Help! I've never been on a cruise before but thinking about booking for valentines!

[toni nicole]

Does anybody have any insight on how much extra costs there are when it comes to going on a cruise, I'm trying to see how doable this will be! I'm thinking about booking for february 12th for four nights. I see its 600 a person plus taxes etc. but I'm wondering if there's anything else you usually spend on such as parking!

 

[TLovesDisney]

Yes parking right now its $75 at Port Canaveral for a 4-Night cruise. Then tipping is $12 a day per person and it can be pre-paid if you want. Other costs would be if you want to do any excursions, shopping, or alcohol purchases would be extra.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Does anybody have any insight on how much extra costs there are when it comes to going on a cruise, I'm trying to see how doable this will be! I'm thinking about booking for february 12th for four nights. I see its 600 a person plus taxes etc. but I'm wondering if there's anything else you usually spend on such as parking!

Parking, gratuities, photos, spa, nursery, excursions, alcoholic drinks, snacks & drinks from room service, adult dining, internet, porters, room service tips, excursion guide tips = all these cost extra. Many other things, also.

 

[kiford]

Other than the standard $12/person/day tips (and parking I guess), whether or not you spend a lot extra is pretty much controllable by you. We do tend to spend a lot on: drinks, excursions, spa, adult-only dining, internet, snacks. But we don't bother with photos and don't tend to buy souvenirs.

My personal recommendation when doing a 4-day cruise is not to spend the time or money on adult-only dining. Not that we don't love Remy and Palo (we do) but if you're only doing 4 days, it's nice to experience the whole MDR and pirate party night for the first time before substituting Remy or Palo. We did Palo on our first cruise which was four days and we missed Triton's (Wonder). We've never been on the Wonder since and now I wish we hadn't done Palo until our second longer cruise.

 

[PlanoNana]

A lot depends on which cruise you choose, what room category you are happy with and your personal tastes. You can have a great time on a budget and only spend for parking and gratuities but you would have to be VERY disciplined to do that. Or you can spend as much on "extras" as you do on the cruise itself. Some ports are easier to just get off the ship, wander around and window shop. Other ports have interesting excursions that give you a good reason to spend more. We choose to book inside rooms and spend the savings on fun excursions. Only you can decide what's important to you.

 

[Sunshine2U]

4-Day cruise takes you to:
- Castaway Cay - it's possible to spend $0 if you are happy to spend time on the beach, paddling in the shallows and on play structures. There are other free family activities - not much. The buffet lunch is included in the cruise cost. That's what we do and it's fine for us.
- Nassau - You can walk off the ship and walk around, shop, etc. There's a nearby beach where you would spend a little - not as much as an excursion. There's a lot of info on Nassau walking tours and you have time to look. We enjoy getting off the boat for a few hours and then returning in time for lunch. Then we spend the afternoon by the pool when there are fewer people.

I agree that you don't need to eat in the adult-only restaurant. But that's probably the one place I would splurge if on a Valentine's cruise since I'm not much of a drinker. If that doesn't work, choose the late dining option and you will have a (relatively) quieter and more relaxed experience.

As others said, you can control how much and what you spend.

 

[griffindesign]

If you are staying the night before at a hotel, many have park and cruise deals that include parking, or you can use the hotels that offer a 40% discount on port parking. https://www.portcanaveral.com/PortCanaveral/media/Cruise-Assets/Parking-Voucher-Program_3.pdf
Also, if you have your own snorkel equipment, you can snorkel in the snorkel area on castaway cay for free. I agree you should eat dinners in the mdr's so you don't miss anything. You could do a brunch in Palo or Remy on the sea day if you want.

 

[wilkeliza]

It is really up to you on the extras.

We usually do a massage which is about $200 for the couples massage, Palo which would be like $80 including tip for both. Maybe a drink or two. Perhaps an excursion. So for 2 people you can do quite a bit with budgeting 400-600 more. That would cover your tips, an excursion or two, a spa trip, a couple drinks, and any random things you may want.

However, you could do nothing extra only need the 100 to cover tips and still have an absolute wonderful time.

 

[JeanfromBNA]

Couples massage is closer to $400.

I would look at the excursions available for Nassau, either on the DCL website or online, and see what interests you to get an idea of cost.

Alcoholic beverages are not included, nor are special coffee drinks, such as cappuccino.

Tips should be factored in. As someone mentioned, they can be prepaid.

Internet.

Hotel and dinner the night before the cruise.

Transportation to the port if you're not driving, and parking if you are.

Airfare if necessary.

 

[toni nicole]

Couples massage is closer to $400.

I would look at the excursions available for Nassau, either on the DCL website or online, and see what interests you to get an idea of cost.

Alcoholic beverages are not included, nor are special coffee drinks, such as cappuccino.

Tips should be factored in. As someone mentioned, they can be prepaid.

Internet.

Hotel and dinner the night before the cruise.

Transportation to the port if you're not driving, and parking if you are.

Airfare if necessary.

I see a lot saying internet, how much is this? Is it one fee for the whole cruise or by day?

 

[wilkeliza]

Couples massage is closer to $400.

I would look at the excursions available for Nassau, either on the DCL website or online, and see what interests you to get an idea of cost.

Alcoholic beverages are not included, nor are special coffee drinks, such as cappuccino.

Tips should be factored in. As someone mentioned, they can be prepaid.

Internet.

Hotel and dinner the night before the cruise.

Transportation to the port if you're not driving, and parking if you are.

Airfare if necessary.

The base price for a couples Swedish is $242 so with tip it would be about 290.

 

[wilkeliza]

I see a lot saying internet, how much is this? Is it one fee for the whole cruise or by day?

Internet is expensive and not really needed. We only bought internet on 1 of our 4 cruises because we were getting engaged. I had no clue and when I heard my fiance bought the internet package I was actually kind of upset haha. Come to find out he had a good reason for buying it.

You get free 50 mb if you sign up the first day that can be used across the cruise. That is enough to check email here and there.

 

[toni nicole]

do you book excursions in advance online? or is this something you pay for when getting off the ship?

 

[toni nicole]

4-Day cruise takes you to:
- Castaway Cay - it's possible to spend $0 if you are happy to spend time on the beach, paddling in the shallows and on play structures. There are other free family activities - not much. The buffet lunch is included in the cruise cost. That's what we do and it's fine for us.
- Nassau - You can walk off the ship and walk around, shop, etc. There's a nearby beach where you would spend a little - not as much as an excursion. There's a lot of info on Nassau walking tours and you have time to look. We enjoy getting off the boat for a few hours and then returning in time for lunch. Then we spend the afternoon by the pool when there are fewer people.

I agree that you don't need to eat in the adult-only restaurant. But that's probably the one place I would splurge if on a Valentine's cruise since I'm not much of a drinker. If that doesn't work, choose the late dining option and you will have a (relatively) quieter and more relaxed experience.

As others said, you can control how much and what you spend.

This is how we will end up doing it! Thanks so much!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

do you book excursions in advance online? or is this something you pay for when getting off the ship?

We book the excursion we are interested in during our booking window pre-cruise. That way, I know we've got them. The charge for the excursions (on DCL) is added to your onboard account on the first day of the cruise.

If you've backed up your account with a credit card, when the account reaches a certain limit (various by cruise) your credit card will be charged. Could be during the cruise, or at the end of the cruise, depending on how much you charge to your account.

 

[toni nicole]

I will probably not be able to book until around November 15th for a February 12th cruise, is booking this late going to have any repercussions?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I will probably not be able to book until around November 15th for a February 12th cruise, is booking this late going to have any repercussions?

Well, the prices will be higher than if you book now. And the room selections may be limited.

 

[toni nicole]

For the 4 day to nassau, are passports required?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

For the 4 day to nassau, are passports required?

Passports are best.

But, for US citizens on a closed loop cruise (begins and ends in the same US port), the minimum requirement for traveling (currently) is a birth certificate (not the hospital one) and (for those 16 and over) a government issued photo ID.