TOP 75 savings / freebies on a Royal Caribbean Cruise

[traveler/]

We have been very fortunate and learned many money saving tips, cruise enhancement tips and freebie tips from fellow travelers, cruise web sites like cruise critic and in books, magazines, TV shows and want to share them, so your cruise will be even better. To everyone who has helped us along the way, THANK YOU.

 

This list is not complete, but a work in progress. Some of these tips are specific to RCI only, some tips will work on any cruise line.

 

Cruisers feel free to add your own suggestions or what has worked for you. Let’s get to TOP 100!:)

 

Remember, these are just for your consideration. If something looks interesting, check it out, get other opinions and then decide if it works for your personal situation. If you use a tip and it does not work out, it was your decision. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. Many of these tips have worked for us at the time we used them. We are 2 adults, both 50+. Sometimes circumstances change, and a tip is no longer valid. We did not list exactly how to apply each tip, it is up to you to research your options and Good Luck! Remember, planning is half the fun.

If you use a few of these tips, you may improve your cruise experience by 10% or more.

• Join the Crown and Anchor Society, after your first cruise with RCI.
  
• C and A savings certificate (usually each month, either on-line or in mail) Savings of $50 to $225. Varies with your C & A level.
  
• C and A gold/platinum/ diamond/ diamond plus perks
  
• On Board Booking Credit (Book a future cruise with Loyalty Ambassador on board a RCI cruise) savings of $50 to $250 per cabin
  
• RCI stockholder savings (Own a minimum of 100 shares of RCI stock): http://media.corporate- savings of $50 to $250 per cabin. ir.net/media_files/irol/10/103045/ShareholderBenefitLetter.pdf
  
• C and A balcony cabin discount (Platinum and above) savings of $50 to $300 per cabin
  
• C and A coupon book in cabin (Book varies with level)
  
• Book with RCI, Transfer booking to TA, some perks, done before final payment.
  
• Happy Hour Specials: http://www.creative.rccl.com/sales/happy_hour/HappyHour_rci_tues.pdf
  
• Promowave Specials: http://www.creative.rccl.com/sales/promowave/RCL.pdf
  
• Senior specials (pretend to book, and check)
  
• Resident Specials(pretend to book, and check)
  
• Royal Caribbean Visa Credit Card (earn 2 points for every $ spent on RCI, 1 point on others) good award program ( 5000 points minimum= $50 OBC)
  
• Reduced Air Deals on some cruises through RCI, or book your own for better control of arrangements.
  
• Join in on cruise web sites like Cruise Critic, ask questions, reply to others from your experience and share your knowledge.
  
• Cruise Critic Meet and Mingle (7 night or longer cruise, minimum 25 cruisers, = free party)
  
• C and A welcome back party (free for gold, platinum, diamond, diamond plus)
  
• Use your own Visa/ MasterCard, etc. to earn points for travel (book yourself or your TA). I use my RCI CC for RCI purchases. Other CC for other purchases.
  
• Travel w/ 3-4 in a cabin, low average price for 3rd and 4th passengers. (Balcony or suite at good average price)
  
• Book really early or really late for best cabin selection, or best price
  
• Cruise from ports where you can drive to, save on air.
  
• Cruise in off-season months for destination, lower rates (like December/ January, not holidays)
  
• Establish per night budget: Base price for us: $60 interior, $80 OV, $100 balcony, $120 Suite per night per person
  
• Priceline for hotels for pre or post cruise or rental cars
  
• Soda card if you like soda
  
• Special shopping book at shopping seminar, giveaway prizes.
  
• Take your own digital pictures. Take formal pictures with ship photographers, buying best one, a bargain.
  
• Proceed with caution to book your own excursions (may be ok if you know the area and trust the tour operator). Some can be booked direct online for a discount. Ship sold excursions usually cost more, but may be worth it for you (ship won’t leave you, quality and safety of operator has been checked, etc.)
  
• Book ground transportation from/to pier online direct and maybe save.
  
• “Older” ships are usually less expensive cruises, check to see which amenities they have to offer.
  
• Repositioning cruises are usually cheaper and you save on airfare.
  
• Don’t play bingo or gamble! $0 expense. If you want to, play in moderation.
  
• Buy items in gift shops when on sale usually later in cruise. Be aware of duty free opportunities. Know duty free limits and charges if you go over.
  
• Don’t eat in alternative restaurants or buy optional coffee etc.
  
• When in foreign ports, see if exchange rate favors paying in the countries currency. If so, exchange (preferably at a bank or high exchange rate store and use that money in port.
  
• Look at cruises with lower port charges, like transatlantic.
  
• Track your booked cruises, looking for rate reductions. If you see one, call ASAP and get lower rate. Available multiple times.
  
• If you don’t care about specific cabin, book guarantee. Usually lowest price and you may get upgraded.
  
• Participate in trivia contests or other contests to win prizes. Sign up for special fitness classes (marked in Compass) that earn points redeemable for prizes.
  
• Sign up for the meet and mingle program for your cruise (7 night or longer cruises). You will meet interesting people, get great ideas and maybe save money or have a better cruise experience.
  
• Captain’s Welcome Aboard Party.
  
• Get dropped off at terminal, or take shuttle, so you don’t pay for parking.
  
• Consider Travel Insurance. (for example, hurricane season, etc.)
  
• Track your expenditures for on-board account. Budget, if over, stop.
  
• On cruises where you fly in, try to arrive 1 day earlier, avoiding problems.
  
• Plan a group cruise yourself, and you may cruise for free!
  
• Teach a class or seminar at sea, and you may cruise for free!
  
• Check last minute deals sites for specials.
  
• Let cruise TA’s compete for your business (website)
  
• Study cruise trends, currently good deals are in Caribbean(?). Cruise where the deals are, when the deals are.
  
• Go to free events on board, like wine tasting, midnight buffet, kitchen tour, bridge tour, etc.
  
• Some port purchases are great deals. Look for them. For example, last cruises to Alaska late in the year get great deals from shops.
  
• Set up a savings plan for your future cruises, including great ideas at “money savings tips” section on Cruise Critic.
  
• Go to Art Auctions for free champagne (if you drink) and free drawings for art. Also info and freebies at Art Seminars.
  
• While ship is port, good deals are offered on spa treatments and more.
  
• Some refreshments may be allowed at check in. Find out.
  
• Establish your own “ tip file”. Everytime you find a worthwhile tip, cut and paste or add it to your own file. This includes packing tips, travel tips, how-to tips, etc.
  
• Cruise inside category or Oceanview and you’ll get almost the same cruise for less than passengers traveling in balconies or suites.
  
• If you want a special bottle of wine, bring it and pay the corkage charge.
  
• Develop a packing list (many online ones are available) you will save time and money by being prepared.
  
• Get onboard as early as you can, usually by noon or 1 pm, and you can eat lunch. Plus, you are getting more cruise hours for your $.
  
• Buy your formal attire at a discount shop or in the garment district before you go.
  
• Don’t overeat or overdrink on the cruise, exercise in your own way, be careful, make sure you have any medicines or necessary supplies. Avoid a costly doctor visit while on board.
  
• Order room service (free) and give a nice tip.
  
• Watch free movies and go to the free entertainment.
  
• Use the ship’s library.
  
• Go to the free classes, like arts and crafts, gift card making, etc.
  
• Call in before for a wake-up call in the morning.
  
• Learn the basic language phrases used in the foreign ports you visit.
  
• Learn how to bargain and negotiate in port shops.
  
• Buying in non-recommended shops may or may not be money saving. Decide for yourself what a guarantee is worth to you on the item you are buying.
  
• Book 3night and 4night local cruises if you are trying to build up to platinum or diamond status quickly and at low cost.
  
• If you have a problem, discuss with appropriate staff onboard if you can so they have a chance to fix it. A letter to RCI later about your cruise with positive and negative comments/suggestions may get you some compensation.
  
• If your cruise misses a port, you may be entitled to a refund of your port charges.
  
• Sunset or sunrise on your balcony, PRICELESS.

[sdear]

great tips all wrapped up into one post !!

 

I will have to think if I have any to add lol.

[lori450]

Do you know if you can use two discounts at the same time (e.g. savings certificate and shareholder discounts, etc.)?

[PhoenixCruiser]

Do you know if you can use two discounts at the same time (e.g. savings certificate and shareholder discounts, etc.)?

 

Yes, you can :D If you are platinum or better you can also take advantage of the balcony savings!

 

###

[laxdef10]

In fact you can use all 4: Stateroom discount for plat diamound, shareholder credit, coupons, and bonus for booking bonboard.

[Baseballkurt]

What classes can be taught that might be able to earn a free cruise?

[traveler/]

Arts and craft classes.

Also, I have heard some seminar type classes about places or history regarding ports.

[traveler/]

You can also use senior, military, resident discount (off the top for cruise price) and RCI Visa card certificate for on-board credit.

[suzyluvs2cruise]

Do you know if you can use two discounts at the same time (e.g. savings certificate and shareholder discounts, etc.)?

 

RCI savings certificate and platinum/diamond discount are deducted from your total cruise price.

 

Onboard booking and shareholder benefit from owning RCI stock are onboard credits that appear on your SeaPass account.

 

You can use all four of these and, if available, a senior/military or resident rate.

[AFT_LOVER]

The book on board discount (OBC), the shareholder discount (OBC) & savings certs (applied to price of cruise) & then the point redemption for RCCL VISA card for OBC or upgrade.

 

Also may I add for Diamond/Plus/GS+ - free specialty coffee 24/7 & free cocktails 5-9PM in Concierge Lounge and or Diamond Club (on some ships).

 

Do you know if you can use two discounts at the same time (e.g. savings certificate and shareholder discounts, etc.)?

[Snowball]

How much of an onboard credit do you get if you own 100 shares of RCI stock? The link provided by the OP doesn't work, so if someone can post the correct link it would be great.

 

Thanks!

[suzyluvs2cruise]

How much of an onboard credit do you get if you own 100 shares of RCI stock?

Thanks!

 

$250 credit for 14 or more nights

$200 for 9 to 13 nights

$100 for 6 to 8 nights

$50 for 5 nights or less

[traveler/]

Please see post below.

[traveler/]

Newer more updated address for stockholder credit (from RCI investor section FAQ)

http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-shareholderbenefit

Should work just fine.

[traveler/]

Thank you for the added suggestions. I am adding them to my original list.

I have corrected web link for stockholder benefit in my original file.

Cruise Critic is the best!

[rubrrick]

Nice list that you have put together, with some excellent suggestions.

 

Rick

[LonW]

If your cruise misses a port, you may be entitled to a refund of your port charges. NOT TRUE READ YOUR CONTRACT.:)

[traveler/]

If your cruise misses a port, you may be entitled to a refund of your port charges. NOT TRUE READ YOUR CONTRACT.:)

I put "may be entitled" for the reason that it is not guaranteed?

There are other threads on CC that talk about this and people have gotten refunds in cases for example, where the ship was to visit X ports but only made it to x-1 or x-2 ports. It seems logical that the portion of your cruise that you did not receive but paid for would be refunded. I think they had to request it though. No ask, no get!

What is your opinion of the contract wording?

[traveler/]

RCI savings certificate and platinum/diamond discount are deducted from your total cruise price.

 

Onboard booking and shareholder benefit from owning RCI stock are onboard credits that appear on your SeaPass account.

 

You can use all four of these and, if available, a senior/military or resident rate.

I count 6 POSSIBLE DISCOUNTS - anyone used all of them on 1 cruise? Any more discounts that I am missing?

1)RCI savings certificate

2)platinum/diamond balcony discount

3)Onboard booking

4)shareholder benefit from owning RCI stock

5) senior/military or resident rate.

6) RCI Credit Card OBC, Upgrade, cash reduction

[EggDropErin]

This is a fabulous thread! Thank you for compiling this list! :)

[SLH]

Yes, you can :D If you are platinum or better you can also take advantage of the balcony savings!

 

###

Is the balcony credit and obc different in a JS than just a regular balcony stateroom on a 7 night ?

[winncove]

What happened to the original post w/the 75 suggestions? All I can find is the responses even searching "traveler"s posts. Zapped ? What possible reason?

[Baseballkurt]

The original post shows for me with all of them. might want to reboot your computer.

[suzyluvs2cruise]

What happened to the original post w/the 75 suggestions? All I can find is the responses even searching "traveler"s posts. Zapped ? What possible reason?

 

Check to see if you're on page 1 of the thread. The OP shows at the top.

 

Is the balcony credit and obc different in a JS than just a regular balcony stateroom on a 7 night ?

 

The balcony discount and obc is the same in a JS as a balcony.

 

Wine tasting is "free" if you have a coupon. Otherwise there is a charge. I think it's $10. Midnight buffet, galley tour, bridge tour are always complimentary.

 

Another thing to add to the list is to sign up for the Roll Call for your thread. No charge and you can get lot's of "free" information from others who are going on your cruise.

[winncove]

It's back! Didn't have to re-boot, it just appeared this time. Weird because #2 was showing as # 1 earlier. Of course I seem to get weird issues on PCs & CC & RCCL seem to have a lot of issues also. Must say..CC has been unusually fast today tho. Yeah!