How much do you spend

[Jackie81]

Trying to figure out how much money to take with us. We're on the Pride in August. Our gratuities are prepaid. We got CHEERS! and with OBC we're getting the soda package for our teens. We don't gamble and not doing chef's table or steak house. So my question is, with these factors in mind, how much extra spending cash would we really need? Of course we're already budgeted about 100 forsouvenirs and 200 for Margaritaville, but I can't honestly think of anything else that we would be spending money on. Am I missing anything??

 

One more question - We have 2 cabins, each cabin has 40.00 OBC. Can I transfer the 40.00 OBC from my room to the teens room? Or use the 40.00 OBC and get the soda package in one of my kids' name?

[momof3cruisers]

You can use your card to pay for your kids' soda pkg. for extra cash, don't forget room service tips. Tips for baggage handlers and tour guides if you choose to tip them.

 

We always end up with a few charges for the candy shop as well as a frozen drink or two for a treat for the kids. The arcade is expensive so be aware that it adds up fast if you let the kids do that.

[pippersmom]

We have only been on two cruises but we did not spend a dime extra on board - we did not even use all our OBC. However, if you plan to leave the ship at port calls, you will need to budget for that. We have not taken any excursions offered by the ship, preferring to arrange things on our own. Even just walking off the ship, you may spend a bit for snacks, etc. Excursions - even if arranged directly and not through the ship - can be quite costly.

[GUT2407]

It really comes down to what you are likely to do in port.

 

You seem to have the majors covered.

 

We've had a final bill of under $8 (had $300 OBC, covered drinks and gratuities) and we've had a final bill in the $1,000s (bought handbags, art, make up, watch camera gear etc, visited specialty restaurants and had a ship tour)

 

We've a have spent nothing in port (when we've docked close to town or they've had free shuttles and we just wandered around) and have spent $100s or $1,000s in port, when we've hired a car, or done private excursions or markets are on and Mrs Gut has had a little spend up.

 

So I'm sorry but the range is too large to predict.

[Razor_Poke]

So many variables. Be prepared for "more" than you expect initially.

[PekingeseLady]

I like the saying, take half the clothes you think you need and double the money.;):p

[jdemps]

We estimate about $200 US for each port to account for taxis, tips, meals/drinks, shopping and maybe an excursion. If we don't spend it, ok, but at least we don't really have to skimp on vacation since we have it if we want to use it.

 

Just remember to take small bills, 10s, 5s and 1s for shopping and tipping in the ports - I saw a gal wait an hour for change for a hundred.....lol. I don't know if she ever got her change because we left.

[SadieN]

Any budget for photos? They range from approx $10-$20

 

 

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[pjinaz]

You will need money for every port you go to. It depends how much you will need based on what you want to do. We have spent 50 dollars in a port and over 1000 in a port. We always end up spending a few more dollars on board than I anticipate. The kids like to buy tshirts, key holder, trinkets, candy, etc in the gift shop. We usually tip a little extra to the room steward, especially for the kids room because they are slobs. You will want a bunch of ones and fives for tips for baggage handlers, room service, bartenders, excursion operators and the like. I think with cheers gratuity is included but you will get better service if u give your bartender a couple extra bucks from time to time. If the dining room team is really good we tip them extra as well. Have a great cruise.

[elliair]

How much do we spend? A lot! While we may purchase items that you do not, it's an open ended question. We always purchase the wine package - and that depends on how many days the cruise is. That can easily be $300-$500. Your gratuities you say are already paid - but not ours so tack on another $200-$300. Internet package can run any where from $25-$100 depending on the length of the cruise and the package. Ours is cheap as I only use it to check my email once and to print off our boarding pass from the airline. Then there's trinkets, and the like. I stay away from the sale of clothing and jewelry, but if you're into that type of thing put in extra for that. Bring lots of $1 for tipping room service. We give room service $2 when they bring our coffee in the morning, but that adds up. If we go to Cabo San Lucas, we visit our favorite bar Captain Tony's, and we order 3 drinks each and a snack. One time when we were at the bar 3 crew members from the ship sat across the table from us and we bought each of them a beer. So how much to bring is really subjective. We bring around $1000 and try to stay in that price range. We don't gamble either.

[coevan]

very subjective question, before Cheers package, our S&S bill was around $2000. On the Dream with Cheers our bill was about $700. We always tip dollars in cash to room service and cocktail servers on the deck. You do not need to bring a lot of ones as you can get them in the casino or guest services.

[poz222]

Steakhouse maybe if you decide to do that one night (it is amazing)!!! Some money for the kids arcade and a milkshake maybe? Tips for room service or for the new for fee room service items? Some singles for the bartenders/drink servers so they keep the cheers drinks flowing!

[Jackie81]

Any budget for photos? They range from approx $10-$20

 

WOW!! So yes, there are a few things I didn't think of, such as photos. I'm not one to buy a bunch but we actually do have plans to buy a few 8x10's and if one comes out good enough, I was thinking about having it canvased. So I've had this plan, no budget for it. Thanks SadieN for reminding me.

[Jackie81]

I like the saying, take half the clothes you think you need and double the money.;):p

 

I'm traveling with a teenage girl. Half the clothes is looking more like her entire closet. lol. It looks like she's packing like she's not gonna come back. :eek:

[Jackie81]

You will need money for every port you go to. It depends how much you will need based on what you want to do. We have spent 50 dollars in a port and over 1000 in a port. We always end up spending a few more dollars on board than I anticipate. The kids like to buy tshirts, key holder, trinkets, candy, etc in the gift shop. We usually tip a little extra to the room steward, especially for the kids room because they are slobs. You will want a bunch of ones and fives for tips for baggage handlers, room service, bartenders, excursion operators and the like. I think with cheers gratuity is included but you will get better service if u give your bartender a couple extra bucks from time to time. If the dining room team is really good we tip them extra as well. Have a great cruise.

 

This much I knew.... well with the exception of HMC. I have $0.00 budgeted for it because it was my understanding that everything there (food & drink were free). Please correct me if I'm wrong though, I would hate to be caught with my pants down, so to speak. lol. No excursions booked for HMC. I have 200.00 for Margaritaville in GT and I've already budgeted for 2 excursions in Freeport. Parasailing and Jet Ski's. My question to this though is you said to take extra to tip excursion operators. I didn't plan that as I didn't think it was needed. I booked outside of Carnival on this one so its on me to get to Lucaya Beach. What is customary for this? I don't wanna stiff anyone. Nothing like being on the receiving end and expecting a tip only to not get one, we'd look like a bunch of jerks if that was the case.

[KPfromCT]

I don't believe the drinks are covered in HMC, but someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

 

You should definitely do the steakhouse. WELL worth the $35.00 pp. Great meal!!!:D:D

[ourcruiseyears]

This much I knew.... well with the exception of HMC. I have $0.00 budgeted for it because it was my understanding that everything there (food & drink were free). Please correct me if I'm wrong though, I would hate to be caught with my pants down, so to speak. lol. No excursions booked for HMC. I have 200.00 for Margaritaville in GT and I've already budgeted for 2 excursions in Freeport. Parasailing and Jet Ski's. My question to this though is you said to take extra to tip excursion operators. I didn't plan that as I didn't think it was needed. I booked outside of Carnival on this one so its on me to get to Lucaya Beach. What is customary for this? I don't wanna stiff anyone. Nothing like being on the receiving end and expecting a tip only to not get one, we'd look like a bunch of jerks if that was the case.

 

You would need cash on HMC if you shopped the little shops. Most advice online is to tip shore excursion guides $2-5 per person.

[tandemcruzr]

I don't believe the drinks are covered in HMC, but someone can correct me if I'm wrong!:D:D

 

You are right. The food is free. However, the drinks are not covered by Cheers or the Soda package. S&S card will be used to purchase the drinks.

[crusinpsychRN]

I buy an eye treatment in the shops for $27. Might do Steakhouse. Prepay excursions, usually only do 1. Room service tips. Might buy a few tshirts. My bill is usually less than $100. Once they owed me money so I cashed out in the casino.

 

Yes, you do tip excursion guides.

Edited July 10, 2016 by crusinpsychRN

[smurfm69]

Ok so for how much cash to bring with you, what I always do is first figure out how much the shore excursions cost.(I never use a credit/debit card in the ports. Just my personal preference.) With some excursions you put down a deposit and then pay the remaining balance when you get there. Then, allow a little extra money for tipping the tour operator/guide or taxi driver.(This is why I always bring some smaller bills like 1's and 5's.) Also have to take into consideration food and beverage expenses while in port if it's not part of the excursion you are doing. Finally spending money for souvenirs which you seem to already have budgeted for. Hope this helps a little. Have a great cruise!

[laumicmah]

We spend about $30-40 per day on bar drinks for DH and I.

Soda card for DS-19 (what is the cost now for those?).

A few smoothies and coffee bar drinks for twin DDs-17 over the cruise.

Tips.

About $25 on slots for whole cruise (not a big casino person)

About $80 on bingo (do like to play bingo)

About $25 on photos

Souvenirs are varied...maybe someone will buy a T-shirt or bracelet or something

Kids used to spend in the arcade but they'd have to pay me back for that (about $75 total for all 3 during cruise)

They like choc covered strawberries so maybe a plate of those

Excursions...we tend not to do many ship excursions but have 1 booked for upcoming cruise as well as FTTF for 2 cabins.

I also ordered 1 case of water.

Not sure if the excursion, FTTF and case of water are already paid for (I did put in CC info) or if they will show up on cabin statement.

I am going to say that we spend about $130ish per day with all mentioned above. We put CC on for S&S then bring extra cash to tip porters and steward and wait staff a little extra, plus spending money for in ports.

Edited July 10, 2016 by laumicmah

[Florings]

We don't drink enough to buy the Cheers package, so we budget enough for a half dozen drinks each during the week, room service and baggage tips. Spending money for port, ie taxi, excursions, food, drinks. Parking at the port, extra tips for our steward and wait staff if they are exceptional. And miscellaneous.

 

We usually prepay as much as possible, bring another $1200 or so and usually bring home a few hundred...

[SadieN]

WOW!! So yes, there are a few things I didn't think of, such as photos. I'm not one to buy a bunch but we actually do have plans to buy a few 8x10's and if one comes out good enough, I was thinking about having it canvased. So I've had this plan, no budget for it. Thanks SadieN for reminding me.

 

 

Canvas runs in the $70(?) range. Definitely under $100.

 

 

 

 

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[Halfpint012]

We always buy shirts on the ship as souvenirs. They go on sale at the end of the cruise. I think we spend about $40 on that.

We plan extra for tipping our wait staff too (pew hen we find one we like we request them for the rest of the cruise).

[Sabalon]

We just got off Glory yesterday. I did have fun the morning of disembarkation walking down the hall and seeing how many pages (just from a glance walking by) peoples statements were. Some had a LOT more fun than others.

 

We took $200 in cash for four of us and that wasn't enough - we had to ration it.

 

Our Sign and Sail card was backed by our bank account so that was separate. We ended up with about $340 in charges - mostly pictures, but a few drinks (10 total?), some coffee shop, kids and the arcade, and some ship souvenirs. $200 of that was covered by an on board credit.

 

We had prepaid excursions, so some of the cash we had went for tips for guides, and I think we may have undertipped there but cash on hand was limited and we ended up using more at the roadside stalls for purchases than planned. We'd only bring so much on shore each time.

 

We had lots of ones and used those for tips for drinks. Not every time, but since we knew we weren't going to be getting that many of those, most times.

 

On one port, we used it for taxi fare, which was not planned.

 

Early on I had set aside some for the wait staff and room stewards, so I always had that in reserve, so we didn't spend what would have gone to them. I did end up taking some of the left over ones and also adding that on for our sweet steward.

 

So yeah...half the clothes twice the money makes sense. You can always put it back in the bank when you get home (if there is any left!)