==== ==== To find more information about Cruise Saving Tips and Tricks, please visit http://intelligentcruiser.org/2012/02/2011-intelligent-cruiser-up-to-date-review/ ==== ====
Cruise lines love to discount their cruise fares just to get you on board their ship. They know that the vast majority of travelers will spend double their cruise fare with purchases on board the ship during the cruise. Just like the airlines, they stay up late at night dreaming up new ways to extract every possible dollar out of your pocket. Here's a guide to steps you can take to save considerable dollars by making smart spending decisions while enjoying your next cruise. Let's talk drinks. This is a real money maker for cruise lines. Gone are the days when drinks were practically given away. Today wine, cocktails and specialty drinks will inflate your bill at a startling rate. But, with a little advanced planning you can lesson the hit. Most cruise lines allow you to bring bottled wine on board. I pack 4 bottles in the handy neoprene bottle totes you can find in almost any liquor or kitchen store (my choice is to pack 3 wines and one vodka). We each pack two bottles in the center of our suitcase - well buffeted by clothes. Once on board the cruise ship, we enjoy sipping wine and cocktails in our cabin. We usually buy (or bring) an insulated travel mug and use that if we want to move around the ship with drink in hand. I fill up with juice at the breakfast buffet to mix later in the day with the vodka. My husband who enjoys a cold beer, has found that it's often less expensive to order a six pack from room service for the cabin refrigerator than to order beer from the bar. He brings along a zippered coozie in case he wants to tote the beer with him up on the deck. A few words about drink passes. Most cruise lines will offer drink passes when you go through the check in process. It's important to do the math before purchasing a drink pass. Consider who many drinks you are likely to have in a day, and be sure to take into consideration how often you will be off the ship on excursions. I usually price my favorite cocktail, and then make a decision usually bartenders and waiters can sell you a drink pass as well. If you're traveling with children, the soft drink pass is typically well worth the price. We also purchase some bottled water while on shore excursions and bring it back to the cabin. Take advantage of the free shipboard cocktail hours. There's usually one on the first evening, on the dressy night, at the art show preview and several other times during the week. If you purchase wine at dinner and don't consume it all, ask your waiter to recork it for you to enjoy the next evening. Don't get razzle dazzled into the after diner shots - their just trying to pad your bill! If you want an after dinner drink - go enjoy one in one of the lounges or the casino. Specialty Restaurants and private decks - aren't you paying enough already? If you want privacy, I recommend spending a bit more for a cabin with a balcony. That will also put you at a better table in the dining room. If you want to experience a specialty restaurant, wait a day or two and ask other passengers if the experience was worth it.
Shore Excursions - There are lots of resources for excursions, so be sure to do some comparison shopping. Pay a visit to your cruise line's website and check out their excursion offerings and their prices. Then visit some online excursion specialists; ShoreTrips.com, PortTrips.com, and Viator.com are some of the most popular. You also might want to check out cruise reviews at CruiseCritic.com. In many cruise ports (the Caribbean in particular) taxis will be lined up at the cruise dock to take you on private excursions. Make a friend or two and team up together to hire a private guide. MOST IMPORTANT is to arrive back at the cruise ship in plenty of time before sailing. It is your responsibility to be on time and they will leave without you! Shopping - Check out the cruise gift shop and make a mental note of prices. You may find that some souvenir items are less expensive on board than in cruise ports. Keep a keen eye out each day in the news briefs for specials being offered. Remember the cruise lines are banking on the fact that you are a trapped audience and maybe a bit bored between activities and everything about the gift shop is set up to encourage impulse buys. I always ask myself, "how will this look in my drawer a few months from now - used or stuffed in the back?". Casino - The odds of winning are far lower on cruise ships than in other major casinos. If you enjoy gambling, determine a pre-set amount you're comfortable losing (because most of you will) and leave the floor when that money is gone. If you enjoy the atmosphere but don't want to gamble a lot - attend some of the card game lessons. Technology - Don't turn on your cell phone on board the ship, wait until you are in port. Cell phone rates are often $3 or more per minute on board the ship! If you must be in constant contact (you ARE supposed to be on vacation) ask if they have an access package of pre-purchase minutes available for purchase at a lower price. The same applies to internet rates. Access an internet cafe, a local library, or business center at a hotel when you're onshore for lower prices. Photos - The cruise lines count on the fact that it's very difficult to see your photo on the rack and walk away leaving it there. Make an agreement in advance not to purchase any picture unless YOU BOTH look maaaarvelous. When a cruise photographer snaps our picture, I hand over my digital camera and ask them to take a quick shot with our camera as well. Art Auction - Just say no. You know in your heart that it's a gimmick, plus there will be shipping and a buyers premium - enough said. Spa Treatments - Watch for specials during days at sea. You might have success doing a bit of haggling for mid-day treatments during days when most of the passengers on off the ship on shore excursions. And you don't need all those creams and detoxing agents - again they are counting on you being a captive audience where you can't do any comparison shopping. Finally, relax and have a wonderful vacation. If you're nervous about how big your tab is becoming, just swing by the bursar's desk and ask them to subtotal your balance. Happy Cruising!
Susan, who has worked in the travel industry for many years, writes a daily blog http://www.WickedGoodTravelTips.com Wicked Good Travel Tips is the best spot on the web for
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==== ==== To find more information about Cruise Saving Tips and Tricks, please visit http://intelligentcruiser.org/2012/02/2011-intelligent-cruiser-up-to-date-review/ ==== ====