Advice please!

[woodey]

Ok I think I have figured out a livable budget. That insures that we will have fun, and I can still manage comfortably. So let me know if you think this is do-able.

 

Pre-cruise

pre/post cruise travel expenses

4 picture coupons (2 for each of us)

4 sets of drink coupons (2 for each of us)

300 Funship dollars for S&S account

pre pay excursions 1 each in Freeport and Nassau

 

 

S&S account would have the following planned:

Soda cards

casino for 1 night (45 each to lose, LOL)

bingo

extra alcohol (just in case;) )

Funship $$ should cover but backed by my CC just in case we do go over.

 

100 for extra tips (1's, 5's and 10's right?)

400 cash for port days for shopping, taxis etc

 

I will of course have my CC and my debit card in case we were in need.

 

Does this sound reasonable, and not like I am being too tight fisted?

Experienced cruisers what do you think?

 

I am thinking of putting a tote bag together for SIL, with sunblock, beach towel, that kind of thing. Do you think she would like it? I thought maybe of getting her a bottle of wine, but I know nothing about wine, don't like it myself. So any ideas on a good wine I could maybe get from Carnival for her? Or other things for the tote?

 

 

Thank you!!!!!!!

Karen:o

 

Looks good to me! The only thing i didnt see on your list is the Post Cruise parking

[BLUEROSEKY]

Looks good to me! The only thing i didnt see on your list is the Post Cruise parking

 

I thought that you paid for the parking when you initially parked? I don't know why I thought that, but for some reason it was stuck in my head. I did have the cost included though, I had it figured with my pre/post travel expense.

 

Can anyone think of anything I may have forgotten or overlooked? I am showing DH the budget tonight, LOL. He gets the full detail, poor guy! We are still way below the cost of the guys hunting trip though.

 

Now if I can just get them to quit calling it a floating shopping mall! :p

 

Thanks,

Karen

[MamaParrotHead]

I put $ on my S&S ahead of time, rather than messing with GC's..there's a 1-800# you can call to do this.

 

I also book my own excursions, buy the soda card, put larger chunks of $ away when they occur (tax refund, work bonuses, etc.). Another good one is to watch for price drops on your cruise...depending on who you booked with, you can get OBC (On Board Credit) for any price differences (should they be lower than what you paid). Personally I check that atleast once a day and have always had atleast $100 pp OBC waiting when we board.

 

Doing things that way, and the fact that we prefer 6B/OV cabins, we're not big drinkers (each of the two of us maybe have 3-4 drinks per day (in addition to the soda we get with our soda cards) and we don't gamble or do spa treatments or bingo. We don't really make much of an effort to even cut corners (buying whichever pictures I want, a few things from the souvenir shop, buying knick-knacks here and there in port...nothing massively extravagant).

 

Including all the cash for tips, cab/transportation around the port city and to/from the port/airport we budget about $1500 for the two of us for the week. That's including everything...night on the town precruise, transportation to/from port/airport, cash for snacks and stuff while travelling, excursions (3 ports last time), shopping in port, soda cards, tips, everything. Actually, after our OBC and $ we called ahead and put on our S&S, we only owed $46 (which we paid in cash the last night) at the end of the week.

 

Good luck! I wish *I* had a SIL like you. :)

[Virgin_cruiser2007]

Karen, Have you looked into the pic certificates as well? I understand what you mean on the cutting corners but not chopping them off.. :D Im in the same boat. So I have just been pre paying for most.

Hey we come to Louisville often to the boat, (for entertainment:D ) my b/f and his best friend are serious about it and they win occasionally but me I know I am not winning so I play about $5 and I'm good. :D

Your trip will be what you make it, And if you are going to have fun and determined thats what you are going to do, you can do that with no money at all. I found that up until I wrote everything down I was so over whelmed but now its like its all in place. Everything will work out and I am sure your SIL is just grateful for what you are doing and that being taking her on the cruise with you in itself. So just relax.. :cool:

[mojean]

Suggestions: You may want to purchase travelers checques there's no refund issue, the purser's desk can cash at any time free of charge. Folks have been having issues with using their debit card due to strange charges appearing that you can't be refunded for as you can with a regular charge card.

 

I would have a talk with the family folks and see if you can get them to chip in on helping pay for the ship dollars for Christmas gifts and that would help tremendously, I'm sure. :D

 

I also read there was issues with the visa/mc gift cards wouldn't register right when trying to access funds. So beware on that too.

 

As mentioned, most Ports have tour booths right there for you to choose from and usually you're not the only one on it.

 

Also suggest to your SIL to start a "coin" can. I used to do that when I first started going to Vegas, it really does add up, it doesn't hurt to show that she appreciates all that you're doing but if she likes to gamble she definitely needs to put in her two cents on that score.

 

If you're not heavy soda drinkers, you can bypass the soda card because they do offer tea at dinner and there's different juice available on the lido deck in the fountains. Maybe you can make it with a 12 pack between you?

 

But from the sounds of it you've got enough info and bases covered, you're doing great.

 

And by all means, go to the boards menu at the top of your screen and then scroll down to the one for ports to get ideas.

[Drew B]

It really comes down to your priorities. I could very easily forego paying for any drinks (alcohol, soda, coffee) for the whole cruise without even smuggling. I could drink free water, juice, iced tea & coffee and be perfectly content. However, I would not want to go on a cruise if I couldn't gamble freely. Others are happy to forego the gambling, but their vice is drinking. Or shopping. Or the spa. Or pictures.

 

My advice is to cut out any expenses if the loss of them won't significantly lower your enjoyment of the cruise. Then, while on board, focus on what you are getting (great food, service, entertainment, etc.) rather than on the things you have given up in order to be frugal.

[CountryFox]

Ok I think I have figured out a livable budget. That insures that we will have fun, and I can still manage comfortably. So let me know if you think this is do-able.

 

Pre-cruise

pre/post cruise travel expenses

4 picture coupons (2 for each of us)

4 sets of drink coupons (2 for each of us)

300 Funship dollars for S&S account

pre pay excursions 1 each in Freeport and Nassau

 

 

S&S account would have the following planned:

Soda cards

casino for 1 night (45 each to lose, LOL)

bingo

extra alcohol (just in case;) )

Funship $$ should cover but backed by my CC just in case we do go over.

 

100 for extra tips (1's, 5's and 10's right?)

400 cash for port days for shopping, taxis etc

 

I will of course have my CC and my debit card in case we were in need.

 

Does this sound reasonable, and not like I am being too tight fisted?

Experienced cruisers what do you think?

 

I am thinking of putting a tote bag together for SIL, with sunblock, beach towel, that kind of thing. Do you think she would like it? I thought maybe of getting her a bottle of wine, but I know nothing about wine, don't like it myself. So any ideas on a good wine I could maybe get from Carnival for her? Or other things for the tote?

 

 

Thank you!!!!!!!

Karen:o

 

You are allowed to carry on 1 bottle of wine each....that will save you money right there....also take your own soda and water:D

[EastTexans2]

I probably shouldn't mention this on here but........the pictures from the phot shop can be copied on your scanner. That's all I'm going to say.

[henepup]

I probably shouldn't mention this on here but........the pictures from the phot shop can be copied on your scanner. That's all I'm going to say.

Done it, turned out great!

[D&TCar]

There is also Bon Voyage gifts and services where you can order a 1 liter botal of your favorite alchol that will be in your room when you arrive. the price list is still current as of 9/13/2012 at http://www.zydecocruiser.com/menus/bv_liquor.htm just call Carnival and ask for Bon Voyage Services and they will take your order.

[cathyz]

There is also Bon Voyage gifts and services where you can order a 1 liter botal of your favorite alchol that will be in your room when you arrive. the price list is still current as of 9/13/2012 at http://www.zydecocruiser.com/menus/bv_liquor.htm just call Carnival and ask for Bon Voyage Services and they will take your order.

Did you know this is a 5 year old thread?

[amillard222]

oops wrong thread...lol

[D&TCar]

Did you know this is a 5 year old thread?

Just letting anyone know the list is still current and this is available today.

[ccruisequeen]

Ya'll are sweet!

 

The only "real" excursion we had planned on was the jeep one in Freeport. That just really looks like fun, and I am waiting for Carnival to post it. After looking today, it won't be more expensive to go through them on it and I would feel more comfortable that way. I saw the post on the walking tour in Nassau, and as we both love historical things, I think we will do that. SIL said she would like to try snorkling, and I would love to see the reefs. So I hope I can find something we can both agree on in Nassau.

 

I know I am stressing, I just want this to be an awesome trip. We are both so excited it's unreal. If I am like this now I can just imagine what Feb is going to be like!

 

We have already hit clearance sales for summer clothes. Cause we won't find em in Ky in Feb! I found her an awesome dress for formal night on sale and she is getting it for Christmas. I still need one, but had figured on the after Christmas sales for mine. We are looking forward to the formal night. I work in a steel mill, and live in the middle of nowhere so the chance to dress up doesn't come around very often, LOL.

 

Oh my gosh! My hillbilly roots are showing!

Thank you all for the advice and encouragement!

 

 

Karen

 

For nice dresses at a discount hit the thrift shops or goodwill. I've found some beautiful dresses for $5-10 and the money goes to a good cause. Most of my cruise clothes come second hand. Nobody else has to know!