Frugal travel tips for cruises

Cruises are one of my favorite ways to see the world. I love falling asleep in one country and waking up in another, without having to pack and unpack. Cruise lines have a price range that goes from the cheapest to the most expensive. For frugal travelers, here are some tips to cut costs.

Consider all itineraries

When most people think of cruises, they think of the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and perhaps Alaska. However, name an ocean port and there is likely a cruise ship sailing to it. And some of these itineraries may not be just bargains but a pleasant surprise. We once booked a 12-day Baltic cruise from London to St. Petersburg and returned for less than airfare from New York to London. It is still one of our favorite cruises.

Bring your own non-alcoholic drinks

Food is usually included in the price of a cruise (except for dining in exclusive restaurants). However, beverages other than water, coffee, tea, and if you’re lucky, iced tea have an additional cost. So what we do is buy non-alcoholic beverages in ports (allowed; for alcoholic beverages, there is often a charge for corking) and then pour them into glasses.

Make your own tour

We have done more than a dozen cruises around the world and we have only done one organized boat tour (on our first cruise). They are expensive, move at the pace of the slowest traveler, and restrictive. For a well organized traveler, it is preferable to make your own arrangements.

One trick we use is to look at the sights that boat tours cover and include them in our “tour.”

Note: Tour directors often tell horror stories about passengers not getting back to the ship on time. The solution? Leave some extra time and hit the farthest places first.

Great breakfast, late dinner

For the frugal traveler, maximizing time in port is a must. That means, if possible, choosing seats until late at dinner. Also, we tend not to eat big lunches (if they do). Instead, we have a great breakfast on the ship (where breakfast is free), have local food snacks while on shore, and then finish the day with a leisurely late dinner.

Cruising is one of this frugal traveler’s favorite ways to see the world. And by using these tips, it is a luxury that can fit a traveler’s budget.