How much money should we expect to spend?

[decemberbride]

We'll be going on the Norwegian Jewel December 18th-25th. How much money do you think we'll need for everything (drinks, specialty restaurants, excursions, casino, shopping, gratuities)?

 

I know that this is hard to determine, but we do NOT want to spend much money shopping at all. We do want to try a couple of the specialty restaurants and try our luck in the casino, but not go overboard :). I don't really drink that much, but my fiance likes to :). Please just help me out with an estimate. Thank you.

[shoreguy]

I would not be surprised if you spent at least $1000

 

Tips 140 auto tip plus $50 in other tips= 190

Drinks 5 per day at $7 X7 = 245

Casino = $200

2 nights specialty restaurants with wine = $120

You have spent $775 and not done a single thing onshore or purchased a single gift.

 

The biggest danger for your fiancé are the Jewelry stores in St Thomas

[mike442]

1000 sounds about right.

[decemberbride]

That's about what we'll be bringing, too :). Geez...it really adds up, doesn't it? Maybe my new hubby won't drink everyday :). Then we can actually do some excursions once on land!

[Cosmopolitan]

WE "set" our Casino amount before we leave.

 

$$ amount per night before we leave port...If you win...more to gamble or save...or lose.

 

Restaurant/tips are pre-determined;)

 

Shopping your only question.

I suggest that you budget before you leave ~ no surprises at the end:)

 

If your finace likes to drink..order a bar set-up in your cabin to cut costs!

[Don Haynes]

If your budget is like mine, cutting drinks to a minimum and not going overboard on shore excurisons saves significantly. I buy the soda package, and drink sodas at every opportunity. I do like to dine at Le Bistro one night though.

 

However, if you are interested in a one week party and drinking like a fish, you'll spend more on drinks than what it took to book the cruise.

[johnql]

I generally budget $100 per person/per day. Depending on how I do in the casino, I have spent far less than that but I've also spent more.

[Dorothy]

My husband and I tend to spend anywhere between $300-$800. My mother who doesn't drink, has no bill at the end of a cruise (although she also eats just in the dining room). My nephew who loves to party and buy drinks for his friends spends $1300-$1500. Of course, this is aside from tips.

 

I have not sailed on NCL yet, but other cruise lines allow you to check your account on the T.V. or you can go get a printout periodically at the pursers desk. I'm sure NCL has something like that, so you can monitor your spending through the week.

[JennCandi]

My husband and I usually spend about $1000-$1400 on our cruises. It really depends where you are going. Our hm cruise in the Caribbean was about $1000. The excursions are less expensive there.

[Vyhanek]

Bring your own soda onboard - the cost of the soda card is just simply disgusting.

 

Even though I had two small children, a stroller, lots of luggage I still managed to somehow hobble on with 2 two liter bottles of soda. Dh and I drank it all week. If we wanted a glass of wine or one drink an evening we really didn't feel deprived.

 

Also, you can order bottles of wine to be delivered to your room. Say for Christmas someone in your family asks what you would like just hand them the 800 telephone number with your cruise details. We got two bottles of wine this way from our parents who would rather make a phone call and have a charge to their credit card than to venture into a store for a gift.

 

You could even take a few souvenier type items with you to pull out something special. Maybe a box of chocolates or a new piece of costume jewelery.

 

Also, if your itinerary takes you to the private island it will save you a big bundle if you bring your own mask and snorkel. I think they were charging like $25 per person for this gear that they use over and over. We brought our own masks and snorkels and life jackets in a seperate duffel bag and saved easy money right there. Keeping in mind I will hobble with my 2 liter bottles of soda, two small children, strollers, and all of the luggage it takes for a FAMILY in addition to the duffle bag with the snorkel stuff in it. I would rather hobble onto the ship looking like a homeless person with all my worldly posessions.

 

We work hard all year to take nice vacations. I don't want to spend my money foolishly when I can go to a bit extra effort. We will spend that saved money on the exciting excursions or on a nice piece of jewelery at St. Thomas or something that I don't feel is outrageously overpriced.

[Bobgaffney]

 

We work hard all year to take nice vacations. I don't want to spend my money foolishly when I can go to a bit extra effort.

 

I agree with you 100%. If someone said to you I will pay you $300 to pack a bag and carry it on for me you probably would. So make the effort and save some $$$$.

[captgeo]

you can figure the tip that will be added to your onboard account beforehand -- we place extra tip money in an envelope before we leave; we can always tip less if the service doesn't warrent it. the same with gambling -- we budget how much we plan to spend, then put it in an envelope; when its gone, its gone. order your excursions online; that way you know exactly how much you are spending. budget ahead how much you plan to spend on shopping, etc.

you will always spend more than you plan -- so plan for that too!!!

on the other hand, if it is a trip of a lifetime, go ahead and splurge; mortgage the farm if you have to, but have a good time!!

[rferr]

Just depends. We usually spend around 300-400 total including tips.

[Don Haynes]

While you might go to a fast food restaurant in the states and buy a small cup of soda for 99 cents, if you go to a nicer restaurant such as a bar and grill, a small cup of soda will run up to $1.99. So keep this in mind when NCL charges around $1.50 for a glass of soda.

 

The difference is when you eat out at home once or twice a week its only one or two sodas. On a week long cruise voyage, four or five glasses a day adds up over seven days, its the same story with the tips and with the beer and wine. Even a can of soda from a convenience store will run up to 99 cents.

 

NCL and the rest of the cruise industry isn't a grocery store......

[Wendy-Europe]

Hi,

 

our bill for the 1-week-cruise at the Dawn was something around 550 $, this included the daily “service-fee” of $ 10 per person (2 persons = 140 $), a few bottles of wine for dinner, a few beers and soda, two restaurant-visits with fee (cagneys on the first day of the cruise and sushi) and nearly 30 $ for internet, but no spa and no excursions (we did the excursions on our own).

 

I think, it depends on you...

 

Wendy

[House_Atreides]

Our 17 nite Panama Canal is going to cost us a fortune in tips---plus we have a butler. I enjoy tipping for good service, and we have been fortunate on literally all of our cruises to have great service from all the staff!:D

We're not high maintenance types and have always had butlers when we cruise, but I do not remember what we tipped our butlers on the Dream, if anyone has any idea how much to tip them that would be appreciated. I know there are 2 per suite--for 24/7 service, but I have never needed anything at 3AM (at least from a butler;) )

Thanks bunches!!

Mary