Thursday, March 13, 2014

Tips for saving money while cruising

Here are some of my personal tips on saving money while cruising:


DIY Spa Day
  1. Instead of paying for the 'soda package,' bring your own.  Most cruise companies will let you bring your own sodas on board.  At meals you can request a cup of ice instead of water and the fill up the glass yourself.  On all of the cruises we have sailed, we bought sodas at the ports of call and brought them on board the boat.  No cruise boat employee ever questioned us or gave us a hard time about it.  On the flip side, do NOT try to bring your own alcohol on board.  You can only consume alcohol purchased on the boat.
  2. Don't book your excursions through the cruise boat company.  You can explore each port on your own or arrange a group tour with others on your cruise by joining a cruise forum such as CruiseCritic.com.
  3. Instead of spending Sea Days paying for extras (i.e. spa treatments, Bingo), we would work out in the gym (included), hang out in the buffet area playing cards, or enjoy the hot tub or pool.  The cruise boat usually has a small buffet going on all day and will let cruisers hang out in the general breakfast dining area even if there is no food currently being served.  Plan your own spa day by packing your own mud mask and moisturizers.  You can even make it a group spa party in your cabin with a few friends. 
  4. Add-on dining options add up.  The first cruise I sailed charged $5 to $10 per person per meal for "premium dining restaurants."  My next cruise charged $25 per person / per meal for "premium dining."  I stuck with the "included" dining options.
  5. Unplug!  Instead of paying for Internet on the boat, find free WiFi hotspots while you are at port.  Look for coffee shops and businesses advertising "Free WiFi."
  6. Arrange your own transportation (on and off the boat).

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