Thread: How much money do you spend on extra stuff?

Originally Posted by Smart Traveler

Not true, Norman. Post cards, magnets, and t-shirts are very lightweight and those are all I expect to buy onboard. The only way souveneirs alone can put my bag over 50 pounds is if I go where sweatshirts and jeans are needed at every port and also buy heavier items such as a dress for one formal night.

You asked about art auctions, which is probably the hardest thing to get home, a tube of art work, or framed is worse.

t shirts sound light, but to get the sale price often you have to buy 3. T shirts have been my downfall for not being able to zip my suitcase to get home. If Im driving I now bring a extra bag, one of those with a strap with a island name on them that you can fold into your regular suuitcase.. in case my spending means my suitcase will no longer zip.

Originally Posted by flowers

You asked about art auctions, which is probably the hardest thing to get home, a tube of art work, or framed is worse.

T-shirts sound light, but to get the sale price often you have to buy 3. T-shirts have been my downfall for not being able to zip my suitcase to get home. If I'm driving I now bring a extra bag, one of those with a strap with an island name on them that you can fold into your regular suitcase in case my spending means my suitcase will no longer zip.

Princess ships art directly to your home if you win anything so their weight does not matter.

Buying three t-shirts is easy: one for me, one for my mom, and one for my sister - and they will not all go in the same suitcase, obviously. But they probably will not be the same design. Does that matter?

Im never going to buy any of that art. I have much more valuable stuff at home. You might get some free art for being there, that kind of thing to get home. People I know have bought art in the ports to get authnetic paintings and have to carry it home. I would google art work sold on cruise ships before you buy any. If it was such a great deal they would not give away freebies and ply you wiht free cheap champagne to get you in there. beware.

Much of what one should expect to budget for depends on several factors such as which cruiseline, what ports you're going to, what you like to do...

Definitely find out the amount of tips and put that money aside. Also figure that you may want to tip extra (in lieu of that, if you met up with any outstanding crew members, note down their first names/country/workstation from their name tags, and go to the purser's or passenger services desk, get a "made a difference" card, and commend them on that. I understand on Princess, whenever a crew member is up for a raise or promotion, their file is checked for these cards,and can help them out). Also, porters at the port who help you with your suitcases and tour guides should be tipped. Taxi drivers, and perhaps shuttle drivers too.

As for my family, besides the above tips (and one given to the teen center staff), we also spent money on photographs (my hubby said he bought about $100 on this last cruise, but this amount usually varies for us as my hubby is an excellent photographer), on some beverages (hubby brought a few specialty coffees, a few glasses of wine, I bought one "Blue Hawaii" on New Years Eve, and my daughter bought some sodas -- but as we brought on some sodas, Sobe drinks, water -- we saved there), some souvenirs (I took advantage of a few ship sales including some tee shirts and a mug, but nothing major). We didn't do any excursions this time as this was our second cruise to Hawaii (on the last one we did do three ship excursions), so any money there was spent on a cab, city buses, shuttles, one limo (we were first offered a shuttle for $10 each into town, but as we said nope, we'll just walk over to catch the bus or taxi, the guy made us an offer, along with others, for $15 per party -- and we had three people in ours -- for a limo to the shopping center, where we wanted to go). It was our fourth time to Hawaii so armed with good city maps, we didn't have to worry about getting lost when we were out and about.

We also aren't gamblers nor art auction goers (there's enough art on our walls in our house), nor into the spa or getting our hair done onboard.

So we probably ended up with a lower bill for two weeks for three people than some people do for a one-week cruise for two.

The pictures are always my downfall. I plan to stay away from the photographers on my next cruise.

Originally Posted by lady_suz

The pictures are always my downfall. I plan to stay away from the photographers on my next cruise.

Because this will be my first cruise, I want the professional shots. I will not make a big deal about getting them on every cruise, but I can't see myself saying no to photographers on my first cruise. I will be dressed up for formal night and going to British Columbia for the first time ever, so why not splurge on a special occasion?

Recently I got another idea: Buy souvenirs online. Why go to port attraction gift shops when those products are available online? If I do that, I can reduce spending on port days.

As little as possible.

My purchases usually come in a pint glass.

Originally Posted by Norman

My purchases usually come in a pint glass.

How many pints do you typically drink on a cruise, more than you do at home?

Mom will definitely drink wine. I might buy the kid drink package because I am a picky drinker and completely sober.

Bloody Mary's in the morning and wine with dinner occasionally.