How much money?

[G00fyDad]

Okay, so I know that the cruises offer free meals and drinks, but other than souvenirs, tips, and excursions what else will I need money for? And as for the food and drinks, is it all free? I mean when walking around the ship, if we feel thirsty, do we pay for those drinks at the food windows, or are they free too?

I hate to sound like such a noob here, but I have only been on one cruise, way back in 1987 and it was paid for by a friend and his family. I cannot remember paying for anything at all.

 

[Tiggerfanatic]

There was a soft drink station by the pool (I am assuming there were others, too) and you could just help yourself.

Any alcohol and upscale dining options are out of pocket, and I think room service. In addition, when I got off the boat at Castaway Cay, there was a table with bottled water that you could purchase for your day at the beach, but as I had a cabana water and soft drinks were included.

 

[RickEff]

Also - spa, laundry, childcare (I think for 3 and under there is a fee) and photos.

 

[ChuckElias]

Room service is free, although I always tip. There is also a video arcade, which you would have to pay for, if you so choose. There are also activities, such as wine or vodka tastings, that you would have to pay for. You can buy snacks for shows and movies, which are not included. Internet access is available for a fee. You will also have to pay for any shore excursions that you book through DCL. There's a golf simulator on the Fantasy that requires a fee to use.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Beverages that are self-serve will be free. Most snacks outside of the pre-packaged varieties and canned sodas (sold outside the theaters) are free. Specialty coffees from the coffee cafe are also an additional charge. Room service is almost entirely free of charge although its nice to give whoever delivers your tray a few dollars for their service. We bring an envelope of $1s for this. There are some pre-packaged snacks on the room service menu that there's a charge for but you'll know ahead of time what they are. Also, sodas via room service are cans thus are a charged item. Alcoholic beverages and a small selection of specialty drinks on the dinner menus are additional $$. Upcharge dining, photos from Shutters, etc. cost money. The ship & Castaway Cay are on a cashless system so everything charges to your KttW card. You'll settle the shipboard account via credit card on file or by giving Guest Services some other payment (cash, gift cards, etc).

Yep, you could easily do a whole cruise without any onboard charges. You'll have plenty to eat & drink. You can even have cocktails without incurring charges by carrying on your own alcohol. ((Provided you are of-age. If you bring a bottle of wine to a dining room there will be a corkage fee.)). Disney is the only cruise line who freely allows you to carry any beverages you want onboard. No limit. If you schlep it with you (not in checked luggage) you can have it.

We've had a few cruises where we didn't spend much of anything. Then we've had a few cruises where the final onboard account statements hurt our feelings. LOL!

 

[G00fyDad]

Thank you all for the responses. I will have to look up the typical tipping amounts for the cruise, but it seems that tips, photos, and souvenirs are all that we will have to have money for.

By the way, it will be a 7 day cruise to the Caribbean. How much spending money does everyone take to spend there at the ports?

 

[G00fyDad]

Also - spa, laundry, childcare (I think for 3 and under there is a fee) and photos.

Where is the laundry located? And is it self service or a drop off?

 

[Disneyfalcon]

You already got great answers, but I'll chime in and say, other than tips, you really don't have

Thank you all for the responses. I will have to look up the typical tipping amounts for the cruise, but it seems that tips, photos, and souvenirs are all that we will have to have money for.

By the way, it will be a 7 day cruise to the Caribbean. How much spending money does everyone take to spend there at the ports?

Tips are $12 per person per night of cruise for the three main tipped positions. Other tips will just be a few dollars here and there.

Do take cash for the ports. We don't take a ton, but it is good to have.

Where is the laundry located? And is it self service or a drop off?

There are laundry rooms on several decks, they're easy to find.

There is self serve AND drop off!

 

[G00fyDad]

You already got great answers, but I'll chime in and say, other than tips, you really don't have


Tips are $12 per person per night of cruise for the three main tipped positions. Other tips will just be a few dollars here and there.

Do take cash for the ports. We don't take a ton, but it is good to have.



There are laundry rooms on several decks, they're easy to find.

There is self serve AND drop off!

Thanks. I know its pretty far off from right now, but I am going to come to you for booking this when we go.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Thanks. I know its pretty far off from right now, but I am going to come to you for booking this when we go.

Awesome! Thanks, GoofyDad!

 

[G00fyDad]

Another question. Has anyone had trouble using their AT&T cell phones while on-board any of the ships, particularly the Fantasy? I know international roaming rates apply to this, but does it still work well? We will want to be able to call home every now and then to speak with my mother to check on the pets.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Another question. Has anyone had trouble using their AT&T cell phones while on-board any of the ships, particularly the Fantasy? I know international roaming rates apply to this, but does it still work well? We will want to be able to call home every now and then to speak with my mother to check on the pets.

We've never used our cellular functions while away from US soil. Interesting you bring this up as AT&T has new cruise-specific minutes/text/data packages that they're offering ONLY on Royal Caribbean and select Celebrity cruise ships. Basically, you pre-purchase a plan (my MiL just paid I think $60 for 50 minutes international + 100 outgoing texts) and you must carry the plan for a full billing cycle at minimum. Then, the plan inclusions are ONLY applicable if used at-sea, essentially when your signal is bouncing off the Cellular at Sea (the ship) "tower". If you are still within reach of a land tower and your call or text bounces to any other tower besides the ship you'll be charged outside your cruise package by whatever your usual phone contract dictates. For us that would be $2.50/minute, $.50/text, + any roaming charges. I'm curious when/if these deals will be offered in conjunction with DCL's ships.

I'm getting a bit of a crash course over the last 24 hours.

Be aware you'll have the airtime charge plus whatever the charge is to access the "tower" on the ship. That's the kicker. It's not just the charge per minute according to your provider's contract. It's my understanding this is the way it works so be careful. I could be wrong but I'm not personally willing to take a chance on mystery charges on my cell bill catching me off-guard after I'm home. Maybe you can purchase some calling time from the ship's phones?

 

[janoimagine]

Another question. Has anyone had trouble using their AT&T cell phones while on-board any of the ships, particularly the Fantasy? I know international roaming rates apply to this, but does it still work well? We will want to be able to call home every now and then to speak with my mother to check on the pets.

They seem to work best when you are in Port ... outside of the Port ... not so much, but yeah, make sure you check the carrier rates for international roaming ... they can be painful.

 

[G00fyDad]

Thanks. I think I might buy a calling card and use a port land line. That seems much easier than jumping through the cruise ship's hoops.

 

[G00fyDad]

I have been looking around at some of the shopping at the ports of call for the Eastern Caribbean cruises, and nearly all of the shops are jewelry shops. Isn't there anything else to buy besides expensive jewelry?

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I have been looking around at some of the shopping at the ports of call for the Eastern Caribbean cruises, and nearly all of the shops are jewelry shops. Isn't there anything else to buy besides expensive jewelry?

Haha! Trinket & souvenir shops near the ports are often cliche enough to be entertaining for a few minutes. We try to find better alternatives when we visit new to us ports.