Average "Extras" Money Spent on Allure

[BabyMoon2007]

Just curious....

 

To those that have traveled on Allure or Oasis. What do you think the extra's tab is per couple if you eat 3 or 4 nights in speciality restaurants; consume as a couple 6 to 8 alcoholic drinks per night? I know there will be a ton of other things to spend money on,:rolleyes: just curious what the food and beverage add on cost will be. Thanks!:D

[Nolester01]

I would like to know as well. How much will tipping the waitstaff and the room attendants cost.

[Trevoli]

Well, let's see... simple math, I think:

 

2 people x 4 restaurant charges = 8 restaurant charges x $25 each = $200 for the alternative dining (no extra tips are required in the for-fee dining establishments)

 

2 people x 4 drinks per day = 8 drinks per day x 7 days = 56 drinks x avg of $6 each = $336 (15% is automatically added to each drink)

 

2 people x 7 days of tips = 14 days of tips @ $11.00 each (I think) - $154 in tips (this covers your stateroom attendant and dining room staff {not sure if part of the daily tip amount goes to headwaiter or not}).

 

So... you're looking at approximately $700 for two people for alternative dining, gratuities, and cocktails.

 

As you stated, tons of other ways to spend $$: pictures, spa, tours, gambling, souvenirs. shopping (onboard and off).

[ChipLondon]

I would say about $800 - $1000 for the week, depending o the wine you choose :D

 

Just curious....

 

To those that have traveled on Allure or Oasis. What do you think the extra's tab is per couple if you eat 3 or 4 nights in speciality restaurants; consume as a couple 6 to 8 alcoholic drinks per night? I know there will be a ton of other things to spend money on,:rolleyes: just curious what the food and beverage add on cost will be. Thanks!:D

[BabyMoon2007]

Thank you!

[Tiggercat]

Do people really not tip in the specialty restaurants? I know it is not required, but I would feel bad just getting up without tipping if we had great service.

[Trevoli]

I have never tipped in a specialty restaurant, and have never felt bad about it. That is most certainly going to be the case on the Allure in May, when we'll probably have every single dinner at a for-fee establishment.

 

And for the record, I'm a BIG proponent of tipping. We're doing MTD, and leaving the tips in place, even though we probably won't set food in the MDR, because I know that the MDR staff works in other venues. It drives me C-R-A-Z-Y when pax short-pay their tips because they skipped the MDR one or two nights.

 

That said, if you want to tip, go for it. I'm sure the staff would be grateful.

[Calker]

When I booked our May cruise with the Royal Caribbean agent, I asked about fees/tips for speciality dining. I was told that the per person fee includes the tip, but I was welcome to add any additional tip that I felt the staff deserved.

 

On our previous cruises, on Disney, Norwegian, and Carnival, the speciality restaurants were handled the same way, in almost every case we did add an additional tip.

 

I agree with Trevoli, we are doing the "My Time Dining" and have prepaid our tips. We are planning to eat in the speciality restaurants most nights, so probably will not even meet the MDR staff. But there is no way that those tips will be removed from our account.

[read52]

I have never tipped in a specialty restaurant, and have never felt bad about it. That is most certainly going to be the case on the Allure in May, when we'll probably have every single dinner at a for-fee establishment.

 

And for the record, I'm a BIG proponent of tipping. We're doing MTD, and leaving the tips in place, even though we probably won't set food in the MDR, because I know that the MDR staff works in other venues. It drives me C-R-A-Z-Y when pax short-pay their tips because they skipped the MDR one or two nights.

 

That said, if you want to tip, go for it. I'm sure the staff would be grateful.

 

 

I agree. We pay our tips in the MDR even when we go to a speciality eating place. Also your food is included in the price of this cruise. So when I eat at a for fee establishment, the extra cost is for the better food and service. We only do it once in a cruise.

[Tiggercat]

Thanks for your advice. I, too, agree that the MDR staff needs to get their tips whether you eat there or not. I feel so bad for them, since I know a lot of people do not tip them. I wonder if it is worse for them on a ship that has so many specialty restaurants. When we sailed at Christmas there were a lot of empty tables even though the ship was sailing full. My husband always says, "If we can afford a vacation, we can afford to tip a little more than usual". So, we do!

[BabyMoon2007]

I would say about $800 - $1000 for the week, depending o the wine you choose :D

 

Thank you!

[BabyMoon2007]

Well, let's see... simple math, I think:

 

2 people x 4 restaurant charges = 8 restaurant charges x $25 each = $200 for the alternative dining (no extra tips are required in the for-fee dining establishments)

 

2 people x 4 drinks per day = 8 drinks per day x 7 days = 56 drinks x avg of $6 each = $336 (15% is automatically added to each drink)

 

Thank-you! We pre-paid our tips. One of the things our TA takes care of for us! :)

[koterry]

I would say about $800 - $1000 for the week, depending o the wine you choose :D

Sounds about right. Don't even want to start about my "casino" donations! But I'm feeling it for my upcoming B2B on Allure, watch out slots your going down!:);)

[rthouse]

Whenever I cruise I frequent the specialty restaurants more than the MDR. I have always received special service even if it's something as small as remembering my name and where I like to sit. I always tip when I receive good service regardless of what the meal costs me.

 

If I were a service person who paid special attention to make my guests happy I would hope that their appreciation would be shown with more than a smile.

[BabyMoon2007]

Sounds about right. Don't even want to start about my "casino" donations! But I'm feeling it for my upcoming B2B on Allure, watch out slots your going down!:);)

 

Thanks!

[GXmanDC]

We spent a little more than ChipLondon's estimate. We spent less on speciality restaurants, but had a few spa treatments, excursions and a few trips to Starbucks.

 

But all worth it.

[Rocketlady]

We tip everyone. Maybe not much some times but if they go the extra mile we do. We like to tip our housekeepers especially. We tipped every day and gave a bonus before we left on the Oasis. I just like to make their life a little happier because I can't imagine being away from my children and family for that long of a time. I am sure they have to put up with some pretty obnoxious people that are jerks the whole week.

We keep our bill down by not drinking. Our final bill was around $350. Try and pay for everything in advance before you get on the ship.

[OklaCruiserMom]

I've been working on a "budget" for onboard expenses too. We'll be first-time cruisers, going on the Allure in May 2012. I plan that we will eat dinners mostly in the MDR, except that I want to try the Samba grill and Rita's Fiesta. I have kids and they are not generally open to new or "fancy" foods, so I don't know if I'll take them or not, but I thought I might try Giovanni's for lunch one day.

 

Overall, my expected expenses look like this:

 

Limo service, home to airport and airport to home- (Ardmore, OK --> DFW) $150 (I have a connection ;)

 

Fare- $3196 (4 ppl, Interior cabin)

Air- $1009 (estimated using comparable dates for 2011 on SpiritAir)

 

Pre-cruise hotel- no more than $125 (I hope)

Family meal, fast food or grocery store, one night pre-cruise- $30

Shuttle tips or cab- $20

Soda to attempt to carry on- $15

 

Ship's photos- one boarding, one character dining, one formal night (I don't know how much these are)$50-$75 total?

Samba Grill- 4 @ $25 = $100

Rita's Fiesta- 1 @ $20

Giovanni's (lunch)- 1 @ $10

Cupcake class- 1 @ $22, 1 @ $15=$37

Cupcakes- 1 pp/per 5 days = $50

Starbucks- $20

Spa- Thermal suite, and Swedish massage or relaxation acupuncture, with tips - $200

Excursions - $250 total (haven't picked these yet, but if we do book any, they will be the cheapest ones)

"Umbrella drinks," AKA "Mama drinks" (2-3 most days, one person- app. $125)

Internet time- $25

Formal night hair styling services- $150

 

 

Entire Trip- GRAND TOTAL: $5987!!!!! :eek:

 

Lord have mercy, anyone know where I can sell a kidney or a pancreas? :D

[graciepuppy]

I have never tipped in a specialty restaurant, and have never felt bad about it. That is most certainly going to be the case on the Allure in May, when we'll probably have every single dinner at a for-fee establishment.

 

And for the record, I'm a BIG proponent of tipping. We're doing MTD, and leaving the tips in place, even though we probably won't set food in the MDR, because I know that the MDR staff works in other venues. It drives me C-R-A-Z-Y when pax short-pay their tips because they skipped the MDR one or two nights.

 

That said, if you want to tip, go for it. I'm sure the staff would be grateful.

 

We were told that the charge for dining in specialty restaurants included the tip. Is that true----hope so because we are doing all specialty restaurants and signing up for MTD so we include those tips rather than signing up for a time in the MDR and "cheating" the servers because we are not there. Obviously, we would tip on the last night---but would rather the servers wait on others and not be waiting on us.

[mymmgt]

iMHO 250 is low for 4 people for one day. Spent over 800 for 4 on a 7 day trip, nothing fancy.:)

[OklaCruiserMom]

iMHO 250 is low for 4 people for one day. Spent over 800 for 4 on a 7 day trip, nothing fancy.:)

 

Assuming you're addressing my post here- I was wondering about that, but I thought in at least one port we'd just get to the beach on our own and veg out. I'm not sure about the other two ports, but I'm trying to be conservative. : )

[OklaCruiserMom]

Oh, holy freak! After looking at TPR's photo review of Allure, I realized I completely forgot to account for "souveniers"! In the ports- if I know my kids, they will want EVERYthing!

[mon1jan1]

Oh, holy freak! After looking at TPR's photo review of Allure, I realized I completely forgot to account for "souveniers"! In the ports- if I know my kids, they will want EVERYthing!

 

 

Here's an idea for the kids, and I do it for my own daughter. A few months before the cruise I assign a few extra chores that are a bit more than what she usually does. I give her $5 for each (but I keep and put it in a envelope for her cruise money). Normally a few a month and then that is what I put to the side for her souvenier money. She normally has between $50 and $75 saved up to spend on souveniers. She's done well with putting a $15 cap limit at each port then one from the ship.

Good luck. Our tab for a 7 night cruise for three ends up about $1200 normally, we drink and buy lots of pictures. Don't buy many souveniers anymore at the ports because we've been to them a few times each.

[OklaCruiserMom]

Thanks for that idea! I'll probably do that. I also forgot to list what we'll have spent on our passports as part of the total for this whole idea! I added it all up again this morning and if we get greedy, it will be about $6500. If not, I can bring it in at about $6000.

 

Ah, well. It's a once-in-a-lifetime trip. Thanks to this year's, (mine) next year's, (mine) and my ex-husband's 'garnished for child support' tax returns, I'll have the $$, so I will try not to obsess about the dollar amount and just make it as fun as possible for my kiddos.

[Musicman1]

We've spent over $400 and we don't even leave for another 4 months. That's 2 specialty restaurant dinners and 2 excusions. Probably looking at $1,500 total...as usual.