vacation time. (we work for the same company)

 

We used to vacation a lot more, but then we bought a second home and now we take one big vacation per year and the rest of our time off is spent at our vacation home.

[catlady27]

We have 3 cruises taken or planned between Dec '09 and May '10. How we do it:

 

Dual incomes and lots of overtime (kids are joining us on 2 of the 3 cruises)

Look for bargains like our $599 spring break cruise (3/14/10) on the Freedom. OK the Oasis was no bargain but we had to try it.

Inside cabins (two cabins don't cost much more than 4 in a cabin)

No bingo or shopping binges (can't resist the casino though)

Senior or resident discounts

No air fare - drive to the port

On board credit from T/A and also from being stockholder

Drink only in the Diamond lounge

Few shore excusions, if we take one we book ourselves

 

P.S. - we always tip over the recommended amount, the crew works very hard.

 

*Got the dual income, but all law firms have stopped OT due to economy - boo (better than being laid off)

*No kids, but as one other poster says in her tag line "We are spending our cat's inheritance one cruise at a time" :p

*Can't do an inside cabin - no way, no how

*Gotta shop, gotta play bingo, and short excursions are a MUST (that's the whole point of a vacation) :rolleyes:

*Live in Houston - must fly - no way am I driving to Florida (yes, I know there are cruises out of Galveston but those ships don't have a Flowrider - that too is a MUST have)

*Booze - oh yea, lots o money spent on booze (again, it's a vacation, it's what we do on vacation - HA HA HA)

*Guess we are just gonna have to live with one to two cruises a year (oh well, we have jet skis and a lake close by - not the same but beats the heck out of going to the mall )

*And speaking of shopping - I simply MUST get a new ring or some sparkly bauble each time we cruise) :D

[catlady27]

I get 3 weeks off per year, and my partner gets 4 weeks off. Plus, our company closes for the two week Christmas break, which is paid and not included with our vacation time. (we work for the same company)

 

We used to vacation a lot more, but then we bought a second home and now we take one big vacation per year and the rest of our time off is spent at our vacation home.

 

Niiiiiiiiiicccccceeeee:D

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

We cruised five times last year but they were all short three, four or five-night cruises. We just can't get away longer than that even though we are retired. For just one thing, my mother is quite frail. We don't dare go away very long, plus we take her to doctors and dentist, etc. I'd rather take one or two longer cruises a year such as a ten-night cruise, but we can't.

[bwest the man]

*Got the dual income, but all law firms have stopped OT due to economy - boo (better than being laid off)

*No kids, but as one other poster says in her tag line "We are spending our cat's inheritance one cruise at a time" :p

*Can't do an inside cabin - no way, no how

*Gotta shop, gotta play bingo, and short excursions are a MUST (that's the whole point of a vacation) :rolleyes:

*Live in Houston - must fly - no way am I driving to Florida (yes, I know there are cruises out of Galveston but those ships don't have a Flowrider - that too is a MUST have)

*Booze - oh yea, lots o money spent on booze (again, it's a vacation, it's what we do on vacation - HA HA HA)

*Guess we are just gonna have to live with one to two cruises a year (oh well, we have jet skis and a lake close by - not the same but beats the heck out of going to the mall )

*And speaking of shopping - I simply MUST get a new ring or some sparkly bauble each time we cruise) :D

 

I agree the Flowrider is a must. i also like the big ships. we cruise once or twice a year, and take some land vacations as well.

[crystal blue]

My motto is work hard and vacation often. I'm lucky to have a job where I now get 6 weeks of vacation a year plus personnal days. Can't bring myself to stay home. I usually take 3 cruises each year and spend a couple of weeks at a beach resort in the Caribbean or Mexico. I save money every week that I use for my vacations. I look for great deals and have traveled to so many places that I do not spend a great deal of extra money on my trips. I do enjoy puchasing jewelry that sparkles and shines. I also must not be without a martini or two or three a day.

[waterbug123]

I've already answered that, like others have posted, it certainly helps to have schedule flexibility with your job, as well as a reasonable income. The more schedule flexibility and the more income, the more cruises one can take. But I think a lot of it also comes down to priorities and choices.

 

For example, if you only get, say, 2 weeks of vacation a year, you could still choose to go on 5 or 6 cruises if you stick to 3 and 4 nighters that cruise over a weekend and maybe combine some with a paid holiday. But if you priority is week-long cruises, you have to make a choice....forego multiple cruises/year so you can take 1 or 2 long ones.

 

Likewise, maybe you earn an "average" salary (whatever that is!) but you want to have it all. If your priority is to have the biggest house you can afford, the nicest car you can afford, etc. and you therefore choose to do everything "top of the line," whatever that means for your salary level, maybe there isn't anything left over to spend on cruises. But if you choose to live in a smaller, simpler house that you could otherwise afford, and you choose to drive your car for 8 or 10 or 12 years instead of getting a new one every 2-3 years, and make other similar choices, then maybe you can cruise more often and fulfill that priority in your life.

[catlady27]

I've already answered that, like others have posted, it certainly helps to have schedule flexibility with your job, as well as a reasonable income. The more schedule flexibility and the more income, the more cruises one can take. But I think a lot of it also comes down to priorities and choices.

 

For example, if you only get, say, 2 weeks of vacation a year, you could still choose to go on 5 or 6 cruises if you stick to 3 and 4 nighters that cruise over a weekend and maybe combine some with a paid holiday. But if you priority is week-long cruises, you have to make a choice....forego multiple cruises/year so you can take 1 or 2 long ones.

 

Likewise, maybe you earn an "average" salary (whatever that is!) but you want to have it all. If your priority is to have the biggest house you can afford, the nicest car you can afford, etc. and you therefore choose to do everything "top of the line," whatever that means for your salary level, maybe there isn't anything left over to spend on cruises. But if you choose to live in a smaller, simpler house that you could otherwise afford, and you choose to drive your car for 8 or 10 or 12 years instead of getting a new one every 2-3 years, and make other similar choices, then maybe you can cruise more often and fulfill that priority in your life.

 

Couldn't agree more about choices and priorities :) Our priorities always have been and still are the animals we rescue so if we spend oddles in vet bills and rehoming critters, then we don't spend money on ourselves. But it's all good and we are happy even if we can't go on multiple cruises or vacations every year:p

[yarlenna]

For us it simple - We are retired. We saved our money every year. We drive one car. It is old and paid for. We live in a townhouse that is also old and paid for. Yes, I would love a new car and some upgrades on our home, but we cruise.

[waterbug123]

For us it simple - We are retired. We saved our money every year. We drive one car. It is old and paid for. We live in a townhouse that is also old and paid for. Yes, I would love a new car and some upgrades on our home, but we cruise.

 

 

A perfect example of my "choices and priorities" post earlier! :)

A lot of people in your situation would buy a new or 2nd car because they want one, and maybe move to a fancier retirement community because they want to, and then would wonder why they can't afford to cruise as often as other people.

[househunter]

We don't usually do more than one cruise per year but we do take several land based vacations of 10-14 days at a time too. My husband has been at his job for over 25 years and gets 7 weeks of paid vacation and then he can take as much unpaid as he wants as long as he requests a replacement to cover his postion. I am self employed and have a great co-worker who covers for me when I am gone as I do for her when she is away.

 

We are both lucky enough to have jobs that support our traveling habit. It's the main reason we work as hard as we do, so we can play hard too. If we are home for more than 2 months, we go crazy and then we're off again. Working 70 hours a week when we are home allows us to be gone whenever we need to get away! We would never work our crazy hours otherwise.