Cutting Costs on a Cruise

When in ports we see shop and stallholders perceive passengers with their cruise cards swinging from their lanyard as an easy sale, because it is assumed cruisers have lots of money. The fact is nothing could be further from the truth, for most of us. It’s no secret, we budget and save hard to afford the cruises we have been on, and most of us already know how to do that. So we are not going to tell you how you can afford a cruise but about cutting costs on a cruise. What we want to share with you are a few tips to save money once you’re onboard.

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You see cruising can in fact be a very cost effective way for high class travel at around $66-$150 per day but there is no reason you can’t think about cutting costs on a cruise.  For the money, you will get a place where you pack and unpack once, that includes all visas, mode of transport, supreme accommodation, all meals and drinks (except alcohol and specialty coffee) complete with a different view from your window each day.

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Although sold as an all inclusive trip, once onboard the high sales pitch begins for specialty coffee cards, specialty restaurants, shore excursions, spa and salon treatments, souvenir photos, you can even pay for a tour of the ship.  So beware!  That card is not only used to ‘beep’ you on and off the ship and unlock your cabin door, it is also linked to your credit card and every time you make a request for something that is not included, ker-ching, it adds it to the tab.  This is why when fixed to a lanyard your cruise card becomes easy money and remembering that will go a long way to cutting costs on a cruise.

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There is absolutely no need to spend any extra money onboard, should you choose not to. What is included is more than enough to enjoy and have a memorable holiday.  You may want to purchase some of the optional extras, but if your budget doesn’t stretch that far, keep reading.

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Starting with the booking, you will save if you travel at the end of a season or book a repositioning cruise.  If you book either well in advance or at the last minute you will get the very best deals.  Keep an eye on the prices after you book too; if the cruise price is reduced you can request they pass on the reduction.  Shop around and look for specials, our last cruise we got a balcony cheaper than the regular price of an internal cabin.  Also look at all the factors of location, weather and itinerary before deciding if you really need a balcony.  If you are going to be at sea for 5 or 6 days straight, are very social onboard and rarely in your cabin, you can save if you get an obstructed view or even an internal cabin, though these are not for everyone.  As we found too, a heavy port intensive itinerary means disembarking early each day leaving little time in the cabin, so again a cheaper, internal cabin or obstructed view could suit.  Check where else you can save. You may be entitled to a group discount, an age discount or even discount for shareholders or military personnel.  Another way of cutting costs on a cruise is to book and pay for future cruise deposit once onboard.  $100 will secure a heavily discounted deposit on a future cruise for up to 2 years and includes onboard credit.

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As I said previously keep an eye on the traps of non-included items as these out of pocket items can quickly run up your tab if you don’t keep an eye on them.

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Limit yourself to one nice photo or ask a fellow passenger to take a photo of you.  There is more than enough variety of good quality food choices, from casual dining to fine dining and decadent desserts that you can eliminate the extra expense of the speciality restaurants and not feel you are missing out.  Choices include 24 hour buffet, fixed or anytime dining in the main dining rooms, silver service high tea, pub lunch or just a Hot dog or hamburger by the pool.  The choices are unlimited, the staff very attentive, offering top notch personal service whether room service, by the pool or in the main dining room from your allocated waiter who knows you by name.  This is all included in the price.

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Spa and salon treatments are usually discounted on port days.  If you are in a port that has a lot of sights close to the port you can disembark early, see some sights and return to the ship for a late lunch followed by a spa or salon treatment.  After all, you’ve already paid for the lunch in the cost of the cruise.  Other charges easy to avoid are the laundry and internet charges.  Instead of sending your clothing to the laundry, use the self service laundry for around $2-$4 per load to wash and dry and use free Wi-Fi in ports for Facebook check-ins and to send pre-drafted emails.  This will not only save money, but also patience as the ship internet is not only very expensive starting at 2 hours for $69.00, but extremely slow.

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Use any free onboard credits for your bar tab.  You can even reduce you bar tab with free drinks by checking for champagne art auctions and captains cocktail party where they freely pass around champagne.  Purchase a bottle of wine and limit to one glass per night and they will keep your bottle to consume with your next meal, which is much cheaper than buying by the glass.   Look in the daily newsletter for advertised ‘drink of the day’ or ‘happy hour’ specials.  Often the pool bar will offer a ‘bucket of beer’ special, buy 4 get 1 free.  Cruise lines will allow you to bring one bottle of wine onboard with no corkage charge and you can order a bottle of spirits for your room which works out a lot cheaper than purchasing by the glass at the bar.  Keep an eye on the menu in the dining room too.  Cocktail soups and drunken desserts are a saving.  You can usually see a Pina Colada soup or similar at least once per voyage.

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Avoid purchasing shore excursions onboard too. The ship has port lectures running which give useful facts on how to get around, what to see, etc so take advantage of the free information.  You will be advised of free shuttle buses to get to the main tourist area where you can purchase hop on/hop off bus tickets and see all the free sights or for next to no cost.  It will work out cheaper and quicker to pre-purchase skip the line tickets for the major attractions.

Another cost you can avoid is the Ultimate Ship’s Tour.  I must tell you, it is amazing and we did purchase a ship tour as a memento of our first cruise, our honeymoon.  Or you keep an eye on the daily newspaper advertising the Executive Chef and Maitre D’s culinary demonstrations which is followed by a galley tour.  There you will be informed, educated and entertained about life in the galley and shown the secrets of the Chef’s uniform food presentation, his galley bible.  Oh and more free champagne!

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Onboard you have a variety of free entertainment to choose from including production shows, live music and comedy shows, cooking demos, pool and trivia games and educational lectures ranging from visiting ports to astronomy.  You can watch the latest release movies either in your room, by the pool or under stars on the big screen which even includes popcorn.  Whilst cruising you can relax by the pool, reading a book and be served milk and cookies or you might prefer a piece of pizza by the slice.  Instead of getting the milkshakes and gelato that are not included go and get a soft serve that is free.  Don’t forget when booking to advise of any celebrations whilst onboard and you will receive a complimentary celebration cake.

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Now if all this has enticed you to save and book a cruise and you decide to cruise subsequent times, you have even more savings, as part of the Loyalty rewards for returning passengers.  The loyalty rewards include members’ only events with, you guessed it, free champagne, preferred check in, disembarkation lounge, internet discounts, priority ship to shore tender, shoe polishing and free laundry, based on applicable number of sailing days or cruises sailed.

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With a staff ratio of 2.2 passengers per staff member, you can rest assured. Not only will you have have fresh fruit in your room each day, your towels will be refreshed and your bed made every time you walk out the room. Each evening your bed will be turned down with a free chocolate on your pillow each night. And you can have this first class cruising experience without any added extra charges.

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If I have missed anything, or you have further questions about cutting costs on a cruise please leave a comment below.  Is a cruise on your buckets list? Did I entice you to want to try a cruise?  If so, contact Princess Cruises

*All opinions and photos are our own and we were not financially compensated for this post.

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40 Responses

  1. Linda Bibb says:

    Another way to save money on a cruise is to avoid the in-port shops recommended by the cruise line. They only recommend places they have a financial interest in, and the items in those shops are usually overpriced for the quality.
    Linda Bibb recently posted…Exploring El Camino Real de PanamaMy Profile

  2. Thanks for these tips! I haven’t been on a cruise in years but I think they’re great if you just want to chill out and relax. I’d love to go again sometime!
    Michelle | michwanderlust recently posted…Canary Islands: Diving Into the BlueMy Profile

  3. Vlad says:

    Great tips, I’ve never been on a cruise before, but it’s good to know you can do it on a budget too. Maybe I’ll do it some day 🙂
    Vlad recently posted…Let’s Be Honest About AirbnbMy Profile

  4. Good tips on keeping costs down for a cruise – now I just have to convince my husband and we’re off 🙂
    Sally@Toddlers on Tour recently posted…Cape Town for KidsMy Profile

  5. eileen g says:

    These are great tips!

    It’s hard for me to give up wifi for an entire trip in case something comes up with my business. But we found it was easy to spot personnel from the ships when we were in port. They know where the free wifi is and they’ll share that tip with you. Often we would find them sitting in port and skyping or emailing from there.

    The alcohol is the other charge that’s hard to avoid. We mostly stick to beer and wine, and primarily with meals. It’s healthier and it helps to keep expenses under control.
    eileen g recently posted…10 Beach Essentials for Family VacationsMy Profile

  6. Amy says:

    I have always wanted to do a cruise but I’m worried about the costs–so these tips will be helpful in the future! 🙂

  7. I have a suggestion on how to save money on cruises but I’m afraid it isn’t very practical. Give up your Australian, New Zealand, British or European citizenship and become a US or Canadian citizen. Did you know that the major cruises lines charge North Americans a lot less than the rest of us and not just on cruises out of American ports but just about everywhere in the world?
    Lyn aka The Travelling Lindfields recently posted…Wintethur and the art of avoiding museums on your travels!My Profile

  8. Rhonda says:

    Lots of good information. Yes, there are many things that you can get charged for onboard. On our last cruise, the “tip” was the largest part of our onboard expense.
    Rhonda recently posted…Tillamook: Let Me Take You Inside a Cheese FactoryMy Profile

  9. Cathy says:

    As a new cruiser I love the tips. Always looking to save money for the next trip!
    Cathy recently posted…What do teenagers think of Fathom Cruises?My Profile

  10. Anisa says:

    I think the worst is the photographs. I think I spent $60 on them my first cruise. It is hard to resist once they have taken your picture! I try to avoid the professional photographers and just take my own.

  11. Ruth says:

    I agree that what is included in the cruise price is enough to have a good time. As for drinks, there is tea, lemonade, juice, milk and water in the buffets. During sit down dinners, they are not going to offer you a variety of drinks (only water and coffee) but you can go afterwards and have something at the buffet if you feel like. As for alcoholic beverages, you may want to get something at port.
    Ruth recently posted…Julian Dressed in Red, White and BlueMy Profile

  12. Some great tips. I think we almost made money on our cruise bill the last time I cruised, as we played at the casino with free vouchers and won money:) ~ Jessica
    Jessica @ Independent Travel Cats recently posted…Louisiana Plantations Guide: 12 River Road PlantationsMy Profile

  13. Hi Lyn – my Melbourne based “adopted travel sister” and I have cruised often and you are so right about the opportunities for ‘complimentary’ drinks, however, beware of the Artwork Auctions. We have saved on champers but spent a considerable amount on ‘nice pieces’ and fell for the trap of having them shipped home. If you can’t carry it, then don’t buy it. Photographic sessions are another trap – if you can’t see the final product don’t leave it to chance and receive studio photos so heavily ‘touched’ and ‘improved’ you have difficulty recognising yourself. Make some new friends and ask them to take great shots instead. Cruising is the ultimate relaxing holiday, just beware of the hidden costs, and it will all be smooth sailing. Thanks again Lyn.

    • Lyn says:

      Hi Loris, thank you so much for stopping by and commenting. We agree with your tips, we have purchased art onboard which was shipped back home. We will be on our 5th cruise next month and now well aware of the hidden costs.

  14. I have never been on a cruise but these are great tips to keep in mind while trying to lower costs! Planning and awareness makes all the difference and saves a lot of money!
    Constance – Foreign Sanctuary recently posted…The End is in Sight & Celebrations – [Photographing 2015] The Seventh WeekMy Profile

    • Lyn says:

      Constance, we love cruising and happy to share our tips and make readers aware of how they can save money. Thank you for your comment.

  15. I have read so much about cruise and the viruses on them so I have been reluctant to book one but hopefully one day I will save up for one.
    Bianca @itsallbee recently posted…Symphony of Lights | Hong Kong At NightMy Profile

    • Lyn says:

      Yes it seems to be publicised a lot, but in the 4 cruises I’ve been on there has been no novovirus. Princess are meticulous with cleanliness and enforcing hand sanitation before and after eating.

  16. christine says:

    I have been on a bunch of cruises before. My parents love them! You can relax, eat and drink all you want and they have great shows!
    christine recently posted…Disneyland Paris!My Profile

    • Lyn says:

      The shows we’ve seen were really good and with all the eating and drinking the stairs should become our best friend.

  17. Amy says:

    Great tips! I was so surprised by how much I enjoyed my first cruise last year. I did end up spending quite a bit on board between coffee (I HATED the coffee at breakfast and paid for a regular Cafe Americano at the coffee bar each day) and booze, but I could have done without it if really trying to save. I should have followed your tips about the champagne art auctions and cocktail party. Next time!
    Amy recently posted…Diving headfirst into travel hackingMy Profile

    • Lyn says:

      I agree Amy, the coffee at breakfast really is terrible. Instead of buying a coffee card and guzzling the high priced coffee we mostly drank the hot chocolate which is complimentary, but did buy the occasional coffee. Next time limit your drinking to the amount of your onboard credit, I saw a cruise the other day advertising up to $600 onboard credit per cabin!

  18. Hannah says:

    I’ve never been on a cruise before- they always seemed so pricely with lots of hidden costs. Great to read these insider tips and know how it works! Now to find a sale..
    Hannah recently posted…Black Balsam: A Latvian Grandmother’s MedicineMy Profile

    • Lyn says:

      Yes do keep your eye out for the sales, look at end of season and repositioning cruises or last minute deals to get the best price. There are no hidden costs, you have control of your cruise card.

  19. Heather Cole says:

    Hey Lyn, that’s amazingly informative, having never been on a cruise before I never dreamed you could spend so much on all the extras. If we ever decide to go to sea we’ll be back for advice!
    Heather Cole recently posted…Driving a Susuki, Lao styleMy Profile

    • Lyn says:

      Thanks for the comment Heather. And I look forward to answering any questions you might have on cruising.

  20. I have never been on a cruise, but it is good to know you can save some costs. They have always put me off so far.
    tammyonthemove recently posted…My Ultimate Lifeproof iPhone Case ReviewMy Profile

    • Lyn says:

      Don’t be put off, they are so much fun and can be enjoyed while sticking to a budget.

  21. Bailey K. says:

    These are great tips! Cruise lines probably hate me. The only time I drink is when a friend just feels like that HAVE TO buy me one (no matter how much I urge them that water is fine and I can have fun without drinking…haha!). My bill at the end of the cruise is literally only their mandatory per day fee. I’m quite positive they hate me! 😉
    Bailey K. recently posted…CAFE DU MONDE | NEW ORLEANS, LAMy Profile

    • Lyn says:

      Haha I’m sure they don’t Bailey. But you are so right, you can enjoy time onboard and not drink the cocktails.

  22. Sarah Ebner says:

    Great tips – my kids are desperate to go on a cruise, partly because there just seems to be so much to do I think.
    Sarah Ebner recently posted…Carlton Towers: an unusual overnight experience staying in a stately homeMy Profile

    • Lyn says:

      Not sure of the ages of your kids Sarah, but there is a lot for them to do, they have kids clubs split for various age groups. Leaves Mum time to some ‘me’ time too.

  23. The thought of being stuck on a boat for however has always turned me off cruising but despite this I’d love to give it a go someday. Maybe in the Med or Caribbean somewhere. It seems to me to be really great value, especially when there are hot deals around which I am seeing very often here in Sydney. One day I will bite the bullet and just do it!
    Jen Seligmann recently posted…Things to do in KrakowMy Profile

    • Lyn says:

      Thanks for commenting Jen, You would be best with either a short cruise (Sydney to Melbourne for 2 days) or one like we did where in 12 days we stopped at 10 ports. I see lots of people say ‘stuck on a boat’ until they do a cruise and find there is so much to do they run out time to participate in everything.

      • Thanks for the advice Lyn! A Sydney to Melbourne cruise sounds like the perfect starter for me.
        Jen Seligmann recently posted…Munich Photo GalleryMy Profile

        • Lyn says:

          There are lots of short cruises to choose from and sometimes good specials. We are doing a west coast 4 day next year.

  24. Milosz Zak says:

    You should also try a Nile cruise in the near future, we published a guide on how to do it well. It’s very similar to what you’ve written about, but with much more of an old-world flavour.

    • Lyn says:

      Sounds amazing… I will check it out

  1. […] my leftover wine was labelled and put aside for consumption tomorrow night. This is a great way to keep the costs down and yes, I did have leftover wine to save for the next […]

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