To those that will keep cruising how do you plan to save $$

[MyImagination]

I have noticed a few threads about pax that are throwing in the towel and deciding not to cruise. I would like to hear from those that plan to keep cruising and some of their thoughts on saving money.

 

Personally, I plan to limit my time in the Casino. I will just fly to Vegas when I want to gamble. Im also looking at doing more beach days rather than booking excursions.

 

Some have mentioned downgrading their cabins from Balcony to oceanview or insides. I think going the guarantee route could would be a good idea, especially on the Spirit class ships, which have lots of balconies. I imagine in the future, more people will be doing Guarantees as a way to save money.

 

So what are some of your cost cutting ideas?

[Theresa522]

Well I guess if I had to cut back it would for sure be in the casino :D We normally do not do any excursions as we prefer going to the beach, and that is not expensive.

 

SAVE SAVE SAVE.. I am already saving for my cruises next year. Any and all unexpected money will go into my vacation fund. Also, opening a Christmas club is a great idea. Only $25 a week and you will have a little over $1300. You can always make it less or more if you wish.

 

I LOVE cruising and if I didn't have that to look forward to, I would NOT be a happy person. :(

[gypsyrose]

We have stopped eating out as much and just watch all of our spending in general. I too, live to cruise and will find a way to do it. The cruise isn't gonna break me but the flight may. We have a miles reward card but plan on using the miles next year for the Grand Canyon. Hopefully we will have enough in 2010 for Florida. But, anything over $400 we have to pay for.

[klfrodo]

I don't plan on changing a thing.

 

Most of the current issues revolve around the price of fuel. That will eventually work itself out. Will we in the States ever see $2 a gallon gas again? Nope. But the airlines and the cruiselines will all eventually work their way through this. Some airlines will be gone forever when this is over but that's progress I guess. Airfares will be higher than 5 years ago and cruiseing will become more expensive than it is now.

 

In the end we'll all adjust. We always do.

[CruiseLiz]

One way that we've been able to save a lot on trips is by using our frequent flyer miles.

 

We enrolled with a credit card that gives 1 mile per $1 spent. Every month we use the card for purchases instead of cash, checks or ATM cards and then we pay it off completely at the end of the month. This has already paid for roundtrip flights to Europe.

 

Of course this only works if you can get this type of card and you have the discipline to not spend any more than you normally would with cash or ATM cards.

 

Another way to save is by only doing shore excursions where it isn't feasable to do your own thing. Often renting a car and hitting the beach by yourself is A LOT cheaper than paying for a beach excursion.

 

Oh if only that were true in Alaska......

[KCCruisin']

For us it's imperative that we booked cruises a year in advance in order to save and pay as we go. It also helps that we don't live too far from Galveston, however, the choices are limited in respect to cruiselines and destinations from that port. If prices continue to go through the roof and once we've done all the destinations out of Galveston we can do then our cruising days will be limited too:(

 

I'm sorry to hear that anyone has to give up their cruising days or anything else they enjoy to relax. Hopefully, we can get some relief soon. Keeping my fingers crossed!

[bmacri]

Cruising can still be possible:

 

Use frequent flyer miles

Use local ports if possible

Book an inside guarantee and hope for an upgrade

Forget the Casino

Don't buy new clothes each time

limit excursions

Eat on the ship, not on land

buy alchohol from Carnival before sailing

 

I save X amount of money each month. It's really surprising how fast it adds up. I ALWAYS save enough for the deposit and I pay it off AND I save enough for spending money and onboard account. That way when the cruise is here..........Nothing goes on a credit card.

[irishgirl]

I will probably not buy anything frivolous onboard anymore. No more pictures, door magnets, limit alcohol puchases, cut out the casino. I might buy a t-shirt, but nothing else.

 

I also cut back at home by trying to take my lunch to work rather than go out every day. That saves quite a bit of money.

 

Judy

[Rockee4055]

Not really doing anything different. The fuel charges may relax a little too. I just read that the Saudi's are releasing or boosting production by a half a million barrels. Maybe this will help the fuel costs for airlines, cruise ships etc.

[Sauceress]

Ha Ha dont laugh saving all my change really helps. At the end of the week I dump my pocketbook into a jar. You will be surprised at how the money grows.

[pungo3]

Ha Ha dont laugh saving all my change really helps. At the end of the week I dump my pocketbook into a jar. You will be surprised at how the money grows.

I'm not laughing because I do exactly the same thing. It really does add up quickly.

 

I also have a separate savings account that is for cruising only. When there is enough money to cruise, I book one. :D I will book an inside cabin instead of a balcony if it means I get to cruise. I will not waste my money in the casino if it means I get to cruise. I won't by as many foo foo drinks if it means I get to cruise. I won't buy new outfits/shoes if it means I get to cruise.

[bakechef]

I work retail and my SO works for the state, so we make a very modest living by most standards. I was thrifty before the economy went sour, living close to work, smart shopping on groceries, driving cars way past the pay off etc.. has been my game plan, so the current economy isn't really wreaking much havoc on our budget.

 

We will continue to try to find cruises that we can drive to in a day, we will look for bargains since we can sail any time of the year, we are not ones to gamble much if any, and we don't by souvenirs, and usually limit excursions. I would much rather have a modest cruise than no vacation at all, or just a trip to the beach to stay in a motel.

 

One very easy way to save is to do it automatically, have money either moved from your check, or accounts automatically to an account that you are unlikely to touch (online savings are good) you will not miss the little bit each week, and it will add up faster than you think.

 

MAC

[nothomeonacruise]

We're not getting a balcony this year. We'll probably choose private tours instead of Carnival excursions, in some places. We probably won't buy as many photos, either. (That one is hard to do..LOL) I won't buy as much jewelry.

Now, that may all change once we're onboard.:rolleyes:

[grandmato4]

We already choose not to cruise during the summer, over major holidays or spring breaks as those are the most expensive times of year. We may look at the time frame between Thanksgiving and Christmas as that is usually one of the least expensive times to cruise that we've not taken advantage of.

 

Instead of choosing an itinerary first, which we usually do, we will be looking at what our budget is first and then finding a cruise/air that fits into it.

 

The last few years we've found that booking our cruises early have given us the best pricing but if the cruiselines do find themselves having touble filling the ships, which hasn't been a problem for the past few years, we may be looking for some last minute new booking deals the cruiselines may use to fill those ships.

[serene56]

I book VERY far in advance. and look closer to home --so no flying.

We are now booked on Carnival Pride out of Baltimore for sept 2009.

 

We booked our Aruba vacation back in Oct 2007 for Sept 2009. I just checked packages and air-- and what i paid for both is what one ticket now costs. If I waited I wouldnt be paying that kind of money for a vacation

[posh08]

Ha Ha dont laugh saving all my change really helps. At the end of the week I dump my pocketbook into a jar. You will be surprised at how the money grows.

 

Those Monkey Head drinks are also piggy banks. Our's is now being used for that:D

[cruisingtoo]

I am working overtime just for cruising. I usually work three days a week, now I am trying to work four days a week. That extra day goes to my future cruises. Cruising close to home also helps. Getting a group together saves money. I always get at least one "free" cruise.

[lisa702]

We will book more inside cabins.

[Travel Angel]

While all the suggestions are good for saving to keep cruising, they are for the most part, all methods I have been doing for years.

 

It never seeks to amaze me how frivolous with money people in general are UNTIL times get tough.... think of the $$$ that could have been saved if you had followed your now thrifty concepts, years ago !

[imlulu]

We paid for our upcoming cruise less than we did for the same cruise, same ship 2 years ago. Last time we got an inside quad. This time we got an 8A quad. We are driving again and even with parking is still cheaper than paying for flights.

 

We rarely do excursions and eat all meals on ship anyway. I am not into souveniers and pics are a hit or miss.

 

For a family of 4 cruising is still a better deal than most other vacations. It is within our means so therefore we cruise.:D

[barbevrn]

Watch for price drops and ask for OBC :p

 

Carry on your allowed wine or champagne for homeports! For those that are inclined............sneak on some of your own liquor.

 

Homeport whenever possible. Use points from credit card use to book airfare when you don't. (It's crazy when you are looking at spending as much for airfare as you are for the cruise!)

 

Only buy the photos onboard if it is REALLY special or something you cannot get with your own camera. We have bought pictures taken at Dunn's river falls and had someone take one with a cheap disposable water camera. They were virtually identical except the one we bought had Dunn's River Falls written on it. With the availability of software.........I can do that at home!

 

Now, if I could stay out of the casino....:rolleyes: It is part of the cruise experience for me. I will just have to set a lower budget and STICK TO IT! :p

[sassyredhat]

We are doing what most of you are doing at home, including driving slower, and I stay out of the stores ! :D

 

As far as cruising, I book more than a year in advance, and try to utilize all the specials I can.

 

We are also booking a lower category of balcony. Mike needs his balconies.

 

We are not buying every single photo taken, or all the golf shirts.

 

I guess we're all doing everything we can, 'cause I dont want to give up my cruises. :)

 

Pat

[bakechef]

While all the suggestions are good for saving to keep cruising, they are for the most part, all methods I have been doing for years.

 

It never seeks to amaze me how frivolous with money people in general are UNTIL times get tough.... think of the $$$ that could have been saved if you had followed your now thrifty concepts, years ago !

 

Couldn't agree more.

 

MAC

[ooulio]

We have cut our cruises down to 1 a year instead of 2. Unfortunately, we did a jr suite this year. I loved it. I am saving ahead to pay for it again for next year. I loved the VIP boarding. Maybe the one after will go back to balcony. Airfare is just so crazy right now. We can't drive to Florida. May try Baltimore once they start there. It will be something different. I try and buy carnival dollars so have that ahead for next year. Not giving up my cruise for vacation. Still cheaper than going to a resort.

[Havinsnest]

We have a vacation savings account. Money is auto deposited into it so we never see it to miss it.

 

We do the pocket change in a jar thing.

 

I work at a high school and work as a ticket seller. The proceeds of that little part time job goes to the vacation savings account.

 

I proctor teaching certification tests and the money I earn on those 10 Saturdays per school year also goes to the vacation savings account.

 

We don't spend time in the casino and we don't play bingo and we don't spend money on alcohol so we can't save money by cutting those things out.

 

We drive our smallest car to Galveston to save on the gas budget and we book in advance and watch for price drops.

 

Bottom line? We're not doing anything different but I think it will be okay.