How much should I budget for a 7 day cruise?

What is a good amount of cash to bring on a cruise?

Cruising Cash: A Practical Guide

The suggested daily cash allowance of $50-$120 is, frankly, a bit low for most cruises in 2024. It depends heavily on your spending habits, naturally. Think about it: a single cocktail can easily eat into that budget.

Consider these factors:

• Shore Excursions: Prices vary wildly. A guided tour in Santorini might cost $150 easily, while a local market visit could be far cheaper. Budget accordingly.
• Gambling: Casino chips aren't usually cash, so that daily amount is separate. I always set aside an extra $200 for the casino just for me.
• Spa Treatments: Massages and facials are expensive, even on ships. Factor this into your daily spending.
• Souvenirs: That cute little ceramic frog from a port stop could unexpectedly drain your funds.

My personal rule? I always bring at least $150 per day, sometimes more, depending on planned activities. Better to have too much than not enough. That's just good sense.

For a 7-day cruise, I'd personally recommend $1000-$1500 in cash minimum. This leaves room for unexpected splurges – which, let's be honest, are half the fun of cruising!

Additional Considerations:

• Credit cards are essential. They're convenient and offer purchase protection. But remember, cash is king for smaller vendors.
• Check the ship's onboard spending policies. Some ships have daily limits on card transactions. Not all places accept credit cards.
• Consider currency exchange rates. If you're visiting multiple countries, planning ahead is vital to avoid surprises. Last year, I learned this the hard way in the Bahamas.

Ultimately, a cruise is about enjoyment, right? Bringing enough cash helps ensure a stress-free vacation. Don't be a cheapskate, is my motto.

What is the best way to pay for things on a cruise?

Ah, the siren song of cruises! Best way to pay? Think onboard account, darling. It's less "cashless," more "wallet-less."

Your keycard is your new best friend. It's your ID, room key, AND charge card. Fancy, huh? It’s connected to your actual payment method, so be sure your bank account isn’t weeping in anticipation.

• Charge it! Use that onboard account for everything, like a tipsy impulse buyer let loose in a duty-free shop.
• Think of it as Monopoly money, but oh so very real.

Speaking of real, don't forget automatic gratuities. Because nobody wants to chase down tips like a waiter chasing a rogue napkin in a hurricane.

Pro-tip: Check that bill regularly. Mystery charges? Those aren’t from Neptune. Address them, or you might find yourself swimming in debt (a terrible, terribly unfunny pun). Did I mention my cat, Mr. Fluffernutter, judges my puns harshly? Yeah, he does.

Bottom line: embrace the onboard account. It is the path to carefree (ish) spending. After all, what happens on the cruise… shows up on your credit card statement.

More Cruising Wisdom, Just Because:

• Cash is mostly useless. Like a landlubber at a sea shanty concert. Unless you're gambling or tipping discreetly.
• Credit card holds are real! Your bank might think you're buying a small island. Warn them you're just buying tiny umbrella drinks.
• Beware the cruise line's exchange rates. They're often… let's say, "enthusiastic." Stick to your onboard account, eh?
• Onboard credit = free money (sort of). Use it wisely. Spa treatments? Shore excursions? The possibilities... almost endless.
• Remember when I went on that cruise with my aunt Mildred? She thought the buffet was a personal challenge. It was...memorable.

How much money does the average person spend on a cruise ship?

It's quiet now. Just the hum of… something. Cruises, huh?

About $150 to $250 a day. That’s what it costs to really be there. Beyond just the ticket.

It adds up. Drinks, yeah, fancy dinners too. Like that time in Cozumel. Man.

• That rum punch, sun bleeds color.
• Stomach turned when I thought of the costs later.
• Maybe worth it? What is?

Then, excursions. The thing nobody ever tells you.

Shore excursions. They get you. Hook, line, sinker.

• ATV riding in the desert. So dusty!
• Trying to smile for the camera.
• Always feel… watched.

Souvenirs. Trinkets. Crap.

• Magnets, t-shirts.
• The tiny ship in a bottle.
• All junk now.

Wi-Fi. Of course Wi-Fi. Gotta post the happy pictures. So people think you're happy.

Spending depends. Course it does. Rich people probably laugh at those numbers. I wouldn't know.

Different lines, different places. I don’t know. Feel… tired. Yeah.