10 Ways to Overspend on a Cruise Ship

[@marymaryquitecontrary]

You can ask your steward to clear out the minibar as soon as you get into your cabin. This not only gives you space for your own items, it removes the temptation and perhaps confusion of the loaded fridge.

[@bbkklyon]

Very good advice! Years, ago, when we were newbies at cruising, my husband and brother decided to do pub crawl one evening...I went back to the cabin to watch a movie. At the time, you could check your sail/sign card expenses on the tv. I literally watched them go from bar to bar by watching the charges being added....it was painful to see those charges going on the card, and I knew where they were the whole time! lol!

[@diamondpearlgem7589]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@chanroobi7460]

AIRPLANE mode!! That is the most important thing to remember. We were on an Eastern Crbn cruise in April and I seen numerous people on that cruise that had no clue that you were suppose to put your phone in airplane mode and when we mentioned it to them, they were shocked!

[@HappyBuddhaBoyd]

If you were charged by your cellular service because you went out of the country.... you were already scammed by your cellular carrier. Roaming charges have been obsolete / nonexistent for almost 15 years.

[@rose_yates1995]

@@HappyBuddhaBoyd except when U are out of the US. I worked for Verizon for 12 years and roaming outside the US is a thing that’s why they offer packages or U can just turn off all roaming

[@lscohrs1982]

Jenny I love your hair up like that

[@peggyt1243]

I do not drink and do not gamble. I once took both of my children with me on a cruise and our extras were absolutely zero. It is possible.

[@clement2780]

please buy excursions or third party tours, otherwise, i would not cruise.

[@mattcolver1]

We double tip and know we're doing it. We always end up buying the pictures. We get a package. How often do you dress-up and have professional photographers around? We went sort of nuts on our first 7 day cruise, buying drinks and bottles of champagne, shopping in the shops, and gambling in the casino. We'd both been working long hours in highly stressful jobs and just decided to throw caution to the wind and go nuts. We had a tab over $3K at the end of the cruise. We spent more onboard than our cruise cost... However we were fairly recent empty-nesters and were at the peak of our careers making good money and it didn't matter. We also spent a lot at the port jewelry stores. Diamonds International loved us. Sort of a way for the two of us to have a mid-life crisis together. I say if you can afford it, go nuts on your first cruise. Then you have it out of your system and can be more prudent on future cruises. The last two cruises I never even went to the casino.

[@LaLidoLoca]

I think you make a good, as long as you know what you are getting into then do it and enjoy! - Tony

[@mattcolver1]

We've cruised during good financial times and bad. After the 2008 financial crash things were real tight. We lost our tails in some real estate deals. Fortunately during that time cruises went on sale super cheap. We took the New York to Nova Scotia cruise during that time to see New England in the fall. It was so cheap we had to go. We used frequent flyer miles and hotel points for our airfare and the before hotel. We even took in an inexpensive Broadway Play while in NYC. We went on some great but fairly cheap shore excursions and kept our onboard spending low. So we've experienced cruising with and without a budget. It is wonderful either way.

[@falconinthedive]

It's basically a rule for life that you can never go wrong tipping well. Cruise employees are not making enough that tips don't help because they get charged basically the same price for things like internet access, toiletries and limited resources as we do.

[@debburd2903]

You're suggestions are so good for me at first time Cruiser!

[@pamelasasser6630]

Great video guys!! You know speaking of avoiding the big ATM fees, I read somewhere that if you need cash, to avoid using ATM and go to casino, swipe your card , select cash amount, then hit the "cash out " button and take the voucher it gives you to cashier! I personally have not tried this though, so can't confirm it. I never would have thought of it though!

[@udhayanesanrajipillai7436]

Very useful video, Thanks

[@sl4193]

Hi Tony and Jenny😊 Thank you for your great money + stress saving tips, appreciate each one👍🏻

[@johnorris5680]

You guys are hilarious! We would love to be on a cruise with you two!

[@LaLidoLoca]

Thanks John!

[@kdrose519]

We would too! They are so awesome!

[@ValerieReese]

You need to use cash in the ports too because if you use a credit or debit card the bank puts out of country fees on your purchases. We got hit with multiple fees on our first cruise and now bring cash just for port shopping.

[@Carolmaizy]

Check with your credit card company. Some of our cards have no international usage fees, so we bring only those.

[@dianerandel5851]

OMG! Jenny's accent..... Love it!!

[@08094denise]

I went on RC Anthem of the Seas Cruise last November myself the hubby n my 13 year old son. I told my son to get whatever he wanted ex: food arcade, shops, drinks. He is such a good boy so I didn’t mind. I had in my head since I prepaid all gratuities he would probably spend about $300- to my surprise at the end of the cruise he had only spent $56-!!! Mostly at Johnny Rockets 🚀 or soda. I was so proud of my son. I grew up poor and if my mom and dad told me what I told my son I would’ve went bananas 🍌!!!

[@LaLidoLoca]

08094denise Great story and a great son! - Tony

[@Meow-cm7cx]

That’s awesome!

[@yfred1738]

You have a good child. I would have went crazy... I wish i had the willpower LOL.. and i am in my late 40's. How did you love the Anthem i will be going again in Decemeber.

[@retrosarge9920]

Good tips guys! All these things can really add up! 4$ for a bottle of water crazy! Take your own pics folks and use a real backdrop like the ship itself or ocean. See y'all soon!

[@robertadelisle104]

This is an awesome video for first time cruisers. I am learning so much from you guys. Thanks.

[@LaLidoLoca]

Glad it’s helpful!!!

[@mickwood8385]

Hey the cell phone roaming charge is so true. Last year I went to Italy for a week and then a cruise to Spain / Portugal and the Canaries, and came back with £130 / £65 extras - about $225-250! Great advice on airplane mode now i know what to do. Even worse in Dubai. :-(

[@derekwustman2559]

First time cruisers alert! The automatic daily service charge (staff gratuities) hit your account. If they are not prepaid, prepaid meaning before you sail, they will show up on your account. On my first cruise, I had no idea what this was and was shocked at the $160+ for me and my cabin mate.

[@LaLidoLoca]

Derek Wustman that’s a great point. Not fun when you aren’t expecting it. - Tony

[@bulldawg2764]

know your prices!!! I like watches, our first cruise I bought a Invicta watch for a fair price. Last year I got a little overboard (see what I did there lol) and bought 2 Invicta's and a Casio G-shock (still within our cruise budget). When I got home I got curious one day and looked my purchases up on Amazon, I would have saved $150 just taking photos of the watches and model numbers waiting and ordering the watches online.. Lesson learned..

[@rosemaryparra9552]

So far I’ve only cruised on Holland America and Carnival. The experience on each ship was unique, they were both nice. I am hoping to try out Princess in 2023, when I plan to go a transatlantic cruise to Spain.

[@Dive-Bar-Casanova]

Thumbs up great video. We get the pre paid bar tab that some cruises offer and never spend another dime. On Disney you can't do that and drinks are expensive but they are good and a spectacular atmosphere. 1/3 of the Disney Ships areas are off limits to kids offering separate adult facilities and clubs and most people don't know that BTW.

[@LaLidoLoca]

Dive Bar Casanova that’s good info about the Disney ships! Thanks for the comment and for watching! - Tony

[@winniebrazill9432]

I screwed up on my first Carnival cruise in the casino because I chose the button to charge money to my cruise card instead of downloading my winnings! Fortunately, I realized what I had done by the 2nd day so my husband was able to take care of the bill at customer service so we had no surprises at the end of our cruise!

[@jasonkolley5669]

Great tips guys! Im taking notes for our first cruise next year. Thanks so much for the info.

[@MichelleAlexandria-EM]

Wow, Tony is so calm...

[@LaLidoLoca]

Yes and boring :)

[@nataliejohnson6573]

In reference to purchasing pictures, the last cruise I was on I won a picture package through playing a game of “Deal or No Deal”. It was towards the end of the cruise, luckily I had not already purchased pictures and was able to use the prize as purchase.

[@bulldawg2764]

we go on a cruise to celebrate our wedding anniversary and our room steward gives us a coupon for a free photo.. (always tell the cruise line if you are there for a celebration when booking i.e. birthday, anniversary, they throw in some nice freebies)

[@yfred1738]

that is great. i love taking the photos every chance i get. i do like that they have that you can get the all digital program for a set price. just wish the photographer on RC where as great as on carnival. but oh well. i can take home all my photos. LOL>

[@JupitersFire]

Photos “.......you can put a rose in your tooth” 😆🌹💚

[@LaLidoLoca]

Ahhh yes on the piano 🎹 jenny 🤣

[@joeo7693]

Tooth, Teeth, we understand.

[@jenniferlindquist6525]

Just found your page - you two are adorable!

[@debbiekratovel9657]

I always pre purchase the medium wifi before we leave and call my cellphone company and ask them about any special packages they might have for the island stops. If they don't then I do put my phone on airplane mode. I will admit that I do like buying the pictures but I have them hold them all until the day before we get back so we can then pick the pictures we want based on the price as I have a limit I'll spend. Now for the kids sail and sign card I limit them to $15 a day. For the casino we only use the cash we bring and have a daily limit unless we win lol.

[@clement2780]

river cruises, bus tours always arrive at the advertised cities, however bus tours usually stay at hotels far away from city especially budget lines. premium ones often end up being cheaper in the end, more upfront less at the end of vacation.

[@edlermoltimer4905]

Great information I've been cruising for 13th years now and I just finished payed for my cruise on the MSC Divina in December 11 days 6 ports of call saililing out of port of Miami my favorite port to sail out of

[@Lamb9491]

I avoid the arcade. And don’t have any little kids good advice on the tip. We are not big drinkers. I only get my free drink and that it. I turn my cell phone on airplane right away Last cruise we bought a couple of picture cause it was his first cruise. We get water delivery to the room. We bought sunscreen on the ship and it was expensive. Our first cruise my hubby wanted chips. So I bought a can of pringles chip in the store. Cost me 6.00 now I take on our chips. Have learn a lot since our first cruise. Never gamble on the ship. Thank you

[@FittednFresh]

have u guys went on a Royal Caribbean Cruise Symphony of the Seas

[@aprilray2095]

Lots of great tips! Thanks!

[@kdrose519]

That is so funny you mention arcade first. My son was 14 and he and his father were having a ball and all of a sudden his card quit working🤣 they went to quest services and they automatically block card after I think $75 to make sure the card wasn’t stolen 🤣. Btw his father and I are still married🤣🤣 All so many good tips. I have done several as well.

[@winddealer1]

Be sure to review all the comments below of additional tips: Ten Ways to Overspend On a Cruise Ship: 1. The Arcade for the Kids - tied to your room credit card account 2. Additional Tips - Don't double tip as it's already factored in. The bar or coffee ship automatically includes the the tip in your transaction. 3. Buying Drinks - If possible buy 750ml bottles of alcohol at the on board store and mix your own drinks without paying for additional tips. 4. Cell phone roaming - Place your phone in Airplane mode while on board. 5. Buying Pictures - Use your phone and take your own pictures 6. Drinking water found in the state rooms - Don't drink those, instead pre-order a case(s) of water to be delivered to your room instead. 7. Forgetting to pre-order - Don't wait till you get on the cruise. Pre-ordering may be discounted , be sure to check. 8. Losing your In Room Beach towel. If you forget it on the deck or leave it while on an excursion you will pay a fee to replace it. Bring your own beach towels from home for excursions. 9. Toiletries and Sun Screen items - Bring your own. 10. The Casino. Know the the odds are not regulated while at sea. Your Ship Credit Card is tied to the Casino automatically. Some ships slot machines are more liberal on Day 1 of the cruise to help promote the "I got lucky at the slots today!" perception. Later in the cruise the slots will tend to be "less lucky" after the first few days. Other Comments: 11. Shopping - wait till you get back home, it will be cheaper. 12. The Spa - Keep your receipts if you preorder at treatment you might get double billed. They will try to upsell you on the products within the Spa. 13. ATM machinees on ship - Go to the Casino and convert Credit to Chips then later cash the chips back in for cash. It's cheaper than the ATM machine fees. 14. While in Port(s) use cash instead of Credit Cards to minimize in country fees. Be sure to watch the entire video.

[@melaniedawn9255]

Thank you. Excellent. You two are a sweet couple :) Safe travels

[@LaLidoLoca]

Thanks! Appreciate you watching and the comment.

[@susanhlavaty9500]

We always add money on our on board credit. No surprises. We check our account daily. Our last cruise, when we cashed we got 1/2 our money back that we didn't use. We pay for our pictures, soda package, coffee and excursions before we get on board.

[@jerseyforhawks]

Bringing your buds, and I am psyched to cruise again, only one extended trip yet, would love more soon.

[@iangill8984]

Luckily we cruise on Marella - UK cruise line. Gratuities included plus now all inclusive. I would rather have these things within the price. Still tip for cabin steward and anyone especially attentive. Still pay for excursions and shop.

[@winniebrazill4019]

On our first Carnival Cruise, I didn't realize that when I put my casino card in a machine, the machine asks you if you want to download money from your Sail 'N Sign card into the machine. I thought I was downloading my winnings from the previous night! If finally dawned on me what I had done when I looked more closely at the screen! I almost had a heart attack! And plus, I had to tell my husband what I had done! LOL Fortunately, I had only done that on one or two nights. So my husband was able to go to Customer Service and pay that amount off on our card with the cash he had brought for gambling! Whew! I never made THAT mistake again!

[@oglesbysb]

I have gotten hit with a very large roaming bill and purchased so many pictures they made an album for me.

[@susankilstrom6852]

Very helpful!

[@eleanorshaw1915]

Great advice

[@mrtruckingtaurus3940]

I tip my room attendants an extra $20 a day, $5.00 on drinks and $20 for the waiters at sit down meals on top of the original tip. It’s been set aside for them already. My last cruise I spend $510.00 in tips alone. They work very hard on them ships to take care of the guests.

[@vickiavery2732]

Great advice. Thank you.

[@kathybird1721]

The Spa.. they will give you a spa experience and try to sell you everything they used and it can get expensive

[@MarAgt]

Good pointers! 👍 Thanks

[@tonib8198]

Great information.

[@reddy2travel492]

You forgot to add one more area you can overspend on a cruise ship, at the Art Gallary and Art Auctions, I should know, I went in to look at the art and get a free drink, and ended up spending more than more cruise, yeah more than double of what the cruise cost, sure the art is great, but its not a necessary thing to buy. Great video. 😱

[@thiscottagetable3021]

This was an excellent information video. Thanks! I do have a question. What if we have already paid our gratuities in advance? How do we get them to take that off of our bill?

[@littleone710]

I have the same question!!!

[@Lyn4817]

My friend was going on her first cruise and she didn't want to hear any tips i had for her, being a cruiser. Since she has gotten back, she hasn't said a word about her cruise. So I am wonder what she got caught out on, on her ten day cruise.

[@kaynay6524]

Lyn R She needs to tell the story 😂😂😂

[@stevesanders6152]

Jenny...Jennie? Where are you from? Your accent reminds me of my family back in NYC! Love it!

[@LaLidoLoca]

Hey Steve I grew up on LI, 🛳🛳jenny

[@stevesanders6152]

Me too...North Babylon and Stony Brook! Nice!

[@jerseycatmews828]

Love the LI accent, Jenny could replace the guy promoter from Perrillo Tours

[@geraldinekight7887]

She sounds like Roseanne.

[@Meow-cm7cx]

I like to drink and was gonna get the drink package. But opt out cause of the price. Glad i did because one day I got sick no drinking that day

[@paulgrable7096]

We took our first child to get pictures once she was old enough to sit up. We could only afford the ad package, so my wife sent me to pick them up cause he knew I would be able tell them to destroy the "extras". The salesman was sort of suprised.

[@gotrixiego1446]

Love your NY accent, Jenny.

[@travelingon7458]

Shopping at the port and on ship for alcohol or other stuff you never really needed.

[@josephpattison6913]

My wife was in line to settle up our bill for the week. The man in front of her was arguing his $3000 dollar bar tab! I hope that he had a good time?

[@trishagonzalez4623]

Jenny looking guilty about the casino lol. Me as well. Caught my husband at the ATM because he ran out of 💰 lol

[@scottmottazsr7370]

Can you use cash in the casino or is solely charged to the ship and sail card?

[@LaLidoLoca]

You can use cash. That’s what I prefer actually. - Tony

[@karencragg5873]

How do you use cash in the casino

[@kenbaxter9171]

Thanks for the tips

[@frankchmiel1846]

What do you think is the best cruise line

[@susanhlavaty9500]

We're going on an 11 day cruise March 2. Every thing is payed for cash, to include hotels and airfare. When the vacation is over we won't have credit card debt. YEAH

[@sherylthomson5870]

Great video

[@LaLidoLoca]

Thanks!

[@Itisfinished403]

I love yall

[@Intrinsicat509]

A woman in front of me at Guest Services on the last day was losing her mind at how her kids could have racked up $1,400 in spending over the week on their ship cards. It was painful to watch. I consider it a personal challenge to keep that card balance as close to zero as possible.

[@tonyhinojosa7710]

I plan on drinking heavily on my first cruise, so drinks and gratuities for those drinks will be the majority of my extra expenses. I'll probably gamble a little bit but I'm not much of a gambling man.

[@4kboodle]

Can you tip in cash as a thank you when you first go to a bar or give your steward to sort of grease the wheels.

[@mercyrodriguez5780]

Kit O'Shell we always tip cash our cabin steward and the head waiter on the first day, you’ll be surprised the treatment you get!

[@bbergs8628]

Only 10 ways??? When I am on vacation - just renting my mobility scooter so I can get around the ship & I’ve overspent!! I have learned to stay away from the casino (can’t stand the cigarette smoke)! I don’t drink alcoholic beverages - that’s not a problem, but I do like to shop (all those great t-shirt sales)!! If I did go on a regular vacation - not cruising- I’d probably spend even more (especially if I go to Disney)!! I usually go on only 1 cruise a year - so let it ride on my cruise card & get that folio on the last night & I just say “WOW”!! But I’ll use a credit card that has the furthest closing date after my cruise - so I don’t actually get the bill a few weeks later!! Other than the tipping - which I need to do for wheelchair assist - but it’s money well spent!!

[@younglady2789]

Thanks for sharing, all the points mentioned are so true. Some of us are are actually aware of these points but have a "I don't care I'm on vacation " attitude.

[@dynahruppert5795]

Dont want roaming charges for sure? Take your SIMM card out while on the cruise

[@lerhondajones-bates3324]

I have cheap phone plan called cricket, not sure if you know of that, do I still have to put phone on airplane mode? I always pay $60 every month I have unlimited data and texting....???

[@sleepyintoronto]

Wha-dah...love it!

[@AntonisDiakakis]

Good talk man!

[@auntjosie756]

how do they know if you have the drink package and not to charge your card for it.

[@yfred1738]

it will be a sticker on your sign in sail card for the most part.

[@lerhondajones-bates3324]

I've been looking on my NCL account where I can pre order water and pre pay for spa but I don't see anything 🤷 I cruise in Nov, do you think it will show up as I get closer to Nov?🤔

[@paulsims9155]

Looks legit to me.

[@ShadowGundam1989]

I don't drink alcohol so am good. I played the at the casino one time I didn't really see the excitement on playing at the casino. Am not really a gambler.

[@joeo7693]

RCCL Chef’s Table with a drink package, they still charge extra for wine. What?!!

[@tudorrosey76]

Ok now I see the roaming charges... Making sure we don't do that when we leave!

[@LaLidoLoca]

Ya that would be the worst. - Tony

[@kathybird1721]

We bought so many pictures one

[@kathybird1721]

Year, we got a free camera

[@kylemarrero3814]

Sad they can price gauge you on items like water. Should be a crime

[@jimsalmon5158]

I googled “Huge cell phone bill on cruise ship.” SPOILERS… The article I read it was $8,700.

[@dldez8590]

What is la lido loca?? Just curious haha

[@LaLidoLoca]

Here ya go kzbin.info/www/bejne/laLPi4N_gJV9iKM

[@clement2780]

i would advise people to budget for excursions and tips. at least transfer transportation only excursions. there is almost always nothing to do at the port of call which is two three hours One way from destination. Never is an ocean cruise ship going to dock at following: london, paris, berlin, brussels, florence, rome, milano, seville, cordoba, granada, figueres, ..... gratuity and tips and service charge are unfortunately are not the same. drinks, gamble, wifi, photos, .... optional, dining is included.

[@carlm1775]

I generally always spend about fifty dollars on pictures. If I'm cruising I'm generally with a special someone or, in the case of this past summer, with my adult kids. Other than selfies I have no idea when "unique" pictures will ever come up so I figure it's worth it. I don't really spend money on anything else except the occasional beverage. Great tips otherwise though!

[@Jalax360]

Water im the room... What a terrible bait and i have the beverage package :O

[@blueyes043]

Dr. Bill's!!!

[@rosiethebarber8821]

LOL I def spent 60-70 dollars at the arcade all vacation

[@droneview8351]

14 cruises so far - zero photos bought

[@macelliusa4451]

Lol. What is up with the ducks??? My daughter and her friends came back with a ton. I don't mind spending for fun games but didn't really want to spend $100 on ducks!!!

[@DeeDee_Stands_On_Business]

DO NOT...I repeat DO NOT buy the soft drink package on Carnival...I bought one for myself and one for my husband...colossal waste of $90! You can drink as much as you want in the cafeteria style restaurant...coffee, tea, iced tea and lemonade...

[@bulldawg2764]

you can bring a 12pk of soda (cans, unopened) onto a Carnival cruise, I too made the mistake of getting the endless bubbles on our last cruise and only drank 1 or 2 a day.. I will be bringing my own on our next cruise....

[@kentrobinson7479]

@@bulldawg2764 I can drink a 12 pack in 2 days...not COKE only *PEPSI or ICED TEA*

[@breedlovewendy]

I always buy the Cheers package,it was worth our money

[@SINternetEntertainment]

When we went on our cruise I took lots of sunscreen and it drove my husband crazy and we didn’t really use the sunscreen because we spent most the time just walking around inside the crew ship doing everything indoors. I think we spent like five minutes at the pool at night. My husband worked at a casino for eight years so we know all about giving them money we have seen it from one coast to the other because he worked all over.

[@clement2780]

yes airplane mode for mobile phones.

[@cafsixtieslover]

Rule of thumb on a cruise. Never pay for anything that is not included in the cost of the cruise itself. I am the original cruise meanie. No internet, no bar, no casino, no spa and no speciality dining, no drinks package, duck when you see the photographer (are you ever going to look at them again?) and only alcohol if it is offered free and always phone in airplane mode when at sea. We take our own water on board too and never touch the bottles in the room. We still have a great time.

[@S.l.o.w.cooker350]

bought 3 "art" pieces. Read the contract and cancled all but one. my overpriced souvenir!! Opt out if you have second thoughts and can....

[@travelingfool9096]

they give away free drink package (NCL 10/22) and just the gurtutitiy charge is 300 bucks for 2 people, not worth it fr a non drinker and small Tim e drinker

[@blush1967]

You may want to update the old ideas now that so much has changed.

[@ZsaZsaRodeo]

LIQUOR WILL KILL UR POCKETSSSSSSS..... I NEVA TIP.........

[@chrmusicman1963]

Ours was $800. Lol. 😎😎😎

[@truckmoney484]

How much money should my wife and i bring

[@droneview8351]

Cooling gel = $15 Visine = $12

[@inproper3952]

Is there anyway on these ships to have fun for FREE?

[@LaLidoLoca]

For sure! Love the entertainment, deck parties, trivia, lots of fun stuff to do!