How do you budget for non prepaid expenses?

[MommyMinnie]

I'm looking at my budget for non DCL expenses and they are adding up fast. Little things like Hotel, Gas, Photography, Spending money, and excursions are adding up to another vacation all my themselves. Needless to say Tips are solid at the top of the list.

Is there anything that you try to include or exclude from your trip budget?

I have already scaled back photography by 80% and excursions should be next but that might be hard for the family to take.

One more thing, we are not heavy drinkers.

Thanks

[mommasita]

As you mentioned, we scale WAY back on photography. We have been there and done that a few times , we now purchase one or two photos, and take the rest ourselves.

The biggest savings for our family is doing our own excursions. We save a LOT of money in that area, being a family of 4. I just find DCL's costs over the top. We do the research, and enjoy being at our own pace very much. If you do this, verify the cancellation policy of private vendors, in the case where you may not be able to dock.

Also, we rent a car for each segment. After using codes from mousesavers, we spend roughly 35$ on a car each way. We use their free shuttle to/from the port.

We normally stay at The Best Western, and can snag a room for around 85 to 95$. We love the location, and it works well for us. A clean pillow and bed to lay our heads.

[Davids-Coco]

Our budget is huge... I actually list out every item seperately. It sounds insane, but budgeting above for each item and breaking it out (meal at ____: this much, specific spa treatment: this much, mickey ears: this much) really helps me see where we can skimp. It also makes me feel like there is a plan and we tend to stick better the more specific.

I always include the necessities: hotel, air/car/gas/etc, cruise, tips, food. But we exclude as necessary too... I may end up not doing the FE if I find the cost is too much. We also will do the groceries thing (that my local friend will get for us at no additional cost) and make some cheap meals to help defray costs... easier w/ a villa and full kitchen.

ETA: I agree about excusions. But with a 19 mo old during the sailing, I doubt we would do many anyway. Some of them are downright expensive!

[MommyMinnie]

Originally Posted by mommasita

We normally stay at The Best Western, and can snag a room for around 85 to 95$. We love the location, and it works well for us. A clean pillow and bed to lay our heads.

Does the Best Western provide cruise parking or is it just the Rad? We are driving from Atlanta so Gas is a big budget item but rental is not.

[kcashner]

We've stayed at the Best Western, but had a rental car on that trip so don't know about parking. Their free breakfast was good.

We stayed at the Quality Suites for $98 (sister hotel to Radisson, same free parking deal). Total cost was $107 which included all taxes, free breakfast, and parking. Parking at port is $105, so a bargain.

Photography--skip it. take lots of pics with your camera. $10 per shot is way too much for me.

Spa--I can do it for 1/2 the amount at home--skip it.

Excursions--do them on your own. In many places you can have a good day on little or no money. Most places doing an excursion on your own is far cheaper than thru DCL.

I put DD on a budget of $50 for a 7 day cruise and tell her that if she doesn't spend it, I'll give her the leftover cash when we get home. This enables her to buy a smoothie or whatever if desired, but makes her aware of what things cost on the ship.

Alcohol--free at captain's gala....2 for one late afternoon at the pool. I basically don't drink.

Bottled water--why??? Bring some empty bottles that you can fill for excursions.

[MommyMinnie]

Quality Suites might really help out. Thanks.

I never step foot in the spa. Egads! I just take the tour so I can see how beautiful it is then leave it be.

When the local camera shop went out of business I splurged on a $400 camera for DH to take pics on the cruise. That's what I usually spend in shutters. Now his job is to replace the official photographers. And, he gets a camera he's really excited about.

I went back to Excell and slashed the proposed budget as much as I could. The only thing I don't think I will be able to get out of is a historical tour in Cozumel. The other stops I can probably convince them to just get out and stroll.

[mommasita]

Originally Posted by MommyMinnie

Does the Best Western provide cruise parking or is it just the Rad? We are driving from Atlanta so Gas is a big budget item but rental is not.

Yes it does, and had the free breakfast as well. It was a GREAT breakfast!

[Pennyb123]

I tell my travel agent to include the tips in my cruise price so they are pre-paid!! One less thing for me to worry about! The tips are paid right along with the cruise fare...

[JOCAmom]

Sorry, don't mean to hijack the thread but...

kcashner, do you know if the Quality Suites had rooms for 6? We always have problem finding reasonable accommodations that will fit all of us in one room.

[kcashner]

Originally Posted by JOCAmom

Sorry, don't mean to hijack the thread but...

kcashner, do you know if the Quality Suites had rooms for 6? We always have problem finding reasonable accommodations that will fit all of us in one room.

Quality Suites only has rooms for 4. That's why we were at the Best Western in May. The food at the Best Western (free breakfast) was better! We paid $158 total there with a AAA rate. The Radisson also has rooms for 6, but they were well over $200.

[tvguy]

I'd also would make sure you have either a cash reserve, cash, travelers checks, or available credit on a credit card to cover any unexpected costs on the trip home.
If you have 6 in your family you probably have a pretty big vehicle, and a new tire can easily hit $200 if you have an SUV. Any mechanical problem could get expensive, and also require another night in a motel and more meals on the road.

[Morgey24]

Originally Posted by Pennyb123

I tell my travel agent to include the tips in my cruise price so they are pre-paid!! One less thing for me to worry about! The tips are paid right along with the cruise fare...

completely agree with this one -- one more thing to get out of the way since it is not really "optional" (it may be discretionary, but certainly not optional). You can add these on to your ressie and your TA can take care for you in advance.