What does an average family spend on a 7 day cruise?

[tbserena]

I know some spend more and some less, depending on activities, souveneirs, and alcohol. Anyone care to share what they have spent on a 7 day for a family of 5???
Thanks

Antingua 10/2/04

 

[Bbgrizzle]

It's going to depend on your stateroom(s) category. We are a family of 5 and we were in a category 4 last time. It was about $5,500, but our youngest was only 22 months. Next time we go she'll be 3, so the cruise price will go up for us. We will probably go with two category 11's, which I think is a little cheaper. And if you buy souvenirs, buy any drinks, or do excursions that will add to the cost of the cruise. We probably added another $500 with those things, so I will say that our total price was about $6,000.

 

[tbserena]

I'm not sure about the category we're in. Just booked it yesterday, but I know for sure the travel agent got us two rooms with adjoining door. More beds and more bathrooms. Still small I'm sure but who stays in their room?? Lol Our total cost for the cruise was $4900, including the airport transfers. (not including the airfare though) So I guess we did okay!
My main concern was the "other" stuff...the extras. If you guys only spent $500 more after on board, that's GREAT! My kids are 14,12 and 6, and I have no clue how much to set aside.

 

[The4OfUs]

Total in extras for us, $1800. That included 2 excursions for the 4 of us (pardon the pun *grin*), drinks, souvenirs, sundries like suntan lotion, hair elastics and Tylenol type stuff, tips to all the "recommended" folks that was more than what they recommend, tips at Palo for brunch and dinner, tips at the spa, the 15 photo package as well as 2 8x10s, and internet access.

We expected WAY more...we had it checked about 1/2 way through the cruise, cringing as we did so, and were shocked to see that while we had both guessed over 2000, we hadn't even hit 1400 by then.

Maybe we shouldn't have checked, because I felt like I "loosened up" about buying a shirt or wrap around thing after that, thinking "Hey, we havent' really spent anything!"

Now that I'm back in reality, it's amazing how "anything" = $5, when on board, it was more like $1500....

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by tbserena
My main concern was the "other" stuff...the extras. If you guys only spent $500 more after on board, that's GREAT! My kids are 14,12 and 6, and I have no clue how much to set aside.

In addition to the cost of the cruise itself, the major expense that you need to budget is tip money. See What about gratuities? at the official Disney Cruise Line site.

The guidelines for a family of 5 on a 7-night cruise work out to a total of $381.25 in tips for the 4 main people who take care of you. And after you experience the service, it's likely you'll want to tip more.

Beyond that, it's really up to you. Once you get on the ship, you can keep your other expenses to near zero -- if you drink only the provided non-alcoholic drinks, take your own pictures, wander around the ports on you own (with just a cabfare or two), avoid bingo and shopping, and stay away from the spa. Or you can spend a fortune on fine wines and other drinks, deluxe excursions, lots of photos, a bunch of souvenirs, fabulous spa treatments, and perhaps some fine jewelry in one of the shops in port.

In either case, you'll have fancy multi-course meals, great entertainment, and as many or few activities as you want.

 

[tbserena]

Wow Thanks That helped so much. I want everyone to have fun but at the same time, they can't do everything! My kids do well with limiting souveniers, plus we are flying back so we don't have room! My husband and I aren't heavy drinkers, but will probably have a few. I would rather splurge on activities/excursions that they couldn't do anywhere else. Checking the balance halfway is a good idea.

 

[din]

tbserena: Others may disagree, I am not if you are going to get an average cost/spend for a cruise.

I am not sure if you have lrking on these boards, so I will attempt to list items that you may want to consider that will cost you on the cruise:

Crusie: Depends if there are 5 or 4 in your family. If there is 5 you are looking at a min of two rooms or a cat that can sleep five and depending on the time of the year it can cost more than two rooms. (Cost depends on cat and time of year)

Transport: If you are looking at transport from the airport to the port, limo (Cost 160 - 200) or car rental (Cost is 30 -60) is the cost effective way to go.

If you drive, parking is 10 dollars per day??

Tips for porters, room attendents, head waiter, waiter, asst waiter.

Other than the cost above which is somewhat out of you control other cost on the ship that you can control:

Arcade games
Picture package
Soda package (only in dining rooms can you get soda as part of your package)
Wine
Drinks (smoothies and tropical drinks)
Excursions
Spa
Special coffee
Shopping on the ship and on shore

We did not go overboard, but we got a picutre package, some wine, a spa, a couple of smoothies and an excursion and I recall the cost being close to 800 (cruise, travel, transport, night before cruise hotel and tips not included)

Hope this helps you.

 

[jilljill]

We are a family of 3 and spend between $2000.-2500. on the 7 day. This includes tips, pictures, purchases on and off the ship (I usually buy jewelry), and I really like to bid on (and win) a couple of the silent auction items.
It is entirely up to you and what you like to do. We don't usually do the excursions, just walk around the ports for a couple of hours then relax on the ship.

 

[tbserena]

I am making notes of all of this! Yes this is exactly what I needed to see. THANKS!!!

 

[NYGiantsRule!]

We are a family of 4 and have spend around $1,500 on both of our 7 day cruises. With excursions, tips, drinks, spa visits, gift shop purchases, arcade cards, etc., it can add up quickly. You can check with Guest Services anytime you want and they will give you an itemized printout of your account if you want to keep track of it.

 

[tbserena]

I had guessed $2000 to $2500 for us. I am impressed at the families that have kept it below $1000!! Thanks to all who are helping with this.
It was a very gray area for me!

 

[mouse5]

We are a family of 5 and spent about 1500 on the 7 day cruise. But my DH really doesn't drink much and I didn't want to drink alone. So that can add up fast.

 

[tbserena]

I had figured that alcohol would be one that added up quickly if not watched. I guess the money also depends on the kids ages. This is our first cruise so I'm thinking we will be just relaxing, observing, taking it all in....possibly planning for a second one!

 

[cjsmith]

We're a family of 5 and on our last 2 7 night cruises we spent about $1500. Now that doesn't include any purchases that we bought in Key West, Grand Cayman or Cozumel or any excursions. It includes the soda program, alcohol, the arcade for 2 of the kids, smoothies for the kids, shopping, $70 in Bingo, tips, and some shopping (including $90 of liquor to take off), and 2 pictures and a frame. I also do tip extra when I order every drink so it does add up.

 

[tbserena]

It's sounding like $1500 is a good average, more or less.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

One hint of mine is to book excursions through the company--I'm saving almost $50 for our stingray excursion in Cayman by booking directly through Capt. Marvins instead of using Disney. I will also have that paid for separately and not on my account.
We will also pay cash to wander around Key West on the trolley. As for drinks, they do add up--we limited to one a day each on our 4 day wonder and NO SMOOTHIES, the kids don't realize they cost extra so you have to tell them if you don't want them to have one.
We did buy pictures and souvenirs. I also saved by having my kids participate in the show on the last day and get a free T shirt so I didn't have to buy them one.
I hoep this time I can limit myself to one frame, one album, a shirt and a Christmas ornament--I got a lot of the "little" things on our first cruise, including pins.
Robin M.

 

[Tera]

Thanks for the information also. We don't sail till next year, so it's nice to know how much we will need to save up. My DH and I do like to drink and since it's vacation, I don't want to worry about how much we're spending. A friend told me that they spent $500 alone for just their drinks.

 

[Lisa D]

Tera,

Just to let you know DCL will allow you to bring beer, wine on board. DH and I are Miller Light drinkers and brought a 12-pack along on our 3-day cruise last October. I figure that $9.00 12-pack saved us $60.00 plus tips in ordering every beer from the bar.

Lisa

 

[CB4U]

Go over the charging privileges with your older kids. They can charge smoothies and arcade cards, etc. It can get expensive. You have the option of removing the charging privileges when you get on board. I never told mine about the charging privilege and they never attempted to use their KTTW cards.

Just my thoughts.....

 

[tbserena]

Lots of great information!
How do you find a description of the excursions for the Magic 10/2/04 cruise, and how do you pay in advance?