Cruises can be a great way to travel, however, it can be pricey! That’s why we are sharing our top tips on how to save money on cruises.
Every year, thousands of people embark on a cruise. These trips can be extended or just for a long weekend. However the duration, though, they are always a great time when you find the right cruise for you.
Since these trips can add up quickly, though, it’s important to find the right one that fits your budget – which is why we are sharing these tips on how to save money on cruises, perfect for first time cruisers.
How to save money on cruises
1. Don’t Book On the Cruise
One of the ways that cruises increase their profits is to have people book their next cruise while on board. Although cruises often tote the convenience of doing this, you usually end up paying a higher price for the cruise. If you know the price of a standard cruise, you can use this information to decide whether you’re actually getting a good deal. However, in most cases, you get a better price when you’re off the ship and can shop around.
2. Book a Cheap Cabin
When you look through the booking options, you’re going to save a fair amount if you book an inside cabin. Some people who take cruises like to stay in their room and watch TV or just relax. If you’re this type of person, then you may want a room that has windows. However, since there are so many activities to enjoy on a cruise, you probably won’t be in your room often. Go for the less expensive room in the ship’s interior.
3. Look at Shore Excursions
Keep in mind that there are plenty of things to do on the cruise ship. You may want to look at what options you have in each port though. On some cruise lines, you may have to pay separately for these trips. However, with Celebrity’s all-inclusive cruises, you can save a bundle without having to pay for each individual part of the trip. If you do travel, make sure that you budget for these excursions and see if they’re included or priced separately.
4. Consider the Beverage Package
If you’re not much of a drinker, then you probably don’t want to waste any additional funds on the drink package. The basic cruise package will include water, coffee, tea, and basic juices. You can get these in most places without having any additional costs. However, if you want to drink something else, then you should price the drink packages wisely. A non-alcoholic drink package may include fancy coffees, sodas, and more. Alcoholic drink packages are also worth considering, but price out the individual cost of each drink. If you only drink one cappuccino a day, for example, it may not be worth the extra cost.
Travel off season
If you can, avoid booking a cruise during spring break or the summer holidays. Instead, book winter excursions or from February to March to get the best prices. Cruising operators offer great discounts for the off-season, especially if you book east minute and can be flexible with dates.
Choose a cheaper cabin
When planning a cruise on a budget, it can be hard to find a cabin at the right price for you. Firstly, look at the inside cabin options; these won’t have a window but you can save some serious money with these options. Some cruise lines even have screens that mimic a window to avoid feeling too claustrophobic.
Try Transatlantic and Re-positioning cruises
If you want to enjoy ocean views and quality relaxing time on a cruise, then why not take a transatlantic or re-positioning cruise. These are cruise shops that are moving from one home port to another destination, meaning you will start and end in different places.
Transatlantic cruises travel across the seas, meaning there aren’t many port stops along the way. For example, in the Spring and Autumn seasons, you will find cruises moving between Europe and the Caribbean. Winter can be a challenge, with rough seas from November through to February meaning pacific cruises should be avoided if you get sea sick easily.
Repositioning Cruises can often stop at ports that other cruises don’t in a bid to appeal to cruise goers. The curses tend to be less crowded as they sail below the capacity but the staff numbers are still the same; often resulting in better service.
Websites like CruiseDirect and The Cruise Web are all good sites to find affordable and fun repositioning cruises.
Compare cruise lines
Some cruise lines are cheaper than others but of course, this does mean that some are higher quality than others. Budget friendly operators like MSC cruises and Carnival Cruise Line can be fantastic options with a variety of foods and activities onboard. Royal Caribbean is slightly more expensive than Carnival but great deals can be found when booking in advance.
Helpful Resources
Travel essentials:
- We LOVE this camera for our travel photography.
- For a cheap, easy and compact camera, we use this to vlog and take photographs.
- We use this travel drone (but make sure to check drone laws in your chosen destination first).
- This is our favourite travel Insurance because it covers so many activities and travel situations that could arise on longer trips but also offers year coverage.
What to pack
- No matter where we travel to, I always take these trusty hand sanitizer’s and a mini first aid kit.
- We love these toiletry bags (especially great for smaller bathrooms) and choose a laptop bag like this as our hand luggage.
- We keep our devices charged on long travel days with these lightweight battery packs and bring these worldwide travel adaptors on all our trips.
- I still struggle not to overpack so stick to using an expandable suitcase like these, over backpack and always take my trusty luggage scales to avoid being charged at the airport.
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[…] Before you start looking at cruises, decide what your budget is. Location, duration and facilities will all affect how much you pay, so it’s worth having a ballpark figure in your head. It’s not just the cost of the cruise you need to take into account, either – when you dock at different destinations, you’ll want to shop around and go out for food. While the majority of your onboard costs are covered, you should bring petty cash for things like tipping. This can change from cruise to cruise, so it’s worth reading this cruise tipping guide so you don’t get caught out. Read our tips on how to take a cruise on a budget. […]