Thread: Budgeting for a cruise

With cruise and airfare prices changing all the time, I always wondered how to pick a money amount to budget for the whole vacation. Not just the cruise itself but also what I buy or do on the ship, airfare, hotels, shore excursions, port city restaurants, etc. How do you do it?

For us, that's not really a fair question because we hardly ever plan a cruise more than a few months away - just one of the hazards and benefits of the job.

But when I'm talking to newbies (those who have never cruised before) and I'm asked that question, I always tell them that first they need to decide where they want to go, when, and for how long. Then they can begin to look at the cruise line and type of cabin. All of these will have a major impact on the price.

If money is more important than anything else, they need to set a budget and that will have a major impact on the where, when, how long, the type of cabin, and the cruise line.

Given that you've already decided when, where, how long, and with whom, you can then begin looking at an overall budget. If the itinerary has been released for selling, that's a major step and provides a great start. If it hasn't, then look at a comparable itinerary on the same date the year before, then add roughly a 10% - 15% increase. Obviously, this can vary by cruise line, date, and type of cabin, but gives you a general idea. You can do the same for airfare.

After you've added up everything and come up with what you feel is a good total, add about 10% to the final cost to give yourself some padding against unexpected increases. If it comes in lower than that, you have some extra money for excursions or to be applied against your next cruise.

Normally we don't see huge increases in the same itinerary, date, and cruise line from year-to-year when comparing apples to apples. But it's always best to book as early as possible to protect you against any price increases, keeping in mind that you can normally still get any specials that would lower the price. And worse case scenario, you can always cancel prior to final payment due date and get a 100% refund should problems arise.

Hope this helps.

Pete

My next cruise is on Oasis, so I have my 100 (plus) shares of RCL stock, so I get $100 OBC and I have a RCL credit card, (decided that is my favorite line, though its also good for celebrity), and pulled $150 worth of points off it and sent them in. So the $250 will pay for tips and my up to 3 excursions. I will wait until Im onboard to book excursions so they come out of my free money.

Add $100 cash pp for each port, so if 3 ports, I would bring at least $600 in cash with me .. just in case money for 2 people.

Always bring some cash. I got caught in a hurricane and we spent $200 getting a extra weeks worth of meds in Cozumel and had to pay 3 cab fares and go to the hospital for $60 in cash to write the scripts and $100 to fill them. From now on, I will always make sure to take a extra weeks of meds, but someone else counted out the pills (not for me).

I also left from Galveston and they dropped us off in New Orleans .. so I had to find a way home from New Orleans with two HC folks on my own dime.

I always bring extra cash .. things happen. Be prepared.

Things to consider, buying stock or getting a credit card for that line if you decide to cruise a lot.

CCL stock is good for onboard credit for all its lines. good for OBC even on Princess .. or cunard. But not worth it if you only cruise once a year to me.