Saving money while on the ship...

[WisconsinDisneyGirl]

I just wanted to know every way that I can save a buck on the boat. I just learned that you can order a drink special without the keepsake cup and save money. There have to be other ways to save on other things!

 

[kcashner]

There are loads of ways to travel "on the cheap." First, most excursions can be booked on your own rather than thru DCL. That usually saves $, especially if you have a 10-12 year old. DCL consideres a young person an "adult" for fee purposes at 10, but most excursion companies consider them a child until either 12 or 13. That can be a huge savings.

Take your own camera and shoot your own pics. Many of mine are better than the professional shots. The cast members will even shoot one with your camera while the photographer shoots his.

Limit yourself (and kiddos) to sodas only in the dining rooms (where they are free). If they just can't do without, bring a 12 pack with you. Bring a water bottle and refill it before excursions. There are lots of free drinks on deck 9--they don't need to pay for the extras.

My favorite treat is the unlimited rainforest. It is $50 for the 7 day. A single day is $15.

I'll think of more later......Oh...if you like snacks with movies, take a bag of something along. They sell popcorn and M&ms outside the movies ($5 for the same bag of M&Ms that Target sells for $2)

 

[MrsPete]

It's possible to leave the ship owing nothing but the tips. I doubt that very many people actually do it, and I'm not actually recommending that you do ALL these things, but it's possible.

Instead of using Disney's shore excursions, use the internet to search for your own fun. Take a watch and a cell phone in case you have any problem getting back to the ship on time; being left behind would be very expensive. You can book excursions with local agencies, seek out free beaches within walking distance of the pier, or you can stay onboard and enjoy the empty pool.

Drink free lemonaide and fruit punch instead of sodas (outside the dining room). Or book with AAA and get a free soda mug.

Skip Palo, milkshakes, special coffees, and alcoholic drinks (or bring your own).

Bring your own camera so you can skip the professional pictures.

Bring plenty of film, batteries, suntan lotion, medicines, etc. These will cost you a fortune.

Skip the souvenier shops. They really didn't have much anyway. Ditto when you get off the ship. The kids can get a free tee shirt for participating in the show at the end.

Bring along a small cooler (and ziplocks) so you can take free room service sandwiches with you off the ship. Bring an empty water bottle to be refilled on Deck 9.

Bring a lanyard and an ID holder from home.

I'm sure there are many other ideas about saving money, but that's what I can think of right now.

 

[WisconsinDisneyGirl]

Great ideas! Keep them comming!

 

[Hygiene99]

On our second Cruise we only had a bill for our tips...
At the time we new we did not have alot of money and we ..
enjoy the trip just as much... out of 6 cruises 7 and 8 planned
we still have only done one excursion rest has ben on our own...

 

[PURTYPAT1]

My favorite treat is the unlimited rainforest. It is $50 for the 7 day. A single day is $15.


QUICK QUESTION ANYONE, WHAT IS UNLIMITED RAINFOREST?


THANKS FOR ALL THE GREAT TIPS EVERYONE.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FAITH FULLY TRAVELED TO DISNEY FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS:

WDW 1994 THRU 2004

"FUTURE" DISNEY TRIPS:

DCL 11/04/04

WDW 02/19/05

 

[sanela]

bring your own drinks.fill a suitcase with everything that you might drink,and as you empty it down you can fit some of those hard to resist souvenires.that is what we did.we only ordered our drinks when we went to the clubs at night.our total bill for 7 nights for everything was $450.two adults and two kids,9 and 13.

 

[jrydberg]

My two money saving tips... don't drink alcohol and take your own pictures. It amazed me how much money people onboard spend on those two. The pictures, at least, I can understand to some degree. Anyway, it seemed to me there was plenty to do without drinking yourself into oblivion

 

[jgalecpa]

The bigget money saver can be your very first decision.

Which room Category to book?

We wnet on the smae cruise as everyone else. We opted for no verandah in a Cat 9 with a huge porthole.

Saved thousands over others in our group who chose a verandah.

The difference paid for all our othe spending for souvenirs, excursions, etc.

Sure, some swear by the expeerience of "coffee on their balcony". But I can't bring myself to spend 3.85 for starbucks, let alone and extra $100 per morning for coffee!

"Get the cheapest room on the best ship"

Jim

 

[tap & dap]

Visit as many of the receptions as you can in the evening, most offer free alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks, you just don't get to pick what they are. You can have one at the reception and then take one with you to dinner or the show and not have to pay anything.

Also visit the DVC presentations and you win free gifts that say DVC, nice souvenirs that are free.

Also returning guests are all members of the Castaway Cay Club and get a free reception and pin as well as a free welcome aboard gift of a beach towel (usually). You can register on-line at Disney cruise website and then just show your card when you check in, they then send you an invitation and free gift to your cabin.

Finally, check in with the Disney Visa Card at the Port and they give you a $50.00 room credit ( at least they did on our last cruise). You can use this to buy souvenirs, pictures etc.

Hope this helps.

 

[Scratch42]

Originally posted by jgalecpa

Sure, some swear by the expeerience of "coffee on their balcony". But I can't bring myself to spend 3.85 for starbucks, let alone and extra $100 per morning for coffee!


Jim

I order from Room Service the Night before, but make sure you get a "Silver" Carafe so that the coffee is hot in the morning! It's free!

Fill Up a Mug with the Drinks from Deck 9 and keep in cooler for those times you don't feel like treking up to Deck 9!

Scratch

 

[tawasdave]

I have posted this before..but in case you missed it...at the sail away party..they sell drinks in souvenier plastic colored glasses..those that got the glasses paid extra for them...but lots of people just leave a ton of them laying all over deck 9 & 10..I picked up a set...took to room and cleaned and now I have a "Free" souvenier.

 

[Princess49]

You can also get free gifts from the shopping talk- they gave out a bunch of free stuff & a few coupons to go get free stuff at some of the shops in Nassau. We didn't do any shore excursions & we didn't regret it at all. Our day on CC we layed in the carribean ALL day & it was wonderful!! Definately take your own pictures- we loved the though of the shot on CC with the ship behind us but we didn't want to pay for it! (plus the sun was in our eyes that early in the morning) So on the way back, with the sun behind us we asked someone to take this picture for us! Also, if you're planning on doing any hair braiding then bring spray sunscreen & if you want to have fun on the beach bring beach balls or the like with you from home. I bought a little bottle of spray sunscreen & a CC football & it came to $27!!! Isn't that nuts?? I think I might have been charged twice for something! It doesn't add up. Also, we had the REAS package & the basket comes with a bottle of champagne & we knew we wouldn't drink the bottle in the room & would end up bringing it home so we called guest services & asked if we could have the bottle in Palo w/o a corking fee since we bought it from DCL. No problem & they even came to the room to get it to keep it cold & so we wouldn't have to carry it with us! It was great becuase we planned on having a bottle at Palo to celebrate our anniversary! Good luck!

 

[Farms]

Jim:
I gotta tell you -- that is one beautiful rockfish!!!!!!



Farms from Baltimore

 

[WisconsinDisneyGirl]

You all have such great ideas! I will have to take a little notebook with me just to remember all this stuff! Keep the ideas comming. BTW- I did make a reservation thrugh AAA and did get the $100 on board credit and free soda mugs. So I saved money there!

 

[lillygator]

is ti possible to save??

 

[Ratt45]

Lillygator, I don't think it is possible!!!! DW (Disneyfan37) and I are caught up in the moment too much. We like to buy a couple of souveniers, one spa treatment and this time, a couple of excursions. I figure, why not!! I'll worry about it later. I mean if things were so tight, why did you book a cruise? Everyone needs a little pampering. As a side note, I may try Snuba on St. Thomas. It's a combo of scuba and snorkeling. Instead of a tank on your back it's up in the boat. I'm still thinking about it.

 

[SCOTTOHIOCPA]

We took a small bottle of rum and a bottle of wine with us. There are tons of stores in Cocoa beach to buy them so you don't have to take them on the plane. Just be sure to carry them on, instead of putting in your checked luggage.

 

[CACruiser]

Here are my money saving tips.

Shout wipes. They are portable and clean up any quick spots. Easier that washing the whole article of clothing and cheaper that having it sent out to be cleaned!

Bring along quarters and pre-measured laundry soap if you DO need to do a small load.

I am the only one who drinks, so I bring along my own bottle of wine. Before dinner, while I am getting ready, I have my own "cocktail hour". I also bring along two sixpacks of soda. We are not big soda drinkers, so that will last the WHOLE trip.
I also stop at the liquour store and pick up a few SMALL bottles of liquours. That way, I can have a variety of cocktails every day.

I bring my own big mug to fill with ice, water, etc.

Each kid gets their own vacation "kit". In each kit, they get a bank book I have made at home on the computer. The bank book has a starting balance. This is their own vacation spending money. They can spend it on souveniers, treats, games, etc. But, once it is GONE, it is gone. This year, they get about $50.00. They have to write down what they spend it on too.
This way, there is no nagging on the "gimmies and Iwannas".
They also get 2 of their favorite candies, (IE, a bag of M&Ms, and Reese PB cups), gum, a bag of chips, etc. I try and put some other healthier snacks, but I alllow them to have some junk on vacation! I also put in a water bottle that can be refilled with lemonade or water.

I resist the urge to buy everything in site that is cute in the gift shop. My best souveniers are my collectors pins. I display them in a shadow box in my house. That way, they become art and not clutter. So, I skip the Tshirt, towels, knick-knacks, etc.

We do our homework (thanks Disboards!) and find out which excursions are really worth our while. We find out which ones should be booked ahead of time and which ones can be "wait and see".

If you forget to buy treats before the cruise, ask for a grocery or convience store in port. Pick up a few items! They are bound to be cheaper than on board!

Bring your own first aid kit with basic items you might need.
Typical items I bring:
Neosporin and bandaids
POWDERED Keopectate
Pepto caplets
Benadryl
Motrin or Tylenol
A small bottle of Aloe Vera. I have seen Aloe Vera mousse too!
Eye drops
Gas-X
Something for heartburn (for hubby)

Hope this helps!

 

[jgalecpa]

Farms:

Thanks.

Still got a few steaks in the Freezer.

DW will make broil the fish with a nice crab imperial on top.

YUM!

As to money saving tips:

I buy two bottles of "Bailey's Irish Cream" in florida, bring em on board and put em in the fridge. Instant party for 10 adults one night!



Jim