Need Tips to keep this cruise CHEAP!!!

[idontknow]

It is looking like we are not going to be able to go on our cruise because of finances. DH and I both had surgery 3 days apart in Feb. Our insurance changed 5 days before that and our bills are way more than what we had planned. (Mine wasn't planned, but DH's was) Then DH found a puppy with something similar to parvo and that took most of the money we had saved for the med bills. This year just keeps getting worse and worse. I will be heartbroken if we have to cancel, but we can always go another time, I guess. In the mean time, we already have our air, so we are going to Orlando reguardless of our situation. (we can afford the vacation, but the cruise is a HUGE chunk of money as we all know) Can anyone help or give me encouragement on how to do this cruise as cheap as possible? This is what I have so far:

Bring our beer, pop, and water on board.
Stay away from Shutters. LOL
Do Nassau on our own.

Is there any other way to bring the cost down? We are planning on renting a car from avis and we are staying at the Radisson for $59 the night before the cruise. Maybe I should try priceline for the night before instead? If anyone has any suggestions, I would really appreciate them.

 

[ducklite]

You didn't mention what cabin you are in, but can you downgrade?

Do you have a birthday or anniversary coming up taht you could request Disney Dollars or Amex Gift Cheques as gifts to use as spending money and to help pay for tips?

Rather than Avis, how about a local airport hotel with free shuttle service from Priceline and using Disney transfers. (I didn't do the math, but it could save a few dollars.)

Anne

 

[Lisa F]

There is so much to do on a cruise that honestly you don't need to spend any more money once you get on board. My husband and I don't drink alcohol or soda and the water aboard the magic tasted great (and I am very fussy about my water). Since it is all inclusive you don't have to worry about skimping on meals or anything like that. You don't have to pay extra for activities either. We also saved money by not booking excursions and found that we enjoyed just walking around the islands a bit, but not as much as we enjoyed being on the ship!

My favorite port by far was castaway cay and you can certainly enjoy this one without spending a lot of money. We did splurge on snorkel equipment but since then have bought our own for about the same price as a single rental and will be bringing that on our next cruise. I think that if you have the cost of the cruise + tips covered that you can have a wonderful time without spending another dime on board and not feel like you are skimping or denying yourself things. As a matter of fact, there was a cruise (maybe she will see and post) who did the 7 day magic and spent less than $100 on it and she had a GREAT time!

I definately agree with trying to downgrade. In fact, for our upcoming cruise we had a verandah booked because from all of the posts it seemed like you could not cruise happily unless you had one. On our first crusie we compromised and got a porthole room and once on board we realized we would be just as happy with an inside room. We ended up downgrading from a cat 6 to a cat 10 on our upcoming jan cruise and I am glad to have the extra $800 to spend on other things.

Since it's just for one night, I would probably give priceline a try. I have had success in getting rooms near the airport for around $30/night and they were pretty nice (a sheraton four points once and a renaissance inn once I think). If you are renting a car then you will have the flexibility to do this and drive to the port in the morning.

Good luck and I hope you get to go!


Lisa

 

[dijid]

I did the 7 day for less than $100 (not including a trip to the Dr. which insurance will reimburse for). I didn't find it that hard. Don't order room service. Don't overlook the free souveniers (trading cards, other momentos, taking pictures of your shutter's pictures). Don't drink alcohol you don't bring onboard yourself. Dine in the dining rooms and the pop is included. Bring a book and just enjoy laying on the serene beach at Castaway Cay. Take a walk and explore the port on your own. I think you could spend $0 if you really are motivated to do it.

Another strategy is to just go into what I would call "ultimate savings mode" at home. Watch every penny. Don't go out to eat, don't buy snacks, drinks when you're out, etc. DH and I did this when we were saving for a house and we were pleasantly surprised at how fast we started to save. Instead of going out on a weekend, cook your own dinner, rent a movie from your library and pop your own popcorn. Whatever you save can go to the cruise fund.

Here's a link to two threads about (not) spending money on the cruise:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=202881
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=190957

Good luck and enjoy your vacation whatever it ends up being!

 

[slindamood]

1. Even the lowest category of room on DCL is luxury - go for it.

2. There is so much going on for free that you do not need to spend extra and should not feel deprived. Take your own camera. We were surprised to find a CM along side the professional photographer at the MIckey/ Minnie line to take our photo using our camera. Cheap is easy.

3. We drank only free water from the drink station on deck 9- - take your own bottle to fill and carry it around and to the beach. It is very good.

4. You don't need to do shore excursions - there is lots to do near the boat. Or stay on the boat and enjoy. Castaway cay is the best stop, and costs no extra.

5. Try priceline or hotwire for an airport hotel the night before the cruise, and then use a limo service to the port the next morning. We found hotels as low as $29 with hotwire, and it includes breakfast. We found RT limo cheaper than a rental car, but we are travelling in December, a costly season for rentals in FL.

6. Don't buy new clothes for the cruise. Everyone is so relaxed that they are not paying attention to what anyone else is wearing.

Good luck with your planning, and if this is not the right time, you have all that much longer to enjoy the anticipation.

--suzanne

 

[mlshields]

Sorry to hear about your misfortunes. Worst case scenario. Since you already have your airfare to Orlando. There are amazing deals right now at WDW. Check out this website for more info.

Good Luck!

http://www.travelzoo.com/Top20.asp?id=10075366

 

[tiggere]

Here's my tip. Make a deal with your table mates at dinner that ya'll will take each other's picture each evening. Meet at a place with a nice background (there are plenty) or outside of the restaurant each evening with that restaurant’s sign as the backdrop. You each take the other family’s picture with their camera (take 2 pictures each time in case one is bad). It’s a great way to capture how pretty your family looks right before dinner each night. Everyone wants their family’s pic taken with their camera and this way you don’t have to ask a stranger or waiter each evening. And you can get the best spots for the picture when it is planned. It’s the same picture the ship photographer would take anyway. Poised and planned. But cheap, cheap, cheap. Then get the picture enlarged with a coupon when you get home for a couple of dollars or just frame it in 4x6 size.

 

[westjones]

I agree with everything that is said. If this is your first cruise you will find SO much to do that is free onboard that you won't have to worry about excursions.

Just enjoy what is included with the package and don't buy drinks or pictures. Plan for the tips and consider that part of the trip.

To be honest, I find the cruise to be more economical than many other vacations. It is just that you pay it all up front instead of bit by bit like most trips. I took $400 cash with me on our first cruise because I 'thought' we would need money. Well we didn't use it, and we found that we were just as happy with ice water from the drink station on deck 9 as a Diet Coke, and we ate SO much food at dinner that we never needed room service. Castaway Cay is so wonderful and beautiful to just go and enjoy, we didn't rent any floats or do any extras.

I bet you would be surprised just have economical it is to do the cruise. If you can do the 3 day in a cat. 12 or 11, it really isn't expensive, and it is SO wonderful.
DJ

 

[idontknow]

Thank you so much for the encouragement! I keep doing the math over and over to see what the difference would be if we just stayed in Orlando and I come up with about $1000 more to do the cruise. I did forget to mention that I went thru DU for the cruise and we are getting the $75 "rebate" and we are getting the $50 credit from Disney.

I really liked the idea of everyone at the table exchanging cameras to take each others pics. That sounds like a really neat idea!

dijid- thanks for the links. I'll check them out as soon as I finish this post.

I really don't have to buy new clothes for the cruise? The only thing that I was really wanting to buy is the over the door shoe holder and snorkle equiptment. I figure since we have until this fall, they should put that kind of stuff on clearance before we leave. If I find it dirt cheap, I'll grab it. If not, maybe we can borrow it from friends of ours that have a pool.

I've been in the "super-saver" mode for a few months now. No splurging. But, if it isn't one thing it's another. LOL DH's bike needs all sorts of parts, the med bills and the found pup. Now, today, I went to mow the lawn and the mower must have gotten very sleepy, because the engine just got slower and slower until it stopped. There's more money if DH can't fix it. I even started going to the grocery every other week to save money. The only place we eat out at is DH's work. (it's free) What gets me is that we are not poor people. DH makes good money, but things just seem to keep coming up and draining any funds that we have. I know that all of this is getting me down, but I'm trying to stay positive. Again, thanks for the encouragement! I'm off to read those other posts.................

Oh, and I'll try to fix the "Ned" to read "Need", too. LOL

 

[Chattyaholic]

Hubby and I are booked on our second Magic cruise this coming January. We booked months ago, with Dreams Unlimited and right when I found out how much it was going to cost I added in all the extras and a little bit more, then divided it between the months left to get it paid for and we have been putting that amount (hubby puts half and I put half in) into our savings account and we don't touch it...not for anything...not even bills. If an unexpected bill arrives and the checkbook is at its limit, the bill waits until the next pay period. Another way we're saving is a "tip jar" on the kitchen counter. Every day we put our loose nickels, dimes and quarters into it. We will probably have at least a couple hundred dollars in that by the time the cruise gets here, tip money for our servers and room host. I do hope you get to go, I can only imagine how disappointed you would be to have to postpone it. But, one way to look at it, if you do have to postpone your cruise for a few months maybe you can save up a little more $$$ so you don't have to worry so much about spending extra money on the ship for pictures, souvenirs, etc.