Many holidaymakers can be a little wary of the cost of going on a cruise, but if you know when and how to spend your holiday cash, you might be surprised by how much you can bring down the cost. As always, preparation is the key to success and knowing what to expect will make reducing your cruise holiday expenses so much easier.
Before you book, rule number one is that you never pay the brochure price. The major companies always release fancy brochures with sample pricing for their cruise holidays, but if you shop around for deals you will see that these are significantly over-estimated. Also, if you have some spare time and a lot of friends who you can rely on, it’s even possible to get a free cruise. ‘Group Planners’ who get at least 16 passengers signed up for a cruise are often rewarded with their own cabin, free of charge.
Another area to look at is what destinations are covered en route. Of course, the majority of cruise ships will visit tourist-focused destinations with high prices, but if you do your homework, you will be able to hunt down better deals and also stock up on necessities, instead of paying higher prices on board the ship.
Lastly, wining and dining is an expense that can quickly eat into your holiday budget. Many holiday cruises now provide drink-discounts, whereby you can have a bottle of wine or champagne for each day of the trip for a set price. It is also possible to find offers for non-alcoholic beverages.