OBC budget

[JennSpencer]

Hello fellow DISers! We are going on our first cruises in January (8 people total 3 nights) I am having a hard time deciding just how much we should budget to spend on board and at Castaway Cay. Since it will be our first time I know everyone is going to want something to remember the trip by. I am hoping 5 or 6 hundred will be enough. Don't even get me started on the price of pictures!

So how does everyone budget? Especially for that first cruise. For the experienced cruisers, how has your budget planning changed for subsequent cruises? Also any budgeting tips are more than welcome! Thanks guys!

Jen

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Each family is different, list up port adventures, spa, palo and photos costs. Add your estimate for booze on board, shopping, bingo etc. I suggest pre pay tips to help budget. But get $ notes for room service.

For me I go to the DCL website then add it all up, say palo fee and a typical tip, then a contingency, shopping on ship and castaway always adds on more.

 

[rhinodadz]

This thread may help you decide what types of things you want to consider in your budget. For us it's Palo/Remy, adult beverages, spa treatments, bingo, a few souvenirs. Excursions depending on itinerary. Not knowing the ages of your 8 people it strikes me that $500-$600 might be a little light, but certainly doable.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/what-do-you-spend-on.3472765/

 

[JennSpencer]

This thread may help you decide what types of things you want to consider in your budget. For us it's Palo/Remy, adult beverages, spa treatments, bingo, a few souvenirs. Excursions depending on itinerary. Not knowing the ages of your 8 people it strikes me that $500-$600 might be a little light, but certainly doable.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/what-do-you-spend-on.3472765/

4 adults 4 kids 16 13 12 and 5 Just knowing I may be short on budget is good. I'm thinking one suvineer per child from the ship Nassau and CC. Try to steer them away from the arcade. I really appreciate the ideas do want to try to prepay grats so I don't have to think about it. I plan to have quite a few ones fir tips for what is not included. Thanks so much.

 

[JennSpencer]

Each family is different, list up port adventures, spa, palo and photos costs. Add your estimate for booze on board, shopping, bingo etc. I suggest pre pay tips to help budget. But get $ notes for room service.

For me I go to the DCL website then add it all up, say palo fee and a typical tip, then a contingency, shopping on ship and castaway always adds on more.

Thanks all good stuff to think about!

 

[Sytrace]

The good news for your budget is that the ARRRcade on the Dream is gone.
The bad news is that there is now a candy shop/sweet treat shop called Vannellopes. This shop has a lot of different candy, treats that are exlusive to the shop, gelato and ice cream. It costs extra, so you might want to budget some for that in place of the arcade. If you have sweet lovers, not that I have that problem...oh no...except for Laffy Taffy. And Tootsie Rolls. And did I mention gelato?

I would suggest budgeting for small gifts in Nassau..they have a shopping area as you get off the ship and you have to walk thru it again to get back onboard. Surely, you will find some magnets, mugs, pens, etc there. Bring cash or a credit card for these places as they don't take your KTTWC for payment.
On Castaway Cay, you can use your KTTWC for purchases on the island with the exception of stamps (cash) and if you do excursions that are run by independent operators thru Disney (parasailing, wave runners, etc) you might want to be bring cash for tips for those operators if you are so inclined.
Smoothies, alcohol, Vannellopes, Movie theater candy, canned sodas etc are not included in your trip fare. Some items in room service are also extra and you would want to have cash to tip for any room service items you order. We typically don't do room service if we are on deck 9 or 10 as it is a quick walk up to Deck 11 for fountain drinks and all you can eat soft serve ice cream. And other snacks.
Just some thoughts on other items in addition to the excellent advice above
Have a great first cruise.

Oh and bring some funds for booking your SECOND Disney cruise on board so you can get a discount and OBC for the future cruise of 4 nights or longer. You can always book a placeholder for 250.00 if you are not sure of when you might be sailing again. Then you have 2 years to decide and book .

 

[Jess_S]

The only things we buy onboard are drinks and shore excursions (generally purchased through independent vendor). I like getting a massage on vacation, but DCL's facilities for before and after are non existent, so I won't use their onboard spa again. To budget, I take my total budget and divide by the number of days aboard. I keep track of what I buy each day and carry the unused amount forward.

 

[BigredNole]

We are a family of 3. Wife can't drink alcohol (money saver), daughter will want souvenirs and bingo, and I will have 2-3 drinks a day. We have not cruised, but I am estimating $200 per day not including if we take an excursion. We are frugal, so I think we are OK with that estimate to start.