Thanks in advance for any help!

Then as soon as you get on the ship book your shore trips right from the comfort of your cabin on the interactive TV. They also have videos on the TV that you can call up and watch for each shore trip.

Nice thing about this interactive TV is that you can use it to order snacks (chips and pretzels etc.), sandwiches and tea, coffee hpot chocolate or juice at no charge for snackies. You should have a couple dollars handy as a tip for the steward that delivers the food
to your room though.

Have a great time and as everyone has said, budget you money and stick to the budget.

Weallwishweweregoing:-)

[This message has been edited by CTrail (edited 01-09-2000).]

There are ways to save money on board however. I always inform my clients as to where they can find coffee, tea, and juices during the day. Why purchase those at pool side when you can take a short walk and get them for free. Also, don't buy anything in the gift shop the first day or two at sea. The prices will always be reduced later on in the cruise. I regularly see t-shirts, hats, souvenirs, watches, gold jewelry, etc., at up to 40% discounts towards the end of the cruise. The same thing applies for beauty services in the salon onboard. You'll pay $90 for a haircut, style and comb the first few days. The price drops down to $50 after the 3rd or 4th day.

Don't tip the bartenders or waiters at poolside or in any of the lounges or cabarets. A 15% gratuity is already added to your bill.

Shore excursions can be expensive, but remember that the companies operating the excursions have to meet standards set up by the cruise line or they won't get your business. I have some companies in different ports that I will send my clients to for shore excursions, but for the most part, I usually suggest the ship's excursions and always provide the clients with a list of the excursions (and their cost) prior to cruising.

Gambling is a personal thing. Consider the word - gamble!! You're taking a chance with every quarter you put in a slot machine or every dollar you drop on a blackjack table.

There are opportunities all day long aboard a cruise ship to enjoy yourself at no cost. But then there are also opportunities all day long that you can waste money on.

I'll add my vote to those who have recommended using a travel agent over purchasing on the internet, and not just because I am a travel agent. Prior to getting into this business I wasted many dollars and had some fairly awful times booking my own vacations, simply because I didn't know the ins-and-outs of particular vacation venues. If you're going on a cruise, find an agent who sells nothing but cruises. It's their only business and they want more than your money for the cruise. They want you satisfied and coming back to them for another, and another, and another great vacation. Good Luck and Bon Voyage!!

As far as spending money that is totally a personal thing. Some people are spend thrifty while others have deep pockets. Go with what you feel comfortable with. The only thing I always set aside for is the tips at the end of the cruise on day # 1. If you like the casino, set aside what you can afford each day. Shopping, drinking etc. is what you want and can afford. Most islands have the same type of treasures and souviniers as the next. It all depends on how much you want to spend and how much YOU can afford. I always buy a t-shirt from the ship. True you can wait toward the end of the cruise and get a big discount but it's NOT on the good t-shirts that they carry onboard all the time. They're usually specials that run week after week of a cheaper quality, less attractive design than those carried daily in the ship shops.

Determine what you can afford and SHOP around! There's ALOT of agencies out there and ALOT of cruise only type agencies that all want your business. I'm no longer dedicated to one agency as letting my fingers on the telephone do the work can often times pay a good dividend in my pocket, often times saving enough on the cruise to pay for a nice shore excursion on one of the islands.