Has anyone been on a carnival cruise lately?

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Fall Beauty

I was in the Valor in July and did the Western Caribbean. Sodas you can get the soda card for $40 (dont quote me on that, im not sure) and you get unlimited soda for the week. Hint on that, dont buy it in port, wait till the ship sails to purchase it.

Cocktails, I didnt purchase any, but from the prices I saw the average one was around $5-6 each.

Pictures are $7 or 8 each (dont remember how much exactly). Spa I didnt even go near, way out of my price range.

Games in the game room were averaging around $1.00, and there were a few penny slots in the casino with the tables ranging from $1 all the ways up to $100 and above.

They do add $70 in gratuity to your sail and sign card automatically for tips, but that does not include the maitr'e d (who we didnt tip, really nasty to us).

I cant think of anything else that you would buy save the stuff in the stores which ranges from less than a dollar to the thousands.

Julie T

Use a cash account if you want to manage to a budget while on a cruise. You put down a cash instead of a credit card for your on-board account. Notable...Carnival charges your account for the tips ($10 per day per guest) to your on-board account the moment you step on-board, so if you use a cash account, be sure to deposit enough cash to cover your tips ($70x2=$140 plus whatever your on-board spending budget is).

Carnival has a drink of the day special. Drinks run from about $4-12 each plus a 15% gratuity.

Sodas are $1.75 plus 15% gratuity per can or you can purchase the soda fountain card for $38.50 plus 15% gratuity for unlimited by the glass soda (Coke products).

Most of the Carnival ships now allow you to view your tab view the TV in your room. If the Pride does not offer this, you can drop by the purser's office and get a quick print-out.

You pay a premimum for booking shore excursions through Carnival but you get the insurance that if your excursion is running late, they will hold the ship for you. If you book on your own, your on your own while in port.

Be sure to take along a good supply of $1, 5 and 10 in US dollars to use in port for taxis, shopping and tips to the local guides.

To help you budget...here are a few of the "extra costs"-
- Bar drinks - $4-12 each plus 15% gratuity
- Soda - by the can - $1.75 plus 15% gratuity
- Soda fountain card - $38.50 plus 15% gratuity
- Photos - $7.99 to $21.99 (depending on size and style)
- Shore excursions - $50-200 per person per excursion.
- Spa treatments - $50-200 per treatment (but there were many specials on this last trip as many people were skipping the spa...)
- Casino. Use cash in the casino to avoid 3% fee for using card.
- Bingo cards - $5-20...depending on day and games
- Goument coffee - $3.75 and up
- Internet - 75 cents per minute
- Ship to shore phone - $7.99 per minute
- Parking at the port
- Tips for luggage porters - $1 per bag
- Tips - $70 per day per guest

With the exception of tips and parking at the cruise terminal, all of the above is optional. My sister spent less than $400 on our last cruise....

Penny B

When are you going? from what port? and what ship?

that is couriosity.

NOW... cocktails range an average of 6-10 dollars each. get a soda card for 45$ and you can drink as many sodas as you want all week long. otherwise it is either 2 or 2.5 per can. Pictures figure 15$ each. casino average 30$ a day for each of you. give or take a little.
supper club 30$ per person. Bingo 10$ a card. shopping about 200 per person.

call your cruise booker, and pre pay your gratuities. Takes a lot off your sign and sail card. We started doing this, and it is easier to pay it when paying off the cruise than to have that major charge on your card the first day.

Average 800 cash when you go. and a credit card for yoru sign and sail card.

exchursions cost from 50 = 400 each. the taxi into town at St. Maarten is 5$ for the day.

An island tour once you get there will be about 30 per person.

At St. thomas the sky ride is 15 per person I believe plus drinks at the top.

Tivogal

http://www.expertvillage.com/video/7968_cruise-ship-travel-budget-vacation.htm
also try
cruisecritic.com
they have many reviews from passengers from recent cruises and can help you with your questions.

best wishes

Bicycle41

It depends on how much you'd like to buy. If you're planning on cocktails and spa appointments several times, it will cost quite a bit. If you're planning on them once or twice, it will be less.

Here are 2 articles which really help with packing and planning for a cruise:

http://www.ehow.com/how_4518382_like-pro-list-handy-things.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_4517915_save-money-cruise.html

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