Budget planning advice needed

[big aft]

My wife and I are in the initial stages of planning a 12 day Med. cruise for Sept-Oct 2015.

 

Outside of the type of cabin and airfare costs, what should we plan on budgeting for the rest of the cruise? Most likely one day pre and post cruise stay.

 

This would be our first trip to the Med and would like to enjoy it!

 

Any advice would be of help!!

 

Thanks!

[Id rather be diving]

Shore excursions are expensive in this area of the world. Not only are they more expensive, but if you do private excursions they have to be paid in Euros. Check out some roll calls of current sailings doing the itinerary you are looking at. You will get some good ideas of costs of private excursions. When you decide on the cruise, be sure to join the roll call.

[notentirelynormal]

Just to name a few:

 

Shore excursions - are you doing it on your own (like taking the train), hiring a guide or driver, food.

 

Decide what you want to do first. Then decided how you are going to do it. Then go to your roll call and see if you can get other to join in with you - or you with them to help keep the cost down and to maybe make it a better or more unusual tour.

 

Check out hotels. Price is not just the only thing to consider. Location might make a difference depending on how you plan to get around.

 

Transportation to and from the port.

[beg3yrs]

If all you've got is cabin and air fare, here's a list off the top of my head (Note: only you know how much you will use of many of these items, just something to consider)

 

Transfer from airport to hotel

Pre- and post-stay hotel charge, food and transfers (to ship, from ship taxi or whatever)

Transfer from hotel to airport

 

$11.50 per person per day auto-gratuities ($12.00 in mini-suite or suite)

 

Extra gratuities for extraordinary service

 

Sodas and alcohol on board and on shore

 

Souvenirs - photos, shop purchases, on-shore purchases, etc

 

Gambling - slots, tables, bingo, etc

 

Excursions - excursion cost, guide tips, etc

 

Meals on shore (not included in excursions)

 

Room service tips and pizza delivery charge

 

Internet time

 

Cell-phone calls (on ship and international)

 

Spa & salon services - massage, barbering, nails, styling, etc

 

Special gym classes

 

Sanctuary costs

 

Currency conversion costs

 

There are extensive threads in this forum on all these topics.

[big aft]

Thanks! I was looking more for an average.....say plan on $ 200/day in addition to the cruise/air cost.

 

Great ideas everyone!

[beg3yrs]

Thanks! I was looking more for an average.....say plan on $ 200/day in addition to the cruise/air cost.

 

Great ideas everyone!

 

I think that's going to be a "Your mileage may vary" (YMMV) kind of answer. That's why I tried to just give you a list for you to consider.

 

What I should have added was our budgeting versus reality has been reality is twice what we budgeted by itemizing, estimating and summing. :eek:

 

In our case, reality has pretty much worked out to roughly $200/day which includes a full suite of Princess excursions for two people on the ship for our most recent cruise. Shore-side expenses are additional.

[san diego sue]

First cruise to Europe , we took all Princess excursions, at end of cruise our bill (tips, misc stuff, shore excursions), we found ourselves spending 3,000.

Now when we cruise, join our roll call and mostly private excursions for us, cuts the cost at least in half for tours.

Look up what tours cost and you can figure it out a bit.

We bring about $2,000 (U.s. dollars and foreign currency) and that is more than enough. Also depends on how long a cruise.

 

Edited August 10, 2014 by san diego sue

[SusieS]

We did this trip last summer on the Royal......fabulous!!!

When it comes to budgeting, generously figure out your expenditures, then double the amount. Europe is unbelievably expensive, but so worth it!

[loma linda ca a & j]

since you are probably flying both ways, if you have the time,

consider staying at least a few days before & after the cruise -

if the ports are in italy or spain there are so many wonderful

places to visit !! ;)

 

have a marvelous time no matter what you decide !!:)

[SusieS]

Totally agree. We stayed 2 nights extra in both Venice & Barcelona...next time I would up it to 3 or 4.

[Marseydotes]

There's an old quote saying that when getting ready for a cruise, pack, and then take out half the clothes and put in twice the money!

I like to arrange private excursions--cheaper if a small group and you go where you wish and for as long as you wish. I know those costs on advance. Ditto for gratuities, except for special service.

I buy a lot of gifts, and budget a certain amount for them. If I will be touring during lunch, I budget for that. I try to keep on-board expenses to a minimum, within OBC, if possible. (Few drinks and little gambling!) but you know your own needs here.

Then, throw in extra!

[cruisequeen4ever]

1) shore excursions

2) tips for guides

3) Onboard tips

4) bottled water- we brought 1 pp per day

5) lunch, snacks, and drinks during shore excursions

6) souvenirs

7) airport transportation

8) pre and post hotel

9) specialty restaurants Onboard

10) spa treatments Onboard

11) food pre and post cruise

12) casino Onboard

13) transfers to/from ship

14) Onboard boutiques

15) art auction Onboard

 

Obviously many of those things are optional and based on preference. Just wanted to list as many as I could think of. Happy planning!

 

 

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[hiworldtraveler]

Pre/Post Cruise Packages - Definitely if it is in the budget, do a pre/post cruise stay. Pre-cruise stays help you to adjust to the time zone before starting your cruise with the added bonus of seeing more of the embarkation city and post cruise stays completes your great cruise experience as well as the benefits mentioned above. With that said, Princess' pre/post cruise hotels packages are expensive so you may want to do your own research through this site as well as others out there to get ideas. Since you can cancel your Princess hotel package prior to final payment, as a back up, book with Princess until you have your DIY package together and then cancel. This way you have something to fall back on should DIY go south. Trivago was another site that helped me look for hotels.

 

Shore Excursions - You will get a better bang for your buck going with small group or private excursions. Passengers taking these tours are more interested in seeing the sites and learning the history/culture. With small groups you can cover much more in a personalized environment. Princess has 45-50 people per bus and with more inconsiderate people sailing nowadays, you spend more time waiting for people who are late versus seeing the sites. In addition, longer time in overpriced stores. (I have experienced this.) Shore Excursion Group is mentioned on this site and I have been pleased with them. They also do land tours, one thing to consider for your pre/post cruise stay.

 

Transfers - Depending on the city, you can find a lot of affordable transportation between airport-hotel-pier.