posted 10-28-2000 02:40 AM            

We have relatively modest bar bills as neither of us drink much, a bottle of wine at dinner and lots of soft drinks in the sun.

The trips soon add it up though along with purchases from the shops. The highest for us was on the Disney Magic where the shops sold some lovely things - the only problem was no one told us we would have to declare them for US tax when we got back and pay accordingly. All the "Alien" passengers (and yes even some American citizens) got caught out by this.

Anyway back to the point I have seen people run up massive bills at the bar and even worse (for them) at the Casino. I may sound stuffy but I'm not sure I agree with people being allowed to gamble on credit like that -it would be too easy for it to get out of hand.

posted 10-28-2000 07:58 AM               

Apart from Thomson's Topaz, which other ships operate on an AllInclusive basis? That must reduce the bill a wee bit...

posted 10-29-2000 04:02 AM               

I was doodling this morning about the potential "extras" for next week's cruise on CARONIA. Cunard puts the tips on the bill now but before gratuities were included. If the waiter and cabin stewardess were good, they always got a bit extra, so $500 there.
($22/day for two to which I expect to add about $50 each, in cash, to the waiter and the stewardess.) Tours add up: 6 ports x 2 people x $50 each (average) so there goes $600. Laundry adds about $200; photos $50. Thus $1350 before one starts to drink.

I figure $50 a day is a conservative figure but have never gone much lower: a bottle of wine starts at $25 and once in a while ranges up to $40. The rest goes on drinks.
(I like the *bottle of vodka in the cabin* idea: I'll have to see if they can keep me in limes and tonic water.)

From the above tally I have to subtract the 2 bottles of wine and 1 of champagne usually provided by Cunard, the TA and Amex respectively and factor in the free drinks from the captain's party, the World Club party and the "event" one is offered by Amex as well as the $700 credit offered on board.

So: $2250 divided by 18 days puts us at a shade over $125 a day before any film is developed, golf shirts are bought or shiny trinkets are obtained in the onboard shops.

It adds up. I still remember my shock at seeing the first one. I was standing in line with newfound Australian friends with whom we'd shared several "tinctures" on a daily basis to settle at the pursar's office and reacted in shock when I saw the $2000 figure at the bottom of the bill for 2 weeks on the QE2 and thought "I couldn't possibly have spent that much" when Steve leaned over with an evil grin and showed me his which was almost $3000. He claimed he'd more film developed.

posted 10-29-2000 10:23 AM               

The fare is my biggest purchase, followed by excursions. On my recent cruise to the Baltic, which was very port intensive, we opted out of most of the excursions as it was cheaper to do our own thing!

posted 10-30-2000 09:21 AM               

US Amex Platinum card holders get an automatic $300 per cabin credit when booking on the 10 or so participating lines. Some lines/cabins you get an upgrade instead - Cunard gives you the credit. (Pays for the card fee, or so I rationalize.) I presume the same program applies in Canada.

The rest was a $100 pp World Club credit and a $100 pp credit to deposit early or $200 plus $200 plus $300 for a total of $700. It doesn't go very far on a cruise of this length, though: either the tours alone or the tips and dry cleaning together would almost wipe it out. Either way you still gotta cover the booze which, freed from concerns about driving home or telling one's boss what you really think of him, tends to flow more freely.

posted 10-31-2000 07:52 AM               

The bill was in Italian lira, so in fact it was a quite respectable GBP 300-odd.

posted 11-01-2000 04:50 PM               

Mud Packs - my garden is full of mud?

Massage - that's why I got married!

Hydro Therapy - I just take a shower, it's free.

Essential Oils - they never used to be essential?

Bostom, great idea! Maybe the ships of the future should offer 'full' plastic surgery? There would be plenty of room for an operating theatre on the mega ships

posted 11-02-2000 11:44 AM               

Given it'd be a LOT of surgery, it'd have to be a long cruise
Can't imagine any line would take on the responsibility nor want the image of mummy-like pax wandering the halls waiting for the scars to heal. And you can't drink or go out in the sun, at last for the first few days so not spending any money.
On or off this topic, I did read a year or so ago a trip report from one of Celebrity's ships where a passenger had a breast enhancement performed before the trip and was happy to show off the estimable results of her surgeon's skills, usually in a crowded cocktail lounge.
Why am I never on these trips?