As far as vacation options go, cruises are considered an excellent value for the money. Cruise lines have increasingly begun catering to the widest demographic possible, including families with young children and other budget conscious individuals.
In the 1950s or ‘60s if you overheard someone saying they were going on a cruise, they were probably a member of the silk-stocking set; these days cruises welcome the jeans and t-shirt crowd with equal enthusiasm. The result is that a wide range of cruises are clearly affordable for most people, while still providing a memorable experience. And yes, there are still luxury cruises aboard stately liners, where guests dress up for dinner.
It’s fair to say that there is a cruise that could meet nearly anyone’s expectations. The cruise savvy traveler also knows how to take advantage of deals that are available, and how to book a trip that maximizes their enjoyment while not busting their bank account.
Your first step is to decide what constitutes your “dream vacation”? What is most important to you? You can plan your trip so more of your travel dollars are allocated to the experiences you are most interested in and not pay for things you will not use.
At its most basic, a cruise is the opportunity to truly leave everything behind, especially all the stress of day-to-day responsibilities. When the ship leaves the dock you are entering a new world with fresh sights, sounds and experiences. You don’t have to pay extra for the blue water or the bracing ocean air. But when budgeting your dream vacation, you will have to make some choices that represent tradeoffs of quality vs. cost.
Choosing Your Accommodations
One choice that will definitely affect the overall cost of your cruise is the type of cabin you select. A small space with limited amenities located on the interior part of the ship is less costly than a cabin with an ocean view or a balcony, or a spacious suite.
Your decision here should be based on how much you value being able to view the scenery from your cabin, and how much time you will be spending there versus time enjoying shipboard activities or sightseeing at the ports the ship will visit. Remember, even with the least luxurious cabin, you still get to enjoy all the amenities on board the ship.
Go When Others Aren’t
You can save money even on the best cruises by going at times when fewer people are booking trips. Weekend cruises have become very popular with individuals who can’t get away from work for very long. Try going on a midweek cruise to have the same dream vacation experience for less money. Or go at a time before or after school is out for the summer. Many families can only travel during school vacation or holiday time. But if your schedule is flexible, try a cruise in the fall or late spring.
Shop Online
We’ve all seen commercials for online travel sites offering deep discounts on hotel rooms and airfare, but the same opportunity is available for cruise vacations. The cruise lines offer these discounts to ensure the ship departs with enough guests for them to make a profit. They know that once on board, guests will spend money.
They find that the popularity of certain cruises varies over time, so the discounts are offered to smooth out these fluctuations in demand. An empty cabin generates no revenue. Make a list of these online sites and check them periodically to find specials on the cruises you are most interested in. You can also sign up for e-mail notifications of great deals when they become available.
Take Advantage of Special Discounts
Cruise lines offer several types of discounts based on the individual traveler. They often have senior discounts for travelers over 55. Guests who have sailed with that particular cruise line in the past also may qualify for discounts on their next cruise. There are even discounts for residents of particular states; these are done so the cruise line can widen their customer base from a geographic standpoint.
Last Minute Deals
As departure time nears, some cruises will offer amazing discounts, up to half off, in order to make sure the cabins are filled. If you can stay flexible regarding your departure time, you can take advantage of these terrific deals. Conversely, cruise lines are rewarding people who book their cruise 6 months in advance with discounts; they even include cabin upgrades in these deals.
Beware of Add-On Fees and High Bar Tabs
A cruise that may seem like a bargain may not turn out to be once you factor in the cost of some of the extras on board that are not included in the “all-inclusive” charge quoted to you. These added costs might be for on-board activities, spa treatments, Internet usage, or even extra charges to dine at their “fine dining” room. If these items are part of what you consider your dream vacation, you might be better off paying a little more to book a cruise that includes these in the basic price. The cost of alcoholic beverages can also add up quickly, just as it can when you dine out at a nice restaurant and the bottle of wine you choose turns out to be $50. The solution: find cruises that include some beverages as part of the package.
With the right information, you can save a significant amount of money on an amazing cruise vacation. Keep these simple, money saving tips in mind when shopping around for your next cruise.
Dee Power is a freelance writer who writes about many topics such as vacationing and cruise deals.
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