Affording a cruise

[aggiejade]

I'm in my 50's with a decent paying job, my husband is a househusband. I plan and book our cruises early. I work for a school superintendent district and use the Summer Saver saving plan through the credit union. I have $100 directly deposited from my pay once a month and then once a year it rolls over to my checking account. I usually make the deposit for my cruise from income tax return and pay off my cruise from my Summer Saver savings. For me it's an easy way to pay for cruises. And so far I have only booked cruises from ports within driving distance from my house ie; Los Angeles, Long Beach and San Diego to avoid the extra cost of airfare.

 

Nina

[tgwabd]

We go once a year, always get the least expensive inside and get onboard. The room is for sleeping, everything else is included in the price. We have been lucky and have always been upgraded and we live in NYC so we have a small choice of cruises. Do not deny yourself, read the blogs so you get an idea of what to expect. As far as we know you only live once, enjoy at the level that you are comfortable with.

[PrincessE]

I'm sure we all agree that a cruise is a very cost effective way to vacation, but it still is a considerable expense. The basic cost of passage even in a modest cabin plus air fare, side trips, beverages, tips etc. can result in quite a good sized bill. So, here's my question: what allows you to take a cruise? Or more specifically, where does the money come from? Stretching out credit card payments, personal savings, an inheritance, a fantastic job, wise investments or perhaps conservative ones (is there a difference?), great luck at the track, or perhaps a wealthy spouse:p. Please don't respond if you're sensitive to the question, as I'm asking out of curiosity of people I don't know. In my case my spouse's job allows for free air transportation , we are older and my retirement is adequate, plus we have invested extremely conservatively recently, so we been spared the down market. But in my single days, the credit card route was my saviour.

 

We don't charge our vacations. Well, we charge them and then pay the card off. Our cruises are paid in full before we even leave the house on vacation. I budget for everything. The cruise itself, airfare and pre/post hotels are paid for before we leave. Money for shore ex's, tips, alcohol, shopping, etc. is in the bank account before we leave.

 

I work for a non-profit and until recently we owned our own business where my husband worked. He didn't draw a very big paycheck. We cut back on little things and they add up. We clip coupons, have Starbucks only once a week, sell what we can (car parts, knick knacks, other stuff around the house that we no longer want), etc.

 

It really is amazing how if you just set your mind to it, you can save a lot of money.

[househunter]

I think this is a very sensitive subject as you are basically asking people how much money they make.

 

Without going into that, both myself and my husband work hard, we have a very low mortgage and only one car payment. We only spend what we can afford and would never travel if we have to scrimp and save or use a credit card- well we do use our credit cards for EVERYTHING, we just pay them off each month. ( lots of free flights that way!) We are lucky that we spend about a month in Cabo every year ( 2, 2 week trips) and also cruise or go somewhere else for a few weeks. We also do 4-5 long weekends a year to either Vegas or somewhere close to our area.

 

It really is such a touchy subject as I'm sure that everyone's income and expenses are so different.

[pinkie1]

What I'm wondering is if I'll be able to afford cruising once I retire! It seems that a lot of ya'll have worked hard and now that you're retired are going cruising. Did you go on any vacations when you were working?

 

I am far from retiring, I'm in my mid 30's, and have a young son with a private school tuiton. I get paid sort of decently, but I think the key is my husband. :) When we bought our house we pretty much used only his income (which is also o.k.) for the loan. Needless to say, our home is very modest, but comfortable. About 90% of my income goes straight into savings (or retirement fund) and $300 of it goes into a vacation fund. We put EVERYTHING on the credit card but pay it off every month and usually get a check back from the credit card company every few months of all the points we've earned. Proud to say we've never paid a single $0.01 in interest since being married (13 years ago).

My husband is the king of budgets :) I'm surprised we have any money left over each month after he pays into his retirement funds, mortage, fund for car or home emergencies, vacation fund etc etc

 

I have cruised half the time with my girlfriend (so it's only one cruise fare). We live near a port (couple hours drive), usually book an inside cabin, don't drink or go on extravegant shore excurisions unless we plan it into our budget. I pack crystal light packets on cruises instead of paying for soda, etc. cost saving things like that.

 

At home, our cars are paid off. We don't go out to eat very often (once a week- is that a lot?), we have no TV so no cable bill, we don't have the latest Wii, or other games like that. My son doesn't have all the Transformers known to mankind, or the fancy Lego toys.

Cruising is our main vacation, and I'm always looking for deals even if it's next month or 2 years from now! But I tend to book about a year in advance.;)

[room010]

There are insurance advantages to paying for your cruise with a credit card PROVIDED you can pay it off very quickly without incurring interest.

[okgirl]

How I pay for my cruises is slowly changing. I live and cruise with my sister and we both made very good salaries that afforded us to live relatively debt free and cruise several times a year.

 

Sister got forced into early retirement last year so we've had to put a little more pressure on our credit cards and carry some balance until the bonus money comes in each quarter.

 

We've also got a cruise money box and anything extra after the bills and savings is going in the box. Also if we happen to have any winnings from the casino that we go to every few months then that money goes into the box. I think there is $1100 in there right now.

 

Going forward we're not going to book a cruise until we can pay for it in full at the time of booking. We're also cutting back on our onboard spending. It wasn't unusual to come home with a 500+ S&S bill.

 

After I retire next year and we move back to Oklahoma we're planning on looking for somekind of money making opportunity and use that money strictly for travel. Though our combined pensions should have us living pretty comfortably.

[GORDONCHICK]

We have friends who eat out 5-6 nights each week, go to movies all the time and have the latest and greatest cell phones and plans. They never seem to have money for other things, and sometimes car repairs bite them in the butt. On the other hand, we eat out maybe once every other week (again, maybe) because I cook (and take my lunches out of that). We don't go to the movies often or run out and buy the latest Wii games. We have two houses (though one is going to be listed for sale tomorrow) that are both paid for. Both cars are paid for as well. We only got satellite tv about 3 years ago. My cell is a pay as you go and $25 on it lasts me 2-3 months) and DH's cell is paid for through his job. DH is a CFO and CPA and everything is budgeted - vacations included. We usually cruise once a year, and do at least one driving vacation per year along with long weekend getaways.

 

I get twice as much vacation time as DH (my 8 weeks to his 4), so I'm able to take days off here and there to go visit friends out of town or do stuff w/our 9yo DS. Our friends are always saying, "gosh, you guys sure travel alot!" And as someone else's parents told them - do it while you are still healthy and able enough to do it!

[Bookish Angel]

We do fairly well financially, live frugally, save a lot and never have any debt.

 

We made the choice long ago to live significantly below our means but we still travel alot, don't lack for anything important and don't care about the next "cool" phone, car, computer, etc. Instead of spending money on all that landfill fodder, we spend our discretionary income on travel.

[chasm4u]

We dont make very much money at all. In fact we are right in the poverty line. How do we make big vacations every year? Well we dont buy useless things throug the year such as video games, movies, big screen tvs stereos etc. we limit all our expenses and our rent is very cheap. our vehicles are paid off and the only real bills we have are rent, electric and my wifes medication. we dont have cable internet etc. we use internet at work. oh and our cell phone is virgin mobile = $29 a month. we do however go camping twice a year with a major two week trip once a year. its really if you really want to enjoy life instead of spending money on things that make you stay home such as video games etc. ALSO budgeting the whole trip works as well and dont try to do the trip as a rich person. lol last year we did 9 days in orlando did all disney parks, universal parks, seaworld and old town for a total cost including hotel and food of 1,100!!!!! This year we have a little more money so its a 15day trip including this 7 day cruise!

really though if you really limit useless and hold back money for enjoying life then you will do your trips and also love life more!

 

P.S. when we cant spend money due to saving for a big trip but we want to do somthing. we pack a 10 dollar lunch and go hiking ITS FREE! we hike at least once a week unless its too hot or too cold!

[PROCRUISE]

We dont make very much money at all. In fact we are right in the poverty line. How do we make big vacations every year? Well we dont buy useless things throug the year such as video games, movies, big screen tvs stereos etc. we limit all our expenses and our rent is very cheap. our vehicles are paid off and the only real bills we have are rent, electric and my wifes medication. we dont have cable internet etc. we use internet at work. oh and our cell phone is virgin mobile = $29 a month. we do however go camping twice a year with a major two week trip once a year. its really if you really want to enjoy life instead of spending money on things that make you stay home such as video games etc. ALSO budgeting the whole trip works as well and dont try to do the trip as a rich person. lol last year we did 9 days in orlando did all disney parks, universal parks, seaworld and old town for a total cost including hotel and food of 1,100!!!!! This year we have a little more money so its a 15day trip including this 7 day cruise!

really though if you really limit useless and hold back money for enjoying life then you will do your trips and also love life more!

 

P.S. when we cant spend money due to saving for a big trip but we want to do somthing. we pack a 10 dollar lunch and go hiking ITS FREE! we hike at least once a week unless its too hot or too cold!

 

A really big THANK YOU to you, Gordonchick, Chasm4U, and others for giving me some hope that everyone in this country is not financially irresponsible and then expects society to take care of them. I had to laugh over the comment that others say, "you sure travel a lot!" I hear that at work occasionally and respond," I work hard, save hard, travel hard!"

[chasm4u]

A really big THANK YOU to you, Gordonchick, Chasm4U, and others for giving me some hope that everyone in this country is not financially irresponsible and then expects society to take care of them. I had to laugh over the comment that others say, "you sure travel a lot!" I hear that at work occasionally and respond," I work hard, save hard, travel hard!"

 

Yeah I get it too! "How can YOU afford to go on trips?" I just proceed to tell them how I do it. Somtimes it is hard but thats just part of it. For instance my trucks radiator busted about a month ago. I cannot afford to get it fixed because every dime right now is fo rthe cruise in two months. My wife adn I are just driving her car and making arrangments for its use until we get back from our trip to fix it. Then my mother tells me... "How can you afford to go to a cruise if you cannot afford to get your truck fixed?" My reply was this... "I can afford to go on a cruise because I am waiting to get my truck fixed!" lol its really not hard to figure out, the thing is youll have ot make sacrifices and be ok with them such as I am doing with my truck. The way I see it I can get it fixed for a couple hundred but then not have gas money to drive to Tampa. my other choice? Wait til I get back! Not really much of a sacrifice really but others seem to think so, too bad its not their life! lol

 

On our Honeymoon we went ot Spain and spent ALOT OF MONEY! we came back completly broke to our rental house at the time with our electric cut off! The one thing I forgot to plan for within the trip! We were gone for two weeks and I just simply forgot about the bill coming while we were gone! we had to go another week without electric but just ask me if SPAIN was worth a week without electric and both my wife and I would say A MONTH of no electric would be worth Spain!

[mikedw]

I book a year in advance and I pay something on it every week, before you know it, it's several months before a cruise and it's paid off. The $50 or $100.00 bucks that I put down everyweek, would usually be wasted on something stupid, so it's better just to get it put towards the cruise.

[Cristallo]

Yeah I get it too! "How can YOU afford to go on trips?"

 

 

We get it too only in the backhanded complement sort of way, "Oh it's nice to see someone in the family has money". Yeah you're right. DH and I don't go out partying every weekend leaving the kids with the DH parents. We don't buy video games, or eat out often, or go to movies or buy clothes as often but you can come wave at us as we leave on our cruise.

[paul929207]

Once had a guy who worked for me who commented that he wished he could afford to take vacations like I did. I pointed out to him that he spent over $100 EACH WEEK on CD's. I spent $20 each year. The $5000 difference would pay for a nice vacation. It shut him up.

[quincytoo]

We leave for 10 days in Puerto Vallarta on Monday :D

 

Someone commented to me that we were going on another vacation and how nice it must be. My comment was that we need at least two vacations a year, one cruise and one land based. We don't go out to many restaurants at home and we don't spend a lot of money on entertainment at home (rarely go to movies, we have a free movie channel on cable that works just fine), preferring to throw it into our vacation fund.

 

We have friends who always go out for dinner and can drop $100-$200 just like that.....Don't do that a few times and you have your cruise or airline portion paid for...

 

When we do vacation we look for the best deals out there (there really are alot) and then book them. On cruises we don't do ship excursions and while DH might gamble with $100 that has been saved up over a few months.

 

Vacations can be done, for our busy work schedule they are a must as it is our down time and we budget for them.

[Skywench]

I'm mid forties, single and no kids. I have no debt other than a small house payment. I have always been one to save money. If I use a charge card, then I pay it off when the bill comes in. I was always taught that if you can't afford it, then you don't need it. I also work for an airline, so I fly for free and get discounts on other things. I work hard, but I also enjoy my time off. I try to cruise at least twice a year. I cruised in May and have another one coming up in October. It's all about your priorites. I don't spend money on a lot of other things. Never have been a big shopper. I'd rather spend my money on a suite on a ship. Not a big gambler or drinker, but do enjoy myslef on vacation, but never really have huge bills on my sail and sign card at the end.

[rian90]

We have three children at home and are a one income family so we try to budget our vacation spending. When my husband and I decided to go on an anniversary cruise to the Med we booked far ahead and paid it off over a long period of time. We also started a savings account just for the cruise where we could put spending money. We will use credit cards for most of the charges but will not spend more than we can pay off in a short and reasonable time and most of our expense will come from our bank account rather than the credit cards.

 

We also make sure we have an emergency plan in case something goes wrong..an extra low balance credit card just for emergencies.

[cruisemom42]

I am a SICK (single-income, college kid) mom! ;) I'm fortunate to have a good job, but I am also one who saves up for vacations. Travel is not a luxury for me, it's a necessity, and I budget for it -- usually 2 trips per year (one cruise/one land-based). This year I am doing two cruises, however, as cruise prices are relatively cheap.

 

I have taken DS on a number of nice vacations (US and overseas) and now am looking at traveling alone and paying the dreaded single supplement. Still, it is important to my mental well-being to be able to travel, and I have a long list of places that I want to see before I am too old to be able to physically do the trips (e.g., Machu Picchu, Angkor Wat, China, etc).

 

I collect frequent flier points (business travel, credit card) and try to use those for airfare whenever possible. I have a cell phone that's paid for by my company, and no car payment.

 

In the past few years as DS has approached college, I have saved more by limiting "entertainment" spending at home (movies, eating out), and taking my lunch to work. It's funny how small things do add up over time.

 

My only regret at the moment is that my vacation time is so limited by work -- but on the other hand, I'm sure that allows me to save more money for the day when I am retired and will want to travel more.....:)

 

P.S. While I find this thread bears out that many cruisers are thrify and save up for vacations, I'm also willing to bet that there are a fair number who do use credit cards to pay for their vacations (and pay them off over time) who just don't respond here.

[chasm4u]

It sure is nice to find others like us adn others that understand.

 

When I was planning our disney trip I told people on teh DS boards that we were doing 9 days all parks for 1,100 and they either laughed at me or just bashed me when I said I found a hotel for $23 / night. They said if they couldnt stay at a resort they wouldnt go. I to this day dont understand that because we spent all day everyday in the parks and only slept in our hojo which was VERY NICE btw. I tried to explain when I got back that the smaller hotels in Orlando try to compete with disney resorts and have VERY VERY VERY good deals but they continued with the resort or dont go routine. They then asked us where we ate, they were surprised we ate at disney restaurants for cheap (just gotta research) then we ate $4 chinese near the hotel not counting the buy one get one free $5 Ci CI's pizza coupons. They were also shocked that even though we were nto staying at the resort at the parks we still did EVERYTHING in each park in one day! ITS CALLED RESEARCH! lol

 

One of them actually told us that if we couldnt get grocieries we shouldnt go on trips. We dont get grocieries about 2 months prior to a trip for two reasons.. One is we will eat at our parents for a while saving us money fo rthe trip and second it doesnt make sense to by grocieries that will be left over while your gone for 15 or so days to rot!

 

I mean we found 3 dollar beer at EPCOT! and a good fish lunch at magic kingdom for 17 bucks for two people! Savings are there EVERYWHERE. Cant wait to find them for this trip in tampa and on the boat! ;)

[scmexico]

We worked hard, saved enough, retired early and moved to Mexico. Mexico is good for the budget because there are not the same level of temptations that exist in the states. We can afford to eat out here and party with our friends. We both love living in Mexico although at times it does present challenges. It definitely is not for everyone. The difference in cost of living gives us ample opportunities to cruise.

[gottahavefun]

Well I travel solo so it is a little more expensive for me but it's still cheaper than a land vacation. I paid for my first cruise when I quit smoking. Took that money (which was $5 a pack at the time) and put it in a jar. A year and a half later I was on a two week cruise in Hawaii! Could not believe how much money I was throwing away. So now I do the same thing. Only now putting away $11.50 a day(that's the going price for a pack of smokes in NY:eek:)

 

Also I don't goto the movies and only out to dinner on special occasions,etc..

And I work,work and then work some more so I can play hard when it's time to sail:)