How much money should I bring for a 4 night Carnival cruise?

Question

In about 5 days I'm going on a Carnival Cruise (The Holiday) which is a 4 day cruise to Cozumel, Mexico. How much should I bring given the information below:

I'm not much of a gambler

I'm a moderate drinker

Not sure if I will buy any souvenirs while at port

Have no excursions planned

May do a spa treament (massage)

Given that info, how much money should I alot for the trip?

Thanks for any advice.

Answer 1

Anything that you do on the ship (drinking, shops onboard, spa treatments, etc) will be charged to your Sail & Sign account...which is your room key, your ticket to get back on the ship, and it also acts like a credit card for on the ship.  You give Carnival access to your personal credit card (Visa, Mastercard, etc) for your Sail & Sign account....at the end of your cruise everything (including your tipping) will be charged to your personal credit card.

*I hope that I'm not making this more confusing than it is!!*

Anyway, you are always better safe than sorry....so take a little more cash than you think you will need.  If I was to go on this cruise, I wouldn't take much (about $50 - 100pp).....but, I would more than likely go to a beach and snorkel...and probably not buy any souvenirs.  If you want to make sure that you have enough to do some major excursions, you might want to take a couple hundred dollars per person...just to make sure.

As far as the cost of things that will go on your Sail & Sign card.....drinks on ships usually run about $4 to $10, spa treatments (like massages) will probably start around $60+ (keep your eyes out for specials...you will probably have any info related to this delivered to your cabin every night)...

Just a note:

Also, unless you are going somewhere super special, don't worry about booking any excursions through the cruiseline.  You will find excellent deals at port...and most of the time, you will be in a smaller group (or not a group at all) and get to do and see things that the other ship passengers miss out on.

Answer 2

You will need at LEAST $25 PER DAY for your tips at the end of the cruise and another $10 to $20 a day for daily tips to personnel.

The Cruise ship personnel will CONSTANTLY be reminding you that their crew is poorly paid and will look to you to help provide them a living wage... and CARNIVAL is probably the WORST of the cruise ships about constantly beating you over the head with how much and how often to tip.

Answer 3

I suggest $100 to $200 and here's why.  When you get to the port to check in the cruise line will set up an on-board cruise account that will charge everything you purchase on the ship (drinks, photos, internet access, souvenirs, and even gratuities) to the account.  The ship is essentially cashless except for the casino and if you decide to tip a server who brings room service or give something additional in cash to your waiter and/or room steward.  So the only thing that you listed above that you will need CASH for is gambling and purchases off the  ship.  

Whatever you take you can keep safely tucked away because your cabin will have a safe.  Do take some one and five dollar bills so that when you get off the ship you can take some small bills rather than your whole roll.  Its also good to have ones to barter with at the markets in Cozumel, and other places and for a taxi if you decide to take one to a beach.

Now here's something to remember.  If you need additional cash there are ATM machines on the ship, BUT instead of using them and paying an ATM fee for the ship and your bank, go to the casino cage (where they make change) and request some cash; it will be charged to your on-board account but there is no fee because it is treated as a purchase/charge.  I do this occasionally when I run short of cash.  

That's my advice based on about 20 cruises.