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How you spend your time depends on what kind of cruise ship you’re on and what room you’re in. You need to have a plan in place for emergencies during your cruise, and travel insurance can help. Make sure your credit card won’t be charged foreign transaction fees. Fees can be high.
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“You can go snorkeling in beautiful Hawaii, spot whales in Alaska, explore castles in Scotland, hike the breathtaking Giant’s Causeway in Ireland, or marvel at Stonehenge. I was lucky to be able to do it,” said Judy Schwartz, a former public school teacher. I’ve been on 47 cruises and learned how to save money along the way. She shares eight money-saving tips for people who want to take a cruise.
1. Research the ship
During a cruise, the ship is a hotel, transportation, restaurant, and often also provides professional entertainment. All these financial decisions are made in one.
Each cruise line has its own culture and reputation. Taking a cruise that doesn’t suit your personality can be a huge financial mistake.
“Cruise lines like Carnival cater to a fun party crowd. Norwegian ships are known for family-friendly cruises with additional dining options. Princess has a more upscale reputation. ” Schwartz said.
While teaching, Schwartz enjoyed cruising with his family during school breaks. She made friends with other families while playing trivia tournaments on board, relaxing by the pool, and playing table tennis.
A cruise ship is more than just a way to get from point A to point B. It’s your neighborhood. Your ship may have 3,000 to 4,000 people on board. You’ll see people at buffets, specialty restaurants, casinos, and more.
2. Choose your cabin wisely
“If you’re going to spend a lot of time in your room, you might want more space. Or you can get a cheaper, smaller cabin and spend more money on excursions,” says Schwartz. .
“When we sailed from the Northeast to the Bahamas in the winter, we really enjoyed our balcony rooms where we could sit outdoors in the sun while still having privacy,” she says.
Schwartz advises people to “look at where the cabins are located before booking. If possible, avoid noisy cabins directly below the pool or on decks directly above or below the theater.” .
3. Calculate your drink package before setting sail
Schwartz says drink packages aren’t worth it for most guests. That’s because it has a string attached.
Most cruise drink packages don’t start until you depart from a port of call, so included drinks are usually only available while you’re sailing. If you require a drink package, all other adults in your room must also obtain one. Here are some tips: Not included.
The best candidates for drinks packages are solo travelers or couples who expect to drink a lot of expensive drinks (not beer) during their voyage.
4. Understand the insurance structure in advance
“If you get sick and need to see the ship’s doctor, your insurance may not cover it,” Schwartz said. “Plus, you have to pay upfront and try to get your insurance reimbursed. Consider purchasing insurance from the cruise line or a third-party insurance company. ” The best cruise travel insurance companies will cover you in case of a medical emergency, but be sure to check the plan before you buy.
“I learned this lesson the hard way when my husband contracted a major infection and had to be treated on board.”
Schwartz also said that if you have Medicare, you may not be covered if you are outside the United States.
“We were in Labadee (a private beach port) in Haiti and it was extremely hot. As we were walking back to the ship, we saw a helicopter coming to evacuate guests to the hospital,” Schwartz said. “This could cost $25,000.” Then we saw another helicopter coming to pick up another guest! ”
5. Pack heavy luggage
Schwartz says you should always pack items that would be very expensive to buy on board. This includes:
Sealed water and wine (if allowed on the cruise). Royal Caribbean allows one bottle of wine per adult. Medicines, Band-Aids, Seasickness Products, Menstrual Products Sunscreen and Toiletries
6. Read the contract details
Schwartz said cruises have special rules about where they can take children. Babies under 12 months of age are usually not allowed to be at sea for more than two days.
Norwegian does not accept infants under 6 months of age or passengers after 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Understand the ship’s code of conduct. If you violate this, you may be removed from the ship or banned from the cruise line. Be respectful to your employees and fellow travelers.
7. Always come home early
Schwartz warns, “Once you’re in port, get back on board early. You can leave the ship. You’ll get stranded. The cost of getting back on board can be very high.”
Schwartz enjoys excursions to ports of call, but he is punctual. When she visits places like France’s picturesque Honfleur or Estonia’s medieval old town of Tallinn, she always makes sure to get back to the ship in plenty of time.
8. Please bring the correct card
If you need a passport, you’ll also need a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. Otherwise, you’ll be adding about 3% to your account every time you swipe when you get off the ship and explore.
Madi Shekel
freelance writer
