8 Ways to Save Money on a Cruise
Free drinks? Free Tours? Why yes, Thank you!
Choosing an embarkation port near your home guarantees you saving money on travel expenses. Drives that take less than one day will always be cheaper than flying.
Hey Teachers! Ready to set sail on an adventure without breaking the bank? We know you work hard, and you deserve a fantastic cruise experience. Buckle up, because we’ve got eight savvy tips to help you save money on your next maritime journey.
The Right Room for the Right Price
You can save money from the start while booking your cruise.
Tip #1 -Closer the Better: Choosing a cruise port near your hometown means reduced travel expenses. Avoid high-cost flights by driving to the port. Even better, if you are close enough, avoid daily parking fees by Ubering or getting a taxi. Here are a couple of suggestions for cruise homeports you may be able to drive to:
Northeast U.S. - Most of the major brands sail out of Boston, NYC, and Baltimore to great destinations like New England/Canada or Bermuda and of course the Caribbean. You can even book transatlantic voyages to Europe from these ports.
Southeast U.S. - Florida is the hub for Caribbean cruising with all brands sailing out of Miami, the busiest cruise port in the world. Also, and Fort Lauderdale and Port Canaveral are large ports that offer many itineraries. However, you are not limited to Florida. Southern cruisers can also port from New Orleans, and Galveston.
Midwest - Galveston is your closest entry point to the Caribbean, but Midwesterners could be closer to Seattle for great cruises to Alaska and Canada. You can also cruise the Great Lakes from Chicago.
Southwest Coast - Of course the main hub for cruising on the West coast is Los Angeles, but sometimes San Diego can be cheaper. These cruises tend to go to the Baja Peninsula, Hawaii or even Alaska. If Los Angeles is too southern for your travel, San Francisco also offers similar itineraries.
Northwest Coast - Although Seattle may be your largest port and your typical point of origin for Alaskan cruises. You could also find great deals from Vancouver, Canada which is a quick train ride north from Seattle.
So browse cruises that embark/disembark out of the closest port to your hometown if you want to avoid additional, costly travel expenses.
Tip #2 Off-Peak Sailing: Choose to cruise during the shoulder seasons of your destination. At these times, ships are less likely to be filled and therefore prices will drop. Time periods vary per itinerary so see our suggestions below. Not only will you snag lower fares, but you’ll also enjoy fewer crowds so you can bask in the tranquility of the open sea!
Caribbean Cruises - These are best taken during May to June or November to February (sans Holidays). You will avoid hurricane season (July-October), the crowds, and the heat if you can swing these ideal dates.
Alaskan Cruises - The cheapest months to cruise Alaska are ironically the best for whale watching. May and September are the least traveled yet offer some of the best sight seeing.
Mediterranean Cruises - November through March (sans Holiday breaks) are the least traveled times in Europe and the cheapest times to go on a Mediterranean voyage.
Baja Cruise - May to June and September to November offer less peak times and mild weather for these cruises to the west of Mexico.
Tip #3 Score Onboard Credits: Some cruise lines and travel advisors offer onboard credits for booking early or via specific promotions. So once you pick a cruise, be patient and wait to see the best offer. Typically the best sales occur Black Friday (November) and January-March (wave season). Don’t stop checking the cruise fares once you book. You or your travel advisors can score retroactive onboard credit if the cruise price drops after you have booked and fully paid for the cruise. So keep checking the price especially two to three months before your cruise date. Use these credits to indulge in a nice dinner or a relaxing spa day without spending additional money! Also some travel companies like American Discount Cruises offer free incentives like onboard credit or free prepaid gratuities for booking with them, and that’s a nice perk for them to do all the work ;)
You can save booking an interior cabin and many of the newer ships have interior cabins that are spacious and even have virtual windows!
Tip #4 Win With Cabin Choices: Consider an inside cabin when booking. They’re typically more affordable. Plus, who needs a window when you can be discovering new ports and enjoying all the fun on board? They are also perfect for those who can not sleep with any light source (so make sure to pack a nightlight). Or, if you want a window for cheap, book a sea view cabin (window with no balcony). Some ships are so large they have rooms with balconies and windows overlooking promenades or ship interiors. Although they are cheaper, you may want to avoid them if crowded bars and night scenes will keep you up at night.
Plan to Save
Once you’ve booked, you can save even more by diligently planning for your cruise! Here are four more tips for saving you money when planning for your cruise.
Tip #5 Pack Smart: Planning for every occasion can save you money in the long run. Be prepared for different types of recreation, weather, or illness to avoid additional purchases on the ship at a premium. $10 for Tylenol? No, Ma’am! Here’s a list of items you should make sure to pack for your cruise:
Passports and identification - forgetting this may lead to being turned away at the cruise port. Purchase a passport holder to keep your identification safe and close to your chest.
Cruise luggage tags - for protecting your luggage when dropping it off in the port (make sure to check the style between Carnival, Royal and Nowegian)
Lanyards - To keep that precious cruise key card always on you. These are very expensive on the ship.
Sea Sickness Bands - Perfect for those who want to limit the effect of a rockin boat. Swear by them.
Swimwear - a given for the cruise pools and beaches
Medication - bring a cheap pill box with assorted meds for any occasion (anti-inflammatory, anti-acid, flu meds, etc.). NOTE: Put pill boxes in check in luggage as some medications can alarm drug sniffing dogs.
Neck fan - for those crowded moments on a bus/plane or hot environments (you’ll thank me!)
Sunscreen - even in cold climates, the sun can still burn. Make sure it is reef safe to protect coral reefs.
Compact umbrella - to protect your hair from rain or sun
Lightweight rain jackets or ponchos - for even more protection from the rain
Lightweight sweaters - it can get cold on the top deck
Binoculars - For wildlife viewing cruises like Alaska and Norway. Again cruise ships sell these at a premium.
Portable charger for your phone and all devices
NON-SURGE power strip - there are never enough outlets in a cruise cabin
Magnetic hooks - cabin walls are metal and this creates extra storage for lanyards, hats, jewelry, etc. as well as a hanger for wet clothing to dry in the bathroom
Magnetic decor - cabin doors are also metal and these help identify your room along the hallway
Of course you could purchase any of the linked items above from our Amazon store :) We have tested and tried all of these items and bring them with us every trip!
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- CLICK HERE for our Packing Check List!
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My husband and I save money by using TripAdvisor to secure the majority of our highly rated excursions like a waffle making class in Bruges, Brussels.
Tip #6 Research Shore Excursions: Before booking those pricey excursions offered by the cruise line, check if there are local tours available. Often, local operators provide fantastic experiences at a fraction of the cost! You can search for and book trusted tour operators on TripAdvisor or Viator (they are the same company). Their ratings are based on travelers reviews so I highly suggest reading up on the experience. On the TripAdvisor website search for your port and look for half-day tours or excursions. Make sure your date and time are aligned when booking; you can check using the Cruisemapper website. NOTE: Booking an excursion through the cruise line comes with a return to ship garuntee. This means the ship will not leave you if your tour is delayed. However outside tour companies are aware of this and always diligent to get you back to the ship hours beforehand. The only time we suggest purchasing an excursion through the cruise line is when your cruise destination and port are different cities. For example, trips to Rome port in Civitavecchia, so you will need to travel an hour or so outside of port to get to see the Vatican, Colosseum, or Sistine Chapel. This travel time can impact your arrival back to port, so take the insurance and book through the cruise line. But if your cruise port is an island, you can safely hire a highly-rated outside tour company for that food tour or beach excursion.
Tip # 7 Buy Beverage Packages Wisely: If you enjoy a drink now and then, consider if a beverage package is right for you. NOTE: in order to purchase one package, ALL cabin members MUST purchase the beverage package (even non alcoholic drinkers) and typically the average package is $90/per person/day (that can be an extra expense of $400/day for a family of four). If the average beer is $8 then you would need EVERY person in your cabin to drink over ten beers a day to get your monies worth. Calculate how many drinks you plan to enjoy each day, divide it by the cost per day and if you’ll save, go for it! But you may be better buying drinks a la carte or even better, just drinking water. We always purchase the soda package for my husband because he will drink more than enough coke in one day to pay for the package and then some. But for me, I stick with water, tea, and coffee (that I pour over ice) at the best price, FREE!
Tip #8 Join Loyalty Programs: If you cruise frequently, sign up for loyalty programs! Many cruise lines reward loyal cruisers with discounts and perks like free drinks or free laundry. One of the BEST loyalty programs out there is with Virgin Voyages; you get several of these free perks by your third sailing. Compared to Royal Caribbean which offers one point for every night of sailing and perks are based on total points. No matter the program, it is free to sign up and start earning!
Cruising is about creating amazing memories without worrying about finances. By implementing these eight tips, you can make your dream vacation a reality. So pack your bags, rally your fellow teachers, and get ready for a splendid time at sea under a budget-friendly sail! Happy cruising!
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