I feel sick- total cruise amount

[AmandaRG]

Disney Cruise was much more than the Carnival Cruise.

It is a Carnival Cruise, and I was just running the numbers for ALL of the things I had to do, to do this cruise.

If you just figure the CRUISE ONLY

Break down

Fare (3) Adults - 3 Day Bahama Carnival Cruise - Verandah/OB
taxes,fees
trip insurance
tranfsfers from FLL to Port of Miami
(3) Round trip Airline tickets DTW to FLL
Park & Fly Hotel in DTW
Pre-paid Gratuitys
300.00 for the Sail & Sign
Total : $2,624.33

We are doing a 4-night on the Dream over Halloween. 2A2C in a deluxe family oceanview (no verandah, but our room is larger as it includes the v space inside), $2100 + $100 insurance. Gratuities will be around $200 so we are still at ony $2400!

 

[MrsPete]

This is an outrageous amount for a cruise. Here's what we spent for our last cruise on Royal Caribbean:

799 x 6 people -- this was for 3 balcony cabins, an excellent price
400 -- transportation costs
120 -- parking
100 -- 2-room hotel suite for the night before the cruise
490 -- pre-paid gratuities
360 -- excursion on St. Martin
400ish -- drinks onboard

Total: 6,664 for six people, one week cruise -- and this was mid-summer

I just realized that leaves out port taxes, so the actual figure was a little higher.

Places we saved:

We drove to our port -- this was probably our single biggest money-saver.
We used credit card points to buy restaurant gift cards for meals on the road.
We already had a national parks card, and we used that for free admission to the old forts in Puerto Rico.
We long ago gave up buying souveniers.
We left the animals with family and friends, which cost nothing.

 

[alice99]

This is an outrageous amount for a cruise. Here's what we spent for our last cruise on Royal Caribbean:

799 x 6 people -- this was for 3 balcony cabins, an excellent price
400 -- transportation costs
120 -- parking
100 -- 2-room hotel suite for the night before the cruise
490 -- pre-paid gratuities
360 -- excursion on St. Martin
400ish -- drinks onboard

Total: 6,664 for six people, one week cruise -- and this was mid-summer

I just realized that leaves out port taxes, so the actual figure was a little higher.

Places we saved:

We drove to our port -- this was probably our single biggest money-saver.
We used credit card points to buy restaurant gift cards for meals on the road.
We already had a national parks card, and we used that for free admission to the old forts in Puerto Rico.
We long ago gave up buying souveniers.
We left the animals with family and friends, which cost nothing.

Mrs. Pete, This sounds like my kind of vacation! Except my dog is so bad I can't leave her with anyone I like!..... so she goes to the kennel.

 

[GatorMama]

Why are you considering shots for your dogs in the vacation budget? Wouldn't that normally be considered a regular thing? They need shots every year, not just when they're going to be boarded, so *I* wouldn't consider that a vacation cost, just general, good pet owner cost and take it from a different part of your budget. It's not much , but every penny helps, right?

 

[SAtella]

It's very expensive but a wonderful, amazing cruise. My family and I recently went on the Magic for Easter. It was over $6,000 for a family of 3. 7 day cruise but awesome. Disney really knows how to do it. The kids club was fantastic. My 10 yr old son never wanted to come out!

 

[Tigger2ntinkerbell]

GatorMama, I take every good care of my dogs and they have all of their shots, but I you board them they must have a Bordetella shot.


tigger2ntinkerbell

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We are doing a 4-night on the Dream over Halloween. 2A2C in a deluxe family oceanview (no verandah, but our room is larger as it includes the v space inside), $2100 + $100 insurance. Gratuities will be around $200 so we are still at ony $2400!

Yes, but you're not including airfare and OP is. Not fair.

Still, I don't compare DCL to anything else. It's so unique & in a class of its own.

 

[AmandaRG]

Yes, but you're not including airfare and OP is. Not fair.

Still, I don't compare DCL to anything else. It's so unique & in a class of its own.

Sorry, I missed that. I read a post that said "cruise only" and thought that it meant only the cruise portion of the trip. Silly me!

 

[Lumiere Lover]

Remember this cost includes non-alcholic drinks and all you can eat dining, room service, etc.

I know the cost of a Disney cruise is high, but I would never consider cruising with any other company.

For me, the best part of the cruise was Castaway Cay, and you can only get that special private island with Disney.

However, I would never go for longer than 4 nights. I prefer to spend my time at WDW!! Also, try to get an outside cabin with a balcony. It makes the experience awesome!!

 

[bonjoe07]

"They want us to pay 100.00pp for Sail and Sign + 300.00"
not a fixed expense, you will get back any monies that is not spent
We went on Carnival 3 weeks ago, we put $600 on our S&S card, we only spent ~$150 (which includes gratuities)
However we snuck on alcohol to decrease the costs

 

[Patience]

I have cruised both RCCL and Carnival (to Bahamas and to Bermuda). They both are very nice cruise lines and their sales can't be beat. Regarding shore excursions: we did a dolphin swim last year in Freeport and it was AWESOME (and, quite frankly, a LOT less than what people pay for Disney's dolphin encounter). I can't imagine cruising to a another country and not getting off the boat to see the sights but that's just me. The beach excursions are reasonably priced in my opinion. Last year, we were taken to a private beach on Nassau and spent the day relaxing on a gorgeous white sand beach and the cost for the excursion (booked through the cruise line) was $40 per person. We took our kids on the cruises, by the way, and they had a great time. All cruise lines have kids activities.

 

[wdwstar]

charged $150 for canceling DCL charges you $150 each time you cancel or change your cruise ?

 

[MaleficentRN]

charged $150 for canceling DCL charges you $150 each time you cancel or change your cruise ?

The OP's cruise is on Carnival, not Disney.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I have cruised both RCCL and Carnival (to Bahamas and to Bermuda). They both are very nice cruise lines and their sales can't be beat. Regarding shore excursions: we did a dolphin swim last year in Freeport and it was AWESOME (and, quite frankly, a LOT less than what people pay for Disney's dolphin encounter). I can't imagine cruising to a another country and not getting off the boat to see the sights but that's just me. The beach excursions are reasonably priced in my opinion. Last year, we were taken to a private beach on Nassau and spent the day relaxing on a gorgeous white sand beach and the cost for the excursion (booked through the cruise line) was $40 per person. We took our kids on the cruises, by the way, and they had a great time. All cruise lines have kids activities.

That's the difference between other cruise lines & DCL. Most ports we do get off but Nassau is not worth leaving a Disney ship for. It's a dirty, poor, crime-infested, city that happens to be surrounded by pretty water. In fact, it's the only port in all of DCL's itineraries that prompts DCL to print a large safety warning on the front of the daily Navigator warning guests to be aware of surroundings, hide money, cameras, etc. No where else do they do this.

Besides the usual muggings, pickpockets, etc. not long ago a group of RCCL & DCL guests on a Segway excursion were held up at gunpoint, the guide bound & gagged. One Dis-er described his experience while the thug had his boot pressing the man's head against the dirt, gun pressed to his head. Thinking that he'd never see his family again, he recalled how earlier that morning he lauged at the silly people who decided to stay on the ship. We are those "silly" people enjoying a near empty ship.

 

[Patience]

Different strokes for different folks! I don't care if anyone stays onboard the ship. I just said that I couldn't imagine doing that but if that's what makes you happy, go for it! As for me, the world is a big, big place and I want to see it!

 

[TheRatPack]

I know how you feel....we're not doing a cruise but onsite vacation. We paid roughly 3500.00 for the rooms and tickets plus we got 'free' dining. Paying for our TS meals, tips, souvenirs, dog boarding @660, and gas/food on the trip down and back home is another 2900.00!!!

That's not including the 350.00 I've already spent on MNSSHP tickets nor the 250.00 I spent on the welcome basket. Oh and of course we all have to get new socks and undies for our trip....not sure why this has become a tradition LOL and of course the normal travel stuff like snacks, wipes, travel washing powders...etc.

 

[Tiger926]

I know how you feel....we're not doing a cruise but onsite vacation. We paid roughly 3500.00 for the rooms and tickets plus we got 'free' dining. Paying for our TS meals, tips, souvenirs, dog boarding @660, and gas/food on the trip down and back home is another 2900.00!!!

That's not including the 350.00 I've already spent on MNSSHP tickets nor the 250.00 I spent on the welcome basket. Oh and of course we all have to get new socks and undies for our trip....not sure why this has become a tradition LOL and of course the normal travel stuff like snacks, wipes, travel washing powders...etc.

I'm confused...

If you got Free Dining, why do you have to pay for TS meals?

Tiger

 

[TheRatPack]

I'm confused...

If you got Free Dining, why do you have to pay for TS meals?

Tiger

We stay value, we get the QSDP. I've ran the numbers both ways....if we pay the upgrade fee for the regular dining plan we end up paying more with all the extra tips and buying our refillable mugs and extra snacks. There are a few TS meals that we like to do when we're on our vacation.....but we stay 9 days and after all the years on the regular dining plan there are not 9 TS meals that we'd want to schedule. So again...just works out cheaper (by about 100.00) if we pay OOP for our TS meals and go with the QSDP that the Value level hotels offer.

 

[Tiger926]

We stay value, we get the QSDP. I've ran the numbers both ways....if we pay the upgrade fee for the regular dining plan we end up paying more with all the extra tips and buying our refillable mugs and extra snacks. There are a few TS meals that we like to do when we're on our vacation.....but we stay 9 days and after all the years on the regular dining plan there are not 9 TS meals that we'd want to schedule. So again...just works out cheaper (by about 100.00) if we pay OOP for our TS meals and go with the QSDP that the Value level hotels offer.

I'm sorry I wasn't trying to have you justify the dining plan.

Your numbers are over $8,000 for a free dining stay at a value resort, so that seems so high to me for 9 days. Now that you are saying it's QSDP, and no flights (sounds like you are driving), this amount seems so very high to me, but I just realized how expensive dog boarding was, and the other incidentals you have listed. Whew! Sorry, my math was not too sharp there for a second!

Have a fab trip! Tiger

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Being a DVC member allows us to take a cruise for $95 plus airfare= a total of roughly $450 Gotta love DVC