Want to save money on your next cruise? Of course, who doesn’t?
And while most people think only about saving when buying their cruise,
that’s only one part of your trip. There’s also everything that you’ll spend on board,
in port, and even on getting to the cruise port.
I have rounded up 30 money-saving tips that can help you save your hard-earned cash.
If you want to save the most on buying your cruise, then there’s one simple trick you can
use — sail when school is in session. When school is out, prices are higher, so there is a rise in
prices during the summer, during the winter holidays, and during the Spring Break season.
But if you can sail during months like February or October, then you can purchase the same itinerary
on the same ship for considerably less, which can save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.
Plan to stay in the port city the night before your trip? If you are driving into port,
be sure to check out hotels with park and cruise packages. To attract your business,
many hotels near ports of call offer free or discounted parking during your trip
in exchange for one night’s stay. It’s an easy way to save on parking costs while you are away.
You can see our list of park and cruise hotels for every major port in America on Cruzely.com,
and I've included a link in the description below.
The daily planner delivered to your cabin tells you everything going on during the next day of
your cruise. Be sure to check it out each night as special and discounts will also be mentioned.
For example, is there a happy hour at a certain bar the next day? You'll find that
information usually located in the planner, giving you a head start on saving some cash.
Here’s the thing with drink packages — they can save you huge amounts of money or cause
you to waste a lot of dough. It all depends on how you use the package when you sail. So before you
plunk down hundreds per person, be sure to do the math to make sure you will get your money's worth.
To help you out, we have a handy drink package calculator that will give you more insight if
it’s worth your money to buy the package on your cruise. Simply put in what you drink each day and
it will compare it to the cost of the package. You can find a link in the description of this video.
Do you know for certain that you’ll get your money’s worth for a package
like daily Internet or the daily drink package?
If so, you’ll often save some cash by purchasing these items beforehand. The cruise lines like
to discount the packages before your trip to encourage you to buy them in advance. For example,
a recent Royal Caribbean cruise offered a drink package special of buy one, get one 50% off.
Other things might be a small discount to get you to buy,
covering everything from the Internet to specialty restaurants. Definitely take advantage.
Internet on cruise ships is notoriously expensive — running $15-20 per day in many cases.
If you want to connect occasionally, wait until you reach port. Many port
areas cater to cruisers with free or very cheap wi-fi while you visit. As well,
resorts in the area usually offer connectivity for free to their guests as well. Simply
having a little patience to check your email can save you a bundle.
For many people, they need online access even when not in port. In that case,
be sure to book ahead of time for a discount, but also know that you can share a connection.
Cruise lines charge per device.
So if you want two devices attached at one time, then it's usually double the cost.
But you can buy a package for one device and then share it. So a husband can login on his laptop,
and then a wife can connect on the phone. You just can't have both connected at once. But considering
most people don't need constant connection on a cruise, it's a cheaper way to get Internet.
No, you can’t bring beer or liquor from home. But cruise lines often do allow passengers to bring
a bottle of champagne or wine for free. It likely won’t last you an entire trip, but it’s still much
cheaper than buying several glasses on the ship. Take advantage to save yourself a few extra bucks.
How much you can bring will vary depending on the line,
but it's often one regular sized bottle per passenger.
Nothing is worse than booking a cruise and then seeing the price
drop. Good news is that you may still be in luck if this happens to you. Once you book
your cruise, it’s a good idea to check back occasionally to see if the price has dropped.
If it has, call the cruise line and let them know. At worst, there is nothing they will do
about the price change. But sometimes they will refund the price difference to you in
the form of onboard credit. All it takes is a phone call and a few minutes of your time.
It’s relatively minor, but if you want to save some money, be sure to bring enough cash for
your trip. The ships offer ATMs onboard, but they are expensive. Expect to spend $6 (or more) just
to get out some cash on the ship. And that's on top of any charges you bank might hit you with.
It’s not news that casinos are bad if you’re trying to save money. Even land-based casinos
with the best payouts still aren’t in your favor. But cruise ships are notoriously
tight in their payouts. You’ll often find “6-to-5” blackjack and low-paying video poker.
That’s not to say you won’t win, but the payouts are definitely in the casino’s favor — even more
than normal. If you want to save money, you’re better off limiting your play.
It’s usually a good idea to pack light for a cruise, but don’t skimp when it comes to
toiletries and medicines. Things like dental floss and cold medicine are available on the ship,
but at unbelievable prices. This includes seeing a bottle of cold medicine for $17!.
Instead, pack up anything you might need with you to avoid having to pay the high prices.
You can spend a fortune on shore excursions in port, but you don’t have to.
The cheapest thing to do is head to the beach. Sometimes you may
have to pay a few bucks to access the shore through a hotel or restaurant,
but that usually comes with something for your money like a lounger and umbrella.
It’s the cheapest way to spend your day in most ports unless you just don’t get off the ship.
It’s not unusual to spend $12-14 on a cocktail on a cruise ship. Sometimes a cheaper drink is just a
few steps away. Head into port and you’ll usually find bars catering to the cruise passengers.
Many of them offer cheap drink specials that can save you a ton versus drinking on
the ship. Note that if you have the daily drink package on the ship, you’ll want to
drink on the ship instead to get your money’s worth. If not, save money by drinking in port.
If you are flying in for your cruise, it’s tempting to book a transfer
from the airport to your ship through the cruise line. Truth is, however, this is almost always
a more expensive way to get to the cruise port. Cruise lines charge rides per person, each way.
Instead, look around for other options such as independent shuttles to the port or Uber/Lyft.
They can almost always get you there for less. Uber,
Lyfts, and taxis offer rides based on the car, not how many people are riding.
It used to be that room service was completely free on cruise ships. These days,
fees have started to show up. The good news? Often these fees are only for delivery during
specific hours (like late night) or specific menu items. Be sure to check out the entire
menu and read any fine print before your order to save some cash on room service.
But don't forget to tip the person bringing your food a few bucks.
The truth is that almost every website has the exact same prices for the same cruise.
What makes them all different are the perks they offer for booking.
Perks vary, but are usually in the form of onboard credit. Different websites will
offer different amounts of credit, but the amounts can be hundreds of dollars.
One place that offers the best perks? Costco.
Book through them if you're a member and they often give you Costco cash to spend in the store.
I mentioned earlier that the onboard toiletries and medicines can cost a bundle
on the ship. So what do you do if you happen to forget something?
If you wait until the ship ports, ports of call usually have pharmacies and other small shops
where you can pick up necessities that you might have forgotten for much less than you’ll pay on
the ship. These spots are drastically cheaper than what you'll pay onboard.
Sure, everyone likes to sail on the latest and greatest ships. But you can save a bundle by
booking your cruise on an older ship. These ships may not have the space or amenities
of the biggest and newest ships, but they are still plenty comfy. Meanwhile you can
often find similar itineraries to the bigger ships, but for hundreds (or thousands) less.
Every port will accept U.S. dollars, but it’s likely the goods are still priced in the local
currency. Stores will have their own exchange rate but it’s up to you to decide if you want to use
it or not. For instance, while the exchange rate between Mexican pesos and U.S. dollars
might be 20:1, local shops might only give you 15:1. That means your money doesn’t go as far
as it really should. If you can, shop around for a better rate or use the local currency.
You can also use a credit card to get the absolute best rate.
Why spend cash when you don’t have to? Check to see if you have any credit card rewards that can
be used toward travel expenses. Sometimes you even receive even more reward credits
if you book through your credit card company’s travel booking portal. That can mean while you
still pay for that cruise, it isn't money that's coming directly out of your pocket.
Interior cabins aren’t for everyone, but there’s no arguing that they can help you save money.
It’s not unusual to find rates that are hundreds — or thousands — less than balcony rooms or suites.
If you think that an interior cabin is good for you, then you can sail for
dirt cheap compared to fancier cabins on the ship.
If you're sailing on a shorter cruise it's ideal as you'll be
spending lots of time outside of your cabin.
Want a glass of bubbly… on the house? Head to the art auctions. There are normally some free drinks
served while the auction takes place. It’s also a change of pace from sitting poolside. Just keep in
mind that many people say the art auctions aren’t a great deal so do your homework before you buy.
Headed into port? Remember that everything off the ship is paid for out of your
pocket. So if you grab food in port, then you’re going to have to pay for it.
If you want to save some cash, you can still eat on the ship on port days. The eateries on board
still operate even if there are few people on the ship. Even if you are out and about during lunch,
be sure to grab breakfast before leaving and make it back in time for dinner.
As far as value goes, there’s no beating a repositioning cruise. These cruises depart
a port and instead of sailing in a big loop, end their trip in another city.
Because they aren’t round trips, there is lower demand… and that means lower prices.
So you get the experience of a regular-priced cruise, but for much less. In fact, sometimes
you can sail across the Atlantic for only a few hundred dollars.
Just keep in mind that you'll have to pay for transportation back home at the end of the trip.
It’s normal to look at the headline price of a cruise. After all, that’s what you are
actually shelling out to take our vacation. But don’t ignore the price per day either.
Often you can spend a little more but get a better deal on a price per day basis.
So a 7-day cruise may be just slightly more than a five-day trip, but a much better value.
That may not actually save you cash, but it does provide you with an opportunity
to stretch your vacation dollars further.
If you are driving to the port, then you’ll need a place to park. Every port offers parking… at
a price. While the official port lots are always the most convenient (located right at the ship),
they are typically the most expensive option. Instead, independent lots near the cruise ports
offer lower parking rates, and often include a free shuttle back and forth from the ship.
They can be as little as half as much of parking at the port.
You know the rules about bringing alcohol on a cruise ship.
But did you know that you CAN bring snacks with you on the ship?
The rules say they need to be pre-packaged (no bringing homemade snacks or fresh fruit)
but apart from that, you can bring almost anything. If you have a favorite item that you
love to munch on, bring it from home instead of having to pay to get it once you get on the ship.
Specialty restaurants are those not included in the cruise price. They are typically
considered higher-end eateries such as the steakhouse or Italian restaurant. Charges
can vary for these restaurants, but expect the cost to be an extra $15-30 per person.
If you want to eat here but still save money, see if they have lower lunch rates. Often the
fares for eating lunch are 25-40% less than eating dinner. And on Carnival at least, some spots that
charge for dinner offer a free meal during lunch, although it's not the full dining experience.
One last tip... and that comes from you. What is your favorite tip to save money on a cruise?
I'm asking because lots of people will watch this video and you can help others save cash
on their trip. Just put your favorite way to save in the comments below.
As well, be sure you like and subscribe as it helps this video be seen by more people.
Until next time, don't forget to visit Cruzely.com and happy cruising!