This is taken directly from the nKoTb Cruise blog , so anything different for us will be noted in red.
There's a lot more that has to be budgeted. Keep all this in mind as you plan for the next few months.
- Remaining balance: The total of your cabin less the $700 we've already paid ($300-1800)
- Flights: Have you booked yet? (~$200-700 depending on where you're flying from)
- Transportation to/from FL airport: $30-75
- Transportation/parking at home airport: $0 if you're lucky, up to $200 if you're not
- Hotel: One night, split with a roommate, probably $100
- Passport (if you need it): $100
- Clothes: Pre-cruise party, theme nights, swim suits, daywear, shoes. . . let's be serious. $200-700
- Drinks, photos, shore trips, misc on board: ~$150
- Other (door decor, travel toiletries, pre-cruise mani/pedi, etc): ~$150
Maybe some of my estimates are a bit high. I live in one of the most expensive areas of the country, so I'm rounding up. For example, I know parking at JFK costs a lot more than it does at the Pittsburgh airport. And you certainly don't HAVE to spend anything on clothes or get a pedi before the trip, but chances are you will.
Where does that put our totals?
At the low end: You're in a category 4 room, have a ride to the airport, don't need a passport, and are very good at keeping a budget. $1150
At the low end: You're in a category 4 room, have a ride to the airport, don't need a passport, and are very good at keeping a budget. $1150
At the high end: You booked a suite, have an expensive flight, and will spend $300 on the perfect theme outfit if necessary. $4000
Did you read that and think, "Katie, you are crazy. NO way I will be spending $300 on a dress. Put me in the $1150 group." Well, I would have said the same thing to you last year. And how much did I spend on my white dress two weeks before we sailed because I was getting frantic to find something white and flattering? $300. (Note to TPTB: If we do white night again, I'm wearing that same dress.)
[Taken from nKoTb Cruise Blog]
So, Cruisers, does anybody have any suggestions for budgeting? Have you already purchased your plane tickets? Where is everybody staying in Miami? Without the themes yet, has anybody bought any cute clothes yet? Let's compare notes, Cruisers!! :)
I know for us, we're flying into Fort Lauderdale. Our hotel includes a shuttle to the port of miami and between the three of us sharing it, will run us 50$ each. (a night before the cruise, the night after we come back..so we're talking 100$). I just booked my flight at expedia. Vegas to Fort Lauderdale, 175$ round trip.
ReplyDeletePlus we got the cheapie cheap cabin, so by all this, it's keeping the funds lower.
We're flying into Ft Lauderdale as well, and are in the cheaper cabins (not necessarily by choice, haha). We're staying at a hostel in Ft Lauderdale, which came out to about $130 for two of us for 2 nights. I'm flying to Seattle which was $140 RT, and then $300 for our tickets to Lauderdale from there. Even though that's pretty low so far, I'm still putting my estimate at about $3k, because I want to go shopping while I'm out and about, and do shore excursions. :) I'm totally taking advantage of the overtime offered at my job right now, lol!
ReplyDeleteI am flying from RDU Raleigh Durham Airport to Miami on the 8th. The cheapest flight that I could find was 160.00 round trip. I have the cheapest cabin(chosen for me by Rose Tours since I was on the waitlist). Since I am flying out the day before, I chose to stay at the Marriott Miami Biscayne Bay for 119.00. I plan to get my hair, nails and a pedicure done before leaving NC. And I will probably start shopping for outfits in September. Since the cruise is during my birthday, I will try to use some of my birthday pull lol, to get some extra money. I am trying to save at least 1K for spending. Hopefully, that will be enough.
ReplyDeleteI live in Ft. Lauderdale, so I do not have to do any flying!! Waahooo...I got lucky there. So I have no flights or hotels to worry about. That will save me a few hundred bucks. Already did some shopping, got some dresses and what not, so the only thing I need money for is spending on the cruise...and the themes! :)
ReplyDeletemy biggest worry was paying the balance of the cabin all at once when it was due (im paying for myself and my sister)...so i divided my balance by the amount of pay checks i had left until the oct 1 due date...then i set up an outlook reminder to call rose tours and pay that amount every payday...it made the remaining bill a lot less scary...haha...
ReplyDeletehello my name is Kelly sulbaran , i'm from venezuela i¡m going to the cruise wiiiiiiiiii, i'm sooo happy, i have a travel agency, i can make your reservation for the hotel for miami, Flights, cars rentals, etc. my mail it's kelly_09052000@hotmail.com, my link for the agency it's http://agenciadeviajesvirtual.com/Micro/home.aspx?ita=10352 .
ReplyDeletehave a good day kisses from venezuela
Im coming from Minnesota and Just literally bought my airfare tonight for $220 RT to Miami. After we booked our flight, Our exact flight went up to 365$ just a couple hours after!! We've never been to Florida though so we are flying in the 4th and renting a car (158 for 4 days) and then we are gonna explore Florida till the 8th ;) Ive already bought a new swim suit just for the cruise, and I just ordered three pairs of capris for only 16$ online.Ive also been looking for the perfect "Summer" stuff on the Clearance racks (coupons are always good too...hehe) For our hotel the night of the 8th, One of my friends had a free Certificate thing, So our hotel for that night is FREE!! I cant believe its only 125 days away! Its gonna be here before we know it. I think this is the only time in my life ive been excited for WINTER to come :) I hope everyone else is having luck with all their plans!
ReplyDeleteI only wish my total was $4000. It's double that. I'm coming from Australia, airfare was a bit under $2000 return and I got a balcony cabin. I will be in Miami 3 days before the cruise and 2 days after the cruise.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait until December! See you guys then :)
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ReplyDeleteI just bought my plane tickets yesterday since there is currently a seat sale on flights. The regular price between Ottawa and Miami was $188 before tax and fees but now it dropped to $109. Before it would have cost me somewhere in between $500 to $600 in total. With the seat sale, it only now cost me $350 to go there and back. Sweet! :D
ReplyDeletePerhaps other people should check the price of flight right now if you haven't bought your tickets yet. I believe the seat sale ends August 19 and is for all North American flights.
Now the only thing that is left for me is the hotel booking. I plan to split the cost with my roommie. :)
At the high end: You booked a suite, have an expensive flight, and will spend $300 on the perfect theme outfit if necessary. $4000
ReplyDeleteOMG! that´s me!!! hahahaha