How can people afford expensive cruises?

[Gloria Mundi]

Well not exactly, I do feel you should take care of yourself, but occasionally give yourself a treat. I also say you should plan for the future the best that you can.

 

Yeah- with a DH who's 75 now, waiting to do all our travel till I retire (in about 4 years) isn't a good idea. I am postponing Australia/NZ for then because I want to stretch it out with stops in Honolulu and enough time to recover from the jet lag. He may not make it to that trip (I hope he does) but in the meantime we make one major trip a year to someplace wonderful.

[ourbirdnest]

We use our Discover "bucks" and Marriott Rewards and have gone on 3 past 2 week cruises and next years Transatlantic cruise all which are FREE thanks to one year we'll use Discover bucks and the next we'll use Marriott Rewards...I've told my husband he can't stop working(we'd lose our Marriott Rewards) and I can't stop shopping or we'll lose our Discover bucks...lol

[momofmeg]

Yeah- with a DH who's 75 now, waiting to do all our travel till I retire (in about 4 years) isn't a good idea. I am postponing Australia/NZ for then because I want to stretch it out with stops in Honolulu and enough time to recover from the jet lag. He may not make it to that trip (I hope he does) but in the meantime we make one major trip a year to someplace wonderful.

 

Gloria, one of my good friends I met on this forum, her husband died a year ago at 78. Before that he had gotten into too bad a shape to fly and so they had only taken Caribbean cruises for the last few years. But they had gone all over the world before he became ill. She is now planning to do a European cruise in a few months. I think she deserves it, as she would not go without him while he was ill. She was a good wife to him. I doubt he would want it any other way.

[veryseasonedtraveler]

My husband and I are frequent cruisers. We choose to cruise on Princess/Holland America because they are middle of the pack price wise. We take pride in exploring on our own while in port. This can be accomplished by joining a roll call or taking taxis with others. Don't splurge in the alternative restaurants.

 

On our last cruise that started in Amsterdam, we took the airport train to central station and walked to the ship.

 

It also pays to buy 100 of company stock that CCL offers. Believe Royal Carribean does the same. We get shipboard credit on all cruises. We book through a discount broker in conjunction with booking while on board.

 

It also pays to be loyal to one or two lines in order to qualify for Internet, laundry and reduced wine pricing.

 

We also book balconies that are priced, for example, over tenders. If the balconies are too expensive, go to an ocean view.

 

Our attitude is trying to be careful so we can go more often. Think cruising is a fantastic way to see the world.

[momofmeg]

Absolutely ! I thought I knew what my future held until I was widowed suddenly at 51. Life throws you curve balls when you least expect it .

 

 

I am so sorry to hear this. I know that had to be really hard.

 

For sure and we cannot plan for everything. All we can do is our best, but I see no reason to obsess. Enjoy a few nice vacations, nothing wrong with that if you can afford it.

 

I know we did an Alaska cruise with my fatherinlaw 8 months before he passed. He said sine we were into cruising why not do Alaska with him and my MIL. Hubby and I did not really want to go. We were still new to cruising and Caribbean cruises had not lost their "gloss" for us. We liked the excitement back then of the party-party flavor of the Caribbean cruises.

 

We were so glad we did. My mom had always wanted to cruise but would not go alone. when she was alive, we really could not afford to, as our income was much less and we were saving for our daughter's education. If only she had gone a few cruises, and taken turns taking 1 of us kids. I would much rather that had happened than the money I inherited.

[Porthopper101]

I Google 10,000 times in 2004 :).

 

M

[ducklite]

Absolutely ! I thought I knew what my future held until I was widowed suddenly at 51. Life throws you curve balls when you least expect it .

 

I'm so sorry to hear this. Life can certainly throw curve balls at you, which is why it is so important to have a "worst case scenario" financial plan in place. My mother was also widowed while in her 50's, and fortunately she and my father had put plans in place that left her without financial concerns as she ages.

[Sailor_Sally]

I'm so sorry to hear this. Life can certainly throw curve balls at you, which is why it is so important to have a "worst case scenario" financial plan in place. My mother was also widowed while in her 50's, and fortunately she and my father had put plans in place that left her without financial concerns as she ages.

\

 

Thank you for your concern . I am financially secure and travel frequently . We did have a plan in place and I also am very knowledible about investments . Life curves are not always financial . Sometimes they are more emotional . Anyway back to expensive cruises !

[dividends]

 

It also pays to buy 100 of company stock that CCL offers. Believe Royal Carribean does the same. We get shipboard credit on all cruises. We book through a discount broker in conjunction with .

 

Could you please elaborate on buying cruise line stock? Or point me to a thread of the benefits of owning cruise line stock?? Is it the owning where you shop concept?? Or does CCL give you discounts on it, or matches the purchase?

Edited November 19, 2013 by dividends

[CaroleSS]

You get an OBC for owning stock, but you need to be careful as it is not combinable with some offers.

 

Onboard credit per stateroom on sailings of 14 days or longer- US $250

Onboard credit per stateroom on sailings of 7 to 13 days+- US $100

Onboard credit per stateroom on sailings of 6 days or less US $ 50

Edited November 19, 2013 by CaroleSS

[paul929207]

You get an OBC for owning stock, but you need to be careful as it is not combinable with some offers.

 

Onboard credit per stateroom on sailings of 14 days or longer- US $250

Onboard credit per stateroom on sailings of 7 to 13 days+- US $100

Onboard credit per stateroom on sailings of 6 days or less US $ 50

With Carnival Corp, the shareholder OBC is combineable with other OBC. We get the SHareholder, FCC (for each of us) and the Loyalty credit. For a 17 day or longer cruise, it adds to $600.

[CaroleSS]

We are sailing with Celebrity next and with our 1,2,3 promo it is not combinable.

 

Just mentioning it so folk pay attention and don't get surprised.

[momofmeg]

\

 

Thank you for your concern . I am financially secure and travel frequently . We did have a plan in place and I also am very knowledible about investments . Life curves are not always financial . Sometimes they are more emotional . Anyway back to expensive cruises !

 

I do not think she is singling you out-she is just voicing her fears.

 

You are a brave gal and I have a feeling you would rather be penniless and have your husband with you. That is the way I feel too, together we can face anything.

 

My mom was 55 when my father died, but really she was a widow in all but name before that. My father was medically retired at age 58 because he developed Alzheimers, and died at 63. They HAD planned to save more but as you said, life threw them a curve ball. Dad though was retired from civil service so he was able to have it set up with a type of insurance ($50 a month 35 years ago) where Mom would get 80% of his retirement after his death after she retired. A this point he was still sound of mind. She was able to retire at 62 because she had this which was actually more than her social security so her monthly income was actually not changed much at retirement.

 

Now she did take 10,000 out of her savings her first year of retirement, but she did several things, such as had the house re-roofed, had a porch put on her house, where it had been a stoop, and added a carport.

 

After that though, she would only use the interest on her savings. About 2 years before she passed she bought a washer, dryer, and refrigerator, on one of those plans of no interest if you pay it off in 6 months. She had an unexpected expensive car repair (needed new motor) and was afraid she would have to pay interest on the loan. Us kids, loaned her the balance to pay it off, and she paid us back. That way she did not have to take out of her savings and lose some of her interest income. So she was okay and would have continued okay if she had lived, as us kids would have made sure of that.

[ducklite]

I do not think she is singling you out-she is just voicing her fears.

 

Exactly. The only people I would single out are those who think it's OK to take a vacation when they have no savings and no plan for their future--unfortunately there are many who fall into this category. I have known more than one person who came back from vacation and couldn't pay the bills the following month, or maxed out credit cards to pay for the trip.

 

Now she did take 10,000 out of her savings her first year of retirement, but she did several things, such as had the house re-roofed, had a porch put on her house, where it had been a stoop, and added a carport.

 

In my opinion these are maintenance or safeguarding one's health against slips and falls by protecting entryways from the elements. Additionally they add value to the house. It's not like she pulled up perfectly good flooring and replaced it with Italian marble. :)

[momofmeg]

Exactly. The only people I would single out are those who think it's OK to take a vacation when they have no savings and no plan for their future--unfortunately there are many who fall into this category. I have known more than one person who came back from vacation and couldn't pay the bills the following month, or maxed out credit cards to pay for the trip.

 

 

 

In my opinion these are maintenance or safeguarding one's health against slips and falls by protecting entryways from the elements. Additionally they add value to the house. It's not like she pulled up perfectly good flooring and replaced it with Italian marble. :)

 

Nope, my mom was frugal.

 

BTW, I have marble in the foyer of my home and I hate it. It is very hard to keep presentable. It is also starting to look worn, scratches and chips, as our home is 25 years old. I want to replace it with porcelain tile-very durable and very inexpensive in comparison. Since we live in a now older subdivision, we are not worrying about something dropping the value of our home; it is more now that we could "over improve" which in a way does not matter either since we plan to stay here, but I see no need. I found one that looks very much like Mediterranean tile and I like it very well. My mom taught me well I guess.

[veryseasonedtraveler]

Regarding 100 shares of CCL stock. They only give one shareholder credit per cabin. When making your final payment, you will have to notify and prove to the powers that be in Seattle that you own the stock. You should take a printed copying paperwork showing your name on board just as a backup. Once, ours wasn't applied and it would have been much easier if we had the paperwork with us. This has really paid off for us. Sometimes the stock even goes up:)

[dividends]

Thanks to all the replies.

CCL

Royal

 

 

Do any other cruise corporations(most are subs of CCL and Royal)offer this "deal" to shareholders?

Any hotels?

Any airlines?

Any other type of business?

Edited November 20, 2013 by dividends

[paul929207]

We are sailing with Celebrity next and with our 1,2,3 promo it is not combinable.

 

Just mentioning it so folk pay attention and don't get surprised.

I don't think it is ever combinable on Royal and her subs. While on Carnival Corp and subs it is always,

[paul929207]

Thanks to all the replies.

CCL

Princess

 

Do any other cruise corporations offer this "deal" to shareholders?

Any hotels?

Any other type of business?

Carnival Corp offers the OBC to shareholders whenever they sail on a line owned by Carnival Corp. These include Carnival, Princess, HAL, Cunard, Costa and others.

[CaroleSS]

Thanks to all the replies.

CCL

Royal

 

 

Do any other cruise corporations(most are subs of CCL and Royal)offer this "deal" to shareholders?

Any hotels?

Any airlines?

Any other type of business?

 

Lots of othe businesses have frequent visitor perks, but I've not heard about any that offer shareholder perks.....but I don't get out much!! :o

[sjde]

This goes WAY back on this board but I seem to remember the average veterinarian makes around $60,000/yr. More if they have their own business.

 

We are 60 and not yet retired. While it would be nice to leave something to our children, we think it's more important to create great memories by traveling with them now. Studies on happiness show it's not "things" that bring lasting happiness, but memories/experiences, which improve over time.

[calliopecruiser]

This goes WAY back on this board but I seem to remember the average veterinarian makes around $60,000/yr. More if they have their own business.

 

That's about the starting salary for new grads. In the US, the average vet salary (including owners and specialists) is about $85,000/yr. Farm animal vets make less than small animal vets, who make less than equine vets, generally speaking, and specialists (like with human doctors) make more than generalists. Those working for government and research on average earn more than private practice vets.

[mek]

I never try to figure out how people have or do certain things in their lives. I assume they either have the money to spend or they go in debt. I simply don't care - it only matters to me how I spend my money and that I don't have any debt associated with things I purchase.

[Fredr]

Many who responded missed the point. The original question...how do you afford very expensive cruises? I have been on 36 cruises and have been pleased with the mid level cruise lines such as Princess and Celebrity. I look for the special sales and upgrade to a suite if the price is right.

[momofmeg]

I never try to figure out how people have or do certain things in their lives. I assume they either have the money to spend or they go in debt. I simply don't care - it only matters to me how I spend my money and that I don't have any debt associated with things I purchase.

 

Good point and I totally agree. Bottom line it is their business.