Ships have been around a lot longer than planes, and yet traveling on them still seems more romantic and mysterious. Many people save up for years to take the perfect cruise vacation.
Although, a cruise ship trip isn't the cheapest of vacations, these days you do have decently priced options. If you travel during shoulder season and book the least expensive cabin, you can enjoy an expensive cruise on the cheap.
So if you're booked on a discounted shoulder-season sailing in the cheapest inside cabin or the highest suite on a luxury liner on a summer cruise, you can afford to transform a regular holiday into the year's case.
Here are your financial tips for making it extra special for your cruise.
Book Via a Travel Agent
A travel agent may describe the ships to you, but cabin credit and other benefits are more significant reasons for booking through an agent to save money.
Travel agencies offer different rewards, such as a cabin credit that can be used onboard for any order, such as drinks or goods, to book with them. Depending on the type of cabin, the credit amount can vary.
However, there's nothing like a little free money to start your cruise. Often, travel agents also offer reduced deposits for cruises. Asking for a $500 deposit per person is typical for cruise ships.
Some agencies ask for a smaller deposit, such as $250 per person, leaving more cash in your pocket upfront.
Be Mindful of the Additional Fees
You can see what seems like an unbelievable $699 per person deal on a seven-day cruise for an inside cabin. But when you add tax, tips, fees, and port costs, the $699 easily becomes $875 or more.
Prices vary depending on the ship and space, but here's an example.
- Price per cabin: $699 per person
- Tax, Post Charges, Fees: 83 dollars
- Tips: $101.50 (based on 7 days at $14.50 per day)
- Total: 883,50 dollars per person
Take into account that cruise fares are based on double occupancy. A single individual can book a cabin, but cruise lines charge a single supplement for doing so.
Older Ships Are Way Cheaper
Look at sailing on an older ship if you're the kind of person who likes a bargain. Even if the older ship and the newer ship are on the same route, the older ship's fares would be slightly lower.
You won't get crazy new stuff like waterslides and ten swimming pools in return, of course. You can actually save hundreds of dollars by sailing on an older ship if you're the kind of person who just wants to be out on the water.
Consider All Cabin Options
The lowest base rate might be for inside cabins, but that doesn't mean they're always less costly. If the cruise ship or travel agent provides incentives, do the math to see if upgrading makes sense.
Consider the $699 cabin inside. Actually, it may be as costly as a more desirable balcony space. Let's say a balcony cabin costs $899 per user, or approximately $200 more.
If a benefit such as pre-paid gratuities and an extra cabin credit or internet connectivity and gratuities is provided by the travel agent, the upgrade cost could be worth those benefits.
Think About Your Drinking Package
A soda package is approximately $7 a day, plus gratuity, per user. That's around $175 for two individuals a week. Alcohol packages are the highest cost by far; seeing packages in the range of 60 to $65 a day per person is not uncommon.
Add a gratuity of 20 percent, $72 or more per day, or more than $500 per person a week.
Stick to the drink specials that cruise ships give every day to save money. Those $5 or so beverages are a steal. Domestic beer, at $5 to 6 each, will extend the budget as well.
Beer buckets save even more. You will find a good glass of wine in the main dining room for $10 and under.
Splurge on Souvenirs Wisely
Don't go out on the first day of the trip to the gift shop on board to buy some souvenirs. Check by each day and stop only when they deliver good sales, which will always be at the end of the cruise.
Each day the cruise lines will offer different offers to encourage passengers to spend some money. Before deciding to shop, wait until you find a deal that you want.
Conclusion
Visiting new destinations and making new friends is what cruising is all about. You don't have to overspend to make it happen, it's possible to do everything on your bucket list on a budget.
Find the most cost-effective cabin, resist the desire to spend big on board, and take advantage of as many options as you can for free or low-cost on board.
