Let's Talk "Turkey" ~ The "Real" bill when we get home (Shipboard Accounts)

[BorderLady]

I posted because I wanted to second SlinkieCat's position.

There seems to be a plethora of polls about cruiser ages, the number of cruises they take, the total amounts they spend on a cruise and now comes the size of their credit card bill when they get home.

Helpful to newbies? In my opinion, that's debatable.

Started because it was a dull day on the board? Sounds right to me. Again, my opinion.

[Krazy Kruizers]

[b][font=Comic Sans MS][color=blue]I have actually enjoyed checking in from time to time to see the results of the poll.[/color][/font][/b]
[b][font=Comic Sans MS][color=#0000ff][/color][/font][/b]
[b][font=Comic Sans MS][color=#0000ff]And it is very interesting to see so many people are spending less than $500 drinks, etc., while on their cruise.[/color][/font][/b]
[b][font=Comic Sans MS][color=#0000ff][/color][/font][/b]

[ekerr19]

Well, I still think it's interesting and helpful. Many people who come home from their first cruise can be shocked by the amount of money they've spent for pictures, shore excursions, drinks, tips etc.

What I don't get is why get down on the OP? If you don't want to particpate, then don't - obviously alot of others have had fun with the topic, and found it most informative. I am sort of relieved to see that I am not the only one who spends as much as we do while on board!

Let's all lighten up a bit - it's a message board, designed for SHARING - because you don't necessarily agree about the "importance" of what is being shared, doesn't make it any more or less important to others. :)

[Appgrad]

These polls can be very useful! When I was getting ready to go on my first cruise, I had no idea what to expect to spend on board. Every time I asked, I got vague answers.

Polls like this allow people the opportunity to get an idea as to how much money they need.

I am currently planning on leaving RCCL for HAL and this thread has helped me understand how much I will be spending.

[HeatherInFlorida]

[font=Franklin Gothic Medium][size=3][color=navy]Thank you KK, EKerr and Appgrad. I appreciate your support. The reality is that over 150 people had fun voting in this poll and only one has a problem with it that I'm aware of. There's a poll in itself. Maybe I'll start a poll about whether people like polls or not. That will get people's dander up;) .[/color][/size][/font]

[font=Franklin Gothic Medium][size=3][color=navy]BorderLady seems to have a problem with all the polls in general so I don't take it personally. It does make me wonder, though, why people even bother taking the time to look at what they feel is so unprofitable.[/color][/size][/font]

[font=Franklin Gothic Medium][size=3][color=#000080]So back to the "fun" of it, I agree with KK that the outcome of the poll is very interesting. In general, we don't really go over the top in our spending. And if we do, we had fun doing it!!!:D [/color][/size][/font]

[C 2 C]

We generally have a [COLOR=Red]CREDIT[/COLOR] at the end of our cruise... Take advantage of credits for booking on board, coupons, and stock holder credit..

On Celebrity we get $250 for a 14 day cruise if we own RCL stock, $200 for booking on board..... That's $450 back for a $2500 14 day cruise...

[lknick]

IMO, properly structured, this could be interesting information if placed on a per day basis, but lumping together 7 day Caribbean cruises with longer cruises to all parts of the world is nonsense.

There is not one bit of information given that can be used for planning. The poll doesn't say what is included and what is excluded, and how many days.

I do resent the defensive posture taken by the OP and her back up singers.

[C 2 C]

Backup singers... I resent that... I won't even hum in public...

[HeatherInFlorida]

[quote name='lknick']IMO, properly structured, this could be interesting information if placed on a per day basis, but lumping together 7 day Caribbean cruises with longer cruises to all parts of the world is nonsense.

There is not one bit of information given that can be used for planning. The poll doesn't say what is included and what is excluded, and how many days.

I do resent the defensive posture taken by the OP and her back up singers.[/QUOTE][font=Franklin Gothic Medium][size=3][color=navy]My mistake and I apologize for the oversight. I was assuming a 7 day cruise. But beyond that, I made no mention of amount other than $500 (which was for a 7 day). We all know what is included in a cruise. It's clearly stated in our documents. Everything else is extra.[/color][/size][/font]

[font=Franklin Gothic Medium][size=3][color=navy]That's why, except for the $500, I didn't mention amounts. Luckily the 150+ other people who responded had no difficulty understanding the poll. [/color][/size][/font]

[font=Franklin Gothic Medium][size=3][color=#000080]lknick, I do regret your resentment. When someone questions my "point", I'm going to defend myself. I think that's basic human nature. But I certainly do appreciate the compliment about my singing group! Never knew I was the lead singer, but I like it:D .[/color][/size][/font]

[C 2 C]

Here we go now.. A one, a two,..... :p

[lknick]

A while back, a string appeared which asked the number of cruises taken. I was interested to note that the most active and vocal participants on Cruise Critics posted one a year.

So, Heather dear, of course your assumption was understood. But you know, there are other cruises other than the seven day Caribbean and Alaska.

So, if you had asked by day the poll may give some information.

[Ziggy7]

[quote name='lknick']There is not one bit of information given that can be used for planning. The poll doesn't say what is included and what is excluded, and how many days.

I do resent the defensive posture taken by the OP and her back up singers.[/QUOTE]
I thought it was a good post.
You see I could have used this post back in Aug, our first Hal cruise, I can not say enough how easy it is to spend... spend... spend with those sign and sail cards. For the 2 weeks we were on board we spent a little over 1,000 dollars! We dont drink, so we cant even blame that! It was on excursions, bingo, shop stores and pictures. DH about had a stroke when we got the bill hehehehe. Next time I will be more frugal and cautious! I do not regret the purchases I made but will spend less next time
So I say thanks Heather on your attempted heads up to new cruisers! I got the point!

As for singing ... just move one downnnn the road ... move one downnnn the road :)

[HeatherInFlorida]

[quote name='lknick']A while back, a string appeared which asked the number of cruises taken. I was interested to note that the most active and vocal participants on Cruise Critics posted one a year.

So, Heather dear, of course your assumption was understood. But you know, there are other cruises other than the seven day Caribbean and Alaska.

So, if you had asked by day the poll may give some information.[/QUOTE][font=Franklin Gothic Medium][size=3][color=navy]Okay, lknick, point taken! Seriously, it is. I'm going to take the "dear" part as a compliment:) and leave it at that.[/color][/size][/font]

[font=Franklin Gothic Medium][size=3][color=#000080]Per day would have been a better way to go.[/color][/size][/font]

[font=Franklin Gothic Medium][size=3][color=navy]I certainly know people cruise other than the Caribbean including myself. Over the years we've cruised the Mediterranean and the South Pacific so I wasn't focused on 7 day Caribbean cruising.[/color][/size][/font]

[font=Franklin Gothic Medium][size=3][color=navy]C2C ... I'm not arguing with lknick. But anyone who's gotten to know me over the last several months knows that I stand up for what I believe.[/color][/size][/font]

[font=Franklin Gothic Medium][size=3][color=#000080]lknick, truce ... okay:o ?[/color][/size][/font]

[C 2 C]

I think the point was understood by most cruisers... whether the cost of cruising went beyond the actual cost of the tickets....excessively? Delayed ticket shock... But who's arguing? If you like to cruise a lot you have to curtail your impulses...

[Tide Pride]

I personally enjoyed this thread more than most. I had no idea whether we were excessive or cheap in our expenditures and this certainly puts it in perspective. IMHO it is more interesting than reading about the virtues of one room # as opposed to another.

[HeatherInFlorida]

[font=Franklin Gothic Medium][size=3]Hey thanks, Tidepride! I really appreciate that! My singing group is getting bigger and bigger. Soon we can take this show on the road:D ! Maybe get a job on a cruiseship![/size][/font]

[Lokalona]

Add my voice to the song, you all have figured out I am musical...I will say I always have a heart attack when I get my bill stuffed under the cabin door at 4:00 am the last full day of the cruise. Makes me want to run right out and buy more on the last day and night...NOT! I wish they'd just hit you with it when you get off but alas then you'd have no time to dispute.

I cannot believe how much we drink on a cruise! We don't drink at home except an occasional wine out to dinner. I never once even got tipsy on the ship that involved alcohol anyhow. Bad weather and I felt like I was looped trying to get across the room.

When we have the kids it is even worse, the first cruise they were on the youngest at the time (12) swiped the sail and sign card through the arcade to the tune of $100.00! He cleaned the garage and all the gutters when we got home.

[C 2 C]

Here's a talking turkey... if you have the option turned on

[IMG]http://www.gifs.net/animate/ag_0180.gif[/IMG]

[jazzsea]

One of the nice things about being a serious cruiser is the ability to estimate the real cost of cruising. DH and I like good wine. We also use the internet cafe and really like the Pinnacle Grill. We usually budget $100 a day for onboard expenses.

When we sail on Wind Star we don't spend nearly that much.

[sail7seas]

Carol...

Other than there being no Pinnacle, why do you think you spend much less on Windstar?

[DrivesLikeMario]

[COLOR=Purple][B]How do you people spend so little? Just shore excursions alone cost us a small fortune! Granted, there are 4 of us, but still we manage to spend a lot more than the majority here. We don't do spa treatments, we only spend a total of maybe $275 for drinks for all 4 of us for the week, only $400 for gambling and video games. What are we doing wrong here?

Is everyone including shore excursions and tips in that amount?[/B][/COLOR]

[HeatherInFlorida]

[font=Franklin Gothic Medium][color=navy][b]Lady Jag[/b], I made the mistake of not including shore excursions, cabana rental and Pinnacle in mine because I paid for it upfront. I believe many others did the same thing. You're doing nothing "wrong", you're on vacation and having fun!:) Also, you're 4 people and this poll presupposed 2 people on a 7 day cruise. I should have made mention of that ... my mistake:( .[/color][/font]

[font=Franklin Gothic Medium][color=navy][b]Sail[/b], I can't speak for Carol, but we sailed on Windstar in French Polynesia and had next to no extra charges. The ship only has 75 cabins, there is only a very small casino and no shops. There's just not a lot of "trouble" you can get into;) . Of course, Carol may have a different reason.[/color][/font]

[font=Franklin Gothic Medium][color=navy]I want to say our 2 weeks spent on and around the islands of French Polynesia were the most heavenly and magnificent of our lifetime. We literally ache to return one day.[/color][/font]

[Krazy Kruizers]

[b][font=Comic Sans MS][color=blue]MOST of the time, if there are shore excursions that we are really interested in, we will book them on line before we leave. So I did not include those in our on-board spending.[/color][/font][/b]
[b][font=Comic Sans MS][color=#0000ff][/color][/font][/b]

[RevNeal]

[QUOTE]Is everyone including shore excursions and tips in that amount?[/QUOTE]

Yes. And, that pushes up the onboard expenses, as you might have noticed from my posts on the subject.

In looking to my Oosterdam cruise, I'm going to be buying 2 shore excursions online so that they won't hit my onboard account. That will help my onboard expenses.

[bepsf]

I've done the extremes...
:cool:

For the Caribbean we went [i]waaaaaay[/i] overboard w/ excursions, hosting dinner parties in the Pinnacle, champagne and cocktails, photos, gifts and spa treatments. Final bill (including Joe's momentary lapse of reason in the Casino and the Jewelery shop :eek: ) for the both of us was about what I paid for the suite itself. Without those two, probably close to the fare for one of us.

On the other hand, for Alaska I didn't book a single excursion, never considered the Spa & only did the Pinnacle on the first night without hosting a party - final tab was less than $400 for myself.:)

I can't say when I had a better time spending more money in the Caribbean - but I also didn't feel like Alaska was in any way diminished for not having overspent.