what do you buy on the ship?

[GilesFamily]

I've read in some threads that cruiser's merchandise tabs at the end of the cruises are in the hundreds of dollars! I'm just wondering what people buy on the ship? I'm not big on souvenirs. Buying something that I will take home and put on the shelf to collect dust is not my thing. I will be bringing enough clothes to make do, so I'm just wondering what else is on the ship to buy that may tempt me.

 

[Cruisin]

I don't tend to buy a lot of things while I am onboard the ship.

I like to get a T-shirt, if there is something that appeals to me.

I spend a bit of money on the pictures that the ships photographers take.

And that is about it for me.

There is tons of other stuff available for purchase, I guess it just depends on what kinds of things you are into. There is definitely plenty of expensive items that could push up your tabs, if you really wanted to. Since I'm not interested in that stuff, I couldnt' really tell you what there is available.

 

[Michelle2]

I would like to know this too....We are trying to figure out how much to budget or expect our extras (excursions, tips, etc) will cost us, and I would love to hear cool merchandise they have on board!

 

[KensJen]

We don't usually buy too many souvenirs, but we still manage to rack up several hundred dollars just on a 3 day cruise. And lots more on longer ones.

Some things you may charge to your room:

Charge for eating at Palo
Alcohol
Spa services
Gratuities
Excursions
Playing video games, bingo, etc
Photos (this seems to be a big one for us)
Laundry/Ironing service
Internet access

Just to name a few. It is possible to not spend too much, but it is also very, very easy to use that KKTW card...hehe.

HTH!

 

[mommasita]

It really does depend on personal taste..We usually buy a nice souvenir towel, a t-shirt or two...If you are into pins or such, then I could really see the $$ flying...Pictures are pricey, and hard to resist..

My DD6 seems to want anything and everything, as there are plenty of princess items....THere is also a slightly nicer shop selling jewelry, clothing, and sundries..

We average 1500$ including tips, souvenirs, but we usually do our own excursions..

 

[Eeyorefan12]

I've read in some threads that cruiser's merchandise tabs at the end of the cruises are in the hundreds of dollars! I'm just wondering what people buy on the ship? I'm not big on souvenirs. Buying something that I will take home and put on the shelf to collect dust is not my thing. I will be bringing enough clothes to make do, so I'm just wondering what else is on the ship to buy that may tempt me.

I think the tab is not always for merchandise but for everything. We are also not "doorstop" souvenir buyers. Still, our tab on the 7-day cruise was almost $2000. That included excursions in Puerto Vallarta, the occasional drink at dinner (the kids' smoothies weren't free either), the $120 photo package, probably $200 in arcade cards (DH was there with DS a few times...ahem) and...oh yeah, my husband's $600 ship-to-shore phone tab for an unavoidable work-related conference call. (Yes, we were reimbursed for that!) We bought a few gifts for people who were watching our house and/or pets, a few too many souvenir pins for the kids' lanyards and well, I have to be honest; when I saw the tab at the end, I was a bit stunned. Many people check the tab as they go along. I mistakenly thought I was keeping track well enough in my head...but apparently it was full of pixie dust instead!

And it was all still worth every penny...er, dollar.

CB

 

[barkley]

i have never found much in the ship's shops that is spectacular enough for me to spend a great deal on. with the exception of specialty items like replicas of the ship, poster prints of the ship it's all pretty much the same stuff as you would find in the parks (just with dcl embossed on it). i think alot of people are just into having the dcl logo on items. not to say that you can't get some great deals purchasing duty free-alcohol and cigarette prices are much better than in the states (although depending on the ports you are going to you can do as we did and stock an entire home bar with premium brands for what 4-6 bottles would have cost us stateside at the best liquor discounter), cigar smokers can run a big tab as well. i also know that when the on board stores carry pashmina's lots of folks stock up on them for gifts (can't blame them, $10 on board vs. $60-$80 in our local stores at the time).

the only merchandise that tends to run my bill up is spa products. i know they are expensive, but you can only buy some of the brands in their authorized spas (which are only on certain cruiselines or at the atlantis) or via the internet. what with being able to buy them tax free and not having to pay shipping charges it ends up cheaper for me to buy them on board (esp. on the day they let you buy one and get the second at half price .

 

[callahanjulie10]

I always seem to purchase quite a bit! I have a DCL 2000 limited edition silver Mickey watch, shirts from every cruise, my DD collects pins!, we have every stuffed beanie that is DCL, my DH always gets new Oakleys and usually a Mickey tie or two, pens, picture frames, DCL towels! This is just a sampling Like I mentioned before, we do seem to purchase quite a bit! I always enjoy the items I purchase. My kitchen is done in WDW/DCL.
We spend a ton on pictures- which are my favorite souvie though

 

[RichNKatHolly]

In Jan we went on the 4 night cruise. Our bill was under $300 - you could do it for less than that. It was for tips, cruise pin and coloring set for DS, Ball and princess purse for DD, 3 ginger ales for me (not at dinner but purchased from the bar), a few visits to the arcade (thank goodness my DS did not discover that until the LAST night) and the photos. It's so hard to pass up those family photos in Shutters. We just couldn't leave our kids up there on the wall or throw them out. So, I would say even this trip, the photos will be our most expensive item. Our shipboard credit should cover the tips!

Happy planning!

Oh yea, 2 cartons of cigs for DH (unfortunately, but they were much cheaper than here in NY).

 

[b&j's_mom]

I've read in some threads that cruiser's merchandise tabs at the end of the cruises are in the hundreds of dollars! I'm just wondering what people buy on the ship? I'm not big on souvenirs. Buying something that I will take home and put on the shelf to collect dust is not my thing. I will be bringing enough clothes to make do, so I'm just wondering what else is on the ship to buy that may tempt me.

PHOTOS! I practically lived in Shutters.

p.s. Hi, Ingrid!

 

[atakaratemom]

We spent about $175 on souvenir items from the ship which was within our budget. Many of the items they sell in the shops seem quite reasonable, especially as there is no tax. Our purchases were a propellor clock and a DCL photo album, small stuffed Minnie and Micky in their nautical clothes, two bottles of Baileys Irish Cream and 4 photos from Shutters (2 8X10, 2 5X7). We opted not to get a photo package as we took plenty of our own photos. I did want a couple of the family photos and kids photos but it was less expensive to just purchase the four I selected individually.

I could have spent more, but I restrained myself. I looked longingly at some of the duty-free perfume, but we were trying to stick to our budget of $1000 for ship board expenses. When we got our bill on Saturday, I was very happy to see that it was $1087, so although we went over it was not by much. This included tipping (over the recommended amount I might add), two shore excursions, Palo (twice with generous tips),our charged beverages, arcade for DS and souvenirs.

We usually stuck to the drink of the day, and the kids had smoothies, but not everyday and I limited to once a day. A couple of times they opted to have it at the theatre and a couple of times they had them with dinner. DS had a $50 limit on arcade which was fine for him. I avoided doing expensive spa treatments, although they sounded tempting. Instead I spent $15 to use the Rainforest one afternoon which was heavenly. It allowed me to have my spa experience without spending a lot.

We had an amazing time without spending a lot on extras. Since we booked late (only two months before our west coast cruise) we paid a high price for the trip and I just couldn't justify spending thousands more on top of that. We all loved everything about our trip and I wouldn't change a thing, well, except for that part when they tell you it's time to leave!

Mary

 

[FreeTime]

Our bil lwas about $500 for a 4-day. This included tips, 1 drink (not drinkers here), photo album, dcl pin and the photo package.

 

[pppiglet]

We bought photo album, towel, t-shirts, charms, sweat pants, magnets, pens, postcards, photo holder, 6x8 frame, candy, ornaments. Good thing the stores are small and don't have a big selection or I would have spent way to much. All this plus our excursions(3x3) and photo package and 2 drinks (we are not drinkers) for 7days our tab was around $1000.

 

[brack]

We buy a lot of things on board from tinkets to watches. There are some things that can only be bought on board or even at Castaway Cay. I have posters/prints that are autographed, a DCL themed watch, DCL/Castaway Cay clothes, cups/mugs and other stuff. I have bid on some of the auction items but have not won any.

We plan on spending for stuff and even bring an empty suitcase to take it home in. I am the target audience for Disney sales.

 

[PiperG]

PHOTOS! I practically lived in Shutters.

Me too! I just love the pics they take of us. We buy em' all and I put them in my scrapbook.