Budget planning

[Minnie368]

First cruise, most likely on the Disney Dream. What costs are not included that I NEED to factor in? I'm talking about necessities, not things like excursions. So far I'm thinking parking, gratuities and alcohol. Are there any other fees beyond what the website shows as my total cost? As far as restaurants, are they all included or are there some high end ones that are not? Is room service included? Cruising is so new to me I don't want to miss something and be way off budget.

 

[xlxo]

Things you may have excluded....

• internet (my main weakness)
• photo packages... my second weakness. The kids may get into a competition seeing who can get the most photos.
• pre/post-cruise hotels
• transfers to/from terminal
• http://travelwithkids.about.com/od/...-Whats-Included-In-the-Fare-and-Whats-Not.htm

 

[BartmanLA]

To address some of your questions, the are 2 Adult only upcharge restaurants on the Dream, Remy and Palo. Both have classic and very gourmet cuisines on French and Italian menu's. Those are extra charges, the other main dining rooms are always included in your cruise fare. Room service is 24hrs and complimentary, although there are some menu items that are for extra cost and it is suggested you tip the room service in cash ($1 or $2 per dish). Besides alcohol, the specialty coffee's from the Cove Cafe will cost you as well as other specialty drinks like the smoothies in the kids clubs and at some of the quick service stations as well as in the dining rooms are extra as well. Additionally snacks at the Walt Disney Theater and the Buena Vista Theater (movies) are extra charges too.

 

[gismo1554]

And any excursions you want to do although this would be completely up to you guys. As its the Dream I'm assuming its 3/4 night so would be Nassau and Castaway Cay. Float rentals on Castaway I would include in these costs too if that's something you would want. Other than that most things have been covered.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

And on the Dream, there is an entire candy/ ice cream parlor that is all extra charge, Vanellope's Sweets. I plan on steering my kids ckear of it. The regular soft serve on pool.deck and Castaway Cay is free!

 

[lanejudy]

What costs are not included that I NEED to factor in?

The only actual expenses on the ship that you must factor in are the gratuities -- $12 per person per night. Everything else onboard is a want rather than a need. However, what one considers "necessities" for a cruise experience may not be necessities for someone else.

Not paid to DCL but you will also need to include in your budget your pre- and post-cruise travel plans. Depending on your plans that may involve airfare, train fare, gas, car rental, meals, hotels, transfers, parking and possibly entertainment.

Here's a thread with a couple of really comprehensive lists of additional expenses. Scroll through as I think both post #2 and #19 have great lists: http://www.disboards.com/threads/whats-included.3537608/#post-56305333

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[FigmentSpark]

You mentioned gratuities, but don't forget tipping the porters and room service. And if you're driving, there may be tolls to pay.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

Some people like Bingo. You can drop a lot of money there if you aren't careful. LOL

 

[Minnie368]

Thanks for all of your responses! So for gratuities-
1. It's $12 per person per night for both adults and children?
2. Does that take the place of tipping at meals, or is that in addition to?
3. In what other instances will I tip cash? i.e. Room service, porter
4. Do I pay that ahead of time or is it on our final bill?
Also,
5. How much do they charge for internet?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks for all of your responses! So for gratuities-
1. It's $12 per person per night for both adults and children?
2. Does that take the place of tipping at meals, or is that in addition to?
3. In what other instances will I tip cash? i.e. Room service, porter
4. Do I pay that ahead of time or is it on our final bill?
Also,
5. How much do they charge for internet?

1. $12.00 per person per night (adult and child). That $12.00 breaks out to $4.00 per person per night to your room host; $4.00 per person per night to your dining room server; $3.00 per person per night to your assistant server; and $1.00 per per person per night to your head server.
2. See above.
3. Room service, porters at terminal, excursion guides/drivers.
4. Those you tip at the time of service.
5. Different prices for different plans. You can sign up for 50MB free, as long as you do so before midnight the first night of the cruise. Found this:
Pay As You Go 25¢ per MB
Small Package 100 MB $19.00 19¢ per MB
Medium Package 300 MB $39.00 13¢ per MB
Large Package 1000 MB $89.00 9¢ per MB

 

[MunFam]

Since you are new to cruising, I will add that the ship is "cashless" with the exception of giving room service delivery personnel cash. Drink servers at the pool/dining rooms/bars will add their gratuity to your drink tab and that will be charged to your on board account. Same with your shopping on board. It will be added to your on board account. So plan on having a final charge on your credit card that last night for all of your onboard purchases. I think you can go to the pursers office and pay it in cash that last night if you prefer, but I am not 100% sure. We spent carefully and did private excursions and I think our bill was about $250 after 15 days on board. Gratuities were not included in that figure. Some people opt to tip above and beyond the $12 per person per day to people they feel went above and beyond. Likewise, you can reduce the tip if you feel its needed. We did indeed reduce our SR hostess gratuity after many, many, many issues with her service or lack there of.

 

[tigerchic89]

I really feel like DCL does not nickel and dime you. The $12/day tip is required, plus a few $$$ for tipping room service but other than that, you can totally do everything on the cruise without spending extra. Since you can carry on some beer/wine, some find that they don't even need the extra budgeted for alcohol.

 

[xlxo]

Oh I almost forgot.... after seeing those great prices.... I find myself blind sided by the TAXES that can be a few hundred dollars for a weekly cruise!

 

[Minnie368]

Oh I almost forgot.... after seeing those great prices.... I find myself blind sided by the TAXES that can be a few hundred dollars for a weekly cruise!

Taxes in addition to what's on the DCL website total that says "includes taxes,fees,port expenses"?

 

[Cackyschmackers]

@Minnie368 No, I'm not sure why PP wrote this. When you go to check out, the taxes and port fees are included as you see in your final fare. Also, a note: We've actually had port fees refunded for each passenger. Maybe it's not common, but those port fees are imposed by each port. Maybe, now that I'm thinking of it, we got our port fees refunded bc one time, we missed a port. Either way, the taxes do not increase, those are final as you are seeing upon check out.

 

[lanejudy]

We've actually had port fees refunded for each passenger.

That happens occasionally, probably fairly often. DCL estimates the port fees and taxes because the itineraries are released so far in advance. Then when closer to sailing date they may refund if the actual fees/taxes are less. It's not usually a large amount, but I think we've gotten back as much as $12 or $14 per person. If fees/taxes end up being more than estimated on the booking date, DCL covers the difference; they won't come back at you for more.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Dug720]

That happens occasionally, probably fairly often. DCL estimates the port fees and taxes because the itineraries are released so far in advance. Then when closer to sailing date they may refund if the actual fees/taxes are less. It's not usually a large amount, but I think we've gotten back as much as $12 or $14 per person. If fees/taxes end up being more than estimated on the booking date, DCL covers the difference; they won't come back at you for more.

Enjoy your cruise!

Yeah. For my upcoming cruise I called to add on transfers to MIA and i happened to catch it when the credit back was on the account but not being sent to my card yet, so it lowered the transfer amount.

 

[SameNameAsYou]

Speaking of extra charges. Does each person have their own on board account? I've found this with another line, but the internet and photo packages are very different so I wasn't sure?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Speaking of extra charges. Does each person have their own on board account? I've found this with another line, but the internet and photo packages are very different so I wasn't sure?

Each KTTW card can have it's own back up. Or all KTTW cards in your party can use the same card. Or you can split it up - one card uses credit card A, another has a cash account, a third uses a different credit card, and so on.

There is one "bill" at the end of the cruise for each room. On that bill it's split out by KTTW card what charges that card did.

 

[swimfin]

First cruise, most likely on the Disney Dream. What costs are not included that I NEED to factor in? I'm talking about necessities, not things like excursions. So far I'm thinking parking, gratuities and alcohol. Are there any other fees beyond what the website shows as my total cost? As far as restaurants, are they all included or are there some high end ones that are not? Is room service included? Cruising is so new to me I don't want to miss something and be way off budget.

I could be wrong, yet I thought you could pay tips at time of final payment so you won't need to worry about that at end of cruise. Now, if you think your servers etc deserve more, as mentioned before, you can always pay a bit extra at the end even if you prepaid. Also, you can pay your onboard charges in cash if you prefer. You don't have to have a CC on file.