cruising on a budget

[see.legs]

just looking for opinions but do you find one cruise line works better on a budget

[CruiserBruce]

In other words, which is the least expensive cruise line? Well...not sure you could universally say any one particular cruise line is least expensive, because sales vary, but Carnival and NCL will probably get a lot of votes.

 

Just remember, you get what you pay for.

[see.legs]

In other words, which is the least expensive cruise line? Well...not sure you could universally say any one particular cruise line is least expensive, because sales vary, but Carnival and NCL will probably get a lot of votes.

 

Just remember, you get what you pay for.

 

actually no i mean as a whole like cost, rooms, excursions, extra stuff is one better on a budget than others or less suprises i guess

[NMLady]

actually no i mean as a whole like cost, rooms, excursions, extra stuff is one better on a budget than others or less suprises i guess

 

I think it depends on each person's income and bank account.

I personally make an income/expense budget so I have a good idea of what excursions we can afford, how many drinks/photos/specialty dinners etc we can afford. I know others who do not do this but for me it is a necessity.

[paul929207]

If you are talking budget then presumably you would want one of the main-stream lines. They tend to have similar prices, but check around there are always deals. Your best bet would be to find a travel agent who specializes in cruises.

 

Other costs will vary some from line to line, but they are all up to you. Some will mandate tips for the staff, others will just recommend them. Some are a little looser letting you bring on board things like wine or soda. This can help keep the cost down.

 

All will offer things like bingo, a casino, shore excursions, "special" restaurants, etc. All are extra and all are optional. We spend almost nothing on those things each cruise. Others spend quite a bit. It is up to you.

 

Alcohol (beer, wine and cocktails) are all extra and can add up.

[cb at sea]

All of the "mass market" cruiselines will have sales now and again....you have to check all the time.

 

The fare is only one part of the cost of cruising.....on all of the line (except ultra luxury lines), soda and booze will cost extra. Excursion are a huge cost...but by reading a guidebook, you can find cheap options for fun things to do on you own! The key to a cheap shore day is research!

Of course, gambling and specialty restaurants can run up your tab...as will photos, souveniers, etc....

 

Tips....you need to consider that part of the cost of the cruise...figure around $12 per person, PER NIGHT....that's whats recommended, and it's WELL worth it!

[MSN-Travelers]

just looking for opinions but do you find one cruise line works better on a budget

 

actually no i mean as a whole like cost, rooms, excursions, extra stuff is one better on a budget than others or less suprises i guess

 

As others have indicated, Carnival and NCL will offer you the opportunity to cruise for the least overall cost. Most people bust a budget on photo's and the bar bill (adult & non-adult beverages). This assumes you stay out of the casino.

 

Excursions can be very costly but the price is pretty much the same from one cruise line to another for the same excursion. Independently booked excursions cut cost and independently booked group excursions (group booking with your fellow passengers) are often the most cost effective.

 

Internet and smart phone charges can get quite expensive if you are a heavy user.

 

The absolute cheapest cruise is one where you take your own pictures, limit your beverage consumption, stay off the grid and walk the streets/beaches of the port cities on your own.

 

Enjoy!

[Hlitner]

We have done some very inexpensive cruises on several decent mass market lines (Princess, RCI, Carnival, and HAL). The best bargains usually come at the last minute (inside the final booking period) and one must be flexible and willing to quickly jump-on a bargain. Probably the best deal we had was on a 16 day Transatlantic repositioning cruise on RCI's Jewel of the Seas (a gorgeous ship). We paid about $57 per passenger day (this is the total cost including taxes) for a nice balcony cabin. Since we are Diamond on RCI, we were able to take advantage of the daily free cocktail hours (this was when Diamonds had unlimited access to the Concierge Lounge) and DW and I probably drank the equivalent of $30 a day per person. In addition, we were invited to the usual Diamond parties and also took advantage of other Diamond discounts (such as free photos). In the end we figure they almost paid us to take that cruise.

 

Other good deals have been shorter (10 days or less) Caribbean cruises where we have snagged lower cost inside cabins for about $50 per passenger day. Again, the best deals were always booked within 6 weeks of the cruise.

 

Hank

Edited December 20, 2013 by Hlitner

[Kroozen]

I think you can almost always find a good deal, if you're willing to take some time and scour the internet for the best price. If you have to fly to the port, airfare will be a big expense, so you should factor that in when your making your decision. For example, if you can find a cruise out of Florida for $599 per person, but it'll cost you $600 per person to fly there, that cruise is actually costing you $1200 before you even get on the ship. Also consider your on board activities...casino, bingo, art auction, classes...they can really hit your wallet hard. THEN consider shore excursions, tips, specialty restaurants...everything should be considered. Alcohol is a HUGE expense for a lot of people, and they never even think about it until they see their bill.

 

I set a budget for the cost of the cruise/airfare, then I also set a budget for everything I do and spend while on the trip. I limit the specialty restaurants to once or twice during the cruise, I'll usually go to the casino every night, but I'll only spend $20-40 at a time, and when my gambling money is gone, it's gone. No trips to the ATM or cash advances. On board bingo is expensive, and the prizes are generally pretty small so I stay away from that. I don't do shore excursions, but rather I buy a tour book instead and do it myself. The book also makes for a good souvenir of all the places I visited. Drinks are pricey, so I limit myself to a few a day. ($12/drink adds up FAST!)

 

Take you're time looking online, have fun researching, and you can find a good deal!

[lrowe70]

One nice thing about cruising is there are no hidden costs (though some like to act shocked).

 

You pay upfront for the cruise and often the tips.

 

Anything else is extra and the fees are clearly stated by the cruise line. All lines have a method of sorts of keeping track of onboard spending, so it's up to you to decide what to budget for and when to cut yourself off.

 

Optional things on the mass market lines you may want to budget for:

Insurance, additional tips, speciality dining, drinks, excursions, souvenirs, photos, room service, babysitting, gambling, taxis, hotel the night before, parking, and internet.

 

There are people who pay for their cruise and tips upfront and don't spend a single dime once onboard. It is possible.

Recently someone posted on the Carnival board from the pier that she had forgotten her wallet and credit cards at home. Oops, but oh well.

[perkydebrajean]

We are cruising in a suite on NCL next December on an 11 day Southern Caribbean cruise. We booked almost 2 years in advance so that we could slowly pay it off a little at a time. And since we booked a suite more than 9 months out we get an OBC of $300 and they were running an OBC special and got $150 more. Then we applied for the NCL MasterCard and earn points for each dollar spent on it so that we can cash it in on more OBC. By the time we cruise next December we will have at least $1000 (probably more) in OBC and that's what we will use to pay for excursions, what few drinks we might have and dinner in a couple of the pay restaurants. And on NCL you can bring your own sodas and bottled water with you so we plan on bringing our own sodas too.

 

We will have to fly or drive to the port (we live in Atlanta but cruising out of Miami). We will probably drive. We have enough hotel points to cover a couple of nights hotel before the cruise and plan on staying at a hotel with park and cruise package so that we can stay a night at their hotel and can park our car for up to 2 weeks there for free.

[Buck Turgidson]

just looking for opinions but do you find one cruise line works better on a budget

Watch for discounted fairs. I have had a great time on Carnival just as much as Cunard, HAL, or Celebrity, you don't always get what you pay for by buying the high priced spread.

Budget, don't do excursions, walk or take a taxi. On some ports I give the driver 20 bucks and tell him to drive my wife and myself around a couple hours, show us the island.

Maybe bring your own booze aboard if possible to drink in your cabin. Some lines allow this.

I don't buy the pictures or eat in the pay extra restaurants

Be aware of the automatic tipping they do now days. It's like 11 or 12 dollars per person per day. You can refuse to pay this or limit it.

If you like snorkeling bring your own gear and have a taxi take you to a beach at a fraction of the excursion cost.

I went on a 36 day Cunard cruise last Feb. Booked 3 weeks before sailng Payed 3600 dollars, friend payed 35,000 dollars, he booked a year in advance. He did get a suite and a butler compared to my outside window view and a steward.

Edited December 25, 2013 by Host Walt
Removed ref to TA

[dorisis]

We are cruising in a suite on NCL next December on an 11 day Southern Caribbean cruise. We booked almost 2 years in advance so that we could slowly pay it off a little at a time. And since we booked a suite more than 9 months out we get an OBC of $300 and they were running an OBC special and got $150 more. Then we applied for the NCL MasterCard and earn points for each dollar spent on it so that we can cash it in on more OBC. By the time we cruise next December we will have at least $1000 (probably more) in OBC and that's what we will use to pay for excursions, what few drinks we might have and dinner in a couple of the pay restaurants. And on NCL you can bring your own sodas and bottled water with you so we plan on bringing our own sodas too.

 

We will have to fly or drive to the port (we live in Atlanta but cruising out of Miami). We will probably drive. We have enough hotel points to cover a couple of nights hotel before the cruise and plan on staying at a hotel with park and cruise package so that we can stay a night at their hotel and can park our car for up to 2 weeks there for free.

 

That is the way to go. It takes a lot of effort but it can save $$$$$s.

[cruisetrail]

We are cruising in a suite on NCL next December on an 11 day Southern Caribbean cruise. We booked almost 2 years in advance so that we could slowly pay it off a little at a time. And since we booked a suite more than 9 months out we get an OBC of $300 and they were running an OBC special and got $150 more. Then we applied for the NCL MasterCard and earn points for each dollar spent on it so that we can cash it in on more OBC. By the time we cruise next December we will have at least $1000 (probably more) in OBC and that's what we will use to pay for excursions, what few drinks we might have and dinner in a couple of the pay restaurants. And on NCL you can bring your own sodas and bottled water with you so we plan on bringing our own sodas too.

 

We will have to fly or drive to the port (we live in Atlanta but cruising out of Miami). We will probably drive. We have enough hotel points to cover a couple of nights hotel before the cruise and plan on staying at a hotel with park and cruise package so that we can stay a night at their hotel and can park our car for up to 2 weeks there for free.

 

An interesting case.

However, the only saving here is OBC.

Only direct monetary incentives in the form of discounted price (first of all) and OBC are what we "save". That is what a cruise line "pays" to us.

Credit card points is what you pay to the cruise line.

[perkydebrajean]

I consider the OBC that we will get from the MasterCard as savings for us on our cruise. I charge my groceries, gas, car repairs, etc... on that MasterCard and then pay it off as soon as I charge it. I get 2 points for each dollar charged to NCL and 1 point for each dollar charged elsewhere. I currently have 40,000 points on the card which can be redeemed for $400 OBC. And we still have a year before our cruise so we'll have more points by then. Only 1000of those points were actually charged to NCL as payments made on our cruise.

 

I don't consider buying my groceries and gas with that card and earning points from it as paying the cruise line for my points.

[cruisetrail]

In general, by using any credit card we get points that is virtual money to be spent in many ways.

Making purchases is our "hard work". Credit card points (virtual money) is our "hard earned" money.

Converting them into OBC, you in fact are buying OBC.

 

Example.

I have two credit cards:

1. From a cruise line.

2. From an airline.

 

I pay for everything by the card #1 and get points = OBC for my Mediterranean cruise.

That means that I don't pay for everything by the card #2 and don't get my points towards "free" airline ticket to Europe.

 

My points = my money.

Edited December 25, 2013 by cruisetrail

[spookwife]

just looking for opinions but do you find one cruise line works better on a budget

 

 

that depends on your budget and what is non negotiable in your expectations.

 

as a general rule, the typical mainstream cruise starts at about $100 per person per day and goes up from there.

 

as for working 'better' you do get what you pay for.

 

I gladly pay a little more to sail in a suite as I would be claustrophobic in an inside.

[Cruisin' Chick]

There are so many variables to consider so it may behoove you to sit down with a cruise specialist (you don't pay them a fee to book your cruise, but find out first if they charge fees for cancelling or changing your booking...some do, some don't).

 

As for which cruise, if you can go at any time of the year, you can aim for a lower demand time (don't go at holiday time, etc. when demand is higher). As you are from Michigan, last minute cruises may be problematic as you'll need to book flights, which will probably be high in cost. So any last minute sales for your cruise may be negated by the cost of the light.

 

So already, you have the cost of the cruise and your transportation to your embarkation city to be concerned with. Plus, if you're smart, you'll fly in at least a day ahead and stay overnight at a hotel (else, you're risking not making it to your ship in time).

 

As for cruiseline, you have to consider if there's any optionals that are a must for you. Do you like to drink, gamble, etc.? If bringing on wine (I think most lines do not allow alcohol to be brought on unless wine), you probably don't want to fly with it, unless you have a good luggage allowance. So flying in a day ahead will allow for a trip to the store.

 

So it may be a good idea to bring a list of what you don't mind spending money on (again, booze, casino, photographs, etc) when you visit the travel agency.

 

We usually get an inside cabin (or an oceanview) which are a lot less than suites or balcony cabins. So if on a budget, don't let someone insist you won't have fun unless in a full suite with butler, etc. It's not necessary.

 

As others have said, do your research about ports. You don't have to do excursions. Most of the time, we don't. I'll read up on the various ports -- there's guide books at any library and there's the Internet with a ton of info. I have also found ports with websites that are willing to send brochures or have one online. The last couple of cruises I had my teen check these out as well as the ship's excursions (we actually did a couple on our last cruise -- one may have been pricey for the three of us, but we loved it. I've even asked questions on the Facebook pages for the ports or places we wanted to visit -- as one port was on Christmas, I wanted to make sure the place would be open, and it was).

 

You don't even have to get off the ship, at least before disembarkation time.

 

Our last cruise was a 14-day cruise and I imagine our on-board spending was a lot less for the three of us than many couples have for a cruise half the length. My hubby might buy a glass of wine every few days (we did bring some wine for in-cabin consumption) and my daughter brought a couple of soft drinks (we did bring on some soft drinks and we kept in our cabin fridge). Hubby did buy some photos. But we don't gamble, including bingo. Plenty of free activities and entertainment.

 

So again, check to see what is important to you and find out if a cruiseline offers it included in the fare or not.

[kingoftheicedragons]

that depends on your budget and what is non negotiable in your expectations.

 

as a general rule, the typical mainstream cruise starts at about $100 per person per day and goes up from there.

 

 

I would have to disagree with the $100/person/day aspect. We have rarely paid that much for a cruise. I've heard that old adage for determining if you were getting a good deal or not.

 

To the op--I don't know if you can really say if lines such as RCI, Costa, Celebrity, Carnival, Norwegian, Princess, etc., are going to be cheaper than any other. In some markets and some cruises, I think all the lines remain competitive with each other. There may be some variation in pricing, so while one week one line may be cheaper than another, and a month later, the opposite is true. You just have to do the research.

 

I don't know if beverage prices or prices for photos are going to vary that much from line to line, though I could be wrong. I also don't think the daily gratuities are going to be that much different...for instance, I think it's 11.50 on Carnival and 12 on NCL. If saving $14 on a cruise over gratuities is going to make you chose one line over another, well, I guess I don't know what to tell you there.

 

Also, some lines will have more pay-for-dining restaurants than others. Carnival, for instance, has very few pay-for-dining restaurants, whereas looking at NCL (Dawn), it seems like half the dining venues are an extra fee. You can, however, choose not to go to any pay-for-dining restaurants when you're on a ship, so if you're budget conscious, it's easy to avoid this on any line.

[spookwife]

I would have to disagree with the $100/person/day aspect. We have rarely paid that much for a cruise. I've heard that old adage for determining if you were getting a good deal or not.

 

 

I also factor in things like tips and a small daily spending amount on top of taxes and port charges.

 

and let's face it not everyone scores those $69 pp per day inside cabins nor are they looking for an inside. and really.. $100 a day for pretty much nearly all you can eat and drink, entertainment, plus transportation to new and exotic locales.. ain't such a bad price.

[el2001mail]

i would agree that cruising with ncl or carnival gives you best value for your vacation dollar.

 

any cruise fare will cover your room (cabin), food, entertainment and if you purchase nothing on the ship or do no activity for cost, you can walk off the ship at the end of your cruise owing nothing.

 

please DO factor in the cost of gratuities which can run about $ 12 per day (minimal if you consider you have dined at least 3 meals for the day, plus someone has made your bed and cleaned your bathroom -- sometimes 2 x in a day) -- you may adjust if service is not good, but don't stiff the staff as some cruiselines do no pay a salary or wage, and your gratuity payment is what the staff earns.

 

think also to give extra at the end of your cruise to show your appreciation if the staff has gone beyond what they are expected to do. ie my steward went and got me motion pills when i was seasick (didn't have to ask), or an officer helped me get tickets to a show bec i was in a seminar at the time the tickets were released (i didn't ask, he heard my conversation with my husband and asked my cabin # and when i wanted to see the show) extra gratuities should always be given to the recipient IN PERSON, never through an intermediary.

 

there have been many good tips offered in this thread that is worthwhile noting.

 

excursions often can be arranged privately once you get off the ship and into the pier area -- at half the price that the ship offers them, but know what you want to see. look over the ship's offerings and return times and ask for the same itinerary from the vendors on shore. with privately arranged tours the ship will not wait for you if you come back to the ship late, so come back early. if the tour is arranged with the ship, if you are delayed, the ship is obligated to wait for you -- difference to keep in mind.

[cruisin63]

I totally agree that the ship's shore excursions are costly and will eat up your budget in no time. I always research each port on Cruise Critic to see who is offering the best private excursions, and choose one that fits both my interests and budget. More often than not, these excursions are much, much less expensive, and offer the best bang for your buck. Also, do not be afraid to use these private companies, as most are commissioned by the cruise lines for their own shore excursions, and all stick to the same schedule as far as getting you back to the ship on time. Most also guarantee your "on time" arrival as well. Just make sure you get one that does. I have never paid the extra fee for the steak houses, etc. on board, but stick to the Lido deck offerings for breakfast and lunch, and the main dining room for dinner. I have never been disappointed in either. That's not to say that there haven't been meals that weren't considered "gourmet", but for the most part, they were all fine! I've been on numerous cruises with Princess, Royal Caribbean and Carnival, and have never, ever been disappointed with any of them. I do believe that Carnival is the most reasonable, and I love their menu offerings, especially the "down home

cooking" options, and their deli sandwiches on the Lido deck, which are

to die for. I always, always invest in a "future cruises certificate" on each line. For instance for a $100 investment, you will get a $200 credit on your next cruise, and this is a wonderful savings. On some cruises (lasting more than 8 days) they will sometimes offer $300 and $400 onboard credit for your original investment. You have 2 years to use it (on Carnival and Princess) and if you take no cruises, you get your money back. Like you young folks out there who are raising families and living on a strict budget, I'm a 71 yr. old widow, who also has to pinch pennies. Also check out all of the "free" things to do in each port, you will find that there are plenty to interest every member of your family.

Edited December 26, 2013 by cruisin63

[BC-er]

We are cruising in a suite on NCL next December on an 11 day Southern Caribbean cruise. We booked almost 2 years in advance so that we could slowly pay it off a little at a time.

 

We are frugal (not cheap) cruisers and always book an inside cabin (mid ship and low down are the most stable if you have choppy or rough seas ---bow location is the worst and the higher you go the more sway if it gets rough, although the ships are well stabilized.). The difference between the inside and a balcony will usually more than cover our airfare, overnight hotel if needed or sometimes even another cruise! Balconies, in my opinion, are over rated. Often too hot, too cold, too windy, too wet, can't see enough, or just don't have time to use them. We are never in our room except to sleep, change etc. or briefly relax. Inside cabins are roomy enough for us, well lighted, mirrored so they don't feel cramped and are well ventilated. ALL OTHER THINGS on the ship are equal, same food, same entertainment etc. etc. why pay an arm and a leg more for a balcony.

 

We aren't heavy drinkers and often drink ice tea (free on the buffet) all day or just water with lemon, saving our calories for all that included yummy food. Maybe a diet coke or two. Princess has reasonable drink prices in the evening. We sometimes get a bottle of wine with dinner, but you don't have to drink the entire bottle then, they store it for you, for the next night.

 

Personally I'd rather give the helpful staff extra tips than drink a lot of booze...money better spent in my opinion.

 

I don't think the drink cards/packages are worth it, especially if you are going ashore often. Really how much can you drink every day??? Some cruise lines let you bring wine on board to use in your room.

 

If you are doing the Caribbean you can pick up inexpensive and safe tours once you get off the ship, so easy to do, or just bus/walk into towns. Tours run $20-30 pp and usually are very good with tons of info. Often tours not from the ship are more extensive and more informative and better value.

 

We were just (Oct.) in La Rochelle France and Gijon Spain and both these small cities had excellent walking tour maps in English... amazing. Lisbon, we took a city tour from the ship. I think big cities are best done through the ship. Small cities are more interested in tourists and will be more accommodating. It was a transatlantic cruise and was a bargain and we visited England for 2 weeks first. Total for 4 weeks, planes, trains, cruise, etc. Vancouver to England, 2 wk. cruise seeing bits of Europe, Bahamas and plane from Miami to Vancouver $8500.00 It takes time, we planned ahead. Some people spend that on a 2 week cruise alone... depends on your bank account. We have met lots of "well to do" people who also go with inside cabins. My motto, the more we can save, the more often we can go! Look for bargains especially within 3 months of travel as they are filling those empty cabins then.

 

We have been on Holland - Jun/13, Celebrity - Oct/13 and Princess - Nov/12 at least 9 or 10 times in the past 7-8 years and we have decide that we now like Princess the best... we are going on Ruby Princess for 2 weeks Nov. 14, can't wait!! ... yes we did book ahead for this cruise but it's inside :)

 

have a look at this food http://surreygal.smugmug.com/Food/Grand-Princess-Nov-2012/29131670_bHk6sJ#!i=2482208366&k=w3cvBzJ choose the slide show option.

 

 

Just my ramblings and opinions. All cruises are great!!!!

Edited December 26, 2013 by BC-er

[perkydebrajean]

I prefer a balcony because I do spend a lot of time out there. I would rather be sitting on my balcony enjoying the quiet than laying out by the pool or in the clubs. In fact we never even used the pool on our cruise. When my daughter and I went on our cruise she was down with a migraine on 4 out of 7 days (she's diagnosed with chronic migraines). So while she was laying down I would relax on the balcony.

 

We are splurging next time on a haven suite because it's my husbands first cruise and also a birthday present for him. And since he and I only get to take a vacation together every 5 or 6 years due to his job, we like to make it something special. He and I also keep different hours (also due to his job) so I'm in bed before him and wake up several hours earlier than he does. A balcony and also the haven area will give me somewhere to go while he continues to sleep.

[restasured]

But those credit card points were paid to you, by the credit card company, so that is money that did not come out of your pocket. Had you paid cash for all the items you charged on your credit card and gotten points for, you would have gotten nothing. This way you do get the dollars from the points.