Question: How many of you go on a cruise the 'frugal' way vs. going all out.....

[slimknyzer]

We were spoiled by the suite life, but realized we could have just as much fun by being a bit frugal.  Our upcoming will be the our first in an inside cabin. 

[Mallow]

I had my wife talked into trying an inside but then covid hit and that isn't an option in case we get quarantined in the cabin.  Balcony is minimum now.

[ober134]

More often frugal, as we would rather cruise 2 or 3 times a year. That said, we have a balcony on order for November considering possibility of quarantine. We only had a balcony once and found we spent very little time there. And once, upgrade fairy called and we got an aft wrap... And while it was pretty, it was soo hot. Direct sun reflecting off the ship and decking was like sitting on the surface of the sun. So mostly inside cabins mid ship. Rarely drink pkg unless we get a good offer. We've been to so many of the Caribbean stops, we do our own thing rather than an excursion. Maybe JiJi one night.

[hurricane0226]

Will splurge at walmart to get the things I need for the cruise.

[ddavis5us]

On the room, we have gone the gamut.  Used to go Interior where we could do more than one a year.   Now, go with value.  Generally book Cheers but it is convenience and value.  Some people look at it as you got to drink the 15 a day.  Not true. If drinking 5 a day and coffee and water, you more than break even.    Buying the package also limits the end of cruise surprise.  But again, not for everyone.  I would urge anyone to do the Steakhouse at least once.  Some people say, why spend more, but we find it to be worth it.  We always did our own excursions not for the savings but for the experience.  Prefer cars with driver to tour bus where you have to wait on the slowest person.  Now, we seldom get off the boat.  Done Cozumel so many times, that while Nachi is extremely nice and I love the far side of the island, a sea day where everyone gets off the boat but you is nice!.

[jmoak]

3 hours ago, Sillyjilly said:

I go frugal so I can cruise more often.

THIS!!!

[Frank12]

We've done both.  Frugal does make it to where you can go more often, but sometimes we go all out.

It depends on the occasion, etc.

[KmomChicago]

Mostly frugal; mostly interior cabins but not always. We do always buy one premium internet package and share it. Mostly included food, always include prepaid gratuities and usually leave a $20 for the room guy at the end as well, though we don't ask for much if anything unusual. We are doing Steak House next week on Mardi Gras which will be the first time I ever paid for a specialty sit down dinner. We are all getting bottomless bubbles this time around as well, which we usually do not do. 

 

I don't mean to be cheap, but we still end up spending too much in spite of trying to be careful, and the more we spend, the less we can travel.

[wemjam]

So we do both!  We do what we call our down and dirty cruises.  We get cheap airfare from Michigan and find a cheap room (usually ocean view at least, but have done one or two inside rooms).  These are usually only when we want a quick get away for 3 or 4 days and find a SUPER good price.

 

The rest of the time we will do Balcony at minimum (have done a couple suites too).  Never have done cheers, but will the next 4 just because of the great cheers deal of $200 or less total for both of us for a week on them.  We just don't drink enough to warrant the regular price.  We do get bottomless bubbles though on every cruise.  We always do excursions of some kind and have started booking the Steakhouse off an on too.  Some spa items for me like mani/pedi.  etc.  I will preorder some goodies like cookies, cake, etc. for the room.

 

Just depends!  This year seems to be more on the high end though, making up for not cruising last year and have had more time to save the money to splurge!

[Dadofsix]

We consider ourselves frugal but it really depends on ones perspective. We have done balconies and interiors really depends on the "deal" or "comparable value" we see. Another factor we consider is how many of us are going. Sailed with eight of us in two connecting spa balconies on the Triumph for a little over 2k and for the same money took six in three interior cabins and had 900OBC. Generally get drink packages (Cheers for the parents bubbles for the rest) just to establish a solid budget. Cheers makes sense for us because besides the adult beverages I enjoy on vacation, the water, coffee and milkshakes  round it out and when one of the kids asks for a milkshake I don't mind grabbing on for them. To put it into perspective when we choose to just vacation at the beach and rent a condo the condo alone runs 2k then add food activities ect ect and I end up spending more than what I do on with Carnival.

[ddavis5us]

KMOM, you will enjoy the steakhouse.  We think it is truly worth the bump.

[keels81]

I almost do an inside GTY (Alaska itineraries are the exception to this rule), but I also always get a drink package AND do the Chef's Table on every sailing I'm on. So, no idea where I fall in this breakdown.

[Essiesmom]

Frugal in as frugal does.  It’s a matter of scale.  We have done plenty of insides, OV, porthole.  And a few balconies when there is a bargain to be had.  We like the MDR. We have never paid extra for a meal.  We seldom drink other than soda, and that seldom mor than one a day.  
   But sometimes what looks expensive, compared to Carnival and MSC, is really a bargain.  We look longingly at the premium/luxury lines, and sometimes a opportunity presents itself that we can’t pass up.  In 2019, it was an affordable week on Oceania Insignia.  Last month it was a week on Crystal Serenity.  Next month, Windstar on Star Breeze.  They call their repo cruises Ocean Cruising.  Puerto Caldera Costa Rica to Papeete, Tahiti.  15 nights, no ports.  $1499pp.  Of course, two nights at the end in Tahiti is upping the price a bit…and a pre-cruise hotel in San Jose, Costa Rica.  But it’s a once in a lifetime thing…. EM

[Trent1984]

Frugal… not exactly. When it comes

to a cruise, i won’t go so far as splurging for a suite since i don’t spend so much time in the cabin, but I’ll always book a balcony. Ill also book specialty restaurants, soda packages, spa treatments, and excursions for every port. Where i do save money is airfare since I’ll use miles to pay for my significant other and myself as well as using points for hotels pre and post cruise.  I always like saving as much as possible, but not at the risk of losing out on experiences.

[ledges1]

My wife and I go frugal. I had a balcony one time, but I did not stay in the room to use it. I want to be out and about on the ship and not in the room. I usually take 2  12 packs of sodas and this is enough for the trip. I also take 2 bottles of wine.

[Moviela]

I have been traveling for 65 years, and always go first class, and pay for coach. My next ten cruises are balcony cabins, only in what I call tasty cabins.  Spa, Havana, Aft extended, forward extended, bowling alley, and Lido deck. I am out of pocket only for taxes, and OBC is $900 on most voyages. I am most looking forward to the Mardi Gras spa cabin that has an elevator directly to the thermal suites from Deck 17 to deck 5. I don't really drink, and carry aboard a bottle of Cameron Hughes wine and a 12 pack of soda. I get a ride to the port in Long Beach and will have three cruises with only two flight segments. 

In some ports I rent a car and have it delivered to the dock, Other ports I usually deal with a pier side tout, which usually ends up with a semi private tour with van transport. I avoid the bus and large crowds. I will use the steakhouse and other paid eateries, as they are flat worth it. From the shops I might buy a doodad for the memory case, but have never spent more than $50. 

 

Prior to boarding I oil my shoes, so they don't squeak when I walk. 

[RunnerGirl26.2]

We will book balcony or ocean view, depending on the price.  No drinks package, no specialty dining, no spa, no internet. Usually book excursions independently or just walk around the port area. We will splurge on smaller group excursions and a cabana at cruise line's private island (share with friends). DH orders bottle of liquor for the cabin and makes his own drinks. He will go to the casino some also.

Edited August 4, 2021 by RunnerGirl26.2

[K&RCurt]

We stayed in an inside cabin ONCE and never will again, 8 cruises so far, 4 standard Balcony cabins, 1 aft extended Balcony,  1 inside,  twice in Suites.  If we can catch a deal on a suite we will get that but are happy in a balcony. Generally will arrive a day or 2 before a cruise and stay a day after.  Try to fly SouthWest as it just kills me to be ripped off by baggage fees and paying to not sit in a middle seat.

 

Always go to specialty restaurants,  DW doesn't drink so no drink package. Usually buy some photos, wife will buy something she "Has to have" as far as jewelry at some point.  I HAVE to be able to log in to work if something comes up (it has yet to) so I get the top wifi plan.

 

For us just going on a vacation as inexpensively as possible is not really a value.  We work hard the majority of the year and feel if we are going to go, we are going to enjoy it.  I realize not everyone is in the same situation so there is nothing wrong with going as inexpensively as possible.

 

We all have to live our lives as we see fit and if you are having a good time, who is anyone else to tell you you should do it their way?

[kona_wahine]

MIddle of the road. Our first cruise was an interior, but have had balconies since, no plan to go back. We have to fly to a cruise,  so refuse to skimp with the added expense. We can’t cruise as often as many people on the board can. Living in OR and having a timeshare we can get to Hawaii pretty cheap, so usually switch back and forth between there and a cruise. Food wise there is always good food, so we don’t splurge on the pay places anymore. Have in the past, just didn’t think it was worth it. Buy drinks as we go, as we wouldn’t get the worth of cheers. I would rather spend money on cool excursions in port myself. Have checked many bucket list items off. 

[TravelBluebird]

I’m definitely an All-In (with some caveats).

 

I almost always cruise in a Balcony. I can be on the craziest, loudest, most crowded boat, but if I have my Balcony with a view of the water to retreat to, I’m good.  Occasionally, I’ll book a Suite on a good deal, but they are not necessary to my good time.

 

Hubby doesn’t drink and I’m a light drinker, so no drink package. We do love spa treatments, and we are foodies, so we are going to eat our way through the boat (Steakhouse, Chef’s Table, Rudi;s, JiJi’sl...). We need Internet (I blog).  We do some excursions, some independent. I’ll buy photos.  Not a shopper, so I save there. Definitely gamble, and most of my Carnival bookings are on good casino deals.

 

After COVID, YOLO for me!

[balcony bound]

Not frugal.  I tend to book us out 2 years for cabin selection and best pricing, aft wraps when possible and always a balcony.  Cabanas in ports that have them.  Specialty dining at least a couple times, but don't buy Cheers even though we drink plenty.  We don't fly but make up for it with pet sitters (two of them) and parking. I'm fond of the casino but have learned to watch it doesn't get the best of me and its the only place I set a budget.

[Jelly_Toast]

I guess we are middle of the road people.  The first few cruises we all shared a cabin and got FTTF.  The first time we got ocean view but always book balcony cabins now.  The kids got old enough that one cabin isn't big enough and FTTF is harder to find (and harder to justify the price, especially with two cabins).  We don't fly to port so there is that, but with two balcony cabins it's already pricey so we typically don't go for drink packages. Sometimes will have one night of specialty dining. I have purchased photos before because my kids are older and it's about the only time of year they are together and dressed nicely.  We do go on excursions, typically only in ports we haven't been to.

 

All that being said, we did book a spring break cruise next year just for funsies and opted to go interior and cheers package, so it will be our first "booze cruise" and I have to admit, I'm looking forward to that!

Edited August 4, 2021 by Jelly_Toast

[pe4all]

Frugal, except for being balcony snobs.    We do buy a case of water for the cabin, and bottomless bubbles before we sail.  We do not buy any pictures, do not do specialty dining, do not drink except for soda. (hence bottomless bubbles). No internet time- we like disconnecting while on a cruise.  No excursions in ports unless they are a new port for us- haven't had a new one in a while.  No spa treatments.    I think our last cruise had a final sail and sign bill of just around $100.  Our next cruise (January) should be interesting because we have an $800 obc to be used - may let dd "go crazy" in the gift shop - lol!

[Lem_On_Ade]

I guess we are more on the frugal side. Cruise once a year, usually in an ocean view room. Pay as we go for drinks, no pictures, maybe eat in a specialty restaurant once and do private excursions. We did "splurge" on our upcoming Mardi Gras cruise and go for the Havana, but it's interior.

[EngIceDave]

6 hours ago, TravelBluebird said:

I can be on the craziest, loudest, most crowded boat, but if I have my Balcony with a view of the water to retreat to, I’m good.

This is exactly why it's a must do.

 

I can grab a coffee or beverage and a snack, head to my quiet private balcony and chill, watching to world and ocean pass by.

 

Morning is the big one....waking up, opening the drapes to that view, where ever it is, then getting a coffee and chilling. Especially in port, get to see what's going on, people leaving or boarding. Have a better sense of what's happening.