Razor_Poke Posted August 8, 2017 #1 Share Posted August 8, 2017 After reviewing our spending post cruise (Fantasy July 29), and now having 9 sailings under our belt, I'm ready to agree with those that suggest you should double your cruise fare when planning your spending. We may be a good representative sample family: 2 adults, 2 older teens 1 OV, 1 IS upper deck level Buy a few souvenirs and trinkets in the gift shop Drink 4 or 5 drinks between us on the ship and on land per day Do an excursion, do another port day on our own 10 hour drive to the port 1 night pre-cruise hotel Buy a couple of photos Get the wifi and hub chat app Gamble a couple hundred $$$ Roughly a 1/3 of our fare was spent before we ever walked on the ship, about a 1/3 in the ports of call, and another 1/3 onboard spending. Basically, it came out almost equal to the fare. I was really a little shocked because I tried to be careful about spending. But, we also bought a few snacks for the road trip, the girls got mani/pedi's before we left home, DW bought a few clothes and a new swim suit. I bought a new snorkel mask. Consider that kind of pre-spending too. I'll be curious as DD heads off to college and may not cruise with us in the future, just how much that changes things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easyboy Posted August 8, 2017 #2 Share Posted August 8, 2017 Sounds like my home improvement expense. Actual came out twice as much as planned. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bury me at sea Posted August 8, 2017 #3 Share Posted August 8, 2017 We average about 1/3 to 1/2 the fare, with one 1 older teenaged granddaughter and me. Travel and meals to / from port, parking, one night in Steakhouse and one at Chef's Table, excursions, extra cash for tips, and maybe some food in ports. We have never yet come home with any regrets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruizergal70 Posted August 8, 2017 #4 Share Posted August 8, 2017 Nope, not anywhere close. My last cruise, I spent less than $100. I'm not a drinker or a shopper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tef43 Posted August 8, 2017 #5 Share Posted August 8, 2017 Not even close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Towel Critter Posted August 8, 2017 #6 Share Posted August 8, 2017 I can't speak for others, but we've never spent anywhere close to our cruise fare. Maybe a third, including sail and sign bill, excursions, and purchases at ports of call. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micahs Grandad Posted August 8, 2017 #7 Share Posted August 8, 2017 much less maybe a round of drinks a day and we spend less time in casino. And learned to do private excursions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A&Jfamily Posted August 8, 2017 #8 Share Posted August 8, 2017 All depends on cruises and excursions. Are we driving or flying? How many nights pre-cruise in a hotel? A typical 7 day cruise from Miami, If we have 4 ports of call and do tours in each that is $1200 give or take for our family of 4. Our on board spending (tips and alcohol is less than $1000). With airfare you are talking $1000-1500 so yes, same costs for our balcony and the boys inside cabin. Now our 5 day Sunshine cruise out of Norfolk will be less than 1/3 even with tips and specialty restaurants. It's 5 days, leaving from our home port, parking is free for DH, and going to the Bahamas we may not book excursions. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodfaerie Posted August 8, 2017 #9 Share Posted August 8, 2017 Flying adds an incredible amount of money. Airfare (ouch), hotel and meals for the day before we ship out, checked luggage, hotel day room if we fly back home out of MIA (flights back home never before 730 pm), a weeks worth of parking at the airport, etc.... it really adds up. But oh boy is it worth every penny!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted August 8, 2017 #10 Share Posted August 8, 2017 Most 1st timers spend at least 1/2 of what the cruise and transportation costs in "extras"....the more you cruise, generally speaking, the less you spend in "add-ons". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jas283a Posted August 9, 2017 #11 Share Posted August 9, 2017 Much less here, though more than the 1/3 talked about here because we live far away from a cruise port. So travel to/from much higher for us. If you don't drink or gamble, you save a lot of money on the ship. If you do, you'll enjoy spending that money! Plus I know many cruisers know tricks to save on drinks. And agreed that often time private excursions or port exploring saves quite a bit as well, for often a better experience. I'll be curious as well to see what happens with just us as a couple. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winddawn Posted August 9, 2017 #12 Share Posted August 9, 2017 From what I'm reading in this thread, there isn't a "typical" cruiser nor amount spent on a cruise. I agree with the others. The amounts stated by the OP are nowhere close to my typical cruise expenditures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipmunkx Posted August 9, 2017 #13 Share Posted August 9, 2017 We have never spent more than $200. We don't drink at all. Don't buyexpensive onboards items. Private excursions. Drive to port 7 hrs away. Precruise hotel purchased through priceline or hotwire secret deals. Parking is cheap offsite. We buy souvenirs if we haven't been somewhere before. Very easy to spend very little if you budget well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SadieN Posted August 9, 2017 #14 Share Posted August 9, 2017 much less maybe a round of drinks a day and we spend less time in casino. And learned to do private excursions Thanks for the great offer. Will collect next month! We rarely do excursions any more, mainly have lunch. Last Mexican cruise we splurged, paying $70 for the two of us at three ports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dberryman18 Posted August 9, 2017 #15 Share Posted August 9, 2017 $10,000? Really? Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riclop Posted August 9, 2017 #16 Share Posted August 9, 2017 After reviewing our spending post cruise (Fantasy July 29), and now having 9 sailings under our belt, I'm ready to agree with those that suggest you should double your cruise fare when planning your spending. We may be a good representative sample family: 2 adults, 2 older teens 1 OV, 1 IS upper deck level Buy a few souvenirs and trinkets in the gift shop Drink 4 or 5 drinks between us on the ship and on land per day Do an excursion, do another port day on our own 10 hour drive to the port 1 night pre-cruise hotel Buy a couple of photos Get the wifi and hub chat app Gamble a couple hundred $$$ Roughly a 1/3 of our fare was spent before we ever walked on the ship, about a 1/3 in the ports of call, and another 1/3 onboard spending. Basically, it came out almost equal to the fare. I was really a little shocked because I tried to be careful about spending. But, we also bought a few snacks for the road trip, the girls got mani/pedi's before we left home, DW bought a few clothes and a new swim suit. I bought a new snorkel mask. Consider that kind of pre-spending too. I'll be curious as DD heads off to college and may not cruise with us in the future, just how much that changes things. You must be kidding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mek Posted August 9, 2017 #17 Share Posted August 9, 2017 (edited) If this is a Caribbean cruise - no way. At no time have we ever spent anything like that, but we are very light drinkers and never spend money in the casino with the exception of occasional slot pulls with CC members. Now, if it's an exotic cruise, with many ports, then I would agree extras can exceed the cost of the cruise, but even then I'm not sure about 2X the cost, (not including air in this.) We're going on a 7 night Caribbean cruise next week - I will probably take a couple of hundred $'s in cash and so will DH and we will probably come home with about 60% of it. Edited August 9, 2017 by mek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domino D Posted August 9, 2017 #18 Share Posted August 9, 2017 Just looked at the last two cruises, we barely reached half. What am I doing wrong? Am I cheating myself? My wife is kind of... lets say frugal. That's it, I am buying a new watch in San Juan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosefloater Posted August 9, 2017 #19 Share Posted August 9, 2017 much less maybe a round of drinks a day... Thanks. We'll also collect next month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ravensbad Posted August 9, 2017 #20 Share Posted August 9, 2017 When you count everything you spend on a cruise that's not part of the fare/gratuities it's very easy to spend your fare again. We don't drink or gamble and we drive to port, but between travel insurance, hotel the night before, cruise parking, meals while travelling, excursions, dining package, excursion / porter tips, bingo, etc. it can add up pretty fast. If we drank alcohol and gambled I could easily see spending a total of 3 times the cruise fare. Of course, we book insides generally, so the fare is cheap(er). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
springs741 Posted August 9, 2017 #21 Share Posted August 9, 2017 much less maybe a round of drinks a day and we spend less time in casino. And learned to do private excursions Wow! that is so kind of you. Rose and Essie and I are really going to enjoy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micahs Grandad Posted August 9, 2017 #22 Share Posted August 9, 2017 Thanks. We'll also collect next month. Hmmmmmmm:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warm Breezes Posted August 9, 2017 #23 Share Posted August 9, 2017 I really don't think it is quite as simple as doubling the value of your cruise. There are too many variables. Use my next 2 cruises for an example: NCL Escape: Cost of Angled Balcony Room for 7 nights for 2 people (includes UBP and 4 Meal SDP Promo): $2,285 - 63% of total cost Pre/Post Cruise Costs (Airfare, 1 night hotel, Airport Parking, Tips, Shuttle to/from Airport/Hotel/Port, Gratuity on UBP and 4 Meal SDP Promo): $800 Onboard Gratuity of $195 is offset by OBC from TA for $200 Souvenirs/Excursions/Gambling (Est $75 per day) $525 Total spending outside of cruise cost: $1,325 - 37% of total cost Total Cost: $3,610 CCL Fantasy: Cost of PH Room for 5 nights for 2 people (paid for with discounted Carnival gift cards): $558 - 25% of total cost Pre/Post Cruise Costs (Rental car, gas, 3 nights hotel-1 night includes cruise parking, meals) $1,000 Onboard Gratuity (ppd with discounted Carnival gift cards): $117 Sail Away Package from Fun Shops (ppd with discounted Carnival gift cards): $74 Wine/soda to bring Onboard: $30 Onboard drinks (Est $20 per day-we are not big drinkers): $100 Souvenirs/Excursions/Gambling (Est $75 per day): $375 Total spending outside of cruise cost: $1,696 - 75% of total cost Total Cost: $2,254 As you can see, my first cruise non-cruise cost spending will be approximately 37% of my total cost. My second cruise non-cruise cost spending will be approximately 75% if the total cost. Both vacations end up being 8 days long but my spending is vastly different between the 2 and neither hits your 50% mark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bUU Posted August 9, 2017 #24 Share Posted August 9, 2017 I really don't think it is quite as simple as doubling the value of your cruise. There are too many variables.Good, because my estimates for my upcoming cruises don't indicate that that's a consistent quantity: For one it is 70% and the other 40%. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d12j28 Posted August 9, 2017 #25 Share Posted August 9, 2017 My next one is a free bounce back. I'm pretty sure I'll triple the cost! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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