Planning your next family vacation? Wondering whether you can cruise cheaper than an all inclusive resort vacation? I have some good news! You CAN!! Follow my 7 Easy Money Saving Tips to cruise cheaper than an all inclusive resort.
Tip #1: Pick the Right Cruise
The best way to save money on your next cruise vacation is to select a cruise with a departure city that is close to you. For example, if you live near San Diego, take a cruise that departs out of San Diego. This will save big bucks on your transportation costs.
If you live no where near a cruise terminal (like me) and you need to fly to get to your cruise, don’t fret. It is still possible to cruise cheaper than an all inclusive resort.
Tip #2: Save on Flights (if you must fly)
If you must fly to your cruise terminal, getting a low price on flights will save you money and bring down the entire cost of your vacation. Here’s how:
1. Fly on points. Cash in your credit card points and fly for free.
If you do not have a credit card where you earn rewards (such as free travel), it’s time to sign up and start collecting.
Each adult in your party should sign up for a credit card with rewards so that you can double down on bonus offers and deals. Some credit cards also offer reduced companion fares.
Select a credit card aligns with your personal goals and dreams.
2. Skip the Buddy Passes. Flying on Buddy Passes is typically equivalent to flying “stand-by”. Skip the Buddy Passes and skip the stress of potentially missing your cruise. Those “free” Buddy Passes may end up costing you big bucks if you get bumped. You don’t want to be forced to fork over an exorbitant amount of money in last-minute airline tickets just so that you don’t miss your cruise.
3. Take Advantage of “Free” Airline Cruise Offers — Some cruise lines, such as Norwegian Cruise Line, offer “free” air flights. Although the NCL deal is valid for one person per cabin only, Norwegian’s flight booking service does provide competitive prices on flights.
I saved a remarkable $300 per person when I booked my flights through Norwegian’s flight booking service. When you book your flight through Norwegian, you are required to also book the transportation to-and-from the airport to the cruise terminal. Even with this added expense, the savings were incredible.
4. Monitor Prices Before you Book Your Flight. Where and when you fly matter. Don’t forget that when you book also matters.
Where you fly matters. It’s no surprise that some cities have better flight connectivity than others. Destinations with few flight options are premium routes and tend to price higher. While it is possible to get a sale on premium routes, the odds of scoring a deal on popular airline routes with many flight options is much higher.
Do a quick cost analysis of cruise PLUS airfare before you book. For instance, let’s say you want to cruise to Alaska and are debating between a roundtrip cruise from Seattle or a one-way cruise that starts in Seattle and ends in Anchorage. Depending on where you live, you may realize that it is cheaper to pay more for the cruise and save on airfares (or vice versa). The total cost of both options will vary depending on your starting point.
When you fly matters. Always make sure that you arrive at least one day before you sail. Mechanical problems and weather delays (due to snowstorms, lightening, wind, and more) delay flights ALL the time. Missing your cruise due to circumstances out of your control would be terrible (and expensive)! Arrive to your cruise port at least one day prior to its departure date so that you don’t miss your cruise.
When you book matters. Some people swear that booking on a Tuesday is cheaper than booking on a Saturday. This is a myth. If airfares were always cheaper on one particular day, travel agents would figure that out and only book on those specific days.
Google has taken the guess work out of knowing when a flight is a good deal or not. You can check the history of flight prices using Google Flights.
Tip #3: Be Flexible on Cruise Dates
You may find a good deal on a Caribbean cruise during the mid-August to mid-October time frame. However, this period is also peak hurricane season and probably one of the worst times to cruise the Caribbean. Personally, I would avoid cruising to the Caribbean during this timeframe.
Consider travelling during non-peak times for best value. Travel tends to be most expensive during peak times such as Christmas, Spring/Easter Break, and Summer Holidays.
Tip #4: Book your Cruise Early
The early bird gets the worm…. and the best price on cruises. Book your cruise with a cruise line that offers free cancellation. Clear the cache memory on your computer and keep checking back on the price of your cruise. If the price of your cruise goes down in price, cancel your original booking and re-book at the cheaper rate. (Note: Not all cruise lines offer free cancellation.)
Alternatively, some cruise lines offer a “best price guarantee”; wherein, should you find a better price, the cruise line will give you free money (in the form of credits) to spend on board the cruise ship.
Tip #5: Don’t Pick the Most Expensive Cabin
Don’t be a cabin snob. Nobody on the cruise ship knows (or cares) if you book the most expensive cabin or the cheapest cabin aboard the cruise ship. The easiest place to save money on a cruise is by selecting a cabin that suits your needs (and nothing more).
If you want a cabin with a window, you can often save money by selecting a room with an “obstructed view”. Check the cruise’s website frequently for best deals.
Cruise Tip: A few weeks prior to sailing, some cruise lines will offer cabin upgrades at significantly reduced prices. These offers will vary based on passenger load so never bank on getting an “upgraded” room later.
Tip #6: Plan Ahead – To Drink or Not To
Option 1: Alcoholic Beverage Package on a Cruise
How many glasses of alcohol that you drink per day will determine whether you should buy a cruise beverage package or not. If you plan on drinking 1 or 2 glasses per day, you are likely better off to pay-as-you-go at $10-$15 per glass.
Do the math to determine what option is best for you. If you choose to purchase a cruise beverage package, purchase it before you set sail for best prices. All adults sharing the same cabin room must buy the same beverage package. If there are children sharing the same room, you are required to purchase each child the non-alcoholic beverage package.
Option 2: Non-Alcoholic Beverage Package on a Cruise
If you do not drink alcohol and your cruise includes an “Unlimited Open Bar” Package (as on Norwegian Cruise Line), you are able to OPT OUT. Once you opt out, the taxes and gratuities are removed and you have just saved yourself some money!!!
You can opt to purchase the less expensive Non-Alcoholic Beverage Package on your cruise. This package includes soda pop all-day-long. You must purchase the same beverage package for everyone in your cabin room, including children sharing a room.
Option 3: Skip the Beverage Packages
The cheapest option (and the one I typically pick) is no beverage package at all. Most cruise lines include complimentary water, lemonade, iced tea, hot tea, and coffee. Orange Juice and Apple Juice are usually complimentary for breakfast only.
Many port cities thrive on the tourist dollar. Licensed bars and restaurants are typically located close to port cities. Just make sure you get back to the ship before it leaves!!
Tip #7: Research Cruise Port Cities Before You Go
Another easy money saving tips to cruise cheaper than an all inclusive resort is to know what you want to do in each port city before you go. This does take some planning and a little bit of effort to stay on budget.
If you opt to book an excursion with the cruise line, pre-book before you set sail for best prices. Royal Caribbean, for instance, frequently discounts cruise excursions by 10%-25% if you book before you cruise.
In many port cities (especially in the Caribbean and Mexico), local tour companies offer excursions as soon as you exit the cruise ship area. These tours are often cheaper than what you can book through the cruise line.
If taking a local tour booked on your own, plan to arrive at your cruise ship at least 2 hours prior to the cruise departure time so that you don’t accidentally miss the cruise ship due to some unforeseen circumstance. It would be terrible to be left behind.
That wraps up my 7 Easy Money Saving Tips to Cruise Cheaper than an All Inclusive Resort. For more of my cruise tips, check out:
- Quick Guide to Cruise Port in Victoria British Columbia
- Cabo San Lucas Cruise Stop Port Guide
- How to get Airport Lounge access free?
- How to Win a NCL Bid
- What to do on Layover in LA after Cruise before flying home the same day?
Sea you later!
Shelley XOXO