I am trying to have a comprehensive budget.

[katyringo]

When we plan our Disney parks budget I can go into the parks app and basically see the prices of everything. One of my bigggest complaints about planning this cruise is not being able to find these things easily. Thankfully some concierge folks in our cruise facebook have been posting some things.

I am really looking for the unexpected things. I am posting what I have planned so far for budget (does not include travel costs, etc- just for the cruise) and I wouldn't mind some critiques.

We are on the magic for 7 nights

400 pre-paid gratuity (4 people 7night cruise)
900 spa (we are planning to do the couples villa and my husband a single massage- I took the prices posted on Facebook and added 18%)
150 1 length of cruise rainforest room for mom
300 photo package
200 excursions (we only plan on booking snorkeling at castaway. Maybe light house. Not getting off boat it Nassau)
100 in additional gratuity brought in cash (room service, etc).
100 extra food/drinks (we do not drink alcohol- but I do iced coffee. Will bring hubby's beloved Mountain Dew on board)
500 shopping "other" (we are very familiar with Disney merch prices.. this will be the budgeted amount.. but we know if we see something we can be flexible to a point)


Our goal with the cruise is to splurge a little - but try to relax and enjoy the boat as is.

 

[iloveeeyore]

Great budget!

Is a friend/relative driving you to and from the port for free? If not, you'll need to add either parking or transport costs.

Enjoy your cruise on the beautiful Magic!

 

[Travel60]

Wow, we cruise fairly often and usually our only bill is for the tips. Occasionally an excursion if something we haven't done before. The rest really adds up!

 

[dreamer17555]

Anyone in your group play Bingo? That adds up quickly.

You might also find out once onboard you wish to add more to the prepaid tips- you do not have to but the service on DCL is amazing and you might be moved to give more.

Did you add 18% to the price for the rainforest room as well? It has an automatic 18% gratuity added.

If not doing a snorkel excursion all the reviews I have seen said to skip it at Lighthouse Point but the snorkel excursions at LP have great reviews but would be higher than $200 for 4 people

 

[holula]

Wow, we cruise fairly often and usually our only bill is for the tips. Occasionally an excursion if something we haven't done before. The rest really adds up!

Same, I’m a tips + some merch but I cruise so often that there is rarely anything new + occasional drink kind of girl. But then I remember what I spent on my first cruise and yeah, I feel the OP preparing for that bill!

 

[CamColt]

Do you do laundry on board? If so, that is an added charge.
Any adult dining or is that included in the 100 for extra food drinks?

 

[katyringo]

Do you do laundry on board? If so, that is an added charge.
Any adult dining or is that included in the 100 for extra food drinks?

We don't plan to eat at Palo. Doubt as first timers we can get brunch and not willing to give up any night in main dinning.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

If you want to, internet access can run up a charge. We get the midgrade service at $24/per device/per day.

 

[Cfabar1]

For what it is worth, we have never been able to find $500 worth of merchandise we have wanted to purchase on board a Disney cruise. I don’t think we ever have spent even $200 on DCL merchandise…

Regarding the photos, unless you know you’re going to be a photo person, not sure you need it. We have done it now because of kids meet and greets, etc. However, they can be quite nice with letting people take photos with iPhones etc. so really up to you.

 

[Calantha]

For what it is worth, we have never been able to find $500 worth of merchandise we have wanted to purchase on board a Disney cruise. I don’t think we ever have spent even $200 on DCL merchandise…

We spent a lot of money in the shops when we sailed the Wish during the Inaugural Season - but still not quite $500. I've bought a lot on Castaway a time or two as well (especially when they have new dresses and matching shirts for the family).

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

When we plan our Disney parks budget I can go into the parks app and basically see the prices of everything. One of my bigggest complaints about planning this cruise is not being able to find these things easily. Thankfully some concierge folks in our cruise facebook have been posting some things.

I am really looking for the unexpected things. I am posting what I have planned so far for budget (does not include travel costs, etc- just for the cruise) and I wouldn't mind some critiques.

We are on the magic for 7 nights

400 pre-paid gratuity (4 people 7night cruise)
900 spa (we are planning to do the couples villa and my husband a single massage- I took the prices posted on Facebook and added 18%)
150 1 length of cruise rainforest room for mom
300 photo package
200 excursions (we only plan on booking snorkeling at castaway. Maybe light house. Not getting off boat it Nassau)
100 in additional gratuity brought in cash (room service, etc).
100 extra food/drinks (we do not drink alcohol- but I do iced coffee. Will bring hubby's beloved Mountain Dew on board)
500 shopping "other" (we are very familiar with Disney merch prices.. this will be the budgeted amount.. but we know if we see something we can be flexible to a point)


Our goal with the cruise is to splurge a little - but try to relax and enjoy the boat as is.

I would add another $500 to book 2 placeholders. They are $250 each and it allows you to book a future stateroom at 10% off the pretax portion of your next cruise. You have exactly 2 years to use it.

Unless you hate your cruise, you will want to sail again. Even if you easily fit in 1 stateroom, we always like to buy the 2nd placeholder in case friends or family want to cruise together. We'll be doing this in April with friends. They get the discount too and then pay me back for the $250 I originally paid for their placeholder.
If no one cruises with us, it gets cancelled and the $250 goes toward a future cruise.

Once you leave the ship, there is no way to buy placeholders.

 

[Cfabar1]

I would add another $500 to book 2 placeholders. They are $250 each and it allows you to book a future stateroom at 10% off the pretax portion of your next cruise. You have exactly 2 years to use it.

Unless you hate your cruise, you will want to sail again. Even if you easily fit in 1 stateroom, we always like to buy the 2nd placeholder in case friends or family want to cruise together. We'll be doing this in April with friends. They get the discount too and then pay me back for the $250 I originally paid for their placeholder.
If no one cruises with us, it gets cancelled and the $250 goes toward a future cruise.

Once you leave the ship, there is no way to buy placeholders.

great advice... we just cancelled a placeholder and regretted it... don't let them cancel!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

great advice... we just cancelled a placeholder and regretted it... don't let them cancel!

Yes! Move the date but don't cancel. The discount is attached to the confirmation #.
Just another lesson in life...

 

[sponica]

Any visits to the BBB planned (for either a Pirates Makeover or a princess makeover?)

 

[katyringo]

Any visits to the BBB planned (for either a Pirates Makeover or a princess makeover?)

I've been back and forth on BBB and/or royal tea. My 8 year old girl has been a princess die hard for several years. I do think we are on the tail end of the princess love now. Which makes me considering booking one even more. I am going to try for the Royal gathering free option.

We've never done BBB in the parks so I am tempted to give her that expirence. But we did do Disneyland's pricesss adventure breakfasts which was probably one of our top 3 Disney experiences of all time. (Seriously it might be number 1) We did a makeover in our room beforehand and dressed for the occasion. It seems the royal tea is similar -but gets mixed reviewes compared to princess breakfast adventure which seems to typically have very positive reviews.

The cost of BBB is my struggle. I have gifted her a new repunzel dress and we plan to do a makeover in the room before dinner at repunzel table one night..

 

[katyringo]

I would add another $500 to book 2 placeholders. They are $250 each and it allows you to book a future stateroom at 10% off the pretax portion of your next cruise. You have exactly 2 years to use it.

Unless you hate your cruise, you will want to sail again. Even if you easily fit in 1 stateroom, we always like to buy the 2nd placeholder in case friends or family want to cruise together. We'll be doing this in April with friends. They get the discount too and then pay me back for the $250 I originally paid for their placeholder.
If no one cruises with us, it gets cancelled and the $250 goes toward a future cruise.

Once you leave the ship, there is no way to buy placeholders.

Thank you for reminding me. I need to talk to husband about this option so it isn't a day of decisions. We don't plan to cruise again within 2 years however may feel differently after the experience.

 

[tvguy]

I will defer to others. Your budget is heavy on on ship expenses that we never do, and light on excursions, which we do. I had no idea spa services were sooooooo expensive!

 

[katyringo]

I will defer to others. Your budget is heavy on on ship expenses that we never do, and light on excursions, which we do. I had no idea spa services were sooooooo expensive!

Yes- the cost is surprising. In defense we are choosing the most expensive service by wanting to do the couples villa option which is more that a massage but also includes a private balcony and hot tub time. We aren't doing excursions because we really want to enjoy the private islands and soak in their details and not feel rushed.

 

[sponica]

I've been back and forth on BBB and/or royal tea. My 8 year old girl has been a princess die hard for several years. I do think we are on the tail end of the princess love now. Which makes me considering booking one even more. I am going to try for the Royal gathering free option.

We've never done BBB in the parks so I am tempted to give her that expirence. But we did do Disneyland's pricesss adventure breakfasts which was probably one of our top 3 Disney experiences of all time. (Seriously it might be number 1) We did a makeover in our room beforehand and dressed for the occasion. It seems the royal tea is similar -but gets mixed reviewes compared to princess breakfast adventure which seems to typically have very positive reviews.

The cost of BBB is my struggle. I have gifted her a new repunzel dress and we plan to do a makeover in the room before dinner at repunzel table one night..

Yeah I need to remember to pack my own dress next time, we did the one without the dress because it was the last day of vacation and I didn't want to pay for the full package. But I am absolutely useless with makeup so the makeover itself is worth it for me.

 

[CruizyWoozy]

Anyone in your group play Bingo? That adds up quickly.

You might also find out once onboard you wish to add more to the prepaid tips- you do not have to but the service on DCL is amazing and you might be moved to give more.

Did you add 18% to the price for the rainforest room as well? It has an automatic 18% gratuity added.

If not doing a snorkel excursion all the reviews I have seen said to skip it at Lighthouse Point but the snorkel excursions at LP have great reviews but would be higher than $200 for 4 people

FYI, I just got off the Magic and they are no longer charging the automatic 18% gratuity for the Rainforest Room.