Cruise cost calculator

[GLCAS]

Anyone know where to find the cruise cost calculator that I saw once and now can not find?:confused:

[Toto2Kansas]

This might not be the one you are looking for, but there is one linked here on Cruise Critic. Check here: http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=2941

[GLCAS]

Thanks, I had found this one but it doesn't seem to work....?? I will keep looking, but thanks anyways.

[Toto2Kansas]

Thanks, I had found this one but it doesn't seem to work....?? I will keep looking, but thanks anyways.

 

Did you click on the calculator so it could take you to a different window to add the calculations?

[airboss]

http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/tools/cruisebudget03.xls

 

This is a cruise budget calculator spread sheet.

[GLCAS]

This is great! Thanks for sharing!!!!:D

[Hlitner]

Having spent approximately 2 years of our lives as cruise passengers we do not think that any "calculator" is very useful. The actual total cost really depends on the individual passengers, the itinerary, the cruise line, etc. You can certainly calculate the cost of so-called tips (this can vary by cruise line) which is generally about $12 per passenger day. After that it is very subjective. Passengers on Med cruises that like to take organized shore excursions can actually spend more on shore excursions than the cost of the cruise. Others, such as moi, who do their own thing at ports can keep their shore costs to a very reasonable amount. In the Caribbean there are passengers like myself who simply use the islands as beach days...and our cost ashore can be less than $50 a day. When we are on a cruise line private island (i.e. Princess Cays, Labadee, etc) our cost is usually zero....while others can easily spend more than $100 on booze, excursions, etc. On our last visit to St Thomas (last month) we simply grabbed a taxi to a nearby beach where we rented chairs, had a few drinks, and did our swimming and snorkeling (we have our own equipment). Total cost for that entire day was about $50. Other friends on that same cruise spent over $1000 on an excursion, expensive lunch ashore, and shopping. We normally average about $60 a day (for two of us) on wine and cocktails....others spend zero and some will spend more than $150 (a day). We see passengers who constantly shop and spend a fortune buying stuff....most of which they probably do not need.

 

Let me try to give you a good example regarding ports. A few weeks ago we were in Curacao for a long port day (7 to 5). We rented a small car (arranged in advance on line) for a total cost of $39. Add to that another $10 for gas and that car cost us $49. We drove nearly 25 miles from the port where we did some snorkeling and swimming and a few gorgeous desserted beaches (far from any tour). On the way back to town we stopped and bought a bottle of coke for $2. Later we returned to the port and dropped our car. Total cost for 2 for that entire day was $41! Many others took cruise line excursions that cost more then $100 per person. Others simply walked into town, browsed shops, bought nothing and spent nothing. On St Kitts we shared a taxi round trip to Cockleshell beach ($32 total for 2 round trip) and spent another $8 for a drink on the beach. Total cost $40 (for 2) whereas somebody doing an organized exursion to a beach would have spent about $140 for a similar day (plus food and drink). My point is that the cost depends on you!

 

One final thought is that cruise lines make their real profits from "on-board revenue." Modern cruise ships are designed to seperate the passenger from their money. On board you can spend a lot of money in the casino, playing BINGO, buying "stuff," dining in alternative restaurants (with extra charges), drinking expensive drinks (often $12+ per drink), etc.

 

Hank

Edited November 15, 2010 by Hlitner

[wrxrob]

^^Hank, I need to read more of your reports. Sounds like an ideal vacation to me. I'm still working on booking that first cruise.

[EnTnSA]

Having spent approximately 2 years of our lives as cruise passengers we do not think that any "calculator" is very useful. The actual total cost really depends on the individual passengers, the itinerary, the cruise line, etc. You can certainly calculate the cost of so-called tips (this can vary by cruise line) which is generally about $12 per passenger day. After that it is very subjective. Passengers on Med cruises that like to take organized shore excursions can actually spend more on shore excursions than the cost of the cruise. Others, such as moi, who do their own thing at ports can keep their shore costs to a very reasonable amount. In the Caribbean there are passengers like myself who simply use the islands as beach days...and our cost ashore can be less than $50 a day. When we are on a cruise line private island (i.e. Princess Cays, Labadee, etc) our cost is usually zero....while others can easily spend more than $100 on booze, excursions, etc. On our last visit to St Thomas (last month) we simply grabbed a taxi to a nearby beach where we rented chairs, had a few drinks, and did our swimming and snorkeling (we have our own equipment). Total cost for that entire day was about $50. Other friends on that same cruise spent over $1000 on an excursion, expensive lunch ashore, and shopping. We normally average about $60 a day (for two of us) on wine and cocktails....others spend zero and some will spend more than $150 (a day). We see passengers who constantly shop and spend a fortune buying stuff....most of which they probably do not need.

 

Let me try to give you a good example regarding ports. A few weeks ago we were in Curacao for a long port day (7 to 5). We rented a small car (arranged in advance on line) for a total cost of $39. Add to that another $10 for gas and that car cost us $49. We drove nearly 25 miles from the port where we did some snorkeling and swimming and a few gorgeous desserted beaches (far from any tour). On the way back to town we stopped and bought a bottle of coke for $2. Later we returned to the port and dropped our car. Total cost for 2 for that entire day was $41! Many others took cruise line excursions that cost more then $100 per person. Others simply walked into town, browsed shops, bought nothing and spent nothing. On St Kitts we shared a taxi round trip to Cockleshell beach ($32 total for 2 round trip) and spent another $8 for a drink on the beach. Total cost $40 (for 2) whereas somebody doing an organized exursion to a beach would have spent about $140 for a similar day (plus food and drink). My point is that the cost depends on you!

 

One final thought is that cruise lines make their real profits from "on-board revenue." Modern cruise ships are designed to seperate the passenger from their money. On board you can spend a lot of money in the casino, playing BINGO, buying "stuff," dining in alternative restaurants (with extra charges), drinking expensive drinks (often $12+ per drink), etc.

 

Hank

 

While i can certainly see what you are saying. People like myself that plan things way in advance, can usually get a good idea for an estimated cost of a day.

 

These kind of tools help me in that planning process. Sure things may change for the better or worse, but that is why these kind of estimates are just estimates. Give yourself +/- 100 bucks or so, and you usually come out ok.

[Hlitner]

Regarding the prior post let me tell you a true tale. Our claim to fame is helping folks that want to do European ports on their own (we seldom take tours anywhere) and many of our CC posts are on the various Med boards where we help answer questions. Two years ago we met a couple on a Princess cruise in the Med who complained to us that they had spent more money on their shore excursions than on the cost of the entire cruise! They were not a happy couple and wanted to know how in the world we could keep our costs down. We told them it was quite simple, that we just did not spend our money on overpriced "cattle call" tours. They said they were afraid to do anything on their own. My response was simply that they then had nothing to complain about since they made a choice to book those expensive excursions. It is quite easy to budget for a Caribbean cruise, but when you start doing more exotic itineraries such as in Europe, South American and Asia you can throw away the book. We recently booked a 41 day cruise for next year and our cost of that cruise will probably be at least $4000 less than many passengers who like to take the organized excursions. On the other hand, somebody who does not drink alcohol will save about $2000 over our bar-bill.

 

Hank

[lcmslady]

Regarding the prior post let me tell you a true tale. Our claim to fame is helping folks that want to do European ports on their own (we seldom take tours anywhere) and many of our CC posts are on the various Med boards where we help answer questions. Two years ago we met a couple on a Princess cruise in the Med who complained to us that they had spent more money on their shore excursions than on the cost of the entire cruise! They were not a happy couple and wanted to know how in the world we could keep our costs down. We told them it was quite simple, that we just did not spend our money on overpriced "cattle call" tours. They said they were afraid to do anything on their own. My response was simply that they then had nothing to complain about since they made a choice to book those expensive excursions. It is quite easy to budget for a Caribbean cruise, but when you start doing more exotic itineraries such as in Europe, South American and Asia you can throw away the book. We recently booked a 41 day cruise for next year and our cost of that cruise will probably be at least $4000 less than many passengers who like to take the organized excursions. On the other hand, somebody who does not drink alcohol will save about $2000 over our bar-bill.

 

Hank

 

Hank,

I'm quite comfortable booking off the ship tours in the Caribbean. Mediterranean is on my list of future cruises and I'm much more hesitant since so many of cities are not close to the actual port (Rome for example). When I get ready to do the Med - I'll be looking you up:D

[jacktheplumber]

The cruise cost calculator has moved. The old site doesn't forward to the new one. Now it's at http://cruisecalculator.net

[Treven]

Regarding the prior post let me tell you a true tale. Our claim to fame is helping folks that want to do European ports on their own (we seldom take tours anywhere) and many of our CC posts are on the various Med boards where we help answer questions. Two years ago we met a couple on a Princess cruise in the Med who complained to us that they had spent more money on their shore excursions than on the cost of the entire cruise! They were not a happy couple and wanted to know how in the world we could keep our costs down. We told them it was quite simple, that we just did not spend our money on overpriced "cattle call" tours. They said they were afraid to do anything on their own. My response was simply that they then had nothing to complain about since they made a choice to book those expensive excursions. It is quite easy to budget for a Caribbean cruise, but when you start doing more exotic itineraries such as in Europe, South American and Asia you can throw away the book. We recently booked a 41 day cruise for next year and our cost of that cruise will probably be at least $4000 less than many passengers who like to take the organized excursions. On the other hand, somebody who does not drink alcohol will save about $2000 over our bar-bill.

 

Hank

Hank, are you sure you aren't Rick Steves in drag?

[NMLady]

The cruise cost calculator has moved. The old site doesn't forward to the new one. Now it's at http://cruisecalculator.net

 

Although the paragraphs beneath the calculator mention some of these items I find it interesting that even though it includes flight it does not include a box for transportation to/from airport and port.

 

Also, it does not have parking separate from flight. I think many of us have to park at the airport during our cruise. So we have flight AND parking.

 

Don't forget pre-cruise hotel/meals. There should be a box for these as well.

 

For drinks, don't forget about any drinks in ports.

 

For shopping don't forget to include any onboard shopping as well as souvenir shopping in ports.

 

For tips don't forget about the daily "gratuities" automatically added to your onboard account.

 

My personal budget sheet also includes tips for wheelchair escorts in airports, at embarkation and disembarkation for hubby.

 

We always have a connecting flight with layover time so airport food is part of our budget.

 

So, as someone else said, each person's budget is very different. I don't think that calculator includes enough. It should have at least included the first three items I mentioned.

Edited September 6, 2015 by NMLady

[Keith1010]

Hank we have spent even longer on ships but one thing about a calculator. If it is ones first cruise it gives them a good idea as to what items they might want to budget for. In other words, one doesn't have to use a calculator to fill in the numbers for them but rather to get an idea of what areas they might have expense for.

 

I make a budge on a spreadsheet for each cruise. Been doing this since we took our first World Cruise and use the format for all other cruises. It's a good way for me to track expenses too. But I don't think I could have done this for my first cruise. Experience does matter.

 

Just my two cents.

 

Keith

[Flatbush Flyer]

Our version of a "personal cruise calculator" focuses primarily on the total cost of the onboard experience including air transportation. In that way, we can compare ROIs weighted by quality considerations. As a result, we are big Oceania fans because we get more "bang for our buck".

Secondarily, we look at port expense comparisons even to the point of itinerary start/end locations (so that we can extend stays and maximize airfare value).

 

For example, unless you've been many times before, always make Rome a start or end port and, if it doesn't break the airfare bank, pick a different unique metropolis at the other end (e.g., Lisbon).

 

And, as regards tours in places like Rome, note that do-it-yourself doesn't really work for many antiquity sites since the recent introduction of anti-terrorism measures that have resulted in even longer lines for those folks without advanced tickets AND a licensed guide.

 

That said, there is something worth adding about the selection of ground transport and guide services, particularly in those start/end ports. Extensive research will find you, not only a great hotel but also, one with a terrific concierge who can arrange some combination of top rated driver and guide that will cost far less than a ship excursion, local tour outfit or even do-it-yourself with transfers, taxis and the Rick Steves guide book (you can read cover-to-cover if you are DIY while waiting to get into the Vatican or the Colosseum).