Dwayne, I'm the same way. I scrimp and scrape all year long. On my vacation, I'm going to have a vacation. I might have to pay for years to come, but I want to enjoy my vacation. Who knows if there will be another chance.
I don't understand the $91 for a 7 day cruise thing either. even if you are not counting excursions. What about auto-gratuities? Were those also prepaid? They would have had to be to only have $91 account charge at the end of the 7 days unless you are paying off charges during the cruise. If we just go by the end of cruise account billing I have walked off more than one cruise with a $0 balance. But that is because I added either casino winnings or extra traveling cash to my account to settle up.
Mike, I don't know how one can go through an entire cruise and only spend $7. Like Dave said, that's one drink o the day special!
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================================================== ========== Carnival Cruise Lines:
Fantasy 90, Celebration 95, Victory 05, Conquest 05, Spirit 6/06, Freedom 6/08, Holiday 7/08, Victory 6/09, Valor 9/09, Dream 6/10, Splendor 8/10,Conquest 8/11,Magic 11/11,Triumph 4/12,Spirit 7/12,Freedom 11/12, Triumph 2/13 - The fire cruise
NCL Dream October 2006, RCCL Mariner OTS June 2007
Dave - - he couldn't believe he couldn't pay cash for a candy bar . . .
Jim - - the $91 is excluding the prepaid gratuities and prepaid excursions. It's not that we scrimp. My husband would have a beer or drink before dinner; I bought the soda card, because I usually have a club soda before dinner when he has a drink. I bought a couple of "thingies" in the store. We spent maybe $20 in the casino. Didn't buy any pictures, only because we take such lousy pictures - can't get the man to smile. Anyway, we're not averse to spending money - we just need to find more things to spend it on.... On one cruise, my husband got sick, and actually spent $7 for cold medicine in the ship's store... which hurt him more than the 95 cent candy bar . .
It just occurred to me that the basic question in this thread is flawed. Susan is talking about a HAL cruise, and they seem to offer more inclusive stuff in the basic fare than does RCI, Carnival, NCL, Princess. Thus spending varies depending on the line.
Mike, I don't know how one can go through an entire cruise and only spend $7. Like Dave said, that's one drink o the day special!
Well, that does exclude excursions and tips. But otherwise you are right - she bought one drink of the day! Yes, she is frugal, but she has a different mind set than most - she feels that she is getting so much great stuff for the price she already paid, that she doesn't see the need to spend more. As a young couple that has big expenses coming up, she sees it as not necessary - she gets enough enjoyment out of what she already has. And when it comes to drinks, it's also about the calories haha - drinking a few hundred calories in one glass isn't too appealing to her while eating three large, unhealthy meals a day.
I actually think ship's food is probably healthier than what we normally eat at home. True they might use butter and cream, but the portions are what we should actually be consuming. Years ago my motto was if I was going to drink I couldn't eat, and vice versa. That was when I counted calories
Originally posted by penny3333:
I actually think ship's food is probably healthier than what we normally eat at home. True they might use butter and cream, but the portions are what we should actually be consuming. Years ago my motto was if I was going to drink I couldn't eat, and vice versa. That was when I counted calories
Mary left on her cruise today! Bon voyage
when it comes to big portions, its more about the buffets - we try to not overeat, but even if you just try a little of everything you wind up with a ton of food...and true the dinner portions arent huge, but dinner is usually after 2 appetizers, a salad/soup and bread, and then there is dessert
to be fair, we are both close to health nuts - barely use oil in any cooking, and havent bought real butter in years...so any digression from that is a big step for us! maybe thats why we eat so much on the cruise - we deprive ourselves so much during the rest of the year that we just can't control ourselves when given so many great options
On my recent cruise, our head waiter came to the table on formal night and asked for our order. I whispered mine to him and his eyes grew large but he nodded his assent. He brought me my Caesar salad (complete with visible anchovies) and two shrimp cocktails. He then brought me not one... not two... but three lobster tails and shrimp entrees. Everyone stared at me like I was Kobayashi on a mission. I finished all of it (not even wasting the potatoes) and still enjoyed the melting cake with my required two scoops of vanilla. I love cruising....
Can you tell that I am watching my figure? It's strange that my wife is pregnant but I seem to be the one eating for two.
Bon Voyage! 
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