Cruise Budget

[ALS1214]

How much do people usually budget to take onboard? I do not want to use my CC and want to pay cash to set up portfolio for ship. It is just hubby and myself going on the dawn to Bermuda. How much of a budget do folks set up for themselves?

[GreyingJay]

I would think that depends almost entirely on how much you drink and eat premium food...

 

Plan on the basic stuff: the service charge, and enough for a couple of souvenirs -- shirts, postcards, photographs, etc.

 

Add on extra if you think you'll have soft drinks, beer, wine, cocktails, or premium coffee.

 

Add on more if you plan to do premium dining.

 

Add even more if you plan to use shipboard internet...

 

For my upcoming 12-day mediterranean cruise on the Spirit, I'm expecting my bill to be around $250-300, including my service charges, under the assumption that I have one paid beverage a day, try premium dining once or twice, and buy a couple of small souvenirs. But I know many people can easily blow through that amount on alcohol alone, so it's really hard to say.

 

My Carnival ship had an ATM on board if you ran out of money and needed to top up.

Edited April 23, 2014 by GreyingJay

[cruzsnooze]

If you can prepay your gratuity and then there's nothing extra required to spend although there are things you might want but not need. Everyone has a different budget and some have no budget so it's a difficult question to answer not knowing your habits.

[ALS1214]

I imagine it would be hard. Just sort of inquiring how much people spend I guess. Scared of the "sticker shock" I have heard about.

 

We plan on one or two Paid restaurants, Cagney's and perhaps Moderno.

Drinks... those can go down real easy on vacation, lol. I think that is what I am more worried about, but not sure hubs and I would drink enough for the UBP. I am thinking of a $300 a day budget. Should be ok...I hope

[Va. Plumber]

Don't know if you frequent casino or not, but $300 a day sans casino sounds a little steep.

 

Of course, if you shop til you drop in Bermuda I guess $2100 will not last long.

 

Adding DSC, a couple of specialties and maybe three drinks a day for two

would only reach $700.

[hpecorari]

What about excursions? If they're not pre-booked and you're booking onboard, remember to add them into your budget.

 

Harriet

[TrumpyNor]

I suggest that you pre-book and pre-pay what you can - like specialty restaurants, shore excursions and the daily service charges. Then your on board bill will be much smaller at the end of the cruise, and easier to "control".

[punkincc]

I imagine it would be hard. Just sort of inquiring how much people spend I guess. Scared of the "sticker shock" I have heard about.

 

We plan on one or two Paid restaurants, Cagney's and perhaps Moderno.

Drinks... those can go down real easy on vacation, lol. I think that is what I am more worried about, but not sure hubs and I would drink enough for the UBP. I am thinking of a $300 a day budget. Should be ok...I hope

 

I think $300 a day is on the high end of what most people budget. Some days we might not even spend $50 total, if we are not eating at a specialty. Entertainment is for the most part free. Unless you are including expensive daily excursions booked through the ship, but most of Bermuda is easily done on your own for very little, so doubtful that will take up much of your budget. Cagney's is only $30, Moderno $20. Unless you each have more than 5 or 6 drinks daily you would probably leave money on the table with the UBP. That leaves lots of money for casino and shopping.:p

Edited April 23, 2014 by punkincc