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Ways to Save Money on a Cruise

February 3, 2017 By Dwan Perrin 13 Comments

Our family loves to take cruises. It is one of our favorite ways to vacation. Taking a cruise that stops at several different ports is an easy way to explore more than one destination during a single trip. Plus, there are so many ways to relax – which I love to do! Here are some of our ways to save money on a cruise vacation.

5 Ways to Save Money on a Cruise

save money on a cruise feature

Pack Everything You Need

As an avid traveler I try to pack light for most of my trips. In most cases my motto is “whatever you don’t bring you can always purchase at a store”. If you are taking a vacation to another city within the United States, that’s a fact. But when you take a cruise the prices of items on board are inflated. What you spend $2 on at home might cost $8 on a ship, no joke.

Common items forgotten:

  • sunscreen
  • after-sun lotion
  • motion sickness preventative
  • water shoes – required on some excursions
  • bug repellent – if visiting rain forest
  • bathroom essentials
  • sunglasses
  • lightweight sweater – for cool nights

Check the list of required items for your planned excursions. Some require you to wear specific shoes, such as water shoes. When we visited Belize we needed bug repellent. This was much cheaper to bring with us than to purchase there. Also a sun hat or ball cap is good to have, hair ties or clips if you have long hair, comfortable walking shoes and a water proof camera are among some of my must-have items.

Take Souvenirs & Fun Gear

Everyone loves to buy their souvenirs on vacation. We are no different. We collect Christmas ornaments and magnets from many of our destinations. However, kids often get a lot more excited about owning something new when on a trip. Packing our own little goodies for the kids came in handy when we traveled on a Disney Cruise. I headed to our local Disney Store Outlet and picked up cute stuffed animals and sticker books on clearance. Then I surprised them with the items on their bed at night.

The Dollar Tree sells Disney themed notebooks and pens for autographs for only $1!

Noah playing at Castaway Cay

Some other items we suggest you pack from home for your cruise are:

  • snorkel items – This prevents you from having to rent them, plus you know if they are clean!
  • sand toys – We buy a bundle of sand toys for $10 before each cruise, then toss them or donate before heading home. I’ve seen single sand buckets go for $12 on a cruise ship.
  • autograph books for kids when taking a Disney Cruise
  • treats, candy or snacks – To have during the evening shows and prevent buying expensive concession candy

Bring Your Own Soda

During dinner and around the ship you can get complimentary juice, tea, coffee and water. To avoid paying the higher price for soda, bring your own.

Each cruise line has specific rules for bringing your own soda, water and alcohol on board. Check the guidelines for your cruise during planning. Most cruise lines allow you to bring up to a six pack of canned soda per guest at no charge. Some cruise lines offer a bottled water package where you can pay ahead of time to have water sent to your state room.

Our family views soda as a treat and rarely purchase it, however I know there are some that can’t go a day without their caffeine. By bringing your own soda and using their free ice, you’ll save a ton!

sunset on cruise

Cruise During Off Season

If possible plan your cruise during the school season. It is a fact that cruise rates are much lower when public schools are in session. You can avoid the hurricane season and still vacation during the off season. Check prices for cruises between January thru April, avoiding the week of spring break. We have taken four night cruises when the kids had a four day weekend from school and still received great savings compared to the summer.

Signup for Notifications on Savings

Subscribe to the newsletters to receive alerts from each cruise line you are interested in. You will be notified about their sales and start to learn the patterns of when cruises are less expensive. Some cruise lines offer a much discounted rate by booking in advance, whereas some offer huge discounts on last minute bookings to fill their cabins. Also find a travel agent that you trust to watch the prices for you.

Have you taken a cruise vacation? Where was your favorite port?

Ways to Save Money on a Cruise Vacation

Filed Under: Featured, How We Get There Tagged With: Carnival Cruise, cruise vacation, Disney Dream Cruise, save money for a cruise, save on a cruise

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About Dwan Perrin

Dwan Perrin {MommaDJane} is a Dallas/Fort Worth area mom of 5. As an avid traveler she loves to always be on the go. From weekend road-trips to international travels, seeing the whole world is on her Life List. She loves to share snapshots of life on Instagram. You can connect with Dwan on Twitter @DwanPerrin and on Google+.

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Comments

  1. Michelle says

    February 18, 2017 at 4:40 am

    We’ve just recently come back from a cruise to the Portuguese Islands and I so wish I’d read this first. I never thought that the little things could be so expensive on the ship, Pinning for next time we go. Thank you Dwan

    Reply
  2. shelley@awomaninherprime.com says

    February 19, 2017 at 10:36 am

    I’ve never been on a cruise but it’s on my bucket list! Thanks so much for the tips. I’m pinning so that I’ll be able to remember the good advice when the time comes.

    Reply
  3. SuziesView says

    February 19, 2017 at 10:05 pm

    Great post! My husband was a Cruise Director for 15 years 🙂 Happy to find your blog today via Meet up Monday! Visit me any time I will look for you! I am hoping to make new blog friends. I will be following you 🙂 I will also be pinning your post to my new travel tips board.

    Reply
  4. Gabrielle Tyler says

    February 20, 2017 at 12:41 pm

    Thanks for sharing. I am all about making cruises more affordable, especially Disney since their prices are higher.

    Reply
  5. Angie ~ ambient wares says

    February 20, 2017 at 7:51 pm

    I’ve never been on a cruise before but, I appreciate the information for when I do (cause I will). Thanks for sharing at Funtastic Friday!

    Reply
  6. Jess says

    February 21, 2017 at 5:23 pm

    Great post! 🙂

    I would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/

    Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

    Reply
  7. Michelle - Jarrah Jungle says

    February 22, 2017 at 12:32 am

    Great tips! Now I want to go on another cruise!!

    Reply
  8. tammy ohagan says

    March 22, 2017 at 6:34 pm

    I will be taking my first ever cruise in September. Thanks for the article!

    Reply
  9. Judy Thomas says

    May 8, 2017 at 12:00 am

    Thanks for the tips! I am saving money to go on a cruise.

    Reply
  10. Sue E says

    September 12, 2017 at 10:56 pm

    I’ve never been on a vacation cruise!
    Just on a luncheon cruise, which I enjoyed immensely!
    I pinned these tips, because maybe, just maybe, I’ll go on a cruise of my dreams!
    With or without the hubby! TY

    Reply
  11. Helena says

    October 11, 2017 at 5:31 am

    Would love to be in a vacation cruise!
    Love the idea!
    http://helenamybeauty.over-blog.com/2017/10/la-chute-de-cheveux-chez-la-femme-the-hair-loss-in-the-woman.html

    Reply
  12. Donna says

    November 24, 2017 at 8:20 pm

    We loved Catalina Island.

    Reply

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Meet the Authors

Headshot in Stockyards Thumbnail

Dwan Perrin-Johns

As an avid traveler and mom to five, Dwan loves to live life to the fullest.  Whether camping at the local state park, traveling around Europe by train, or relaxing near the crystal waters at her favorite beach in Roatan, she enjoys exploring and sharing life experiences with her family. Although she loves to visit her favorite destinations over again, she finds thrills in exploring new places and marking items off her life list.

Andrew's Headshot

Andrew Johns

As a budding photographer, Andrew makes it his mission to document each trip through his lens. His favorite form of travel is aboard a cruise ship, where he can both relax and seek adventure through countless excursions. When he's not behind the camera, a few of his favorite travel hobbies include hiking, fishing, and snorkeling.

T's Headshot

Tapanga Perrin

Developing a love for travel at a young age, Tapanga's first big vacation was a trip to the Bahamas aboard a Disney cruise at six-years-old.  As a photography student and member of the military, she is eager to capture the world.  Cruising through Greece and taking the train through Italy ignited her interest in international travel.  As an adventure seeker she loves zip-lining through the rainforest in Belize and gets thrills from the highest rollercoasters she can find.  You can find out more about her at TheyCallMeT.com

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