Cruising on Carnival Holiday. How much do onboard activities cost (if anything)?

I’m taking my girlfriend on a cruise for our anniversary. I know drinks are pretty expensive and food is free. I’ve also looked at prices for various excursions. However, I can’t seem to find any info on what (if anything) the activities/services cost on-board the Holiday. Specifically, I’m talking about dance lessons (free?), massages (probably expensive) book check-out at the library (free?), shows, and games (like shuffleboard, basketball, mini-golf and video games). It shouldn’t be that hard to find this info but I’m coming up blank everywhere I look. Thanks for any help you can give me!

Use a cash account if you want to manage to a budget while on a cruise. You put down a cash instead of a credit card for your on-board account. Notable…Carnival charges your account for the tips ($10 per day per guest) to your on-board account the moment you step on-board, so if you use a cash account, be sure to deposit enough cash to cover your tips ($70×2=$140 plus whatever your on-board spending budget is).

The shows and other musical entertainment is included in the price of the fare along with access to the gym. However, some of the classes have a $10 fee. Access to the sport equipment is also included in your fare.

Carnival has a drink of the day special. Drinks run from about $4-12 each plus a 15% gratuity.

Sodas are $1.75 plus 15% gratuity per can or you can purchase the soda fountain card for $38.50 plus 15% gratuity for unlimited by the glass soda (Coke products).

Most of the Carnival ships now allow you to view your tab view the TV in your room. If the Pride does not offer this, you can drop by the purser’s office and get a quick print-out.

You pay a premimum for booking shore excursions through Carnival but you get the insurance that if your excursion is running late, they will hold the ship for you. If you book on your own, your on your own while in port.

Be sure to take along a good supply of $1, 5 and 10 in US dollars to use in port for taxis, shopping and tips to the local guides.

You will get a newletter each day in your cabin describing the next day’s events. There will be more going on the ship than you can do…don’t try to overdo…pick the things you really like and stick to those.

To help you budget…here are a few of the “extra costs”-
- Bar drinks – $4-12 each plus 15% gratuity
- Soda – by the can – $1.75 plus 15% gratuity
- Soda fountain card – $38.50 plus 15% gratuity
- Photos – $7.99 to $21.99 (depending on size and style)
- Shore excursions – $50-200 per person per excursion.
- Spa treatments – $50-200 per treatment (but there were many specials on this last trip as many people were skipping the spa…)
- Casino. Use cash in the casino to avoid 3% fee for using card.
- Video arcade – $1 per game/tokens.
- Bingo cards – $5-20…depending on day and games
- Goument coffee – $3.75 and up
- Internet – 75 cents per minute
- Ship to shore phone – $7.99 per minute
- Parking at the port
- Tips for luggage porters – $1 per bag
- Tips – $10 per day per guest

With the exception of tips and parking at the cruise terminal, all of the above is optional. My sister spent less than $400 on our last cruise….

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