Jerry

Some people have recently posted about budgeting $5000-$6000 for 2 people to cruise for 7 days. One justified that that cost factors in $2800 for the cost of the cruise, and the extras (airline tickets, dog kennel, drinks, gambling, insurance) will probably all add up to $3200. That sure seems might high to me.<BR><BR>What is a realistic price to expect a couple to pay (AFTER THE PRICE OF THE CRUISE TICKETS) for a 7-day cruise? <BR>

Billie

If the cruise costs 1400pp, that's 2800 right off the bat. Add, for two, airfare, about 400pp, dog sitter 400, insurance was about 200, you're up to 4200 easy. That only leaves 800 to 1800 for all the spending on the cruise, including wine, alternative dinning, shore trips, spa, tips and stuff. I have yet to meet anyone with less than a 1000 cruise tab for incidentals on the cruise and ours was over 2000 for two people. I supose if you don't drink, don't use the spa (what a shame), have a helicopter license (that was 300 a piece) and your own chopper, you could do it much, much cheaper. But this is a realistic amount for anyone who lives in the real world.

NumbersMan

For a cruise that involves airfare, $5000 for a 7 day cruise for 2 seems about right. If you figure :<BR><BR>$2800 room<BR>$ 800 airfare<BR>$ 200 tips<BR>$ 200 drinks, gambling<BR>$ 300 excursions<BR>$ 150 film and developing<BR>$ 150 souvenirs<BR>$ 30 snacks at at airport<BR>$ 70 transport to and from airport<BR>$ 300 Sundries,travel guides, kennel, toiletries, insurance, and anything else you can think of.<BR><BR>

dee

My last cruise for 2:<BR>1,600 room (balcony - great deal!)<BR> 390 air fare (chgo to miami)<BR> 100 pre-cruise hotel<BR> 600 incidentals (tips/add'l food, drinks, taxis, etc)<BR><BR>2,690 Total

Lenore

My husband and I just booked our 4th 7 day cruise in 3 years. Here's how it generally breaks down for us.<BR>Cruise Tickets/Taxes/Fees - $1500 to $2000 (depending on cabin type, cruise line and time of year)<BR>Airfare - $600 (Will vary widely depending on where you live....we live in S Fla, so twice we did not need air)<BR>Shipboard Credit Card - $700 (We put our shore excursions, drinks, photos, bingo etc on this. Again it will vary depending upon how much or how little you drink, and what shore excursions you book)<BR>Gambling - $300 to $500 Once again, this is such a personal thing. We always allow ourselves $100 per person per day....but generally will win some nights and lose others!<BR>Tips - $250 Beside the tips for your waiter, assist waiter, room steward, etc. there will be the sky caps and taxi drivers. Be sure to bring plenty of small bills for tips!<BR>Other expenses to consider: Dressy outfits you may not already own, sunscreen, swimsuits and covers, film and developing, special equipment like snorkel gear, renting walkie talkies if you have kids etc etc. Some of those expenses would occur regardless if you are cruising or taking a regular vacation. Enjoy!

Donald

My last 7-day cruise cost my wife and I <BR><BR>$710 each for cabin ($1420)<BR>$80 tips<BR>$100 pictures taken by the cruiseline<BR>$15 taxi<BR><BR>We purchased $1000 in jewelry and other souveniers, but that amount will vary depending one the person.<BR><BR>no air (live in florida)<BR>no parking fees (had friends drop us off at port)<BR><BR><BR>So, except for the jewelry and souveniers, we spent $1615 for 2 people to go on a 7 day cruise.<BR><BR>If you get a good deal, you can spend the remaining $4000 that Billie suggests you budget on some pretty fine jewelry, or whatever you like. Heck, i can cruise with my wife on 3 cruises for the amount that Billie suggests spending on one cruise.<BR><BR>Add $800 (flight) to my total if you don't live near a port.<BR>

Rick

I agree with Donald except that I would add a few hundred for excursions. Even if you do the sightseeing on your own, taxis will cost more than $15. Maybe Donald either did not get off the ship or maybe he was in ports that could be seen by walking from the ship ($15 will probably only cover one taxi ride for one port (such as seeing the city in St. Thomas).<BR><BR>But I agree, under $2000 is possible for a 7-day cruise.

Billie

Donald,<BR>You and your wife don't take spa treatments, I do, you don't drink fine wine, I do, you don't take shore excursions, I do, you don't apparently do much of anything while on vacation. Yeah, I could do a Mexican cruise where there is no airfare and thus, no reason to buy the insurance. I could stay out of the spa, order nothing to drink and have a trip like you. We still have the pet sitter (64 a day) to take care of as well as tux rental (120). I do admit that it's POSSIBLE to do a cruise near your home for 2000 or less. I even told my husband if we had time and wanted to do a cheapo cruise, we could hop on a Mexican cruise. But when it's my vacation, I like to go in style. I like expensive wine and that's the way I travel. I like to stay in nice hotels, not motel 6. If I have to travel and eat at McDonalds, I'd rather stay at home.

Dee

I don't feel we missed anything by not spending more. I'm not a big drinker and don't feel the need for a massage. That is my reality. I go cruising to relax, and definitely come home feeling that way, and don't feel deprived by not having spent a few thousand more dollars. Everyone has their own reality, I guess. And I live in the real world, too.

GetAClue

Hey Billie - you need to get a clue. Here are a few tips to save you money:<BR><BR>You room 1400 p/p - you can get a nice one for $700 p/p - savings $1400<BR><BR>You pay $400 p/p airfare - unless flying out of the continental US, you can usually find it for $200 p/p if you wait for the sales - savings of $400<BR><BR>You pay dog sitter $400 - either find a friend to watch the mutt or shoot it - NO COST !!! - savings of $400<BR><BR>You pay $200 insurance - Why, insurance is a big scam for the most part. 90% of folks do not need travel insurance. Skip it - savings of $200<BR><BR>Wine, Spa, excursions - you $2000 - normal folks a whole lot less !!! Buy some wine and take it with you before you board, $100 for 5 bottles, book your own excursions, $100 per port - at 4 ports = $400, Spa - get a grip, don't you realize these are so overpriced it isn't funny - Pass and go to the Spa when you get home - $0. So savings of $1500<BR><BR>Tips - YOU apparently $0 - Normal folks $200<BR><BR>TOTAL - You $6200<BR><BR>NORMAL PEOPLE - $2500<BR><BR>OK Billie, I just saved you $3700. Please send me 20% as my commission for helping you realize the erro of your ways.

Billie

First of all, why have you guys got your panties in such a wad? So I spend more, so I think you're cheap, who cares. I do think my totals are realistic for most of us. The dog sitter, despite your sarcasm, is a necessity. My home, my belongins and my dogs are watched. Insurance is not a waste for most people, my dad just found out he has cancer and we spend most of the weeks leading up to our cruise wondering if we would be able to go. Only worth skipping if you live near the port and can drive. LAX has been closed many times of late and it wasn't worth the chance. As far as searching for a cheap flight, go ahead and wait, hoping you will get one. Be my guest. As far as wine, we did bring two bottles on board from our cellar, but not to save money but to have a special wine with dinner. As far as the massages, guess what. I know they're overpriced, but I really don't care. I wanted to relax and have a massage. My husband had one two. In fact, the other couples at the table we sat at had massages too and took shore excursions. And unless I forgot my helicopter license -- gosh, I did -- then the shore excursion was my only way of flying in the chopper to the glacer. And I loved our balcony room. It was worth it. You can travel cheap -- I don't think anyone is disputing that fact. But I don't want to travel with you, I'd be bored, annoyed at your cheap attitude and I think you've dug yourself into a hole with your rock solid determination to not spend money. Are you that broke that you can't cut loose on your vacation.

helicopter

"And unless I forgot my helicopter license -- gosh, I did -- then the shore excursion was my only way of flying in the chopper to the glacer."<BR><BR>Well, aren't you the sarcastic wit! And that would be "glacier" I think. But anyway, you are a wonderful, superior human being, and we're not, so everything is okay.

Stephanie P.

I think the person who tried to lower the cost was right. $400 for a dog sitter! The Humane Society recommends a fancy kennel in my area for $18 a day. I don't gamble, excessively drink nor do I need a complete stranger massaging my body. Believe it or not there are other things to do on a cruise.<BR><BR>Billie: <BR><BR>I just think you are a very spoiled person who thinks everyone should or does live like you. Although I don't travel as much as others, and don't spend thousands for frivolous services, I have a great time on my vacations.

Donald

Hey Donald,<BR>$80.00 tip from you and the Mrs for a week cruise? You must be one of the last big time spenders left in this world. I just hope that the service you received reflected the BIG tip you left behind. Please let me know when you're cruising again, so I will just stay home as I can't possibly match your generocity.

Rich

There are two types of people. Those who nickle and dime everything so they can attempt to live like the rich. Unfortunately it never works. Then there are thoses who want the finer things in life and work hard for it and can in fact live like the rich because they are. Most people on this sorry forum fall into the first category!

Lenore

I disagree Rich! I think most people will fall somewhere between Billie's ultra extravagant spending and GetaClue's miserly lack thereof. Most people are willing to treat themselves while vacationing, but not on every possible indulgence offered. Agree?

Billie

Let's face it. You guys don't live in LA, where what I've spent isn't all that much. One of my friends spends about 200 a week on her dog walker while she's at work, a concept you probably can't even get your minds around. Believe me, if you think what I spent was ultra-extravagant, then you have no clue what extravagant is by the standards of the rich. We didn't spend that much by reasonable standards. In my college days, sure I brown bagged Europe like most and avoided the expensive restaurants others were eating at. But don't knock what you obviously haven't experienced. There is a joy in going to a nice hotel and eating at nice restaurants, ordering fine wine and dressing well. By the way, I don't know why everyone is so up in arms about the pet sitter -- she's highly sought after and I was lucky to book her. In Los Angeles, we don't just drop our dogs off at a kennel -- by getting a pet sitter, we don't put our friends or family out by requesting they do something we're too cheap to pay for like some on this post. What is here is a gulf in the concept of how to live. We can't bridge that gap since I do not live in the mid-west and I don't have that menality that says that doing something super-cheap is a badge of honor. Obviously, Stephanie has never had a massage. How sad for you that you will never experience one with your attitude. But believe me, if you think I've spent a lot, you would be surprised by what truly extravagant people spend.

Stephanie P.

Billie:<BR><BR>I eat out at nice restaurants but I don't have to flaunt it. I don't eat out much because I value keeping a nice figure and all the sauces with the food, along with the liquor you crave, would add poundage to any body and I don't want to look like a beached whale and I also like fitting in an airline seat.<BR><BR>I also have no desire to have a massage. I can dish out money for it but don't like complete strangers touching my body. <BR><BR>

GetAClue

Lenore dear, I resent being called miserly. You must share Billie's jaded view of the world and not care about your finances. Just what was miserly about my estimates?<BR><BR>The room - clearly not at $700 per person. By shopping around, I have cruised the last 3 years under $700 p/p - once in an inside room, twice in an outside room. Is it the suite - no. But how much time do you spend in your room?<BR><BR>The airfare - no. Again, by knowing when airlines place the spring, summer, fall and winter sales, you can easily snag cheap roundtrip airfares for $200 or so unless flying out of the continental US.<BR><BR>The dogsitter - Puhleeze !!! First off, most folks don't need one. Second, Billie's $400 - gimme a break. <BR><BR>Wine, Excursions, Spas, etc - Definitely not. Spending $100 on wines to take on board (or even buying the ships wine program which costs $89 or so) is certainly reasonable. $400 for Excursions on a 7 day cruise - also very reasonable. Now yes, if you go off to Alaska and MUST go on a Helicopter - the $100 per port will not cover it. But $100 per port in the Carribbean is easily sufficient - especially if you book with the locals and not thru the ship. For example - on Cozumel, roundtrip Taxi, admission fees, snorkle rental at Chanakanaab comes to about $50 for 2 - leaving $50 more for drinks, food, etc. On Grand Caymna, you can do Capt Marvin's snorkle and stingray tour for under $70 for 2. Ocho Rios - Go with Peat Taylor to Dunns River Falls, Fern Gulley, shopping, wherever for $60 for two - again leaving $40 for drinks or food.<BR><BR>the TIP - NO !!! Billie apparantly doesn't tip anything based on HER list (yet spends $400 for her Mutts) - but I tipped $200 - which breaks down to $14+ per person per day . Since the guidelines are roughly $9 to $10 a day - this is generous. Now if you just stick to the guidelines, you and your spouse could tip $130 total and spend the other $70 on more drinks on board or at the SPA.<BR><BR>$2500 - Doable indeed - and not in the least Miserly !!!

Sherri

Billie,<BR><BR>Thank you for painting the entire population of the midwest with one wide brush - very open-minded of you.<BR><BR>I pay cash for my vacations, I wonder how much credit card interest you and those like you are shelling out each month to overspend on your pleasures.<BR><BR>