[asianthree]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

In May, you can take a seven day MSC cruise roundtrip from Port Canaveral for $1340 for two people. Kids sale free. Food and entertainment is included and you can drive to the port.

How much is a seven day stay at Disney with meals?

Celebrating Bdays in May, 5 days 2 bedroom, at 2 different Deluxe on property for 4 adults (not accepting any kids even if there is a Free Sale). Under $900, May is a cusp month so points are cheap. We could easily be less than that for 7 days at multiple moderate resorts.

As far as food we have never done quantity, so easily under the budget for 2, you proposed, that I am guessing doesn’t include alcohol. Last week Festival of the Arts, our per day food and alcohol was under $30.

[Nana2Teddy]

Originally Posted by asianthree

Last week stayed at Polynesian new Island Tower, for less per night, than your Art of Animation experience. We did have lunch at 220 definitely more than $100

Clearly you got a special rate, or are DVC members because a room at any Magic Kingdom resort is never $500 or less per night. We are APs and tried to go for a couple of nights last week for our anniversary and I couldn’t find us any room at a MK resort using the current special 35% off rate for APs for less than $7-800/night, which of course was before taxes. We’d have been out $2K+ just for the room. We decided to go for the day only, which turns out was more than enough now that it’s hot and humid again.

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by Nana2Teddy

Clearly you got a special rate, or are DVC members because $500/night for a room at any Magic Kingdom resort is never $500 or less per night. We are APs and tried to go for a couple of nights last week for our anniversary and I couldn’t find us any room at a MK resort using the current special 35% off rate for APs for less than $7-800/night, which of course was before taxes. We’d have been out $2K+ just for the room. We decided to go for the day only, which turns out was more than enough now that it’s hot and humid again.

Not DVC, we do however buy points from different sites or private people. However using PH discount, we use two certain reservations cast members that get us great rooms when resort are less occupied. Since we can go anytime it works out well. We also book for the whole year for certain special events. Oldest last week did a bounce back rate for $74 a night on property.

[bonbonn]

we went on royal caribbean cruise. we bought the ships insurance, my wife got sick went to emergency by wheel chair. Before they would look at her they wanted our credit card, I said we had bought the insurance. We were told we had to pay them and then go to the insurance for reimbursed. I dont think they were even doctors. we waited for her to feel better and went back to our cabin. never cruise again

[Bwanajim]

I always use Alliance
or AIG. Used them twice, once to fly out of Alaska early and once out of South Africa when I injured my shoulder. Worth every penny

[TerryBo]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

Are the drinks that much more expensive than they would be at Bluefin, Red Sauce, or Prima?
Given that cruises are international, not every country has a custom of tipping, and American tourists are cheap, is it unreasonable to recommend a tipping level?
I have no idea how much it costs to provision wifi for several thousand people on a ship, much less contract with a satellite provider for that much internet bandwidth, do you?

Cruising is not inexpensive and I'm sure the company makes money but are the prices exorbitant or is that just what it costs to provide the service?

Americans I believe tip more than any other people. I don’t see people tipping as much in Europe.

[biker1]

Cruise ships do have a Dr. onboard, larger ships could have 2. You were probably triaged by a nurse. River cruises will typically rely on medical personnel in the towns they visit. Regarding travel insurance, that is how it works, regardless of whether you are on a cruise ship or on land.

Originally Posted by bonbonn

we went on royal caribbean cruise. we bought the ships insurance, my wife got sick went to emergency by wheel chair. Before they would look at her they wanted our credit card, I said we had bought the insurance. We were told we had to pay them and then go to the insurance for reimbursed. I dont think they were even doctors. we waited for her to feel better and went back to our cabin. never cruise again

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by TerryBo

Americans I believe tip more than any other people. I don’t see people tipping as much in Europe.

A tip is a voluntary gratuity, and the amount is determined by the customer. I understand that some cruise lines actually charge for the tip in advance of the cruise. If not, they tell you how much to tip and they do not treat it as a voluntary payment. This is not a tip.
Charging a service fee is one thing, but to call it a tip is insulting. That is just one reason why I do not go on cruises.

[Professor]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

Are the drinks that much more expensive than they would be at Bluefin, Red Sauce, or Prima?
Given that cruises are international, not every country has a custom of tipping, and American tourists are cheap, is it unreasonable to recommend a tipping level?
I have no idea how much it costs to provision wifi for several thousand people on a ship, much less contract with a satellite provider for that much internet bandwidth, do you?

Cruising is not inexpensive and I'm sure the company makes money but are the prices exorbitant or is that just what it costs to provide the service?

Virgin Voyages eliminated tips for all essential services. Of course they cover these in other ways, but it is nice to not worry about the proper amount to tip. Prices for drinks is comparable to an upper end bar or restaurant. Food is all served in regular restaurant style setup with individual tables instead of the buffet style or 20 passenger table situation. Also, they do not allow kids so it is an all adult cruise. Virgin is my goto cruise line.

[psoccermom]

Originally Posted by TerryBo

Americans I believe tip more than any other people. I don’t see people tipping as much in Europe.

That's why America has great service. Servers have to earn their tip. When tips are guaranteed, like 18% for a large party, service goes downhill.

[mikemalloy]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

There was a recent article in which a passenger on a cruise ship had $20,000 of medical insurance that he bought from the cruise company. However, he had a three day stay in the ship hospital and the bill was $47,000!!!!

Minnesota man wins free Norwegian cruise vacation -- then catches the flu onboard and gets hit with $47K medical bill

I usually get travel insurance when I go on vacation. However, can a cruise ship charge whatever it wants for the treatment?

For example, if you go to the doctor for a minor injury - a couple of stitches, etc. - and the cruise ship charges $75,000 for the bill, does your travel insurance pay the $75,000? Or do they pay a reasonable amount, and are you stuck with the rest? I would think that $20,000 would be enough insurance for almost any treatment that a cruise ship would provide - but after seeing this story, I am not sure.

I called a travel insurance company and the representative could only tell me that the insurance company would have to review the bill and the policy after the treatment.

Does anyone have any experience with this issue? Thanks.

We took a cruise in Asia last year. Though we rely on travel insurance provided by my credit card we purchased a medical only policy through Allianz. It cost a little under $400. I had an accident on an escalator and have some cuts on my back. I was seen at the ship's medical area. Bill for treating the wounds was $471. Filed a claim from my cabin online. Check for the bill was in the mail 2 days after I got home.

[Old Bob]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

There was a recent article in which a passenger on a cruise ship had $20,000 of medical insurance that he bought from the cruise company. However, he had a three day stay in the ship hospital and the bill was $47,000!!!!

Minnesota man wins free Norwegian cruise vacation -- then catches the flu onboard and gets hit with $47K medical bill

I usually get travel insurance when I go on vacation. However, can a cruise ship charge whatever it wants for the treatment?

For example, if you go to the doctor for a minor injury - a couple of stitches, etc. - and the cruise ship charges $75,000 for the bill, does your travel insurance pay the $75,000? Or do they pay a reasonable amount, and are you stuck with the rest? I would think that $20,000 would be enough insurance for almost any treatment that a cruise ship would provide - but after seeing this story, I am not sure.

I called a travel insurance company and the representative could only tell me that the insurance company would have to review the bill and the policy after the treatment.

Does anyone have any experience with this issue? Thanks.

I had several tests and a treatment on a Carnival cruise. They only charged me $411.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by TerryBo

Americans I believe tip more than any other people. I don’t see people tipping as much in Europe.

Also united states gives more to other countries and any country is world. IMO something we need to stop or At least reduce 80%.

[biker1]

That is not typical. What you may see is recommended gratuities preemptively added to your folio. You can either accept these or have them removed and make other arrangements to provide gratuities, as you see appropriate. Many cruise lines have stopped explicitly collecting gratuities and they are included in the cost of the cruise (yes, it is built in). The one area you may see a gratuity that is paid in advance is on an included drink package. The dollar value of the included drink package may be subjected to a mandatory gratuity that is charged, and paid for, upfront with the price of the cruise. As always, you are free to consider the entire cost of the trip and decide whether it is a good value.

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

A tip is a voluntary gratuity, and the amount is determined by the customer. I understand that some cruise lines actually charge for the tip in advance of the cruise. If not, they tell you how much to tip and they do not treat it as a voluntary payment. This is not a tip.
Charging a service fee is one thing, but to call it a tip is insulting. That is just one reason why I do not go on cruises.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by biker1

That is not typical. What you may see is recommended gratuities preemptively added to your folio. You can either accept these or have them removed and make other arrangements to provide gratuities, as you see appropriate. Many cruise lines have stopped explicitly collecting gratuities and they are included in the cost of the cruise (yes, it is built in). The one area you may see a gratuity that is paid in advance is on an included drink package. The dollar value of the included drink package may be subjected to a mandatory gratuity that is charged, and paid for, upfront with the price of the cruise. As always, you are free to consider the entire cost of the trip and decide whether it is a good value.

I won't do business with any company that tells me how much to tip their employees. Period.