Frugal Cruise Travel Tips

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 run the price range from cheap to super 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 a seaport and a cruise ship is likely to sail 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 came back for less than the airfare from New York to London. It remains one of our favorite cruises.

Bring your own non-alcoholic beverages

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

make your own tour

We have been on over a dozen cruises around the world and have only done one organized ship tour (on our first cruise). They are expensive, move at the pace of the slowest traveler, and restrictive. For a well-organized traveler, making your own arrangements is preferable.

One trick we use is to look at the sights that the 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? Allow some extra time and do the far away places first.

Great breakfast, late dinner

For the frugal traveler, maximizing time in port is a must. That means, if possible, choosing to sit late at dinner. We also tend not to eat big lunches (if at all). Instead, we eat a big breakfast on the ship (where breakfast is free), nibble on local food while ashore, and then end the day with a leisurely late dinner.

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