Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck
I’m a budget cruiser, but being a budget cruiser doesn’t mean that I ignore value over budget.
What do I mean by value over budget? Basically it involves making sure you know what you are getting as part of your cruise fare and what add-ons you plan on purchasing prior to choosing the right cruise for you.
Even though I consider myself a budget cruiser, there are certain splurges I like to make even if I’ve chosen the cheapest cruise I can find. One of my splurges is the drinks package. I like to have the freedom to grab a specialty coffee every morning along with drinks with my meals and a couple cocktails in the evening. Depending on the spa amenities, I may even book a spa pass. These things can add quite a bit to the cost of your cruise.
When you are searching for a cruise, you need to take in more than just that base fare designed to draw cruisers in. What amenities does the cruise line provide? Is there an all-inclusive option? What additional amenities are you going to add on to the base fare? Do you like specialty dining? Wifi? The drinks package?
Some lines offer packages that allow you to upgrade to a more all-inclusive option. Norwegian has their Free at Sea, which provides drinks, wifi, and and specialty dining. You can even upgrade that to a higher level with their Free at Sea Plus. Celebrity has their All Included upgrade option that provides drinks, wifi and tips already included. These upgraded packages are often quite a bit cheaper than adding the various components of the package individually. Then you have all-inclusive lines like Virgin Voyages where wifi, tips and all restaurants are included in their base fare.
If you don’t need or want any extras, then looking into these all-inclusive options isn’t something you really need to do; however, if you plan on adding drinks, wifi or specialty dining to your cruise, then it makes sense to really look and see if it is cheaper to go with a line that offers an upgraded option that already includes those things.
Maybe you are used to booking with Carnival and Royal because of their cheaper base price, but always add on drinks and wifi. Be sure to check out other lines that offer these more inclusive options and you may find that you can upgrade to a mid-tier line like Celebrity or Virgin Voyages for a similar price, especially if they are offering a good sale.
Being a Budget cruiser doesn’t mean always booking the lowest fare, but it does mean that you are smart with the money you do spend and the choices you make. Budget cruises get the best value for their budget.
Cruising From The Ozarks 