Booking the cheapest cruise isn’t always going to get you the best value for your budget. This is especially true if you enjoy any of the add ons that will add additional cost to your cruise.
When researching a cruise the first price you will see is the base price. This is going to be the cheapest price the cruise line can possibly show you, and for most lines that means an interior cabin without taxes, port fees and gratuities added…for one person. If you are new to cruising, it may be easy to be pulled in by these prices, but the seasoned cruiser knows that they are going to pay more than double the advertised price.
Use the cruise lines’ websites to create mock bookings and get a better idea of the actual cost of your cruise. This will help you determine which line will give you the most value for your budget. As an example, if you are a budget cruiser but still want to make sure you have wifi and an alcoholic drink package, then you might find that one of the lines that offer an upgraded package like NCL’s Free at Sea or Princess’s Princess Plus might save you money over booking a similar itinerary with Royal Caribbean and adding wifi and drinks to your cruise fare.
When you sit down to really look at which cruise to book, be sure to take into consideration both what cruise line might have the right atmosphere as well as what kind of amenities you are looking for. Are you going to have to add a bunch of packages onto your fare to get the vacation experience you want? If so, maybe look at a line that offers an all-inclusive package or something similar. Even if you are working on a budget, with the proper planning and flexibility, you can probably find a mid-tier line that will be within your price point.
Itinerary, the ship (how new it is and its amenities), package add ons, and more will affect the end cost of your cruise, so do your research, compare lines and ships, before booking your cruise.
Cruising From The Ozarks 