First time Cruise! I need help!?

Question

Ok so minus the initial cost of a room on a cruise.. how much money do people usually spend on the other things the cruise have to offer. I just found out that I will be going on a Carnival Cruise ship Legend next august of 09 and I would like an estimated dollar amount i should be expected to pay while on board so I know how much to pay for Thanks:)

Answer 1

a bigilion dollors

Answer 2

this site can show you how to save - http://allcruiselines.info/

Answer 3

Well, I've been on a Disney Cruise.  For that, we needed about $525 total more dollars than we had.  There were a couple land excursions that were about $150 a person and we blew all our money before ever setting foot on the ship...land/sea trip and the land portion was first.  The other thing we didn't realize is that all the people that served us needed a tip and that didn't come due until the last day of the trip right before we disembarked.  We also would have used the remainder of the $525 on souvenirs including a picture that was taken as we boarded the ship...

I don't think sodas are included on CARNIVAL cruises like they are on Disney...I'm almost certain you have to pay for all your drinks.

Then if you want to use internet service, I know that Disney was some outrageous fee to connect and then like a $1 a minute.

That's all I know...Happy Cruising.

Answer 4

Hey I just got back from a Carnival cruise on the legend. We went to the Cayman Islands, Cozumel, Belize, and Honduras. We had a family of five and we spent anywhere from $1000-$1500 and we went on the rather cheap excursions. Check the Carnival website.

Answer 5

For the most part all cruises are all inclusive and its cashless while you are on board the ship.  So you will need a credit card but very little cash; for a 7 day cruise about $200.   Let me explain.

Regardless of which cruise line you go on, Carnival or any other, the things that are included are pretty much the same. The price of your cruise includes your cabin, all meals (including breakfast, lunch dinner, snacks and free room service), all shows and entertainment, and free use of all facilities on ship except Spa Services. The things that you will have to pay for are described below and the ONLY one of them that is mandatory is the first one:

GRATUITIES: They will amount to about $10 per person in your cabin per day; about $70 each for a 7 day cruise. When you check in at the pier they will set up an on-board charge account for you to cover any and everything you may buy on ship.  You and whomever you are cruising with can be on the same account, or you can be on separate accounts; just tell the cruise line how YOU want it set up.  The cruise account charges everything to your charge card; Visa, Am Express, Master Card, etc.  OR, you can also arrange to pay by cash at the end of the cruise.  Regardless, they will issue you a "cruise card" ( called on Carnival ships = Sail and Sign Card) which will ALSO serve as your room key and pass to get on and off the ship. At the end of the cruise they will add the gratuity to your tab and you can pay with a credit card or cash, your choice.  All of the cruise lines are now requesting that passengers complete the charge account and other pre-boarding information online (just go to the cruise line's web site and register using your reservation number), or by mail but at least 3 weeks before the cruise.

ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND SOFT DRINKS: Coffee, tea, milk, juice, and lemonade and punch will be provided free but you must pay for soft drinks and alcoholic beverages and they will add a 15% gratuity to each drink and soft drink order.

PHOTOGRAPHS: Cruise lines will take plenty of photographs of you all over the ship, in the dining room, and as you exit the ship in ports. These will cost a lot, like $15 to $20 for most.

TOURS/EXCURSIONS: You are NOT required to book any tours and can get off and on in the ports as much as you want. But the cruise line will offer a lot of tours and these are expensive.  If you purchase any the cost will be added to your Sail & Sign account.  If you want tours in port stops most you will have to pay cash for.  If you are going to the Caribbean you can usually get excursions on the pier for much less than they cost through the ship.

SOUVENIRS: Anything you buy on ship from a gift shop or duty free shop goes on your on board account. Things that you buy on shore you pay cash or credit card for.  Shopping ashore is what you may need cash for.  You may want to take some one dollar bills (also maybe a few $5's) for tipping the porters in the airport, at the pier (they do not work for the ship), and they will come in handy in port stops for buying small items in the markets and at vendor stands; especially bartering places.

CASINO: If you plan to gamble on ship you will need cash for that.  BUT, if you want or need to you can go to the casino cage and present your Sail and Sign card and request cash to play with, OR not play with and use it to shop.

OTHER: Most cruise ships have what they call "specialty" restaurants where there is a gratuity/service charge.   These are nice places to eat with special foods like sushi, Italian, steak house, etc., not not required eating places. All other food on board is free and its not really necessary to budget for food; you cannot eat all of the FREE FOOD that will be available.

SPA SERVICES:  If you want/need to have your hair done, get a massage or wrap, or any services from the spa, you will have to pay for them. You can use the gym free but the spa stuff cost big bucks.

INTERNET:   Your ship will have an internet cafe and maybe WiFi but the there is a fee for internet access and it is very expensive (like about $50 to $60 an hour).

You cabin will likely have a minibar with soft drinks and munchies; you have to pay for them (but there is free room service 24/7).

I have been on about 20 cruises and for a 7 day cruise I usually take about $300 cash and I rarely spend all of that unless I spend a lot of time in the casino.

Answer 6

The only extras are alcohol and off shore excursions.

Answer 7

i have gone on a carnival Cruise so i can help! all the food is free so you don't have to worry about that, they have a ton of food and it is all soooo good! the only thing that you really have to pay for is beer, if you are the right age, and souvenirs.  also if you want to go on any excursions at the places you stop you need to bring money for that.  i would look up excursions, thing you do while on shore, before you go.  so i would bring around 350$.

Answer 8

Bring about 500 dollars. Thats enough for 3 people.

Answer 9

Gratuities at $10 a day per person is the only "required" cost, but definitely a bargain for what you get.....

you can prepay/prearrange your shore excursions so that they are not an issue when you sail

depending on how much alcohol you drink that can range from almost nothing to really scary (drinks are between $4 and $7 depending what you drink)

pop cards run $6 a day (approx since i don't drink pop) but if you are a big pop drinker (or smuggle alcohol aboard and need mixers) are a good value

the onboard shows and most of the activities are free (bingo and some exercise classes have a charge)

check out cruisecritic.com and every thing you can think to ask and then some are posted

most importantly have an awesome time

Answer 10

If you drink soft drinks or liquor, those are add ons. If you gamble in the casino, that is an add on.

Side excursions are add ons. Your cruise line will give you a site to pull up the side trips that will be offered on your cruise. You can look at them, determine what you are interested in and know how much extra to plan for them. It is a good idea to book them in advance (especially the popular ones) as they sell out. Not only that, but there are long lines on the ship for signing up for the side trips. If you have wine with your meals that will be an add on.  There is usually one very elegant restaurant on the ship that is not covered with your passage and should you desire, that will cost you extra. One thing that can really add up fast if you are not careful, is photos.  The ship's photographers are constantly taking pictures of you every where you go and taking portraits on the evenings of formal dining.  All are usually of good quality and its easy to get caught up in adding them to your bill.  Wait until toward the end of the cruise when you can see them all and then be selective.  They will also do a DVD of the cruise and no doubt, you will be in it somewhere and will want to purchase one. That will run around $25.  There is duty-free shopping aboard ship so if you plan to buy any merchandise, allow for that. If you use the Hair Salons, Massages, or other personal services there are fees. If you use the ships sick bay, there is a fee.   The next thing to consider is what you will spend in the Ports-Of-Call.  Will you buy clothes, souvenirs, taxis, meals when off the ship, drinks, entertainment, etc. Lastly, are the tips. In the bars, you tip as you go. At the end of your cruise you are urged to tip your cabin attentants, your waiters (you will have the same ones for the entire cruise), and the wine captain (if you used that service). This may sound like a lot but a cruise really is a good value for your dollar. The additional costs can be controlled by you and your choices.  Hope this helps and Bon Voyage

Answer 11

I'd say the average is around $1,000 for a 7 day cruise. That would include alcohol, tours, gifts from the ship, soda, and tips. I have seen people get by on about $300, but they don't drink, don't buy stuff and do there own tours.

Answer 12

It's up to you to decide how much extra you want to spend. It depends on the excursions you sign up for (maybe pick out one that sounds really interesting, then just go on your own at the other ports), how much alcohol you drink, and how much you want to spend on souvenirs. Regular non-alcoholic drinks come with all your meals, you can bring your own bottled water, and you can stop in the buffet almost any time for something to drink for free. I don't know how Carnival figures the tipping, read their fine print. By the end of the cruise I was happy to tip our cabin steward and waiter in the dining room because they paid so much personal attention to us, said hello to us by name when passing in the hallway, remembered our personal preferences, etc., that we were happy to tip them generously.

Answer 13

Do not pay for fun things on land.

The minute you get off the boat you will be bombarded with locals who will give you snorkeling tours etc... at half the cruise ships price, and they are just the same.

You should pack one very nice dress - Very formal! For the Cpaitans dinner. Everyone dresses super formal one night.

Also,

Money for Casino, Addional Alcholol. Massages.

and Souvenirs. That is all.

Excuraions on land cost like $35 per person and on ship like double I think.

Good Luck! Have fun@