How much on FE gifts?

[dreamer17555]

Curious - how much do you spend per person in a cabin on Fish Extender gifts?

 

[scrappinginontario]

There is no 'right' answer to this and it varies greatly by person. One of the deciding factors for us is how many cabins are in our group. When we had 20 in our group I spent less than when each group was only 5 cabins. I loved the smaller group and being able to spend more per cabin.

 

[dreamer17555]

I wasn’t looking for a right answer. I was just trying to see what the average is in the group.

I think I’m averaging $10-15 per person (multiple people in each cabin) so a cabin of 4 is costing $40-60. We have 4 cabins in my upcoming group with as few as 2 ppl in some, and 5 in others.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Did your group set a limit or recommendation?

 

[AZMermaid]

I spend $10ish a person. No idea if I’m average, lol! I will Say the last few times I felt like el cheapo! We started doing the kid only ones because I felt like I couldn’t keep up.

 

[dreamer17555]

Did your group set a limit or recommendation?

I have cruised DCL quite a bit (13 since 2020) and I have never seen a $ recommendation or limit ever in a FE exchange. Occasionally you will get posters who ask and they are told no $ amount just to give what you would like to receive.

 

[dcassetta]

I wasn’t looking for a right answer. I was just trying to see what the average is in the group.

I think I’m averaging $10-15 per person (multiple people in each cabin) so a cabin of 4 is costing $40-60. We have 4 cabins in my upcoming group with as few as 2 ppl in some, and 5 in others.

We no longer do FE because of this kind of expense. I understand your desire to do something nice for people, but $60 on people that I do not know, will never see again, and may not even want the things I gave them seems like a lot to me. I don’t think I ever spent more than maybe $10 a cabin, and I think it was probably a lot less than that.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Curious - how much do you spend per person in a cabin on Fish Extender gifts?

I can't give you a dollar amount. I've created my own FE gifts in the past. Things I like to make and give.

Some FE groups set a dollar limit (minimum or maximum).

For me, $10 per person is just too much, but I've been involved in some fairly large FE groups.

Fish Extender gifts were started as a fun thing to enhance people's cruises. I'm saddened by the change to the one ups-man-ship involved now. Gifts used to be given anonymously, but now, many groups require names or some other identity info so you can figure out who gave the "best" gift.

 

[dreamer17555]

I can't give you a dollar amount. I've created my own FE gifts in the past. Things I like to make and give.

Some FE groups set a dollar limit (minimum or maximum).

For me, $10 per person is just too much, but I've been involved in some fairly large FE groups.

Fish Extender gifts were started as a fun thing to enhance people's cruises. I'm saddened by the change to the one ups-man-ship involved now. Gifts used to be given anonymously, but now, many groups require names or some other identity info so you can figure out who gave the "best" gift.

Even making things is really expensive nowadays. Supplies are not cheap and your time is valuable as well. I love to craft, but it is not a cheap hobby.

I don’t think the identifiers are about making sure you know who gave the best gift as much as making sure people don’t sign up for fish extenders, and then not actually bring gifts. This does happen occasionally, where people clearly sign up just to receive with no intention of giving.

I know I am definitely not out here trying to one up anybody I’m just trying not to feel like I didn’t do my part. We have received some really amazing gifts over the years. And I often feel like I’m the one under gifting.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

I don’t think the identifiers are about making sure you know who gave the best gift as much as making sure people don’t sign up for fish extenders, and then not actually bring gifts. This does happen occasionally, where people clearly sign up just to receive with no intention of giving.

This happened to me on my last cruise. I no longer do the FE exchange but I do the magnet exchange. I was in a small group, me and 3 other rooms. I only received one magnet back. I did give them the benefit of doubt and think maybe the magnets were stolen, but when I posted in the cruise group after the cruise, one room said they "forgot" and the other room didnt respond, even though they were active in the group.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I don’t think the identifiers are about making sure you know who gave the best gift as much as making sure people don’t sign up for fish extenders, and then not actually bring gifts.

It's been reported in the past that people, after they've returned from their cruise, have called out others in their FE groups (on other social sites) for giving "cheap gifts".

 

[dreamer17555]

It's been reported in the past that people, after they've returned from their cruise, have called out others in their FE groups (on other social sites) for giving "cheap gifts".

I have seen people call out each other and I am not a fan of it. It is unkind. That being said it is a good idea to have a 'from' so everyone can track who is actively participating. I would never personally blast someone on gifts given but I am not of fan of those who sign up and then receive without gifting in return (even then I wouldn't name names but it has happened).