How much do you spend

[CAMICKEY]

Based on previous cruises, we expect to spend anywhere from 1800 to 2,000 for the three of us on the 7 day cruise besides the cost of the cruise and the REAS package. (excursions, tips, souvenirs and drinks). - Mike

 

[professorandmom]

Cheapmom- one expense that is a tough one to miss is the snorkling equip on CC - we are from Indiana so buying it was silly - and this was the best money I spent! (But I had three kids so cost was x3)
Your palo tip will be more than $5 since most people tip based on the value of the dinner
Good luck with the arcade - be firm!
Barbara

 

[karebear1]

OMG!!! Now I really appreciate the fact that I don't drink! I never realized how expensive drinking could be!

 

[HLFDZN]

My bill was just around $1000 for a family of 8. HOWEVER, all the kids had their own money and paid for their own stuff. I picked up the excursion on Nassau, and spent about $200 on pictures. Hubby and I don't drink a whole lot, but enjoy a beer every now and then. We brought a 12 pack for each of us and some pop for the kids ( which went untouched).

The stateroom attendent kept my collapsable cooler full of ice after I tipped him the first day a little extra. I left behind about 5 beers of each and most of the pop.

The kids each had saved lunch money all year to have spending accounts with the most being $140.00, plus they each got Disney Dollars for Christmas from my sister. One son spent $59.03 the first day in the arcade and cut himself off from spending after that. They were all very good when it came to charging. Nobody spent more than they brought. Youngest child is 9 and oldest is 17. Have fun!! Melissa

 

[MrsPete]

Remember: more money doesn't mean more fun. As someone else said, it's very possible to walk off the ship without paying anything extra (other than tips).

Drinks -- bring your alcohol and sodas, drink the very good free drinks, book through AAA to get free soda mugs.

Excursions -- very nice -- they're the last thing I'd cut from the budget, but if money's scarce, you could do without them.

Pictures -- very nice and a weak point of mine! But the bottom line is that you probably own a camera and can take pretty good pictures yourself!

Arcade -- I don't get the point of going on an expensive cruise and staying inside a game room identical to the one at the local mall. I'm shocked by the previous poster whose daughter spent $200 in the arcade! I'd have done more than "talk" to her -- I'd have explained the concept of repayment through slave labor. $200 would buy a nice hand-held video game (plus some games) that she could keep!

Spa -- I'm sure it's nice, but it's not my thing.

I'd say that going on a cruise is kind of like raising children: you can do it as cheaply or as expensively as you choose, and the end result won't be significantly different.

 

[DaddyDisney]

WOW! Thanks to everyone for all the great information. I will have a minor "discussion" tonight and then let them set up their rules before we go; with our blessings. Both our kids have some jobs here and there were they earn money so I have been telling them to save up for the things they want. We'l lhave $50 in shpiboard credit from charging through the Disney Visa card and a $100 credit our AAA TA got us, plus any disney dollars we build up on the Visa. Normally, I'm a consevatiove guy, but I want everyone to have a great time and do what they want. DD has already booked a swim with the dolphins and DW and I will do the massage for sure.
Thanks agin to evryone for the great suggesstions!

 

[professorandmom]

To spend almost nothing, there are several assumptions (besides the obvious, no spa, no excursions):

no alcohol with meals - if you bring your own wine there is a good chance you will be charged a corking fee of $15 (of course, not drinking is certainly an option)

no palos - ooo to miss this, well OK

bringing your own floats and snorkle gear to CC, might not be that easy and still costs something

the picture at CC with Mickey and the ship in the background (which now sits on my desk at work) was, I think, $10 and worth every penny

you must press your own clothes - the $12 I spent (for pressing service only) was worth the hour (at least) I would have spent in the laundry room

Just my opinion - I am frugal - cheese platter in ziploc at the shows, room service cookies and bagged chips from plutos at the movies, etc...but there are some things that cost money on the cruise that cannot be avoided unless you go without.
Barbara

 

[professorandmom]

BTW DaddyDisney - don't forget to reserve your CC rentals on board in order to get the AAA discount (once on the island there is no discount) and if you decide to try for the shop discount, put together all your purchases in one trip to meet the minimum spending amount.
Also, those AAA mugs work great for ice water since they are insulated - keeps one away from the tempting, icy water bottles!
Barbara

 

[geffric]

We just got off the 3/20 7 day and we had set rules for the kids way before we leaft for the cruise..

Arcade was their money, I explained that I paid for the cruise and the excursions..

Smooties - the kids were limited to 1 per day, if they wanted more they could have it but them they need to pay for it.. BTW DH showed them how to make a " shake' by getting ice cream and chocolate sauce at scoops and mixing it with milk..

We brought our own soda/ wine on the ship... I am a diet sprite or 7up drinker and the boat does not have diet and caffine free pop.

We had a glass of wine at dinner..went to Palo's and enjoyed our vacation but we limited what we spend by bringing some fo our own..

 

[LAMPSKIES]

We just did the 7 night Eastern Nov. 30, 03 (our 3rd sailing). It's myself DW and DDs 13 and 11. They had "live" KTTW cards. We did shore excursions, drank many beers and mixed drinks, spa treatment, bingo, unlimited soda mugs, unlimited internet etc......let's say we just didn't worry about what we were spending. Each of the three sailings it came to 300.00 per day average. Some days at sea are lessexpensive than the days of excursions.........put it on the gold card and worry about it in 30 days.....isn't that the American way??? LOL

 

[MommaluvsDis]

We haven't done our Disney Cruise yet but were surprised at how little we'd spent on our Carnival 5 day last year! We put our DS, 15 at the time, on $20.00 a day arcade limit. This was a special treat "gift" to him. He didn't use it most of the time because the teens were always doing different activities.

DH and I enjoyed a few drinks of the day, but not many. I would suggest that you purchase a couple of the photos of your family that really bring a smile to your face. Otherwise, you'll regret it later. You don't need to buy everything they snap! Otherwise, you'd go broke on just the pictures.

We spent $816 for the 3 of us on the 5 day and that included tips, shore excursions, a couple of photos, a few drinks, a couple souviners, 3 arcade trips, and a few rounds at the slot machines on the Carnival ship Jubilee! We had a blast and didn't have to mortgage the farm to pay for it!

Keep in ming that there is SO MUCH that is already included in your cruise price that I think you could be quite happy on a very small budget.

 

[christinou]

On our February 7 day cruise, 4 of us DD 6 and 8 we spent $1,200 and that included a visit to the doctor for an ear infection as well as internet service. Our biggest expense was tips, we also had a premium wine package, we did not deprive ourselves at all......
we did Palo for brunch and dinner. We did not buy any pictures, and only had 2 excursions for my husband who went diving, the kids and I just went to a beach on our own.
So yes, you can keep your expenses down....

 

[62travelDisney]

We probably spent about $1,000 for a family of 6 but I really think it's possible to spend very little if you're on a tight budget or frugal. If you don't do any extra's like spa treatments, don't buy souveniers, give kids a very small arcade budget, do excursions on your own (we rented a van on St. Martin for under $100 and had a blast exploring the island alone), bring your own wine and spirits, you will be very happy to see a small bill at the end of the cruise.