New Idea and How to Convince DH!?!

[ChicosWife]

So, we are currently schedule to take our second cruise in December. We will be on the 5-night Western Caribbean Very Merrytime cruise that stops at Cozumel and CC. As DCL tends to be pricey (but worth it, IMO), we have to space our cruises out. I am trying to convince DH to trade up to the 7-night itinerary that includes stops to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, but it will be about $1,000 more. My thinking is that, even if we go on another cruise, we won't pick a similar itinerary, to the one we have already been on, so now would be the best time to visit these places that we wouldn't otherwise. Any ideas to convince DH that it's worth the cost now, rather than repeating a whole, similar itinerary later!?

 

[KalamityJane]

Tell him that it's actually cheaper to add 2 days than it is to add a 3 day cruise Perhaps you can mitigate some of the cost by switching to a cheaper stateroom?

 

[ChicosWife]

Tell him that it's actually cheaper to add 2 days than it is to add a 3 day cruise Perhaps you can mitigate some of the cost by switching to a cheaper stateroom?

Good idea, except, we are in an oceanview room now... Due to availability, we would have to get the same type of room or on inside stateroom (without the split bath). The difference is only $100.

 

[jrabbit]

 

[squirk]

So, we are currently schedule to take our second cruise in December. We will be on the 5-night Western Caribbean Very Merrytime cruise that stops at Cozumel and CC. As DCL tends to be pricey (but worth it, IMO), we have to space our cruises out. I am trying to convince DH to trade up to the 7-night itinerary that includes stops to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, but it will be about $1,000 more. My thinking is that, even if we go on another cruise, we won't pick a similar itinerary, to the one we have already been on, so now would be the best time to visit these places that we wouldn't otherwise. Any ideas to convince DH that it's worth the cost now, rather than repeating a whole, similar itinerary later!?

Hard to say as we don't know many details. How much would that extra $1000 hurt from a financial standpoint? How frugal is your husband? Does he really dig cruising, or is he just "along for the ride" since you like it so much?

If the cruise is not until December, your PIF date is probably no earlier than August 1st, right? Upgrading your cruise by $1000 would probably require another $200 deposit (20%) today, and then you have six months to come up with the remaining $800 by your PIF date. That's an average of $133 per month to set aside. Would that be a challenge for you?

Also, is it really just $1000 more, or would you also be spending money in those two extra ports on shore excursions?

 

[ChicosWife]

How much would that extra $1000 hurt from a financial standpoint?

- It is doable, but not done super easily.

How frugal is your husband? Does he really dig cruising, or is he just "along for the ride" since you like it so much?

- He does love cruising, as much as I do, but he also panics a little bit when spending large quantities of money, like for a cruise.

If the cruise is not until December, your PIF date is probably no earlier than August 1st, right?

- Actually, it's already paid off. The difference in price would have to figured out monthly based upon our new PIF, which would probably be about August, as the December cruise PIF was in September.

That's an average of $133 per month to set aside. Would that be a challenge for you?

- Not enough to go without food and shelter.

Also, is it really just $1000 more, or would you also be spending money in those two extra ports on shore excursions?

- But, of course, but I haven't mentioned this point to my husband yet. LOL It won't help my case.

 

[squirk]

- But, of course, but I haven't mentioned this point to my husband yet. LOL It won't help my case.

Well, I'm just playing devil's advocate there, so you're prepped for the pushback.

- Not enough to go without food and shelter.

Well, $133/month sounds a lot easier to swallow than having to come up with a lump sum of $1000 in six months.

One thing I do from time to time is challenge myself to use only paper currency whenever possible for a few weeks. No debit/credit cards, which you can swipe over and over and nothing really changes unless and until you check your balance online at some point down the road.

Force yourself to physically hand over cash for every transaction - every Starbucks latte, every tank of gas, every snack, every trip to Target - and you'll be surprised at how different it feels to know that the cash value of the bills in your pocket are getting smaller and smaller with every purchase. Couple that with the PITA of repeated trips to the ATM to replenish that cash, and I can almost guarantee that your discretionary spending will go down. Maybe not to the tune of $133/mo., but still.

Perhaps if you and your husband tried that for two weeks, and found you were saving a decent chunk of money, he'd see that coming up with the $1000 over six months really isn't as hard as he might have originally thought.

 

[jrabbit]

- Actually, it's already paid off. The difference in price would have to figured out monthly based upon our new PIF, which would probably be about August, as the December cruise PIF was in September.

I don't think that your PIF date will change based on the ... oops ... yes you are right, the PIF date changes (by 15 days between the 5 and 7 night cruises IF they both are "standard" (not holiday) cruises) for different number of nights. And the embarkation port, where you're sailing to, etc etc etc. At least its easy to understand these rules vs. airline ticket pricing!

This page has the cancellation / PIF information for DCL Cruises

 

[ChicosWife]

Well, I'm just playing devil's advocate there, so you're prepped for the pushback.



Well, $133/month sounds a lot easier to swallow than having to come up with a lump sum of $1000 in six months.

One thing I do from time to time is challenge myself to use only paper currency whenever possible for a few weeks. No debit/credit cards, which you can swipe over and over and nothing really changes unless and until you check your balance online at some point down the road.

Force yourself to physically hand over cash for every transaction - every Starbucks latte, every tank of gas, every snack, every trip to Target - and you'll be surprised at how different it feels to know that the cash value of the bills in your pocket are getting smaller and smaller with every purchase. Couple that with the PITA of repeated trips to the ATM to replenish that cash, and I can almost guarantee that your discretionary spending will go down. Maybe not to the tune of $133/mo., but still.

Perhaps if you and your husband tried that for two weeks, and found you were saving a decent chunk of money, he'd see that coming up with the $1000 over six months really isn't as hard as he might have originally thought.

Good idea!

 

[ChicosWife]

I'm still working on him. I tried to bring these points forward yesterday and it's still a no-go. I win either way, because I still get a 5-night! I know I shouldn't be greedy, but I want to stop at Jamaica and Grand Cayman too, since we will be in the area! LOL

 

[KalamityJane]

I earn extra side money for our vacations online. Maybe you can convince him for the 7 night if you make up the difference?

 

[ChicosWife]

I earn extra side money for our vacations online. Maybe you can convince him for the 7 night if you make up the difference?

Hmmmmmm, you may have something there!!!

 

[volfan1978]

From a man's perspective...you're overlooking the obvious solution here

 

[ChicosWife]

From a man's perspective...you're overlooking the obvious solution here

Which is?

 

[KalamityJane]

Which is?

*coughs*

Womanly wiles

 

[volfan1978]

Which is?

*coughs*

Womanly wiles

What she said

 

[jrabbit]

From a man's perspective...you're overlooking the obvious solution here

Which is?

*coughs*

Womanly wiles

What she said

See post #4 in this thread ...

and it works better than

 

[surran12]

haha too funny....

Have you tried breaking it down to a per night rate. Say 5 nights for (random number) $3200 is $642 per night but 7 nights at $4200 would be $600 per night so you can tell him its cheaper and hope he doesnt think on it too much

 

[FigmentSpark]

haha too funny....

Have you tried breaking it down to a per night rate. Say 5 nights for (random number) $3200 is $642 per night but 7 nights at $4200 would be $600 per night so you can tell him its cheaper and hope he doesnt think on it too much

Not really cheaper, but better value.

 

[ChicosWife]

LOL, you are all too funny!

haha too funny....

Have you tried breaking it down to a per night rate. Say 5 nights for (random number) $3200 is $642 per night but 7 nights at $4200 would be $600 per night so you can tell him its cheaper and hope he doesnt think on it too much

Yes, I have tried justifying that $1,000 difference would be cheaper than an entirely new cruise, but his position stands with, "We are good with the 5-night". Ugh!!!!!!! #1stworldproblems HAHAHA