The Money Mustache Community
General Discussion => Welcome and General Discussion => Topic started by: MillenialMustache on July 31, 2015, 10:07:58 AM
-
My DH and I love cruising and usually go on one a year or so. We do it pretty cheaply, and spend almost nothing onboard. Food is included, entertainment is included, we do free or cheap excursions off the ship, etc. We typically have less than $50 and then gratuities.
Anyway, I belong to a cruise forum and the topic came up about how much people spend onboard. Several people said nothing, and one person responded, "The same as our balcony cabin cost.......if you're not going to splurge on a great time you may as well not go." UGH. Comments like that drive me crazy!! Their balcony cabin likely cost $1200-$1500 - I couldn't even imagine spending that much on board, and certainly don't think that is the only way to have a good time!
Anyway, end rant. Thanks for reading :)
-
I thought the whole point of a cruise was that it was all inclusive?
-
Be glad those spendy people subsidize your cabin :)
-
Most shipboard spending is going to be either booze or shore excursions. A bottle of wine with dinner every night + a couple snorkle trips or an offshore fishing trip and you're there. I won't tell you what our bill was on our AK cruise last summer ;)
-
I've been on one cruise for my honeymoon. We had a great time and had splurged for a nice balcony suite. The only thing we bought on board though was some aloe vera after we got some bad sunburns. We don't drink so all inclusive really is all inclusive (aside from shore excursions, shuttles, and gratuity)
-
Someone took me on a cruise once.
While I did enjoy it very much and was so grateful to spend the time with my friend, it seemed a bit odd to me.
I felt like a marketer had figured out how to trap a load of consumers on a boat at sea for a few days, gave them a card linked to their room account, and proceeded to bombard them with expensive ways to relieve the boredom that comes with being trapped on a boat. Inclusive costs didn't include (overpriced) alcohol, gambling, photos, or the more attractive of the arranged excursions.
-
I've been on plenty of cruises in the past. I do believe that cruising can be as cheap or as expensive as you choose.
I do like a balcony, or at least an outside cabin, but other than that, I spend little on board.
-
Be glad those spendy people subsidize your cabin :)
I know right! Always have to keep it in perspective ;)
-
I do believe that cruising can be as cheap or as expensive as you choose.
Same as most things. +1
I do see the benefits of the balcony suite though. We have a couple guys in the family who hate crowds and being corralled on "floating pig pens" with the general population, so the peace and quiet on the balcony saves us from a lot of whining.
-
I've been on plenty of cruises in the past. I do believe that cruising can be as cheap or as expensive as you choose.
I do like a balcony, or at least an outside cabin, but other than that, I spend little on board.
Same here. The only extra spending we do on a cruise is for alcohol. And we've found that most cruise lines have introduced beverage packages now, so there's really no extra spending after our room is booked.
-
I thought the whole point of a cruise was that it was all inclusive?
cruises are typically not all inclusive. alcohol costs extra, pop costs extra, certain things you can do onboard cost extra, shore excursions cost extra.
More cruises are allowing packages to be booked with booze and 300dollar onboard credit - celebrity is the best i've seen norwegian is a close second.
for example.
i went on a cruise last year with all my drinks included and 300obc. balcony cabin - cost was 700 per person. the 300obc covered our gratuities and one of our shore excursions.
There are expensive cruises that come carte blanche all inclusive but you're talking 2k per person minimum on these typically for a 7 day cruise.
My rule of thumb for curising is under115 a day including drinks and tips and taxes/port fees. excursions are extra but there are relaly cool things you can do with out going on them you can also book off ship and come out way ahead.
-
I've been known to walk off a week long cruise with only one $8 drink and one $20 bingo game on my charge card, after paying for the cabin and gratuities.
-
I ordered liquor ahead of time. It was about 2x liquor store prices, but probaby .25x or less of what it would have cost purchased from one of the ship's bars. And we brought the allowed amount of wine. Not quite sure how it happened, but we actually had a small credit on our bill when we left, it was eventually put back on our credit card.
-
I thought the whole point of a cruise was that it was all inclusive?
I am going on my first cruise in over 15 years for my 20th anniversary in August. It WAS mostly all inclusive in the last 1990s, early 2000s, but you still always had to pay for shore excursions, the casino, alcoholic drinks, any special photographs taken by the ships photographers, and a few other things. All of the food and non-alcoholic drinks were included. I don't drink alcohol so I think I might have spent about $200-300 over the price of the cruise back then.
This time around, there are definitely more little things that aren't included. I have to pay $50 per person for unlimited soda and non-alcoholic drinks. I am going on Norwegian and they have specialty restaurants that upcharge you $15-30 per person, per meal (I got free specialty meals as a promotion). From what I understand, they have more things to do on the ship then they used to, like bowling and rock climbing, but they cost money. Internet, which wasn't a thing in the old days, will cost me $150 for the week if I choose to get it (haven't decided). Theoretically, I could just not do any of those things, drink water, and not spend a dime but that isn't realistic. As it is, I am splurging on a balcony since a) it's my anniversary trip, 2) Alaska, and c) my first trip without the children since they were born.
I do remember on our last cruise people just losing their minds and blowing huge wads at the casino, the ship store, and at an art auction they had on board. And of course, you can also go nuts at the souvenir shops and jewelry stores at the ports. I don't do souveniers except the occasional t-shirt or mug.
-
My idea of a cruise is to put our kayaks on the river and cruise to the cabin overlooking the river. We cruise as fast or as slow as we like and meet some great people. With beer and sandwiches, and barbequed ribs, plus cabin rental, our daily cost is around $150. No air fare.
I've read about these "all inclusive, well not really" cruises. I'm pretty sure we would spend $150 a day just on beer, wine and booze. So yeah, I can see a $1,200 additional charge.
-
I thought the whole point of a cruise was that it was all inclusive?
The one I went on, the big hitters were espresso drinks, alcohol and overpriced excursions. There might have been some paid entertainment things, but we were not there to be on the boat. And, of course, a casino when in international waters.
I went on a 10-day Mediterranean cruise in 2011 (italy-greece-turkey) and the best part about that region is getting a stop basically every day and usually for about eight hours. For ~$1000 we got free board and good food. I prefer to do more exploring, but it isn't exactly cheap to hop along the various islands. Between breakfast, dinner and a free show, our days were easily booked and we wouldn't have time to spend money on their overpriced stuff.
Atlantic/Pacific cruises look like bore-fests to me. Multiple travel days and short stops. With "nothing" to do, I am sure many people resort to being in a constant state of drunk. There's only one vendor to buy from. I think I got an latte once because I really "needed" it and it was something like $8 and terrible. I'm sure if my SO really wants to do one, I'll be sure to stock up on reading material, but I don't know why I would go on a cruise just to lounge on a deck and read. I can drive to the beach whenever I want.
-
It's whatever you make it. Spend as much or as little as you like. At a minimum, it's a floating mobile hotel that can take you to some pretty exotic places. Go to bed at night and wake up in a new place. if you find the right deals, you would be hard pressed to transport, feed and board yourself for the price the cruise lines can do it for.
-
I wouldn't go on a cruise if they paid ME the fancy balcony rate. The thought of being stuck on a floating tourist trap makes me a bit uneasy. I don't mind others doing it though.
-
Man, I love cruising! I love being on the water, but dislike the beach, so the balcony is my place to be. Read, watch for flying fish, knit, chat. Someone else does all the cooking and cleaning, and the entertainment is usually quite good, especially on the bigger ships.
I just got back from a very different (small boat) cruise in the Galapagos, though. No relaxing there! Two to four (included) excursions a day. Exhausting, but wow. There was a bar, but I never made it there - too much to do.
-
I thought the whole point of a cruise was that it was all inclusive?
They are mostly. There are just a lot of ways to spend extra on things that aren't included. The markup for alcohol and soda is high e.g. $8 beers. Although on Carnival you can bring a 12 pack of soda with you if you can't live without it and don't want to pay extra. They also allow a certain amount of wine. However it is possible to cruise and not spend anything extra. They offer plenty of things to do that don't cost extra, it's just a matter of taking advantage of them. I went on my first cruise in March with Carnival and I think I spent <$50 extra. Granted I also had a $75 onboard credit via the travel agency. My GF paid for the one excursion we went on and it was pretty reasonable. I would recommend cruising at least once. If you go during the off season you can find great deals.
-
I thought the whole point of a cruise was that it was all inclusive?
You have to pay tips to the staff. Well, no one will come after you if you don't, but it's unfair to accept their labor and then fail to pay them.
Anyway, aside from tips, you don't HAVE TO spend anything else -- but most people do spend on things like this:
- Alcohol (this is their #1 money maker, by far)
- Sodas, specialty coffees, milkshakes -- tea and lemonade are free
- Upgraded meals at specialty restaurants
- Professional photographs
- Excursions during the island stops (dolphin swims, historical tours, cabs to the beach, etc. -- I've found that most cruisers are literally afraid to leave the ship without a ship-approved guide to help them navigate the wilds of, say, St. Thomas)
- Bingo
- Art auction
- Massages and other spa treatments
- Casino
I watched a TV show about cruises once, and the host said that when you buy your cruise ship ticket, it's their break-even price -- and whatever they can get you to buy onboard is their profit. However, I don't see how that can be true: A person in a low-priced inside cabin might pay $500, while a person in a suite might pay $1500. A person cruising the first week of December might pay $1000 for a balcony cabin, while a person cruising over Christmas or New Year's might pay $3000 for the same cabin. And what about the 3rd and 4th person in a cabin, who pay a lower price? Which one is the "break even"? I think the TV show lied.
-
Man, I love cruising! I love being on the water, but dislike the beach, so the balcony is my place to be. Read, watch for flying fish, knit, chat. Someone else does all the cooking and cleaning, and the entertainment is usually quite good, especially on the bigger ships.
You and I'd be good cruising buddies: Sleep in a bit, eat Eggs Benedict, go read or stitch by the pool a while, back to the cabin for a nap, then a nice dinner and see a show.
I do enjoy shore excursions -- I just won't pay the ship's prices for them.
-
I love cruises. Haven't convinced DH to go on one but will keep trying.
If you want to get sh*tfaced, do it on land. Many shore excursions are to inexpensive places where you can get thoroughly blotto for cheap.
Bring wine aboard if allowed (or if your prior research tells you that you can smuggle booze on.)
You do not need pop. Don't pay for it, you will obviously not die without it for a few days. (Or, buy it on shore.)
Cruise ship excursions are fine, but research ahead of time and arrange a local guide for a much lower rate.
Geez. Now I want to go on a cruise! The ships are fun and I love seeing water 360-degrees.
-
We love to cruise. Last winter we spent 28 days on a ship as our version of "snowbirding". Planning to do it again this winter. We don't buy alcohol or shoe excursions on board so our bill is usually zero.
-
Someone took me on a cruise once.
While I did enjoy it very much and was so grateful to spend the time with my friend, it seemed a bit odd to me.
I felt like a marketer had figured out how to trap a load of consumers on a boat at sea for a few days, gave them a card linked to their room account, and proceeded to bombard them with expensive ways to relieve the boredom that comes with being trapped on a boat. Inclusive costs didn't include (overpriced) alcohol, gambling, photos, or the more attractive of the arranged excursions.
That is hilarious! I've never been on a cruise but I sure want to. Kid Rock's Chillin the Most Cruise to be honest :) Maybe one day....
-
I love being on the water, my fire plan for a few years is to cruise full time. This guy has it figured out: https://youtu.be/syJXrbWU1Aw
Might even cost me less than my already cheap land life...
-
I love being on the water, my fire plan for a few years is to cruise full time. This guy has it figured out: https://youtu.be/syJXrbWU1Aw
Might even cost me less than my already cheap land life...
That was great. Thanks for sharing!
It reminds of sailing with my parents as a kid a Caribbean. I don't know if I'd want do it full-time, but maybe...
-
I wouldn't go on a cruise if they paid ME the fancy balcony rate. The thought of being stuck on a floating tourist trap makes me a bit uneasy. I don't mind others doing it though.
LOL!
This was me, too. Until we did it. It's a fantastic way to see Alaska or to cross the Atlantic Ocean. If you don't gamble or drink alcohol, the mass market cruiselines are an economical way to have your vacation subsidized by those who do.
Scoring a deal on this line was the trip of a lifetime.
http://www.starclippers.com/us-dom
But a good time can be had for very little money on the more famous lines, too.
-
My DH and I love cruising and usually go on one a year or so. We do it pretty cheaply, and spend almost nothing onboard. Food is included, entertainment is included, we do free or cheap excursions off the ship, etc. We typically have less than $50 and then gratuities.
Anyway, I belong to a cruise forum and the topic came up about how much people spend onboard. Several people said nothing, and one person responded, "The same as our balcony cabin cost.......if you're not going to splurge on a great time you may as well not go." UGH. Comments like that drive me crazy!! Their balcony cabin likely cost $1200-$1500 - I couldn't even imagine spending that much on board, and certainly don't think that is the only way to have a good time!
Anyway, end rant. Thanks for reading :)
I went on NCL, the only thing I spent anything was for excursions, so basically I would pay at most 400-500$.
-
I love cruising. Great family holiday - other people arranging things to do for you and your family with all differing interests. Then they clean you room, make your bed, cook and clean up afterwards - and then take you to places you haven't been before (and they won't let you drive so you can then have a few drinks).
I cruised in June with 2 of my kids, my wife and my parents. I haven't been on a cruise with my parents in over 35 years. The times that we all spend together are irreplaceable.
yes you can spend money on board and on the ports but thats entirely under your control. I paid for all of our expenses by playing blackjack. Not to be recommended for all.
-
I love being on the water, my fire plan for a few years is to cruise full time. This guy has it figured out: https://youtu.be/syJXrbWU1Aw
Might even cost me less than my already cheap land life...
Heh. The way you phrased that made me think of the character in the movie Poseidon (remake) that lives on cruise liners and pays his way by gambling for a living. The guy on YouTube is cooler!
-
Hi
We cruise once a year. We don't do excursions but do eat specialty restaurants sometimes and buy alcohol.
I find a bill for 14 nights, including on shore spending / emergency money, excursions, alcohol, specialty dining, gratuities, congress in at around £800 to £1200 for a family of 3 :)
It's amazing. Love life at sea. Spend what you want I say, just don't put yourself in debt for it.
-
I thought the whole point of a cruise was that it was all inclusive?
You have to pay tips to the staff. Well, no one will come after you if you don't, but it's unfair to accept their labor and then fail to pay them.
Anyway, aside from tips, you don't HAVE TO spend anything else -- but most people do spend on things like this:
- Alcohol (this is their #1 money maker, by far)
- Sodas, specialty coffees, milkshakes -- tea and lemonade are free
- Upgraded meals at specialty restaurants
- Professional photographs
- Excursions during the island stops (dolphin swims, historical tours, cabs to the beach, etc. -- I've found that most cruisers are literally afraid to leave the ship without a ship-approved guide to help them navigate the wilds of, say, St. Thomas)
- Bingo
- Art auction
- Massages and other spa treatments
- Casino
I watched a TV show about cruises once, and the host said that when you buy your cruise ship ticket, it's their break-even price -- and whatever they can get you to buy onboard is their profit. However, I don't see how that can be true: A person in a low-priced inside cabin might pay $500, while a person in a suite might pay $1500. A person cruising the first week of December might pay $1000 for a balcony cabin, while a person cruising over Christmas or New Year's might pay $3000 for the same cabin. And what about the 3rd and 4th person in a cabin, who pay a lower price? Which one is the "break even"? I think the TV show lied.
This is all good to know. I've only taken a cruise once in my life (10-12 years ago?), but it was a gift trip so I didn't pay for much. They seems like fun times and I know a lot of people who absolutely love them.
-
DH grew up cruising. He likes it because you unpack your bags once, don't need to check into different hotels to see different places. We've gone on three.
You need to go in knowing it's not really all inclusive on the major lines. Gratuities are virtually required (technically you can stiff the people who worked for you but that's really low in my opinion.) That's part of the cost to me. Optional items are: drinks, excursions, fancier food, services (spa or quiet adult areas), gambling, photos, internet, etc.
Like any good mustachian, we will deal hunt, which often means getting some onboard credit offered to us for the same cruise price offered elsewhere. We also learned that if you own Carnival stock, any Carnival or subsidiary (Princess, which is what we did), will give you onboard credit per stateroom for being a shareholder. (Our stock has gone up nicely since buying it otherwise we wouldn't keep it.) Finally, if you put down a deposit of $100 and let them hold your money (fully refundable if you don't cruise in 2 years), then you get more on-board money. For about a 50% return (varies by stateroom type and length of cruise), sure you can hold a tiny bit of my money.
With this money (I think we had $300), we were able to pay for our gratuities, buy pretty much all the drinks we wanted and have a fancy dinner at a specialty restaurant. We do excursions with local tours to get a better experience, better price, and more money to locals. We learned from reading cruise ship boards how to get free/discounted drinks (returning members attending a presentation get a card for a drink, at the happy hour you can buy two identical items for the price of one. This included buying beers unopened for the next afternoon, and buying two half bottles of champagne to use over 4 breakfasts we brought back to eat on our balcony (mixed with the orange juice only offered on this line at breakfast) to make mimosas.
-
We just came back from a cruise to Alaska, which is our third cruise. It was a lot of fun, and the shore excursions that we chose got us out of our comfort zone. We also spent money on booze, Bingo, and a spa visit. We upgraded to a balcony, which was great - we got to see wildlife and beautiful scenery without crowds. and a cruise really can't be beat for exposing you to multiple locations in comfort.
We had a good time. But the truth is, we've had some very nice vacations for the amount of the total cost (airfair, ship, extras) of the cruise. I came back from this cruise feeling like I'd rather go to a destination resort. I particularly like spas.
-
Liquor is not included, nor are the virgin blended drinks the kids can get from the bar. If you like to drink, like me and the Mrs. KBB do, the bar tab at the end can be surprising. There are other things onboard that are not free, but we never really go in to any of those. Shore excursions are also not free, but sometimes worth the spend. That said, we haven't been on a cruise in years as we much prefer just going somewhere, renting a condo and a car, and actually seeing a place...instead of spending 4 hours in port and seeing what the cruise lines want you to see. Not criticizing others choices at all, cruises are a great deal of fun and if that's what you like go for it, we just like to take a little more time and get to know a place.
-
My boss & his wife are fairly frugal, hardcore cruisers as a couple but when they "host" groups, all bets are off. After returning from yet another sea-jaunt last week, he complained that their bar bill, usually under $50/cruise, was over $500 and his was one of the lowest of their group. Their group? His fellow church members! I guess once they're off-shore, it's party time!
-
I wouldn't go on a cruise if they paid ME the fancy balcony rate. The thought of being stuck on a floating tourist trap makes me a bit uneasy. I don't mind others doing it though.
I thought this, until we did our first European cruise. I think it was 7 days, with only 1 day we didn't pull in to port. We spent very little time on the boat, other than dinner, a couple hours after dinner, and sleeping.
I've done 3 in 2.5 years, two with my husband and one with my mom and sister for my mom's 70th. And husband and I have one last cruise planned before we move from Europe. We rarely spend much. Mom enjoyed a daily happy hour and sprung for drinks to make that happen. DH and I typically buy a bottle or two of wine (they store it for you so you can drink it across several nights and in various places). One trip he bought a few speciality coffees. (Regular coffee is free.) At meals, we drink the free water, tea, and lemonade.
We typically explore on our own. Not only is it much cheaper, I prefer to get to spend more or less time at a site depending on our interest, and not to be in a horde of 45 people. With mom and sister, mom wanted more structure so we research and arranged our own excursions. We used sites that allowed us to share excursions with other people from our boat. We had groups of about 7, for the same price or cheaper than the cruise tours, with far more flexibility. It was definitely pricey still, and wouldn't have been how I choose to tour, but mom felt secure and liked that option, and was willing to pay for it (and can afford to do so).
To me, when people say cruises are expensive or that there are so many things that aren't included that you'll be shocked when you disembark, they are like those who say that no one can live in $60,000. The food on most lines is good to very good, and free. So why do you "need" to spend $25+ on a speciality restaurant? Coffee is free, so why do you need a $5 latte? Getting off the boat is free (and works just fine in most ports, and there are books to help you navigate the ports--notably Rick Steves for Euro cruises, with his cruise-specific books) so why do you need a $90+ excursion.
Just like everything else, they can be done for cheap, or in the most fancy-pants ways possible.
-
Liquor is not included, nor are the virgin blended drinks the kids can get from the bar. If you like to drink, like me and the Mrs. KBB do, the bar tab at the end can be surprising. There are other things onboard that are not free, but we never really go in to any of those. Shore excursions are also not free, but sometimes worth the spend. That said, we haven't been on a cruise in years as we much prefer just going somewhere, renting a condo and a car, and actually seeing a place...instead of spending 4 hours in port and seeing what the cruise lines want you to see. Not criticizing others choices at all, cruises are a great deal of fun and if that's what you like go for it, we just like to take a little more time and get to know a place.
liquor is becoming more and more inclusive on cruises. Just saw a 7 day cruise on norwegian for early Jan 2016 with a balcony and alcohol included for 550 per person.
-
Liquor is not included, nor are the virgin blended drinks the kids can get from the bar. If you like to drink, like me and the Mrs. KBB do, the bar tab at the end can be surprising. There are other things onboard that are not free, but we never really go in to any of those. Shore excursions are also not free, but sometimes worth the spend. That said, we haven't been on a cruise in years as we much prefer just going somewhere, renting a condo and a car, and actually seeing a place...instead of spending 4 hours in port and seeing what the cruise lines want you to see. Not criticizing others choices at all, cruises are a great deal of fun and if that's what you like go for it, we just like to take a little more time and get to know a place.
liquor is becoming more and more inclusive on cruises. Just saw a 7 day cruise on norwegian for early Jan 2016 with a balcony and alcohol included for 550 per person.
Would there not be some valid safety concerns when you have a boat load of people with unlimited alcohol for 7 days;)
-
Eh, they lose a few, but there are plenty.
(While it's true that passengers occasionally fall over the balcony rails while attempting drunken sex, that was actually paraphrased from a conversation with someone talking about spaying kittens at 4 weeks over 20 years ago. Yeah, it stuck with me).
-
Liquor is not included, nor are the virgin blended drinks the kids can get from the bar. If you like to drink, like me and the Mrs. KBB do, the bar tab at the end can be surprising. There are other things onboard that are not free, but we never really go in to any of those. Shore excursions are also not free, but sometimes worth the spend. That said, we haven't been on a cruise in years as we much prefer just going somewhere, renting a condo and a car, and actually seeing a place...instead of spending 4 hours in port and seeing what the cruise lines want you to see. Not criticizing others choices at all, cruises are a great deal of fun and if that's what you like go for it, we just like to take a little more time and get to know a place.
liquor is becoming more and more inclusive on cruises. Just saw a 7 day cruise on norwegian for early Jan 2016 with a balcony and alcohol included for 550 per person.
Would there not be some valid safety concerns when you have a boat load of people with unlimited alcohol for 7 days;)
That's what the brig is for. :)
The price of admission usually keeps the rifraf away though.
-
Liquor is not included, nor are the virgin blended drinks the kids can get from the bar. If you like to drink, like me and the Mrs. KBB do, the bar tab at the end can be surprising. There are other things onboard that are not free, but we never really go in to any of those. Shore excursions are also not free, but sometimes worth the spend. That said, we haven't been on a cruise in years as we much prefer just going somewhere, renting a condo and a car, and actually seeing a place...instead of spending 4 hours in port and seeing what the cruise lines want you to see. Not criticizing others choices at all, cruises are a great deal of fun and if that's what you like go for it, we just like to take a little more time and get to know a place.
liquor is becoming more and more inclusive on cruises. Just saw a 7 day cruise on norwegian for early Jan 2016 with a balcony and alcohol included for 550 per person.
Which one? I'm looking for cruise deals right now. What lines/ships do you cruisers recommend?
-
I thought the whole point of a cruise was that it was all inclusive?
Only very few cruises are all inclusive! The ones that are cost an effing fortune.
We have done 4 cruises; and my bill has never been more than $10 (not including mandatory tips). One cruise I bought a pashmina (and it is freaking awesome) for $10. The others I only bought a plate of chocolate covered strawberries. We do not book shore excursions through the cruise lines, but often manage to do very low budget days (now that we scuba dive, the days are a bit more expensive...)
One of these cruises (Celebrity Xpedition) WAS all-inclusive, but I don't drink, so that isn't a feature I would normally look for in a cruise, as I don't want to pay for alcohol I don't consume. Xpedition is a bit a-typical as cruises go, the ship holds fewer than 100 people.
We go for the balcony if it is under $100 per person per night; otherwise we go with an oceanview. The balcony is nice; especially as we are not party people, and we typically cruise Carnival due to it's value pricing.
We really like port-intensive cruises (not a huge fan of sea days, I can relax at home...) because they give us a chance to explore lots of new places without multiple expensive airfares! Then we get an idea of where we want to go back to. My husband loves the ocean, but I hate beach vacations... although now that we scuba dive, we've done 2 land trips that were really nice. So the cruise breaks that up a bit.
liquor is becoming more and more inclusive on cruises. Just saw a 7 day cruise on norwegian for early Jan 2016 with a balcony and alcohol included for 550 per person.
That is an unusually low fare! NCL's pricing has gone way up since they have offered the ultimate beverage package as a perk.
-
A cruise can be all-inclusive, except you can't drink alcohol or go to specialty restaurants, but you can still have fun by eating at regular buffets and go to excursion on your own (it's at your own risk of course). All I am saying, it is possible to go on a cruise without paying a dime on food or paying to be with an excursion group offered by the cruise line.
-
A cruise can be all-inclusive, except you can't drink alcohol or go to specialty restaurants, but you can still have fun by eating at regular buffets and go to excursion on your own (it's at your own risk of course). All I am saying, it is possible to go on a cruise without paying a dime on food or paying to be with an excursion group offered by the cruise line.
No need to eat at buffets unless you want to. Every major cruise line includes a sit down main dining room in their fare.
I wouldn't call it all-inclusive though if you can't partake in all things offered. Yes, you can cruise without paying anything extra; but the offerings of the cruise are not all-inclusive. You have to make a conscious effort to not choose things that cost money; because they really are presented to you at every turn. For some people, this is really difficult because they feel if they are missing out.
-
next cruise for us is in November, but reading this, i'd be happy to go on one tomorrow (but cant because work :( )
you can spend what you like and "upgrade your experience" but you dont neeeeed to because it is good anyway. a simple inside cabin is all you need.
we done a balcony once, but that was for our honeymoon so totally wasnt going to do anything else.
eurgh... this scottish weather truly is depressing lately... must be 40+ days of consecutive rain.
-
Liquor is not included, nor are the virgin blended drinks the kids can get from the bar. If you like to drink, like me and the Mrs. KBB do, the bar tab at the end can be surprising. There are other things onboard that are not free, but we never really go in to any of those. Shore excursions are also not free, but sometimes worth the spend. That said, we haven't been on a cruise in years as we much prefer just going somewhere, renting a condo and a car, and actually seeing a place...instead of spending 4 hours in port and seeing what the cruise lines want you to see. Not criticizing others choices at all, cruises are a great deal of fun and if that's what you like go for it, we just like to take a little more time and get to know a place.
liquor is becoming more and more inclusive on cruises. Just saw a 7 day cruise on norwegian for early Jan 2016 with a balcony and alcohol included for 550 per person.
Which one? I'm looking for cruise deals right now. What lines/ships do you cruisers recommend?
looks like those are gone. I recommend subscribing to travelzoo.com and crucon.com Crucon is where most of the crazy deals i've seen recently come from. it was about a month ago i saw the norwegian for that price. best drink package cruise line is probably celebrity if you want more than just booze. it includes specialty coffees and bottled water and OJ. if you just want booze norwegian has the highest limit on the package they include with their sip and sail promotion.
-
This thread makes me badly want to go on a cruise! DH is very resistant. :(
-
A cruise can be all-inclusive, except you can't drink alcohol or go to specialty restaurants, but you can still have fun by eating at regular buffets and go to excursion on your own (it's at your own risk of course). All I am saying, it is possible to go on a cruise without paying a dime on food or paying to be with an excursion group offered by the cruise line.
No need to eat at buffets unless you want to. Every major cruise line includes a sit down main dining room in their fare.
I wouldn't call it all-inclusive though if you can't partake in all things offered. Yes, you can cruise without paying anything extra; but the offerings of the cruise are not all-inclusive. You have to make a conscious effort to not choose things that cost money; because they really are presented to you at every turn. For some people, this is really difficult because they feel if they are missing out.
What I meant is that you won't die from starvation on a cruise line, you get free meals if you feel like it just like a resort in some hotel, the only difference is the alcohol which is also not necessary to survive.
-
I've cruised on Princess and Royal Caribbean. I found them to be more or less the same. I wouldn't pick a cruise based on line, but on itinerary and price.
We always do the cheapest cabins--interior. We pick port-intensive cruises with very few sea days. Consequently, we don't spend much time in our room. What do I care if I don't have a window, especially when it saves me hundreds of dollars? Also, the interior cabins are in the middle of the ship (middle left to right, not necessarily front to back), so they move a bit less, which can be good in high seas.
-
We have friends who cruise a lot. They go on last minute cruises which works when you are retired. There are websites you can subscribe to that send you lists of deals.
We have gone on a few but I can take them or leave them. But then my everyday life is so great they have little appeal.
-
A cruise can be all-inclusive, except you can't drink alcohol or go to specialty restaurants, but you can still have fun by eating at regular buffets and go to excursion on your own (it's at your own risk of course). All I am saying, it is possible to go on a cruise without paying a dime on food or paying to be with an excursion group offered by the cruise line.
No need to eat at buffets unless you want to. Every major cruise line includes a sit down main dining room in their fare.
I wouldn't call it all-inclusive though if you can't partake in all things offered. Yes, you can cruise without paying anything extra; but the offerings of the cruise are not all-inclusive. You have to make a conscious effort to not choose things that cost money; because they really are presented to you at every turn. For some people, this is really difficult because they feel if they are missing out.
What I meant is that you won't die from starvation on a cruise line, you get free meals if you feel like it just like a resort in some hotel, the only difference is the alcohol which is also not necessary to survive.
Sorry, but there is a world of difference between "won't starve" and "all-inclusive".
-
A cruise can be all-inclusive, except you can't drink alcohol or go to specialty restaurants, but you can still have fun by eating at regular buffets and go to excursion on your own (it's at your own risk of course). All I am saying, it is possible to go on a cruise without paying a dime on food or paying to be with an excursion group offered by the cruise line.
No need to eat at buffets unless you want to. Every major cruise line includes a sit down main dining room in their fare.
I wouldn't call it all-inclusive though if you can't partake in all things offered. Yes, you can cruise without paying anything extra; but the offerings of the cruise are not all-inclusive. You have to make a conscious effort to not choose things that cost money; because they really are presented to you at every turn. For some people, this is really difficult because they feel if they are missing out.
What I meant is that you won't die from starvation on a cruise line, you get free meals if you feel like it just like a resort in some hotel, the only difference is the alcohol which is also not necessary to survive.
Sorry, but there is a world of difference between "won't starve" and "all-inclusive".
Sure, but most all-inclusive resorts have extras, and they are commonly called "all-inclusive". You can pay for that sunset cruise, the snorkeling trip, and sometimes even a lobster dinner one night.
A cruise is the same way. It isn't just "won't starve". You can have water, lemonade, tea, and coffee 24/7. There are buffets open nearly 24 hours. There are sit down dinners with fairly fancy menu choices and multiple courses. There are activities and games and lectures and lessons. All free.
But if you want to climb the rock wall or have a latte instead of a coffee, or you want dinner at the steakhouse, then you have to pay. It isn't like it's difficult to avoid those things or that you really have to make much of a conscious effort, at least not in my experience. I suppose there is a guy offering $5 bottled water when you disembark in port, and as you walk in to dinner someone might be there with info about an upcoming wine tasting, but I haven't found them to be aggressive or intrusive.
-
The only cruise we have ever done was up to Alaska. Our room was $700 per person. We spent an additional $250 each on excursions. One excursion was a train ride in Skagway to the Yukon and the other was a whale watching tour in Juneau. Both of these were phenomenal additions to our trip and I would do them again in a heartbeat. We plan on taking our son to Alaska when he is older and he would get such a kick out of the wildlife and all the cool boat and train rides.
My only issue with Cruise boats is the grotesque amount of pollution they create :(
-
I read this thread with interest because I know there are websites that post exact itineraries (subject to change) based on your cruise line and dates, along with frugal hacks that allow you to get the most for your independent excursion dollar. Alas, I've seen nothing yet. Anyone? Bueller??
-
I read this thread with interest because I know there are websites that post exact itineraries (subject to change) based on your cruise line and dates, along with frugal hacks that allow you to get the most for your independent excursion dollar. Alas, I've seen nothing yet. Anyone? Bueller??
Well, tell us which websites and we'll meet there!
-
If you want to be really frugal & drunk on a cruise, this is what I have done...
You're allowed to bring a pack of bottled water with lids sealed. At home, I steam off the lids, pour out the water, and fill them with vodka! I steam the lids again until soft and pop them back on. I don't drink soda anyway, so I help myself to nonstop screwdrivers (OJ is included). I never have a bill at the end of the cruise (besides tip). Good times!
-
If you want to be really frugal & drunk on a cruise, this is what I have done...
You're allowed to bring a pack of bottled water with lids sealed. At home, I steam off the lids, pour out the water, and fill them with vodka! I steam the lids again until soft and pop them back on. I don't drink soda anyway, so I help myself to nonstop screwdrivers (OJ is included). I never have a bill at the end of the cruise (besides tip). Good times!
If you sail Carnival, they figured this out- and now you can't bring bottled drinks, including water, anymore, only cans.
They used to weed out a lot of the vodka by shaking the water bottles, but that took time; so now everyone gets screwed.
-
I read this thread with interest because I know there are websites that post exact itineraries (subject to change) based on your cruise line and dates, along with frugal hacks that allow you to get the most for your independent excursion dollar. Alas, I've seen nothing yet. Anyone? Bueller??
Well, tell us which websites and we'll meet there!
I know of their existence, but no specifics. Sorry if it wasn't clear that I was asking a question, not hiding valuable resources. If I knew, I surely would share.
-
I went on my first cruise (as an adult) recently, and couldn't believe how much the whole thing was designed to keep selling you things -- art auctions, casino specials, massages, fancy dinners, bingo, etc. Every day there was some sort of free activity or raffle that was actually a trick to sell you more things! We did some excursions and bought a souvenir photo and a couple of drinks (in addition to the bottle of wine per person you're allowed to bring on board -- check your cruise line!) It wasn't bad, but I think we decided that cruising's not really for us anyway. Regarding excursions, I just went on tripadvisor to look for highly rated things we wanted to do and then booked on their websites. There was really not much to do in the ports we went to, so I'm glad we booked excursions.
Booking tip: Once we knew what cruise we wanted to take, we went to cruisecompete.com and put in our info. They farm it out to a bunch of travel agencies who all write you back with quotes. One of the agents quoted us the same price as the cruise line (and expedia, priceline, etc.), but with $125 of onboard credit. Score!
-
Cruise Critic (http://www.cruisecritic.com) seems to have a lot of info/deals and a very active forums. I like to read and imagine I'm able to take the wife on a cruise.
-
Booking tip: Once we knew what cruise we wanted to take, we went to cruisecompete.com and put in our info. They farm it out to a bunch of travel agencies who all write you back with quotes. One of the agents quoted us the same price as the cruise line (and expedia, priceline, etc.), but with $125 of onboard credit. Score!
Cruise Critic (http://www.cruisecritic.com) seems to have a lot of info/deals and a very active forums.
That's what I was looking for! Keep 'em coming, folks. Thank you.
BTW, I'd like to add that cruises can be very efficient at letting you see a lot of places in less time. I loved one I took that circumnavigated New Zealand. Since a lot of the cool things there are coastal, cruising allows you better access than overland travel. Milford Sound on a sunny day was miraculous to behold from deckside.
-
Depending on where you are cruising, the Rick Steves book (one for Northern European cruise and the other for Med. cruises) has tons of tips. He even talks you through how to get from various dock locations into town so you avoid taxis and shuttles when possible.
I know Cruise Critic also has sections for each specific cruise, and then within them I believe there are subsections for meeting people to share private excursions. Smaller groups and still cheaper than the ship's excursions if you can find another group or two with whom to share.
-
I see a lot of these types of people who are persuaded to go on a cruise because they are "cheap" only to spend more than the ticket price on alcohol alone.
-
I see a lot of these types of people who are persuaded to go on a cruise because they are "cheap" only to spend more than the ticket price on alcohol alone.
I've done that before. But I knew what I would be spending going into it. And things are better (and cheaper) now with all the unlimited beverage packages.
-
I've done that before. But I knew what I would be spending going into it. And things are better (and cheaper) now with all the unlimited beverage packages.
The unlimited (which really, for Carnival is 15 drinks a day) beverage package, at $57.45 per day, for our cruise costs more per day than an oceanview room would have for the same cruise
My husband enjoys a drink almost every night at home; but he just doesn't drink on a cruise past what we are allowed to carry on. (In 4 cruises, I think we've purchased 4 drinks...). It's not that hard to go a week without it. (I don't drink at all.) And it sure saves a lot.
-
I've done that before. But I knew what I would be spending going into it. And things are better (and cheaper) now with all the unlimited beverage packages.
The unlimited (which really, for Carnival is 15 drinks a day) beverage package, at $57.45 per day, for our cruise costs more per day than an oceanview room would have for the same cruise
My husband enjoys a drink almost every night at home; but he just doesn't drink on a cruise past what we are allowed to carry on. (In 4 cruises, I think we've purchased 4 drinks...). It's not that hard to go a week without it. (I don't drink at all.) And it sure saves a lot.
On Celebrity, the unlimited package is really unlimited and it's included in the cost of your room if you book oceanview or better. Also, the Carnival 15-drink limit would be a problem for me ;).
-
I only spent money on excursions, which I considered experiences and worth the money. And really, they weren't all that more expensive than an independent trip to do the same thing would be. Plus you have the guarantee that the boat will wait for you if you have a problem, which isn't the case if you do your own thing or hire an outside company.
-
I love to cruise! I usually choose a cruise based on itinerary and price, and I almost always book the least expensive cabin with an online travel agency that discounts. I join the "roll call" thread on Cruise Critic (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=34) for my particular cruise, and I have frequently joined private tours that have been organized by others on my ship. To check whether cruise prices have gone up or down since they were first available to book - take a look at Cruise Fish: www.cruisefish.net.
I am pretty immune to the "nickel and diming" that occurs on a ship. I don't drink alcohol or soda, don't gamble, and am happy with the food in the dining room/buffet that is included in my cruise. I rarely buy "stuff" in the shops - other than the occasional tee-shirt. Cruise lines don't make a lot of money on me!
-
We loooove cruising but it sure is crazy how much some people will spend. Between our AmEx and Costco, we usually have at least 10% of the balcony cruise fare in OBC, which is enough to pay for anything we want to drink, a little gambling, and usually a shore excursion. Last time we cruised we ended up cashing out some of the OBC in the casino because we didn't need or want anything else. I think it can be as expensive as you make it, but it's definitely one of my favorite ways to vacation.
-
We go on a themed cruise about every other year, and it is pricey.
I found as much as I drink on cruises, even though my wife doesn't, it's cheaper to get the bar card. it's stupidly expensive.
I rarely buy things in port, or do anything that isn't totally amazing.
We can 'afford' it, but we're rethinking this (even though it's the cheapest way to see a few hundred friends at once). seems like a better use would be to save up and go to other countries, etc.
-
My parents really like cruises so we have done a lot of them as a family. We used to get balconies and bigger rooms but nowadays we generally just grab the cheapest rooms.
None of us are heavy drinkers and we don't gamble. Biggest expense is generally shore excursions.
I'm sitting here trying to remember what exactly we do on sea days but I can't seem to recall. Its never boring though.
The one exception was that 21 day cruise - I was clawing on the walls after two weeks.
-
I've done that before. But I knew what I would be spending going into it. And things are better (and cheaper) now with all the unlimited beverage packages.
The unlimited (which really, for Carnival is 15 drinks a day) beverage package, at $57.45 per day, for our cruise costs more per day than an oceanview room would have for the same cruise
My husband enjoys a drink almost every night at home; but he just doesn't drink on a cruise past what we are allowed to carry on. (In 4 cruises, I think we've purchased 4 drinks...). It's not that hard to go a week without it. (I don't drink at all.) And it sure saves a lot.
So it works out to like 5-6 drinks per day as a break-even point. I don't think I'd drink that much at this stage in my life. Maybe when I was in my 20s and single. Maybe I could do a light beer every couple hours in the afternoon, but that's more for hydration than alcohol.
BTW, you could also ferment your own spiked juice in your room. The first couple days would be weak, but after that you could have a steady supply. There are a lot of kits out there if your search "spiked juice" or something like that.
-
I finally wrote an article on saving money on cruises... especially for first time cruisers that don't realize all of the hidden costs.
My typical bill at the end of the cruise is for tips only... one time I bought a shore ex (a train where the cruise line had pre-purchased ALL of the tickets) and a bottle of wine for a special occasion.
https://thehotflashpacker.com/how-to-save-money-on-a-cruise/
-
Good article. Regarding the first section on booking, I'd add that WHEN you book matters. Book very early or book a few weeks out for a great deal. I'd also add that once you book, watch the price of your cruise like a hawk and rebook the better rate or cabin - especially before final payment. I've done this twice with NCL (I always book directly with them).
-
Thanks for the article. Our schools are out until the 11th due to the hurricane, so we figured that we'd look into it. Dirt cheap
Bon voyage.
-
I love cruising. Great family holiday - other people arranging things to do for you and your family with all differing interests. Then they clean you room, make your bed, cook and clean up afterwards - and then take you to places you haven't been before (and they won't let you drive so you can then have a few drinks).
I cruised in June with 2 of my kids, my wife and my parents. I haven't been on a cruise with my parents in over 35 years. The times that we all spend together are irreplaceable.
yes you can spend money on board and on the ports but thats entirely under your control. I paid for all of our expenses by playing blackjack. Not to be recommended for all.
My parents claim they paid for a Reno wedding using this method. They were poor graduate students at the time, so it actually seems kind of plausible.
-
I finally wrote an article on saving money on cruises... especially for first time cruisers that don't realize all of the hidden costs.
My typical bill at the end of the cruise is for tips only... one time I bought a shore ex (a train where the cruise line had pre-purchased ALL of the tickets) and a bottle of wine for a special occasion.
https://thehotflashpacker.com/how-to-save-money-on-a-cruise/
I have just about the same number of cruise days and couldn't have written that better myself.
-
I don't drink anymore, so our cruise last year was not that expensive. I ordered a couple of Perrier with lime. The wife ordered one fruity-sugary drink and decided she didn't like it. We bought minimal shit at the stupid gift shop for MIL. We did not pay for shore excursions, we did a few DIY and got a little far off the beaten track in Jamaica. It was never unsafe, just a little rustic for my taste. I did spring for couples massage, totally worth it! Never ate at the fancy restaurant. I actually preferred the buffet to the included sit-down restaurant myself.
-
I finally wrote an article on saving money on cruises... especially for first time cruisers that don't realize all of the hidden costs.
My typical bill at the end of the cruise is for tips only... one time I bought a shore ex (a train where the cruise line had pre-purchased ALL of the tickets) and a bottle of wine for a special occasion.
https://thehotflashpacker.com/how-to-save-money-on-a-cruise/
I have just about the same number of cruise days and couldn't have written that better myself.
Thanks for the feedback!
-
Good article. Regarding the first section on booking, I'd add that WHEN you book matters. Book very early or book a few weeks out for a great deal. I'd also add that once you book, watch the price of your cruise like a hawk and rebook the better rate or cabin - especially before final payment. I've done this twice with NCL (I always book directly with them).
This is a good one. I'll make some edits this weekend!
-
Cruising isn't for everyone. But it can be a great value. My in-laws get back tomorrow from a five-night cruise we bought them for their 50th anniversary. It went to Havana and Cozumel, in and out of Tampa where we live. We bought them a nicer cabin, took care of the port taxes, pre-paid gratuities and trip insurance for $1,880. SIL and BIL, pointing out that my in-laws drink a fair amount, bought them the booze package for $300 or so, which I'm guessing my in-laws more than covered.
The whole passive, consumer, gluttonous cruise experience has no appeal to me. But it works for some.
-
Cruising isn't for everyone. But it can be a great value. My in-laws get back tomorrow from a five-night cruise we bought them for their 50th anniversary. It went to Havana and Cozumel, in and out of Tampa where we live. We bought them a nicer cabin, took care of the port taxes, pre-paid gratuities and trip insurance for $1,880. SIL and BIL, pointing out that my in-laws drink a fair amount, bought them the booze package for $300 or so, which I'm guessing my in-laws more than covered.
The whole passive, consumer, gluttonous cruise experience has no appeal to me. But it works for some.
Cruising certainly isn't my favorite way to travel but it's allowed me to visit some parts that are difficult to get to otherwise (fjords of Norway & Chile, Antarctica, and all the little island nations of the Caribbean) and it's a great way to spend quality time with family. I traveled all 3 times with my parents when they were in their 70s, now in their 80s and will remember that time fondly as I don't get to see them that often since I live across the country.
-
A cruise ship was in port here recently, named www.aboardtheworld.com
People own the cruise ship cabins, and travel continuously. Most of the cabins are empty - imagine that?
What a crazy waste of money.
The only owner name I heard was Judge Judy.
-
I finally wrote an article on saving money on cruises... especially for first time cruisers that don't realize all of the hidden costs.
My typical bill at the end of the cruise is for tips only... one time I bought a shore ex (a train where the cruise line had pre-purchased ALL of the tickets) and a bottle of wine for a special occasion.
https://thehotflashpacker.com/how-to-save-money-on-a-cruise/
I'm guessing the train ride was St. Kitts?
If so i couldn't stomach that price and actually did an independent tour. Four of us for the same price as one train ticket!
made more entertaining by the guys clutch giving out as we started up Brimstone Castle!!
-
I finally wrote an article on saving money on cruises... especially for first time cruisers that don't realize all of the hidden costs.
My typical bill at the end of the cruise is for tips only... one time I bought a shore ex (a train where the cruise line had pre-purchased ALL of the tickets) and a bottle of wine for a special occasion.
https://thehotflashpacker.com/how-to-save-money-on-a-cruise/
I'm guessing the train ride was St. Kitts?
If so i couldn't stomach that price and actually did an independent tour. Four of us for the same price as one train ticket!
made more entertaining by the guys clutch giving out as we started up Brimstone Castle!!
No, it was in Flam, Norway. They have one of the steepest train rides in the world that goes up through valleys, stops at a waterfall, and then at a hotel at the top of the hill. It's actually on the national train line of Norway. However, when the cruise is in port, the line buys up all the tickets and charges you 3x the cost (to be fair, they gave us coffee and a waffle at the top!). We had some ship credit anyways from a promotion so rather than blow it on booze, we did this overpriced trip. I guess it was worth it but would have preferred to walk up and pay the real price. It didn't even include transportation... the train station was 2 blocks from the ship!
-
I finally wrote an article on saving money on cruises... especially for first time cruisers that don't realize all of the hidden costs.
My typical bill at the end of the cruise is for tips only... one time I bought a shore ex (a train where the cruise line had pre-purchased ALL of the tickets) and a bottle of wine for a special occasion.
https://thehotflashpacker.com/how-to-save-money-on-a-cruise/
you probably should add to cancel your tips at the end of a cruise and go tip the staff that supported you then. Those tips dont go to the staff its just another way they profit. We cancel and hand out cash to our people who helped us.
-
I take it I'm the only one who filled stealthily filled a 12 pack of water (still in plastic wrapping) with vodka and didn't spend a dime on alcohol? I did buy the (non-alcoholic) beverage card for unlimited mixers.
-
I take it I'm the only one who filled stealthily filled a 12 pack of water (still in plastic wrapping) with vodka and didn't spend a dime on alcohol? I did buy the (non-alcoholic) beverage card for unlimited mixers.
No, you aren't the only one.
And you're the reason that they now open all the packs of water and shake every single bottle individually to make sure it isn't vodka. (They used to shake the whole pack at once, which was impressive strength, IMO)
I've been on 5 cruises and only paid for one drink. The bar waitress at dinner was so nice I felt bad to never buy anything. But we always bring on two 12-packs of soda and 2 bottles of wine and that's enough for me and DH.
There are entire industries around sneaking alcohol onto cruises though. I've seen so many products- like liners for shampoo bottles, or jugs that supposedly don't get seen on the scanners, etc. People will go to huge lengths to get alcohol on.
(My BIL was quite successful with the "buy lots of bottles in port", give one to the checker and keep the rest in the backpack.)
-
I take it I'm the only one who filled stealthily filled a 12 pack of water (still in plastic wrapping) with vodka and didn't spend a dime on alcohol? I did buy the (non-alcoholic) beverage card for unlimited mixers.
No, you aren't the only one.
And you're the reason that they now open all the packs of water and shake every single bottle individually to make sure it isn't vodka. (They used to shake the whole pack at once, which was impressive strength, IMO)
Good to know to not try again. I haven't gone on one since 2010 and lifestyle/risk preferences have shifted greatly over the past 7 years.
-
I take it I'm the only one who filled stealthily filled a 12 pack of water (still in plastic wrapping) with vodka and didn't spend a dime on alcohol? I did buy the (non-alcoholic) beverage card for unlimited mixers.
No, you aren't the only one.
And you're the reason that they now open all the packs of water and shake every single bottle individually to make sure it isn't vodka. (They used to shake the whole pack at once, which was impressive strength, IMO)
Good to know to not try again. I haven't gone on one since 2010 and lifestyle/risk preferences have shifted greatly over the past 7 years.
They just take it away. They aren't going to deny boarding for vodka water bottles.
-
I finally wrote an article on saving money on cruises... especially for first time cruisers that don't realize all of the hidden costs.
My typical bill at the end of the cruise is for tips only... one time I bought a shore ex (a train where the cruise line had pre-purchased ALL of the tickets) and a bottle of wine for a special occasion.
https://thehotflashpacker.com/how-to-save-money-on-a-cruise/
you probably should add to cancel your tips at the end of a cruise and go tip the staff that supported you then. Those tips dont go to the staff its just another way they profit. We cancel and hand out cash to our people who helped us.
I've been told if you cancel your mandated tips and give to individuals, the individuals are mandated to give that full amount back to the pot or they will be fired. The individuals can only keep it if you've paid the mandated tips. Also the mandated tips get paid to all the people behind the scenes that do work to serve you, from the cooks to the people who wash the sheets.
I'm not going to mention on my website to not pay the tips... the people work so hard and even with tips probably make less than minimum wage. This is a fine line between being frugal and cheap.
-
A friend who spent 3 years working on RCCL said they absolutely receive their share of the "mandatory" tips. They don't go to the company.
And they do have to turn in cash tips to share.
Tipping only people who served you actually leaves out HUGE numbers of tipped employees who directly influenced how enjoyable your cruise was. Were you glad your table was wiped clean on the Lido deck? Happy that the elevators were cleaned? Glad the bar was well stocked so the bartender could make your favorite drink? Did you seek those people out to tip them?
My friend was in a highly visible position, so he got tons of extra tips. But a lot of other people on the ship do a lot of work, and the ship's economy is set up that they rely on tips too, and don't always see passengers.
-
A friend who spent 3 years working on RCCL said they absolutely receive their share of the "mandatory" tips. They don't go to the company.
And they do have to turn in cash tips to share.
Tipping only people who served you actually leaves out HUGE numbers of tipped employees who directly influenced how enjoyable your cruise was. Were you glad your table was wiped clean on the Lido deck? Happy that the elevators were cleaned? Glad the bar was well stocked so the bartender could make your favorite drink? Did you seek those people out to tip them?
My friend was in a highly visible position, so he got tons of extra tips. But a lot of other people on the ship do a lot of work, and the ship's economy is set up that they rely on tips too, and don't always see passengers.
I am glad to read this. I just spent 7 days cruising in Alaska with Celebrity Cruises. Each person on the boat had daily mandatory tips put onto their account. Both my husband and I were pleased to do it this way. For us, it made sure that the workers got their tips. Like you said above, the people who bussed tables at the buffet, the housekeeping people who cleaned the public areas of the ship are just two categories of worker that I can think of that should get their share.
-
My sister stated she spent as much on booze and excursion as her cruise itself cost. She does like good booze but that just makes me shake my head.
-
A friend who spent 3 years working on RCCL said they absolutely receive their share of the "mandatory" tips. They don't go to the company.
And they do have to turn in cash tips to share.
Tipping only people who served you actually leaves out HUGE numbers of tipped employees who directly influenced how enjoyable your cruise was. Were you glad your table was wiped clean on the Lido deck? Happy that the elevators were cleaned? Glad the bar was well stocked so the bartender could make your favorite drink? Did you seek those people out to tip them?
My friend was in a highly visible position, so he got tons of extra tips. But a lot of other people on the ship do a lot of work, and the ship's economy is set up that they rely on tips too, and don't always see passengers.
Thanks for sharing this. Yeah, I feel for the people down in the bowels of the ship cooking & doing laundry.
It's similar to restaurants. Why do the cute girls or guys that get to wait tables and bartend get so much more than the people slaving away preparing food and washing dishes? Washing dishes is the worse. I did it for a quarter in college and was sick all the time... constantly touching germy food & dishes.
-
My sister stated she spent as much on booze and excursion as her cruise itself cost. She does like good booze but that just makes me shake my head.
Excursions I could see. I'm looking at excursions on a possible pacific cruise and if you want to do the good stuff (like the road to hana in maui), it's going to run you $149. I'm looking at alternatives like renting a car for the day and sharing with a few people.
Cruisecritic roll calls give some contacts for organizing tours independent of the cruiseline. I've taken tours that are 1/2 the cost and include more perks (smaller groups, included meals & samples, less stops at commissionable shops, etc)
-
A cruise ship was in port here recently, named www.aboardtheworld.com
People own the cruise ship cabins, and travel continuously. Most of the cabins are empty - imagine that?
What a crazy waste of money.
The only owner name I heard was Judge Judy.
Owners need a net worth of at least $10 million, and the cheapest residence costs $3 million. And you have to meet the approval of the current residents before they let you aboard.
The upside is, you can bring your own alcohol on board! :)
-
For those of us who are single, is a cruise worthwhile at all? I would like to do it once, even though my co-workers make it sound like a Golden Corral on water. But I don't want to be charged a double-occupancy rate.
-
My sister stated she spent as much on booze and excursion as her cruise itself cost. She does like good booze but that just makes me shake my head.
Excursions can be done cheaply or expensive.
Russia is one of the only places you HAVE to have an excursion, as a cruise visa only allows you to visit with a tour company. But even then the excursion doesn't have to be with the cruise line.
We've found cruising to be pretty cheap. We do an oceanview cabin unless we can get a balcony under $90 a day. Our biggest expense is flying in. We often do free beach days instead of true excursions. Not drinking really helps. And there is no need to spend money on food.
But my SIL gets the cheapest inside cabin available and then she and BIL drink like fish. I'm sure their alcohol bill greatly exceeds what they pay for the cabin.
-
For those of us who are single, is a cruise worthwhile at all? I would like to do it once, even though my co-workers make it sound like a Golden Corral on water. But I don't want to be charged a double-occupancy rate.
I know Norwegian and possibly Royal Caribbean have single occupancy staterooms.
-
My sister stated she spent as much on booze and excursion as her cruise itself cost. She does like good booze but that just makes me shake my head.
Excursions I could see. I'm looking at excursions on a possible pacific cruise and if you want to do the good stuff (like the road to hana in maui), it's going to run you $149. I'm looking at alternatives like renting a car for the day and sharing with a few people.
Cruisecritic roll calls give some contacts for organizing tours independent of the cruiseline. I've taken tours that are 1/2 the cost and include more perks (smaller groups, included meals & samples, less stops at commissionable shops, etc)
Are you doing a HI only cruise or something bigger?
-
For those of us who are single, is a cruise worthwhile at all? I would like to do it once, even though my co-workers make it sound like a Golden Corral on water. But I don't want to be charged a double-occupancy rate.
actually got this same question on my blog post on cruising...https://thehotflashpacker.com/how-to-save-money-on-a-cruise/
here's the advice I gave:
Yes. This is a problem for single travelers. The single supplement is usually 2x the double occupancy rate. I traveled with family for all of my cruises so it was 3 people to a room, which is a little cheaper than the per person cost if double occupancy. The Norwegian Epic and possibly other ships are adding junior rooms for singles. Other than that, you need to watch for sales. I’ve seen times the single supplement is only 25% higher for example. The better deals I’ve seen are very close to the departure date. There are also roommate pairing services although that would put you with a stranger – but how much time do you spend in the room on a cruise?
-
Are you doing a HI only cruise or something bigger?
Looking a a 4 week RT out of Los Angles. Looking at 2 possibilities - one is on HAL and does Hawaii, Kiribati, and French Polynesians. Other is Princess that does Hawaii, Samoa, and French Polynesians. Neither is very mustache-like but it might be my parent's last cruise (they're in their 80's and health is going downhill).
The Princess one is interesting as it crosses the international dateline perfectly to allow me to celebrate a pivotal birthday twice! Literally would be my birthday on 2 days in a row. That must be a sign, right?
-
My mom, sister, and I did a Med. cruise in large part as a way to fulfill my mom's lifelong dream to go to Italy. With mom, traipsing around on our own--the preferred method for my sister and me--wasn't ideal for several reasons, so in most cities we need to do tours. (Mom's request and she was footing the bill for them.)
My sister did a ton of research and via the Cruise Critics message board found people on our cruise to split tours with. They were private tours through private companies, completely separate from the ship. We ended up sharing three tours with the same group. There were 3 of us and 5 of them. We were able to tinker with the itineraries to get exactly what we all wanted--something we never could have done via the cruise company--and instead of 40+ people on a bus and crowding the sites, we were a party of 8. And it was cheaper besides.
Even in St. Petersburg where one *must* do a tour with a licensed tour company due to the visa requirements, our outside-company tour was cheaper and we had a van with 16 instead of a massive tour bus. And we were able to move faster and stay ahead of the crowds. Everyone does more or less the same circuit, and pretty much ever location we arrived at had no line when we went in, and a huge line waiting to enter by the time we left. And again, it was cheaper.
In most places, I prefer not doing a tour, even without the money factor. I found Rick Steves' two cruise books (one for the Med. and one for the Baltics) extremely helpful. But if you ever are doing a tour, don't do it through the boat, and do consider finding people on your cruise with whom to share a private tour, unless you are a very large party.
-
My mom, sister, and I did a Med. cruise in large part as a way to fulfill my mom's lifelong dream to go to Italy. With mom, traipsing around on our own--the preferred method for my sister and me--wasn't ideal for several reasons, so in most cities we need to do tours. (Mom's request and she was footing the bill for them.)
My sister did a ton of research and via the Cruise Critics message board found people on our cruise to split tours with. They were private tours through private companies, completely separate from the ship. We ended up sharing three tours with the same group. There were 3 of us and 5 of them. We were able to tinker with the itineraries to get exactly what we all wanted--something we never could have done via the cruise company--and instead of 40+ people on a bus and crowding the sites, we were a party of 8. And it was cheaper besides.
Even in St. Petersburg where one *must* do a tour with a licensed tour company due to the visa requirements, our outside-company tour was cheaper and we had a van with 16 instead of a massive tour bus. And we were able to move faster and stay ahead of the crowds. Everyone does more or less the same circuit, and pretty much ever location we arrived at had no line when we went in, and a huge line waiting to enter by the time we left. And again, it was cheaper.
In most places, I prefer not doing a tour, even without the money factor. I found Rick Steves' two cruise books (one for the Med. and one for the Baltics) extremely helpful. But if you ever are doing a tour, don't do it through the boat, and do consider finding people on your cruise with whom to share a private tour, unless you are a very large party.
+1 to all of above. I don't consider myself a "cruise only" traveler; however Used CruiseCritic forums and roll calls for the Med in 2006, the Baltics in 2015 as well as Mexico and the Greek Isles. Have arranged or participated in private group tours in most ports were we wanted to see more than the downtown.
Our format is to take a regional cruise first and figure out which ports or regions we might want to return to for land based trips. Our Med cruise led us back to Southern France and multiple Italy land based stays-(Rome, Amalfi and Venice) sometimes more than once- Other times, places like Barcelona didn't "call out" for a follow up trip...felt that way about most of the ports on the Baltic cruise as well- once was enough.
Still to come- Santiago to Beunos Aries, The Galapogos Isles and possibly OZ or Asia. Saving Alaska and Hi until we are a bit older as they should be less difficult logistically.
None of these travels came on the cheap, but we prioritize travel higher than some/many on this forum.
-
I got so lucky on my cruise to Norway. There was a retired guy that organized these really creative and jamb packed boat and bus itineraries at many of the ports. It was ridiculous how much stuff we did for 1/2 the price of a basic cruise line tour. He actually filled up buses of 40-50 people. He could have added a few dollars to each trip and would have made a nice little profit (who knows, maybe he did). That might be an interesting FIRE job!
-
Capsu 78- we did Galapagos on the xpedition. Yes, it could be done for way cheaper, but this was easy and had everything we were looking for. Great trip. Average age on the ship was over double ours, but it was still an amazing trip.
(And it was an all inclusive cruise- not a dime spent onboard. All excursions, tips, drinks included. I think you could buy a massage, but there was only one therapist and very limited time to fit it in.)
-
I thought the whole point of a cruise was that it was all inclusive?
No, this is an urban myth. I think the average cruiser spends about as much on "extras" as on his cruise ticket.
You have to pay tips. Well, no one's going to make you walk the plank if you don't, but I think most people will agree that it's only right to tip the people who wait on you all week -- it is their salary -- tips end up being about $100/person/week.
Other things for which people pay onboard /options:
- Alcohol /bring a limited amount with you or just don't drink
- Alcohol packages, just in case by-the-glass isn't expensive enough /same as above
- Sodas and bottled water /bring your own with you
- Excursions /book your own island stop fun or just hit the beach
- Gambling /skip this
- Bingo /skip this
- Art auction /skip this
- Massages & spa treatments /skip this
- Upsell restaurants /skip this -- basic food is included in the ticket price
- Hotel for the night before /worthwhile expense ... assures you'll arrive on time and makes for a stress-free departure day
- Parking at the terminal /book a hotel that allows you to park in their lot for free
This isn't a complete list, but I think it hits the big selling points.
-
I saw a special on CNBC a number of years ago where a CEO of one of the major lines said that if you book an inside cabin and do not gamble or drink, the company loses money on you. I certainly believe it.
I started inside cabin and have now graduated to balcony. I'd be fine inside, but my wife likes the balcony and the extra space - and the view is worthwhile with our son now going with us.
I don't understand people paying that kind of money to go on a cruise and then they're gambling and paying huge markups for drinks. The one thing I've learned after 3 cruises (Europe, AK, Caribbean) is that they attract ALL TYPES. You get the obese people eating non stop along with the fitness freaks running on the track and doing active stuff in every port.
I sense most of the MMM community is still kind of anti cruise but I just love it and I hope to go once per year moving forward.
-
I saw a special on CNBC a number of years ago where a CEO of one of the major lines said that if you book an inside cabin and do not gamble or drink, the company loses money on you. I certainly believe it.
I sense most of the MMM community is still kind of anti cruise but I just love it and I hope to go once per year moving forward.
Inside cabin, not interested in gambling + thought drinks were too expensive on board so didn't buy any. This was my husband and I on our cruise at the beginning of September. :)
I was talking to my mom who has gone on maybe 20 cruises about the shopping on board and at the ports. She said that some people consider a cruise a shopping trip. On the last day of our trip, there was a 'sale' in the on board mall. My husband wanted to check it out so we went. It felt like a smaller version of Boxing Day (in Canada) or what I have seen of Black Friday on tv. There was definitely frenzy in the air. I couldn't wait to get away.
-
I saw a special on CNBC a number of years ago where a CEO of one of the major lines said that if you book an inside cabin and do not gamble or drink, the company loses money on you. I certainly believe it.
I started inside cabin and have now graduated to balcony. I'd be fine inside, but my wife likes the balcony and the extra space - and the view is worthwhile with our son now going with us.
I don't understand people paying that kind of money to go on a cruise and then they're gambling and paying huge markups for drinks. The one thing I've learned after 3 cruises (Europe, AK, Caribbean) is that they attract ALL TYPES. You get the obese people eating non stop along with the fitness freaks running on the track and doing active stuff in every port.
I sense most of the MMM community is still kind of anti cruise but I just love it and I hope to go once per year moving forward.
I also watched a cruise documentary, and they said that the cruise line essentially "breaks even" on your cruise ticket; that is, your cruise ticket pays for your food, no-cost activities, staffing, and room. They make a profit when they can convince you to buy more. The documentary said that selling drinks is -- by far -- their biggest money maker, and the second and third money makers (I cannot remember which was #2 and which was #3) were gambling and excursions.
However, this didn't make any sense to me: The inside room that costs $500 in the fall costs $1800 in the summer or on holiday weeks. So where's the "break even point"? Is it $500 or $1800? (I think it's $500, but I have no proof.) Another problem: The inside room is $500, but a suite on the same ship is $2000 at its lowest price. So, yeah, the suite costs the cruise line a little more -- larger space, the room steward covers a smaller number of rooms, you have access to that free booze room -- but do those things make that much difference in the actual cost.
Bottom line: I do not believe what I heard on that documentary. Too many holes in the story.
Cruising can be a modestly priced vacation if you can drive to the port, if you stay in a low-priced room, and if you cruise off-season.
-
I saw a special on CNBC a number of years ago where a CEO of one of the major lines said that if you book an inside cabin and do not gamble or drink, the company loses money on you. I certainly believe it.
I started inside cabin and have now graduated to balcony. I'd be fine inside, but my wife likes the balcony and the extra space - and the view is worthwhile with our son now going with us.
I don't understand people paying that kind of money to go on a cruise and then they're gambling and paying huge markups for drinks. The one thing I've learned after 3 cruises (Europe, AK, Caribbean) is that they attract ALL TYPES. You get the obese people eating non stop along with the fitness freaks running on the track and doing active stuff in every port.
I sense most of the MMM community is still kind of anti cruise but I just love it and I hope to go once per year moving forward.
I also watched a cruise documentary, and they said that the cruise line essentially "breaks even" on your cruise ticket; that is, your cruise ticket pays for your food, no-cost activities, staffing, and room. They make a profit when they can convince you to buy more. The documentary said that selling drinks is -- by far -- their biggest money maker, and the second and third money makers (I cannot remember which was #2 and which was #3) were gambling and excursions.
However, this didn't make any sense to me: The inside room that costs $500 in the fall costs $1800 in the summer or on holiday weeks. So where's the "break even point"? Is it $500 or $1800? (I think it's $500, but I have no proof.) Another problem: The inside room is $500, but a suite on the same ship is $2000 at its lowest price. So, yeah, the suite costs the cruise line a little more -- larger space, the room steward covers a smaller number of rooms, you have access to that free booze room -- but do those things make that much difference in the actual cost.
Bottom line: I do not believe what I heard on that documentary. Too many holes in the story.
Cruising can be a modestly priced vacation if you can drive to the port, if you stay in a low-priced room, and if you cruise off-season.
Or you can travel hack it. My wife and I took a 14 day Mediterranean cruise in a balcony with booze included. All in with excursions booked off ship and flights we were around 1k-1500. That's total not per person and included a couple nights stay in Venice pre cruise.
-
However, this didn't make any sense to me: The inside room that costs $500 in the fall costs $1800 in the summer or on holiday weeks. So where's the "break even point"? Is it $500 or $1800? (I think it's $500, but I have no proof.)
It could also be somewhere in the middle. If they are sailing with empty rooms, they are just losing money. The $500 might be below their total cost, but above their marginal cost.
-
This link gives an interesting visual for RCL profits: http://www.cruzely.com/heres-how-much-money-cruise-ships-make-off-every-passenger-infographic/
I think, in response to the question about the $500 or $1,800 inside cabin, clearly cruise lines clean up during peak season and even more so during holidays. $500 is cheap even for an inside cabin. If you book that (probably off peak) on any cruise line and you're not buying excursions from the company, drinking, gambling, then I think the cruise line probably is losing money on you. But, as anyone who's been on a cruise knows, there are plenty of suckers ready to spend spend spend.