$$ How much do you bring?

[Kimnicki]

We're a family of 4 going on the 7 night Eastern. We're not doing any excursions, but we will be doing the beaches on our own. Hopefully DH and I will be dining at Palo and treat ourselves to a couples massage. We're not big drinkers but I'm sure we'll treat ourselves to a few drinks. Having said that, how do you handle YOUR money. Do you bring a certain amount of cash or travelers checks? We'll be using our VISA/Debit card for our onboard account. Either way, it's out of our personal checking account. Do you recommend that we just bring cash? If so, how much! I've budgeted $2000 to be safe even though I'm hoping not to use it all!

Thanks for you help!

Kim

 

[wide awake]

We used our debit card and that worked fine. The three of us spent $1320 for the 7 day Western which included excursions and drinks but no spa services or pictures. My DH and I each had $100 cash which we used for laundry and purchases at the ports. I am budgeting the same for this year, and will again use my debit card.

 

[kcashner]

Well, every family is different....but I don't like to carry a lot of cash. I carry about $200 in real cash, and about $500 in traveller's cheques. Everything that can be put on the credit card (shipboard account) goes there. The reason for cash is small tips (room service), and the fact that if you do any shopping on the islands, you can bargain a bit if you have cash. Also, need cash for taxi and beach admissions on some islands. I don't take much cash when I go on shore, but always want like 50-100. If I run out of cash, I can cash a trav. cheque at Guest Services.

We tend to spend very little on cruise....but do a few "fun" things. On board, I put everything on the KTTW card and let them bill it at the end.

 

[GenieDana]

On ship, you will not need cash as everthing can be put on your stateroom account and taken care of later before debarkation. You can settle with cash, credit card or your travelers checks.

If you go onshore, most places will accept major credit cards and of course, cash. Travelers checks work too, but are a little less convenient (but safe if 2-signature checks).

Personally, we used our credit cards and cash. Unless you have already done so, don't sign the back of your credit cards; instead write SEE PICTURE ID in the signature block.

Learned this lesson the hard way (kind of), had a card number stolen and used by a crime ring to run up a huge debt in cash advances. Fortunately for me, in Florida you are only liable for the first $50 in case of fraud, which the credit card issuer forgave, and the police caught the criminals.

 

[mrsfuzzmo]

We usually budget about $100/day for the both of us. That is in addition to what we put on our credit card on board. (KTTW-Spa, excursions, cocktails, tips, bingo, etc. etc.). BUT we are also a couple with no kids and we really enjoy doing EVERYTHING we desire on vacation. We believe in the word "vacation" and treat the week as such. So when we go into a port, we eat, drink and spend the entire day on land. We don't go back to the ship for meals. Some of our best meals have been eaten at "local" bistros on islands! So we take a little more cash than most folks.

 

[jlp651]

WoW! Everytime I read these things I think I'm bringing too much money...but as the above poster stated...ITS VACATION!!!!
Here's my preliminary plan...
$50.00 in singles for tips and such
$200.00 in cash small bills
$1750.00 in Travelers Cheques (double signatures)

Total $2000.00

We also have some Disney Dollars to use...

We will be at the park for 3 days prior to our 4 day cruise...We plan on using our DD's first and getting rid of them...we're going to put $$$ on our KTTW card and just use that...that way there willl not be any $$$ on our credit cards. No bills to come home to!

There are only 2 of us...but we have total 600.00 $ in excursions (dolphin encounter and parasailing) I'm guessing we'll use about 100.00 $ a day if not less...(hoping less-I'm guessing so)

We'll see...I plan on keeping a detailed budget in my journal while we are way so that we can report back when we return...

 

[AmyM]

Don't forget to budget $$$ for rebooking while on board

 

[LAMPSKIES]

We spent 2335.00 on our ship tab on our Nov. 03 Eastern sailing. Myself, DW and Dd's 13 and 11. One spa, one Golden Eagle Catamaran, drinks and tips. We generally spend between 300.00 to 400.00 per day between our land/sea cruises. I took about 1500.00 in cash also. Yep, DW and DD's had no trouble spending it.

 

[dianthus]

$2000 sounds fine without excursions, or a great deal of port shopping. Bring a credit card as back up if your plans change during the cruise.

Word of warning- watch the pictures in Shutters. It is easy to run up a very high bill, as they are all so good! You'll want to bring them all home!

Have fun!

~ Linda

 

[MarkLem]

we spent $1900 on the 7 day western (2 adults, 8, 6, 3 yearolds). Dolphin excursion on Cozumel was $300+, tips, spa, wine tasting, drinks, misc, Palo's. It's amazing how it adds up!

 

[MrsPete]

Don't forget to take plenty of one dollar bills. I always seem to forget that!

 

[disneygal58]

To those among us on a tighter budget - not to worry. We have sailed on the 7 night(myself and two teenaged daughters) and spent no more than $500 by the week's end. I work in a spa and live in a tropical climate, therefore can forgo most spa treatments as I am lucky enough to enjoy them at home on a regular basis (except for the Rainforest Room, of course - can't pass that up) and have access to the beach almost year round. The Magic, herself is our ultimate destination.
If you scrimped and saved just to get there you needn't worry about having to spend beyond your means to have the most amazing vacation available to you.
Enjoy,
Dawn Hope

 

[kcashner]

Dawn, I'll echo what you've said. Spending on the Magic can be as much or as little as you like. You can have a wonderful time and spend very little. The only thing that I consider mandatory is at least the suggested tip amount. Anything else is negotiable. You can save a small fortune by taking your own photos! We limit smoothies and don't do sodas outside of the dining rooms. There's plenty to do on/off the ship without spending much money.

 

[disneygal58]

Exactly. I don't want people to think that they must incur a large expense beyond the initial investment. If this is a once in a lifetime adventure and you want to partake in shore excursions at every port, visit the spa daily and pick up the tab for the gang in the clubs every night - go for it. If that isn't feasible, don't forgo the cruise or feel as though you are missing out on anything. I splurge on the occassional Bahama Mama, make sure our dining staff is tipped WELL (I, too rely on tips to supplement my income) and spend alot of time on the heated tile loungers in the Rainforest Room.
Perhaps I've been a single mom for too long - budget is my middle name. And the fact that we try to sail twice a year - one 7 night and one 4 night has an impact on our spending.

Enjoy,
Dawn

 

[Kimnicki]

Thanks everyone for your help...it's much appreciated . I feel better seeing what everyone else does. Hopefully I can fall somewhere in the middle!


Kim

 

[mmouse37]

There was a Dis'er last year that posted she spent less than $100 for the entire week (not including tips). She and her child each had a few beverages and some low priced souvies.

It was pretty amazing but she did it!!!She said they had a ball and did not feel the need to have to spend big bucks to have a good time!!

MJ

 

[jrabbit]

For us for seven nights (western)
Tips - See DCL guideline for minimum (can't find it right now)
Excursions through DCL (2 excursions average $60/person/excursion)
Beach Day on own for family $75
Shutters $200
Shopping $200
drinks $50

Not extravagant, but a lot of fun. We don't do the spa and we really don't drink much and we don't feel like we miss anything.

Vacation with family in the warm caribbean...Priceless

 

[PenskeSth1]

There are 4 of us in our family and we spent $2100 on our 7 day Eastern end of Nov. We did no excursions except at CC. DH spent alot playing bingo though. We did buy the 15 picture pkg. with the add on. We also rented a jeep in St. Maarten.Hit a couple jewelry stores in St. Thomas. Spent alot on souvenirs(spelling) though. DH went down to GS every night and paid on our account. We hand delivered our tips to appropriate CM's in person. We don't drink so there was no bar tab. Wish their was another cruise in our near future.

 

[kjw86ca]

Wow. I can't believe some of you spent like $2000. To be COMPLETELY honest, on the ship, we only spent like $50.00.

The cruise for us was a last minute thing. We talked about it, decided to do it, and like 3 weeks later we were on the Disney Wonder.

Like I said, we spent about $50.00 on the ship. We didn't eat anything that wasn't free. We don't drink, so all the drinks were free, also.

As for pictures, we didn't buy any from Shutters. What we did, was everytime they took a picture of us, we gave another crew member OUR camera, and they took the same picture with ours.

We did do a shore excursion which I didn't count into the $50.00. I don't remember how much it was but we went to the Atlantis hotel and did the aquarium tour and all that.

-Kyle

 

[jlp651]

wow wish BF would just up and leave for a 3 dya cruise -just for kicks...my guy is too calculated...he would never do something like that...but maybe after this one he'll wanna do more!!! After all -this is his first adult vacation!!!