Creating a Budget

[niciediva007]

Our cruise sails from JAX Nov 19 to Half Moon cay and Nassau on a 5-day cruise.

 

We are traveling with two kiddos (11 and 9), and my MIL.

 

I’m trying to create a budget and I can’t recall the things we spent $ on before (besides wine!), and even then, i don’t recall how much things run you.

 

We are wine and beer drinkers only. My 40th bday is the day we (hopefully) tender to HMC. We have a cabana.

 

So far, I’ve got like $250 worth of items in our fun shops cart, to include roses (a birthday splurge), champagne, beer, water, Bottomless bubbles for the kids, and a social package for one phone (since I think we can take turns on the same account to post).

 

We are bringing 3 bottles of wine on board, but only two regular drinkers.

 

I know gratituty is on my list, but if we average about 4-5 glasses of wine for two people a day, and hit the public beach on Nassau, what is a food budget to have?

 

Or first cruise, I don’t recall buying much of anything on the ship besides wine. Maybe one or two photos? Am i missing something obvious?

[dmdiver]

You could prepay the gratuities if you don't want them on your onboard account. Excursion money unless you are booking them in advance. If you think your kids will want to play in the arcade, you could throw some money in for that. We secure our onboard account with a credit card, so if there were to be something we decided to purchase, there wouldn't be any issues with that. We typically spend money on drinks, photos & sometimes Sheridan. Once, we had an underwater camera flood on us, so we ended up buying a gopro on board. Actually saved us money, since we didn't have to pay sales tax on it. Of course, cash for going into port. We don't use our credit cards in port. We are not big shoppers, so we try to take enough to cover any food or drinks, umbrella rentals. In the event we found something we felt we absolutely had to have, we would either go back to the ship to get more cash, or risk using a credit card.

[Cruiser_1977]

If you are not using transportation provided by a hotel, etc. for free, you will need money for transportation from airport to port. Unless you are driving, then you need to factor in parking. Also, cash for porters, etc. that are not part of the Carnival gratuities. Also, cash for if you'd like to tip bartenders, steward, wait staff. I also have an "emergency fund". God forbid some medical emergency or other scenario happens. Insurance only applies AFTER. So, you will need money available in case of change in flights, need to stay in a hotel, etc.

[ray98]

You can go on a cruise and not spend a dime extra. Everything required is provided. If you are on a budget decide what extras you are interested in and then see what fits.

[A&Jfamily]

Our cruise sails from JAX Nov 19 to Half Moon cay and Nassau on a 5-day cruise.

 

We are traveling with two kiddos (11 and 9), and my MIL.

 

I’m trying to create a budget and I can’t recall the things we spent $ on before (besides wine!), and even then, i don’t recall how much things run you.

 

We are wine and beer drinkers only. My 40th bday is the day we (hopefully) tender to HMC. We have a cabana.

 

So far, I’ve got like $250 worth of items in our fun shops cart, to include roses (a birthday splurge), champagne, beer, water, Bottomless bubbles for the kids, and a social package for one phone (since I think we can take turns on the same account to post).

 

We are bringing 3 bottles of wine on board, but only two regular drinkers.

 

I know gratituty is on my list, but if we average about 4-5 glasses of wine for two people a day, and hit the public beach on Nassau, what is a food budget to have?

 

Or first cruise, I don’t recall buying much of anything on the ship besides wine. Maybe one or two photos? Am i missing something obvious?

 

You can figure that your wine will be $10+ (including tip) for an average glass. I am not sure what beach you are speaking of but at Arawak Cay, you can google and see pictures - alcoholic drinks are $5-6 and food wide ranging depending on what you order. I would budget $150 and if you have extra, then great.

 

We don't buy anything when we travel except maybe a few t-shirts for the boys which tends to run about $10 a piece on the ship or on land.

 

Here is a list of expenses that I have considered other than the above tips, alcohol, shore excursions and shopping:

 

-pre/post hotel

-transportation to cruise/cruise parking

-food during travel

-Onboard expenses: spa, casino, night owls charges, bingo, St Jude walk etc

-on board specialty restaurants

-extra tips for special service

 

Hope that helps

[Nic6318]

Hi there

 

You don't really need to spend much (if you don't want to).

 

For you guys beer and wine. Depends on how much beer you will drink...like $6-7 bottle for beer. For wine you can buy packages 5 bottles with a slight discount. It would work out less than pay by the glass. You can ask about the packages available once on board. You want to bring a little of many ordinary things like ASA, bandaids...whatever is reasonable to you. You don't want to be stuck having to purchase small items in the ship shop. There may be some purchases such as t-shirts, caps etc..

 

Even the bottom bubbles packages might not be necessary. You are allowed to carry on 12 cans of pop each on embarkation day and would be able bring more on board at your stops.

 

The kids might be spending money at the on board arcade. That could add up if they get carried away. You would likely need to set limits (allowance). Make sure there are no unwanted phone/wifi/roaming charges (airplane mode). You might look at the "hub" app for communication, $5 per device for entire trip.

 

Your biggest expense will be the cabana (happy birthday). I don't know if your ship has a steak house, if so you might want to splurge.

 

In Nassau, you wouldn't need much. If you go to close beaches like Junkanoo maybe ??$25 for a few lounge chairs. Beer will be much cheaper there. Food won't take much...?$10 per person, at worst the ship is only a 15 min walk back. I am sure everybody might want to purchase some souvenirs..??$15-20 each. Check the port of call threads for Nassau.

 

Besides the daily gratuities, you will want some extra money for "extra" tips, this would be at your discretion.

 

have a great cruise

[ricew001]

For me I have a spreadsheet and here are my categories:

I'm also going to attach that handy dandy Cheers Evaluator for you too so you can see the exact costs and brands of your wines. Enjoy your cruise!

üCruise

Drink package

Excursions

 

Taxi

Park economy at airport

üto ship from airport in FL

üfrom ship to airport

üAirfare - cheaper to FLL (by $200)

Tips - 100 cash??

shuttle to RDU

luggage at airport RDU

luggage at FL Airport

shuttle to ship

luggage at ship?

room service

Excursions

Luggage departing ship?

shuttle to FLA airport

luggage at FL Airport

shuttle to car

Wi fi

Pictures

Carnival Beverage Package Evaluator (2).xls

[mkmaj]

I try to prepay as much as possible. Drink package, gratuities, any excursions, specialty dinners, celebration packages, etc. We usually get on board credit of some sort that we use for any pictures or gift shop spending and bring $500 cash for tips and port spending. That way there's very little question as to budget.

 

Sent from my SM-N900V using Forums mobile app

[niciediva007]

This has all helped so much! Thank you!

 

I didn’t think about the travel to Jax, but there’s the gas and hotel and also the port parking. I totally forgot that i want spa treatment (never had on a cruise).

 

Good to be reminded how much the drinks cost. We don’t want cheers as my MIL doesn’t drink and we don’t plan to indulge so much that it will be worth it beyond our carry on allotment.

 

The arcade! Last time we went was without kids so I can’t even remember where the arcade is located. My kids will definitely want some of that action.

 

The casino was one of our most memorable times at the end of our cruise last time. I’ll definitely budget for that as well.

 

If we eat in the dining hall, can my kids have juice or soda without the bubbles package? I don’t want to have to lug juice around with me for every meal.

[niciediva007]

For me I have a spreadsheet and here are my categories:

I'm also going to attach that handy dandy Cheers Evaluator for you too so you can see the exact costs and brands of your wines. Enjoy your cruise!

üCruise

Drink package

Excursions

 

Taxi

Park economy at airport

üto ship from airport in FL

üfrom ship to airport

üAirfare - cheaper to FLL (by $200)

Tips - 100 cash??

shuttle to RDU

luggage at airport RDU

luggage at FL Airport

shuttle to ship

luggage at ship?

room service

Excursions

Luggage departing ship?

shuttle to FLA airport

luggage at FL Airport

shuttle to car

Wi fi

Pictures

 

Fantastic!! This is so great! Thank you!

[niciediva007]

For me I have a spreadsheet and here are my categories:

I'm also going to attach that handy dandy Cheers Evaluator for you too so you can see the exact costs and brands of your wines. Enjoy your cruise!

üCruise

Drink package

Excursions

 

Taxi

Park economy at airport

üto ship from airport in FL

üfrom ship to airport

üAirfare - cheaper to FLL (by $200)

Tips - 100 cash??

shuttle to RDU

luggage at airport RDU

luggage at FL Airport

shuttle to ship

luggage at ship?

room service

Excursions

Luggage departing ship?

shuttle to FLA airport

luggage at FL Airport

shuttle to car

Wi fi

Pictures

 

Though for neither myself nor my husband did the cheers package seem to make sense, it did help me estimate the alcohol budget better than I could have done!

 

If I didn’t mention it, our $250 funshop estimate also included another bottle of wine and a four pack of beer. We will use the bottles for the port days off the ship primarily, and then on ship just buy from the bar.

 

So bar-wise, we’re looking at about $400 in wine/beer over the five nights. Not too bad for spending the whole week wasting away! :cool:

[indygirl76]

Though for neither myself nor my husband did the cheers package seem to make sense, it did help me estimate the alcohol budget better than I could have done!

 

If I didn’t mention it, our $250 funshop estimate also included another bottle of wine and a four pack of beer. We will use the bottles for the port days off the ship primarily, and then on ship just buy from the bar.

 

So bar-wise, we’re looking at about $400 in wine/beer over the five nights. Not too bad for spending the whole week wasting away! :cool:

If you add up the $400, plus the drinks part of the $250, plus however much you're spending on the three bottles of carryon wine, I bet Cheers probably does make sense for you. Do you ever drink soda, coffee, bottled water, etc? It's much easier to spend ~$50pp/pd than you think. :)

[ray98]

If you add up the $400, plus the drinks part of the $250, plus however much you're spending on the three bottles of carryon wine, I bet Cheers probably does make sense for you. Do you ever drink soda, coffee, bottled water, etc? It's much easier to spend ~$50pp/pd than you think. :)

 

Yup....with numbers that close I would certainly get Cheers. Pay a little more but you get so much in return by the freedom it offers.

[MistyRo76]

I use this format when I budget for a cruise. I also try to pay whatever I can upfront (Cheers or Bon Voyage, Wi-Fi, Gratuities, Pictures, etc.). If I don't know exactly what something will cost upfront, I try to estimate it based on my research.

 

Pre/Post Cruise Charges Total Paid Balance

Cruise - Carnival

Airfare

Hotel

Transportation

 

Ship Charges

Gratuities

Cheers

Chef's Table

Social Wi-Fi Plan & HUB Chat

Pixels Package

 

Shore Excursions

 

Misc. Costs

Dining

Airport Parking or Uber

Tips

Cash

 

TOTAL $0.00 $0.00 $0.00

[niciediva007]

If you add up the $400, plus the drinks part of the $250, plus however much you're spending on the three bottles of carryon wine, I bet Cheers probably does make sense for you. Do you ever drink soda, coffee, bottled water, etc? It's much easier to spend ~$50pp/pd than you think. :)

 

We’d have to buy the package for my MIL who will have one glass of anything the whole trip (she’s a holy roller:)). So that’s $750 versus about $525 or so. For the two of us I would have gone and done it, but since they require all adults to buy one, it won’t make sense.

 

Edited to add that cheers is listed as $56.95/day so that’s actually $854 for three, but really two of us.

[indygirl76]

We’d have to buy the package for my MIL who will have one glass of anything the whole trip (she’s a holy roller:)). So that’s $750 versus about $525 or so. For the two of us I would have gone and done it, but since they require all adults to buy one, it won’t make sense.

 

Edited to add that cheers is listed as $56.95/day so that’s actually $854 for three, but really two of us.

 

You're cruising with two kids also, right? I'm guessing Grandma will be in the second cabin with the kiddos, but even if not, have her listed that way. Then you and the Mister can buy Cheers, without Grandma being required to. :)

[niciediva007]

You're cruising with two kids also, right? I'm guessing Grandma will be in the second cabin with the kiddos, but even if not, have her listed that way. Then you and the Mister can buy Cheers, without Grandma being required to. :)

 

Ehhh...I really wish that were the case!

 

We booked one cabin (a four-person grand suite) for four originally. Then MIL got added and carnival wouldn’t let us downgrade to get two smaller cabins but let us upgrade to the five person extended balcony grand suite. So, no...one room, five folks.

[mkcurran]

Our cruise sails from JAX Nov 19 to Half Moon cay and Nassau on a 5-day cruise.

 

We are traveling with two kiddos (11 and 9), and my MIL.

 

I’m trying to create a budget and I can’t recall the things we spent $ on before (besides wine!), and even then, i don’t recall how much things run you.

 

We are wine and beer drinkers only. My 40th bday is the day we (hopefully) tender to HMC. We have a cabana.

 

So far, I’ve got like $250 worth of items in our fun shops cart, to include roses (a birthday splurge), champagne, beer, water, Bottomless bubbles for the kids, and a social package for one phone (since I think we can take turns on the same account to post).

 

We are bringing 3 bottles of wine on board, but only two regular drinkers.

 

I know gratituty is on my list, but if we average about 4-5 glasses of wine for two people a day, and hit the public beach on Nassau, what is a food budget to have?

 

Or first cruise, I don’t recall buying much of anything on the ship besides wine. Maybe one or two photos? Am i missing something obvious?

 

Have you looked into going to the steak house the first night, just you and your hubby, for the free bottle of wine and 1/2 price for other bottles of wine. If you purchase 4-5 bottles of descent wine that could get you a "free" steak dinner.

[niciediva007]

Have you looked into going to the steak house the first night, just you and your hubby, for the free bottle of wine and 1/2 price for other bottles of wine. If you purchase 4-5 bottles of descent wine that could get you a "free" steak dinner.

I’m not sure I know what this is? Is this Chef’s table?

[jayscore]

My two cents; skip the pre bought beer. Buy "beer by the bucket" on board, and store it in your cabin fridge. Not much savings, but, you you will have cold beer.;)

[mkcurran]

I’m not sure I know what this is? Is this Chef’s table?

 

No it's a specialty restaurant that charges $38 per person. But the ability to buy half priced wine might make it worth it. Well that and I hear the food is awesome.

[A&Jfamily]

OP-

 

I don't think anyone answered your question about juice for the kids. In the buffet, at breakfast they will have OJ, Apple and Guava punch; plus milk. Hot cocoa, hot tea and coffee are available 24/7, along with a water dispenser. At lunch and through dinner, it switches to unsweet ice tea and lemonade. You can take sports bottles and fill them and have extra of any throughout the day. The MDR (where we much prefer to eat breakfast) will also have pineapple, tomato and prune juice at breakfast.

 

My oldest doesn't like soda and my youngest is fine with juice, milk, lemonade and tea, so we never get the soda package on Canrival. Now on Princess, yes, we get the non-alcoholic package for them as it is about $8 per day and includes the milk shakes and non alcoholic drinks like strawberry daiquiris.

[ray98]

So, no...one room, five folks.

 

 

I would certainly need Cheers!

[grinningimm]

That was my first thought as well.

[stleda124]

I would certainly need Cheers!

 

Me too!