Your final tab?

[openwater]

I'm new to cruising and just wondering what to expect when it comes to my final tab. On the last day of the cruise when it comes time to "settle up" with the cruise line how much do you think I should expect? This will be for a family of 4. DH and I are not big drinkers, but we will probably have a couple of drinks each over the course of our five-night cruise. DH drinks a lot of soft drinks and will most likely get a soda card. We might get two of those. I plan to purchase one family picture of us at formal night and we'd like to play the slots a little bit. Other than that I don't know what we'll spend our money on on the ship. We have already purchaed one shore excursion through the cruise line and are looking at another one throught someone else at another port so those will be taken care of. I know we will have souvenirs for the kids. Am I missing anything? How much will all of this cost me?

[Donna]

You may have to add the tips to your tab, if they are being paid automatically, figure $10.00 a day, per person. The last night of the cruise, you'll get a print out of all the charges that will go on the credit card you give them at the start of the cruise.

You can check it daily, through your cabin TV, just to see where you are. Those charges do add up quickly, so keep an eye on things.

[openwater]

We prepaid our tips through Carnival. I know things add up quickly, that's the point of my post. I don't want to be surprised. What should I realistically be expecting?

[IneedaVaca]

openwater- I read someone else's post a good rule of thumb might figure up at about 100.00 per person per day. This may not quite be accurate since 1/2 of your party are children... but I spend more on my kids than I do myself. (they are 5 and 6) !!!!!

Seeing as you have prepaid for excursions and not big drinkers- ???

[cruisefan01]

It varies from cruise to cruise for us. We have been on a 4 day (2 adults no kids) and had a $800 tab, and been on a 8 day (same 2 adults no kids) and only had a $600 tab. Neither counting casino donations.

Half jokin, half serious:
If you want to plan, figure $5/drink times the number of drinks you think will be purchased, $30 for pictures, and what you THINK you might spend on souvineers, the soda cards (I think they are around $5/day times length of cruise or ther abouts, and then on top of all that add another $200 because you will find that you will want more things than you plan.

[zekeandkim]

On my last cruise DH and I spent almost $600 for a
5 day cruise. $103 was just photos!
My DH likes his corona!! Not that I didn't like my
daquari's. My DH and his brother did 1
excursion, while my SIL and I just wanted to enjoy
the beaches.

This next 5 dy cruise we are taking our teenage DD's.
Now this will probably get a little more expensive.
I am budgeting @ 200 a day for all 4 of us. I have
also already prepaid for an excursion.
I will be leaving in 10 days! When I get back I
will let you know how my budgeting worked out.

Well I hope this helps!!

[paddletoe53]

here are a couple tips that might help with the bill on the lido deck were they have the breakfest buffy there is drinks of fruit punch. lemonade, apple juice and tea that free we take drinks from there all day

be care full on how many photos you takeyou can ring up high bill
on those when my mom and i cruise we each pick out three photos
and then we get home we make copies of the photos

[radcrow]

Oh my goodness - what do you get charged for on board?
My boyfriend and I are getting ready to take our first cruise. I'm freaking out because we are short on cash and don't have much available credit.

We aren't planning any excersions, we know we are buying 1 soda card. We might buy a picture. Any souveniors I'd get while walking around the islands.

[noob]

Holy toledo, $100-$200 a day???

I've budgeted maybe $200 for the whole 5 days! Then again, I don't shop, drink much, gamble, or drink soda (thank God!). My biggest expense should be the 1 excursion I'm doing.

Also, I'm a total tightwad, so that helps.

[richstacy]

"I'm new to cruising and just wondering what to expect when it comes to my final tab. "

Sticker shock

Just messin with ya.

[tpcast]

I'm a single traveller so I have no experience with family budgets. I have found that my final bill is about equal to what I paid for the cruise itself. I'm not a big drinker 1 or 2 drinks a day, a moderately priced excursion or 2 and $10.00 per day for tips and a t-shirt. This does not include what I spend in the casino.

[radcrow]

My boyfriend and I just returned from a 7 night on RC Adventure of the seas. I got a soda card. We didn't purchase any pictures (didn't like how I looked). But 1 person at our dinner table bought a group photo which she is scanning and emailing to everyone !! We had some people take our pictures, which I think turned out even better than the professional ones.

We bought a couple of drinks, which with the automatic gratuity were about $8 each. Beer was about $6. We made a couple of purchases on board - alcohol, t-shirts, watches and cigarettes. WITH tips, our total was $450.

We didn't do any excursions. We did purchase the VIP shopping package that was offered.

[richstacy]

That's about $32/ person/ day. for tips, booze and incidentals. not bad at all.

[Kamloops Cruiser]

Just came back from 14 day Alaska cruise.
The total bill including souvenirs was about 400USD.

The break down for 2 people.
Tips $20 x 14 = $280
Drinks $ 30 = $30
Misc $90 = $90
Total = $400