Best BUDGET Saving Idea - and Must have SPLURGE?

[KBS1607]

I was so glad we had heard about the CCL shareholder OBC here. $250 right there. And the balcony is something we always splurge on.

[AKman2495]

Here's my 2 cents: budget as you can see, there are a lot of things you can do to save money. We save by staying in inside rooms, which apparently have not harmed us in any way. We also eat our meals in the free dining areas. (My DW says why should we spend money to buy food on the ship when they give plenty of it away for free?)

 

Also either book tours that include a lunch or schedule them that get back to the ship early (or leave late) so that you can eat lunch on board.

 

As for splurges...ours is a little different-we like to book the best hotels for our pre-cruise hotels. There is nothing like starting off a vacation in a 4 star deluxe hotel. Last year we were staying at the 4 seasons in Houston. We had a sumptuous dinner that night-my DW (see above) said she did not want to know much that meal cost! :D But she loved it anyway.

[PoohUnderstands]

Budget--if you want to see a town/city outside of the port, rent a car or take a ferry, train or a bus--the services are often quite good and much cheaper than taking a tour. Advance planning is necessary, but there's lots of information available to do this. Just give yourself plenty of time to get back to the ship in time.

 

If you run out of toiletries, buy them in port--not on the ship.

 

Find an Internet café in the port for online service.

 

Splurge--have a nice lunch at a fancy restaurant in port (a reservation may be necessary)--usually much cheaper than the restaurant's evening meal.

 

Do a private port tour with 2-4 persons--you'll see a lot more.

 

The Chef's Table dinner is excellent and well worth the $$.

 

 

 

Along with the Chef's Table, I also recommend the Ultimate Ship's Tour if you are interested in that type of thing. We are not foodies and do not drink so the Chef's Table was ok for us but we loved the UST and the goodies that came with it.

 

 

Pooh

[LoriPhil]

Best splurge is our coffee card, best spluge/budget combo is flying in a day before the cruise and booking a 4 star hotel via Priceline. Always an adventure to see what we end up with on those! We no longer to the specialty restaurants, as we've always found something wonderful on the MDR menu to tempt us - I divert those specialty dining dollars to purchasing festive adult beverages instead.

Edited October 30, 2014 by LoriPhil

[knbcruisers]

Budget: Avoid the casino, bingo, horse racing (do they still do that?); Do your own shore planning; Do not let my husband anywhere near the spa, he can't say no to the sales pitch :); don't buy trinkets on the ship

 

Splurge: I always buy a bottle of good perfume--the price is great and I won't buy it otherwise; the biggest balcony I can afford; wine tasting events on sea days

[cflutist]

Budget - been known to pack our own dryer sheets (they are light and make your clothes smell good) to use in the laundry. Also bring our own peanut M&Ms and cashews.

 

Splurge - sailing in a Penthouse Suite on our next cruise

[figmentdj]

It's funny, but our budget and splurges are opposite of many:

 

Budget: Don't eat at the specialty restaurants. In fact don't pay for any additional food. There's so much already.

 

Splurge: Have some fun gambling. I don't think they do this anymore, but our biggest splurge was bidding on and buying a horse in the Dicey Horse Racing. For a whole week that horse was ours to decorate, take around the ship, photograph and then we would race him on the last day in the big derby. One time we won the race and made a nice profit. Wish they'd bring it back.

[Britter16]

budget - cheapest room we are comfortable with, food and entertainment are all the same no matter which cabin you choose.

splurge - fly home business class so the vacation lasts until we touch down at home

[metairiegal]

Budget:

Book inside cabins when the balcony is a lot higher (Our upcoming New Year's cruise was $600 per person higher for a balcony - that is crazy talk. We can take another cruise with the money we're saving on an inside.)

 

I don't drink many but I bring a couple of Diet Cokes and some bottled water to keep in the cabin.

 

We never pay for food on the cruise - there is way too much free food that is great.

 

Go to the Captain's party for free champagne!

 

Always check for price drops.

 

Dh gets military credit and we get CCL credit.

 

 

Splurge:

(I know lots will disagree with this one.) We live close to Fort Lauderdale, drive to the port and I like to park in the port garage. When the cruise is over, I don't want to wait for any (no matter how fast they are) vans or cabs. I like to be able to jump in my car and be on my way.

 

We always buy the ships insurance.

 

I have heard so much about the coffee cards, I am gonna get dh to get one this time. I don't drink coffee, he does. But they will punch it for free gelato/sundaes and I might have to have one of those!

[akeasley]

Budget-I don't buy the coffee card, coke card, or gamble.

 

Splurge-I book Princess shore excursions for the peace of mind of being returned to the ship on time. When I cruise with DH, we splurge on the Crown Grill one evening.

Edited October 30, 2014 by akeasley

[Nan_Sea]

Some ships will let you use the coffee card punches for gelato and some won't

[Thrak]

It's funny, but our budget and splurges are opposite of many:

 

Budget: Don't eat at the specialty restaurants. In fact don't pay for any additional food. There's so much already.

 

Splurge: Have some fun gambling. I don't think they do this anymore, but our biggest splurge was bidding on and buying a horse in the Dicey Horse Racing. For a whole week that horse was ours to decorate, take around the ship, photograph and then we would race him on the last day in the big derby. One time we won the race and made a nice profit. Wish they'd bring it back.

 

There are Patters online for the Mexico cruise on Grand Princess in March. It lists Dicey Horse Racing on one of the days. It seems they are still doing this.

[Rosethorn40]

Budget: Inside cabin unless we get an excellent upsell to a balcony (Happened once on another line, for $336 more for the two of us we went from an inside to suite). Stopped buying souvenirs a long time ago as they just became dust collectors. Now that we are branching out to European cruises we will do Hop on/off bus tours that we purchase on location when feasible.

 

Splurges: #1 is the Sanctuary if a warm weather destination, thermal suite if ship has it, will book shore excursions through the ship to save time, and peace of mind, or if a special/different experience is offered.

[stay_or_go]

For budget: if you really want to save, cruise November / early December for off season prices. Book private excursions, take your own photographs, avoid the casino and don't buy art or anything else on board. On some cruises, we had enough on board credit left to get a refund.

 

For splurge: do something that you have never done before, para-sailing, white-water rafting, ocean kayaking, something that you will remember forever.

[taxatty]

 

 

Splurge:

(I know lots will disagree with this one.) We live close to Fort Lauderdale, drive to the port and I like to park in the port garage. When the cruise is over, I don't want to wait for any (no matter how fast they are) vans or cabs. I like to be able to jump in my car and be on my way.

 

!

I don't disagree--if you're willing to splurge, it's delightful to be able to drive away in your own car within 5-10 minutes after getting off the ship. We do this in both Miami and Ft. Lauderdale.

[RMM34667]

Don't budget pictures.. Get dressed up and "DO" formal night. Splurge on those pictures.

 

Sometimes memory fades (Alzheimer's & dementia) those pictures are priceless!! Some day those pictures might bring back wonderful memories!

[knbcruisers]

Last thought: DH and I splurged on vow renewal package. It was done on formal night on a family and friends cruise so it made it special. We paid for everyone to eat at Sabatini's afterward which was memorable.

[tuckersgirl]

Budgets:

-- We take as much of our own wine is allowed but won't pay corkage as we don't drink expensive wine.

-- We smuggle on our favorite liquor for pre-dinner cocktail and nightcaps . . . tequila for DH and scotch for me.

-- This latest cruise on the Royal we took a Guaranteed Room to get a cheaper price and were pleasantly surprised to get an upgrade from ME class to M6 class - a bow mini that was kinda fun.

 

Splurges:

-- We started cruising Princess in a Mini Suite and won't go less as we adore the balcony and extra space.

-- At least 1 night in a specialty restaurant (Sabatini's or Crown Grille so far).

-- Coffee card. (We did the soda card on our first cruise but never again.)

-- One professional photo per cruise.

 

Just our idea of Good Ideas:

-- We fly to disembarkation port the day before sailing so we aren't subject to the vaguaries of airline travel or risk missing a sailing.

-- We have made our own tour arrangements in many parts of the world (regular travel) but book Princess excursions on Princess cruises. And this latest trip we learned the wisdom of that (in addition to not being left behind if tardy). One port of call was cancelled due to sea conditions and we got automatic full refund for excursions . . . but would have received NO refund on independently booked excursions. (unless not paid in advance, of course)

[MTNestr]

Budget - don't pack cologne - there are plenty of open samples in the onboard shops. You can try a new scent each evening.

[bearette]

Budget:book the cheapest cruise I can go on and fly/drive to. I'll see all the ports eventually and I don't care which ship it is.

 

Splurge: drinks, photos and something shiny in port.

 

Sent from my KFTHWI using Forums mobile app

[JuneauWhatIMean]

Budget - don't pack cologne - there are plenty of open samples in the onboard shops. You can try a new scent each evening.

 

Of all the budget saving ideas, this is one of the most clever! (But I never leave my cabin or home without wearing or carrying fragrance.) ;)

 

 

 

quote=bearette;44614173]Budget:book the cheapest cruise I can go on and fly/drive to. I'll see all the ports eventually and I don't care which ship it is.

 

Splurge: drinks, photos and something shiny in port.

 

Sent from my KFTHWI using Forums mobile app

 

It's all about the cruise, eh? Love your attitude! :D:D But I would have to substitute "casino and one or two specialty restaurants" for "photos".

[PunkiC]

Budget: For us, sailing in a balcony is a must (or is that a splurge) so we watch carefully for good deals and try to find cruises that offer balconies somewhere in the neighborhood of $100 pp per day, and come with some OBC or free gratuities. We are both veterans and stockholders and always have FCC so we almost always start off with enough OBC to cover gratuities and normal on board expenditures.

 

We almost always DIY when it comes to port tours. Taking local public transportation is not only a whole lot less expensive, but it also gives you a much better feel for the places you visit and the people who live there.

 

We take lots of wine on board. Even with the corkage fee, it is less expensive (and better tasting) than ship wine.

 

Splurge: I always participate in bingo on the last day for the big jackpot. I never win, but it is fun, especially when DH comes with me and helps me find the numbers.

 

We always have wine with dinner.

 

If we have extra OBC, we eat at the Crown Grill, or the Crab Shack. I am not particularly fond of Sabatinis.

 

Once we did the Chef's table, and a couple of times I have had a massage. That was nice, but not particularly something I want to repeat.

 

We have not yet done the Ultimate Ship's Tour but have a couple of cruises coming up with lots of OBC and Free Gratuities, so we are hoping to work that in on one of those cruises.

 

Once we were gifted the Ultimate Balcony Breakfast. It was like about 8 times as much food as we could eat. We ended up sharing with our neighbors on either side of our cabin and still had lots of food left over.

 

On our fifth cruise to Alaska we arrived in Skagway on a breathtakingly beautiful morning and decided that that was the day to take the White Pass and Yukon Railway tour. It was totally amazing and I am so happy that we waited for the right day. It would have been a shame to take that tour on a cloudy day.

 

In St. Petersburg, Russia, we did a two-day tour with SPB Tours, a local company, which was $300US pp and included tourist visas, entry fees, and lunch both days. It was very well worth the money and much easier than DIY in Russia considering the visa requirements. It was still much less expensive and better than the tour offered by the ship. If you go to St. Petersburg, I definitely recommend SPB Tours. They are the best.

 

We are so blessed.

[cruisequeen4ever]

To me, there are cruises of convenience that warrant the budget side, and then there are cruises of a lifetime that warrant the splurge side. Then of course there are the inbetween cruises that need a balance of budgeting and splurging.

 

Budget:

1) Book your own flights and pre-cruise hotel

 

2) Purchase 3rd party insurance, saving you money as well as covering your independent travel arrangements

 

3) Come back Onboard to eat for free while in port

 

4) Book Obstructed Oceanview staterooms to give you some view and light but at a savings

 

Splurge:

1) Spa treatments

 

2) UKP

 

3) Dinner at Crown Grill and Sabatini's

 

4) Balcony stateroom!!

 

5) Cruise line Shore Excursions- don't skimp on your trip of a lifetime and have regrets; also minimize your risk of missing the ship by booking through the cruise line

 

 

 

 

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[Bell Range]

My husband always gets the coffee card, and unused punches can be used on your next cruise. I get the soda card. When we are at a bar, by the pool, or even dinner, my husband orders a drink, and I get a soda. I usually have a sip or two of his glass of wine, and I am good. I don't drink much. Also, pack some ziplocs to bring a lunch ashore. Sandwiches are available in the buffet and International Cafe.

[Nancyquilts]

My husband always gets the coffee card, and unused punches can be used on your next cruise. I get the soda card. When we are at a bar, by the pool, or even dinner, my husband orders a drink, and I get a soda. I usually have a sip or two of his glass of wine, and I am good. I don't drink much. Also, pack some ziplocs to bring a lunch ashore. Sandwiches are available in the buffet and International Cafe.

 

In most ports you are told not to bring food ashore.:(