A bit worried...

[rsinj]

I'm a Coach-a-holic myself, but skip the Coach store. Go for a couple of knock-offs if you really must

 

Quite a statement coming from a law school graduate - isn't it?

 

 

Howard

[emeraldcity]

First of all, let me congratulate you on paying your own way through college. That's quite an undertaking. After all that effort, you're planning on a cruise to celebrate, and I suspect you're certainly entitled. This is not, however the time in your life to start to splurge on the lifestyle to which you wish to become acustomed. If you're worried about all the extras, you're probably shooting too high.

 

You have a picture of what you want this trip to be ... and if that includes a trip to the Coach store and a sizeable bar bill, then it's decision time. If you can't afford these items in May '06, you might want to put the trip on hold a couple of years so you can have the trip the way you really want it.

 

I want Alaska ... really bad! But I can't currently swing the 12-day cruise/tour that I have my heart set on. So I'm going on lesser trips the next couple of years and arranging my finances so that 2008 will be the year.

 

Coming out of college is a very rocky time financially ... I certainly watched my daughter's struggles. I really caution you to heavily consider the long term burden of a financial decision you are already having second thoughts about.

[justaknucklehead]

Maybe you should save a cruise for your honeymoon.

[herecomesthesun]

Please... do not buy knock offs. And mind you, it is illegal to sell/resell knock offs in US.

 

If you know what you are getting is a knockoff, what's the problem with buying it? The designer won't be losing any money, as there are always people who won't settle for anything less than an original.

 

I would suspect that you would have tread carefully when negotiating with a salesperson who is trying to scam you and pass their item off as the real thing, though, because you don't want to make them mad. There are websites that tell you how to examine an item and see if it is a knockoff or not, to make sure you don't get scammed.

 

It is illegal to resell, however, so just don't do it. :)

[tiger13]

all great ides from Jennygirl, she sounds like she has been in my shoes...

 

anyways, another way to save money,

 

if you are taking a carribbean cruise, keep in mind the shore excursions on the ship can be costly. You can do most excursions by booking on your own in advance or same day at the pier right where you get off the ship. Their are usually plenty of options available at the pier and you can negotiate a far better price. For instance, Dunn River Falls you can get off the ship, take your own cab to the falls and pay the entrance fee at about half the cost of going thru the ship with a very large group of people vs on your own.

Also, you can take a cab to any beach for the day usually for much less than the ship will charge for a "beach break excursion" in any port.

 

Also, the suggestion to book the inside cabin is a good idea. You could even get upgraded for free if you are sailing during off peak season.

 

Best hint Jenny gave you is to STAY OUT OF THE CASINO. Unless you are willing to lose money, you shouldn't even go in there. While my husband and I like to spend a few evenings in the casino, it is all I could do to convince my college age kids they can't afford to play if they can't afford to lose, which they couldn't.

[kenandlaura06]

I did my first cruise as a senior in college. In total, it cost me less $700. This is how:

 

4 day cruise was only $250 for the cheapest inside cabin--go on a shorter cruise to save money.

 

Hotel room was $100 a night (Days Inn Miami International Airport)--split with friend, so cost only $100.

 

Flight was $150 (shopped around airlines and airports--Manchester NH to Miami)

 

Excursions-Only went on one, looked around for which one appealed the most, $50 Cozumel Sail, Snorkle Beach Part.

 

Allowed myself one drink before dinner, one drink with dinner and one more drink per day (approximately), which kept costs down.

 

You can do it, but you must be frugal. I would speak, however, to what others are saying. Skip the Coach--overpriced and paying for a label. Do you have credit card debt? If so, skip the cruise, because you can't afford it. The years after college can be lean and you do not want to get yourself in debt. I am in my mid twenties and have taken the one cruise and then will cruise again on my honeymoon. That is it for my exotic vacations. I believe in living within your means and if you can't afford it and are worried about it know, you may have a good reason to postpone the trip. Good luck with your decision.

[2forthesea]

I don't agree with rsinj's first paragraph about not doing this. DO IT!! Both my sons, poor and just graduating from college, went to Europe. I encouraged them to do so, because they would go with a budget and spend less (since they had less), AND, later on they wouldn't have the freedom in their schedule to do it. They both loved their trips.

 

All the advice above is great. I picked up a few pointers, too, and I've been cruising for over 30 years!

 

The person who recommended pre-paying caught my attention. Try to leave home with a credit on whatever charge card you're using for your shipboard account. It'll help offset the expenses.

[nealberk]

With cruises costing as little as they do, they are a great vacation. The biggest thing I have found to save money is to go out from a port within driving distance. Even with the current gas prices, a trip of a few hundred miles is less than the cost of airfare (and you get to bring more luggage including a few two liter bottles of soda)

[rsinj]

If you know what you are getting is a knockoff, what's the problem with buying it? The designer won't be losing any money, as there are always people who won't settle for anything less than an original.

 

 

Some of you people are too funny.

 

 

I would suspect that you would have tread carefully when negotiating with a salesperson who is trying to scam you and pass their item off as the real thing, though, because you don't want to make them mad.

 

Oh - you have to be careful not to make the person mad who is selling something illegally? Why - because if you make them mad they won't sell you the illegal item?

 

Too funny.

 

 

 

Howard

[rsinj]

Unfortunately, there are quite a few cheerleaders here not providing financially sound advice to someone who has made it perfectly clear that 1) she is worried about financing her cruise, 2) she is paying her own way through college, and 3) is not graduating now, job in hand and going in to the workforce.

 

Considering the massive debt our country is taking on with people living beyond their means, it's really not all that surprising.

 

It is nice to see that there are a couple people who can offer sound advice.

 

 

 

Howard

[2forthesea]

rsinj:

 

I always assume when a person has booked a cruise, they have gone through the thought process of whether they can afford to go or not. I believe the OP was talking about the "add-ons", so that was my starting place.

 

I would never assume to tell a person not to do something they are planning to do without knowing them first. So, I take the approach they know what they're doing, and go from there. I disagree with your advice to cancel the trip, since I have gone through the experience of college travel with two sons.

 

A person going through college, especially a long college career, may need some rewards along the way, especially if it's a trip with a very significant other.

 

So, I encourage college students to see the world, and I think budgeting for a cruise it's good practice for handling finances. The advice given on this thread is excellent and will hopefully help the OP do exactly what she asked to do: afford her cruise.

[tiger13]

rsinj

 

we do not know her or her personal situation. whether or not we agree with her taking a cruise that perhaps she cannot afford is not for us to decide. so.....if she IS dead set on taking a cruise then that is her decision to make, I believe the people on this forum are simply trying to give her ways to save and maybe these suggestions will actually make the whole plan more feasible

 

if everyone waited until they were completely out of debt and financially set to take a nice vacation, then there would be very few vacations

[herecomesthesun]

Some of you people are too funny.

 

 

 

 

Oh - you have to be careful not to make the person mad who is selling something illegally? Why - because if you make them mad they won't sell you the illegal item?

 

Too funny.

 

 

 

Howard

 

I'm sure I will be ripped to shreds for saying this, but a lot of things people do everyday are illegal, such as speeding or jaywalking. I believe it is much more dangerous to yourself and others to exceed the speed limit while driving, or to cross the street when cars are coming, than to buy a knock-off purse, yet we do these things everyday.

 

I find nothing wrong with purchasing a purse that is fashioned to look like a designer purse. I do think it is morally wrong of salespeople to scam their customers, but if it is understood that the purse is a knockoff, what is the big deal? You are free to explain what is so bad about it to me.

 

The reason I was saying you might need to tread carefully is a matter of being polite. There is no reason to be rude or indignant to a salesperson, even if they are being dishonest. And, yes, if you are interested in purchasing something, being rude would not help matters.

 

I never knew that purchasing knock-offs was such a big deal. I hope someone can enlighten me on why it is wrong.

[TaylorgoCruz]

I find nothing wrong with purchasing a purse that is fashioned to look like a designer purse.

 

People who buy knockoffs are people who admire the luxury but either:

1) Can not financially afford it, or

2) Do not want to spend the money for it.

 

Either case, people "think" that their knockoff purse "is" a designer bag because it "looks like" a designer bag. What they don't know is that the knockoff is a knockoff, and can be spotted so a mile away that it is a knockoff. So, who are they cheating to make others believing that they are carrying a designer bag?

 

 

I never knew that purchasing knock-offs was such a big deal. I hope someone can enlighten me on why it is wrong.

 

There are lot of information on the News about knockoffs funding of terrorisms. I'll leave it to you to find the articles and read about this. :)

 

Taylor

[herecomesthesun]

People who buy knockoffs are people who admire the luxury but either:

1) Can not financially afford it, or

2) Do not want to spend the money for it.

 

Either case, people "think" that their knockoff purse "is" a designer bag because it "looks like" a designer bag. What they don't know is that the knockoff is a knockoff, and can be spotted so a mile away that it is a knockoff. So, who are they cheating to make others believing that they are carrying a designer bag?

 

I don't think people who buy knock-offs are nessecarily trying to pass them off as the real thing. For me, it is about the style of the bag, not the status, and I am sure the same goes for many others. If you can have a very similar style for a lot less cash, why does it matter if people can tell its a knockoff or not? Its not about what other people think.

 

 

 

There are lot of information on the News about knockoffs funding of terrorisms. I'll leave it to you to find the articles and read about this. :)

 

Taylor

 

I will look it up, though apparently most things fund terrorists, if you watch the news.

[TaylorgoCruz]

I don't think people who buy knock-offs are nessecarily trying to pass them off as the real thing. For me, it is about the style of the bag, not the status, and I am sure the same goes for many others. If you can have a very similar style for a lot less cash....

 

 

I think you are confused that a knockoff being a "similar style" bag of the original, but unfortunately you are wrong, a knockoff is an illegal replica of the original.

 

Taylor

[rsinj]

I don't think people who buy knock-offs are nessecarily trying to pass them off as the real thing

 

Really? I wonder then, why would you be able to get the knockoff in NYC with a Kate Spade iron-on tag to go on the outside? Surely not to pass it off as the real thing - huh?

 

You do have me in stitches.

 

 

Howard

[rsinj]

tiger13 - maybe so - but, from the original post, the message seemed to be coming through loud and clear. I believe a few others here recognized it as well.

 

I think sometimes, there is a cheerleader attitude among some of the posters, and some of the times, those of us who do have a bit more wisdom and financial experience in life should be affording that where appropriate. I believe this is one of those cases.

 

 

Howard

[rsinj]

herecomesthesun - don't be oblivious to the situation - just google knockoff raid

 

Howard

[Nothin' But Sun]

If you know what you are getting is a knockoff, what's the problem with buying it? The designer won't be losing any money, as there are always people who won't settle for anything less than an original.

 

I would suspect that you would have tread carefully when negotiating with a salesperson who is trying to scam you and pass their item off as the real thing, though, because you don't want to make them mad. There are websites that tell you how to examine an item and see if it is a knockoff or not, to make sure you don't get scammed.

 

It is illegal to resell, however, so just don't do it. :)

Just wondering about the websites that you can check to see about knockoffs. I can afford a Coach purse and actually I was planning on seeing what I can buy in San Juan. I do not want to get ripped off!!! I want the real thing. How can I check.

To the original OP. I say be smart with your $$$. Use all the tips from previous posters and you should be fine. Definitley ask for anything you can use for your upcoming cruise for Xmas, birthdays and have you BF do the same. I took my first vacation when I was slightly in debt too, many years ago and I have been able to pay off debts, vacation, pay off debts, vacation you get the point.

[TaylorgoCruz]

Good job, Howard! You are faster than a speeding bullet finding those websites. And I enjoy your wit!

 

Taylor

[justaknucklehead]

Just want to tell you a funny story. For my birthday last year my daughter bought me a Kate Spade bag. I am a country bumpkin and said "gee thanks, I love it". I had no idea what it was. Somebody at work made a big deal about it and how expensive they were so, I went on her website and found out my daughter spent $400.00 on that bag. Believe me, I was floored that she would spend that much money for my birthday. I called her and thanked her more profusely and told her she shouldn't have spent that much money on me for my birthday.

 

She really didn't have too much to say, except that it was no big deal.

 

About a month later, I was at the casino and I looked down and the Kate Spade tag was sitting on the ground. I started laughing because I knew then it was a knockoff, because it was ironed on and not sew on. When I called her and told her, we both got a big laugh out of it.

[emeraldcity]

The whole premise behind this thread is foreign to me. "How do I save money ON THE CRUISE?" My approach is to save money FOR THE CRUISE. I don't buy a lunch a work, I pack my own. I don't eat out very often and I don't buy a lot of new clothes for myself. I don't even (gasp!) have cable TV. In short, I look for ways to save in day-to-day living so I can have a special week or so once a year where we really have a blast.

 

And when I go on a vacation ... any vacation ... I plan on making it very special. I really have a hard time coming up with any vacation memories where I spent money I regretted. I do however, remember things I regret deciding to skip ... since I will never be able to go there again with the same people ... and that's a memory I wish we had shared.

 

So, plan the vacation you want ... Coach purse, appropriate tips for the people who serve you, shore excursions, etc. ... just don't take the trip, till you can do it without jeopardizing your future.

 

Skimping on a vacation ... sounds like launching a diet just before Christmas.

 

Like I said ... that makes no sense to me.

[justaknucklehead]

I agree with the previous poster, if I have to scrimp, I would rather stay home.

[twinkletoes204]

Well, I just want to thank ppl for their positive advice so far.

 

I am like any other college student trying to be a penny pincher with money being put out for things, and this trip is something special to me. I have worked my butt off for (going on) 5 years to walk out of college with 2 BAs and I don't plan on stopping there. This trip is a congrats to myself. By no means will this destroy the rest of my future! I just felt I needed to clarify that before I read any more posts.

And I maybe should make clear the fact that although I am a college student paying my way through school...Coach was just a thought. I think of it as a nice gift to myself. (And the gift certs I have recieved over the years for the store will finall be used there!) I didn't mean to start an all-out designer bag war on here!! :(

 

I have a good idea already on some $$ saving tips. I just wanted some of the little savers that I could use while on the ship. I guess my clarification in the original post could have been better. Please don't ban me from the forum! :o The trip is already booked and we opted for an inside cabin. I am definitely booking the airfare online, as well as the hotel (most likely through hotels.com). My biggest problem is trying to convice the bf that the dolphin encounter will just be a huge waste of $$. I don't really see it being worth $80+ to touch a animal on the head or get a kiss. I dunno...maybe that's just me!

 

Anyway...thanks for all the tips for a cruise rookie, like myself. I'll be sure to keep reading.:)