Cruising Can Be Affordable!

My Top Ten Tips for having an affordable cruise!

Cruising has always been and is still very good value for money but there are ways you can make it more affordable and keep it that way.

1. Look for a deal to begin with. Check out things like our top ten deals or look for saver offers. Most cruise lines have their own version of deals. Savers with P&O. Anchor fares with Fred Olsen. Guarantee deals with Royal Caribbean etc… You may have to sacrifice knowing your cabin number or pay in full or not have port transfers etc but the savings can be substantial. Not all deals are last minute either as some can be booked a fair way in advance. Re-positioning cruises are often great value too so look out for deals on these cruises usually in March, April time or October, November. Also look for deals that give you a free upgrade say from outside to Balcony so you get the cabin you want for less money.

 2. Buy extras in advance to save money. Things like treatments in the Spa and restaurant reservations often have up to 25% savings if you book them in advance. Just be careful here not to book things you don’t want as you could get carried away.

 3. BYOB. Many cruise lines allow you to bring one or two bottles of wine on-board with you at the start of the cruise. You can consume these in your cabin or you can bring them to the dining room but beware if you do they many charge up to £20 corkage fee.  Make sure you check with the individual cruise line if you can bring your own bottles or you may well have them confiscated before boarding.

 4. Don’t rush into buying drinks packages. If you drink a lot it may well be worth your while investing in but most of us probably don’t drink as much as we think.  On a recent cruise to Norway my Mum and I decided against taking the package which was £230 per person. This would have cost us £460 in Total. We had speciality coffees after dinner. We had cocktails most nights and several additional drinks. We also finished most nights with a nightcap or two. Our drinks bill at the end of the week came to £290 which was a saving of £170. We did pick and choose our cocktails most nights as they usually had a cocktail of the day but not all the time so it’s worth stopping and thinking about what you are likely to spend. The soda package for my son was however great value at £25 for the week. He definitely got his money’s worth from it.

 5. Make sure you know what is included and what is going to cost you extra before you go. Set yourself a limit. For example if you know the kids love Ice cream and the Ice cream parlour costs extra make sure they know they can only have one or two treats. The same goes for you. If you are a shopaholic and know you will get tempted by a bargain sale. Avoid the one day sales that inevitably happen on-board especially on sea days when they have a captive audience. Go do something else or allow yourself one treat and stick to it.

 6. Look at your ports of call. Decide if there are any things you must do. If so can you do them yourself? By this I mean can you get off the ship and walk to them or get a taxi or a bus and so save money. If not look at whether you can pre-book an excursion with a different company. We use two companies that book shore excursions independently which are often half the price of the cruise lines own excursions. Also they offer additional savings if you book a 3 or 4 port package. So this is another potential saving. Again just be wary of booking something you don’t really want because it seems like a good deal. It I only a good deal if you want it!

 7. If you really want to watch the pennies you can literally spend no money on drinks on-board at all. If you have the free tea, coffee and juices around the ship you can theoretically spend nothing extra. Not possible I hear you say. Well actually it must be because last year I had 2 ladies who went on a 7 night Royal Caribbean cruise around the Mediterranean. When they came back they called to see me and I asked if they had had a good time. They said they had although as we chatted they said they had not been on any excursions they just got off the ship and wandered around themselves. Then came the crunch they showed me their Bill from when they had disembarked. The total charge for the cabin for 2 people was $24.75. I could not believe it. This was made up a small cover charge for one of the restaurants they had booked on-board and something she had bought for her grandson in the shop. They had basically spent next to nothing so it really is possible. They did divulge that they had left a tip for the cabin steward and waiter which cost them a bit more but even so this is way beyond thrifty!

 8. If you really can’t do without your phone, Internet or face book while you are away. Check with your provider what the roaming charges will be and see if you get anything included. If not check out the roaming packages that are available when you get to your port of call or see if the ship are doing any offers. Alternatively go ashore and use an internet café as this may be free or cost a few euros or dollars depending where you are.

 9. Book you next cruise while you are on-board. If you don’t know which cruise you want yet, then take out a future cruise deposit or deal as this will give you a reduced deposit or on-board credit or both. You can still book with me, your favourite cruise consultant just tell them and the booking will come through to me.

 10. Use my expertise. If you don’t have time to troll the internet looking for the best deal that is what I do. You tell me what you want, when and where you want to go and a few other details and I will do the leg work and find you the best offer. As a cruise specialist I know what each cruise line is like and I will make sure you pick the right cruise and line for you as well as getting you a great deal. Price is not the only consideration so it’s worth bearing this in mind.

What is your top tip for Saving money on a cruise?

I would love to hear from you!