Is everyone that cruises with DCL rich?

[orlandothebeagle]

I think I've heard it said that as a rule of thumb you should spend only 1-2 weeks salary on a vacation.

Probably shouldn't spend anything unless you're clear of credit card debt and have 1-2 months emergency savings.

Sorry for the bad news!

More like 1-2 months, Im serious by the way!

 

[HFC1969]

This is a fun thread to read..


I still stick by the motto.... The memories our family has made on DCL is priceless.

 

[Figment_Fan]

Last week, before arriving in St. Thomas, I told DH he needed to buy me a fancy ring when we were in port. I have a simple band and told him he'd get more bang for his buck there. He wasn't sure if I was serious and then I laughed and said, "You just keep saying 'yes' to these Disney cruises and we'll call it even! I would rather cruise than wear a cruise on my finger." So, I am with your wife.

It used to be that if you buy a piece of jewelry, you had to pay the duty/import costs of its value. However, if you bought an unset stone, even if worth a lot of money, customes considered it a "rock" and no fees were assessed against it. If this is still true, maybe talk DH into buying an unset stone and then get a setting when you get home. Luckily, there are not taxes on the memories.

 

[CastawayJP]

We do all of our vacations without the use of credit cards, and we save like crazy for our Disney fixes... We drive old cars, hardly ever eat out, and we are able to make it happen for a family of five. And we live in very expensive Washington DC! There are a lot of things that we do without. We don't have iPhones like all of our friends, and our computers are old, but we have great memories of 5 Disney Cruises (6 in March), and several WDW trips.

 

[GuardMusic]

I admit, I used to carry some of my Disney as credit card debt, but that's all over. I make a decent salary and other than the mortgage & small student load, have ZERO debt. And I have a 6 month emergency fund, but all of this has taken time. Of course. I have no husband and no kids.

Growing up our vacations depended on the annual federal tax return. Most years we'd just go to a local amusement park for the day or short educational trip. Infrequently we'd drive to WDW. So now, I am able to use my tax return solely for vacations.

My downfall now is the additional part-time job teaching algebra online. Would I rather have that time to myself? You bet. But I can't seem to say no; each time all I think is "This will pay enough for another cruise plus!" So, I'm a slave to my addition!

But I certainly don't regret it for 2010. With the algebra $$$ & tax $$$, BFF and I upped out 4 night DCL to 7 in Feb., BFF has a conference at YC in Mar I'm going with, I have a conference at CS (but probably will stay at different resort) in Oct., & want to take my mom on 4 night DCL in Dec. With my strict budget, I WILL be able to do all this! And for 2011, yes I'm booked on the 1st DCL to Alaska!

Because of that I don't mind packing my lunch 4 of 5 days a week & staying in most weekends. And yes, all this planning DOES include retirement to FL!

Gayle

 

[Jackie Psarianos]

We began cruising with DCL in 2005 and are now waiting for DCL number six. It's expensive, but re-booking while on the ship saves you a bit of money with the on-board booking of ten percent off, and then they give you a shipboard credit depending on the length of your cruise.

We find that the land/sea is a good deal and you get a bit of both but we always sandwich the cruise in between two land stays....never get enough.

In 2008, when the Canadian dollar hit parity with the U.S. dollar, we decided to buy a timeshare with Hilton and totally lucked out because Hilton is affiliated with RCI exchanges and now some of the DVC resorts are with RCI.


As it stands, we have a confirmed booking for a week at Saratoga in a one bedroom from July 31-August 6 followed by a week in a two bedroom at the BoardWalk Villas....we couldn't be happier.

We have a dummy booking with DCL for the summer of 2011 and we are hoping to get on the Disney Dream....and I'm going to try to score a week after that cruise at a DVC resort through my RCI...we are very happy.

 

[Tinkerkell123]

I am sure someone has already mentioned this, but definitely sign up on the DCL website to get e-mail news, offers, etc. When we decided to do a cruise for the first time (this Jan 23, yay!!) I really wanted DCL (as we are Disney fanatics) but it was just way more than we wanted to pay. I had decided on a Royal Caribbean when, lo and behold, I got an e-mail with a kids go free on a 7 day cruise offer! Could not believe it! Called DCL, gave them the pin # on the e-mail and when they priced out the cruise we wanted it was maybe $200 more than the RC one. Needless to say, we booked right then. If I had not registered on the DCL site, we would not be on the cruise we REALLY wanted! Saved about $1600 from the regular DCL price...

Kelli

 

["Got Disney"]

Suze Orman asks.......Can you afford it ....

Would she deny or approve you....ask yourself that question

our retirement is not yet where it should be so she would say...

DENIED, are you crazy .........thats why we have not called and asked her

 

[dreaming-of-disney]

That wasn't my feeling after my first Disney cruise, but I didn't cruise with young kids.

Mine either. My husband and I took a Carnival the first time and a Disney one this last time with the kids. We're taking another Carnival in March that we booked after the Disney. I liked both of them. Carnival is just cheaper. I am worried about the kids liking Carnival after a Disney. My dd13 is already anticipating it not being as good as Disney. And I'm a bigger disney freak than her!

 

[dreaming-of-disney]

My dad passed away 6 months ago, he used to always tell us he was "rich in everything but money", we actually used that in his eulogy. This thread has done a wonderful job of having great conversation with positive vibes, even with people from all different income levels. We live in a fairly inexpensive part of the country, my dh makes a good living but we are definately not rich (in $, anyway). I have a teaching degree but have stayed home with my kids since the oldest was born. Our van is 10 years old, and most of my friends have remodeled their homes w/ new furniture, etc. 2 or 3 times while we have not. I have gotten comments from friends about how we really need a new van - they all drive brand new, expensive suv's, BUT we are able to take a nice vacation every year or 2 as that is a priority to us. I read an article recently that said people who spent their money on events, or memories vs. things were overall happier w/ their lives. I would agree w/ that! I love to come to the disboards bec. in my small town most people put a huge priority on having the best, biggest home, car, new phones, gadgets, etc, and the dis is one of the few places I feel like I am normal for wanting to save in those areas so we can spend our $ on wonderful, memory filled vacations w/ our family instead.

Well said

 

[TnRobin]

I think I've heard it said that as a rule of thumb you should spend only 1-2 weeks salary on a vacation.

Probably shouldn't spend anything unless you're clear of credit card debt and have 1-2 months emergency savings.

Sorry for the bad news!

I had heard that it was 5% of your salary, which comes out to about 2 1/2 weeks. That said. I make 5% my budget. The cheaper I get stuff the more we can travel.

We are by no means rich, but if I watch for specials we can get a cruise out of it. But sometimes, I have to save multiple years for a Big Cruise or big vacation. Then I Try to spend only 2% and put the other 3% up for the next year.

 

[ArmandXG]

I love the title of this thread!

I AM rich... In family, friends, love, etc! I own a horse and I have OMD (obsessive Mouse Disorder) therefore I don't have a lot of cash!

I do what I have to in order to afford my vacations. I only vacation every other year, I save just about every penny I get, I look for deals offered on line (and I actually use them on occasion) and I am willing to go into debt for my obsessive fix! I do NOT recommend the latter to anyone by any means!

I agree that proper planning and savings will get you the vacation of your dreams!

 

[Spacepest]

I think I've heard it said that as a rule of thumb you should spend only 1-2 weeks salary on a vacation.

I do this, sort of. I work for a business that gives paid vacation time to everyone, even part time employees. So I only go on vacation when I have a week or more worth of vacation time to use, that way I am not losing any money. We usually plan on spending a week or 2 week's pay on a vacation.

We also cheat a little bit. Years ago we bought into a time share club, and the membership is paid off, with only yearly maintenence fees due. Its surprising how cheap vacations become when you can book your rooms using yearly time share credits. (Supposedly we can trade in our credits for cruises and airfare, but we haven't tried that yet.)

But yeesh! I've yet to take a Disney cruise due to the cost...especially when I can get just a nice of a cruise on another cruiseline for half the cost. (Yes, I can afford it, it just seems to be the principle of the thing at this point).

 

[makaylee]

[QUOTE="Got Disney";34085962]Suze Orman asks.......Can you afford it ....

Would she deny or approve you....ask yourself that question

our retirement is not yet where it should be so she would say...

DENIED, are you crazy .........thats why we have not called and asked her[/QUOTE]

Love it! Thanks for the laugh!

 

[GrumpyBelle]

We are not rich, we just do not do anything else---We do not smoke, do not drink, do not gamble, etc...

 

[Husurdady]

We are not rich, we just do not do anything else---We do not smoke, do not drink, do not gamble, etc...

A big DITTO for us also.............but we did play bingo on the wonder last year an won 2 & 1/2 times and also the door prize. Retired at age 50[1998]..............life is good.

 

[jship210]

A big DITTO for us also.............but we did play bingo on the wonder last year an won 2 & 1/2 times and also the door prize. Retired at age 50[1998]..............life is good.

It's all about priorities! Having quality time with family ~ no distractions~ and time to recharge & reconnect. Memories last a life time.