First-timer scared about being nickeled and dimed!

[AKL_Megs]

Please excuse my total and utter ignorance as I post this, but we are newbies who have decided to take the plunge and foray into cruising!

We found a cruise on the Dream that we think will work for us. Costco’s total has us at just about $6000 for DH, me, and DD8. Everyone has me worried about gratuities, etc.

We are trying to budget now. How much are we really looking at on top of the $6000 if we aren’t drinking, not doing excursions, and not upgrading our dining?

Any great resources down first timers is appreciated! TIA!

 

[KashasMom]

If you are not doing any of those things or playing bingo or buying photos or buying souvenirs or buying a soda in the theater, the only extra will be the gratuities. The same with any cruise line, YOU control what you spend. Your food and entertainment are included in the price of your cruise. Enjoy!

 

[smiths02]

Gratuities will be $40.50/day (13.50/day/person) You can prepay those.
You really don't need to do anything else.
You can have a good time with no add-ons.
You may also want some tip money for porters to help with your baggage at port and maybe room service (a lot of room service items are free, but tipping a few dollars is nice).

 

[Geomom]

Gratuities--standard amount that Disney will automatically charge you at the end of the cruise are $13.50/person/day--so for 3 people, it'll be $40.50/day. The tips cover the stateroom host, server, assistant server, and head server. (The tips can be raised or lowered at guest services, but the amount listed is a pretty standard amount for cruises in general.) Other gratuities--room service--most of the food from room service is free (except candy/canned soda/alcohol), but you should give the delivery person a tip--we tend to do $1/item. Also, if you're using any type of baggage service, they should be tipped. (And as far as that free room service--while not listed on the menu...they have Mickey Ice Cream bars for FREE!!)

Otherwise, you can get away without paying extra. While there is a 'pay for ice cream/sweet shop', there is still FREE soft serve ice cream on the pool deck and hard scoop ice cream in the buffet. Popcorn/candy at the movies has a cost--you can always bring your own factory sealed candy/popcorn from home for free or get other food items from the pool deck. And while there is 'pay for' coffee in Cove and Vista Cafe--there is free coffee at the 24 hr self service beverage area (and Cabanas, and the MDR's.) Any drink at a bar/lounge area will have a charge...again, you can just got get free soda/milk/coffee/hot chocolate/tea from the self service beverage area. (And while the beverages in Cove and Vista have a cost...the snacks are FREE.) Also, any specialty non-alcoholic beverages like smoothies do have a charge....basically if a cast member asks for your key to the world card, it's going to cost money.

We really don't feel nickled and dimed on Disney. Every cruise line will have gratuities. Everything else has been up to us, some excursions, a couple Bingo games last cruise, some alcoholic drinks for me, and buying stuff in the shop.

 

[tankin]

@AKL_Megs Make sure you budget for transportation too.... But other than tips (tips you should just add into your trip cost), you can really control your spending.

 

[bbn1122]

Never ever felt like I was nickeled and dined on a Disney Cruise. Like previous poster said, you have your gratuities, but after that it’s your call.

Alcohol, spa treatments, excursions and shopping is your personal discretion.

There is so much to do on the ship that is all included in the price.

Read these boards. So, much helpful information, plus great photos and Trip Reports.

Enjoy! No worries ... it’s cruising. Consider the ship a big Resort where you never have to drive anywhere!!

Plus, you can bring 2 bottles of wine or 1six pack of beer per adult!!

I always bring some of my own water too. For the bedside.

Enjoy!

 

[Mommb]

You will not be nickel and dimed. The only potentially unexpected charge will be gratuities. Everything else is items you would expect to spend money on if you were on land.

If you're used to going to the Disney parks, then you are already familiar with paying for souvenirs and photos. Unlike in the parks, most food and drink on the cruise has no additional charge. As Geomom described above, there are some places that charge for drinks and food, but there are many places that do not, including the main dining rooms (except for alcohol and specialty drinks). All programming in the kids' club has no cost.

On our recent 8-night cruise, my family paid for excursions (planned in advance), photos (3), T-shirts and a wallet from the gift shop (around $50), a whisky tasting, Palo dining, a few alcoholic and coffee drinks, and 1 smoothie. The beverage purchases were similar to what we'd buy in a week if we weren't on a cruise. My daughter did spend a few dollars to do laundry, because we'd spent time in Europe before the cruise and she wanted some clean shirts, but you shouldn't need that for a Dream cruise.

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

Please excuse my total and utter ignorance as I post this, but we are newbies who have decided to take the plunge and foray into cruising!

We found a cruise on the Dream that we think will work for us. Costco’s total has us at just about $6000 for DH, me, and DD8. Everyone has me worried about gratuities, etc.

We are trying to budget now. How much are we really looking at on top of the $6000 if we aren’t drinking, not doing excursions, and not upgrading our dining?

Any great resources down first timers is appreciated! TIA!

If you are paying $6K for a Dream Cruise are you sailing concierge? At the holidays? Or some special cruise? As PP said gratuities are the plus up but I’m wondering if your particular cruise has an event or other that would drive cost as $6K seems high.

 

[over50visits]

On one our cruises we decided to have a cruise with zero spending over the cruise fare except for gratuities and parking. We did it and had a blast!!! Disney gives you plenty of opportunities to spend money (just like at their parks), but they also provide a great experience without having to spend any more money. I'll put in the next post the current list of things you can spend your money on!

 

[bbn1122]

I just was watching a video regarding DCL.
Just a couple things you may not know.

Room service is free 24 Hours a day.
Cove Cafe Snacks are Free
At the Pub evening snacks are free

And lastly, you can order whatever and as much as you want each night in the Main Dining Rooms. If you want try 2 appetizers, go for it. DH is a big eater and wants 2 Entrees, Go for. Love Dessert! Order it all!
Of course, try not to be wasteful!

Enjoy!

 

[over50visits]

DCL Cruise Expenses (other than cruise fare and automatic gratuities)

1. Alcoholic drinks at the bars and from roving servers (welcome aboard)
2. Wine by the glass or wine packages at meals
3. Spa treatments
4. Shore excursions (including cabanas and rentals at CC)
5. Purchases from the stores: clothing, sundries, jewelry, souvenirs, etc.
6. Adult dining (Palo, Remy)
7. Bottled water
8. Photos (individual and packages)
9. Onboard booking for future cruises
10. Disney Vacation Club membership (you can purchase on board)
11. Art (thank goodness those "auctions" are gone, but you can still purchase art)
12. Popcorn, candy and snacks outside theater
13. Tips for room service
14. Internet
15. Room upgrades (usually at port, sometimes GS)
16. Bingo
17. Parking/transportation
18. Port porters gratuity
19. Alcohol and cigarettes for delivery at end of voyage
20. Welcome aboard packages (flowers, candy, etc waiting in your cabin)
21. Adventures by Disney (you can purchase on board)
22. Cameras from photo shop
23. Cellular phone calls (although it will be billed later to your phone bill)
24. Medical care
25. Cigars (Meridian bar)
26. Arcade
27. Hair Braiding
28. Nursery care for children under 3
29. Tastings and Mixology
30. Excursion tips
31. Soft drinks from room service or bar
32. Specialty coffee
33. Meeting room rental
34. Onboard or Castaway Cay wedding (currently $3000/$4000)
35. Vow renewal ceremony
36. Sports simulator
37. Laundry room
38. Send-out laundry and dry cleaning
39. Room service sodas and candy (these have a charge)
40. Additional tip (over the automatic) for bar servers
41. Required gratuity added to spa services (not optional)
42. Pins sold at trading pin sessions
43. Extra wave phone rental
44. Duties at customs at end of cruise if you've made a LOT of purchases abroad
45. Ship to shore calls from your room phone
46. Fuel supplement charge if the price of oil is above a certain level
47. Fish Extender program gifts
48. Kids’s club magic bands (if you want to keep them, you lose the deposit)
49. Stamps from Post Office at Castaway Cay
50. Tip for Castaway Cay cabana host (you’ll need cash for this one)
51. Sparkling or still (plain specialty) water with your meal
52. Upcharge food items at the adult clubs
53. Candy and ice cream from Vanellope’s on the Dream
54. Smoothies from the bar in Senses Spa on the Dream
55. Tuxedo rental
56. Corkage fee for your wine in MDR
57. Scooter rental (for handicap use on ship)
58. Tiana's Steamboat Supper Club
59. Private photographer by the hour
60. Canvas and Cocktails event
61. Dole Whip
62. Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
63. Palo Be our Chef experience

 

[coast2coastmickey]

If you are paying $6K for a Dream Cruise are you sailing concierge? At the holidays? Or some special cruise? As PP said gratuities are the plus up but I’m wondering if your particular cruise has an event or other that would drive cost as $6K seems high.

Agreed. Our 4 night Merrytime cruise in Dec 2018, family verandah room, was $2400 for me, wife, and then 18 month old kid.

That said, other than gratuities, we spent money on:
Drinks: $30
Bottled water $40
Ice cream at Vanellope's $10
Photos $100?
Castaway Cay bike rental $26
Souvenir popcorn bucket and a t-shirt: $50
Placeholder for the next cruise: $250

Our upcoming cruise is 7 nights and we're budgeting a LOT more:

$ 336.70	spa day
$ 144.00	nursery
$ 100.00	palo brunch
$ 68.00	snorkel rental
$ 26.00	bike rental
$ 237.00	key west activities
$ 250.00	placeholder
$ 336.00	alcohol
$ 350.00	photos
$ 200.00	misc souvenirs

That's a huge difference for us, $500 vs $2000 from one cruise to the other, but on the 4 night cruise, we felt that there was barely enough time to do all the complimentary stuff that we felt no need to do most of the "extra" stuff like tastings and adult meals. On this 7 night cruise, it has 3 sea days, 2 days Castaway, and 1 day Key west, leaving much more time to do some of the special activities and not miss too much of what we want to do. So as you can see, you can really budget minimally, or you can really spend a good chunk of change.

 

[Dug720]

I just was watching a video regarding DCL.
Just a couple things you may not know.

Room service is free 24 Hours a day.
Cove Cafe Snacks are Free
At the Pub evening snacks are free

And lastly, you can order whatever and as much as you want each night in the Main Dining Rooms. If you want try 2 appetizers, go for it. DH is a big eater and wants 2 Entrees, Go for. Love Dessert! Order it all!
Of course, try not to be wasteful!

Enjoy!

Just to note, Cove Cafe is 18+ only.

However, they offer the same snacks at the Vista Cafe in the atrium on Deck 4 for all ages.

And to clarify, it is only the snacks in Cove or Vista - the drinks have a charge. Also, the pub snacks in the area outside the District Lounge buffet-style are included, but those you order in 687 from a menu have a charge.

 

[smiths02]

If you are paying $6K for a Dream Cruise are you sailing concierge? At the holidays? Or some special cruise? As PP said gratuities are the plus up but I’m wondering if your particular cruise has an event or other that would drive cost as $6K seems high.

Not the OP, but we booked our Dream 4 night (double dip) for June 2018 as soon as we could (opening day for first timers) and the Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah for 2 adults plus child was just at $5,000
So there was no special event or holiday, but it was a double dip over summer

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

Not the OP, but we booked our Dream 4 night (double dip) for June 2018 as soon as we could (opening day for first timers) and the Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah for 2 adults plus child was just at $5,000
So there was no special event or holiday, but it was a double dip over summer

We’ve sailed 2 times as a family of 3 doing concierge @ under $4K in Dec and Jan; upcoming Nov trip for 2 concierge is $7.4K on a 7-day Eastern so those are my ref points. We are doing lots of excursions, on-board activities, and Palo brunch so we are budgeting accordingly.

 

[Mango7100]

Not the OP, but we booked our Dream 4 night (double dip) for June 2018 as soon as we could (opening day for first timers) and the Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah for 2 adults plus child was just at $5,000
So there was no special event or holiday, but it was a double dip over summer

Yup, we did a 5 day double dip in June and it was 5k for our family of 3. I have seen plenty of cruises for a family of 3 at over 6k in the summer...the joys of summer travel

 

[AKL_Megs]

How did you all find such cheap cruises? This is the one we chose: 4 nights; Castaway, Nassau, Castaway. It’s a balcony room. But it’s late June.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Room service is free 24 Hours a day.

Except for sodas and snacks. Those have a charge.

 

[coast2coastmickey]

How did you all find such cheap cruises? This is the one we chose: 4 nights; Castaway, Nassau, Castaway. It’s a balcony room. But it’s late June.

It's the date, probably. Summer is higher, and any cruise with 2 stops at Castaway is higher.

Our upcoming is a 7 night on the Wonder, also with 2 stops at Castaway, but, it leaves 11/29 (black friday) out of Galveston TX. Including the 10% off using last cruise's placeholder, we're paying $5500 for a verandah room (navigator's verandah) for 3 people (me, wife, and 2.5 yo kid).

 

[g_ppetto]

If you are paying $6K for a Dream Cruise are you sailing concierge? At the holidays? Or some special cruise? As PP said gratuities are the plus up but I’m wondering if your particular cruise has an event or other that would drive cost as $6K seems high.

We just booked a 7 night cruise on the Dream for three adults. Without the placeholder the cost was a little over $6K. Not Halloween, not Merrytime, not concierge. Veranda, yes.

@AKL_Megs - you may want to get some snacks to have for the movies or room. The small vending size bags don't take up a lot of room in your bags or backpack. We also bring some bottles of water. Regarding gratuities - we pre-pay gratuities but also have some cash for room service - a $1 per item - we get two coffees and two danish or muffins for while we are getting dressed, moving in the morning. We have found we also give a little more to the room attendent and servers. Plan on some tips for the people that handle your baggage - getting on and off. One guy actually helped me load up our car - he got a bit more.

Consider getting a placeholder while you are on board. The $250 is refundable, and it gets you either a $100 or $200 on board credit, and 10% off cruise fare. You have two years to use it. If not used, it gets refunded.

Look at the ways to save on the boards here and elsewhere that others are using. Some people are using Target for gift cards, we're using Sam's Club. The Costco Executive membership also get you a little more back.

Have fun planning! Hope you have a great cruise!