kids' spending money

[ctownnupe98]

We're taking our four girls on their first cruise. They are 17, 13 (twins) and 12. What's a "reasonable" amount to budget for their spending money? This is for onboard purchaes, as well as souvenirs on/off the ship. We're probably going to get the soda cards too, so that's a different figure as well.

[catieward]

We are taking our 15 yo daughter on our next cruise in January. We are giving her $50 at every port to buy souvenirs and such (she will be with us on land, so if she runs short I am sure she will turn the charm on her dad for the extra). On the ship we plan on giving her an ultimate drink sticker, and anything beyond that she will need to ask permission. That will also force her to check in with us as I am sure she will find SOMETHING she just can't live without!

[klfrodo]

My Opinion Only

 

The 17 YO is on her own for spending money. I paid the airfare, the hotel, meals, and cruise. She's a big girl now.

 

The twin 13's and the 12, I'd limit them to $100 on their on board account.

In ports? let them come to me and we can make a decision on their purchase.

[aphough]

We are taking our 11, 14, & 16 year old with us. I am giving them $200 spending allowance for the whole cruise that includes ports/and ship spending. We will put a block on them using their room card to charge so they will have to go through us for that so we can monitor and on land they will be w/us.

I will give them their money up front in envelopes that we will hold except for the 16 yo she is responsible to not misplace hers. When they want something on board they have to go into their envelopes take the $$ out and give it to us and the same in the ports. Once it is gone it is gone!!! No charming in our family. They need to learn responsibility.

[ctownnupe98]

Do the onboard gamerooms take cash, or are they played via the Sign and Sail Card? I assumed the ship was totally cashless. However, if they can use cash to play games and/or buy small souvenirs it would make it much easier for us.

[klfrodo]

Do the onboard gamerooms take cash, or are they played via the Sign and Sail Card? I assumed the ship was totally cashless. However, if they can use cash to play games and/or buy small souvenirs it would make it much easier for us.

 

Not sure about arcade games. I'm only 70% sure it's cashless also. No cash for any onboard purchases except in the casino.

 

The onboard account card is also your room key. You can set up the kids' cards to be limited in $$ amounts of what they can spend.

[aphough]

That would be a great question. I might post it on another link. It would be great if the game rooms would take cash with two boys 11 and 14 they live for video/arcade games. They could just take it out of their stash and when it is gone it is gone!!! No coming to mom or dad to reimburse:-)

[natesmom14]

My kids are 12, 10 and 6 and they get a weekly allowance already and they have been warned to save it for any "extras" for the cruise! All 3 of them are having me put transfer it automatically in to their savings each week so that they don't touch it between now and then.

 

As for the soda- we primarily are water drinkers anyway- if they want sodas (I feel there is plenty of sugary and junk stuff available to eat, they don't need soda on top of it!) they can buy their own soda card out of their allowances. They have all said that it's not worth it to them to have to spend their own money on soda so they won't be getting any.

 

We are paying for our Sign and Sail via cash- I DON'T want a credit card attached to it, so we'll figure out how much of their money gets put on there vs. saved in cash once we get there. If video games are cash, I agree- it will be MUCH easier to monitor.

[ctownnupe98]

We're doing cash for our Sign and Sail also. We did that for our last cruise (DW and I) and it worked out a lot better.

 

This is our first cruise with the kids, so we really have no gauge on what's a *reasonable* daily amount. $25 per day sounds so small.... until it's multiplied by 4 kids and then by 5 days. Then, all of a sudden, that's not such a small amount!! :p

[cb at sea]

There's not that much to buy onboard....arcade games, and perhaps, soda....

I never gave my kids "free- reign" with money anywhere, and I wouldn't on a ship, either!

 

Give them a budget...and when it's gone, it's gone! Whatever you can afford is fine. Good life lesson!

[MrsPete]

I'm planning to give my girls the same amount they've had on their previous cruises: Zero. There's not much onboard that kids need to buy. The gift shop doesn't really have much of interest, and I don't allow them to spend in the arcade. If they want to eat at Johnny Rockets with friends or if they want an occasional milkshake, I'll okay that. They'll have a small amount of money to spend in ports, but they won't spend much.

[bockmm]

I have a 13, 12 and 10 yr old girls. This is our first cruise and we have had them saving their own money since we told them about it. The older ones babysit and have a nice chunk to bring with them. We have had to get a little more creative with the 10 yr old. We are not letting them have "charging" privileges on the cruise.

[Cruisin 4 Ever]

We're taking our four girls on their first cruise. They are 17, 13 (twins) and 12. What's a "reasonable" amount to budget for their spending money? This is for onboard purchaes, as well as souvenirs on/off the ship. We're probably going to get the soda cards too, so that's a different figure as well.

I don't think the drinks should count out of their budget.

So for onboard purchases there shouldn't be too much, although they may want a few things from the gift ships or the spa. I think that if you give them each 200.00 total for souvenirs or onboard shopping that should do. But like I said, if they want some fancy drinks or pop that shouldn't come out of the 200.00.

[baffy]

We are taking our 15 year old twins on their first cruise, but as all the vacations we take, and spending money comes from thier own savings, we will buy them drinks cards, because they have to hydrate but anything else is on their own dime. They learn very quickly how expensed add up and teaches them how to make choices.

[MICHLEV1974]

I would like to chime in on the budget for the kids. My DS is 12. First cruise was age 9 (mariner), second cruise age 11 (miracle), third cruise age 12 (freedom), and we are booked on liberty and he will be 13.

 

:DI sailed on the Carnival Miracle in 2008, October. My son had his own card that was linked to mine and we could set a limit on it. They could use their room card or cash in the arcade and they could go to the casino (with me) and get tokens for the arcade with cash as well. There is no cap on the amount the kids can spend in the arcade when they use their card. They can use their card anytime in there or use cash.

 

:DI sailed on Royal Caribbean Freedom in 2010, Feb. My son had his own card that was linked to mine and we could NOT set a limit on it. Either you give the child charging privs or not. They could use cash in the arcade--the machine is right in the arcade and it will add points to their card. You put in the $$ bills, you swipe your card, and poof--the points appear. I can say that the kids experienced that the arcade puts a limit to the amount you can charge per day in there and that is a whopping $70. Once they use their card only (not cash) and reach $70, they get error message that says 'limit'.

 

:)We are booked on Royal Caribbean Liberty for 2011, Feb. My son has since opened up his own bank account and has his own debit card (I am the cosign). He earns an allowance and his money goes into that account specifically for his spending money on vacation. This is his money and he doesn't have to ask me first before purchasing something or spending $300 in the arcade. He worked for it = his free reign.

 

How much has my DS 12 yr old spent during our 8 night, 7 night, and soon to be 8 night? Well, he spends his money on snacks from the general store, airbrushed tattoos, and the arcade. He doesn't buy any trinkets or dust collectors nor t-shirts. He has the soda card that he purchased. How much he spends has been between @ $250- $300 in full for the week including the soda card. The only thing that I pay for is the excursions and food while off the ship. Everything else he pays for. It is a great lesson for them. It taught him how to budget his arcade per day so he wouldn't spend all his money at once.

[natesmom14]

It's just my own opinion and what we do with our kids- and in our own home in general- but they don't "need" sodas and therefore don't need a soda card on the cruise. The sodium and sugar in the sodas actually has the opposite effect of hydrating the body. Water is all they need! That's why I DID make that something they would have to spend on their own with their own allowance should they choose to do that.

 

However, we never have soda at the house either- and they don't much care. We aren't health food fanatics by any means- we'd just rather EAT our sugar and calories. :D:D:D

 

Granted, I am new to cruising, so if it turns out I have to buy a drink card in order for them to get unlimited water throughout the day (I simply don't know if you can just go up to any bar or whatever and get a glass or if you have to pay for bottled), PLEASE let me know and I will certainly budget for them to have that!

[MICHLEV1974]

Bottled water is for a fee, however, all tap water at any bar and in your cabin is free. You can walk up to any bar and get a glass of water. Some ships have self service machines that you can fill up your own too.:D

[natesmom14]

Great, thanks!!! I started to panic that we were gonna have an additional expense that I hadn't planned on. Sounds like we are all set! :)

[MICHLEV1974]

That could really add up if you have 4 people buying water 3 x a day or more. I am saying this as an alternative, since your kids and your family don't particularly drink a lot of soda. One of your kids could get the soda package on their card. You get a cool insulated mug when you buy this. You don't need to lug that mug around. You have the tag on your room key for the child that you purchased it for. That child can get a soda at any bar, dining room, or buffet. That child can hand it over to you or a sibling. Child price is cheaper than adult price.

 

My son and I don't drink alot, however, we both like @ soda each per day (one at lunch for him, and one at dinner for me). That was $1.50 x 2 people x 7 nights = $21 for soda. Soda package makes sense so you don't have to worry about it all adding up.

[pjsgirl]

My husband and I are taking our children on their frist cruise. Girl 11 and by 8. We aren't soda drinkers either so they know we won't be getting a soda card. They will have their own spending money for when we are on port to get what they want. We wil lpay for their excursions. We have them signed up on kidzeye where they take surveys and get paid, so they have let all of their survey money collect up and they are going to cash it out for the cruise. That will be how they get their spending money.

[lynnienyc]

what did you find out about money for videos- Cahs?

[kassimer1]

Do the onboard gamerooms take cash, or are they played via the Sign and Sail Card? I assumed the ship was totally cashless. However, if they can use cash to play games and/or buy small souvenirs it would make it much easier for us.

they take sign and sale

[kassimer1]

for our next cruise we are going to get a visa gift card and link it to our son's sign and sail card for 100$ ( his birthday present is the cruise and the 100$) when that money is gone he will be done. He doesnt drink soda at all. he gave it up and lost 38 pounds so he stays far from it. He mostly spends the money in the arcade. And the cruise we went on in june 2010 he went to get all the freebie stuff at the port stores to give to his girlfriend and only spent 15$ to get a hand carved jewlery box. She had no idea that the 2 necklaces with a different stone each and the charm bracelet with 8 charms was free !!! with the visa card he can also use it in ports if he wanted to

[chelegirly]

Great question!! None of us spend that much but we all get envelopes with our spending money in them. We keep track and when it's gone, we don't spend any more. The kids get $100/each for a 7 day cruise. It's been plenty in the past. It teaches them to make their own decisions and see the consequences of their spending. They've always come back with some nice souvenirs from each port and have even had some left over.

[snydermann]

Maybe I'm just old, but I'm stunned :eek: at how much spending money some people give their kids, in addition to already taking them on a cruise . . .