Tips for experiencing Disney Cruise Lines on a budget

[Getchell Williams]

So, my wife and I's just booked our first cruise on the Disney Wonder for our 1 year anniversary in March. We have the reservation paid for which is the biggest expense of the trip, but we will have to be on a strict budget when we are actually on the cruise. What are some tips to make the most out of the trip when on a tight budget? We don't plan to eat at Palo and we are probably not going to book any off-boat excursions (we are both more excited about the boat than the ports). Is there a way to find out prices for excursions before our check-in date, just so we can check? Also, how do tips work on DCL? Will I have to bring cash with us so we can tip our servers after every meal? Do they charge it to your account? Any other tips would greatly be appreciated as well! We are pumped! Only 228 days away.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

If you go on the Disneycruise website, click on "ships and activities" then click on "port adventures" then you can put in your ports and it will give you a list with prices.

As far as gratuity goes they will add that to your on board account and you can adjust it up or down. I think you can also add prepaid gratuity online but I don't know how.

Enjoy your cruise, we'll be enjoying the Wonder for the first time in 68 days.

 

[andrencau]

Since you are paid in full, you can almost cruise for nothing. Tips are automatically placed on your onboard account, unless paid in advance. Tips are not mandatory, but are definitely deserved. The tips are for room steward, server, assistant server and another guy in the restaurant (can not remember his title nor his worth). The tips are cumulative and will be paid at the end of the cruise. Alcohol costs and coffees at the Cove Cafe cost. Drinks from room service cost and tips are collected at time of delivery. We have cruised without any excursions and enjoyed it. We love exploring the ship and we love sea days.

Enjoy your cruise! If on a budget and you are paid in full, the stressful part of your planning is over.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I would look into doing things on your own in port if you are on a tight budget. The DCL port adventures are pretty pricey and you can usually pay less going on your own.

You don't tip at each meal unless you do Palo. Tips are added to your on board account. The standard amount is $12 per person per night of the cruise.

ETA: DCL allows you to carry on alcohol to consume in your stateroom. It must be in your carry on bag. But that can save you money on alcohol.

 

[Getchell Williams]

Awesome! Thanks for the info! Keep the tips coming if you have more.

 

[Ariel484]

So, my wife and I's just booked our first cruise on the Disney Wonder for our 1 year anniversary in March. We have the reservation paid for which is the biggest expense of the trip, but we will have to be on a strict budget when we are actually on the cruise. What are some tips to make the most out of the trip when on a tight budget? We don't plan to eat at Palo and we are probably not going to book any off-boat excursions (we are both more excited about the boat than the ports). Is there a way to find out prices for excursions before our check-in date, just so we can check? Also, how do tips work on DCL? Will I have to bring cash with us so we can tip our servers after every meal? Do they charge it to your account? Any other tips would greatly be appreciated as well! We are pumped! Only 228 days away.

Tips are $12 per person per night of your cruise. That covers your servers and your room steward, so you'll want to figure that into your budget ahead of time. As PP said, that's charged to your room.

This is what is included in your fare: http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/price-value/

Not included: spa/salon visits, phone calls, internet usage (EXCEPT for the free 50MB package you can sign up for on embarkation day), bingo, alcoholic beverages that you don't carry on yourself, fancier coffee drinks, some classes/seminars (i.e. tastings, mixology, etc.), gratuities (see above) and some food items (mostly packaged items: i.e. a can of Coke will have a charge, but the fountain Coke is included in your fare). If you order room service you'll also want to tip the CM $1-$2, ditto to the baggage handlers at port.

What we do for cruises: we ask for Disney gift cards for our birthdays and Christmas, and once we board the ship we put those on the stateroom to use for charging while onboard. We also have a Disney Visa (which we pay in full every month), and we take the rewards from our Disney Visa and put those on the room as well. So if you're comfortable using credit cards you could get a Disney Visa and start racking up points, or maybe buy a $25 Disney giftcard once per month and save them to put on your room charge account once you board so that you CAN, say, do a mixology class or whatever, but have it already paid for.

 

[turtle27]

Disney Visa charge card is great, you pay for cruise with card and like @Ariel484 said, pay it off in full every month (unless financing promotion at 0%), use the reward dollars for on board account, which will include tips and port excursions. I also have my TA add the gratuities at time of final payment so that I get the 6 months to pay on them as well. It is a little thing, but that way, they are taken care of before sailing and I have one less thing to worry about.

 

[Getchell Williams]

What we do for cruises: we ask for Disney gift cards for our birthdays and Christmas, and once we board the ship we put those on the stateroom to use for charging while onboard. We also have a Disney Visa (which we pay in full every month), and we take the rewards from our Disney Visa and put those on the room as well. So if you're comfortable using credit cards you could get a Disney Visa and start racking up points, or maybe buy a $25 Disney giftcard once per month and save them to put on your room charge account once you board so that you CAN, say, do a mixology class or whatever, but have it already paid for.

Gift cards are a great idea! Between the two of us, we have a Christmas and one birthday before we set sail.

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

You can absolutely go on a cruise without spending any extra money, with the exception of tips and transportation too and from. The only charge we had at the end of our first cruise was bingo, which is completely optional of course. There are so many things to do that cost no additional money. If you want to get off the ship at port, you can just wonder around, or stay on the ship and enjoy a quieter ship. If you like to drink, take booze on board with you.

 

[mevelandry]

So, my wife and I's just booked our first cruise on the Disney Wonder for our 1 year anniversary in March. We have the reservation paid for which is the biggest expense of the trip, but we will have to be on a strict budget when we are actually on the cruise. What are some tips to make the most out of the trip when on a tight budget? We don't plan to eat at Palo and we are probably not going to book any off-boat excursions (we are both more excited about the boat than the ports). Is there a way to find out prices for excursions before our check-in date, just so we can check? Also, how do tips work on DCL? Will I have to bring cash with us so we can tip our servers after every meal? Do they charge it to your account? Any other tips would greatly be appreciated as well! We are pumped! Only 228 days away.

What ports? (Because you don't have to spend money at every port... I'm pretty sure you can do stuff for free over there!".

 

[Getchell Williams]

You can absolutely go on a cruise without spending any extra money, with the exception of tips and transportation too and from. The only charge we had at the end of our first cruise was bingo, which is completely optional of course. There are so many things to do that cost no additional money. If you want to get off the ship at port, you can just wonder around, or stay on the ship and enjoy a quieter ship. If you like to drink, take booze on board with you.

Good to hear. Thankfully, my parents live 59 miles from the port, so we will be staying with them and requesting their services to get us to and from the port. We live in Nashville, TN and are currently planning to rent a car to drive down a day or two before we set sail (11-12 hour drive). Plane tickets seem to be out of our price range, and our car as gotten to the point were I get a little paranoid about driving it such a long distance. We don't drink, so that an expense we wont have to worry about and I think we are planning to take advantage of the quieter/less crowded ship during port days.

 

[Getchell Williams]

What ports? (Because you don't have to spend money at every port... I'm pretty sure you can do stuff for free over there!".

Cozumel and Castaway Cay. It is a 5 night cruise, so there will be 2 days at sea. My wife and I are more interested in CC, so we will probably spend most of the time at Cozumel on the ship. We might get out for an hour or so to take a quick look around.

 

[Ariel484]

Cozumel and Castaway Cay. It is a 5 night cruise, so there will be 2 days at sea. My wife and I are more interested in CC, so we will probably spend most of the time at Cozumel on the ship. We might get out for an hour or so to take a quick look around.

Personally, I think you can have a great CC day without spending anything. My husband and I went to Serenity Bay and just relaxed there all day - no excursions or anything. The food is included in your fare...we just ordered a couple of drinks and that was all we had to pay for.

 

[Quellman]

Good to hear. Thankfully, my parents live 59 miles from the port, so we will be staying with them and requesting their services to get us to and from the port. We live in Nashville, TN and are currently planning to rent a car to drive down a day or two before we set sail (11-12 hour drive). Plane tickets seem to be out of our price range, and our car as gotten to the point were I get a little paranoid about driving it such a long distance. We don't drink, so that an expense we wont have to worry about and I think we are planning to take advantage of the quieter/less crowded ship during port days.

We aren't too far from you and can understand the drive. I make it at least 2x a year with a little one and it gets pretty tiring. Renting a car will save you some time and worries. If you get a flat tire or the car breaks down, guess what? the company can help you (it isn't always fast but it's better than nothing).

If you know someone with a target red card (debit or credit) you can purchase Disney gift cards and get 5% off. (there are other ways to save more using other websites, but the Target way is the easiest). Since you know you have to pay for tips in the amount of $120 you can purchase that (in increments of $25 or $50) with the 5% discount. I would buy $125 worth, and either give the extra $5 as a gratuity or use it towards the purchase of a daily drink (can be nonalcoholic) in one of the DCL plastic hurricane glasses to share. This way you get a drink, and at least a small keepsake to take back and use at your home.

 

[mevelandry]

Cozumel and Castaway Cay. It is a 5 night cruise, so there will be 2 days at sea. My wife and I are more interested in CC, so we will probably spend most of the time at Cozumel on the ship. We might get out for an hour or so to take a quick look around.

Castaway Cay is amazing! No need to spend any money there.

Or... DH and I rented bicycles. It wasn't that expensive (10$ each for 1 hour). It was a very nice and affordable activity.

 

[dcassetta]

If you do decide you'd like to get out and around and Cozumel, I recommend Chankanaab park. The entry fee is only about $20 per adult, and a taxi would be about $10 each way. The park is beautiful and there's a lot to do there that's included in the entrance fee. The beach is very nice and has decent snorkeling. Www.cozumelparks.com

 

[bibbidibobbidibecky]

Also, if you transfer your cruise to a travel agent (not sure how that works since you already paid in full?) but you can get on board credit (OBC), which you can put toward your tips. And please do get off at Castaway Cay! It's amazing and won't cost you anything extra, as others have said!!

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

DD and I spent relatively little above the cruise price. The biggest expenses were two shore excursions and tips, but those expenses were budgeted and the money set aside ahead of time. I bought one drink on-board and really cheap souvenirs in Cancun. We also had a drink at Starbucks while we took advantage of their Wifi to check in with work/family. I considered the picture package, but they didn't get enough good pictures of us to make it worth the price.

 

[RHSTigerMom]

Since it's your first anniversary I would at least do Palo brunch. It's $30pp + tip and since you don't drink, it would only cost you less than $80 or so. If you note on your reservation it's your anniversary, they will do something special for you.

Also, don't rule out flying just yet. Southwest runs specials all the time, especially in the winter, and by the time you pay for a rental car for a week plus gas, you could fly and be there in 2 hours. You don't have to book flights yet, wait until January or so and see what they look like. You don't mention what days your cruise leaves/returns, but if you can plan your travel outside of Fri-Mon, you should be able to get good fares. Our home airport is Chattanooga but we will drive to ATL to fly SW for cheap.

I don't recommend the Disney Visa idea at this point since your cruise is less than a year away. The regular Disney Visa earns 1% for every $100, so unless you charge every single item, you won't really accumulate enough rewards by sail time. The premier earns 2% on gas, groceries, & restaurants and 1% on all other items but there is an annual fee of $49 which some people freak out about. With the premier you can use rewards toward airline tickets, so if you pay $300 for round-trip tickets and have at least that much in rewards, you can apply them toward the ticket which appears as a credit on your statement.

If you current credit card(s) have any cash back features, that may be some extra money toward Palo, tips, etc.

You will love the Wonder, she's a beautiful ship! Enjoy!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Also, if you transfer your cruise to a travel agent (not sure how that works since you already paid in full?) but you can get on board credit (OBC), which you can put toward your tips. And please do get off at Castaway Cay! It's amazing and won't cost you anything extra, as others have said!!

You can't transfer a reservation to a TA once it's paid in full. Otherwise, the transfer must occur within 30 days of booking.