First timer- please help

[NEWTOCRUSIN]

going on my first cruise- on victory in April 2006, just wondering if anyone knows what the price for alcohol drinks on board are & if anyone has a rough idea of how much money I should be bringing for a 7 day trip? Young person in my 20's so I'll be partying on the boat- just need a rough estimate of how much this trip is going to cost me in the end. thanks

you better plan on taking out a studentloan...... maybe even promise your first born son

actually, the fees go straight to your onboard credit card account, so you can pay for it when you get home. I don't drink but I've seen the faces of many who had their bill slipped under their door and it wasn't pretty.

[commander rob]

Count on $7+ per drink. Always look for the daily special. I would suggest you take advantage of the shore excursion party boats and fill up there, or try a local club/bar.

[Lil' Lori]

Once on Royal Carribean, the first night they had a "alcohol special sale", for $20 (I think that was the price), we bought 2 bottles of the flavored citrus Stoly Vodkas. Then there was a "Corking fee", to compensate for the corking fee, they gave you a bottle of "cheap vodka". We took the bottles back to our room. Then I bought a soda package, and they give you a "travel mug like" thing that they would use to fill up my sprite. So, with my sprite filled mug, I would go back to my room, and spike it with the Stoly Citrus Vodka. Now, although I did save quite a bit of $ doing this, I also burnt alot of calories going back and forth to my room, each time I needed a refill. I am not a fast drinker, so I didn't mind to much. I only like vodka and whisky, so usually the drink of the day, was not to my liking. That was a cheaper option, I don't know if I would do it again. Have fun, and enjoy your first cruise. Lil' Lori

[Frase]

NEWTOCRUISING:

I suppose you have a credit card? That would be the easiest route. All the drinks that you purchased onboard, will be charged to your Sail And Sign account (in the case of Carnival). In fact, everything else you purchase onboard the ship will be charged to your Sail And Sign account (even something as small as a candy bar purchased at the gift shop). Just keep track of your spending; ask for a print-out or total of your S&S Acc. at least twice during your cruise. On the last day, your cabin steward will slip the final print-out under your room door, on the last morning of the cruise. If everything looks normal, do nothing and the final charge will appear on your credit card.

However, you should bring some cash with you. Not to spend on drinks; but to be used as:
- Tips to the crew members.
- Gambling money in the casino (the only place onboard that accepts cash)
- Spending money when you are ashore at the whatever port(s) of call the Victory will go to.

In terms of a rough estimate, it depends on how much of a wild spender you are. I did not consider myself to be a wild spender on my crusie. I did loose some money in the casino (not allot). I did spend some money on souvenirs in Cozumel and Grand Cayman. I used the taxis and gave good tips while ashore. I went to the bars in Cozumel and drank some, but it wasn't much and it was rather cheap. SO..... I TOOK WITH ME $320 IN CASH AND CAME BACK WITH $65: THIS WAS FOR A 5 DAY CRUISE WITH TWO PORTS OF CALL (GRAND CAYMAN AND COZUMEL). SO I ENDED UP SPENDING ROUGHLY $260 IN CASH + ABOUT $300 ON MY S&S Acc.

Of course, it may turn-out different for you. In case you do need more cash, you can use the ATM onboard (if you have a bank card, of course). I did not use the ATM so I can tell you how much it will cost in terms of service charges/withdrawl fees. Nor can I tell you if the ATM got depleted from use by other passengers.

So, I hope this is some help to you. Good luck with your cruise in April.

[Frase]

As for the prices of drinks, this is what I remember:

- About $4 and change for a frozen drink (Pina Colada or Strawberry Daquiri)
- Some drink specials were $2.95
- The drinks of the day were $6.25 and were served in a Souvenir glass.

This included a small gratuity they automatically added to the price of the drinks.

This was on my cruise aboard Carnival's Inspiration.