Anyone else cruise steerage class?

[Barnum42]

Just seeing if there are any other budget cruisers on here.

 

You know - have an interior cabin and charge very little to the on-board account during the cruise and use the shoe leather express to go exploring in the ports.

 

I'll not begrudge those discussing staying in the best royal suites and luxury balcony cabins, or having the ability to pay for unlimited internet and all the excursions. Enjoy yourselves.

 

But are there any others in steerage, or are we the only ones dancing a jig to a merry fiddle player? ;)

Edited May 9, 2014 by Barnum42
dropped a "u" then found it under the desk.

[DonnaK]

Just seeing if there are any other budget cruisers on here.

 

You know - have an interior cabin and charge very little to the on-board account during the cruise and use the shoe leather express to go exploring in the ports.

 

I'll not begrudge those discussing staying in the best royal suites and luxury balcony cabins, or having the ability to pay for unlimited internet and all the excursions. Enjoy yourselves.

 

But are there any others in steerage, or are we the only ones dancing a jig to a merry fiddle player? ;)

 

We're pretty frugal cruisers. We generally book balcony cabins, but only if when combined with our C&A balcony discount, the cost comes down close to what the interior costs. But, we have no problem sailing in insides if the price difference is too much. We never dine in specialty restaurants, we don't drink or gamble, and we hardly spend any money onboard. In ports, we research online for private excursions that are a very good value, otherwise we do a walking tour on our own.

 

This enables us to cruise more often (or to take other vacations during the year). We're paying for 4 now, because we take our young adult daughters with us, but even when the time comes that it is just my husband and me, I can't imagine that we will splurge too much more.

[Amyracecar]

It depends on which ship we're on. We try to book well ahead now to save up or go with the cheaper cruise lines, but I remember our first NCL cruise was budgeted to the max!

We had the cheapest inside cabin and couldn't afford to spend much on the ship at all, we found it so expensive. I think we had one non-alcoholic drink per night!

It did spoil the experience a little but worth it for the overall holiday experience. Better than we'd get on land.

 

In port, whether we're budgeting on the ship itself or not, we plan well ahead and research how to get the most from a port for as little as possible. In most city ports you can have an amazing day spending next to nothing. I remember paying 6 EUR for a train to Rome, something that cost around $110 on an excursion, just for a shopping trip! (For a tour with a guide it was a lot more) You need invest the time with things like that and know where you're going though.

 

 

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Edited May 9, 2014 by Amyracecar

[Oppalopa]

Just seeing if there are any other budget cruisers on here.

 

You know - have an interior cabin and charge very little to the on-board account during the cruise and use the shoe leather express to go exploring in the ports.

 

I'll not begrudge those discussing staying in the best royal suites and luxury balcony cabins, or having the ability to pay for unlimited internet and all the excursions. Enjoy yourselves.

 

But are there any others in steerage, or are we the only ones dancing a jig to a merry fiddle player? ;)

No I am a budget cruiser I do get a ocean view only because I travel alone and I feel safer I know it is not logical. We used to have a thrifty thread on here I wonder what happened? :confused:

[George C]

There is nothing wrong was a inside room, when I started cruising there were no balconies

[BamaGuy44]

Just seeing if there are any other budget cruisers on here.

 

You know - have an interior cabin and charge very little to the on-board account during the cruise and use the shoe leather express to go exploring in the ports.

 

I'll not begrudge those discussing staying in the best royal suites and luxury balcony cabins, or having the ability to pay for unlimited internet and all the excursions. Enjoy yourselves.

 

But are there any others in steerage, or are we the only ones dancing a jig to a merry fiddle player? ;)

 

Sometimes the posts make it seem like everyone on CC cruises B2B2B2B2B2B 4 times a year in a GS, and sits on the captain's lap while he feeds them grapes (LOL, stole that line from another poster:p)

 

But there are only a few suites on each ship and hundreds of non-suites, so SOMEONE must be sailing in them amirite? ;)

 

Trust me, we're out here. I'm right there with you, down by the coal furnaces :p We book a regular old, non-suite cabin, no specialty restaurants, no private cabanas on the beaches, no priority seating, priority boarding, etc. We do some excursions, but not every port certainly.

 

We still have a wonderful time, as I'm sure most do, regardless of how much they spend. Any time I'm on a cruise ship or in a port and not at work, that's a good day :D

 

Like you I'm not begrudging ANYONE. I wouldn't presume to tell anyone how to spend their money. Live and let live is my motto, especially regarding vacations

Edited May 9, 2014 by BamaGuy44

[galfromkazoo]

We usually cruise pretty inexpensively. My husband prefers an inside cabin anyway because he loves how dark it is for sleeping although I occasionally demand a balcony when the price is right which makes it hard for him to argue. We usually only have one or two drinks, not for cost but because that is a lot of drinking for us. We have been to most islands more than once so excursions are not necessary - we can walk or take a taxi to where we want to go. No specialty restaurants for us - I like the food in the dining room.

 

I can see why cruise lines are always looking for new cruisers instead of increasing benefits to regular cruisers. When first cruising we spent a lot on board and on the islands. Now, I don't feel the need to spend a lot. I had enough "why did I buy that on that cruise" moments. I take what I used to spend on a cruise and stay extra days pre-cruise, I fly instead of drive, etc.

[sealeggs]

We have always cruised inside cabins. Never had a problem. We watch our expenses and enjoy ourselves very much. If we were to book balcony's and above we wouldn't get to cruise as much as we do. Everyone has their own preferences. We just love being on a ship.

[dacsmom]

Sometimes I book an inside and sometimes I book a balcony, it depends on my finances at the time. I can have a great time on a limited budget just as long as I am on a ship.

[perkli25]

We did interior cabins for our first few cruises to save money. Then we got a great deal on a balcony upgrade after a price drop and it made it hard to go back. We only cruise maybe 1 time per year and we figure it is worth the extra $$. But if I had had the opportunity to cruise more often, you bet I'd be doing it interior cabin style! I say, to each his own.

 

 

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[Ocean View]

No worries you are not alone!! Most ports we have been we stroll around or take public transport. I start with an inside and watch deals sometimes work my way up. When my DD was younger we always had ov balcony I needed the extra room. Now it's just DH and I I'll cruise anything just to go. My next on the allure is a CP balcony. Started as a inside now my cabin is cheaper than I started. Got to play the game lol. Air fare is the killer.

 

 

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[purplethorn]

LOL @ 'shoe leather express' love it!

 

 

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[ValerieJo]

We have always stayed in an inside cabin. We do use the savings to do some nice excursions. We are not big drinkers so not much of a bar bill. We book next cruise onboard so we get On Board Credits. OBC pay the small bar bill and a specialty restaurant.

[mrpayroll]

We book inside ( sometimes promenade ) and cruise two to three times a year. My sister and BIL insist on balcony. When i tell them we are going again, they say " how do you afford it "? I tell them " we don't need a balcony to enjoy a cruise". We get the same food, same shows and same ports as you do....:)

[Griswolds]

More thrifty travelers here. We only book a cruise if we find a decent price. We determine a "decent price" by cost-per-night. We usually get inside cabin to keep cost down. Splurged on a balcony once, yes it was nice but I didn't feel worth the cost difference. We don't drink alcohol so that's a big saver. No spa, no fresh squeezed orange juice, have never done a speciality restaurant, although we have done Johnny Rockets a couple times. We book excursions on our own but usually just walk around on our own (if it's safe!). We play in the casino occasionally but never more than $20-50. Played bingo twice. We used to buy t-shirts on the cruise on the last night for $5-10 but they haven't done that in a while. We also used to like to pose for the ship photographer pictures all over the ship because it was fun to go look at them after dinner. We bought a couple once (with BOGO coupon) but we haven't done that the last few cruises either. Our SeaPass bill has never been more than $300 and that was on Oasis with two teenagers. This is the only way we can afford to cruise as often as we have. Airfare has to be factored into our vacation and sometimes that's as much as the cruise (or more!).

[twocc's]

We try to get the best deal possible and do not mind insides, gtys, etc.

Being PC we have a lot of wonderful perks. Also we do other cruise lines.

 

Charles and Connie

[karinad]

We are not big spenders. We don't drink a lot of alcohol, although, we might have a mixed drink once or twice on the cruise. We stick to ice tea and coffee for meals or might splurge on a coke/pepsi if it's wanted. I do usually bring my caffeine/diet pepsi with me.

 

We usually don't do the excursions unless we're in Europe.

 

Financially, things are getting worse, not better, as we get older, but, I'll continue to put away for a yearly cruise. We fly using miles and make our credit cards work for us.

 

Our OBC covered our tips on our last cruise and our final bill was about $40.00 for 12 nights.

[mitchell4141]

Right there with you the DW and I have been on 5 cruises with RCI and love to cruise but we can't afford to go but once a year and then go on another short vacation with the grandson. we have always booked an inside cabin and I love them best sleep I get all year. We usually get off the boat not spending but around $300 DW always gets a T shirt in the ports & a knock off pocket book if she can get the price right. But still seems it cost us more in gas to the port and parking fees than we spend while actually on the cruise.

[cb at sea]

I'm pretty tight....although I do like my space! We don't book the smaller cabins...but we seldom pay for excursions! A bit of research will serve you well...you can have your own good time, do what YOU want, on your timetable...with a bit of research! A guidebook is worth it's weight in gold!

[AussieVisi2r]

Another vote for cheap rooms! :o

 

I have done my share of suites (when I travel with my 88yo father). But without him it's inside or OV rooms.

 

My biggest expense on board is duty free alcohol and makeup. SOOOO much cheaper on the ship than at home in Aust. (Clinique is under half price and I can buy 4 bottles of spirits including Grey Goose for what I would pay for a litre of Grey Goose at home. ($80 for 750 ml.)

 

So ....cheap room, use BOGO for restaurants etc, No spa, bingo or casino, and a few drinks.

 

Most affordable holiday there is!

I also make sure I have the best credit card for gaining airline points and fly with points. Again this is a huge cost for Aussies.

 

Raina

[traveler279]

Count us in the steerage class. We go for inside, mid-ship, lower deck. When the stateroom door is closed it is like a sensory deprivation chamber. No light. No sound. No sense of time when you wake up. We love that.

 

We either just do beach excursions or explore on our own

 

We can afford one long cruise a year in the winter. We take two weeks ocean front vacation in the summer.

 

Holiday every six months. Life is good.

[kc320]

As a solo cruiser I have to be fugal as well...I've only done 1 inside cabin though...just not for me...I need to be able to tell if it's day or night...OV on deck 2 no problem, I do watch for deals though. and with my D+ discount a balcony can be as cheap as an OV or very close in price.....I do my own shore excursions...or if it's somewhere I've been before, sometimes I will just stay onboard & enjoy the ship...

[WishIwerethere]

First cruise (11 days) booked a balcony. It was nice when pulling into a port but otherwise noisy damp (salty) and ashes flying from other balconies etc.

 

Happy to have an inside. There are so many places to go on ship don't really need balcony or suite.

 

Booking excursions on your own is often good but some ship excursions about same price as private

[tidygirl]

I will say I am frugal! We have cruised 1o times and all but 2 have been inside rooms. We just got back from the Jewell a couple of weeks ago and had our first balcony room (only because of price drops 2x and getting upgraded after calling) it was nice but can't say I'd pay the price difference!

Cruised last fall with 3 adult kids and new SIL- newlyweds got their own room the other 2 kids and hubby and I shared an inside room! Crowded? A little but hardly ever in the room!

We are actually booked in Sept on a cruise out of Barcelona with all the kids again after watching prices got what I thought was a decent deal booked then they had the 3/4 passenger free and a price drop which I took advantage of! So now the 2 kids are cruising in our room for $100 a piece in port taxes!

Now looking how to do our touring on a budget as I have trouble paying $700-$800 a day just for transportation not counting admission prices.

We don't drink, gamble or do fancy restaurants so we can have a low tab at the end of the cruise my biggest splurge is usually family pictures as I can't get the family to do that at home!

[ehfl]

We usually book inside, guarantee if possible. If we can get a good deal on a balcony, we'll take it, but don't pay a lot more for one. Inside is fine. We do whatever shore excursions we want, and don't mind spending money there. We just don't need to spend a lot on a room that we don't use much, except for sleeping.