Little or no money for extra is it possible?

[cruizinisthebest]

I'm not here to bash the OP, and I've read through the thread. She's gotten some pretty good advice and lots of support. My only concern, and this is from experience, is going on vacation basically broke. Things happen. And I learned the hard way about traveling without money in case of emergencies. You never know, and its always good to have a few hundred bucks or a credit card in case you need it. Even the best laid plans can go wrong.

 

You don't have to spend alot of money on the ship or in the ports, but you will spend some. And your daughter will likely want to do some things that require money. I feel for your situation, because you aren't doing anything but loving your daughter by sacrificing trying to take her on vacation. However if it were me, I would move the cruise back a little while until I could save up some more money. I've actually done that myself before. Some ship sails everyday.

 

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[golfb4cruzing]

If your gratuities are prepaid, you could go a week and not spend a penny. Water, ice tea, lemonade, coffee, ice cream, food, entertainment is all free. Don't worry and have a great cruise.

[Boozebabe]

Suggest to family & friends that cash for her birthday would be nice so she could buy some souvenirs. I know you can do it in a tactful way. Family probably already knows about the no child support situation.

[Andoria]

My final bill on my last cruise was approximately $2.20. My mother had an upset stomach so I bought her a ginger ale.

 

The last time I cruised with my teenage son, I made it clear before we got on board that I wasn't paying for anything extra. He could make do with what was offered for "free." If he wanted to, he could spend his own money for extra things.

[txmom11]

Sorry for the bashing you have had to take for this thread. Why some of these people waste money on a cruise I will never know. They obviously already walk on water. As a struggling single parent I have been in your shoes x3. My kids spend zero money while on the ship. They could live on the free ice cream. I discuss with them ahead of time what we can and can not afford. Trust me, free fruit punch and cruise beats sitting at home and drinking a soda. I don't know how social your daughter is but if she is anything like mine she may go to camp carnival and you will see very little of her anyway. Like I said, I have been in your shoes and it is quite doable. Stock up on Ramen noodles and have a ball.

 

Ditto! I'm not sure where you are from, but your state's Attorney General's office might be a good place to start to get the ex to pay his child support. If it's anything like Texas, they'll go after him forever until it's recouped. My ex was so far behind when our third one turned 18 that I ended up getting support checks until she was 20. :rolleyes: Good for me, helped pay for her tuition (which I would have had to do on my own).

[funtime238]

These are all great tips. We seldom spend money. You can do bingo at home. You can gamble at home. You can go to a steak house at home. So you really don't need that on a cruise. A cruise should be something you cannot do at home. Laying in the sun, mini golf, singing and dancing til the wee hours. You can bring wine with you. 24 sodas and water combo should keep you. Reuse the water bottles to get juices or lemonade, iced teas for your refrigerator. The included meals are wonderful. Your daughter will appreciate what you have provided, and should be happy with what she CAN experience, not what she cannot. Sounds like she has a good mom. Enjoy the cruise.

[AmberTeka]

Not meaning to be Downer Deb here....but I would not go unless I had a cushion for something going wrong.

 

I don't drink. Don't bingo. Do shop. Do go donate to the casino. Do take shore excursions.

 

I budget and stick to it.

So....once, on the second day of the cruise, I had a boil under my arm turn into a huge, painful, throbbing boil under my arm. I had to go to the ship doctor and she lanced it. Then I had to go back for four nights, and she put another drain on it. Also put me on antibioltics.

 

I did not plan on that.. I lucked out. Even though I had no travel insurance, ( i had insurance that covered foreign trips after a $500 deductible)....The total bill was $140. I thought it was a co-pay, and they said....no. That it was the bill.

 

Plan for something to happen..........and it won't. Don't plan......don't have a cushion...and it will happen.

[SadieN]

Room service is free but it is customary to tip a buck or two.

[cruse2loose]

As a single mom of 2 sons and retired worker for the State Child Support office I have been in your shoes.

First if you do buy picture from the ship, when you get home you can copy the Carnival copyright release, take it and the picture to Walmart, Walgreens, etc and get copies made. Makes a great Christmas present for grandparents,etc!

The memories you make are the best soveniers! Make sure you have extra batteries,memory card for your camera. Take lots of pictures!

When you get off the ship, take a water bottle with water from Lido, or juice or lemonade, then you don't have to spend money for that!

Postcards and magnets are cheap soveniers and don't take up much space in your luggage.

Trivia contest, the nightly shows and comedians are all free. Enjoy the outside decks and the breeze, the scenery. Go down the slides! Disconnect with home, work and reconnect with your daughter on her special day.

Tell the wait staff in the MDR it is your daughters birthday, they will bring special dessert and sing to her ! Have your camera ready :)

I had a garage sale to make extra money. We have a lot of FB groups that you can sell items on. Extra money is a cushion for your trip!

Go, don't sweat the small stuff & make some wonderful memories-Enjoy :)

[Velvetwater]

We hardly spent a thing on our 12 day Carnival Cruise.

Reasons for this:

 

1) We dont gamble

2) We dont do specialty restuarants

3) We sneaked alcohol on board at most ports (Europe is more relaxed as they let us on with clinking bags straight through the scanner)

4) We didnt like the onboard shops

5) We dont like doing tours

 

Granted we spent a lot in port but on a Caribbean cruise we wouldn't need to as we would just be beach bunnies with the odd snorkel etc. We spent money on the wine tasting and drinks and that was it.

 

Perfectly doable

Edited April 12, 2014 by Velvetwater

[cruise_girl2002]

I'm doing a surprise 16th birthday cruise for my daughter this summer. She has no idea. The cruise was paid in full months ago. I have gas money put back and gift cards to cover the cost of meals on the drive down and home that I've been saving. I've already paid for parking. I have reservation for the night before at a motel but I can stay with my sister four hours from port and drive down the day of if I have to. I was not worried about money for the cruise until in the same month my work cut hours and my ex has decided not to pay his child support any more so financially I'm stressed right now and don't see that changing before the cruise. Is it possible to go on the cruise and still have a great time without all the extra stuff. Has anyone done it or should I just cancel. I've been on one four day cruise before and I thought I was being cheap but still spent $500. I'm not a drinker. Last cruise I had one drink the whole time so I'm not worried about that. I'm not a spa person at all. I loved the bingo games last time and would love to do them but could do without. I'm not a gambler. I lost $10 in slots on my last cruise and never went back. I was really wanting to do the steak house but don't think I need to spend the extra money just for food. I don't want to be in port stuck the ship since I don't have lots of money for a excursion. What do you do when you have little or no money for excursions? We are going to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Montego Bay. I've been crunching the number and think I can do around $150 per person for extras while on the cruise. Am I being unreasonable?

 

its doable. I have done cruises without any add ons. I don't need cokes, or alcohol. im fine with the water out of the machines on lido. have a great cruise

[maywell]

Go for it - You already paid it off months in advance before the problems started and if your daughter is the understanding sort regarding family finances & circumstances, then you have nothing to worry about money-wise. If a teenage can't comprehend why s/he can't have soda and/or play arcade everyday of the trip or even pouts that they can't have a souvenir from the cruise ship - then maybe you should reconsider taking them or even going. (Thats the situation I have with some of family members of mine - they don't seem want spend money that not theirs to begin with nor learn to not spend at all) :(

 

Otherwise, have a great time; You may not even have to buy excursions - Can just have fun on the beach for free, enjoy a quiet port day or walk around town; ask around the forums here regarding your port stops if you even need to do an excursion. Couple of people in "1st time cruiser" board answered questions or gave recommendations regarding certain port stops and it help me plan to not take an excursion at all for my 1st cruise trip. Don't listen to the downers who claim to know everything, you & your daughter will have a great time with or without money. :D Trust me, there's alot information on these forums on how to make milkshakes and coffee floats on Carnival cruise ships for free; all you have to do is research it. ;)

Edited April 12, 2014 by maywell

[jenndun]

I agree! At least 2 more years is his obligation.

Also, don't forget to get a permission slip, from him, saying that you have permission to take your daughter out of the country. That's all you would need, to get to the pier and have them tell you that you can't sail because you do not have your ex's OK.

Go and have a wonderful time!!

 

 

I went through the court to get permission to travel out of the country without ex's permission last year. I was going to take her when she was 13 and he refused saying he'd call and let them know he did not agree that I could take her out of the country. SO I didn't even give him the change this time. When I decided I was going to take her for her 16th I went to court and got permission. The judge was not happy at him for refusing the first time.

[mistycruiser]

Good for you about taking care of the permission to leave the country issue because that's what I was just about to mention as a possible issue. Glad that's all taken care of. :)

[MEOWSMURPHY]

I went through the court to get permission to travel out of the country without ex's permission last year. I was going to take her when she was 13 and he refused saying he'd call and let them know he did not agree that I could take her out of the country. SO I didn't even give him the change this time. When I decided I was going to take her for her 16th I went to court and got permission. The judge was not happy at him for refusing the first time.

 

Wise move for sure... I really have nothing more to add than what has been presented already. You CAN have a blast and spend little to no money..it's all in how you look at the situation...I don't know if you two are really close but I'll give you my input... In Feb we sailed with our two grown daughters...it had been 28 years since we had a "family" vacation..just the girls and us...they were looking forward to "vegging out" and not hearing Mom Mom every few minutes and in the case of one of them..Mrs H Mrs H as she is a school teacher...two of the most memorable times on that cruise were when I sat at the edge of the water with one of my daughters and we just talked without interruption...it was wonderful...the other was going up on the very top deck one night and laying ON the deck and watching the stars....we were treated to shooting stars and also saw the space station go bye....we don't get a chance to really see stars in the city...too many lights..but out in the middle of the ocean..it is AMAZING....whatever you do I know you will have a blast...:D

[cynt]

You absolutely can!!

 

HAVE A GREAT TIME WITH YOUR DAUGHTER!!

[pauleydm]

We budget $300.00 for the two of us including gratuities and an additional $100.00 for port shopping:)

[Theodorable]

I think this is a wonderful thing you are doing. Even though I have been on over 30 cruises ( I am very lucky) , we have spent very little on board. Have a wonderful vacation. Make sure you take the basic medical kit with you. Something for seasickness, something for cold's etc. I have only been to a doctor once on all my cruises .....in the end it was covered by insurance. I am thinking you don't have that....just try to think ahead. You will have an amazing time and.....just take a deep breath ...relax. And enjoy.

 

Nicola

[magsbags]

I don't have anything poignant to add other than enjoy yourselves! What a great mom! Your kid will remember this forever. :thumbup:

 

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[sjn911]

I am only reading the happy messages on this thread (not done yet) and want to add one..you are a great mom..I am a solo that did not have kids and it is hard enough financially for one..you absolutely can do it..you are so well planned. Mostly everything is already budgeted for.

 

Have you ever tried an Arnold Palmer? That is half ice tea and half lemonade and free from the lido...if you have some larger go mugs or glasses that are insulated that would be nice for you to take making drinks and the ice cream is soft and free 24/7 so that added to milk or coffee from lido is great. I may use my next cruise to get off of pop..I like coke too much LOL. If at all possible and you have an emergency credit card for insurance and minor emergencies and can afford the minimal airlift insurance for medical, I would do that..somehow I believe you have probably considered that and have your plans....just my 2 cents..and you are a great mom..Happy Birthday Sweet sixteen great trip...Sarah

Edited April 12, 2014 by sjn911

[sandij]

You can do it, we hardly ever have a bill on the last day. Cozumel has very walkable things to do right from the dock and Cayman is a free tender ride and then the city is right there to see. HAve fun, most everything you will need on the ship is free.

[bwaz]

I have not sailed with teens myself, but from reading many others experiences, i would bet that your daughter is going to find others her age to hang out with. You may find she might not even care about pricey excursions but would rather enjoy being with with her new friends at the pool, the teen dance club, etc. I have no doubt that she will be thrilled with the whole cruising experience which is great even without add-ons. She is going to appreciate the planning and sacrifice that you've gone through, in order to make her happy.

[bleehow]

I hope you two have a great time! I know I'm going to get really bashed for this, but I do take plastic sandwich bags with me & the night before a shore day I order PB&J sandwiches. Yes, I break the rules & take them to shore with me. It comes w chips & cookies. That with my own drinks equals a free meal. I've find this on 3 cruises, so let the bashing begin.

 

 

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[mikel24m]

I hope you two have a great time! I know I'm going to get really bashed for this, but I do take plastic sandwich bags with me & the night before a shore day I order PB&J sandwiches. Yes, I break the rules & take them to shore with me. It comes w chips & cookies. That with my own drinks equals a free meal. I've find this on 3 cruises, so let the bashing begin.

 

 

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Breaking the rules and breaking the LAW are two different things ;)

[CrystalBelle]

If you've prepaid your gratuities I'd say that is very possible. I do not do excursions, but I did rent a snorkel and fins for $40/each, you could always buy one ahead of time if going to a beach with snorkeling is something you want to do.

 

If you don't drink alcohol and maybe only your daughter gets the soda card....

 

good luck and have fun!