splurge/skimp

[popsec]

I'm actually surprised how many skimp on the Steakhouse. It's such a great meal and a special atmosphere.

 

I agree. It never made sense to pay for a meal when they have perfectly fine food for free. Finally tried the steakhouse on our last cruise and OMG!...it was incredible! Now I'm hooked and we'll go once on every cruise.

 

So, splurges are the casino and steakhouse

 

Skimp...never do the spa, ship excursions or purchase photos onboard (we did get a formal pic the first few cruises but since we haven't gotten younger or better-looking there's no point buying them :o)

[2mygirl2]

I'm actually surprised how many skimp on the Steakhouse. It's such a great meal and a special atmosphere.

 

That is exactly what i was thinking! We LOVE the steakhouse. We were actually thinking about going twice on our next cruise.

 

Splurge- steakhouse, photos (love CCL Pictures!), non cruise line excursions (have never done cruise excursion yet- this cruise will be our first, as some excursions are only booking with ships now! BOO!)

 

Skimp- spa, alcohol, souvenirs

 

Thinking hard about splurging on the Chef's table or behind the scenes tour! Only problem is we have a teenage daughter...... if she is okay with teen program, then we'll go. Otherwise, we'll have to wait until we cruise sans children!

[patrice1]

Splurge: cabin (aft wrap or suite), steak house/Chef's table, S&S (we pre-deposit $200/day on ours, so we never care what we spend (no worries!), within reason, and usually get a check at the end of our cruise), and spa - port days only at reduced price, also, extra tips for staff.

 

Skimp: excursions, photos, souviniers.

 

We work too hard for our vacations to feel uncomfortable doing what we want. BTW, we bring $20/person/day for casino. Our rule is: if we win more than $100, we cash in & take it to the cabin safe. If we don't, we keep playing till it's gone. After all our cruises, we're ahead!

[BubMunkeyBles]

Usually we skimp on booz.

 

Splurge on a massage and steakhouse.

 

We're going all out though on this upcoming cruise. A rarity for us. We're budget travelers.

[CarrieAP]

Splurge:

 

• Suite for us, inside for kids. Love the privacy and balcony and Carnival's prices make it affordable
  
• Spring break vacation- airfare is a killer, but family time is priceless
  
• Excursions- this is our 2nd cruise with the girls and they're hooked. 1st port ever last year was Nachi Cocum and that set the bar. This year so far it's a private day sail in St. Thomas, ziplining in St. Lucia, horseback riding St. Martin.
  
• Extra days before and after, lowers airfare and justifies it (at least in my head!)
  
• Family photo with teen daughter's dressed up and nearly smiling worth the $$
  

Skip:

 

• Casino
  
• Bar drinks. Can't imagine how much some folks must spend. Bon Voyage and wine package were perfect last year. Discovered Appleton Rum with guava and OJ in our insulated mugs-mmm!
  
• Spa
  
• Tried steakhouse last year for 25th anniversary and was nice, but can live without it this time.
  
• Shopping
  

[bonnie&clydecruzers]

Splurge- The cruise itself!! but also Shore Excursions- most ports we will do an excursion, instead of just wandering around.

 

Skimp- Spa (way overpriced), Casino (thats what Vegas is for), Pictures (we take a ton of nice pics), drinks (we will make our own except splurge on DOD's), cabin(Were never in it so inside is fine) and Steakhouse (MDR is just fine).

[ladeeesquire]

splurge: balcony cabin, excursions (always book outside the cruise line but we have done some really nice trips), photos.

 

skimp: souveniers (husband buys hats in ports for $5 each and I get a thimble in each new port for about $3 each. That's about it)

 

skip: alcohol (we don't drink), upcharge restaurants (like many others I hate paying for something I'm surrounded by for free), casino (don't really like to gamble and have never done so on a ship), spa treatments (did it once but was so put off by the hard sell for products I never wanted to do it again).

[pafam4]

splurge: steakhouse (sooo delicious), excursions, a couple of fancy drinks,

 

skimp: casino (not much of a gambler), alcohol (rarely drink), spa, ov room instead of balcony

[ScottC]

Skimp: photographs (we refuse to even pose for the paparrazi), alcohol (we smuggle), spa treatments (cheaper at home)

 

Splurge: excursions, specialty restaurants, cabin choice (balcony, suite, etc).

 

Skip: Casino

I LOVE your little dolphin thing!!! :D

[mjl1960]

Splurge on alcohol, and skimp on the Spa and Steakhouse.

[geoherb]

Skimp: shore excursions, spa treatments, cabin

Splurge: specialty dining such as the Chef's Table and Ultimate Balcony Dinner (on Princess), as well as thalassotherapy pools on ships that have them (on HAL and Celebrity)

 

I've successfully weaned DH off of thinking he needs a balcony every cruise. I tell him I'd rather cruise more often. In the Caribbean, we don't spend much on shore excursions. Most of the time, we will head to a beach in a cab (or walk to one or take a bus, if available). Even in Alaska, I did a lot of research so that we could do most ports on our own and see more for less than going with the ship's excursions.

 

We don't indulge in spa treatments.

 

But I'm willing to pay extra for the Chef's Table. We've done it three times on Princess. On our cruise last month, when we finally had a balcony cabin on a Princess ship for the first time since 2003), we did the Ultimate Balcony Dinner. It's my new favorite experience.

[erinmarie424]

Splurge: one or two days pre and/or post cruise in departure city, excursions in every port (sometimes independent, sometimes through ship,) coffee shop coffee and cake

 

Skimp: steakhouse (never,) pictures (just one from each cruise,) alcohol (none for DBF, just one or two drinks a day for me,) souvenirs on the ship (Christmas ornament and a pen from each one, nothing else,) no bingo, limit of $10 per day on slots in casino for me (none for DBF.)

[Blueboss]

Splurge: Drinks, independent excursions, pre cruise hotel and balcony cabin.

 

Skimp: Spa, pics (buy the boarding one), specialty dining.

[luckybecky]

Thanks, OP, for starting this thread. It's interesting to see the different perspectives people have. We've only been on one cruise. For that cruise:

 

Splurge: Balcony cabin, dolphin swim & splurged on the photos from the swim

 

Skimp: no spa treatments, bought very few drinks, carried on wine and as many sodas as were allowed and didn't let our kids buy any more than that, did not buy any photos, no steakhouse. I did not do ANY shopping on the ship and bought only a few very small souvenirs in port.

 

There is so much food on the ship -- I really don't see any reason to spend extra for steakhouse during the cuise. It is nothing that I can't get at home, we live in a large city with plenty of fine dining options so I don't need to do that on the cruise. With all the "free" food available, I can't bring myself to spend extra for the steakhouse. Photos: it is not that expensive to do photos at home. Spa: if I wanted, I could get that here at home too. Shopping: I can do that at home.

 

I splurge on the things I can't duplicate at home, like the dolphin swim with photos. So, for our next cruise -- a once in a lifetime Med cruise -- I'm splurging on a balcony cabin on a high deck : I can't get that view of the Mediterrean at home!! Plus we are splurging on pre and post cruise days in Barcelona. Can't get that at home. Excursions: we are spending extra $$ to stay overnight in Rome.

 

That is what it is all about: experiencing new things and places. That is what I splurge on! :)

[Rockitman]

Carnival , are you listening??????

 

Nobody wants to get gouged in your spas!!!!

 

 

Lower the friggin prices and you might do more business!!!!

[hlb76]

Splurge ( splurge = if I want it I get it, not always excessive)

• Casino
  
• drinks
  
• excursions - I try to book independant
  
• pre-cruise stay ( we live in the frozen tundra and to miss the ship would be devastating)
  
• up all night parties if the kids want to go
  

Skimp

• room type - we can make insides work but have had others types I shop the deals
  
• soda card - I bring my own
  
• I do bring on a small amount of booze
  
• pics - unless there is something great
  
• pay food options - maybe one day
  
• bingo- playing at home is more fun
  
• spa
  
• tips --just kidding - but surprised it has not been mentioned
  
• nick nacks- I used to buy them but get them home and say no what do I do with this
  

[boxermom73]

SPLURGE: Pre cruise hotel,Will not miss the ship!,DOD, Balcony,specialty(just to say I done it:D)excursions (Independent only)specialty coffee (at least once)

 

 

SAVE: Spa , Pictures(learned after first cruise to take my own)wine or soda card (bring my own and than just drink free stuff)bingo,casino,ship excursions

[emmysmommy]

My splurges:

1. cabin - our 1st cruise was a Cat. 11 (now ocean view suite??) and we've never changed the category.

2. Photos- gotta admit, I typically purchase 80% of the photos they take of us.

3. Steakhouse - we've eaten at the Steakhouse for every cruise

 

My skimps:

1. Bingo/casino

2. Spa - don't care to pay those prices

3. Alcohol - I only have a few glasses wine on each cruise and maybe a tropical slushie drink or two.

[txstarla]

what do you splurge on/ skimp on while cruising?

 

For me the splurges are alchohol and photographers pictures (a good picture to me is pricesless!)

 

Skimp: spa or steakhouse. The spa treatments seem like such a luxury when I would rather spend my money on... you guessed it- alchohol. The steakhouse- don't get me wrong I am SUCH a foodie but I'm also a cheapie- I just CAN'T see paying for food when it's free and all around me 24/7!:)

 

I am the complete opposite. I rarely buy the pics (hate posed pics) and splurge on food and spa (I research and look for deals and do not buy products), also got Spa Stateroom and it was awesome on the Magic. Also, spend your money on Chef's Table. Better than any excursion or tour!

 

Where we agree is drinkies!

 

I also don't do many excursions. I do my research and pick carefully and would rather do some stuff unplanned or on my own when possible. Tours don't interest me. Some of the best times in port have been unplanned or last minute.

[mousey]

Our biggest splurge is on excursion/tours both through independents and the ship's, on a spa treatment every once in a while, on drinks of the day and some drinks in the evening (mostly wine, but I've been known to have a couple of martinis once in a while, on at least one specialty restaurant, on wine tastings, and every cruise I get one of those $10 evening bags from the $10 shop. Also we splurge on buying a little something at every one of the ports the ship stops at. Oh yes, we drop a few (very few) bucks in the Casino. Yes on soda cards, one for me and one for the DS and we also splurge on pictures if we like them. We usually get about 3 of them on each cruise.

 

We do not splurge on any games on the ship you have to pay for especially not on overpriced bingo, not on our cabin (we always get an inside one), not on art auctions, not on expensive jewelry (but do on inexpensive jewelry), not on coffee drinks (we don't drink coffee at all).

 

We have never overspent on a cruise and have never dreaded getting our bill at the end of the cruise. We never spend more than we budget for.

 

Every cruise for us has been wonderful! We love to cruise!