These Six Tricks Are Bound To Save You A Lot On Your Next Cruise

Going on a cruise may cost you an arm and a leg. The initial expense for a ticket doesn’t always cover everything especially when the ship reaches a port, and you disembark for a sightseeing tour. So, you are bound to end up with a big hole in your pocket once the cruise is over. There are a plethora of extra expenses on board, too. Most of us do not even count them in when packing for the trip. Only if you knew what to bring so that you can cut down the expenses occurring on board, your trip would have been so much more relaxing, wouldn’t it? After asking a few travelers, we have come up with our list of things that might help you save a few bucks while on a cruise.

Read on to find out what you can carry:

Buy Your Snorkeling Gear

Most cruise lines will take you to beautiful tropical beaches where you can get in the water and even opt to go for snorkel or scuba tours. A great way to save some money would be to buy your own snorkeling gear before the trip. Of course, you will have to shell out a bit of cash to buy your own equipment, but it will be worth it. If you have your own gear, you don’t have to rent it from the port where the ship stops. Usually, they would charge exorbitant prices. In fact, if you have your own gear, you can go snorkeling on your own and wouldn’t need to pay for the tour at all.

Bring Your Own Beverages

Bringing your own drinks on board can be one of the best money-saving tips for your cruise trip. However, cruise lines won’t let you carry several bottles, and usually, the trips last for at least week. This means that you will eventually end up buying beverages on-board. However, if you are travelling with a group, each of you can carry the maximum number of bottles allowed, and it will last you for a few days. As for soda bottles, some cruises allow up to 12 cans for each guest which means if there are four of you in a group, you will have 48 cans which is enough for a five-day cruise.

Avoid The WIFI On The Ship

The Internet on the ship can be terribly expensive — cruise lines can charge up to 55 cents per minute. Your phone might not always have connection especially when you are in the middle of the sea. It is best to stay disconnected while you are on the trip. After all, it is a vacation! If you keep checking emails and browsing the net, then you should just stay at home and do it. Also, your phone might get network once you arrive at a port. You can check your phone for important emails and other matters at that time.

Wash Your Clothes Yourself

It might seem like $2.50 per item for laundry is not a big amount. But when you are staying for a whole week and might not have enough underwear to last you for the entire stay, you will need to take the laundry service. When you do this for the entire family, it can make a big dent in your vacation budget. If your ship has a self-service launderette, then you can use that to do your own laundry. Otherwise, wash the clothes that you need urgently in your cabin’s bathroom, and hang them to dry in the shower.

Avoid On-Shore Group Excursions

Whenever the ship stops at a port, there will be group excursions. These are pretty expensive affairs. However, the cruise line’s own tours are usually quite good, and the main advantage is that the ship will always wait for the tour to finish before leaving the port. Yet, if you want to save some money, the best thing to do is go on a self-guided excursion. You can also book your own tours once you have embarked. These are usually much cheaper options. Just make sure that whatever you do, you are back on time.

Most cruise lines have their own policy regarding what you can bring aboard. It will be wise to check the list before you start packing. If you have been thinking of going on a cruise for some time now but didn’t book because of the prices, there are several online websites that offer great deals and discounts. Apart from saving money during booking, don’t forget to keep in mind these valuable tips to save more while you are on vacation!