So approx. how much extra $$ do you spend....

[desamnik]

on your seven night cruise? We are a party of four. 2A 2C. We have the $ put aside for tips and excursions. We have about $100 per day put aside for souveneirs, drinks, and for the kids. We will allow them each $15 per day for spending. (arcade, smoothie, souvenier)

Are we covered, or do we need more? We aren't big drinkers, so I can't imagine we would spend that much on alcohol.

Thanks, we leave on the 27th of THIS month!

 

[kimkarli]

That is about what we are doing! I know I will be tempted to spend more, but I am trying to limit myself!!

 

[MickeyManiacMom]

You know it all depends on how you go into it. Could you spend more? Sure. Can you easily do it on the budget you have set up? You bet! I always go into it with a general budget in mind. We have stayed on budget each trip. If you see a big ticket item you'd like - just see if you really have it in your budget or if you can save from other areas (no alcohol, or smoothies) for the rest of the week to cover it. You'll do fine.

The big budget breakers are alcohol, excursions, spa treatments and bingo. If you already have a plan for all of those things - you're good to go.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[accola]

The big budget breakers are alcohol, excursions, spa treatments and bingo. If you already have a plan for all of those things - you're good to go.

Only item I would add to that list would be pictures - you can spend anywhere from $0.00 to lots We typically don't spend too much beyond the tips / excursions (sometimes DCL, others on our own), a couple souveneirs and some drinks. We'll bring some of our own alcohol along to minimize that cost as well.

Have fun!

 

[scootch]

It is truly in your hands. We only bought a couple pictures and had the kids hair braided and one christmas ornament. Had $100 onboard credit, so our total bill was under $100!! I am sure we are not the norm though!

 

[Fastpaks]

We aren't heavy drinkers iether. We just came off our last cruise and spent about $300 on the boat and $820 off of it. The drinks were cheaper than I thought. The wife bought a day at the spa ($16 a day, $99 for the week,$149 for couple pass) and Palo for both of us (30). I think I got a couple shirts for her and me. I think next time when we go. We may get the week as a couple. If this is your first trip just go a day and try the rain forest out. My wife LOVED it!

BIG TIP!!!!! ALWAYS PAY WITH YOUR KTTW CARD. They will let you use your room number, but I can't tell you how many times people got off the ship with additional charges. Get receipts if you can. This was about the only thing that irked me on the trip. Have fun!!

 

[ducky_love]

We have spent way more and way less. Honestly, I cant remember which were which looking back. The $$ doesn't mean you have a better time. Everything you need is included- that is the great thing about DCL!

 

[Dicecatt]

Keep in mind Bingo, if you want to play, and tips. Tips for Palo servers, and gratuity if you are putting them on your shipboard account. Plus the cost of Palo if you dine there, and you should

Also, although not expensive, if you need any medicine (my husband needed cold medicine on our Med), the infirmary does charge.

On a 7 day, you might want to do a class or two that has a nominal upcharge...I know you said you aren't big drinkers, but there are alcohol tastings, my favorite is the Martinis (you can't get me near the whiskey tasting, yuck).

We usually don't buy pictures, but we did on our first cruise and that was about $150. Now, we'll buy one or two, or just rely on the hundreds we took ourselves! It is nice to get family photographs though, and you can do portraits onboard too.

The Cove coffee costs, although the snacks are free. I don't drink coffee but love a nice hot chocolate in that quiet environment!

I don't give my kids specific limits, but warn them to be careful, and they are. They usually will buy a smoothie or two, some movie candy, little things like that.

It sounds like you have a very good plan. The gift shops are tempting, lots of fun stuff in there that you can't buy elsewhere, and on Castaway Cay

 

[Sleepyluke]

I really wanted to start a poll about this. We just got back from cruise number 3 and this was out biggest cost so far. We did the spa, cove cafe every morning, a couple pictures, an excursion at St Thomas, shopping on the boat (including several Christmas presents that you can't get anywhere else), few pictures and came in at $1,100 for 7 day. Was it more than we planned, yes a little, but again when you add a few Christmas presents and things for other people that you really did not plan on, it was not that bad. Now if we could ever know what was on the boat and know we can or can not live without that. This trip they had a display of Fossil and other watches that they said was a one time purchase and they were there until they were gone. Well of course we had to help them get rid of a couple of them. We have also gotten off of the boat under $400 with excursions before also, so it can be done, just may not be easy! Have fun and try to make the budget last becuase they rotate some of the stock in the stores, so buy it whne you see it, but also try to hold a little back because later in the week you may see something else that you can't live without!

 

[Mr. Disney 652]

The big killers...
BINGO and the wine packages. Other than those, we'd be rich!

 

[LuvIt]

We don't plan on giving our child charging priviledges on the room card.
With all the free food available there's not a big need to pay extra for smoothies or movie candy. Arcades are something that can be played anywhere, so why spend time and money on arcade games when on a cruise? Souveniers can be bought when with us so we'd just put them on our room card. Basically, it just seems like a good lesson for a kid to learn that a smart shopper can budget and minimize extra costs to be able to afford something fun like a cruise!
Of course, next year's cruise will be our first one, so we may change our minds on this after we are on board LOL but I seriously don't see our child whining about wanting to buy candy or a smoothie and being OK with our "avail yourself of all the free food and activities - but we'd like to minimize extra charges so check with Mom or Dad if you really feel you need to buy something" policy. Time will tell, huh?
We will incur some extra charges for a shore excursion, spa, maybe some wine with dinner and a couple DCL logo souveniers, but that's about it.

 

[Otimon]

When checking in at the terminal for our cruises, we always indicate we'll pay cash instead of putting a credit card on file. This helps keep us in line!

I think the most we've ever spent on a 7-night was around $115 - mostly for pictures and an item or two from the gift shop. None of us drink and we do our own excursions in town so lots of money is saved right there.

Have a wonderful time.

 

[Michele325]

I can't remember what we have spent on our 2 cruises. We knew the tips and excursion amounts upfront. Then there were gift shop items and pictures. We don't drink much. For the kids, we made a chart and posted it in the cabin and colored it in as they got closer to the amount they had (like a thermometer, but we made a mickey) and that helped them visualize how much money they had. Have fun!

 

[LuvIt]

Otimom, I haven't been on a DCL cruise yet (have to wait 'till next October!) but I thought I read that once onboard no cash is accepted and all purchases and extra charges are made to your room key card. Does anyone know for sure if cash can be used onboard? I'd probably still just charge to the room card because of the ease of it.

Michele, I like the idea of having your "chart" in the room to help kids visualize their budget! But I still will just encourage my son to take advantage of the free food, ice cream, etc and free activities (sports court, kids club, movies, etc.) rather than letting him pay for anything other than a souvenir or two.

 

[FreeTime]

$0 - is what we spent on 2 separate cruises (not including tips). We usually explore the port for our excursions, don't eat at Palo and don't really need anymore Disney stuff.

 

[over50visits]

We don't spend money on pictures, wine or bingo (all waaaay to expensive), so excursions and a few drinks can keep us under $50 a day total.

 

[LuvIt]

Free Time,

I just have to say I LOVE YOU!

It's amazing to hear what people spend on these cruises for "extras" but I guess each to his own. I'll enjoy some spa time, a few drinks, an excursion (plus some shore fun on our own) and happily pay for that, but Bingo, arcades, elaborate photo packages, etc. is not attractive to me.

 

[LuvIt]

Free Time,

I just have to say I LOVE YOU!

It's amazing to hear what people spend on these cruises for "extras" but I guess each to his own. I'll enjoy some spa time, a few drinks, an excursion (plus some shore fun on our own) and happily pay for that, but Bingo, arcades, elaborate photo packages, etc. is not attractive to me plus the mark-up prices for those are ridiculous! I'd so rather spend that on another vacation!

 

[Otimon]

Otimom, I haven't been on a DCL cruise yet (have to wait 'till next October!) but I thought I read that once onboard no cash is accepted and all purchases and extra charges are made to your room key card. Does anyone know for sure if cash can be used onboard? I'd probably still just charge to the room card because of the ease of it.

Michele, I like the idea of having your "chart" in the room to help kids visualize their budget! But I still will just encourage my son to take advantage of the free food, ice cream, etc and free activities (sports court, kids club, movies, etc.) rather than letting him pay for anything other than a souvenir or two.

Cash is not accepted as payment on board and everything you buy is charged to your room key. You are correct.

What I was referring to at the terminal was indicating to them we would use cash to settle our bills instead of using a credit card. Just as with everyone, we paid for our purchases with our room key but settled up at guest services with cash instead of a card. Helps us stay within our budget.

 

[Eeyore1928]

Our largest bill was about $ 350 on the Panama Canal crossing. We never do ship excursions...way too expensive. Only buy about 4 drinks whole cruise. We bring our own as no ship ever carries DH's favorite beer ( Landshark). No bingo, no smoothies, no candy, usually no spa.

We may shop a little...one thing per person. Although I fear my whole budget is going out the window on our next 2 cruises as I NEED a DCL Dooney, and then we are on the DREAM!!