10 Money Saving Cruise Tips
There are a lot of reasons why you might be interested in finding ways to save money on a cruise. If you’re anything like me, your budget is limited, which means that you don’t have an endless supply of income to spend however you please. As a result, you have to look for ways to save money on things like vacations in order to live comfortably.
My philosophy on taking vacations goes something like this: I would rather “go big or go home” on a smaller number of vacations and look for ways to save money than take fewer vacations overall but take them more frequently and look for ways to save money. Since we don’t have a lot of disposable income, we have to be resourceful in order to find ways to pay for our trips, but we’ve picked up a lot of knowledge and experience along the way, not to mention had a great time doing it.
Not only did we fall in love with cruising due to the incredible ships, the wonderful destinations, and the wonderful staff, but we also fell in love with cruising due to the fact that going on a cruise is a relatively inexpensive way to travel. We simply do not have the financial means to take a vacation on land that provides the same level of enjoyment as a holiday on the water.
We have discovered over the course of many years a number of creative and selfless ways to keep our costs to a bare minimum; however, in order to do so, it is necessary to make some sacrifices.
Check out our top ten suggestions for cutting costs on your next cruise vacation.
1.) Make your way to the Port
Unfortunately, this will not work for everyone; but, if you reside within driving distance to a port, you should definitely take advantage of this opportunity. Driving instead of flying is typically the most cost-effective option, although there are exceptions to this rule. We have a hunch that if we can travel there in roughly a day, which would be equivalent to an eight-hour drive, we will likely save some money. If it continues on for more than eight hours, we may have to book a hotel and eat a number of meals at a restaurant, which will drive up the cost and add to the amount of time it takes.
Driving one’s own vehicle to the port provides one with an additional perk:
When you drive to the port, you don’t have to worry about how much your luggage weighs or how many bags you bring with you. You can just bring whatever you want. Because most airlines now charge for each piece of luggage and have weight limits, it might be difficult to book a ticket in preparation for a cruise.
2.) Opt for a vehicle with an inside cabin.
Although I am sure that many people will disagree with this assessment, my husband and I have decided that we would rather cruise in an inside room more often rather than spend a lot of money on a balcony less often. According to our assumptions, the only thing you will do in your cabin besides sleep is most likely to relax there.
Because there are so many activities to do on and around the ship, we typically only spend a very small portion of our time in our cabin. We never really have a hard time finding a pleasant place to sit and enjoy the scenery if we choose to go outside and enjoy the fresh air. During our most recent voyage, we were provided with a complimentary upgrade to an outside room that featured a window. That was a lovely alternative as well, and the price was far lower than that of a balcony cabin.
3.) Either purchase excursions in advance or don’t purchase any trips at all.
The cruise companies would like for you to assume that the only way to purchase shore excursions is through them, but in reality, this is not the case at all. There are a number of legitimate firms out there that offer the same beach excursions as the ships, but at a price that is sometimes as much as fifty percent less than what the ships charge. Do not worry if you do not have the funds necessary to purchase a shore excursion.
It is enjoyable to disembark occasionally in order to explore the surrounding area on foot. There are some ports that are secure enough for you to go exploring on your own. Carry out some investigation and serve as your own tour guide, but do so in a shrewd manner. Be wary of who you engage in conversation with or make purchases from in areas where your safety may be at risk. On the island of Cozumel, for instance, you won’t have any trouble finding a taxi near the dock, and the price of a trip won’t break the bank. Another illustration: If you are anchored in Kings Wharf, Bermuda, you will find the island to be quite secure, and the cost of public transportation will not break the bank. You can save a lot of money by travelling on your own across the area. Caution is warranted in a number of Caribbean ports, including Jamaica, Freeport, Nassau, and a few others, because unsuspecting cruise passengers can occasionally serve as suitable targets for crooks. Before you go on your trip, Google will be your best buddy.
4.) Fund your onboard spending account with cash by making a deposit.
It is highly recommended by cruise companies that you link a credit card to your online charge account; but, on the vast majority of cruise lines, this is not required. In the regular course of events, we put only a modest sum of money into the online spending account that we use, and we carefully monitor how much we spend. You “DO NOT” “NEED” to spend a fortune on incidentals since the cruise lines include so much within the cost of your cruise fare, and because the cruise lines offer so much. When you use a credit card, you may have the impression that you have an unlimited supply of money, but receiving a hefty bill on the final day of your vacation can completely derail an otherwise enjoyable experience.
5.) Bring a large quantity of one dollar US bills
You are going to want to bring along some United States currency with you to most ports of call so that you may utilise it as a tip. When you get off the ship, having little bills on you will allow you to tip wait staff at restaurants, taxi drivers, and other service providers. Ensure that you are in possession of the necessary funds before you leave for additional cost savings.
The ATMs that are located aboard the ship have service fees that range from $2.50 to $5 for each transaction. These prices do not include any fees that your bank may also charge, and the fees that are charged by ATMs in ports of call can be as high as $9 for each transaction. A few more withdrawals can really add up to a significant amount. You will put money back in your pocket if you keep a variety of cash denominations in your wallet.
6.) Steer clear of the “sales” offered on the ship.
On the majority of cruise ships, an excessively exuberant cruise director will make an announcement over the ship’s loudspeakers announcing that there is an AMAZING deal taking place. This typically takes place on sea days or in the final days of the cruise.
These overhyped “deals” are nothing more than sales tactics to get you to part with more money, whether it be watches for ten dollars, t-shirts for ten dollars, or necklaces for twenty dollars. When you get back to land, you may find that the products you purchased had a large profit margin but were of poor quality, and as a result, you may not be happy with your purchase. A “designer watch” for only ten dollars? That sounds too good to be true.
7.) Establish a hard and fast limit for yourself in the casino.
The fact that casinos make their money by causing others to lose theirs is probably not going to come as a surprise to you. That is the simplest way to put it! Even though it can be exciting to hear the bells and see the lights of all the “winners,” the likelihood that more individuals in the casino are losing money than are winning is rather significant. If you want to cut costs on your next cruise, simply avoid going to the casino altogether; but, if you do plan to gamble, you should establish a budget and stay within it.
8.) Consume just the food and beverages provided at no cost to you.
During your cruise, the vast majority of the food that is available to you is already included in the price of your cruise fare; but, there are some premium cuisine alternatives that cost additional money. Even if you limit your dining options to those that are provided free of charge, you will still have a lovely time on your holiday and enjoy excellent cuisine and service. Even though we did not pay for any of the more expensive food or drink options during our trips of seven days or more, we still had a wonderful experience. On the end, we didn’t feel like we were missing out on anything because we weren’t able to indulge in a high-end steak or sushi because the weather was still beautiful and we were having fun at the shows and other forms of entertainment.
When it comes to beverages, coffee, tea, water, iced tea, and lemonade are typically included in the price of your cruise fare and may be found at a variety of locations all across the ship. You should also verify the policy with each individual cruise line, although it is possible that you will be allowed to bring some of your own beverages on board with you. You may be able to carry a certain amount of water, soda, or wine onboard with you on certain cruise lines.
9.) Plan your packing
Do not put off packing until the very last minute; this is one of the most important pieces of guidance I could give you! You should start thinking about what you’ll need to carry at least a few days in advance of your trip. Create a packing list and give yourself a few days to think about what you should include on it. In the days leading up to your cruise, it is quite likely that you may recall or think of things that you would want to take with you on the trip. You should prepare for this possibility.
10.) Avoid Parking at the Harbor Entrance
If you are travelling by car, it may be most convenient for you to park directly at the port; however, the parking fees at the port are typically more expensive than the fees charged for parking off-site. There are various off-site parking lots located close to the port that provide free shuttle service to the port. The location of these lots varies depending on the port from where you are departing. The departure port is only a short shuttle ride away from the majority of parking spaces, and the prices at these lots are anywhere from 15–30% lower than those at the port itself.
The nearby hotels will provide similar deals, but in addition to the parking, they will include an overnight stay in the hotel as part of the package. If we have to drive for a significant amount of time to get to the port, we make it a point to arrive in the city from which we are departing one day before our cruise and book a room at a hotel that has a park and cruise package. The evening at the hotel is spent unwinding, and in the morning, we take a trip over to the dock. Our vehicle is kept secure at the hotel, and on our return, we are picked up from the airport by the hotel staff.
BONUS TIP:
Make your reservations through a travel agent. Yes. I stated a Travel Agent. The majority of people have the misconception that they can obtain the best deal by searching for offers on the internet and visiting a variety of websites. If you are skilled enough, you might actually be able to acquire the best deal. On the other hand, travel agents, particularly those who focus on cruises, may have access to offers that cannot be found online or may come with better advantages than those offered by internet vendors. Talk to a travel agent about your trip, and you might be amazed by what kind of assistance they can provide you with.
