Budgeting for on-board spending

Old Jul 6th, 2014, 09:27 PM
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Budgeting for on-board spending

This might seem like one of those "how long is a piece of string?" questions, so I'll try to be as explicit as possible as to how I ask it! We have never cruised before, and want to be sure we load sufficient funds in the right currency onto our Travel Card to cope with the end-of-cruise bill.
We (there are 2 of us) a're cruising the Mediterranean & Adriatic - but it's with Celebrity, so I understand the onboard costs will be toted up in US dollars rather than euros. It's a 12-day (11-night) cruise, with only 1 day completely at sea. We are moderate drinkers: a beer or two before dinner, a wine after - although if we get caught up in congenial company on some nights, it could stretch to a little more than that perhaps! We will likely want wi-fi for an hour or so, say, every third night. Maybe dine at a specialty restaurant a couple of times. What other services should we be aware of? Laundy? We're not casino-type people, and I think all onboard entertainment (shows etc) are included in the cruise price.
Based on this information, could anyone hazard a reasonable (or rough!) guess as to what we should budget for all this? We may book some shore excursions, but I have prices for those and can add them myself to whatever budgets people suggest. Many thanks in advance...
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Old Jul 7th, 2014, 02:17 AM
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First, as you noted, charges are in $, so settle your on-board bill with a $ credit card or debit card or travel card if you want but really no need for that. We used our AmEx card as they had that on file from payment for the cruise. You'll want to have some euros for on shore purchases, best obtained from
a bank ATM on shore. The ship has a euro cash machine but there's a charge.

You are correct about a piece of string. Beer and wine are about what you pay at a medium-priced restaurant, $6 to $9 depending on brand of beer and choice of wine. All bar drinks including beer and wine and those ordered with dinner carry a 15% service charge on top of the price. Ice water, iced tea and lemonade are fee on the pool decks and additionally in the buffet, coffee, tea and orange juice (extra for fresh squeezed).

Celebrity sells various levels of all you can drink cards, sounds like these would not be worth you while but have a look. They can't be shared. When you debark I believe you can bring two bottles of wine per room on board but not from the ports of call.

Laundry is reasonable, less expensive that hotel services. There are no self-service laundry rooms, no irons allowed on board.

Shore excursions can really add up so look at those carefully compared with "do it yourself." Go to www.cruisecritic.com and join the roll call for your cruise. You'll find people looking to share taxis costs, recs on local guides, etc. The cheapest excursions offered by the ship average about $75 per person and while Celebrity is far from the worst, usually include a "shopping opportunity" at a tacky gift shop.

Shows, films, lectures are free. The surcharge for the specialty restaurants is around $40-45 per person. If business is slow you'll sometimes see discount offers in the daily newsletter. Be sure to check it for offers of all kinds. I didn't find the ship board shopping very appealing but that's personal choice.

Wifi is expensive and charged by total use not by day. You buy packages, the more minutes the cheaper per minute price. You can take your tablet or ipad, whatever, onshore and usually find a café with free wifi.

So, what should you budget? I'd plan on $75 to $100 a day per person, excluding excursions, but it so depends on drinks, which can really add up (specialty coffees are also charged).
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Old Jul 7th, 2014, 04:06 AM
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Sorry, meant embark or embarque NOT debark.
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Old Jul 7th, 2014, 11:02 PM
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Thanks cathinjoetown, that is really helpful. Yes, we've chicked out some DIY options for shore visits, and they sure offer massive savings on what you pay for the ship's shore excursions. We realise it then becomes our responsibility to be back on board well before sailing time! What we would do is visit places requiring local transport first, and leave the near-the-ship sights to last! Again, thanks for all the good tips.
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Old Jul 8th, 2014, 01:41 AM
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Based on your list of wants ... you many want to look into a beverage package.

Your gratuity is added to your ship board account as well and there is a 15% (or is it 18% now) auto gratuity added to any beverage purchases.

Count on about $1.25 to $1.50 a minute for internet. And ship board internet is "SLOW" as it is satellite.

Not counting souvenirs from the gift shops and shore excursions, I would say you will spend more like $100 to $150 per person per day.

And don't forget the photos, specialty restaurants ... it adds up real quick.
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Old Jul 8th, 2014, 10:49 AM
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We have always had a good time and not felt deprived and spent very little on board ship. Usually one bottle of wine over two days, no bar drinks, no casino, and very few ships junk.
Remember that things an the ship are very expensive. And we do not travel to shop. And yet we have rewarding trips.
Remember that ships tours are poor value. A little work can usually find good private tours.
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Old Jul 8th, 2014, 03:53 PM
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First of all are your gratuities paid for ahead or is in the usual per diem added to your bill? If it's the latter add about $12.00 per person per cabin. That's around $244.00 each right there.

It's better to buy an internet package as it's cheaper so figure about $100.00 for that.

Two beers and one wine daily will be about $25.00 which includes the 15% gratuity and of course depends on the brand.

Like Eschew said watch out for the pictures. If they take one you don't have to buy it but getting a few can add up. Friends on a cruise once paid about $400.00 just for pics.

Do like sodas or specialty coffees? That's an extra cost.

Celebrity does allow two bottles of wine per cabin upon embarkation but for use in the cabin only. If you bring the bottle to the MDR there is a corkage fee.

You are not obliged to tip beyond the auto tip but may feel like it as the service is usually great so consider that. It does not have to be much as you have already tipped.

Well you are on a cruise and having fun and you will likely want souvenirs so factor in gift shop purchases.

As Eschew said budget his suggested amt. and that should cover it.

Have fun! Larry.
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Old Jul 8th, 2014, 10:31 PM
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I agree with Reme 100%. We like a glass of wine (a bottle may actually lasted us for 3 dinners), only an occasional drink socially, no sodas, casinos, and definitely no photos. Only vice is specially coffee and tea which depending on cruise lines, can be a minimal expense. Example: Princess offers coffee cards but they don't advertise it like soda cards.

One thing that no one has mentioned is the spa.

A co-worker did a 7 day Caribbean mother daughter cruise and their tab was more than $4,000 for 7 days. They started with a glass of complimentary Champagne when they boarded and they did not stop drinking, buying photos, spa treatments. Needless to say, she had a bit of a sticker shock. Mind you, from their description of what they had consumed and purchased, it worked out to less than $300 per person per day which is really not all that bad.
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Old Jul 9th, 2014, 01:58 AM
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Here's a good overview I just received today:

http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/articles.cfm?ID=64

On Celebrity you can monitor your charges from your stateroom television at any time.
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Old Jul 9th, 2014, 08:17 AM
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Internet costs are outrageous. So why not avoid them altogether? One purpose of a vacation is to get away from it all. If you really need to be in constant contact, maybe you should stay at home.
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Old Jul 11th, 2014, 03:36 PM
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As for the internet it really depends on the person. Many people use the net while away. Its very common. Different strokes for different folks. If you want to use the net its best to get a minutes package.
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Old Jul 11th, 2014, 07:25 PM
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This is all very useful. Thanks. A question: is there any situation at all where you need cash on board? Or is everything on board cashless, to be settled up at the end?
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Old Jul 11th, 2014, 07:54 PM
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You dont need cash on board. Most people enter a CC number with online registration and you are all set. I think some may deposit cash up front for their bill but I am not sure about that. Its much easier to use your CC and then when you disembark you can just leave. You will get a bill under your door the night B4 you leave. You really dont need cash on board.
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Old Jul 12th, 2014, 03:56 PM
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Classes for yoga, pilates, and spinning are $11 per session. There wasn't a charge for just using their gym, however, which was quite nice and had a gorgeous view. From what I saw, the alcohol and specialty coffees (anything besides drip coffee was $4-5) seem to really start adding up. I think gelato was $5 although you can get ice creams and sorbets at no extra charge in the buffet throughout the day and evening.
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Old Jul 13th, 2014, 12:14 PM
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Internet can add up very quickly and become very expensive on a 12 day cruise. As others have said, the internet is verrry slow on a ship and sea days sometimes worse. Sometimes you can sit there and wait and wait and wait for your internet to respond. I gave up even using it when we travel. However, lots of people do go to internet cafes when they go ashore and you can use those at very reasonable costs. Personally, if we are going on a 12 night cruise I don't want to think about the internet. If you absolutely need to contact family, etc. then that's different. You can still limit your minutes.

Celebrity did have some drink packages but not sure if they are still offered. Your TA or call Celebrity for info on this.

We like a glass of wine at dinner so my DH and I usually purchase a bottle of wine in the dining room and your dining room steward will save it for you for the next night. This is a bit cheaper than purchasing individual glasses of wine per evening. We don't find our bar bill costs that extravagant doing this. Even if you go to one of the lounges and have a pre-dinner drink it still doesn't break the bank.

Specialty dinners - we did one on our last cruise in April and the cost was $25. pp (does not include drinks).

You can check your shipboard account right on your in-cabin TV or there is usually a kiosk located near the passenger services desk where you can get a print out of your bill to date. I would suggest that you do check it every few days.

No cash needed onboard. However, if you go ashore you will need cash for anything in the port.

For your convenience, we (Celebrity) automatically add gratuities for your restaurant and stateroom services to your onboard SeaPass® account on a daily basis in the following amounts, which may be adjusted at your discretion:
• $12 per person per day in staterooms
• $12.50 per person per day in Concierge Class and AquaClass® staterooms
• $15.50 per person per day in suites

This gratuity is shared by your stateroom attendant, dining services staff, and housekeeping staff members who help enhance your vacation experience.

At your discretion, the gratuity payments may be adjusted onboard at Guest Relations, in which case they will not automatically be added to your onboard SeaPass® account.

A 15% gratuity will be automatically added to all beverages, mini bar purchases, spa and salon services. Additional gratuities may be added at your discretion."
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Old Jul 13th, 2014, 04:32 PM
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You can also use a cc in port as well as cash. It helps to use one with no foreign transaction fees.
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Old Jul 14th, 2014, 05:46 AM
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Forget internet on board. It's very slow and VERY expensive. It's much cheaper and much better in the internet cafes on land (hint: many of the crew use these). The cafes are usually a very short walk from the pier. If you bring your own laptop/tablet then go to a place, usually a fast food restaurant that offers free wi-fi.

Also, you can always deposit cash to your account when you board. That way if the account is getting low the cruise line will notify you with a note under your cabin door and either you deposit more at the CS desk or decide to stop drinking or shopping or whatever on the ship. That's a better option IMHO. It helps to control your spending.

Have a wonderful cruise.
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Old Jul 14th, 2014, 09:21 AM
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If the connection is too slow I usually just skip it or as AA said find a hot spot in port.
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