How much should I bring on my Royal Carribean Cruise Feb 2008?

Question

I am going on a cruise with my aunt, uncle and cousins for 7 nights on the Mariner of the Seas. We are stopping in San Juan, St.Thomas and St. Maarten. We will be doing 1 excursion at each stop but, i will probably not get a soda package. I will be 16 years old and have to pay for everything myself and was wondering how much money do you think i should bring with me. Keep in mind food (ice cream, johnny rockets), a little bit of shopping, excursions. and also how are the teen programs. Thanks!

Answer 1

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Answer 2

I would bring $900- $1000 just to be safe. Excursions booked through the ship can be kind of pricey. Majority of the food on the ship is free you don't have to do johnny rockets or ben and jerrys, if you do go don't go everyday. Shopping is where you may spend most of your money so its good to have extra. You can get away with $500 but you will really have to budget and limit your spending. As far as the soda package don't waste your money, you can bring soda onboard so buy it before boarding or at one of the ports of call. Buying a couple of six packs is way cheaper than purchasing the soda package, save your money for other purchases.

Answer 3

In San Juan, you can walk to a huge Fort and just pay the admission price ($5 or so).  There are lots of great things to see within walking distance of the pier in San Juan.  

St. Maarten has a water taxi service ($5 unlimited rides) from the pier to downtown.  The walking area is jewelry store after jewelry store (with a  few electronic stores in between).  It's a good spot to go to a secluded beach, or another water-type excursion (we had loads of fun on the America's Cup excursion).

St. Thomas is alot like St. Maarten, but is WAY more humid.  Taxis to downtown are $/person each way.  There is a gondola ($11 I think) right when you get off the ship that will bring you up to nice views of the surrounding islands.  Other than that, it's a nice place for a water/beach day.

Shore Excursions: Do you know which ones you want to do yet?  I think you can check the prices at the RC website.  Don't forget to include a couple dollars gratuity for the Tour Guide.

Soda package: I think it's $7-9 per day.  Unless you like soda with every meal, it's much cheaper to just have some in your room.

Johnny Rockets: Is $3.95 for the meal, and $4-5 if you want a milkshake.  There is plenty of burger-type food in the Windjammer Buffet, so i can't imagine you'll eat at Johnny Rockets every day.

Gratuities: $9.75 per person, per day

Souvenirs: You can go completly free and just take your pictures and memories home with you.  Otherwise, magnets or t-shirts are a nice way to commemorate where you've been.

Spa: There is a special Teen Spa menu.  Treat yourself to a facial or manicure ($20-50)

The teen programs are only as good as the teens in them.  Hopefully there will be some other kids that are fun and want to get invovled with the various activities.

If you can contain your spending, $700 should do it.  You can put cash on your onboard account so that you can use your card for onboard purchases.

Answer 4

If you drink alot of soda - you should probably get the package.  It is cheaper in the long run.

I would figure $25-$50 per day.  That would be for the extra cost of meals in Johnny Rockets, and any little souvenirs you may purchase on the islands.

I've been on this cruise - it's lots of fun.  They do have a teen program on the ship.

Answer 5

Royal Carribean Cruise

From where to where it goes

Answer 6

It really depends on how much control you have. On board the ship, you can not use cash. You will get a room key which also acts as a credit card while on board. Everything gets billed to your room, and charged to a credit card at the end of the cruise. You can also leave a cash deposit as you are baording the ship and anything you buy on board gets deducted from that. You can get a running tab anytime while on board, but since you can not drink you are in very good shape as far as not letting things get out of control.

If I remember correctly Johnny Rocket's is an additional $5. As far as ice cream it is a few dollars, but here is a tip to save you so money. In the buffet there is always an ice cream machine which does not cost anything. Usually in the afternoons they have a make your own sundae bar.

You wil spend the most money while in port. Most of the islands have the same junk t-shirts and other souveneirs. If you plan to do any excursions that is where you will spend a lot of money.

Keep in mind you will also have to leave tips for the cabin crew, waitstaff in the dining room etc.. My wife and I have gone on a few cruises, we did things pretty conservatively a few massages, a few drinks per day and we still had a bill of around $300, not to mention what we spent while in port. I would bring alteast $500, but no more than $1,000.

Answer 7

Well, all of the excursions, and anything you buy on the ship MUST be charged to your room. You cannot pay cash if you wanted to. So your going to have to work out a deal with your aunt or uncle to pay them later for any expenses you put on the room card. On the excursions, you can use cash to buy stuff at the gift shops and stuff. The all day excursions eat up a lot of time, but the evenings can be slow. Take full advantage of the free shows! Given that your only 16 you will not be allowed into the bars and clubs without an adult and after certain hours your not allowed in at all. So you will end up at the putt putt golf course and Johnny Rockets most of the time. I am unsure how much any of those prices are as I avoided that area alltogether on my cruise. I know there is a $5 surcharge for Rockets, but then everything else is charged to the room. I would say bring several hundred dollars for purchases and shopping while at a destination. You will love the Mariner, she is a beautiful ship. The soda package is a MUST HAVE. For a 7 day cruise it will cost $46 and is money well spent. Do not pass on that, its a deal and you will regret not getting it. Swing by the Bolero on deck 5 and say hello to Jamine and Jamie and have them refill your soda.

Answer 8

Well you need $200.00 for a cash account that you can pay for the soda package and pictures and souvenirs on the boat and teen stuff for the program.Then each excursion is about $80-100 x's 5 days is about $500.00 then spending money on shore for some more souvenirs or food another $200.00

I would say about $900 I think maybe $800 you would be safe maybe even 700 if you are not a big spender.

Have fun! I go on crusies every year but not P.R. Yet!

Answer 9

Thats more than enough.  $70 for the tip--and if you drink 4 sodas each day then this soda card ( < $50 with tip).  Go to Megans Bay (swimming and sunbathing--its beautiful) or Cokies Beach (snorkeling) in St. Thomas--split cab with cousins if possible.  Shopping is great at one pier but cruddy and the new one.  DO NOT TAKE RIPOFF SHORE EXCURSION sold by ship.  That will be less than $20.  Try Orient Beach in St Martins or more shopping. In San Juan take a cab $7 for the group up to the old fort (admission about $5 for students) the walk downhill back to the boat through the Old Town.  Neat shopping and it is safe.  You should have a wad of change left from that $500 bill.