Ok folks, I'd like to see how everyone spends on a cruise. Please don't count your transfers to and from the airport or the planeflight, or the cruise, (We all pay pretty much the same) But what is the amount of money you stick in your pocket for a week of holidays? I go to the Dominican Republic every year, I bring a WAD of cash and use my bank card. Yet I have a friend who goes and takes $50 CAN YOU IMAGINE?? Ok these of course are all inclusives.

So on the cruise ship (tips, barbill souveniers, portraits etc) on the islands you land at etc, what do you spend? Reason I'm asking, I'd like to get an idea of how much this cruise is going to cost me in way of spending money. (I just bought my American Money $1500.00) and I do hope its enough but there's always the credit cards if not.

Thanks all and have a SPlendid Weekend! I'm off to work on nights all weekend...

I budget $100/day while in port. This does not include excursions that I book, just for spending, taxi(s), souvineers, t-shirts, etc. This also does not include casino money, which I try to budget, but it never works out that way. Have a wonderful cruise, maybe we'll see your ship in one of our ports as well

WE ARE LEAVING ON SUNDAY AND WE WILL BE TAKING ABOUT 400.00 WE ALWAYS BRING MONEY HOME WE HAVE OUR EXCURSIONS PAID AND WE DON'T DO THE BARS HOPE THIS HELPS

Hi All!

Interesting information. One is high, one is low! hehehe Jerome, I love your ticker! Fishes! Can't wait to see other peoples opinions on money!

Penny, We are in Cozumel on the 23rd of October, Costa Rica on the 26th Panama on the 27th and back to Miami on the 29th. Whats your schedule for Princess?

Ok see you all later, Best be getting ready for work!

Just got home from a cruise on the valor. We took $1200 and came home with about $400. We did lose "some" in the casino.

On our last cruise - 11 days Hawaii - we spent $795 on board. This included 3 excursions for two people and cocktails and tee shirts, one photo. We brought $1000 in cash and came home with $600. Of course, there was no casino

I usually seperate my casino allowance from my other money budget. So for daily cash I allow around $50 a day for onshore taxi, tips and lunch etc. But I take $100 a day just in case. Certain excursions, like going to St.John I know I will need extra that day for all the taxis and ferry rides. This does not include my onboard Sail & Sign, just cash/travelers checks I take. I also take at least one credit card with plenty of available credit just in case. I usually come back with money.

I usually spend $600 to $700 on a 7 day cruise.

Jerome,

I want to wish you and your family a big "BON VOYAGE"

IslandCruz

Between me and my wife we usually spend around $1,000 at the most......and that's with buying some shirts and things at the ports and on the ship....

Awww Now I'm at ease! I bought 1500 cash and have all the credit cards to lean on while gone so there isn't anything to wrry about but I was worried I wouldn't have enough cash for this trip. I don't plan on going to the bank and buying more american money at this time. $1500 will do and maybe we will come home with more than we left with. That money is budgetted for a little spending in the casino! I hear its best to do a little slots while leaving onthe trip rather than when we are returning home because the slots pay out best at the start of the cruise? Any experience with that friends?

Tracy,

I have that same thinking too about the slots. Don't know if it has any logic in reality, but it seems that way to me sometimes. Actually the first day and the last day have been kind to me.
I lost $400 on Fantasy, and recouped it on last night at closing time. Who knows?

Make sure to meet the Casino Host right away the first day before the casino is open and sign up for Ocean Players Club.

What is ocean players club?

Ocean Players Club

IMHO.

I have found that if you seperate your money from what you will need and what you may spend as extra for shopping, gambling etc. it always works out better. Everything gets paid for and you get to shop, and usually have money left.

As I and others have posted $100 a day is a good rule of thumb

Hi Tracy,
Guess we're going the other way. We go to Antigua, St. Lucia, Grenada, Martinique, St. Thomas and Princess Cay. I usually do better the first night out, but then put it all back in plus too much more Oh well, I love video poker. It's so close now, I'm having trouble concentrating at work. I know if I stayed home I'd be even worse. Have a wonderful time and here's hoping for blue skies, warm water and a safe trip to all

Hi Penny!

What a drag eh! Well though you are going in a different direction, you'll have just as much fun as us! OOOOOOO I'm so excited and only have 2 more days of work left (Wednesday and Thursday) I'm a shift worker so I've had these past few days off and kept myself super busy. We are right at the end of hurricane season so should be smooth sailling! On Friday morning my hubby and I are travelling to Toronto which is about a 5 hour drive for us. Its great because we get to start our vacation a day early! Just as long as I can get to Friday morning, I'll be good and tomorrow at work will be busy as I should sleep well on Wednesday night. Well should be off for now, I can't believe how much I packed But on the other hand, I like to change quite frequently. Still haven't packed my formal gowns etc yet but will wait until down in Toronto to do that at the last minute. I am heading off now to check the weather network. I want CLEAR SKIES!

Penny and Tracy, I hope you have your best cruises yet!!! I know you have been so looking forward to the warmer weather, and relaxing fun. So go and have a blast!!!

Happy cruising!!!!!!

Thanks Sherri. I know you and Tracy will have a wonderful cruise as well. Dang it's hard to concentrate at work

If you have a credit card on file you can get cash as you need it from the casino. the slots on carnival allow you to charge up to $200 to your ship card (per transaction) all you have to do is cash out. rccl will give you cash at the cashiers window in the casino. Of course your credit card gets charged at the end for everything but since its on the cruise bill there are no added foriegn transaction fees (like when you use a credit card in port)...just make sure to get enough cash from casino while its open, if you run short of cash while in port the casino will be closed and you will be stuck. I also noticed an atm on carnival which is a great idea but no doubt has a fee attached. How much to budget depends on how extravagant your vacations get. personally without gambling expenses i found $100 a day more than enough to cover shore excursions and shopping.