We recently spent a glorious 3 nights aboard the MSC Opera, cruising to Portuguese Island and back to Durban. What made this trip different to previous cruises, is that we took our kids along (aged 14 and 10). I had always been worried that they would either [a] fall overboard or [b] we’d throw them overboard after sharing a shoebox-size cabin for 3 nights, but I’m pleased to report that we are all back on dry land, family intact (my desk, chair and keyboard are all still swaying a little though as I type this). What is not intact however, is the credit card…where do I start?
From the Nutella pancakes for $3.50, to the Slush Puppies (called Happy Puppies on the Opera) for $5.50, to the Bingo cards at $10 a pop, to the Banana Splits at $5 each (bearing in mind that this is all times ten..give or take…), to the cooldrinks at $3 each. Bottom line? The credit card took major strain! After day 1 we were already sitting on a hefty $170, but on day 3 a chance check of the total revealed that it had shot up to $425?! I naturally assumed my hubby had generously bought drinks for the entire ship the night before, but we soon found out just what had swelled the balance so dramatically.
My dear darling son had been playing the “claw machine” game in the arcade, without realising that each swipe cost $3, and after 40-odd swipes and R1200 later, you can imagine my horror when I realised what he had been doing (I could have bought the Guess handbag I’d been eyeing out for that).
In his defence, he was totally mortified, and had not realised that each time he swiped, we were coughing up a hefty fee – he immediately offered to pay for it from his savings, and actually asked how fast I could do the EFT! When I equated the value wasted on the claw machine (and no, he did not win a single teddy/toy) to the giant packets of M&Ms available on the ship, he suddenly realised just how much he had wasted (13.3 packets to be exact).
So the lesson learned is this: [1] They won’t tell you to block your child’s cruise card, so make sure you ask for this and check it has been done at reception [2] They also won’t suggest you buy a “teen card” with a limit on the card, so make sure you do this too, that way when your child has spent the $50 you allocated, they have to come ask for more!
All that aside, what great memories we have and I do recommend a cruise for a relaxing family holiday – but take your gym clothes with, as you eat and drink all day long.
Alice xxx