Cruising can be a great way to enjoy a vacation where minimal planning is needed. When you book a cruise, you are able to travel to multiple destinations without lifting a finger, most of the food is paid for, entertainment is abundant each night, and your stateroom gets cleaned once a day. What more could you ask for? However, for a lot of newer cruisers, people tend to make a lot of mistakes that can be easily avoided.
I worked as a performer on cruise ships for over five years–and not just on one cruise line. I’ve seen the ins and outs of Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line and even the luxury, all-inclusive side of Regent Seven Seas. Through my own trial and error as well as seeing guests make the same mistakes, I’m truly a pro when it comes to getting the most out of your cruise for the least amount of money.
These days, I’m retired from performing on ships, and instead I go on cruises multiple times a year for leisure. A recent Points Guy article came out that explains ways that cruisers waste money, and there are three particular things in this article that I couldn’t agree more with. I’m going to lead you through them, and tell you what to do instead.
Related: Is Your Favorite Cruise Ship on the CDC’s “Cleanest” List? 25 Ships Just Earned a Perfect 100
Booking Too Many Shore Excursions
Once you book your cruise, you’ll then start to look at each day’s port of call. Usually on the cruise line’s app or website, you’ll see all of the options for shore excursions that you can book through your cruise line. Many of these excursions will seem incredibly enticing, and with the ease of booking directly with the cruise line, you’ll most likely feel the urge to book one for every single port of call. I’m here to tell you that for a lot of ports, that truly isn’t necessary.
Take a look at the ports you are visiting. If you are in an extremely walkable port–like Valetta, Malta or Key West, Florida–you can experience much of the port completely on your own. By doing this, you’ll save hundreds of dollars. Many of the shore excursions simply have a guide that brings you around the city, but the downside is that you have to wait for the other guests that also booked the excursion in each location, you can’t really explore at your own leisure, and you’ll be on a strict time schedule.
View this post on InstagramThe ports that I do recommend booking a shore excursion for are ones where the main action is far away from the actual port. Examples of this are ports like Piraeus, Greece (Athens) or Livorno, Italy (Florence). There are usually shore excursions that will bring you into the city center, and that takes the pressure off the guests to figure out how to navigate the port on their own. In that specific instance, I recommend a shore excursion.
Related: How to Book a Private Excursion Without Missing Your Cruise, According To An Ex-Crew Member
Another big mistake I see first time cruisers make is not keeping their phone on airplane mode. Especially if your cruise is staying in the United States, many people think it’s totally ok to leave their phone on cellular service as they normally would. I made this mistake myself the very first time I got onboard a cruise ship as a crew member. We were cruising from Long Beach, California to Catalina Island, California. I thought that I was in the clear to keep my phone on, and instead, I ended up getting charged hundreds of dollars for browsing the web on “cellular at sea”.
Don’t make the same mistake I did, and be sure to put your phone on airplane mode. You can purchase WiFi on the ship, but there are also some eSIM options to check out as well.
Not Getting A Drink Package
View this post on InstagramNow that I cruise as a guest on cruise ships quite often, I’ve found that buying a drink package is almost always worth it. Let’s take Norwegian Cruise Line for example. While the price of the drink package does vary per ship and itinerary, I have personally been able to book cruises with a very affordable drink package. Last year, I went on a 10-day Mediterranean cruise where I received an unlimited open bar for $27 a day. Ultimately, this meant that if I drank more than three alcoholic drinks per day while on the cruise, the drink package would be worth it.
If you end up not getting the drink package, you would pay per drink. On most cruise lines, beers cost between $6 to $10, wine can be between $9 and $15, and most cocktails are $14 or more. Over the course of your cruise, these prices add up. Especially if you consider the fact that you’ll most likely be visiting the dining room each night, and if you’re the type to have multiple drinks with dinner, that can put a dent in your bill. Don’t forget about when you’re laying out by the pool, and a nice cold beer or strawberry daiquiri will be extra appealing. Ultimately, if you enjoy drinking on vacation, the drink package is almost always worth it.
Related: Move Over Upselling—This is the New Cruise 'Ick'
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