Question about spending while cruising-7 day

[ML_LovesDisney]

Hi all! We are cruising in about 2 months and DH and I are trying to figure out how much "extra" money we should bring. We are doing one port adventure which is Coral World and it will be $136. Also, have a couples massage that is $242 and I know about the gratuities which I plan to pre-pay before I leave. I have a 7 and 4 year old and they have saved up for BBB and have gift cards. What else will I be buying randomly and need cash for? I'm just trying to get an estimate from people who have done this before soooo what did you spend "extra" on top of price of the cruise?

[Yvet]

What ship you cruising??
New ships have simulators that cost money and maybe that's something you want to do.

Souvenirs
Palo dinner or brunch
Remy dinner or brunch with or without winepackage
Alcohol
Bingo
Photo package or single photo's
Extra tip for roomservice = cash
Laundry
Money spend in ports (drinks, cab, food, souvenirs) = cash
Tips for porters handlung your luggage = cash

[ML_LovesDisney]

Originally Posted by Yvet

What ship you cruising??
New ships have simulators that cost money and maybe that's something you want to do.

Souvenirs
Palo dinner or brunch
Remy dinner or brunch with or without winepackage
Alcohol
Bingo
Photo package or single photo's
Extra tip for roomservice = cash
Laundry
Money spend in ports (drinks, cab, food, souvenirs) = cash
Tips for porters handlung your luggage = cash

Sorry forgot to mention that! 7 day Eastern Caribbean.

Thanks for the info!

[DakotaDisneyLover]

We never bring a ton of cash, as we use our credit card for everything that we can and are able to pay it off each month. We bring several ones for tips (baggage handlers, room service, etc.) and cash for misc. stuff we buy while visiting ports. Excursions booked through DCL get charged to your onboard account, so you will see those on your final bill along with any other charges you incured on the ship or Castaway Cay. We don't 'budget', just try to be mindful of our purchases.

[kcashner]

This is totally personal. You can spend as little as nothing other than what you have noted or a great deal.

Example--one smoothie per day per kid would be $60 over the course of the cruise. DO you need them--no. If they never have one, will they even know that such a thing exists? Same for specialty coffees, alcohol, etc.

Photo CD--$400

[bceagle76]

Originally Posted by DakotaDisneyLover

We never bring a ton of cash, as we use our credit card for everything that we can and are able to pay it off each month. We bring several ones for tips (baggage handlers, room service, etc.) and cash for misc. stuff we buy while visiting ports. Excursions booked through DCL get charged to your onboard account, so you will see those on your final bill along with any other charges you incured on the ship or Castaway Cay. We don't 'budget', just try to be mindful of our purchases.

Wow It was RCL cruise out of Miami I gave the guy a $10 and basiclly told I wouldn't see my bags when I got on board.
Now I never tip less the $20 there are 4 or 5 of us.

[bceagle76]

There were 5 of us last trip
We did 1 excurison ($400) 2 sessions of bingo ($300) a little shopping a couple of shirts,book , pins and wine glasses ($200) my wife and son drank wine at dinner ($200) Think our bill was like $1700 including tips($450)
Spent a bout $700 in port on cabs beach shopping etc
I think my 15 day cruise was over $4000 and Alaska was close to $3000 because the excursion were expensive but worth it

8/99 4day Magic
4/02 7 day Magic
8/03 7 day Magic
11/05 4 day wonder pin cruise
8/06 7 day Magic
8/08 15 night Panama Canal
8/09 7 day Magic
8/11 Alaska
12/12 Christmas on the Fantasy

[bluenosemickey]

I am also going on the 7n eastern. Went on a 5n last year. Here's some extras from my list:

-tips for luggage handling is $1 per bag everywhere, I usually add a little more in spots like at curbside at the port/airports/bell services. Easier for stuff to get "lost" there compared to cabs/shuttles.

-alcohol picked up before boarding the ship, mix if you need it, corkage fee for wine brought to dinner on board. ($23 (tip inc)corkage fee/bottle)

-$1 bills for tips when we order room service.

-rainforest room passes ($15 per day)

-one spa special offer of the day, if something looks interesting ($115)

-copies of photos we like ($100)

-bag of goodies (candy, gum, chocolate bars etc.) for the room attendant

[kimberlyelayne]

Don't forget the tip for the servers, and room host that will be added to your bill at the end of the trip. I forgot the breakdown but for a seven day family of 5 it is 450-500 I think

[ML_LovesDisney]

Thanks for the info. I think I'll pre pay my tips 3 days before the cruise and then bring lots of small bills for the rest as most have suggested.

[sarbah77]

One of the things that caught us off-guard on our last cruise was the, hmm, suggestion that we tip our excursion guides and drivers. NOW. They were all excellent, on all our excursions, but we forgot to account for that and we were a little light on cash at the end of our trip (it wasn't a huge amount to tip those people, but still). You might consider bringing some smaller bills ($1s or $5s) to tip the excursion guide for your Coral World tour!

[DakotaDisneyLover]

Originally Posted by bceagle76

Wow It was RCL cruise out of Miami I gave the guy a $10 and basiclly told I wouldn't see my bags when I got on board.
Now I never tip less the $20 there are 4 or 5 of us.

We actually do tip the curbside baggage handlers at the port more (I didn't word my reply correctly). We are a family of 3 and usually have 2 large suitcases and maybe one carryon we send with them. I still don't think I have given them more than $10 at Port Canaveral, I don't remember exactly. I have sailed out of that terminal 3 times, have had great service and no problems ever. Tipping is really up to whatever you feel you want to tip.

[ML_LovesDisney]

Tipping sounds like the biggest "extra" expense. I don't drink (except specialty coffee maybe!) and plan to bring Via and my Starbucks cup. DH might drink. I don't want to be cheap per se but we are going to Disney for 3 nights post cruise so I can't go totally wild with my cruise spending. The spa will be my biggest temptation

[dawnhaze]

Originally Posted by bceagle76

Wow It was RCL cruise out of Miami I gave the guy a $10 and basiclly told I wouldn't see my bags when I got on board.

Am I reading this correctly? It was implied to you that your bags would be intentionally lost because you tipped too little?

Not only would he not get a tip from me, he would get a phone call to his boss. I would not appreciate being extorted for gratuities.