Thursday, January 20, 2011

93 DAYS TO GO . . .

     THURSDAY JANUARY 20, 2011

     TODAY I THOUGHT I WOULD CONTINUE ON WAYS TO SAVE ON YOUR DISNEY CRUISE.  WHICH SHOULD LEAD ME INTO MORE DETAILS EACH DAY FOR EACH TOPIC I TOUCH ON HERE FOR THINGS YOU KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO COME ACROSS, AND BASICALLY BE PUSHED INTO, WHILE ABOARD THE SHIP.
     FIRST, AND MAYBE MOST EXPENSIVE INDIVIDUALLY, WILL BE ALCOHOL.  IF YOU DON'T DRINK, YOU'VE JUST SAVED A TON.  PLUS, UNLIKE MOST CRUISE LINES, DISNEY DOESN'T CHARGE EXTRA FOR SODAS.  I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT WHEN I HEARD MOST DO, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE COMMON PRACTICE, SO FOR YOU BIG SODA DRINKERS, THIS A HUGE SAVINGS.  ALCOHOLIC DRINKS ARE EXPENSIVE ON ANY CRUISE SHIP.  IT'S LIKE GOING TO A CASINO, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN, RIDICULOUS PRICES PER DRINK.  FEW KNOW THAT DISNEY IS ONE OF THE FEW CRUISE LINES THAT ALLOWS YOU TO BRING YOUR OWN ALCOHOL ON BOARD.  HERE IS A LINK TO MOST CRUISE LINE'S ALCOHOL POLICIES: http://www.cruisemates.com/ARTICLES/FEATURE/ALCOHOLPOLICIES-090707.CFM  IF YOU'RE THINKING WINE WITH MEALS OR IN YOUR CABIN, PAYING A "CORKING FEE" IS STILL CHEAPER THAN BUYING THEIR WINE OR WINE PACKAGES.  AND HARD LIQUOR, WELL THAT'S NOT EVEN CLOSE.  HUGE SAVINGS ON YOUR BOTTLE IN YOUR ROOM VS. THEIR PRICE PER DRINK.
     SECOND, DUTY FREE SHOPPING.  BE PATIENT.  WAIT TIL YOU'RE OUT AT SEA AND YOU'LL SAVE.  PLUS IF THE PRICE GOES DOWN DURING YOUR CRUISE, YOU CAN ALWAYS RETURN IT AND GET THE LOWER PRICE AS WELL.  ALSO, DUTY FREE SHOPPING IN WHATEVER PORT YOU SAIL TO IS MOST LIKELY GOING TO BE A LOT CHEAPER THAN DUTY FREE SHOPPING ON BOARD.
     THIRD, SHORE EXCURSIONS.  TRIPS OR TOURS OR EVENTS IN A FOREIGN PORT ARRANGED AND PAID FOR, USUALLY IN ADVANCE, BY THE CRUISE LINE.  IF YOU CAN AND ARE WILLING TO DO IT YOURSELF IN ADVANCE, YOU WILL DEFINITELY SAVE MONEY.
     FOURTH, GRATUITIES OR TIPS.  YOU'D BE SURPRISED AT WHO YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO TIP, ESPECIALLY IN THE DINING ROOMS, IF YOU'VE NEVER CRUISED BEFORE.  I WAS.  BUT WITH DISNEY YOU CAN PRE-PAY YOUR TIPS ON THE SCALE THEY SUGGEST LIKE I'VE ALREADY DONE (THIS CAN BE FOUND ON-LINE TOO), OR WAIT TIL THE END OF THE CRUISE AND DO SO AS YOU SEE FIT.  BUT YOU'LL ALSO NOTICE IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR BILL, EVERY ALCOHOLIC DRINK YOU BUY HAS A TIP ADDED INTO ITS PRICE!
     FIFTH, SPA & SALON TREATMENTS.  PAMPER YOURSELF IF YOU THINK THAT WILL ENHANCE YOUR CRUISING EXPERIENCE, BUT IF YOU CAN DO ANY OF THESE THINGS PRIOR TO BOARDING, YOU SHOULD.  YOUR CREDIT CARD WILL THANK YOU.
     SIXTH, SHOPPING.  I COVERED THIS YESTERDAY, BUT IF YOU FEEL THE NEED, SET A BUDGET FOR YOURSELF, YOUR KIDS, AND/OR YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. 
     SEVENTH, GAMBLING.  DISNEY DOES NOT HAVE CASINOS ON THEIR SHIPS, WHICH ASTOUNDS SOME, BUT IT'S A JOY TO ME.  I LIVE JUST OUTSIDE ATLANTIC CITY AND I DON'T GAMBLE.  PLUS I'VE HAD MORE THAN ENOUGH RINGING SLOT MACHINE BELLS FOR ONE LIFETIME.  BUT YOU CAN PLAY BINGO AND YOU CAN REALLY GO THROUGH SOME SERIOUS MONEY BUYING CARDS, INCREASED PLAY, JACKPOTS, AND OTHER TRICKS TO GET YOU TO SPEND MORE, WHILE THE CHANCES OF WINNING ACTUALLY DECREASE AS THE DAYS GO BY AND THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS INCREASE.  SO UNLESS YOU ABSOLUTELY LOVE BINGO, SKIP IT.
     EIGHTH, ALTERNATE DINING EXPERIENCES.  THE DISNEY DREAM HAS TWO ADULTS ONLY OPTIONS: PALO AT I BELIEVE $20/PERSON AND THE NEW REMY WHICH IS $75/PERSON.  I'M SURE THE MEALS ARE FANTASTIC, BUT DO THE MATH.
     NINTH, TELEPHONE AND INTERNET USAGE.  WOW!  WAIT TIL YOU SEE THE RATES FOR THESE.  UNBELIEVABLE.  SIMPLY PUT, IF YOU CAN AVOID USING EITHER, DO SO.  YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND A DIRT CHEAP INTERNET CAFE IN PORT.
     TENTH, WATER BOTTLES.  NOT INCLUDED AND VERY EXPENSIVE.  THEY HAVE WATER BOTTLE PACKAGES TO PURCHASE FOR YOUR ROOM AND THEY'RE ONLY EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE COMPARED TO THE LUDICROUS PER BOTTLE CHARGE.  BRING YOUR OWN OR BRING SOMETHING TO REFILL.
     ELEVENTH, SPECIALTY DRINKS OR TREATS.  ALMOST ALL FOOD AND NORMAL DRINKS ON BOARD ARE FREE.  IF IT'S NOT, AVOID IT.  HOW BAD DO YOU NEED THAT $6 CUP OF COFFEE?
     TWELFTH, PHOTOGRAPHS.  THIS IS A TOUGH ONE BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS A SHOT THAT'S BEEN STAGED AND TAKEN FOR YOU THAT'S PHENOMENAL.  THE KEY IS TO REMEMBER TO TRY AND KEEP IT TO THAT ONE.  AVOID THE BIG UNNECESSARY PHOTO PACKAGE WHEN YOU NORMALLY WOULD NEVER DO THAT.  TAKE LOTS OF YOUR OWN PHOTOS AND HAVE SOMEONE TAKE SOME OF YOU FOR YOU.
     THIRTEENTH, AIRFARE.  NOT MUCH YOU CAN DO HERE EXCEPT CONTINUE SHOPPING FOR THE BEST DEAL YOU CAN FIND.  JOIN THE "CLUB" OF WHATEVER AIRLINE YOU MAY FLY OR MORE THAN ONE.  GET AN AIRLINE CREDIT CARD THAT'LL IMMEDIATELY PAY OFF FOR BOOKING WITH IT AND THEM.
     FOURTEENTH, AIRPORT TO SHIP (AND BACK) TRANSFERS.  BELIEVE IT OR NOT THERE ARE MULTIPLE OPTIONS HERE.  LOOK ON-LINE FOR SOME OF THE COMPANIES THAT DO THIS AND LOOK UP REVIEWS AND COMPARE PRICES.  I BOOKED DISNEY'S TRANSFER BUS FOR MY SON AND I, BECAUSE IT WAS THE BEST DEAL FOR TWO PEOPLE.  PLUS THEY TRANSPORT YOU IN A NICE MOTOR COACH WITH A DISNEY CRUISE MOVIE STARRING THE CHARACTERS TO GET YOU PUMPED, WHICH I KNOW MY SON WILL LOVE.  AND THEY TAKE YOUR LUGGAGE FROM THE AIRPORT TO YOUR STATEROOM (JUST LIKE DISNEY'S MAGICAL EXPRESS FOR THE PARKS).  BUT IF YOU'RE A GROUP OF THREE OR MORE PEOPLE, IT MAY DEFINITELY SAVE YOU MONEY TO BOOK A VAN OR LIMO DECREASING THE PER PERSON COST.
     WELL, THAT'S THE INTRO TO SAVINGS.  STARTING TOMORROW I'LL GET INTO EACH NUMBER IN GREATER DETAIL WITH MORE SPECIFIC WAYS TO SAVE.
     SEE YA REAL SOON!  ºOº

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