Cruises are often thought of as expensive holidays. However, while some cruises can indeed be expensive, many can actually be very affordable. Not only are some cruises great value, but there are also many ways to save money on cruises to enjoy all the magic for less.
Cruising Costs: What Are You Paying For?
There are some standard costs involved when you book a cruise, and it is a good idea to know what these are before you start shopping.
First of all, you have the main expense: your ticket. Included in the price of the ticket will normally be your food, including three meals a day, as well as your accommodation and some of the facilities such as the swimming pool.
On top of the price of the ticket, you will normally be charged some extras including fees, taxes and a fuel surcharge. The amounts of these will vary from company to company.
There are some things that are not typically included in the cost of the ticket, however. These include certain facilities such as fitness classes and specialist restaurants, as well as day excursions when you stop off in different destinations. Alcoholic drinks, coffee and tips are also not included in the price. You can also choose to pay more for certain features, such as a larger cabin with a balcony.
Ways to Cut Your Costs
The simplest way to save money on your cruise holiday is to compare cruises before you buy one, and you can do this on-line here. This will allow you to compare all of the current cruises and to choose one in your price range.
You could even find a better cruise and pay less for it if you spend time looking, and you can be flexible on dates. For example, if you can wait until the last minute, you may be able to pick up a real bargain.
You could also cut down on the amount of day excursions you make when you stop somewhere. Alternatively, consider looking for other excursions in advance, to find a cheaper one.
One easy way to save money is to choose a smaller cabin. If you don’t intend to spend much time in your cabin apart from sleeping, save your money and spend it on the other things to enjoy on the cruise instead.
A little trick worth considering is to look for a repositioning cruise. This is where the cruise ship moves from one area to another to take advantage of a different cruise season, and you can hop along for the ride for a lot less than you would spend on a standard cruise.
If you don’t want to do a repositioning cruise, you could still consider traveling out of the main holiday season. The off-season will differ depending on where you go, such as the Caribbean or the South Pacific, but there are usually some good bargains to pick up.
Finally, save money on the other aspects of your holiday, such as your flight. For example, rather than buying your cruise and flight from the same company, look around first to see if you can buy them separately and save money.
Save Money on Your Cruise
You do not have to spend a fortune on your next cruise holiday, and cruises can actually work out as excellent value for money compared to other types of holiday. So start looking for your next holiday today and use these tips to save some money.
Ryan Posa has cruised the globe as the former District Sales Manager for Carnival Australia and then founder of Cruise Republic. With a deep love for life aboard, he greatly enjoys writing about the tips and tricks to modern cruising, to inspire others to enjoy their own voyages exploring the world. You can keep up with Ryan on Twitter here.
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