HOW A $5,000 CRUISE CAN BECOME A $15,000+ VACATION Part 2

HOW A $5,000 CRUISE CAN BECOME A $15,000+ VACATION Part 2

Imagine a family of four booking what appears to be a reasonably priced Alaskan cruise. The advertised fare looks attractive, and they believe they've found a great vacation.

Then the spending begins.

Initial Cruise Fare

Cruise Fare: $5,000

Before You Even Leave Home

Travel insurance: +$400

Hotel the night before departure: +$300

Parking or airport transportation: +$200

Airfare (if not included): +$1,200

Running Total: $7,100

Once You Board

Drink package upgrades: +$800

Internet package: +$250

Specialty dining: +$300

Premium coffee purchases: +$100

Spa treatment for two: +$400

Professional photographs: +$250

Casino gambling: +$500

Designer watch, jewelry, or souvenirs onboard: +$600

Automatic gratuities or service charges (if not prepaid): +$500

Laundry service: +$75

Running Total: $10,875

Shore Excursions

Whale watching: +$700

Zip lining: +$1,000

Helicopter glacier tour: +$1,500

Kayaking excursion: +$500

Transportation in port: +$100

Running Total: $14,675

Shopping in Port

Jewelry purchase: +$1,500

Souvenirs and gifts: +$300

Local food and snacks: +$150

Clothing and Alaska memorabilia: +$250

Running Total: $16,875

Other Purchases

Future cruise deposit: +$500

Charitable raffle or onboard fundraiser: +$50

Extra tips for exceptional service: +$150

Miscellaneous impulse purchases: +$300

Final Vacation Cost

Original Cruise Advertised: $5,000

Actual Vacation Cost: Approximately $17,875

Now, not every family will spend anywhere near this amount. Many travelers deliberately avoid most of these purchases and have an excellent vacation. Others may happily choose several of these experiences because they value them.

The point isn't that anyone is forced to spend this money.

The point is that the opportunities are everywhere.

The cruise fare gets you onto the ship.

Everything after that becomes a decision.

Some decisions create unforgettable memories.

Others simply create a larger credit card bill.

My advice is simple.

Walk onto the ship with a budget.

Decide before you board what experiences truly matter to you.

Say "yes" to the ones that will become lifelong memories.

Don't feel obligated to say "yes" to everything else.

Because the most spectacular experiences in Alaska are still the ones that cost absolutely nothing.

The glaciers.

The mountains.

The whales.

The waterfalls.

The bald eagles.

The endless forests.

Nature doesn't send you an invoice.

Those are the memories that will stay with you forever.

Bill Conley
America's Favorite Life Coach