How much do you spend on your onboard account?

[Psychedout]

We prepay our gratuities and excursions so we don't have them on our account. Typically, we average about $1000 for the two of us on a seven night cruise. This includes drinks, spa treatments, photos and anything bought in the shops.

 

It's just the two of us so we tend to take advantage of the ship's photographers for photos of us together and they add up fast, so that's usually a good chunk of our bill.

 

That's about what we spent.

[heatherandfred]

It all depends on your control. I have a set budget and stick to it. This cruise I won't be buying any onboard photos, with the exception to our wedding photos (we have enough cruise photos!) I'm not a big drinker, maybe one drink a day. I love to gamble (Won $300 on the RCCL EOS), I moderate that as well.

 

You can stick to a budget and not go crazy, avoid the art auctions and fake gold, cheesy souvenirs on board. Knowing me, I'll be adding to my lanyard collection (I know, I'm a nerd! :rolleyes: ) Shopping is important, but I can live without some things...yeah right:rolleyes:! The main thing is just don't go nuts!

[hubofhockey]

The biggest variable is ship sponsored excursions. We try to avoid them because, in most cases, quality is better and cost is less doing a private excursion or even taking a cab or bus to a beach. On our upcoming 12-night Med cruise, I would to see $250 for the mandatory gratuities, $200 bar tab (we still bring our own, but drink in specialty restaurants), and $150 for specialty restaurants. If I can keep my wife out of the spa (not likely :eek:), it will be around $600 for the both of us. But it's comparing apples and oranges as to the actual cost of my extras since admissions to attractions, cost of private excursions, meals in ports, and more will cost another $1500. I am not against the idea of a shipboard account or paying extra money to the cruiselines. I don't care who gets my money. I just want a combination of value and quality. I would spend more on my sign and sail if I believed that was the way to go.

[greatam]

We are not one of the 'booze cruisers', so our tab is low.

 

High tabs don't mean you spend all your time in the bar. Spas, exercise classes and hair appointments can easily add a whopping sum to a cruise account. Throw in a few dollars at the casino and you don't have to take a drink to have a pretty substantial tab. Add in the shore excursions and gratuities and it can result in a SUBSTANTIAL onboard account.

 

Your post is an insult to some of us who have high bar bills and cruise tabs but don't drink much. I drink expensive drinks-two drinks a day plus a glass of GOOD champagne can easily run $40-45.00. Add in a few beers for DH and a GOOD single malt and we have spent close to $80.00 in a day and certainly haven't imbibed much OR consider ourselves the "booze cruisers".

[PattyG12]

on the Freedom a few months ago I glanced down at the table in front of the elevator. Someone had left page 2 of their bill sitting right there. The total spa services was almost $1800 for the 7 day cruise. That said, we normally budget $100 per day for 2 of us. We also pre pay as much as possible, including excursions. DH likes to get the "Coke Cup" and we eat a couple times in the specialty restaurants. My downfall is the casino! :o

[Johnthed0g]

I think the OP's question was a bit confusing maybe, "how much do you spend?" would be more accurate, it's all costs whether you pay up front or ashore. I do hear of people who are determined not to spend anything!!

[pris993]

When I said as little as possible, it is because we like to get value for our money.

 

We bring on our own wine because the cruiselines charge 3+ times for the wine they sell.

 

We don't find anything we are really interested in buying in the boutiques on board. Years ago we did find some nice things for a reasonable price. Now most ships have simply logo merchandise only.

 

We don't gamble, we arrange our own tours, we are not into buying art.

 

We find the food at the Lido and MDR all we want.

 

We are not into spa treatments.

 

Sometimes we have had a OBC and found it hard to use.

[FINTUCKYFARMS]

We prepay our gratuities and excursions so we don't have them on our account. Typically, we average about $1000 for the two of us on a seven night cruise. This includes drinks, spa treatments, photos and anything bought in the shops.

 

It's just the two of us so we tend to take advantage of the ship's photographers for photos of us together and they add up fast, so that's usually a good chunk of our bill.

 

Right there with ya, we also prepay for as much as possible and find it is easier to stick to a budget. We are not big drinkers, but do induldge in a few drinks. Most of our money is spent on pictures and on-board purchases. We also spend between $500 & $1,000 a trip.

[Tanderra]

It all depends on your control. I have a set budget and stick to it. This cruise I won't be buying any onboard photos, with the exception to our wedding photos (we have enough cruise photos!) I'm not a big drinker, maybe one drink a day. I love to gamble (Won $300 on the RCCL EOS), I moderate that as well.

 

You can stick to a budget and not go crazy, avoid the art auctions and fake gold, cheesy souvenirs on board. Knowing me, I'll be adding to my lanyard collection (I know, I'm a nerd! :rolleyes: ) Shopping is important, but I can live without some things...yeah right:rolleyes:! The main thing is just don't go nuts!

 

Hi Heatherandfred :)....oooh!, I'm not on my own....I also collect lanyards :D

I think what people spend is entirely up to them and I think 'John' is wrong to call people 'tight wads' :rolleyes:

[geoherb]

I tend to think of all the extra costs in one lump sum. In other words, excluding airfare, hotel, and the cruise fare, how much are we going to spend? It doesn't matter to me whether the additional money is going to the cruise line or a taxi driver.

 

For our typical week-long cruise to the Caribbean, we usually end up spending $500-$600 more. That covers the cost of taxis, excursions, tips, wine and drinks, meals, and various expenses.

[kudy]

I believe my on-board account on my last cruise was under $10 - I also marvel at the people who lose track on their alcohol costs, etc. It's like a game for those of us who are the super-frugal types.

[Johnthed0g]

Don't keep track of anything, within reason we have what we want on holiday. I still think some people spend their time worrying about how to keep their bill down, they must be triumphant at the end when they have had a holiday & done without as much as possible! I bet there are lot's of rich divorcees on cruises thinking now he/she's gone I can spend what I like!!

[ladycaveat]

As someone who travels solo . . . I spend entirely too much on my S&S card. I don't gamble or play bingo . . . I don't "do" the spa or special restaurant. But . . . my on board bill is usually between four and five hundred dollars. Only $70.00 goes on my S&S card for grautity . . . 7 days at $10 is only $70.00 . . . but because I travel solo, I buy too many photos, book excursions, buy a tee shirt or two and other odds and ends in the gift shop and drink too many DODs. :o

[Johnthed0g]

As someone who travels solo . . . I spend entirely too much on my S&S card. I don't gamble or play bingo . . . I don't "do" the spa or special restaurant. But . . . my on board bill is usually between four and five hundred dollars. Only $70.00 goes on my S&S card for grautity . . . 7 days at $10 is only $70.00 . . . but because I travel solo, I buy too many photos, book excursions, buy a tee shirt or two and other odds and ends in the gift shop and drink too many DODs. :o

It's called enjoying yourself, I can recommend it!

[GoldWest]

We had our first cruise, 25th anniversary. Our S & S bill was something over 200.00 and about 130.00 was pictures. I also got the drink of the day, which I don't think I'll do again. We didn't buy anything in the shops, and no gambling.

[toxicfairy]

My husband makes a good living. I work my butt off for what little I do make. When we vacation we have fun. If we want to buy something (within reason) we do. I don't drink 99% of the time so when I am vacationing I like to enjoy a few frozen drinks. My husband is a drinker! I am a shopper! We take a few vacations a year and fill in most of the summer camping with the kids. I think we spent around $2000.00 on each of on our past 2 cruises (that was our tab at the end). This August will be our first cruise taking our (teen age) DD's and I'm certain this will greatly up the amount we will spend !!

[ladycaveat]

It's called enjoying yourself, I can recommend it!

 

Thanks . . . makes me feel less guilty . . . :p

[iheartbda]

It's called enjoying yourself, I can recommend it!

Ya' know.....this may not be the case but, you are coming off in all your posts sounding like you think that people cannot have a good time or enjoy their cruise without spending a fair amount of money.

 

Quit trying so hard to make people think they are missing something, denying themselves anything or not having a good time based on what you do.;)

[tomchi]

I think the OP's question was a bit confusing maybe, "how much do you spend?" would be more accurate, it's all costs whether you pay up front or ashore. I do hear of people who are determined not to spend anything!!

 

It's not confusing at all. In fact, it's quite clear.

 

Do you also go by the name of Victor Meldrew?

[SemperFi_Cruiser]

Ran across this forum quite by accident while searching for other information, but was intrigued by the variety of opinions & answers...as varied as people in general I suppose.

After reading through the posts, however, thought I would just toss in my two cents worth as well...

 

I am a solo cruiser, mid-sixties, widowed. I do enjoy those alcoholic libations on a cruise. Typically I will budget (or set aside) approx. $100.00 per cruise day, over and above the gratuities. This usually works out just right for me, covers the drinks, perhaps a trinket or two from the gift shop, maybe a photo, just depends...sometimes even a shore excursion.

 

For me, I don't go on a cruise to win the frugality contest. I go on a cruise to relax. I usually snag a balcony cabin, a place to retreat when I want to. But I enjoy my margaritas, the occasional martini, and not to forget that cold beer when the sun is high.

 

I think the important thing is, I have discovered what works best for me and that's what I do. My plan might not work for someone else, and theirs certainly wouldn't work for me.

 

So there...just another opinion. Happy Cruising!!:):rolleyes:

[jaybird from SC]

There are so many little and not-so-little temptations on cruise ships these days - from drinks to optional restaurants to shore excursions to spa treatments to gratuities. Then, of course, there are the casinos.

 

I've often wondered why people are so careful about the price they pay for their cruise, only to spend as much again on boozing, eating better, gambling, etc.

 

Why not just pay upfront for a genuinely all-inclusive deal on the top notch ships? There can't be that much of a difference in the total cost - can there?

 

What would the average person accumulate on their onboard account?

Don't know about the average cruiser but our recent bill was less than $300.00 for 11 nights BUT we had prepaid gratuities, we do not drink, we do not do speciality dining and we usually book our own excursions off the ship. It's pretty much up to you how much you're willing to spend over and above the cost of your cruise.

[mousey]

I don't know what our bill is because the DH takes care of it.:D The DH and I aren't big drinkers. We'll have a glass of wine here and there. We do a day at the spa (the $20 day pass thing),wine tasting, pictures, shore excursions, and I love to buy purses at the $10 store. I average about 3 of them on a 7-day cruise (I have quite a collection):D. We like to do the Jazz Brunch on NCL, and the steak house at least once. We tip anyone that serves us (above the standard $12 per person ea. day) and I get a soda card and the DS gets a teen passport. That's the way we roll!;) The DH is very generours with the DS and . The DH always tells us we can have whatever we want. I think that's because he knows that the DS and I don't take advantage of his generosity. We're not rich, we're just on vacation and the DH likes to make it as special as possible. Gotta love a guy like that!:D

[Norwegianlatvian]

Based on what I seen at this forum, I guess my budget is decent enough with 2000$ for 7 nights when gratuities is prepayed then... dont gamble..

[Clerkgal]

I don't know what our bill is because the DH takes care of it.:D The DH and I aren't big drinkers. We'll have a glass of wine here and there. We do a day at the spa (the $20 day pass thing),wine tasting, pictures, shore excursions, and I love to buy purses at the $10 store. I average about 3 of them on a 7-day cruise (I have quite a collection):D. We like to do the Jazz Brunch on NCL, and the steak house at least once. We tip anyone that serves us (above the standard $12 per person ea. day) and I get a soda card and the DS gets a teen passport. That's the way we roll!;) The DH is very generours with the DS and . The DH always tells us we can have whatever we want. I think that's because he knows that the DS and I don't take advantage of his generosity. We're not rich, we're just on vacation and the DH likes to make it as special as possible. Gotta love a guy like that!:D

 

My hubby is like that too!

[Calinae]

Nice averages there. We are starting with $800+ OBC so we should be about right or a little over that. I agree 1000% on having fun, relaxing and not worrying about that credit card bill. We worked too long for this, we plan on having too much to drink on a night or 3, so most of our bill will be the bar tab. Reading this post helped to gather more info on "about" where it will be by trips end.