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Have you ever wanted to take a cruise,
but thought you couldn't afford it? It used to be that taking an
ocean cruise was seen as a luxury reserved for the rich. If you've
ever taken a cruise yourself, you can see why! These boats are
insanely opulent, from their fancy waterfalls to drinks to meals that
would cost hundreds of dollars on shore. That's only on the boat
itself; we won't even go into what you might spend when you
get to your destination! Everything looks like it would cost you and
arm and a leg, and perhaps even your first born child! Even with all
this fancy stuff, there are ways to save money on a cruise that can
make it affordable for 'the rest of us'. Here are some helpful tips.
As with any vacation, you can save
money by booking in the 'off season'. If you're considering taking an
Alaskan cruise, cruises in May or September tend to be cheaper than
other times. If you're considering a cruise to the Caribbean, go in
January or February. In this part of the world, the weather will
still be warm and probably more comfortable than in the summer. Even
if you are going during a busy time of the year, buy your tickets far
in advance as cruise lines will often have specials going to get
people to book early.
It also helps to make a budget and
stick to it. Even if the ticket prices are good, that's only a
fraction of what people actually spend when they take a cruise.
On-board drinks, items in duty-free shops and shore excursions can
end up costing you a lot of money. Contrary to popular
belief, you don't *have* to book things like snorkeling or 'booze
cruises' through the cruise line. If you book your cruise through a
travel agent, s/he might be able to tell you how you can buy tickets
for the various excursions in advance. Also, sometimes you can go on
shore and find the same things offered for reduced prices. This also
goes for things like alcohol, souvenirs and food items.
Laundry services, cell phone calls and
internet access can be very expensive on cruises. You can do your
own laundry with a bottle of Woolite, and the internet will be there
when you get back. Also, you don't have to get the
ultra-fancy meals; things like lunches and buffets can be much
cheaper, if not already included in the ticket price. Also, drinks on
the boat can be very expensive. Check to see if the cruise will allow
you to bring a bottle of wine with you, and find out if the cruise
offers 'drink specials' such as a card for 12 lattes for $24, alcohol
included in the meal packages, etc. If you bring your own bottles or
buy one on shore (another idea), also bring your own wine key because
some lines actually charge for opening a wine bottle! Odd, I
know.
Book your own air fare and other
on-shore travel arrangements. Some lines might offer convenient
'value packages', but do your research as you may end up spending
more than you realize.
And now for the obvious-skip the
casinos! I can't think of a bigger budge buster!
I hope now you have some ideas about
how you can take a cruise without spending a boatload of money. Have
fun!
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