How much to budget on a 4 night cruise?

[Minybear]

We should be on the Wonder for 1/26/03 and I was just wondering how much should I budget spending on the ship? We do not drink alcholic beverages. Just soda. This is just going to be 2 adults (no children).

We are also planning on taking 2 excursions the Dolphin Encounter and the kayaking tour in Freemont. Do we tip the tour guide?

I am just wondering if there is any unexpected charges on board. I don't want to be surprised.

 

[ncligs]

Minnybear,
Very good question, we are also going on our 1st cruise(Feb 2004) on the Wonder.Neither one of us drink alcohol either.Hopefully we will get some answers from the cruise experts.

 

[DISNEYGATOR]

I don't know if you consider tips an unexpected expense, or at least one that you didn't budget, but I think the suggested tips for a 4 day cruise would add up to about $42, I tipped higher then that last time.. it ended up being about an extra $20, but worth it I think... Also keep in mind room service tipping isn't included (we tipped $3-4 depending on what we ordered)

Some unplanned expenses would be:
Spa treatments... they can range anywhere from around ($15 Rainforest Room, to almost $200 a pop)... I did Rainforest last time, you get unlimited one day access to various saunas and showers... We did it during our freeport day--its the cheap way to pamper yourself

Also, any sodas other then the ones you get at dinner will cost you... I think like $2.50 plus a automatic 15% tip..., if you drink a lot of soda, you can get a refill mug for $10, or if you want bring your own to avoid this cost... Alcoholic beverages depend on what you get, I always got the special, and it was usually under $5 (plus the automatic 15%).

Photos... they are always taking your pics, and you have the option to buy them.. they have package deals, but they are pretty pricey, and personally I would have been stretching to try to get the 10 pics for the package... I bought one nice one. Then I just asked the photographer to take a pic with my camera after they took one with the DCL camera.. I ended up with all the same pics in the end, worked out great!

merchandise/shopping... that's totally up to you...I just bought a few little things..

Finally... there are excursions... they would be an additional cost. I did the snorkeling and that was it, so it was around $25. But they range from $25 to $200.. and then some.

So it's up to you, you could get on board and just pay tips.. or you could spend a fortune.. but there are definitely ways to enjoy yourself, and still not spend a lot. I think including tips I spent about $150 bucks on my last 4 day cruise. And I didn't feel deprived at all.. did snorkeling, rainforest, had a few drinks, bought some stuff, and tipped well too. I can't think of any other expenses really.

 

[DopeysGal]

I agree with Disneygator...I spent about $300 on my son and I on the 4 day Wonder and I didn't feel deprived of anything. I had a massage at Castaway Cay, a glass of wine every night with dinner, played bingo a few times, bought 4 photos and purchased a few things in the gift shops. Our only excursion was cancelled due to rain on Nassau so we took a cab to Atlantis for lunch ($8 I think, each way) and had lunch, about $20. I'm sure you can spend much more but as far as the costs being "hidden", you pretty much know what stuff costs before you buy and can budget that way. On top of tips for your cruise staff and room service, I would tip a tour operator. Hope this helps.

 

[Minybear]

Thanks DISNEYGATOR and DopeysGal

I guess I would also budget about $300 - $400 including tips, souveners, photos, drinks etc. for our upcoming trip.

Nick and Cindy I hope this info helps both of you also for your first cruise in 2/2004.

Thanks

Cindy

PS Cindy and Nick where are you getting that nice smiley face underwater? That is so cute.

 

[ncligs]

Thanks for the tips everybody.

Minybear sent you a PM and e-mail.

 

[sistert]

Thanks from me too! This will be our first cruise and I was wondering how much to expect as well. We only plan on one excursion (the kayaking at Freeport) and an occasional drink on board (neither of us are big drinkers -alcohol or soda). The beverage bar on Deck 9 and water will do me fine otherwise.

This is going to be so great!