How Money Conscious Are You, on board

[Candy]

We're finally at that age that we don't have to stick to a budget. We take more spa treatments than before and spend more time in the casino. I still can't explain why I can lose $300 on one roll of the dice, but argue over fifty cents at the straw market!

 

4th Zuidy comin' up.

[careercruiser]

did you know you can save a lot of money if you work on a cruiseline? all your expenses are taken care of for you. meanwhile you make money.

 

i'm trying to break into the cruise industry. i want to be a cruise director eventually but i am willing to work my way up.

 

i have a bachelors degree in mass communications with some experience in theatre and performance. any suggestions?

[kryos]

The secret, we find, is to pre-pay as much as possible. That way there's a lot less "watching the budget" needed on a day-to-day basis. For example, on our recent 7-day O'dam cruise, the final bill for our shipboard account was about $500 which included the $10/pp/day auto-tip as well as $100 in the casino so I'd have pocket money on the last day (surpringly, San Diego cabbies don't take Pesos!).

That's what my final shipboard total was for a 10-day cruise on the Sun Princess last month. And that even included a couple of shore excursions because you don't pay for them in advance with Princess.

 

I don't nickle and dime, but I do have to set limits. I'm not into buying a lot of stuff in ports or on the ship ... just a few tee-shirts and stuff like that. I'm not a gambler, so the casino doesn't get donations from me.

 

My major onboard expenses tend to be at least one large pina colada each day, a few purchases in the shops, and photo processing.

 

My feeling is that if I'm careful about what I spend ... and by careful I don't mean denying myself anything that I really want, but rather just not wasting money on things I really don't care bout ... then I'll be able to cruise more often. To me, that's the ultimate reward. :)

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[Silverfox]

We don't set a "budget" per se but know what's beyond necessary. We don't do the spa, go to art auctions, or even spend much in the casino. There are too many other things to do.

 

Our shipboard account is usually in the modest category. I enjoy several good glasses of wine before dinner, maybe even a good champagne. I guess it's what we don't do rather than what we do.

 

On a recent cruise we were down by the Guest Relations Desk and two elderly women were aruging about where they were going to mail their postcards. One said to the other: "I'm not paying 60 cents to mail a post card!" The second woman looked at her and said: "You paid $2,000 for this cruise and now you're balking at spending 60 cents?" That sums up the mentality of some.

[jhannah]

"You paid $2,000 for this cruise and now you're balking at spending 60 cents?" That sums up the mentality of some.

You have that right! I've heard this, too. It amazes me. Sure, none of us have a bottomless pit of money ... but why obsess over how much one particular item costs vis-a-vis what we paid to be there.

[HeatherInFlorida]

I've told this story before, but it fits here. My mother, who is very comfortable financially believes in spending wisely and has always watched her pennies, though she has travelled all over the world. She sent my husband quite a distance to buy a bag of ice because it cost less than "down the road". She gets some of her finest clothes at the Salvation Army and is proud of it. She is extraordinarily generous, yet she doesn't throw her money away. I've tried desperately to learn from her though money tends to flow freely through my open fingers.

 

I have known many wealthy people through the years who are extremely careful with their pennies and say things like "how do you think I ended up where I am today?". To this day my mother (good for me;) ) has not spent a penny of her "capital".

So laugh if you will, but those "pennies" add up and I wouldn't scoff at anyone who is careful with the nickels and dimes.

[tw1nk1es]

I agree with bonnyweed, planning will save you the most. Part of my DH's enjoyment of any trip is knowing that we paid less than those around us. In fact, the people he works with cannot understand how we can take so many vacation trips and cruises. On two of our cruises, our tab at the end was $0.00 and I never felt deprived once. Also, we have never had a free drink or been in any mob to receive any freebie. Our joy in traveling is going places and meeting people, not shopping and spending so thrifty is the right way for us to go!

[cgladin]

Love the Freebies! Glass of champagne and free piece of art at the art auction; Luggage tag for attending an onboard game; and I even dropped off some of those raffle tickets in the ports in the hopes of winning. I don't think there is anything wrong in taking the free things offered by cruise lines.

 

That said, we left our tips in place and gave extra to some crew who went above and beyond the norm to make our trip enjoyable. Enjoyed a drink or two onboard and went on a great excursion.

 

Counting the pennies and taking the freebies doesn't mean you can't have a great cruise; to me, it just means I budgeted and spent my money wisely.

[KatUK]

From reading through all these posts it seems that most people have the same principle. A saying that my grandmother used to say seems to sum it up.....

 

"Cut your cloth according to your pattern"

 

....if you can afford to splurge on luxuries and not have to keep track of what you're spending, then great. But if watching what you spend whilst on vacation means that you're able to take another vacation sooner rather then later, then that's great too.

 

One of the things I enjoy about cruising is meeting a wide variety of people. And when non-cruisers ask me "what sort of people go on cruises?" I find they're usually happy with the following explanation......There are the people who have never had to worry about money in their life and genuinely never give it a second thought, spending as much as they like as often as they like and buying the "best" of everything. There are those who have worked hard to earn what they have and now live comfortably, splurging every now and again. And there are those who have saved for years to enjoy a cruise and are only able to do so if they stick to a budget.

 

Then there's the category that I fit into....the "put it on the credit card, have a great time and worry about it later" brigade! This is not a category I'm in by choice....unfortunately I've been on sick leave from work for 18 months now so money is very tight. But I'd booked the cruise and paid the deposit so there was no way I was going to drop out. It does mean that I'll have to be a little careful about how much I spend on board, but I'd rather have an excellent cruise this year and not go on vacation at all next year, than deprive myself of things I want to have/see/do this year just so that I can go somewhere next year.

 

We all set our priorities differently and we'll never fully understand people who do things differently to ourselves. As long as everyone from the "splurgers" to the "penny pinchers" are enjoying themselves, it doesn't really matter!! :)

 

Kat x

[Sueseb]

Our onboard bill usually runs about $500 and will include some tours. We are not "shoppers" but do buy something if we see something that tickles our fancy in port.

I take $50.00 to lose in the slots and that is it. Of course if I win I might spend (lose) a little more. Happened once! But I did come home with more than my original $50.

We enjoy "last minute" cruising which is always less expensive -- and our cabin is some times interesting (as in right over the bow thrusters.) Rather noisy when you are pulling ito port at 5 AM but we got what we paid for and had a great time.

[jhannah]

I have known many wealthy people through the years who are extremely careful with their pennies and say things like "how do you think I ended up where I am today?". To this day my mother (good for me;) ) has not spent a penny of her "capital".

I believe you'll find that many (if not most) of these individuals came through the depression. Those were days that were beyond "lean times," and this is always in the back of their minds. They never want to go back to that, or any semblance of it.

[Tarkus]

i try to keep a perspective. as a scuba diver who usually dives each port-of-call, expenses related to that hobby can sometimes get to half the cost of the cruise. with that in mind, it'd be kind of foolish to worry much about $5 her or $10 there in the whole scheme of things.

 

that said, i'm not in the habit of dropping several hundred dollars in the spa or buying dom for my tablemates. but treating them to a nice bottle of wine once or twice... or buying what i want to drink when i want to drink it? no problem.

[HeatherInFlorida]

I believe you'll find that many (if not most) of these individuals came through the depression. Those were days that were beyond "lean times," and this is always in the back of their minds. They never want to go back to that, or any semblance of it.

 

You are correct, Jim. They did. And I was taught at their knees. But these are times, too, that we really don't know what's right around the corner. I'm an optimist by nature and I look toward bright, sunny days ahead, but an awful lot of people are in way over their heads. It's a little scarey when I see people booking expensive cruises and endless vacations while they can't even pay their mortgage every month. I hope none of these people have to get an ugly wake up call one day just because they weren't just a bit more careful with their money.

Doesn't mean we can't all have a lot of fun and it doesn't mean we shouldn't cruise, but we don't need to "have it all" ... the best suite, all the spa treatments, etc. We can still really have a good time on just a little less money.

Off my soapbox!!! Sorry!:(

[DFD1]

My mother is now 96 and widowed for 30 years. She came thru the depression and it shaped her relationship to money right up to this day. She is still very sharp mentally and is financially secure, but accounts carefully for every penny and laments having to spend anything over and above her basic living costs which are modest.

 

I have found that those who survived the great depression came out of it with a unique appreciation of any material comfort they may have and with a haunting realization, almost fear, that it can be taken away from them at anytime.

[jhannah]

I have found that those who survived the great depression came out of it with a unique appreciation of any material comfort they may have and with a haunting realization, almost fear, that it can be taken away from them at anytime.

All the more reason to enjoy it while you have it! Seriously. The time may come when it IS taken away. Health may fail. Lots of things can happen. We cruised once with a widow whose children sent her on the cruise. She told us that she and her late husband had planned to take that cruise for years, but just never got around to it. He became ill and died. My DW and I thought how sad that was. They missed their chance to enjoy that trip and its memories together. I hope to never have to look back and say "I shoulda' done it." That's one reason we continue to cruise. Someday we might not be able to.

 

Heather, I'm with you 100% with regard to those who spend lavishly on vacations (or anything else) when they have a hard time paying the mortgage. It's guaranteed they will have an ugly wake-up call some day unless they rearrange their priorities now. We've offered financial/credit counseling to our employees at work for this very reason.

[HeatherInFlorida]

All the more reason to enjoy it while you have it! Seriously. The time may come when it IS taken away. Health may fail. Lots of things can happen. We cruised once with a widow whose children sent her on the cruise. She told us that she and her late husband had planned to take that cruise for years, but just never got around to it. He became ill and died. My DW and I thought how sad that was. They missed their chance to enjoy that trip and its memories together. I hope to never have to look back and say "I shoulda' done it." That's one reason we continue to cruise. Someday we might not be able to.

...................

 

Jim, well here's another 100% agree! Interesting you bring it up because my parents planned to spend many happy years together cruising (they happened to be more interested in freighter travel) ... and they got to do so quite a bit, but not as much as they would have liked, until my Dad's untimely death at only 67. I'm so thankful they travelled as much as they did before his death.

And my Mom continued to do so alone or with friends for as long as she could. So I heartily agree with you ... "gather ye rosebuds while ye may ...":)

[ekerr19]

My parents waited... they scrimped and saved, we only took "driving" family vacations, my Mom bought everything on sale (she still does) and had the most creative uses for things most people just throw away.

 

They were fortunate to be able to retire early and the first couple years of retirement, they traveled extensively. Then, their health began to fail and while the money has never been an issue, they are very limited in where they can go and what they can do.

 

My Mom & Dad think my DH and I have the right approach. We save money for our retirement and for our kids college, BUT we also take at least one, and many times two family vacations (usually cruises) per year. The time we get to spend with our kids means a lot to us - they will be grown and off to college before we know it and I want all of us to have fond memories of the quality time we were able to spent together. :)

 

Not long ago, my Mom told me if she had it to do all over again, she would have done things differently. I am thrilled they are able to come with us on the Ryndam Christmas sailing in 2005 - one of the reasons we chose the itinerary is because it is fairly easy for them to travel to San Diego.

[AliceN]

Hi DFD1,

I think you are absolutely right-about the depression years. That is something I think will live forever in the minds of thoes that went through it.

We have a "trip account". We put rebates, tax refunds-anything extra that comes along-into that account. Amazing how it grows in just a few months. Also try to book with onboard credit to cover the tips. My TA contributes very nicely to that for us. Most of the time we leave with a 0 onboard account. Don't get me wrong-we are not cheap-but this is a "hobby" of my DH. I usually take home half if not all of our cruise cost from winning in the casino. .. It does happen!!

Saw you were from Chatt. I was born there now in FL.

Anyone on the Zuiderdam May 7th?

Alice in FL

[DFD1]

Hey Alice. Sounds like a smart way to plan. Whenever I can figure a way to "best the system" a bit, it makes things all the more fun. Hope you have fun on the Zuiderdam.

We haven't gotten 'round to her yet.

[kryos]

I take $50.00 to lose in the slots and that is it. Of course if I win I might spend (lose) a little more. Happened once! But I did come home with more than my original $50.

My dear mother, God rest her soul, used to love playing the slots in Atlantic City. Dad hated them, but once a month drove her down there for her day of fun. Now me ... LOL ... I've always likened playing the slots to putting money into a vending machine that never returned the item ... but instead of walking away, putting more money in. :)

 

I remember some of our trips to Atlantic City. Poor dad, what mom and I didn't put that man through. They would be heading out to AC and it would be a beautiful sunny day. So, I would hitch a ride along so that they could run me over to the drop zone (which was on the way to AC) where I would spend a nice day skydiving. Dad and mom would proceed to Atlantic City, spend about six hours there, and then pick me up on the way back. Dad would always be frustrated by this point ... shaking his head and wondering why "I take my wife to risk our hard-earned money, and my daughter to risk her damned life!" :)

 

Ahhhhhh, those were the days. :)

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[JaniceB]

I didn't think I would be concerned about money, but things have changed since I booked our cruise in March. I have to attend a conference the week after my cruise. My employer will pick up the cost, so that is not the real issue. The conference will be in Las Vegas. I am not a gambler, but there are many shows I would like to see. I have never been to Vegas and neither has my husband, so now he is joining me and his trip will not be paid by my employer. Talk about a double whammy. Thank god for income tax returns.

[FoxyTerrier]

I think I am the only one so far who selected "couldn't care less!"

 

When I am on vacation, money is the last thing I want or choose to worry about. :)

 

I selected this option too. We watch what we spending during the year, live very comfortabley and have no debt except for the house mortgage, so once or twice a year we let loose. We also have never come home with jewelry or electronics - we just aren't in to that.. I think the most extravagant thing I have purchased was a $200 crystal Wire Fox Terrier figurine. One place we always indulge in is booking a "S" stateroom. We work so hard all year long and having that wonderful room and balcony is so nice. We are also traveling with our son so it gives us all a little more room.

 

I also try and pre-book private tours - they cost less and seem to be of higher quality than the ones we have booked directly through HAL.

[FoxyTerrier]

Love the Freebies! Glass of champagne and free piece of art at the art auction; Luggage tag for attending an onboard game; and I even dropped off some of those raffle tickets in the ports in the hopes of winning. I don't think there is anything wrong in taking the free things offered by cruise lines.

 

I love the freebies too!!! As for all the HAL goodies we collect during a 7-10 day cruise - we are done lugging those items home. (Unless we get something new like our new HAL umbrella). So on the last night of the cruise we usually go to one of the lounges like the Crow's Nest and give them away to people who don't play those silly games. It's a nice way to meet people and it beat just leaving the items in the room.

 

On on such occassion someone gave us a bottle of Champange they had been given. We never turn away free Champange even if it means lugging it home....

[RevNeal]

I hope this didn't post twice ... the board is "acting up" again.

 

***

 

I guess I'm dull. I voted "I set a reasonable budget to have fun." The way I keep control of my onboard spending is by depositing some funds in my shipboard account, and then limiting my spending to that. Sometimes the front desk gets a little confused that I don't authorize a credit card with them, but I try to avoid that if I can.

 

On the Oosterdam week before last had trouble making up my mind about what shore excursions to take, so instead I had pre-deposited $300 with ship services a couple weeks prior to departure. Then, after boarding, I went to the front desk and deposited another $200 in travelers checks, that way I KNEW I'd have enough credit in my shipboard account to do what I want.

 

I spent:

$187 in shore excursions

$40.93 in the onboard shops ("Oosterdam named coffee mugs, shirts, etc)

$40.00 Photographs

$70.00 Auto-Gratuities ($10 x 7 days)

$17.50 Soda Card (good for 20 soft drinks during the week)

$50.25 Bar Bill (not counting Bar Tip)

$9.30 Bar Gratuity

 

My Statement came to: $414.98

 

The Front Desk gave me $85.02 back in cash the morning of disembarkation. Now THAT's the way to end a cruise ... with the ship owing ME money back. :D It's a nice feeling.

[trubey]

The late Stephen Birnbaum put it so nicely . . ."The next best thing to being wealthy is traveling as if you were."

 

Lane