We have our first cruise on hold, what other expenses do we need to consider?

[HollVoll]

We have a December cruise on hold. We are trying to anticipate the budget. I can plan Disney World all day, but I feel very lost. I'd appreciate your help!

 

[wilkeliza]

Excursions will be your biggest extra. If you want to drink aboard count on paying about what you would at WDW for a drink as the pricing is similar. If you plan on getting off the ship I would plan for say 20 a person for food at port. It may be more or less depending on where you go to eat and what you are ordering. If your family is a group of snackers I'd add about 10 a day per a person for random snacks like candy and specialty ice cream etc.

I think we usually think an extra 100 a day per a person covers anything and everything we may want to do that is extra (not including excursions). Of course we may never hit that 100 a day but it makes it where we don't have to really micromanage our expenses. With that said if you aren't doing the spa, BBB/Pirate's League, popcorn for the movies, alcohol, etc then you can really just budget your excursions and have a great trip.

 

[Oursweetworld]

Also consider tips & photo package (if you are going to take advantage of this). If doing photos- book ahead of time to save 15%.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Extras to consider:

Gratuities: $12 per person per night
Alcoholic drinks
Smoothies and specialty coffees
Port excursions
Spa services
Adult specialty restaurants, Palo and Remy
Deposit to make an onboard booking for your next cruise once you are hooked

How much extra you spend really depends on what extras you want to do. You can have a great cruise and not spend anything extra except for the gratuities. Or you can pay for tons of extras and end up spending $1000 or more extra. It's up to you.

 

[Geomom]

Gratuities are $12/person/day and cover the head server, server, assistant server, and stateroom host. This will be added to your bill at the end of your cruise.

Room service: FREE, except for sodas/alcohol/packaged snacks. Have $ to tip the delivery person.

Sodas/coffee/juice, etc in the MDR's and beverage station are FREE, but if you order them from a bar or Cove Café coffee place you'll pay $.

Alcoholic drinks, tasting classes, Bingo, popcorn: all cost $

For us--on our 1 week cruise, we paid for alcoholic drinks for me, specialty non-alcoholic drinks for the kids and DH (like smoothies), 1 excursion through DCL, souvenirs, gratuities, and tips to room service.

 

[Neptune's Fork]

On hold? You mean that three day hold before you have to pay the deposit?

The three big ones are:
Tips
Excursions
Drinks (alcohol)

 

[SpaceSquirrel]

Excursions, Remy or Palo, and the photo package are our additional expenses (we don't drink).
I always try to do a couple days in the parks before or after sailing (since we're right there anyway) so I always work that into my plan too.

 

[lanejudy]

Here's a thread with a couple of really comprehensive lists of additional expenses. http://www.disboards.com/threads/whats-included.3537608/#post-56305333

Other than your pre- and post-cruise plans, travel, and tips for onboard, anything else is "optional" in that it's not required to enjoy the cruise.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[HollVoll]

Excellent help! Thank you! This is great!

We have until Friday to make our deposit.


Two more questions related to the above:

Plain Milk--is that an extra charge? Our youngest drinks milk and water.

How much should we tip room service?

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Excellent help! Thank you! This is great!

We have until Friday to make our deposit.


Two more questions related to the above:

Plain Milk--is that an extra charge? Our youngest drinks milk and water.

How much should we tip room service?

No extra charge for milk, but you will want to grab extras from Cabanas (the buffet restaurant) at breakfast and keep it in your stateroom fridge. It isn't available at the drink station on the pool deck. I'm not sure if there's a charge for it through room service. I'm thinking not, but someone else will have to say for sure.

 

[Quellman]

Here's the current list:

DCL Cruise Expenses and Cabana amenities



1. Alcoholic drinks at the bars and from roving servers (welcome aboard)
2. Wine by the glass or wine packages at meals
3. Spa treatments
4. Shore excursions (including cabanas and rentals at CC)
5. Purchases from the stores: clothing, sundries, jewelry, souvenirs, etc.
6. Adult dining (Palo, Remy)
7. Bottled water
8. Photos (individual and packages)
9. Onboard booking for future cruises
10. Disney Vacation Club membership (you can purchase on board)
11. Art (thank goodness those "auctions" are gone, but you can still purchase art)
12. Candy and snacks outside theater
13. Tips for room service
14. Internet
15. Room upgrades (usually at port, sometimes GS)
16. Bingo
17. Parking/transportation
18. Port porters
19. Alcohol and cigarettes for delivery at end of voyage
20. Welcome aboard packages (flowers, candy, etc waiting in your cabin)
21. Adventures by Disney (you can purchase on board)
22. Cameras from photo shop
23. Cellular phone calls (although it will be billed later to your phone bill)
24. Medical care
25. Cigars (Meridian bar)
26. Arcade
27. Hair Braiding
28. Nursery care for children under 3
29. Tastings and Mixology
30. Excursion tips
31. Soft drinks from room service or bar
32. Specialty coffee
33. Meeting room rental
34. Onboard or Castaway Cay wedding (currently $3000/$4000)
35. Vow renewal ceremony
36. Sports simulator
37. Laundry room and send-out laundry and dry cleaning
38. Tuxedo rentals
39. Room service sodas and candy (these have a charge)
40. Additional tip (over the automatic) for bar servers
41. Required gratuity added to spa services
42. Pins sold at trading pin sessions
43. Extra wave phone rental
44. Duties at customs at end of cruise if you've made a LOT of purchases abroad
45. Ship to shore calls from your room phone
46. Fuel supplement charge if the price of oil is above a certain level
47. Popcorn at theater
48. Fish Extender program gifts
49. Kids’s club magic bands (if you want to keep them, you lose the deposit)
50. Stamps from Post Office at Castaway Cay
51. Tip for Castaway Cay cabana host (you’ll need cash for this one)
52. Sparkling or still water with your meal
53. Upcharge food items at the adult clubs
54. Candy and ice cream from Vanellope’son the Dream
55. Smoothies from the bar in Senses Spa on the Dream


Provided by @over50visits

 

[GoofyLovingFamily]

Milk is free from room service. We usually tip 2-3 depending on amount ordered.

 

[GoofyLovingFamily]

Bippity Boppity Boutique is an extra cost if your child wants to go there.

 

[Geomom]

No extra charge for milk, but you will want to grab extras from Cabanas (the buffet restaurant) at breakfast and keep it in your stateroom fridge. It isn't available at the drink station on the pool deck. I'm not sure if there's a charge for it through room service. I'm thinking not, but someone else will have to say for sure.

On the Wonder last August, I thought I saw a milk dispenser by the coffee and hot cocoa machines? Not sure if I'm remembering correctly though...or if it's just on the Magic/Wonder vs. Fantasy/Dream...

 

[Maggie'sMom]

On the Wonder last August, I thought I saw a milk dispenser by the coffee and hot cocoa machines? Not sure if I'm remembering correctly though...or if it's just on the Magic/Wonder vs. Fantasy/Dream...

I don't remember seeing milk, but it is entirely possible it is there and I didn't notice it.

 

[Dug720]

On the Wonder last August, I thought I saw a milk dispenser by the coffee and hot cocoa machines? Not sure if I'm remembering correctly though...or if it's just on the Magic/Wonder vs. Fantasy/Dream...

I don't remember seeing milk, but it is entirely possible it is there and I didn't notice it.

@PrincessShmoo should have the definitive picture any moment now...

 

[gingerfeathers]

Whatever you budget, make sure you have a little bit of a buffer. I swear I always end up spending at least 25% more than I plan when I cruise! It's so easy to just have "one more drink" or buy "one more shirt" or get suckered into a massage or something completely random but amazing.

 

[JenPinks]

If you are going to Alaska ever, you may want to consider selling a kidney! lol

 

[NZMUM]

On the Wonder last August, I thought I saw a milk dispenser by the coffee and hot cocoa machines? Not sure if I'm remembering correctly though...or if it's just on the Magic/Wonder vs. Fantasy/Dream...

I don't remember seeing milk, but it is entirely possible it is there and I didn't notice it.

There is milk at the drinks station on the tea/coffee side. One dispenser is creamer, the other is milk. This tea drinker wouldn't survive without it

 

[PrincessShmoo]

@PrincessShmoo should have the definitive picture any moment now...

Sorry, I was busy today - just got home:

On the Fantasy, the two big, squarish machines are the cream and milk dispensers: