Summer is just around the corner which means its about time to start planning that yearly getaway. Instead of doing the same old vacation this year you might want to take on a seaside adventure when you book a cruise. A cruise is an amazing way to relax and let your troubles blow away in the fresh seaward breeze. Most people, though, are intimidated by the pricing of many cruise lines, so vow never to take the leap. However, cruise lines today are more than affordable for most and might even save you money on the typical vacation you plan every year. With these ten tips you will find that a cruise line can leave you feeling renewed without the credit card debt to prove that you had fun!

1. Book a Larger Vessel
Common mentality says that the bigger the ship is the more money its going to cost. This, of course, is incredibly false! One of the easiest ways to save money on a cruise is to choose a ship that is actually larger than others on the market. Larger vessels hold more people, so the ship can afford to lower the ticket price as they are booking a lot more people than the smaller cruises. The best thing is that these cruises offer the same amount of activities as the smaller ship, if not more. With a larger cruise you will be surrounded by more people, but you will also have the opportunity to fit in more activities for less money, meet new friends and have your children entered in exciting activities that will last with them all year round. Larger ships also have the ability to offer you better lodgings and tend to dock in some pretty exciting places!

2. Pack Light
Packing for a trip can be a huge struggle, especially if you aren’t sure what you will need to wear on the cruise. Like packing for a flight you will want to keep your luggage light. A lot of cruises will add on a luggage fee if you seem to have packed more than you need for the trip, so make sure you triple check your luggage and don’t bring anything you don’t actually need. In fact, it is wise to try to bring the family’s luggage in as few suitcases as possible. Yes, you will have to share space, but this way you have a lot less to keep track of while on board and your luggage will take up far less space in your room. There are also many bellboys that tend to look for expensive tips when they help you with your luggage. You don’t have to use this service and by bringing lighter luggage or luggage that rolls you won’t have to deal with employees pushing their services onto you.

3. Food
Before you go on your cruise you might want to look into purchasing a dinner package for your family. Dinner packages will give you access to at least, if not more, one meal day. This will allow you to allot more money to entertainment as you will know for sure that your family will automatically have food for the trip. Of course, there are also drinking packages available, but these are typically a bad idea. You would have to drink for most of the trip to get your money’s worth out of these deals, which most people don’t actually do. If you have to have a drink while aboard then try to drink light. Most cruises also allow you to bring your own wine aboard. There is a small fee if you decide to drink it in public, but if you drink it in your room then you can enjoy the wine for nothing extra.

4. Avoid Shops/Casinos
Cruise shops are one way that many people go broke while on board. Whether you’re picking up souvenirs for family and friends or just satisfying your need to shop, these shops can run your hundreds of dollars. Just like on any vacation the stores offer over priced goods so they can profit earn a better profit for the ship, so the best thing you can do is stay away. Many ships also offer an auction house that makes an exciting experience, but also cost a fortune if you actually decide to bid. Casinos are another don’t when it comes to the cruise. A lot of people will go in feeling pretty lucky and walk out having lost all of the vacations spending money. If you absolutely have to partake in this aspect of the cruise then make sure to allot money for these expenditures before you go aboard. When the money runs out then make sure to walk away. After all, there are so many different things you could be doing on a cruise and many of them will cost you nothing.

5. Avoid Internet and Phone Calls
While on board you might get a bit antsy to surf the net or call up a love one and tell them about the time you are having. This is typically a horrible idea when it comes to keeping a budget. Internet can run you up to $10 a day if you have to have, which can really add up if you’re on a cruise for an entire week or month. If you really have to get online then try getting all of your business taken care of on the first night you have it, after that try to unhook from the world for awhile. Phone calls are about the same if not more. Most cruises will have passengers leaving the country, so calling out from a cruise phone will add a huge price to your bill. Cell phones are always an option, but many cruises don’t get a signal and the one’s that do require you to have an international phone to use it. This also means that you will be paying international roaming fees. So, instead of talking to your loved ones while on the cruise try to build up your stories so you can have one exciting tale for them when you are land based again.

6. Entertainment Packages
You will be surprised by the abundance of things to do on a cruise, but don’t get on board thinking everything is going to be free. Before you leave for your cruise make sure your travel agent goes over the activities that are and are not free. This will give you a good idea of the amount of money you will need to bring with you. Many cruises do offer an entertainment package though, so if you are looking into spending a lot of time at the spa or doing other activities that don’t seem to be free then you might want to looking into the wide variety of entertainment packages you might want. You might even need to purchase a different package for each member of the family as there are many based around the needs of children, such as kid’s clubs or sports packages, as well as the older member of the family who might enjoy the spa or a night at the ball. The choice is yours, but an entertainment package might save you hundreds in the long run.

7. Photography
Everyone loves to have their memories captured in a photograph and the cruise line certainly knows it. This is why they hire photographers to walk around snapping photos of every happy family they see. Of course, having the photograph taken is free, but if you want to buy a copy of their work then you are looking at shelling out a lot of money. The best thing you can do on a cruise is to take your own photographs. You will actually be surprised at how many people on the cruise will actually cheerfully stop and take a photograph of your family. Of course, you might be asked to return the favor for them, but the task is free and you still get to keep your favorite memories. Try taking a lot of candid photos as well as these tend to show the best emotion and will leave your family thinking back fondly of their trip for years to come.

8. Go TransAtlantic
If you’re looking to get away for awhile then try a TransAtlantic cruise. These cruises tend to last a bit longer than your typical cruise, but you will definitely get your money’s worth. The cruise will take to many beautiful places on the Atlantic so you will not just get a cruise, but an exciting trip that will show you some of the most beautiful areas of the world. These cruises tend to have a lot of activities while its on the water, so the entire time you are on the ship you won’t get bored. A lot of people stay away from these cruises because of the lengthy period at sea, but if you are truly wanting to get away from you troubles for awhile then book one of these cruises. If you calculate the price per day that you are on the ship you notice the huge amount of savings your getting.

9. Insurance
Before you head out on your cruise make sure to check in with your insurance company to make sure that you are covered for your trip. A lot of insurance companies won’t give you coverage if you are in a foreign country which means you could end up paying some pretty hefty bills if you get hurt while on-board the ship or exploring the area around of your docking areas. If your insurance company doesn’t cover you then there is a wide selection of companies that offer temporary insurance to anyone that is looking to go abroad. Most of these companies won’t charge you too much and will give you the peace of mind that you can go abroad without having to worry about the worst case scenario.

10. Timing
Like most things in life, timing is everything when it comes to booking a cruise. Most people tend to take vacation time in the summer and winter months, so tickets for this time period jump up. If you book a cruise in the months between January and April then you will probably get a remarkable deal. This not only includes the cruise tickets, but the flight to get to the cruise and all of the packages you might want. Ticket prices also fall during hurricane season as many people don’t want to take the risk. If you choose to book during this period make sure to check out any weather predictions before hand, if it looks like its going to be a rough hurricane season then you might want to try for another time. Booking on the off season will mean a lot less people, so activities and dining halls will be more open for you and your family.

If you’re planning a cruise then you will obviously have a lot of choices as to how you spend your time on board. The best thing you can do is find a way to relax and with these ten tips money won’t have to be one more thing stressing you out. With all of your the scheduling and fun activities you will finally have the vacation of your dreams at a fraction of the cost.

Author: Chelsey McQuitty