completely avoid onboard charges

[taxmantoo]

No extra charges???

 

That's like going to a baseball game and not having a hot dog and a beer.

That's like going to a movie and not having popcorn.

 

For those who can do that, great for them, ... but I know I can't and have absolutely no intention of even ever giving it a try :D

[Boytjie]

Well, HAL will NEVER make any money from me so long as they permit smoking in the casinos! :mad: So, it is a win-win for me! :) Besides, apparantly only mostly those who smoke, gamble! :eek:

 

You just had to go there, huh? :rolleyes:

[alpal1993]

On our last cruise 7 Nights Westerdam our bill was 194$ We pre booked and paid for most of our on board spending months in advance.Used drink cards,Bottle of Liquor sent to room brought on wine and juice for mixer.Tours prebooked and paid in advance.We gave our room stewards and favorite Bar tender extra in cash as well.

[RD64]

Trying to have a zero balance bill is starting to sound like too much work and effort...it negates the point of being on vacation. If I get to the point where I have to worry and ponder about what my bill is going to be, then I will just stay home.

 

This is a good thread though, because it makes me wonder....it is generally believed that singles have to pay such exhorbitant single supplements to make up for the on-board spending that two people in a cabin would add to the cruise line coffers. Judging by the random sampling of responses on this thread, it appears that this is not the case.

[DiploTraveler]

No extra charges???

 

That's like going to a baseball game and not having a hot dog and a beer.

That's like going to a movie and not having popcorn.

 

For those who can do that, great for them, ... but I know I can't and have absolutely no intention of even ever giving it a try :D

That's funny... I never buy concessions at movies or sports events because of how expensive they are! Besides, I hate hearing people behind me in the movie theater munching away on something.

[DiploTraveler]

Trying to have a zero balance bill is starting to sound like too much work and effort...it negates the point of being on vacation. If I get to the point where I have to worry and ponder about what my bill is going to be, then I will just stay home.

 

My wife totally agrees with you.

However, the responses seem to support my theory that those who have low balances don't get there because they conciously penny-pinch. It seems to be more of a personality thing... some people, like myself, are less enticed by the extra-priced items.

 

• Alcohol is the only extra option I am interested in, really. However, I order by the glass at the bar and have my own wine in the stateroom.
  
• The excursions are way to expensive; I'd rather just organize something myself.
  
• Same thing with the spa and photo studio... I'll just get it at home cheaper and it's probably better quality anyway.
  
• The shops on Veendam sold cheap trinkets that don't appeal to me.
  
• The food was great without having to go to Pinnacle Grill (besides, I'd have to plan ahead and reserve a table... while I'm supposed to be relaxing on vacation!).
  
• I don't drink soda and the free coffee kept me happy.
  
• I don't gamble.
  

 

Anyway, my point is that some people love all the extras that are offered and others don't.

[mskaufman]

We did it once on a seven day cruise to Bermuda. Anything we needed we purchased in town. We took public transportation to wherever we needed to go. A great local ferry system.

[chrispb]

Trying to have a zero balance bill is starting to sound like too much work and effort...it negates the point of being on vacation. If I get to the point where I have to worry and ponder about what my bill is going to be, then I will just stay home.

 

This is a good thread though, because it makes me wonder....it is generally believed that singles have to pay such exhorbitant single supplements to make up for the on-board spending that two people in a cabin would add to the cruise line coffers. Judging by the random sampling of responses on this thread, it appears that this is not the case.

 

I don't think everyone equates having a good time with spending loadsa money. I don't gamble (not all smokers do), drink little but usually buy cigarettes on board and if I see anything I want in the shops then I'll buy it. Sadly, because I love shopping, I rarely see anything I like. Most excursions we try to do ourselves NOT solely because it's cheaper but we really don't want to be herded around in large groups waiting for latecomers at every stop.

If people have large bills then I'll assume they are large drinkers and/or gamblers - there's nothing much else to spend money on. Even eating in speciality restaurants every night wouldn't give an extremely high bill.

[johnmik1]

We did it last year on Princess,totally by accident.We were on two seven days cruises and with our onboard credit and the fact that our internet and drycleaning was free,they stopped us from disembarking as they owed us money.

[RevNeal]

It would be interesting to compare a list of those who spend nothing -- or next to nothing -- aboard ship with a list of those who complain about having to pay the airlines for bringing extra luggage in order to "do formal night." :eek:

 

<duck and cover>

[taxmantoo]

It would be interesting to compare a list of those who spend nothing -- or next to nothing -- aboard ship with a list of those who complain about having to pay the airlines for bringing extra luggage in order to "do formal night." :eek:

 

<duck and cover>

 

You are a very brave man Rev...

Run Rev Run !!!

[Two@Sea]

I have a strange "affliction" that only manifests while cruising...

 

I seldom, if ever, drink at home. Get me on a ship, however, and I suddenly get "several hundreds of dollars" worth of thirsty! I am not embarrassed that our entire onboard account usually consists of hotel charges and bar and wine bills, because of my bizarre "medical thirsty" thingie! Gotta hydrate, right? ;)

 

(And, no, we're not falling down inebriates. If I'm going to drink something, I enjoy having the good stuff... or I might as well be at home, abstaining.)

[Opinions]

It would be interesting to compare a list of those who spend nothing -- or next to nothing -- aboard ship with a list of those who complain about having to pay the airlines for bringing extra luggage in order to "do formal night." :eek:

 

<duck and cover>

 

Why?

[NMLady]

No non-alcoholic drinks such as sodas or Explorations Cafe coffees? No specialty restaurants? No internet time?

 

Most of our cruises have none of those expenses, as well as no alcoholic drinks. But we do buy at least one photo so we have that charge.

Even though our shipboard account on some cruises has been less than $40, not counting DSC, we've spent cash -- in the casino, as extra tip for room steward, as room service tips.

 

So, even on cruises where we have hardly any charges we still have expenses.

[Pack My Bags]

We usually sail my time or select dining which includes the tips so that's one less thing we have to worry about. We dont drink but the Diamond / Elite status reception suits us. We take advantage if that plus the laundry coupons, (especially on our last B2B sailing!) but for the most part, if we have casino cash winnings or leftover spending money we give what we can towards our bill so the seapass account doesn't haunt us at the end of our statement closing!!!!

 

BTW Last cruise we didn't get a chance to go for haircuts because our salon got flooded from hurricane Irene. We ended up getting cuts on board that cost us a whopping $130 plus tips! That's wayyyyy more than my gal @ supercuts!

[Alcarondas]

I think it's interesting that many of the folks who claim to have small (or zero) balances on their final statements got/bought/did most of the same things as everyone else, but either pre-paid or paid off-ship. E.g., bringing wine instead of buying; using drink cards instead of paying as you go; booking shorex in advance instead of onboard; buying souveniers and supplies ashore instead of on ship, etc.

 

Granted, the way that the original question was phrased allowed for people to truthfully claim to have had minimal shipboard account balances while still spending (in some cases lavishly) on themselves and their vacation - just not "on the books", so to speak.

 

I also find it intriguing that so many folks gasped in horror at the thought of not spending even more $$ on top of the expense of the cruise itself. Even in this day and age of desperate lines and deep discounts, a cruise is still an expensive undertaking that is beyond the means of many people.

 

Personally, I'm grateful just to be onboard. I feel absolutely no need to spend any more than is necessary to walk up the gangplank. Let's face it, the base cost of entry gets you: a room of your own, all the food you can stuff into your face 24 hours a day, a staff of several hundred to wait on you hand and foot, movies, live entertainment, opportunities for dancing, swimming, exercise, and general socializing, a view that constantly changes, and transportation to towns and cities all over the world. If that's not "living it up", then I'm not sure what is...

 

That said, I usually spend somewhere between $30-80 extra per day depending on how many shore excursions I do. (I'm too lazy to arrange them myself; I consider the extra cost a small price to pay to not have to think much about it.) I rarely drink alcohol, I don't drink fizzy soda, and I've never felt the need to eat at an extra-cost restaurant. I'm bald, so I don't need the services of a barber, and all the beauty shops in the world won't improve my ugly mug, so no point spending there either. My image doesn't appear on film, so I don't have to worry about buying portaits. Photographs that I take with my own camera are usually my best souveniers, so I don't spend much on trinkets.

 

I did have one trip with a close-to-zero balance. I just needed to get away, so I booked a Caribbean deal with a couple of throwaway ports (St.J, St.T, HMC; something like that) and never got off the boat. And this was back in the day before "service charges" were automatically on the bill, and you were on your own for tips.

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

We have found that when we first started cruising again in 2002, we spent a lot on board - always bought photos, spent some in the shops, and bought an excursion at each port,as well as wine and cocktails. Now we find that although we buy wine packages on board and an occasional drink in the bars, we no longer buy stuff in the shops since there is nothing we don't have or need, nor do we buy photographs since they are so expensive. I would like one of each voyage but not worth the price that is charged. Barbara

[RevNeal]

You are a very brave man Rev...

Run Rev Run !!!

 

LOL. I know ... I'm naughty.

There is a fine line between being brave and being fool-hearty. :D ;)

[RevNeal]

Why?

 

Why not?

[RevNeal]

BTW Last cruise we didn't get a chance to go for haircuts because our salon got flooded from hurricane Irene. We ended up getting cuts on board that cost us a whopping $130 plus tips! That's wayyyyy more than my gal @ supercuts!

 

WOW! $130 plus tip? Is that each, or for two?

According to my bill from my last HAL cruse (Prinsendam, July 2010) the "Men's Wet Cut" I got at the beginning of the third week of the cruise cost me around $40, including tip. While more expensive than my usual Supercuts, it had been a month since my last hair cut and Supercuts wasn't aboard the Prinsendam.

[bepsf]

And what would be the purpose of that?

 

I know - The Horror!

No Ocean Bar cocktails before dinner?

No Wine at dinner?

No Nightcaps?

No Pinnacle?

No Sailaway Cocktail parties?

No Breakfast Mimosas?

No souvenirs for the kids at the office or the family?

No Spa?

What's the point?

[Opinions]

Why not?

 

I thought it might be helpful to know why you thought it would be interesting to know this information.

[bepsf]

...I booked a Caribbean deal with a couple of throwaway ports (St.J, St.T, HMC; something like that)...

 

How funny!

When co-workers ask me where I'm going for my next cruise and I refer to the trip as a "Throwaway 7-Day Caribbean" they look at me half in awe and half like I'm crazy!

;)

[babyher]

You don't have to spend like a drunken sailor , but to deprive yourself and penny pinch on vacation is not worth even going

[RD64]

Bepsf and Babyher

 

I think you summed up this thread perfectly. I couldn't agree more. Cheers and hope to see you at the Ocean Bar some day!