Recession-proof Your Cruise Vacation

If the thought has crossed your mind ”maybe I should hold off on my cruise, go some other time” here are some great surefire strategies to get more cruise for less. Even in the most difficult economic times, savvy travelers can always find ways to save hundreds of dollars off their cruise vacation. Here are 10 tried-and-true strategies to help you get more bang from your cruise vacation buck:

  1. Become a savvy traveler.  

A bad economy makes for some very good deals.  The trick is to book as far in advance as possible.  Many of you have already done that, booking as far in advance as 2010, often for a reduced amount of deposit.  There is no better way to lock in the price of a future vacation.  And with more time between booking and sailing, you can make more frequent but smaller payments.  Often you can pay for your cruise by skipping a fast food meal once a week.

 

2 Book your own shore excursions.
When budgeting for a cruise vacation, it’s easy to underestimate how much you’ll cruise will cost. Beyond the cost of the cruise fare and taxes, there are other incidental expenses.  One area you can really save money is do your own sightseeing or shore excursion planning. Almost all the local vendors that the cruise line uses, can be found on the internet. Visit the port’s official tourism web site for up-to-date information on tour operators and pricing. Their direct to the consumer prices in most cases are cheaper than if you bought the tour from the cruise line. Shore excursion income is an important part of a cruise lines onboard revenue. So, they mark it up to maximize profits. Booking just one shore excursion, such as a helicopter ride to land on glacier, for a family of four in Alaska, can save you hundreds of dollars in your overall cruise vacation costs. And you can put that savings to better use. Two online firms that specialize in sightseeing tours for cruise passengers include Port Promotions and Shore Trips.  You can book online, and pocket the savings.

 

3.  Think about the future.
Some cruise lines offer discounts on a future sailing if you book it while on a current cruise. Often, they reward you with additional onboard credit and a reduced deposit

 

4. Keep your onboard spending low. Limit your spending on photos, spa services, art auctions, shore excursions, jewelry, casino and drinks of the day. Stay away from the Specialty restaurants. Many cruise lines have several alternative dining venues to the usual main dining room.  These restaurants, offer special menu items with prices ranging from $10 to $45 per person. Sure, the fare may be better, but is it that much better than what you can savor in the ship’s dining room for free?    

Almost every cruise ship offers Internet access, but they often charge a ridiculous per-minute access fee. Some cruise lines even offer package deals for 100- 200 minutes of Internet access. Forget about it! Instead, visit an Internet facility when you are in port. How to find one? Easy, ask a crew member where to find an Internet cafe on shore, or check out the local public library, where you can sometimes check your e-mail for free.

BYOB
Most all cruise lines allow you to Bring Your Own Bottle of wine, one per person, onboard at embarkation for to consume in your cabin.  Check our website for “Booze Smuggling Tips” that will take care of any other needs.  Most lines also allow a reasonable amount of bottled water or soda to be brought on board.  This is another area where huge savings can be realized

5 Arrange your own air and transfers. Shop for airfares on ticket search websites like Farecast, SideStep, or Kayak and then book directly with the airline.  Save on Airport transfers. The cost of cruise line provided round-trip airport transfers can run $20 per person or more. A better (and often faster) way to get to and from the ship is by local taxi. The fare can be $20-30, but the taxi can take up to four people.