How much $ to bring?

[NightRN]

How much money do you suggest bringing for the roundtrip Hawaiian crusie?

[Cam6959]

I am going on the Summit March 12, 2005 and will definately be bringing the $294 for tip plus some. Then will be bringing a lot of extra ones and fives for porter tips bartender tips and room service tips and excursion tips. After that its all on credit card! : ) It is all up to you after that what you want to pay cash for, how much you drink...etc.

[Jim_Iain]

We usually only bring about 100 dollars. Tips are charged to the sea pass and if you should happen to need some more cash. just drop by the casino and charge 100. No Credit card fees and you get milage.

[CaptData]

I think what you are looking for is ideas on total cost. Well I agree it is up to you here is some of the things to consider since you have 8 sea days.

 

Drinks for Foo Foo/Martinis types $5.00-$10.00 per drinks (souv glass and Martinis are more). 15% gratuity is automaticlly added on top of the price you see ($5.00 + 15% = $5.75)

 

Beer is around $3.50-$4.00 per bottle = 15%

 

Wine is by glass for around $5.00 on up to $18.00 = 15%

 

Wine by the bottle is $22.00 and up = 15%.

 

Coke Card (for fountain Coke only) it will be around the $80.00 = 15%

 

Coke can is $$2.00 (app) = 15%

 

Speicalty coffees in the Milano Cafe is apporx $2.00 + 15% (and up)on up depending on what you order. This also applies if you order these with dinner (they are not included only regular coffee/tea/iced tea is included).

 

Tips 14 x $10.50 X 2 = $294.00 (This is suggested amount only you can add or subtract here but this should be min)

 

Spa Services figure min of $100.00 per time (but this can cost a lot more for wraps ect this is just basic massage. There are port specials and first day specials to watch for)

 

Gambling (I always set a limit here for any cruise and put it in a seperate envelope so that I do not go over)

 

T-Shirts are around $20.00 each. Other shopping $$$$.

 

Photos these start at around $15.00 per pic.

 

Downloads for your digital camera approx $20.00. But if you take the course that is offered (which is also about $20.00) you can download several times just bring you own CD.

 

Shore Ex see the price list (you can put in what you want up untill the credit card to see how much here).

 

Classes start at $10.00 on up depending on what you take. (Physical ones start at $10.00 for some, while photo classes ect will be around $20.00 each) Othere can correct me if I'm wrong here as this is what I picked up on the web).

 

Other Considerations

 

Room Service tip is approx based on what you want/get ie coffee and muffin (which is free) is about $1.00 per time but if you order a full dinner say I would give $5.00. Now if you ask for a coke with room service or wine/drinks then there will be a charge for that.

 

Tips on shore ex. Depends on type and lenght of excursion. Ie helo rides are starting at $215.00 is a tip of at least $20.00 per person. Shore ex for a city tour for 1/2 day is $1.00 to drive and $2.00 to guide. Some will tip more some less here depending on info and knowledge.

 

Hotels range in price from around $60.00 on up to over $400.00. (pre-and post) recommend to arrive day before if flying in but not required.

 

Taxis/limos/transfers from LAX is any where from about $25.00 on up depending on how many and who you get = tip.

 

Meals before and after (ie breakfast and while travelling). This will very depending on you.

 

Porters at airport and cruise treminal, generally $1.00 per bag rounded up. ie 4 bags is $5.00. Some will have stated amounts ie $2.00 for a cart at most airports in US (free in Canada).

 

Shopping in ports $$$$.

 

American money is used for all above.

[Vistadeck]

A good general rule is to bring twice as much money you think you need and half as many clothes :)

 

Tina

[Texed]

A good general rule is to bring twice as much money you think you need and half as many clothes :)

Tina

 

Thanks. I've always done it the other way around. :)

[Parrotgirl]

Hey Ed - how are you? I hope you are all doing well.

 

Yes, I do the same. I always bring too many clothes and half as much money. I can always hit the casino or an ATM for additional cash, or use my credit cards for mileage points. When I have taken more money, I usually ended up bringing it back home with me. It just wasn't necessary and was a security risk. Frank has had his wallet stolen on two occasions. Even travelers checks end up being deposited back into the bank.

[Texed]

Hey Ed - how are you? I hope you are all doing well.

 

We are great. Wonderful weather here in Texas for the last month, and getting ready to CRUISE! :)

[Parrotgirl]

Have a great time! I'm jealous! :D It's starting to get cold up here so enjoy the warmth. We aren't scheduled to cruise until July now. I'm not used to waiting so long between trips but Frank is out of work (again...still) so I had to cut back a bit.

 

Enjoy!

Patricia

[dmarch@islc.net]

My wife has a cash fetish. We always bring a bunch of travelers checks and cash, just to redeposit it on our return. As another poster stated, lots of ones (for room service) and fives (for porters) are always in hot demand.

[NightRN]

Thanks CaptData for the breakdown. That helped tremendously. Now I can kind've figure it out and then multiply by 2. :D

 

One question about the tipping. Is the $294 all the standard tipping for the trip ie waiters, room stewards, etc.? I realize the tipping for the extras such as drinks, massages, etc is dependent on how much of these I partake in.

[canderson]

One question about the tipping. Is the $294 all the standard tipping for the trip ie waiters, room stewards, etc.? I realize the tipping for the extras such as drinks, massages, etc is dependent on how much of these I partake in.

Yes, the Capn's $10.50/day per person covers the standard tips. Understand, though, that you needn't do this in cash either unless that's your preference. Those can be charged to your shipboard account. In fact, you can survive the entire onboard part of the trip nicely without a penny.

 

We take small amounts of cash for tips to drivers, etc., and in the event that we see something for sale at a port where a charge card won't be accepted. Beyond that, we take a bit more in the event that we have a truly excellent sommelier or other crew member and wish to provide an extra tip there. Some private excursions might require cash, but you'll be told about that in advance. Significant shoreside purchases should probably be handled by credit card in the event that something goes really amiss.

 

All else is shipboard charges or plastic on shore. For a 12 nt (coming up), we'll probably only take $250 for the both of us.

[PAMPRD]

going on my first X cruise and in reading these posts, when you say tip for room service, are you speaking of this pre-cruise? Is there a charge for room service on X (our room is a sky suite) and is a tip required each delivery? Also, I thought I read that shore excursion pricing included the tip

[CaptData]

PAMPRD Room Service can not be pre-done. This is for the person who delivers your morning coffee directly to your (Sky Suite) room. Whereas, the other tip I mentioned ($10.50/person/day) is for your Waiters, Mait'd and your Room Steward, these can be pre-paid or taken off your ship card or given in cash if you wish).

 

On X (Celebrity) you also should tip whenever you have Room Service (unless it is your Room Steward who delivers it). As for Shore Ex it depends if you do ship Ex or private. In some cases it is included in others it is not. You will have to read each case as you purchase them (or ask if you book on board). Most do not include the tip.

[canderson]

PAMPRD Room Service can not be pre-done. This is for the person who delivers your morning coffee directly to your (Sky Suite) room.

Whoa a sec. If we're talking Sky Suite (how did we get there? -- I must have missed something), we're talking butler. Not only does that represent a $3.50 per person per day increase over the $10.50 we've been discussing, he'll be the one to deliver the a.m. coffee, so it'd be covered anyway in the $3.50/pp increase.

[Cauvet]

I set a casino allowance for my husband and myself. With ATM's everywhere, and Hawaii being an American Port, $$ is always available. We are cruising to Hawaii and I will bring about $500 (we are not big gamblers) and usually come home with $$. The tips go on the account, but I like a little extra for extra good service in the bars and lounges. Does anyone know if bingo is cash or on the account or both?

[nu2sea]

I set a casino allowance for my husband and myself. With ATM's everywhere, and Hawaii being an American Port, $$ is always available. We are cruising to Hawaii and I will bring about $500 (we are not big gamblers) and usually come home with $$. The tips go on the account, but I like a little extra for extra good service in the bars and lounges. Does anyone know if bingo is cash or on the account or both?

 

Just about everything onboard ship (other than the casino, I think) is on the account, including bingo cards.

 

Susan

[canderson]

Just about everything onboard ship (other than the casino, I think) is on the account, including bingo cards.

 

Susan

Within reason, you may even obtain cash directly from the cage in the casino on your shipboard account. Some folks have been abusing this a bit, taking out the maximum their cards will permit. Why? They get the frequent flyer (or other) points since this appears on their card as a purchase rather than as a cash advance! Anything not used on the trip is then deposited back into their bank accounts when they return home!

[ritajaye]

I was under the impression that casino gambling is not allowed on Hawaii cruises. Is this the case on all ships?

[canderson]

I was under the impression that casino gambling is not allowed on Hawaii cruises. Is this the case on all ships?

It's entirely legal for Celebrity to offer gambling once in international waters, but once reaching inside the territorial limit of the islands (and that's a LOT of water!), Hawaii (a non-gambling state) requires that it be shut down. But there's that big, long stretch between the west coast and Hawaii.

 

So this law effectively prohibits gambling on any of the interisland ships, and any other cruise ships once inside the waters of Hawaii.

[Lou33]

I bring whatever happens to be in my pocket. You can always get cash from the casino as needed.

[Lou33]

I was under the impression that casino gambling is not allowed on Hawaii cruises. Is this the case on all ships?

 

Only certain American flagged NCL cruiseships. These ships do not have casinos.

[canderson]

Only certain American flagged NCL cruiseships. These ships do not have casinos.

The two NCL ships you mention are anomolies in several respects. As the only two large line American flagged ships, they have no requirement to make some brief stop at some obscure foreign port when making Hawaii-only (e.g., Pride of Aloha and Pride of America) runs. Seems to me to be a law that is long overdue for modification or repeal in any case.

 

Since both of them (especially Aloha) are often cruising solely in Hawaiian waters, it was unquestionably not worth the space involved for the casino.