ME

Billie,<BR>You are a travel agent's dream.....and a few comments:<BR>Billie is obviously NEW money since she obviously needs to flaunt her goods and looks down at those who do not agree or do the things she does. Every person has his own idea of a vacation and if people have the money like Billie does (wealthy spouse?) then go ahead and do it. Also, I sense the arrogance in Billie's tone toward others which is areal downer but is typical of the LA mentality especially if you are NEW money.

Cathy

I posted a response similar to this under the thread "why is everyone so cheap". <BR><BR>You can spend money on your vacation, then you can waste money. I have found that I can enjoy the luxuries of life for less. I have easily done 7 day cruises for $2000...or less.<BR><BR>I cruise in the summer because I teach. Thus, I cannot get the great bargins that happen in the fall and the winter. But you can easily get 7 day cruises for $700 to $1000. On my last 2 cruises, I booked rooms for about $1000 per person and got free upgrades up several catagories. If you book early enough, you can get great deals. And, sorry Paul, I use the internet discounters. I cannot get a good deal from my local travel agents. <BR><BR>I am lucky on airfare since I live on the Gulf Coast. A roundtrip flight to Miami usually costs me about $180. But I fly a lot for conferences and as an educational consultant and I can usually fly across the country for $250. If you let the cruise line do the airfare, you are getting ripped off.<BR><BR>Since I do cruise and travel a lot, I have a collection of evening dresses and dressy outfits, so I don't have to buy any new ones. I do buy a few new pieces, but I would do that anyway. You can get amazing deals at holiday sales and outlet malls. Internet is great too.<BR><BR>I don't really drink and I never gamble on a boat since the slots are tight. I have gambling boats at home which pay off better. After cruising so many times, I don't need any ship pictures.<BR><BR>As far as shore excursions, I almost always do my own, unless you can only book a particular excursion through the boat. By either renting a car or booking through a private vendor ( who are often the same people who run the ships excursions) I have saved considerable money and gotten a BETTER tour. <BR>By the way, you can get private helicopter tours to glaciers in Alaska that are 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of the ship excursion. I know because I have done it.<BR><BR>I love going to spas and spa treatments. But the last ship massage I had was not as good as the day spa in my city and costs twice as much. Plus, I had to endure I high pressure sales pitch while I was taking the massage. Not good.<BR><BR>Since I took my last cruise solo...here are my costs<BR>$800 Carnival Destiny<BR>$0 Airfare to San Juan (used an airline voucher)<BR>Ship Expenses - $6.00 for ironing, $70+ in tips<BR>My own expenses $600 total - including snorkeling in Vieques, St. Thomas, St. Lucia (island tour $25 by sharing a cab, free snorkeling at Anse Chastenet), Curacao (rented a car, $35 for the day, saw most of island), Aruba (fantastic private snorkel trip, $45, included tour of island, took bus to Palm beach afterwards) and the rest of the costs were shopping, etc.<BR><BR>Total - About $1500 for one person. Not Bad.<BR><BR>Because I save so much money, I was able to go to Europe earlier this month and I will be sailing on the Pride at the end of July. You can enjoy luxuries for less and have a fabulous vacation with wise use of money.

OhMy

Cathy: You didn't buy a coke, wine or a Pina Colada the entire cruise? You didn't gamble a few dollars? Didn't buy any photos? Didn't make a phone call? Didn't use the Spa? Didn't use a premium channel on the T.V.? Didn't buy anything in the shops? Sounds like fun. I guess that's why you were traveling "solo"?

bboomer

Re: Billie<BR>I wholeheartedly agree with Billie. First of all, cruise(only) costs normally run us around $400-$700 per day, per person. Granted, this is for one of the more upscale cruise lines, but you get what you pay for. My wife and I both work 50 -70 hours per week ;and thus, like to afford ourselves the luxury of traveling in style. We too pay $60/ day to have someone watch our pooches. Part of a good cruise experience are the wines we enjoy as well as the spa treatments. We have a very narrow window each year as to when we can both get away together, so unfortunately, we are at the mercy of the airlines with respect to flight costs. However, those FF miles make the trip much more bearable when you can upgrade to the front of the plane. Some people believe that the "destination" is the vacation. We subscribe to the credo that the entire trip is the vacation..... To each his own I guess!!

ralph

OK Billie, I mean bboomer, or whatever else you are calling yourself these days. QUit hiding behind other names and pretending to agree with yourself just so it looks like one person supports your asinine view of things.<BR><BR>If you want to debate, do so - but don't create new Identities to "agree with Billie"<BR>

bboomer

Ralph,<BR>I posted this response to express MY opinion about Billie's thread. If you would care to debate this, I would welcome the opportunity as it seems that you are unwilling to believe that there are travelers that believe in traveling in style. Please note that I have not stooped to the normal illiterate "name calling" that seems to be the norm when someone disagrees with the majority.

Cathy

Dear "OhMy"<BR><BR>No, I didn't buy anything on the ship. I have cruised enough to the point the the most of the overinflated "shlock" they sell on board is not worthy of buying.<BR><BR>I have no need to buy things that I really don't want or need to make myself happy. I have also found that sexually frustrated people often turn to shopping therapy. I may travel solo, but I am rarely alone!! ;-)<BR><BR>I do love the experience of being on deck, sailing in or out of various ports, experiencing the islands and their cultures, meeting and interacting with the many wonderful people I have met on cruises and still correspond with, and looking for the green flash at sun set. Yes, many of the best things in life are free.

thrifty

Actually, bboomer presented his opinion very well, even though I didn't agree with it. He didn't put anyone else down, or display "attitude" which is where Billie seems to be giving everyone a hard time. It's more the way she is stating her opinion, than her opinion itself.

Jill

I'm not Billie or BBoomer, but I agree with some of their points. My husband and I enjoy traveling, and do so frequently. While we *are* bargain hunters, we still appreciate luxury, and will not hesitate to upgrade cabins, flights or hotel rooms. However, given a choice between staying at Motel 6 and eating at McDonalds or staying home, we still prefer to GO! <BR><BR>On the other hand, there are many other things that we don't appreciate, and don't spend money on -- to each his own. <BR><BR>And to the oft-asked question, "How much time do you actually spend in your cabin?", the answer for us is "Quite a bit", as we enjoy the view!<BR><BR>

Billie

I'm sorry Stephanie, but I wear a size 4 and I am very healthy, work out, hike, etc. So there goes that theory, that I'm a bloated slob eating my way into heart attack city. In fact, I don't ever eat fast food. I eat a lot of sushi and I cook, low fat, healthy. I really did not mean to spark such outrage in everyone for that I appologize. I will admit that I think my pal's dog walker is kind of silly, but the pet sitter is not ridiculous when you consider that for 3 dogs, I pay MORE in an LA kennel and I don't get the service I get from her -- she watches the house, waters the plants, brings in the mail. I live in an expensive town. I work, by the way, so I'm not sitting around just waiting for my husband to take care of everything like some suggest. What I don't really understand is why you guys get so mad about our paying for services on the ship. I think there are a lot more travelers out there like us, than like some of you. Everyone at our table was taking planes and choppers and getting spa treatments. All of us had balconies. All of the men wore tuxes to the formal nights. It seemed to me to be the normal cruise experience. Sorry if I offended anyone.

Stephanie P.

Billie:<BR><BR>No, I don't think most travelers are like you. They usually have mortgages and utility bills to pay and think spending $1,000s on top of the price of a cruise is ridiculous. The travel industry could not survive if only the upper middle class to lower upper classes could only travel. The industry needs everybody. Nobody needs to try out every service known on a ship to be happy, assuming everyone does to have a great time, is wrong.<BR><BR>Don't think everyone has this envious streak in regard to what you have. I think that is the ultimate turn-off for most people posting on this board, you come off as very arrogant and full of yourself. At least you have your dogs.<BR><BR><BR>

Cathy

Billie:<BR>One of the great things about a cruise vacation, especially on many of the newer ships is the opportunity to experience a great variety of activities.<BR><BR>I think if you spend a lot of maney on an activity that you throughly enjoy and it added a meaningful experience to your life, then that was money very well spent. I know I have done that on several vacations such as the time I went to Canyon Ranch in Tuscon or the time I went to the Grand Wailea in Maui.<BR><BR>The point I am trying to make is that often you can enjoy the SAME activities on a cruise, at the same level of quality for less money. <BR><BR>I have traveled with others on cruises in the past and they spent money to their hearts content until they got the bill on the last day. I have seen people get very depressed when they realize how much they overspent on the ship, and how long it will take them to save up until they can have another vacation. If you save money, the more you can do in the long run.<BR><BR>What I try to do is estimate how much I plan to spend...what will be a splurge and where will I cut back. I usually have a great vacation with no sticker shock!

Paul Therault

Hi Jerry,<BR><BR>There was a study done by the Business Research and Economic Advisors in the spring of this year. Some of you probably participated by answering questions presented to you by the clipboard carrying people at the bottom of the gangway in all popular Caribbean ports.<BR><BR>The average spending per passenger (pax) per port is as follows: Tours and Taxis $20.51; Eating/Entertainment $7.17; Watches/Jewelry $29.67; Other Shopping $32.33. <BR><BR>San Juan was the lowest in spending per pax due to the fact that the ships usually port late afternoon and at night. Most stores close at 6 PM and Morro Castle closes at 4. There is very limited evening activity in Old San Juan.<BR><BR>Cozumel is the fastest growing spending island and if it wasn't for the shopping spending in St. Thomas it would surpass St. Thomas. Cozumel has the expensive ruins tours and also the ecological parks and who doesn't stop at Carlos and Charlies for a Margarita and snacks?<BR><BR>Here is the breakdown for Cozumel: Tours and Taxis $29.12; Eating/Entertainment $19.78; Watches/Jewelry $48.48; Other Shopping $35.02.<BR><BR>For Comparison - St. Thomas: Tours and Taxis $18.08; Eating/Entertainment $5.32; Watches/Jewelry $87.63; Other Shopping $62.21.<BR><BR>Happy cruising,<BR><BR>Paul<BR><BR>

Chuck

The average for me far exceeds these amounts. However I suspect that the "averages" are like, well, averages.<BR><BR>A statistician with his head in the freezer and his feet in the oven is, on average, comfortable.

Ceaser

Hey it all depends on what your budget allows. I just found an AWESOME deal and I mean AWESOME deal for Voyager 7 day western carribean cruise. For me the cruise of course (inside cabin) for 2 would be $1100 dollars. Not including airfare which is cheaper if I do my own air not using the cruiseline. Our air would be a total of $510.00 for 2 TOTAL!! Not a piece. So thats about $1600.00 for 2. We are not drinkers and do not do Spa's.

BILL

Last 12 cruises we averaged $1250pp for 7 days ,outside cabin ,inc. AIR .Next one 9/23/02 on MILLENNIUM is 11 days & is a veranda cat.2 cabin for $1650pp inc.R.t.air!We always book late,(saves money) & we will NEVER EVER PAY $50 ($25PP) TO EAT IN FANCY ALTERNATE ROOM,OR PAY TIPS BEFORE WE EVEN SAIL!<BR>BILL

sosilly

Maybe it's too late for Billie to see this. She posted in June. She can do whatever she likes on a cruise and spend whatever she likes (on land or on a cruise). But..stuffing it into people's faces (mid-westerners or not!!!) is very bad manners.<BR><BR>We live in an upscale neighbourhood and probably live an upscale lifestyle by most people's standards...but money doesn't come easily these days, and we have no interest in squandering it. Some of the things Billie spends on do not interest me, others do, but, are outrageously expensive, and to me hit a nerve. I am speaking of the spas. I have been to land spas, and I get regular massages in my home city, but to pay the ridiculous prices that Steiner is asking is beyond my comprehension. Besides, you don't know who you are getting. I am sure all their workers are not equal.

jen

Here is how we are doing it...<BR><BR>We got 2 people on Century in Oceanview on penthouse deck for $1700, <BR><BR>We booked airfare from Michigan to Fla thru Spirit for $200 pp.<BR><BR>We got a hotel night before in Ft Lauderdale for $90<BR><BR>We don't gamble on ship, but do drink, so about $700 for drinks and excursions on card<BR><BR>We figure about $500 for spending, (food off the boat, souveniers, etc)<BR><BR>About 3390.00, so we have paid for air and cruise and are taking about 1500.00 with us.

Love

I believe that if you could then do it. I really don't care what everybody else does, just as I don't want anybody to care what I do with my money. That said here is my budget:<BR>12 day cruise in a suite - $3500<BR>Gambling and drinking - about a $100 per day<BR>Excursions, art auctions, gifts, souverniers, etc... $1000<BR>Airfare - $300<BR>Hotels before and after - $750(7 days)<BR>Food and whatever? during hotel stay - $1500<BR>Total - about $8000 for 20 days of pure fun for a single person.

charles

The $5,000 number is realistic in my experience. It's at least a good place to begin to scope out your options.<BR><BR>Just be careful of the "might-as-well" factor. (We're spending big money already, might as well pay another $200 for the [excursion; upgrade; etc.].)<BR><BR>The "might-as-wells" kill our budget no matter how hard we try to avoid them.