I wonder what the average couple spends on their cruise credit card?

[Palm_trees]

I always enjoy the people I meet on the cruise bragging about how much they spend on the ship. I hear from many people that $2000 on ship expenses are not that uncommon for a couple taking a one week cruise. If you add: shore excursions, alcohol, pictures, speciality restaurants, casino chips, tips, souvenirs, etc, the average person's goal of a $1000 a person cost of a week long vacation is pretty much gone.

 

On a recent cruise, we had no expenses other than the tips for the staff that was added to our bill automatically. We brought our own cokes and did not spend any more money. One another recent cruise on NCL, we only spent money on one shore exursion on the DR, that's it!

 

I wonder what the average person budgets, vs spends on the typical one week cruise and what the average cost is for the average person. (I know there is no real average person but there is a mean) Ideas?

[ninkb]

For us, the important thing is that we pay it immediately and not accumulate interest on our credit card.

 

We usually book shore excursions (some prepaid if cruise line requires that for prebooking), have a minimal number of glasses of wine, sometimes a soda card, occasional gift shop purchases, maybe one prof picture, and the tips. No spa, no internet, no casino.

 

All of this is anticipated when we book a cruise and is part of our vacation, whether it's a one week cruise or longer.

 

The important thing is to enjoy your vacation and to stay within a reasonable budget for your lifestyle.

 

:):):) ninkb

 

[cruiserbryce]

we actually use on of our checking accounts as a vacation account...save up money there and give that as our on file cc...that way we have $xxx to spend and cannot go over...its the best way to keep ourselves to a budget...if you put it on the cc then $1200 in expenses can easily come to $1500...

[Desert star]

This was approximately the onboard charges for my DH, me and our two sons, after tipping charges.

Mexican Riviera: Booked all our excursions independently, 3 soda cards, and small amount of alcoholic beverages. $400.00

Eastern Caribbean: 2 excursions booked through ship, 3 soda cards, and small amount of alcoholic beverages. $800.00

[mspink98]

Last winter we spent $600 for the two of us. That included a soda card for DH (I don't drink much soda, so bought by the can when I wanted one), 1-2 drinks per night, no spa, no excursions booked through the cruiseline, and more shopping than we'll probably do this year. I bought a watch onboard, not high end but still cost $75, and we dropped $100 on Tshirts to thank everyone who was holding down the fort and watching our critters while we were gone. The shirts rarely get worn, so we'll take them out to dinner when we get home this year instead.

 

We figure we'll spend about the same this year-less shopping, more drinks. Last year we mooched off the wine package my parents bought (at their invitation, of course), and this year we're travelling along, so alas, no free drinks.

 

We put it on a credit card, but already have more than enough saved to pay it all off the second the bill comes. We charge everything we possibly can, right down to household bills, and pay the bill every week online. Gotta love the airline miles-we're flying to port for free next month, and will probably fly to Mexico for free next winter.

 

I'd love to do spa treatments, and DH would like to go to the casino more, but I can go to the spa for much less $$ at home, and quite honestly, I don't have a hard time relaxing on vacation anyway-it's when I'm at home, working and dealing with everyday life that I could use some help. We'd rather vacation more than vacation big. We could totally spend a couple thousand, but check ourselves quickly when we start to think of spending the next winter, ALL WINTER, trapped in Wisconsin. :eek:

[skittl1321]

With 2 excursions per person (one expensive, one midrange each), drinks, on board shopping, necessary chocolate covered strawberries and tips we were at about $500 for 2 people on an 8 day cruise.

 

We did not gamble on the S&S card- mostly because they charge a 3% fee- and that seems silly with a free ATM nearby (our bank reimburses fees), and our budget was $2 per person per seaday- we aren't gamblers.

[cruiserbryce]

Just looked at our costs from our 7 day in October on Vision of the seas. It was $1050 for 2 excursions for 2 ppl, soda, booze and 1 $175 trip to the ship's hospital for when I cut my head open on a doorway (I'm 6'7")

[jimshemc]

Hubby and I have a cruise account (separate savings account). Any extra $ we receive goes into it. Helps cut down cost when it comes time to sail. We try to cruise at least once a year this year we saved enuf for 2 cruises. The last cruise we took was for our 20th ann. so we splurged quite a bit. Our ship tab was over $800:cool: not including what we spent onshore. We try not to use credit cards but have them with us just in case. Also, don't forget to notify your credit card and debit card co. that you will be out of the country. One cruise the bank froze our acct, too many debits from a foriegn country!!! I ran up a $300 cell phone bill to get it straightened out.:mad:

[weltek]

On our first cruise (honeymoon) we were newly married and broke. We had about $500 to settle at the end. That included a fair amount of drinking, about $160 for an excursion, a few hours of internet, a sweatshirt from the gift shop (I think that was paid for via our acct) and tips. We smuggled nothing on and had a $50 credit.

 

This time, I expect we'll be around $700, and will be more generous with our tipping if deserved. I'm getting a spa treatment, he's getting a cigar or two onboard, we'll again be drinking, doing tastings and a few pay restaurants. No ship excursions though, this time, so there's a big cost difference. However, we have a little more money to spend this time, so we aren't fretting as much.

[momofmeg]

I always enjoy the people I meet on the cruise bragging about how much they spend on the ship. I hear from many people that $2000 on ship expenses are not that uncommon for a couple taking a one week cruise. If you add: shore excursions, alcohol, pictures, speciality restaurants, casino chips, tips, souvenirs, etc, the average person's goal of a $1000 a person cost of a week long vacation is pretty much gone.

 

On a recent cruise, we had no expenses other than the tips for the staff that was added to our bill automatically. We brought our own cokes and did not spend any more money. One another recent cruise on NCL, we only spent money on one shore exursion on the DR, that's it!

 

I wonder what the average person budgets, vs spends on the typical one week cruise and what the average cost is for the average person. (I know there is no real average person but there is a mean) Ideas?

 

The only place I have had people tell me and brag they have spent xxx amount of dollars on their cruise and what a big alcohol bill they had etc.etc.etc. was right here at cruisecritic. I have NEVER had ANYONE tell me that in person. But maybe that is because I would never ask them such personal questions in person or even on a messegeboard.

 

This is how I feel-if others want to be the "average Amercian" carrying $10,000 plus in credit card debt- I could care less-I am just glad I am in a position to pay off my credit card monthly-and I am yet to feel deprived on a cruise-I buy everything I REALLY want.

 

BTW it is none of your business what I or anyone else spends on their cruise.

[vermonter16]

DH and I usually don't spend anymore than $500....however, on this cruise in two weeks....we have way "overspent" on our excursions (privately). But, I don't think we'll be back to the particular islands again. And we also have that money in cash. We do have friends that can easily spend over $2,000 - easy....spa treatments, drinks, specialy restaurants... She is also a TA though and often buys drinks for others...but they don't brag about it at all... I don't think they share it with anyone but us.

[weltek]

 

BTW it is none of your business what I or anyone else spends on their cruise.

 

I think the point of asking may have been to assist others in planning what all the extra stuff can cost. As the few posts on here have already been able to illustrate, a couple can spend tips only if they are being frugal, or just don't care to buy anything, or it can be $500 if partaking in a few things, or can be over $1000 if you decide to indulge. No harm no foul.

 

Or maybe it was just a curious post. It's not anyone's duty here to answer. It's the nice thing about a message board. You don't feel pressured to answer like you would being asked in person and you can find out some interesting stuff.

[momofmeg]

I think the point of asking may have been to assist others in planning what all the extra stuff can cost. As the few posts on here have already been able to illustrate, a couple can spend tips only if they are being frugal, or just don't care to buy anything, or it can be $500 if partaking in a few things, or can be over $1000 if you decide to indulge. No harm no foul.

 

Or maybe it was just a curious post. It's not anyone's duty here to answer. It's the nice thing about a message board. You don't feel pressured to answer like you would being asked in person and you can find out some interesting stuff.

 

Look at this person's profile and read ALL the threads this person has posted in the last few days. Then you will understand WHERE I am coming from.

[NYLaurie]

My husband & I have been on 3 different cruise lines. Our first cruise(7 days) we did 2 shore excursions,photos,alcohol, & shopping At the end our bill was $700. THe 2nd cruise(10 day) we were able to buy a "drink" card for each of us(10 drinks per card)we ordered the card 3 months prior so that part of our cruise was paid in advance, at the end our bill was $500. The last cruise was a 4 day, we did not buy photos or "gifts" our bill at end was only $219. So it really depends on your personal choice. Photos are nice but unless there is a special occasion we just use our own camera, they can get quite expensive when you use the cruise service.

[tnt091605]

We sailed January 2007 on a 7 night cruise. We got a bill that was for $5700. We were sure glad when we realized it was for the cabin next to ours. We actually only owed 70.00 at the end. Not including tips. We each had a couple of drinks a day and nothing else was charged on it. Not because we did not want to, but because we booked last minute and had to watch out spending. We got the cruise for $299PP. I think they lost money on us.

 

We leave in two weeks and are planning on spending about $1500-$2000.

[strawberrypatch81]

I usually bring enough money for our cruise, about $100 Aus per day for a cruise each for me and my bf. For a 7 night cruise $1400 Aus plus a bit extra in case we want to purchase photos, buy souviners, or hopefully not make an unscheduled trip to the doctors. I find we can enjoy the cruise more if we have enough money, otherwise we wouldn't enjoy it as much if we had to watch what we spent. It is nice to have a few cocktails too! No matter what though, a cruise is fun!! :D

[bobbyleduck]

I used to say I was frugal, but my wife said I was cheap, and there's a difference.

 

I admit it! I'm Cheap!

 

We cruised the Panama Canal (14 days) last March, and took a Trans Atlantic cruise (14 days) last month. My Mom paid for the Panama Canal cruise and we spent put $17 on our SeaPass card, after discounting the $200 onboard credit. For our Trans Atlantic cruise, which we paid for, we finished with $33 on our SeaPass card, after our $175 onboard credit. Tips were separate.

 

So, beyond our onboard credit, we put a total of $50 on our SeaPass cards, and that was for 28 days. By the way, we used $100 of our onboard credit for the Trans Atlantic cruise to pay for tips.

 

WE ARE NOT AVERAGE!

 

Happy cruising to all!

 

Bob

[kiwi-cruiser]

It is so nice to get a clearer understanding as to how much to allow for additional spending on board as someone else says 'no supprises'

 

now with our onboard account or card, do we know as we go? or can we check our balances during our trip? or do we have to wait untill end of trip and hope we are within budjet?

[Borrego]

Our single biggest expense on a cruise is wireless access. My partner enjoys writing a daily blog of our travels to friends back home, complete with that days photos. He uses his own laptop., but the per minute charge really adds up, even though he prepares everything offline. Our last cruise was 15 days on the Diamond Princess last October. Wireless access cost was $186.

 

Oh, yeah, I almost forgot...I spent $600 in the casino. Oh, well.:eek:

[bobbyleduck]

It is so nice to get a clearer understanding as to how much to allow for additional spending on board as someone else says 'no supprises'

 

now with our onboard account or card, do we know as we go? or can we check our balances during our trip? or do we have to wait untill end of trip and hope we are within budjet?

 

You can check on you SeaPass account regularly (hourly, daily, etc.).

 

The best thing to do is to budget a certain amount, daily, and stick to it. Remember: I said that is the BEST thing to do, not the EASIEST.

 

Happy cruising to all!

 

Bob

[cruisinbuddy]

In '07 our bill was $2800.00:eek: + $850.00 in St Thomas. Now you're probably thinking that we're lushes, not. Lot's of jewelry. That was a special cruise with inheratence (sp) money. Our usual without the excursions is @ $1200.00, drinks and souvies from the ship. We skrimp and save up for cruises and then blow the wad. It's a lot better than skrimping on the cruise. I've worked 2 jobs to pay for cruises.