Is $12,000 per year in travel enough

[Nemo2]

For instance we can visit Poland for half the price of Italy. Both are beautiful countries.

Kraków, in particular, has been recommended by friends....Poland, along with the Baltic states, is on the bucket list.

(If you haven't already been, Prague and the Czech Republic in general offer good value.)

 

[FUEGO]

Total, per person, including taxes & port charges, but not gratuities, is $349.50 US.......(and we're fond of the ship, which is a bonus).

That's amazing. $25/nt before taxes it looks like. We found a $28/nt cruise in September of 2014 on the Carnival Glory (7 nights from FL to Mexico, Honduras, Belize) and thought that was a spectacular deal. And we booked the MSC Divina for the same $28/nt per person in a balcony room for this coming December.

Hopefully we can find an incredible transatlantic deal in the future like you found!

How does CDF compare to the American giants (NCL, RCL, Carnival) in terms of stuff included in the basic cruise fare, service, and food?

 

[Nemo2]

How does CDF compare to the American giants (NCL, RCL, Carnival) in terms of stuff included in the basic cruise fare, service, and food?

We were on the Norwegian Star for a month in 2014; loop Copenhagen to Copenhagen, followed by a repositioning to Miami.........we ate in the main (or one of the main) restaurant a few times, only at the behest of friends with whom we were traveling. The Star isn't one of our favorites and we'd only board it again if the route/price was attractive.

Royal Caribbean - we're booked on Rhapsody of the Seas from Malaga-Miami this November, so don't have any input on that at this time.

Generally, (practically always), we eat at the buffets, (on the Nieuw Amsterdam repositioning in 2013 we ate at a restaurant once - DW's 61st, and on the Constellation not at all); we have a (minor) aversion to restaurants, per se, and would rather serve ourselves........we've never had any complaints about the food on any of the vessels, (we're simple folk and easy to please ), but we can't really talk to 'service' because we try and avoid it, although we do chat to the buffet waiters during slow periods.

Basically, and perhaps that's the key word, the Horizon is more of a ship than a cruise liner, and that's what we like about it..(and, there are nice areas to sit, which were virtually absent on the Star)

 

[FUEGO]

Basically, and perhaps that's the key word, the Horizon is more of a ship than a cruise liner, and that's what we like about it..(and, there are nice areas to sit, which were virtually absent on the Star)

Do you mean to say it's more like a ship as in a ferry that transports you from one place to another (while feeding you and providing a comfortable bed to sleep)? As contrasted with a cruise liner that's a fancy party ship with luxury?

 

[Nemo2]

Do you mean to say it's more like a ship as in a ferry that transports you from one place to another (while feeding you and providing a comfortable bed to sleep)? As contrasted with a cruise liner that's a fancy party ship with luxury?

Rather, it's more like a ship as I knew them around 55 years ago, albeit better appointed.......all the 'amenities', theatre, casino, spa, gym, small library, shops, hot tubs, pools with an adjacent bandstand, etc, etc, but without things apparently offered on leviathans like Allure of the Seas such as hot air balloon rides, big game hunting, and luge tracks.

Moderation in all/most things, I guess.

 

[FUEGO]

Rather, it's more like a ship as I knew them around 55 years ago, albeit better appointed.......all the 'amenities', theatre, casino, spa, gym, small library, shops, hot tubs, pools with an adjacent bandstand, etc, etc, but without things apparently offered on leviathans like Allure of the Seas such as hot air balloon rides, big game hunting, and luge tracks.

Moderation in all/most things, I guess.

Gotcha. You forgot bungee jumping and hang gliding.

 

[Sarah in SC]

Nemo, I want to travel "on the ground" with y'all! We are not much for the cruising stuff, but your choices overland are very similar to what we choose when not camping.

And I agree, some of our best friends and best stories have come through shared accommodations and meeting good folk. Christmas Eve in Lima, standing in the street at midnight with our hosts and another guest, passing around a bottle of Pisco...good times.

 

[Nemo2]

Nemo, I want to travel "on the ground" with y'all! We are not much for the cruising stuff, but your choices overland are very similar to what we choose when not camping.

Backatcha! We loved the idea of traveling with you on the old school bus....(although, at my age, I can't quite recall whether it was with the Kardashians, or across Kazakhstan).....

As for the 'cruising', we go on ships because we like to be on the sea, because it beats flying, and because we use a ship as a hop-on-hop-off bus, (although we've never actually been on one of them...preferring to walk, as we do)........I mentioned somewhere that DW lurks on a cruise site, and it's amazing (to us) how many of the women, (and we've seen numerous examples), appear to think of 'cruising' as an excuse to play dress up (possibly emulating their concept of 'Princesses'), wearing clothing that reminds one of the aftermath of an explosion in a combined tinsel & paint factory.....regardless of their age and/or girth.

That ain't us.

Happy Trails!

 

[Andre1969]

About the only vacation reference point I have in recent memory is a trip to Aruba I made the last two weeks in November, back in 2014. I'd say it came out to around $9,000 total, for three people. That included non-stop airfare from Dulles Airport, MD to Aruba, staying at a posh resort on the beach, renting a Jeep Wrangler for two weeks, so we could go off-roading, a horseback riding tour for the three of us, plus food and booze for the time there. For the most part, we bought food at the grocery store and brought it back to the suite, but on Thanksgiving we did splurge for a meal the resort was putting on, that was about 60 bucks a pop.

It could have definitely been done for less. I forget the exact breakdown of prices, but just the resort was probably around $2800-3000, with taxes and everything. We could have gotten a cheaper unit. Ours was a 1 br/1ba, but we could have gotten a studio for a bit less. Or, we could have found a cheaper place to stay. And there were cheaper flights, but we wanted one that was non-stop. The Jeep was a bit of a splurge, too. But, the rental car companies tend to gripe if you go off-roading in a Hyundai Elantra!

 

[Dreamer]

A few more details to be finalized, but our next month's trip, leave Toronto March 27, return to Toronto April 24, is shaping up to come in or around $4,700 Canadian ($3,395 US at current rates).

This includes:

- Parking near Toronto Airport
- Medical coverage.
- One way flight for 2, Toronto - St.Maarten.
- One night's accommodation St. Maarten.
- 12 day cruise St.Maarten - Barcelona (including mandatory gratuities).
- One night's accommodation Barcelona.
- Train Barcelona - Leon.
- 5 night's accommodation Leon.
- Train Leon - Ourense.
- 4 night's accommodation Ourense.
- Bus/train Ourense - Porto.
- 5 night's accommodation Porto.
- One way flight for 2, Porto - Toronto.
- Food (we're not 'restaurant people', so we'll be shopping for, and preparing, our own......when we're not on the ship, that is).
- Some side trips (out of Leon/Ourense/Porto) using bus or train.

Absolutely amazing! I need to get travel savvy and quickly. I spent close to that for my 8 day cruise and 1 night hotel and flights recently. I think that you need to become the Early Retirement's tour director! I know that it would be too much work. Thank you for all of your travel tips and for breaking your trip down. My least favorite part of a cruise is the dress up nights and I wear regular pantsuits. We did AirBNB one trip and it worked out fine for us. Enjoy your trip and please keep us inspired on how you travel so cheaply.

 

[whatnot]

Nemo2 - your trip sounds great. That is the type of travel I enjoy.

 

[Nemo2]

Nemo2 - your trip sounds great. That is the type of travel I enjoy.

C'mon down.....you have 39 days to get your tickets and pack a bag!

 

[kitesurfer2]

love this thread! My plan was to ride my motorcycle down in Mexico for a few weeks. i'm thinking now to fly in and rent . I'll be watching for Mexico trips that has worked well for others.

 

[Nemo2]

DW just finalized the train/bus ticket purchases, Ourense/Vigo/Porto........current total is $4,397 Canadian ($3,193 US).......this covers flights/ship (including gratuities), all accommodation (St. Maarten/Spain/Portugal), airport parking Toronto, medical insurance coverage, all bus/train tickets, other than possible short distance side trips here & there.

We dock in Barcelona ~ 11:00 a.m. April 09 (might be able to grab lunch aboard before disembarking)......so, to meet our estimate, (which we'll likely exceed.....mainly due to the appalling Canadian dollar conversion rates, methinks), we'll have $303 Canadian to buy food, plus a couple side trip train tickets, between that time and 03:50 p.m. April 24, when we fly out of Porto.

I imagine we'll overshoot, but not by too much, all things considered.

 

[dixonge]

In 2013:

- A one week, all inclusive, in Mexico

- 12 days in Prague.

- A week in Barcelona, followed by a transatlantic, Barcelona - Florida.

- Rome...then a transatlantic, Civitavecchia - Florida.

All flights, airport parking, medical insurance, accommodation, side trips, food, etc.

Approx $12,750 Canadian for two.

I'm surprised at the prices of Transatlantic cruises - we spent that much for a one-week Alaskan cruise ten years ago!

 

[Nemo2]

I'm surprised at the prices of Transatlantic cruises - we spent that much for a one-week Alaskan cruise ten years ago!

There are deals around, (there are also 'expensive' (from our perspective) repositioning cruises, which we avoid), we just monitor what's offered, and buy what we consider are 'bargains'.............in 2013, we'd only been home from the Barcelona-Florida trip for a short time when we noticed the, almost last minute, Civitavecchia-Florida cruise......found a cheap flight, (Toronto to Rome, via Moscow), and grabbed it.

(That we don't drink, frequent the 'pay extra' restaurants, gamble, go to the spas, etc, also impacts the bottom line.)

 

[dixonge]

(That we don't drink, frequent the 'pay extra' restaurants, gamble, go to the spas, etc, also impacts the bottom line.)

We cruise the same way. OK, we've only done one cruise, but no gambling, no gift-buying. We booked our own off-boat excursions direct, not through the cruise line. No spa. Minimal restaurant time. Still felt like we got ripped off. LOL

But these longer cruises appeal. Curious why you don't like the repositioning cruises...?

 

[Nemo2]

Curious why you don't like the repositioning cruises...?

No, no, repositioning cruises are about all we do*......it's the ones we deem expensive that we avoid........sorry if I wasn't clear on that...(I do tend to ramble).

(*We have an eastbound coming up a month from tomorrow, and a westbound in November.)

 

[Bamaman]

The cruising world is getting more competitive. Norwegian has new management, and they're making much needed changes to their ships' operations. Heavens knows they needed some changes, especially in their main dining rooms and food services.

And when changes come at one cruise line, the other cruise lines have to follow suit.

We're scheduled on Celebrity Constellation out or Rome in April for 12 days going to Malta, the Greek Isles, Turkey and back up to Venice. When we booked 12/15, inside rooms were $865 and ocean view rooms started at $1299. Today's rates are much higher as demand has been very high for this cruise. For once, I agreed to go an outside room.

We're receiving a free $660 drink package with gratuities (normally 18%). We're also receiving a credit that covers all room attendants gratuities and food service gratuities. And there's still a $40 credit that can be spent in the shops. And since our anniversary is during this time, they're giving us a dinner in a specialty restaurant.

I told my wife it they were giving any more freebies, they'd be paying us to go on this cruise. We're also flying Norwegian Air Shuttle for 50% the rates of legacy air carriers. All in all, this is another bargain trip of a lifetime.

 

[Nemo2]

A few more details to be finalized, but our next month's trip, leave Toronto March 27, return to Toronto April 24, is shaping up to come in or around $4,700 Canadian ($3,395 US at current rates).

This includes:

- Parking near Toronto Airport
- Medical coverage.
- One way flight for 2, Toronto - St.Maarten.
- One night's accommodation St. Maarten.
- 12 day cruise St.Maarten - Barcelona (including mandatory gratuities).
- One night's accommodation Barcelona.
- Train Barcelona - Leon.
- 5 night's accommodation Leon.
- Train Leon - Ourense.
- 4 night's accommodation Ourense.
- Bus/train Ourense - Porto.
- 5 night's accommodation Porto.
- One way flight for 2, Porto - Toronto.
- Food (we're not 'restaurant people', so we'll be shopping for, and preparing, our own......when we're not on the ship, that is).
- Some side trips (out of Leon/Ourense/Porto) using bus or train.

DW just finalized the tally......at $4,855 Canadian we ran 3.3% over our estimate.

Flight: Toronto to St. Maarten $695.00
Taxi from airport to hotel $31.00
Accommodation: Philipsburg (1night) $120.00
Transatlantic Cruise (Total Price including gratuities) $1,408.00
Accommodation: Barcelona ( 1 night) $63.00
Train from Barcelona to Leon $94.00
Accommodation: Leon (5 nights) $248.00
Train to Ourense $32.00
Accommodation: Ourense (4 nights) $183.00
Train/Bus to Porto $73.00
Accommodation: Porto (5 nights) $297.00
Flight: Porto to Toronto $865.00
Parking $134.00
Medical $202.00
Other: 2 Day trips, food, taxi in Vigo, misc $410.00

Total $4,855.00 Canadian

 

[Sunset]

Nemo2
That sounds amazing.
Can your DW plan a trip for us...

 

[Nemo2]

Nemo2
That sounds amazing.
Can your DW plan a trip for us...

Right now she's occupied with our Fall trip :

- Toronto-Malaga flights $788.32 Canadian total.
- 18 nights in Malaga studio Best Location- ESPECERIA ST. - Apartment - Malaga $835.71 Canadian total.
- Cruise Malaga-Miami, 13 nights, (oceanview) $789.74 p.p. US (port taxes included), with $225 US onboard credit (which we'll apply against the 'mandatory gratuities').

Haven't booked Miami-Toronto flights yet.....monitoring.

 

[audreyh1]

I figured out that one way trips cost half as many airline miles as round trips, so that is a way we might try if we ever do a repositioning cruise. I don't think DH would go for it though. He doesn't care for large ships or many days at sea.

 

[audreyh1]

Right now she's occupied with our Fall trip :

- Toronto-Malaga flights $788.32 Canadian total.
- 18 nights in Malaga studio Best Location- ESPECERIA ST. - Apartment - Malaga $835.71 Canadian total.
- Cruise Malaga-Miami, 13 nights, (oceanview) $789.74 p.p. US (port taxes included), with $225 US onboard credit (which we'll apply against the 'mandatory gratuities').

Haven't booked Miami-Toronto flights yet.....monitoring.

Wow, great prices to Spain! Which airline?

 

[Nemo2]

He doesn't care for large ships

Although we'd prefer the (unfortunately way more expensive) smaller ships, and stay far, far, away from the behemoths, the Horizon, which we just took, is ~ 47K GT, and the Rhapsody, which we'll take this Fall, is ~ 79K GT.....not ideal, but manageable from our perspective.