This is my friend Alea >
We have had this cruise book since February 2013. Which might mean nothing to you until I tell you this bit:
Cruise Deets:
Carnival Magic 7 day
Port Galveston, TX
Montego Bay Jamaica
Grand Caymans
Cozumel
November 2, 2014
That is right, we booked almost 2 years out or around 600 some days out. I could go back and find out exactly, but with that much time, does it really matter?
We recently passed the one year mark, and I paid off my portion of the cruise, so I gave myself permission to start making plans.
Let me go off on a little tangent here:
Often I hear, "Cruises are so cheap!"
Yes, cruises can be a VALUE vacation, I think moreso for families who would be paying for everybody and everything anyway. And cruises are a great value, but I'm not so sure if they are cheap. I've had plenty of people ask me about cruising because........well.........I do it alot. They are usually a bit shocked at how much they do have to pay for. So here is my speech on being kind to your wallet and realizing what you are getting into:
When Alea and I decided to book this cruise, she had just moved out on her own and I was in the market for a house, so we both were pinching our pennies. First things first:
Research:
This was easy for us because when you book that far out there is not much available and we had some specifics we wanted (the type of ship). It was fairly easy for us to chose which cruise, though we did go back and forth when it came to the final two and prices.
Research A:
Learn a few things about the ships, ports, staterooms etc. This will help you budget better.
- We picked the Magic because it was a newer ship, but not the newest, so the prices were less.
- We picked the Magic because it had the Cloud 9 Spa Suite on it and we love it, no matter if it cost extra. But we knew that would cost extra, so we added that to the budget.
- We explored our room types. I've had almost every category, except a suite (but IMHO, its not worth the extra money for a couple sqft of room, which is basically all you get besides priority embark and debark). We could have just picked a Spa room and gotten our Spa Suite included with it, but the price difference was way more than the $249 (a couple's cost, but we are just friends, but that is cheaper, so who cares) for the Suite cost. Now, let's consider that we wanted to be close to the spa, so we could use it, without paying the spa room prices. Let's also consider that we kinda wanted a balcony, but didn't want to pay for one (or couldn't, whatever), so what do we do? Here is where research comes in. From my time on Cruise Critic I know there are rooms at the front of the ship that are considered inside rooms, but have windows. Not only do they have windows, but there is a side door right next to the row of rooms that has access to a deck right in front of the room. This would be known as the "Secret deck." Not many passengers know about it or would utilize it that often. So, in reality, we are getting a "balcony" with our room and paying a inside cost. Plus, those rooms tend to have more space and some of them are handicapped, which have bigger bathrooms. HOWEVER! Be careful about booking handicapped rooms, as you can be bumped should someone need one. I had my PVP pick the side room, that isn't handicapped, but still has more space and the window. By doing this, we probably saved about $300. At the time, Lido deck was included in the price (meaning I could book any deck I wanted for the same price, no upcharge), so now we are only two decks below the spa and a simple walk down the hall to the main pool deck. The only draw back being that if you get seasick, these rooms may NOT be for you as they are all the forward.
- Ports. If you want to do things ashore, then you should include preliminary cost into your budget. I KNEW I wanted to hit up Mr. Sanchos in Cozumel, so $50pp goes into the budget for that excursion.
Think about the programs, excursions and other things offered that you might want.
- We obviously wanted the Cloud 9 Spa Suite access, which I know that you can purchase the first day for the whole week for $249 for a couple and $149 single (the last I saw). It would make sense for us to buy as a couple because you save $50. They don't care, but it does go on one card, so make sure to know who is paying back whom and when if you aren't a real item. This Suite is an extra, but an extra we really like and want. So it goes on the budget split between us.
- Carnival offers a program called Cheers. Its an inclusive beverage program (includes alcohol) and it was new last year. For a 7 day cruise its about $300pp and both people in a room have to be 21 and purchase it. It also includes soda and discounts on bottle water, wine bottles and etc. There are plenty of threads on the break down of cost on Cruise Critic, do a search for Cheers and you can find it. I'm just curious. I wonder if I don't drink but $150 worth of drinks in a week because I'm cheap or not much of a drinker. So, I wanted to try the program and so does Alea. Now, we both know that it is an item we can cross off the budget should be not be able to fund it, but for now it is there and accounted for. Actually, we aren't planning on buying until the second day because we don't think we can drink enough on the first day to be worth it, you cut that first day off (pro rated) and you don't get US taxes added on too. Things just got cheaper.
- Faster to the Fun is another program that you have to plan for right off the bat because it is limited. They only allow so many purchases to this program, which you can find under your home port excursions for $50 per stateroom. Since we booked so far out, I kept a watch for it to open and snatched it up right away. They release a few here and there as they get the numbers in, so you have to be on top of it. It gives you some special features that may or may not be worth it to some people. You can see those on Carnival's website, just look up Faster to the Fun.
The obvious cost.
- Well, you gotta get there somehow, so start looking at your options. Driving verses flying verses........whatever you got. I started looking at prices last year to get a sense of how much it would be to fly. Of course I wasn't dealing with the same time of year and rates come and go, but it can give you an estimate of how much you are looking at. I'm getting better pricing now that I'm really close to the 333 days out for booking flights. It looks like it might be a little lower than I expected, which is great. I also have reward points I plan on using, so even better!
- Hotel for pre-cruise stay. I guess some people fly in the day of the cruise for reasons like, vacation time and so forth, but I find it a chance I don't like to take. I fly in the day before the cruise and just eat the cost of a hotel stay. Take a look at the prices around the port for hotels where you will be staying. I started looking this month and they are priced way higher than FL hotels. It was a bit of a shock. But, I'll look harder and see what I can come up with.
- Transport. Whether you are driving in or not, there are cost. Parking garages, or extra fees to leave your car at the hotels. Airport shuttles, cabs, etc. Try to get a handle on these. I've found that Galveston is killer on transport. Something I wasn't really prepared for because I just assumed it would be like other ports. Never assume.
- Spending money. Well, you got the cash needs from traveling, you have tipping money, excursion cash (if needed), souvenirs, and don't forget the Sail and Sign account where you rack up bills on the ship for things you might buy. Account for all of that.
- Cruise insurance. Don't care where you get it from. Buying insurance is a good idea. Lots baggage, illness, death, weather. All things you can plan for. Its a minor cost compared to your total cost of the trip. I'd rather get 75% back than nothing.
So far, I've paid $757.85 towards the total budget. The total cost (with the original price) was $2196.85. I now have to save or pay out the $1,409 listed at the bottom.
I'm definitely and Excel girl. My monthly budget is set up in Excel (well, I get paid twice a month, so it is more complicated than that even). But this is what I mean by budgeting and realizing your FULL cost. Yes, cruises are a value, but there is reality too.
The base price (by this I mean what you see advertised on the cruise sites minus all the extras) for this cruise was
$609
+ Taxes and fees
+ Tips (which you can pre-pay or wait for it to be added to account when you board)
$762.85
$153.85 in Taxes and fees and tips that you don't see in that base price.
Here is something else to consider when budgeting:
How long is it going to take you to pay your above ^ budget off? You have to make the final payment for the cruise 70 days before you sail, so you lose 2.5 months at the start. I either take that into account or I actually book a year and 2.5 months ahead of schedule. A year is my payment plan usually (unless I buy a house, then its two years), but keep this in mind no matter how many months ahead you book.
When I booked this cruise back in February I had 19 months (I subtracted the 2.5 months) to pay my budget off. Remember you also have a deposit to put down to even book the cruise. $250pp and unless you get a 50% reduced deposit deal, you will have to put down the full $500 no matter if its all you or split. I agreed to put down the full $500 at the start because I had not yet bought the house when we booked and still have some money saved to do it. We agreed also, that the $500 would go towards my cruise ticket portion. So, when we started I had already paid $500 off my $762.85. Even with that little left to pay, It still took me until October to pay it off.
I feel like I'm rambling...........do I make sense?
Payments:
Make a plan to spread your payments out. I had a total of 2196.85 and 19 months to come up with it. That would have been about $115 a month. HOWEVER! The wise thing to do is prioritize your payments.
- Cruise ticket-Well, it won't matter if anything else is paid for if you don't get this taken care of.
- Flight/Driving- Won't matter if you paid for the cruise, if you can't get there.
- Insurance- If something happens to one or two........you will need three.
- Any programs that have a limit or time frame to be bought (ex. Faster to the Fun)
- Spending Money- Can't get very far without it, however, you can up this or lower it according to your needs and budget, so it doesn't have to be at the top.
- Hotel and transportation- You can mostly book the hotel when you want b/c most of those can be cancelled up until the day you arrive. Just make sure your rate allows cancellation. Transport, I would research and plan for, but most of the time you can estimate it and worry about it when you get there.
- Any extras. Anything else you DON'T have to have. Cheers program, Spa Suite, Excursions etc. These can be dropped off the list should you need money elsewhere or just can't afford it. There is still enough to do on a cruise ship that is free, that these things don't matter. One of the benefits of cruising vs. land vacations (unless AI) is you don't have to pay to be entertained.
Make sure and check out special rates or reward programs you have to see if you can use any of that to supplement your budget. Free hotel stays or air points. Compare and contrast, shop around. Check for hotels that have free shuttles to the airport and ports. But just remember that they generally have schedules they follow and list to sign up for. If you don't want to be on their schedule, make sure you have other arrangements.
Example:
I once flew out of Richmond (a four hour drive for me) instead of Greensboro (a hour 15) because it would be ultimately around $100 cheaper. Jetblue had a RT flight for $182 with your first bag free. Even with paying for gas to Richmond I came out better. Greensboro I would have to pay the plane ticket, gas to drive down and park my car (no one to take me), plus all bags cost. In RIC I could park my car at a friends house and have them drive me (and pick me up) at the airport. Flew with one checked bag, one personal item and one carry on. Factor it all in.
To be continued.............................
*I know there are mistakes. But I'm sure you understand what I meant, so let's move on.*
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