How much to budget??

[The Ennis Girls]

Hi, We are booked on our first cruise and cannot wait!! I was wondering if past cruisers can help me. How much should we budget for costs on the ship? All food is included, right? How much is the average drink cost? Do you have to pay for all drinks - juice, pop, water too? Are drinks (soft drinks, etc) included at dinner too?

For any one that was on the first Alaska cruise, what excursions wuld you recommend? My partner will be celebrating her 40th, so I was thinking of doing something extra special! (besides the cruise, that is!) Thanks for any and all help!!

Carol :)

[Jacqui Sundquist]

Hello there,
My girlfriend and I were on a cruise in 07 with our twins, such a terrific time. (our first cruise). We are hoping summer 09' is a 'go'
It seems to me that drinks were around $5 - $8 depending our your choices (and they are generous mixed drink portions if you know what I am saying ;) and you can buy a pop card for about $50 (all you can drink pop) and they give you a refillable glass as well with a lid. Our bar tab was $600-$700 for the week and we bought a few items from the gift shop on that bill as well.
Excursions of course are extra so plan for that. I'm sure r family will post them as soon as they can so everyone can budget. Gratuities are incuded in your overall price so no need to tip when you go out for the evening or sit by the pool.
'Something special' is really the entire experience....the shows are so great, the restaurnats and the guests and organizers are all terrific....
We hope to see you on the big boat in '09
Cheers,
Jacqui, Joanne Lily & Logan

[Crazy aka Cheryl]

Hi, We are booked on our first cruise and cannot wait!! I was wondering if past cruisers can help me. How much should we budget for costs on the ship? All food is included, right? How much is the average drink cost? Do you have to pay for all drinks - juice, pop, water too? Are drinks (soft drinks, etc) included at dinner too?

For any one that was on the first Alaska cruise, what excursions wuld you recommend? My partner will be celebrating her 40th, so I was thinking of doing something extra special! (besides the cruise, that is!) Thanks for any and all help!!

Carol :)

WELL WELOME ENNIS GIRLS
I AM CRAZY CHERYL YOUR UNOFFICIAL BOARDS INFO LINE. LOL
I WILL ASK YOUR QUESTIONS ONE AT A TIME.
ALL FOOD IS INCLUDED UNLESS YOU EAT IN ONE OF THE SPECIALITY PLACES.
SUCH AS CAGNEY'S ( GREAT STEAKS) THERE ARE COVER CHARGES AT THE SPECIALTY RESTUARANTS AROUND 15 DOLLARS.AND SOME OF THE RESTUARATS REQUIRE RESERVATIONS.
HOWEVER THERE IS PLENTY OF NON COVER PLACES TO DINE AT WITHOUT PAYING EXTRA
THERE IS THE CHOCOLATE BUFFET AD 10 POUNDS DONT MISS IT
THERE IS A BUFFET STYLE PLACE ON 12 THAT IS ALMOST ALWAYS OPEN REGULAR DINING HOURS ALSO HAS A PLACE FOR THE KIDS THAT SERVES A KIDS MENU.PIZZA,CHICKEN NUGGETS,HOT DOGS,BREAKFAST.ETC...
THE BLUE LAGOON IS OPEN 24 HOURS FOR SNACK LIKE THINGS SUCH AS BURGERS FRIES,FISH AND CHIPS,SOUPS AND SANDWICHES.
24 HOUR ROOM SERVICE NO CHARGE LIMITED MENU.
ROOM SERVICE IS GREAT FOR BREAKFAST YOU CAN PRE ORDER NIGHTLY AND HAVE YOUR COFFE AND BREAKFAST ON YOUR TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO WHALE WATCHING IN ALAKSA..SHIP HOME SOME SALMON IF YOU ARE A FISH FAN.
IF YOU ARE INTO NATURE HECK GO CATCH YOUR OWN SALMON.
BRING PLENTY OF MEMORY CARDS GLACIAL BAY WILL LITERALLY MAKE YOU GASP FROM THE BEAUTY.
IT HAS TO BE NY FAR THE MOST BEAUTIFUL NATURAL THING I HAVE EVER SEEN.
THEY SELL SODA CARDS FOR UNLIMITED STICKERS THAT YOU CAN PURCHSE AT THE BEGINING OF THE TRIP.
WATER IS AVAIABLE AT MEALS (TAP).THEY SELL EVIAN PERRIER AND OTHER SPARKLING WATERS.
THEY HVE A PRETTY DECENT WINE LIST.
ALL ALCOHOL YOU PAY FOR THAT IS WHERE THE CRUISE LINE MAKES ITS MONEY.
YOU MADE A GREAT CHOICE IT IS AN EXPERIANCE YOU WILL NEVER FORGET.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK AWAY YOU WILL FIND LOTS OF NICE I CALL THEM
MY BOAT PEEPS HERE TO ASSIST YOU.
R FAMILY= BOAT PEOPLE=LOVE
CCC

[travelchix]

ALL FOOD IS INCLUDED UNLESS YOU EAT IN ONE OF THE SPECIALITY PLACES.
SUCH AS CAGNEY'S ( GREAT STEAKS) THERE ARE COVER CHARGES AT THE SPECIALTY RESTUARANTS AROUND 15 DOLLARS.AND SOME OF THE RESTUARATS REQUIRE RESERVATIONS.


A list of all the dining options and their current prices (if any) are up on my blog today. :) Hope that's helpful!

[Crazy aka Cheryl]

Hi, We are booked on our first cruise and cannot wait!! I was wondering if past cruisers can help me. How much should we budget for costs on the ship? All food is included, right? How much is the average drink cost? Do you have to pay for all drinks - juice, pop, water too? Are drinks (soft drinks, etc) included at dinner too?

For any one that was on the first Alaska cruise, what excursions wuld you recommend? My partner will be celebrating her 40th, so I was thinking of doing something extra special! (besides the cruise, that is!) Thanks for any and all help!!

Carol :)
Hi there ENNIS girls.You might find some answers to your questions on the First time Cruisers Thread.
CCC

[Rebecca]

Here's another tip if you want a cocktail: buy a bottle or two of your favorite stuff from the duty-free shop. It's relatively inexpensive and with then, with the soda sticker, you have your mixers!

[Rebecca]

Also, with the pay restaurants, I believe it is all you can eat. So, if you go for the crab legs or want another steak, order up!:p

[Crazy aka Cheryl]

Here's another tip if you want a cocktail: buy a bottle or two of your favorite stuff from the duty-free shop. It's relatively inexpensive and with then, with the soda sticker, you have your mixers!

Nice try My LOVE MY BECCA but they dont actually let you have the Duty free Stuff til the night before we get home.:( Sorry honey.They are on to that one.:p :p
Miss yaa Gals

[OneStarTattoo]

Just an addition to everyone's wonderful information, I noticed that the gratuities are not included this time but will be added to the shpboard account...just fyi. I don't want you to have the "unexpected charges" experience.

[neicey]

we bought pop and booze on excursion days...only bottles not cans...everyone we met with did the same....absolutely no problems.

[dlayton]

We bought diet cokes and beer in every port and put it in our backpack. We never had a problem getting it back on the boat even when we were in Canada. That being said, finding reasonably priced cokes and beer in Alaska might be difficult. We didn't bring any on the boat the first day because we had plenty to carry.

The only other expense we had was eating lunch off the boat (again, limited options in Alaska) and presents to take home. You will have fun.

[hoop31]

The day we set sail we stopped at grocery store on the way to ship and bought a couple of 12 packs of soda and some kiddie snacks. We put them in a empty bag that we had brought and tagged it to be delivered to the room. That way my partner could drink all the diet coke she wanted....She's an addict.

[neicey]

we packed a lunch and took it with us when we went off the boat.

[JKLVirginia]

We went on the Alaska cruise in 2006 and the NE/Canada cruise this past summer. I would plan on spending a good amount of money for the Alaska cruise -- the big reason for this is the excursions. The sightseeing opportunities are amazing and even with our 3 year old (at the time), we took excursions in every port.

We bought a soda card on the Alaska cruise but didn't this last summer -- my partner likes soda and occasionally bought some but the cost of the card isn't worth it unless you're totally addicted. The free water, coffee, juice and milk worked for us and our son, and we sometimes had wine or bought cocktails. Other people's ideas for buying soda in port are good. We brought snacks with us when we left for the trip for our son (crackers, pretzels etc) and we occasionally took things from the ship with us to have as snacks.

This past summer we spent far less on ship than we did on the Alaska cruise (even with several meals in the specialty restaurants -- which you should budget for at least one, they really are worth it, especially Cagney's and the Asian restaurant) but it probably still was about the same overall because we went with some foodie friends and their son (who's the same age as ours) and we had some great meals in the various ports.

On both cruises, we bought very little in the way of souvenirs - there just isn't that much to buy that's truly worthwhile in our book, LOL, but of course we did get various things for our son.

To conclude, I'd say do not skimp on excursions in Alaska -- we had some amazing experiences. Also, if you have kids, you will probably end up buying CDs/DVDs of the various kids performers (Erin Lee and Marcy, Buddy G and Dotty's Magic Pockets...)

[bullwinkle77]

Also, with the pay restaurants, I believe it is all you can eat. So, if you go for the crab legs or want another steak, order up!:p

Is this true? So does that go for having lobster, too?

[Crazy aka Cheryl]

Is this true? So does that go for having lobster, too?
Lobster night you can eat all the Lobster you want at the NO PAY spots.
At Cagneys you can order one Main dish per person.:(
The Venetian usually serves Tails 2 per order that is where you will find me ordering 2
orders at a time.I am usually good for a dozen:)
CCC

[Nightowls]

LOL, I am sitting here laughing quietly because most of the friends at our table did just what you did Cheryl and were ordering a couple orders of tails at a time :) Gotta get it while the gettin is good, huh?! Am so missing YOU and the energy you share. Hugs n lotsa love 2u!

[nycouple]

Hey OneStar, thanks for the info. We just assumed the gratuities were included. They have been on our previous cruises.

[DecaturGA Family]

Which restaurants are not free?

[Luv2Cruise]

Which restaurants are not free?

La Trattoria Italian- $10.00 per person
Endless Summer - Tex Mex - $10.00 per person
Ginza - $15.00 per person
Sushi Bar - $15.00 per person
Cagney's Steak House - $20.00 per person
Le Bistro - $15.00 per person
Teppanyaki - $25.00 per person
Soho Room - $15.00 per person
Aqua Dining Room - No Charge
Versailles Dining Room - No Charge
Blue Lagoon Food Court - No Charge
Market Cafe Lido Dining - No charge

[nyrac]

Wow! Last rFamily cruise to Alaska, Italian and Tex-Mex were free also, just required reservations

[Luv2Cruise]

Wow! Last rFamily cruise to Alaska, Italian and Tex-Mex were free also, just required reservations

That changed when NCL added Freestyle 2.0 to their fleet.

[DecaturGA Family]

WOW. I thought that was an advantage of a cruise - is that the food was included! That is disappointing!!