Expect to Pay?

[MegSmethurst]

Hello!
My hubby and I are planning a cruise in may. We just don't honestly know what we can expect to pay for after boarding. Anything you were surprised by after your first cruise?

 

[allears]

You can spend a ton once on board or spend very little. At the very minimum, you'll have your gratuities. Beyond that, you control your spending, and you can get a handle on it before you sail and actually, yikes, budget. For our upcoming cruise, my DP and I have estimated spending an additional $800, whihc includes tips, Palo, Remy, adult drinks, a couple of shutters photos and a deposit on a future cruise.

Decide what you're comforatable with and stick to it. You can have a first class, incredible vacation and not spend a ton more than the cost of the trip.

 

[kcashner]

No, I wasn't surprised because I did my homework ahead of time and knew what to expect. SOunds like you are doing the same.

Other than tips ($12 per guest per night of cruise), you can spend literally nothing and have a great cruise...or you can spend literally thousands and have a great cruise. The choice is yours.

 

[super mike b]

It depends how much you like Disney stuff! The stores usually get a pretty penny from us.

 

[webzila]

We usually spend additional $500-800 after boarding.
These are expenses for things like tips, excursions, bingo, drinks, photos, casino (if the ship you are on has it), etc...Its all up to you.

 

[Bear3412]

Cellular at Sea bill. $ 276.67.
Set phone to airplane mode, then turn them off.

Shocked at how much all the tipped positions added up to.

 

[MegSmethurst]

Cellular at Sea bill. $ 276.67.
Set phone to airplane mode, then turn them off.

Shocked at how much I tipped all the positions.

Great advice! Are the tips charged to your cc automatically or should we bring cash?

 

[Bear3412]

Great advice! Are the tips charged to your cc automatically or should we bring cash?

Automatic, but we really felt the need to tip more, for many reasons.
But that increase in tips can easily be performed at guest services at any time to onboard account/cc.
You are welcome to stuff cash in "the envelopes", but then you "have to deliver them" to someone.
If on account, they still get them with your info.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Great advice! Are the tips charged to your cc automatically or should we bring cash?

You can pre-pay your tips before cruising. Or the tips will be added to your onboard account once you board.

On the second to last night, you receive in your room tip envelopes and coupons. The coupons are 2 part with the position and name of the person being tipped and the amount of the tip. You tear the coupons in half and place 1/2 in the correct envelope to hand out. At that time you can add additional cash, if you wish. Or you can (at any time) go to Guest Services onboard to adjust the tips that will be charged to your onboard account.

 

[bahacca]

I'm taking into account the following:
Excursions per person
Drinks/day if you are drinking alcohol and/or special coffee drinks(I figured in 2 alcoholic/adult/day, 1 coffee/adult/day, 1 smoothie/kid/day)
tips
bingo
tastings-$15-20 per adult/tasting
Palo-$20/adult + tip
room service tips
pictures
souviners from shops
rentals on Castaway Cay
spa services

You can look at menus for drink prices to get an idea there. Same as pricing for other things-look at the Navigators, etc.

 

[Bear3412]

I'm taking into account the following:
Excursions per person
Drinks/day if you are drinking alcohol and/or special coffee drinks(I figured in 2 alcoholic/adult/day, 1 coffee/adult/day, 1 smoothie/kid/day)
tips
bingo
tastings-$15-20 per adult/tasting
Palo-$20/adult + tip
room service tips
pictures
souviners from shops
rentals on Castaway Cay
spa services

You can look at menus for drink prices to get an idea there. Same as pricing for other things-look at the Navigators, etc.

Yes, these things add up fast. Watch out !

 

[Otimon]

Lots of info ahead of time, here on the DIS and the DCL website, on types of additional charges you can encounter.

The only unknown cost for us was not knowing how many photos we would end up purchasing, or how much we would spend in the shops. However, as with everything, that's all under your control.

 

[cwdefouw]

On our three day in November, after our $150 onboard credit. Our out-of-pocket was $16.00 and we didn't feel like we missed out. This was our seventh cruise so we didn't buy anything in the shops, what we did spend was gratuities and a few drinks and that was it.

Now on our last cruise a week ago, that was a different story. Gratuites were included in the fare (DVC Member Cruise) and we still spent $220 + $100 in Disney Gift Cards. mostly on custom printed cell phone cases that they were doing special on that cruise, plus a good bottle of wine the night we went to Palo. So you can spend a little or you can spend a lot, just depends on what you want.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Like everyone else is stating, you can spend a little or a lot. There was a woman behind us after a 7 night that was settling up her $11 bill. I think mine was close to over $1000.

A word of warning - those photos can really add up!!! Bingo can really add up!!! Smoothies can really add up!!!! Speciality coffee can really add up!!! Okay, I think you get the point.

My DH takes his extra spending money every month and puts it on Disney gift cards. We then take some of the gift cards to guest services the first day and put them on the account. I will track it and figure out if I need to add additional ones prior to any charges hitting my credit card. Gift cards are kind of like a forced savings for him. DH loves the Disney artwork and it adds up. One year he had over $1000 in gift cards and he spend over $800 on the artwork. But it was paid for all in his extra cash so I wasn't worried about it. Never touched the household budget or credit card!!!

Oh yeah, and I like to pre-pay my tips.

 

[txblondie99]

Great idea of putting extra money on disney gift cards! I love this thread cause some of the items I didnt even think about trying to put into our budget! Sadly we are on a tighter budget, just thankful to even go! But definitely want lots of fun in there!!

 

[KBT35]

For our 4 night we spent an additional $500. This included excursions, tips, Palo (Brunch & Dinner), liquor & specialty drinks, souvenirs & Shutters pictures (we bought the smallest package but I bought an additional pic too)! Seemed like my money did this but I planned for $600 so I was fine!

 

[sdjen]

Here is a little tip especially if you have the Disney Visa (you get 6 months no interest). I will have the cruise paid off prior to the 75 day mark so about a month out (or after booking excursions to know that cost) I sit down and figure out what I know I will spend. Last time it looked like this:

Tips (for 2) - $225 - agree with above that you will want to tip more than "required since the service is so good

Pics - $50
Souvenirs - $200 (I get something for several family members)
Palo $75 - one brunch and one dinner plus tip (for one adult)
Spa - $350 - I love to splurge on this on vacation
Drinks - $75 - a few drinks at dinner throughout the week
Excursion - $200 - did castaway rays, a Disney excursion in St Thomas (did my own in St Maarten so that doesnt go to the onboard account)
Coffee - $35 for the week (at Cove Cafe)

This adds up to over $1200. So a couple of weeks prior to sailing, I call Disney and purchase a "gift" for myself of OBC of that amount. That way you get the no interest for 6 months and you have the OBC waiting for you when you board. YOu will still have to put a CC on file but only for the charges if you go over the amount above (which I always do by a little bit )

This give me a little more time to pay off the extras if I havent saved the whole amount prior to the trip.

Have fun!

 

[altiek]

Putting OBC on my account ahead of time really gets me the 6 mo no interest?!? I had no idea. . Thanks for that info!

 

[sdjen]

Putting OBC on my account ahead of time really gets me the 6 mo no interest?!? I had no idea. . Thanks for that info!

if you have the Disney Visa yes. At least it worked for me two times so far

 

[christianweecare]

Here is a little tip especially if you have the Disney Visa (you get 6 months no interest). I will have the cruise paid off prior to the 75 day mark so about a month out (or after booking excursions to know that cost) I sit down and figure out what I know I will spend. Last time it looked like this:

Tips (for 2) - $225 - agree with above that you will want to tip more than "required since the service is so good

Pics - $50
Souvenirs - $200 (I get something for several family members)
Palo $75 - one brunch and one dinner plus tip (for one adult)
Spa - $350 - I love to splurge on this on vacation
Drinks - $75 - a few drinks at dinner throughout the week
Excursion - $200 - did castaway rays, a Disney excursion in St Thomas (did my own in St Maarten so that doesnt go to the onboard account)
Coffee - $35 for the week (at Cove Cafe)

This adds up to over $1200. So a couple of weeks prior to sailing, I call Disney and purchase a "gift" for myself of OBC of that amount. That way you get the no interest for 6 months and you have the OBC waiting for you when you board. YOu will still have to put a CC on file but only for the charges if you go over the amount above (which I always do by a little bit )

This give me a little more time to pay off the extras if I havent saved the whole amount prior to the trip.

Have fun!

I had no idea that you could do this either.

So you called Disney Cruise Line before your cruise and used your Disney Visa to add an OBC? And got 6 months interest free?