Matt Long a RoamRight Blog Author

Three Easy Ways to Save Money on a Cruise

Cruises are a great way to relax and to see several places in a short amount of time. Here are three ways to save money on a cruise.

I love cruises; they’re great ways to relax and see new destinations without a lot of hassle. But cruise lines are in it to make money, there’s no doubt about that. Over the years they have found new and even ingenious ways of separating us from our cash and by the end of the trip you may be shocked by the bill. While it’s ok to spend some money on a cruise, you definitely don’t want to go overboard and as long as you follow these simple rules, you should return home richer in experiences and not poorer in pocket.

1. Watch What You Drink

This is probably one of the easiest ways to waste money on a cruise. From the moment you step on board and are offered that tropical drink, almost everything you imbibe comes with a fee attached. On most cruises only coffee, tea and some other light beverages are included with your plan, so be sure to research what is and what isn’t included before you leave home. As a Diet Coke fan I was shocked on my first cruise to learn that I had to pay every time I wanted this sweet elixir of life. If you want a beer or glass of wine, then your bar bill will soon skyrocket. To save some money, choose a cruise that offers a prepaid beverage plan offering unlimited sodas or a set number of alcoholic drinks.

Please drink responsibly, as your RoamRight policy does not cover loss resulting from or caused by being under the influence of alcohol.

2. Excursions

A huge expense on any cruise are those amazing excursions at every port of call. The prices can be daunting though which is why in general you should try to find cheaper alternatives. Every official excursion the cruise line offers uses a local supplier, which means that you can find local tour companies who can offer the same excursion at a fraction of the price. Check out the popular site CruiseCritic.comfor the scoop on the best tours, but be careful. If you’re not on an official ship excursion and it runs late, the ship will not wait for you before leaving port.

3. Set a Budget

This may seem like common sense, but it’s been my experience that people leave common sense at home when they’re on vacation. Set an absolute maximum amount you want to spend on your cruise and stick to it. Track your daily expenses and be careful what you buy. Avoid the onboard casino and Gold by the Inch stores and instead maximize your spending on the experiences that can transform your trip from something average to truly amazing. There’s nothing worse than getting an astronomically high bill when you leave the ship, so stick to your guns and don’t overspend.

And, of course, don't forget your cruise insurance.

These are just a few ways to save some money on a cruise, what are some others?

Note: Available plans and coverages may have changed since this blog was published.

Categories

About the Author

Matt Long

Matt Long, a RoamRight Blog Author A luxury adventure traveler at heart, Matt Long shares his experiences with thousands of readers every day through his travel blog, LandLopers.com. As someone who has a bad case of the travel bug, Matt travels the world in order to share tips on where to go, what to see and how to experience the best the world has to offer. Matt is a Washington, DC based travel writer/photographer and has been featured on many other web sites and publications including BBC Travel, CNN GO, Huffington Post, AFAR Magazine and National Geographic Intelligent Travel. His work is also syndicated on the Flipboard and Pulse apps. Follow Matt on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and Google Plus.

Get A Free Travel Insurance Quote 

Travel smarter with travel insurance from RoamRight. Get your free, no-obligation quote online today.

I'm a partner, take me to my portal


Stay Connected!

Sign up for RoamRight's FREE monthly email newsletter to get travel tips, tricks, news, ideas, and inspiration!

The RoamRight mark is used by Arch Insurance Company and owned by its parent company, Arch Capital Group (U.S.). Insurance coverages are underwritten by Arch Insurance Company, NAIC #11150, under certain policy series, including LTP 2013 and amendments thereto. Certain terms, conditions, restrictions and exclusions apply and coverages may vary in certain states. In the event of any conflict between your policy terms and coverage descriptions on this website, the terms and conditions of your policy shall govern. Click here for privacy notice.

Copyright© 2024 Arch Insurance Company. All rights reserved.