In Defense of the Budget Cruiser

[mame42]

I did not want to hijack another thread, but I felt compelled to stick my two cents in. Some of us budget and do without for many months in order to afford to cruise. To us, a $200/300 difference (double that if the cruiser is a solo) in price for a guarantee is worth risking an inconvenient location or a less desirable cabin, especially for longer cruises. After all, the ship is merely a means of transport to amazing cultures and sights that we would never experience otherwise. The "insignificant" price difference might pay for an excursion we previously thought too expensive, a pre/post cruise hotel, or part of our airfare.

 

No, we do not want to cruise on a budget cruise line. Although it was once implied on this forum that if one needed to worry about the pre cruise credit card hold, that perhaps one shouldn't be cruising, we find the ambience, itineraries, service, and, above all, the people we meet on HAL worth sacrificing for.

[pv girl]

Amen.

 

I have traveled a lot in my life - my Dad always planned good summer car trips for us - all over the US. As a young single and then young married, I got to explore Europe many times, and got to Alaska and Canada, and Mexico (honeymoon in Acapulco, back when it was a chic place to go). But always thought cruising was "too expensive" and it was never on my radar. After early retirement, I was introduced to cruising by a dear friend - and was hooked. I still do land trips a lot, love car trips in Europe, but cruising is so much easier and allows me to see more places in a short time span - reference a Med cruise where I got to Croatia, Greece, and Turkey in 12 days.

 

So with careful budgeting, I can afford it. But it often means taking guarantee OV rooms - I draw the line on insides! As long as I have light and a bathtub, I am happy. But go easy on the drinks, do DIY port excursions most of the time, etc. That's what I like about HAL - no class distinction in dining opportunities or activities and they treat me like a queen.

[summer slope]

Very well put by both of you. I would never tell someone how to vacation or trip (retired, don't need vacation). What you spend and how you choose to spend it is your business, not anyone elses. I love HAL because of the small ships and low key activities. I will continue to pinch pennies to be able to cruise on her my way.

[POA1]

To us, a $200/300 difference (double that if the cruiser is a solo) in price for a guarantee is worth risking an inconvenient location or a less desirable cabin, especially for longer cruises. After all, the ship is merely a means of transport to amazing cultures and sights that we would never experience otherwise. The "insignificant" price difference might pay for an excursion we previously thought too expensive, a pre/post cruise hotel, or part of our airfare.

 

Very well put.

[sail7seas]

Thank you for your post(s).

It's good to read this and remind ourselves how lucky we are to be able to cruise at all.

 

[iancal]

Getting the most value for our travel dollar has allowed us to spend 5 of the last 12 months travelling to places on our bucket list. This includes three cruises. It is one of the reasons why we often book inside the final payment window.

 

We expect to do the same again in the upcoming 12 month period. We have very long lists and then we want to repeat a few.

Edited June 23, 2015 by iancal

[take us away]

Thanks - made my day! We watch our bar tabs, also often diy shore excursions as the research is half the fun for planning, stay out of the casino, but always provide extra tips as the service is amazing on HAL. Still finishing up the bucket list but much more to experience.

 

S7S - you are so correct about being so lucky to be able to cruise at all!

[Ky Colonel]

mame42,

 

No need to defend your choices in life to anyone here on CC, but, for what it's worth, I agree with you 110%. I hope you have many opportunities to fulfill your cruise wishes. Best wishes and smooth sailing ...

[cruz chic]

Excellent post op. So many times I read on here how people scrap together pennies yet mention how they take upsells to neptune suites. That's not scraping by. My parents were dirt poor so I do know what's that's like and not just month the words. A couple hundred is nothing to sneeze at.

[sunnygidget]

We book guaranteed insides all the time. Yes we could afford to do more but we don't see any need. This gives us more money to do excursions, enjoy a drink before dinner, and so on. Plus we can travel more often this way. Holland upgrades us sometimes so it's a nice surprise, they also make every passenger feel special. Still enjoy the insides and never mind where we are located, we have no issues, just so we are on the ship and we all arrive at the same time. Some lines do make you feel like a steerage passenger, we choose not to travel on them again:mad:

 

Oh and talking budget, you can order a bucket of beer at 2 of the bars during happy hour and get the second one for $1 more. We just take the remainder of them back to our cabin to enjoy whenever;) Cann't resist a bargain:D

[Krazy Kruizers]

I understand what you are saying.

I read those posts on a couple of threads and thought how rude those people were for making such statements about choosing another cruise , etc.

[Banditswife]

My husband and I are new to Holland America. Our upcoming cruise is a life time dream of his. I am just so thankful that we can swing it financially. But it will take some cutting back on luxuries at home & on the ship to be able to afford it. So if my wardrobe is not from Nordstoms & my shoes are from the clearance rack- please do not fault us for taking our dream cruise with a budget in mind.

 

Thank you to the OP for reminding us that we are fortunate indeed to be able to cruise at all, many people can't.

[summer slope]

I had to smile when you mentioned shoes. I can honestly say I've never looked at a cruiser's shoes. Jewelry maybe, but never shoes. :)

[kazu]

Very well put by both of you. I would never tell someone how to vacation or trip (retired, don't need vacation). What you spend and how you choose to spend it is your business, not anyone elses. I love HAL because of the small ships and low key activities. I will continue to pinch pennies to be able to cruise on her my way.

 

exactly:) Many of us budget for our cruises and everyone's priorities are different. As long as we are all happy and able to cruise, life is good indeed :)

[Ky Colonel]

My husband and I are new to Holland America. Our upcoming cruise is a life time dream of his. I am just so thankful that we can swing it financially. But it will take some cutting back on luxuries at home & on the ship to be able to afford it. So if my wardrobe is not from Nordstoms & my shoes are from the clearance rack- please do not fault us for taking our dream cruise with a budget in mind.

 

Thank you to the OP for reminding us that we are fortunate indeed to be able to cruise at all, many people can't.

 

... good post ... I hope your upcoming cruise is everything you hope it will be ... and please do not feel the need to apologize for your choices ... comments such as the one above ("So many times I read on here how people scrap together pennies yet mention how they take upsells to neptune suites. That's not scraping by.") are either mean-spirited or thoughtless and should be ignored ... enjoy your cruise and smooth sailing ...

[Lizzie68]

Amen.

 

I have traveled a lot in my life - my Dad always planned good summer car trips for us - all over the US. As a young single and then young married, I got to explore Europe many times, and got to Alaska and Canada, and Mexico (honeymoon in Acapulco, back when it was a chic place to go). But always thought cruising was "too expensive" and it was never on my radar. After early retirement, I was introduced to cruising by a dear friend - and was hooked. I still do land trips a lot, love car trips in Europe, but cruising is so much easier and allows me to see more places in a short time span - reference a Med cruise where I got to Croatia, Greece, and Turkey in 12 days.

 

So with careful budgeting, I can afford it. But it often means taking guarantee OV rooms - I draw the line on insides! As long as I have light and a bathtub, I am happy. But go easy on the drinks, do DIY port excursions most of the time, etc. That's what I like about HAL - no class distinction in dining opportunities or activities and they treat me like a queen.

 

I so agree. In my younger years I was fortunate to be able to travel all over Europe and later a Med cruise. Now though I have to carefully budget for.my cruises and save what I can where I can. I do few ship excursions as many are just not comparable to those I can book myself and sometimes we don't do any and make the ship our destination. More power to those who don't have to budget but they also have no right to tell us if we can afford to cruise we can afford this or that. That's just arrogant.

[Banditswife]

I had to smile when you mentioned shoes. I can honestly say I've never looked at a cruiser's shoes. Jewelry maybe, but never shoes. :)

There was reference on another thread as to how expensive someone's shoes were. It kind of threw me for a loop. We have a really expensive shoe store here, but I wait until they put my favorites on their clearance sale at the end of the season.

 

Thanks for all the positive remarks-we will have a wonderful cruise. I have learned so much from all of you HAL experts.

Edited June 23, 2015 by Banditswife

[Fouremco]

Well said, OP, and it's gratifying to see all the posts in support of your comments.

[Caribbean Chris]

I applaud people who are smart enough to think about what they spend and do it their way. I've never had a feeling on HAL that people were particularly status-conscious about others (or maybe I've just never cared if some do.)

 

We've done many a guarantee on cruises and sometimes in recent years have splurged on suites ... since we know our remaining window for travel is not forever. We also often go camping to National Parks, stay overnight in simple campgrounds at a 50% senior discount and cook our own meals. We have a great, fun time in all of these scenarios and are so grateful we have the health to get out of the house and enjoy life.

 

I learned in my 20s observing a friend's family that some people who dress to the hilt, live in a great place with fabulous furniture and only go first class or book suites ... are in reality unable to pay their credit card bills, write bad checks and end up filing bankruptcy. I never wanted to be that kind of person.

[cruz chic]

It's getting so embarrassing to be constantly doted on and quoted, I mean REALLY embarrassing and really, really creepy.

[scm1848]

Since our Norwegian fjord cruise will only be the first half of our trip, and we are then going to a much warmer southern France climate, I will only be wearing one pair of closed-toe shoes the entire week. We only pack one suitcase each.

 

Also, remember that many types of shoes and other clothing may be being worn due to some type of disability or other body issue. Let's go easing on judging others for whatever reason.

[guinnesshalfpint]

There was reference on another thread as to how expensive someone's shoes were. It kind of threw me for a loop.....

 

 

 

Thanks for all the positive remarks-we will have a wonderful cruise. I have learned so much from all of you HAL experts.

 

 

 

 

I love shoes (and jewelry and hair for that matter). If you catch me sneaking a peek, it's purely in appreciation - not judgement or envy or anything else. What does that have to do with cabin selection, I have no idea.

 

Thanks OP. I imagine you speak for many of us lurkers. In any event, everything is relative. Think of the many ports we stop at. I'm just grateful me and the LLs (lovely ladies DM and DS) are healthy and financially able to cruise at all. [emoji7]

[cbr663]

To the OP, most cruisers are on a budget. There is only so much money that most will pay and can pay for a particular cruise. Those with seemingly unlimited funds are not sailing on a mass cruise ship; these are the people with the massive private yachts that you see in different ports.

 

Passing judgment, insulting and belittling others is passive aggressive behaviour that just reflects poorly on the poster. Pretentious people with an unwarranted sense of accomplishment will often attack any post that does not support or threatens their fragile self-esteem. The best solution is to simply add to your ignore list.

[bjarrett7]

Thanks for this post! This is one of the reasons why we choose HAL over Celebrity. We don't care for the class system... I love that no matter what kind of room you may have, we all eat the same food in basically the same dining room. Every room gets excellent service and excellent room service options. [emoji41]

[sevenseasnomad]

Thank you for your post(s).

It's good to read this and remind ourselves how lucky we are to be able to cruise at all.

 

 

Amen. We never take cruising for granted. We feel so fortunate to have the opportunities, especially on HAL. Yes, we sacrifice to the point most people probably wouldn't deny themselves as we do, but then we go on 3 fabulous cruises a year.

 

My co-workers have started copying our lifestyle (or lack of it, LOL) so they can cruise with us. Four of them w/spouses will be joining us next spring. I'm hoping to get them all hooked on HAL.