Tips and Suggestions to Stay on Budget on a Cruise

Visit cruisecritic.com for a wealth of information

Yes, there are add-ons, but you can have a perfectly enjoyable cruise without paying for any extras on top

Budget on a cruise ?
Well, meals come with the cruise. You do not need to spend extra for those specialty dining rooms but of course you can, if you wish.
On board activities... there is a lot offered with the cruise but again, there are options and you can participate or take them , if you wish.
When you are at a port, you can just walk off and do walkabouts or, take a ship offers tour or, take a private tour. Know what ports you are going on and Google things to do at that port and you will find lots of things you can do.
As for drinks, generally soft drinks are free but alcohol is not.
When shopping for a cruise, there will be many offers, drinks included (for the adults in the cabin but not for the kids), tips included etc. Be aware that tips can be as much as $20 USD per person per day.
Generally, the bigger the ship, the more there is to do onboard.
WWW.CruiseCritic.com has lots of valuable information. It also has a Roll Call section that you can join when you have chosen your cruise and can hook up with people to lessen the cost of port excursions by joining a group.

Pete_Coach wrote: ↑ As for drinks, generally soft drinks are free but alcohol is not.

Unfortunately nickel 'n dime cruise lines (i.e., most of them) have long stopped offering complimentary soft drinks. Need a beverage package for that. I just got for whatever is available at the buffet.

Be aware that tips can be as much as $20 USD per person per day.

Standard cabin gratuities (added to your onboard account unless included in the fare) is US$13-14 pp pd if not more now. Essentially US$100 pp for a 1 week cruise. The "hotel" crew (basically restaurant and cabin attendants) depend on this to make up their otherwise-meagre wages so don't cheap out by opting out and claim you're tipping directly.

thriftshopper wrote: ↑ Unfortunately nickel 'n dime cruise lines (i.e., most of them) have long stopped offering complimentary soft drinks. Need a beverage package for that. I just got for whatever is available at the buffet.


Standard cabin gratuities (added to your onboard account unless included in the fare) is US$13-14 pp pd if not more now. Essentially US$100 pp for a 1 week cruise. The "hotel" crew (basically restaurant and cabin attendants) depend on this to make up their otherwise-meagre wages so don't cheap out by opting out and claim you're tipping directly.

Dispensed soft drinks are still free. Bottles or cans will cost. Yes, there are soft drink packages.
As i said "up to $20 USD per day)

Pete_Coach wrote: ↑ Dispensed soft drinks are still free. Bottles or cans will cost. Yes, there are soft drink packages.

I must be sailing on the wrong (cheap and/or greedier) lines, then. No carbonated drinks (at least self-serve) on the Celebrity Millennium 4 1/2 years ago, or IIRC, Holland America 8 and 10 years ago.

As i said "up to $20 USD per day)

Might as well give regular cabin rates in case they're not going for a suite, which they're probably not given the desired budget

Thank you for the tips!

I had absolutely no idea that buffet meals are included. The way the meal plans are advertised, it appeared as though none of the meals are included. We eat vegetarian food when outside. For kids, it usually ends up being cheese pizza and pasta with marinara sauce. We are not super big on pop. We usually end up drinking water, sparkling water and coffee (2-3x/day). A few pops here and there. Is there water available in the rooms or does it have to be purchased as well?

If main meals are covered in buffet, I'm guessing the only additional cost would be snacks and cold treats or an additional meal at a restaurant here and there.

A lot of the cruise lines offer a long list of activities and amenities for kids onboard. Are they usually covered in the cost or extra as well?

Shop-a-holic wrote: ↑ I had absolutely no idea that buffet meals are included.

Buffet and the assigned dining room meals are included, as are various other venues which you have to be aware of. Some of the extra-charge venues offer complimentary items (though not advertised). You can determine if dining room vegetarian is acceptable or not. I just find it more elegant to eat there than in the buffet.

The way the meal plans are advertised, it appeared as though none of the meals are included. We eat vegetarian food when outside. For kids, it usually ends up being cheese pizza and pasta with marinara sauce. We are not super big on pop. We usually end up drinking water, sparkling water and coffee (2-3x/day). A few pops here and there. Is there water available in the rooms or does it have to be purchased as well?

Water onboard is purified from sea water and is very drinkable. You might be able to get carbonated water at the drink stations. Some people bring their own bottled water onboard. One of the cruise lines forbade that (for claimed security reasons) and wanted to charge a fortune but backed off as it caused an uproar (they sell water at market rate). Coffee (made from syrup except Celebrity which used Lavazza ground at least in the past) and tea are complimentary. I find the water dispensed impossible to make a good cup of black tea, however.

If main meals are covered in buffet, I'm guessing the only additional cost would be snacks and cold treats or an additional meal at a restaurant here and there.

Anything in the buffet is usually included. Food there is adequate. There may be venues offering (included) fast food such as pizza and hamburgers on the pool deck. The specialty restaurants are the extra cost ones. As said, meals in the assigned/min dining room (a.k.a. MDR) is included.

thriftshopper wrote: ↑ Buffet and the assigned dining room meals are included, as are various other venues which you have to be aware of. Some of the extra-charge venues offer complimentary items (though not advertised). You can determine if dining room vegetarian is acceptable or not. I just find it more elegant to eat there than in the buffet.



Water onboard is purified from sea water and is very drinkable. You might be able to get carbonated water at the drink stations. Some people bring their own bottled water onboard. One of the cruise lines forbade that (for claimed security reasons) and wanted to charge a fortune but backed off as it caused an uproar (they sell water at market rate). Coffee (made from syrup except Celebrity which used Lavazza ground at least in the past) and tea are complimentary. I find the water dispensed impossible to make a good cup of black tea, however.



Anything in the buffet is usually included. Food there is adequate. There may be venues offering (included) fast food such as pizza and hamburgers on the pool deck. The specialty restaurants are the extra cost ones. As said, meals in the assigned/min dining room (a.k.a. MDR) is included.

Is there a way to determine which dining rooms may be included? While booking, the details aren't quite shared.

I'm looking into Royal Caribbean (from Florida) for Nov/Dec. Hoping things would be much better with covid or hopefully fairly back to normal. Any tips for RC would be much appreciated as well.

Thank you!

Shop-a-holic wrote: ↑ Is there a way to determine which dining rooms may be included? While booking, the details aren't quite shared.

Look at the ship details. Will be stated there. Looks like the standard name for the MDR is.... "main dining room" and the buffet Windjammer.

Shop-a-holic wrote: ↑ Is there a way to determine which dining rooms may be included? While booking, the details aren't quite shared.

I'm looking into Royal Caribbean (from Florida) for Nov/Dec. Hoping things would be much better with covid or hopefully fairly back to normal. Any tips for RC would be much appreciated as well.

Thank you!

All ships have a main dining room and some others have a secondary dining room. As well, there will be a buffet style "cafeteria" for breakfasts and lunch. There are also small counters throughout the ship for burgers etc. There will be other dining options but will be an additional cost to eat there. The eating areas will vary slightly with different ships.

Just to make you aware, November is still in the hurricane season.
A tip is to join Cruise Critic. There are lots of reviews of all ships and will have many tips there.

Pete_Coach wrote: ↑ All ships have a main dining room and some others have a secondary dining room. As well, there will be a buffet style "cafeteria" for breakfasts and lunch. There are also small counters throughout the ship for burgers etc. There will be other dining options but will be an additional cost to eat there. The eating areas will vary slightly with different ships.

Just to make you aware, November is still in the hurricane season.
A tip is to join Cruise Critic. There are lots of reviews of all ships and will have many tips there.

What are some good/better months to go on a cruise?

Thanks again!

thriftshopper wrote: ↑ I must be sailing on the wrong (cheap and/or greedier) lines, then. No carbonated drinks (at least self-serve) on the Celebrity Millennium 4 1/2 years ago, or IIRC, Holland America 8 and 10 years ago.

Right, I believe Disney is the only mainstream cruise line to include soft drinks in base fare. Other than that, expect to pay for anything other than water, drip coffee, tea, iced tea or lemonade from concentrate, etc.

Shop-a-holic wrote: ↑ What are some good/better months to go on a cruise?

Thanks again!

In my opinion, in the Mediterranean it is May- June and September - October. Not too hot and the ports are not too crowded.

In the Caribbean the times there could be weather problems is hurricane season, 1 June to end November. It is still cruising time but it can be interrupted by weather. We have missed ports because too windy or too bad weather to dock or tender.

https://www.afar.com/magazine/6-things- ... ane-season

Shop-a-holic wrote: ↑ Is there a way to determine which dining rooms may be included? While booking, the details aren't quite shared.

I'm looking into Royal Caribbean (from Florida) for Nov/Dec. Hoping things would be much better with covid or hopefully fairly back to normal. Any tips for RC would be much appreciated as well.

Depends on the ship, but for Royal there is typically the main dining room, windjammer buffet, and a smaller lunch/snack venue or two (Cafe Promenade, Sorrento's, Park Cafe are most common) that are included in base fare. Most of the other specialty options are surcharge, some are flat rate and some are a la carte pricing. If you look at the specific ship on their website, the food venues will either say "Included" or have a dollar sign associated with it. Generally speaking, the larger ships will have more options, both paid and free.

Thanks everyone!

Given the options included in the price, it doesn't seem like there would be a need to get additional dining or beverage plans. One off family meal and/or drinks won't break the bank.

I have noticed adding tip while booking the cruise. Not sure if there's any value in it. I'm assuming it's a norm to tip for services availed as we go along?

Also, I've seen RV has a voom data package. Has anyone used their own service provider's data?

Costco Travel (and I'm sure there are tons of others) has some of these cruises available as well. Is there a particular benefit or drawback for booking direct vs with Costco Travel?

Shop-a-holic wrote: ↑ I have noticed adding tip while booking the cruise. Not sure if there's any value in it. I'm assuming it's a norm to tip for services availed as we go along?

Most cruise lines automatically assess a daily "gratuity" rate that is billed to your account - you do have the option to pay it at time of booking as well. It essentially covers salaries for the service staff (room cleaning, dining room, etc) because their base salary alone is a pittance. You always have the option to remove it and/or tip in cash if you have strong feelings about it, but easiest to just leave it be in my view.

Otherwise, food and beverage purchases generally have an automatic gratuity added of 15-18% - and no way to get around those.

Shop-a-holic wrote: ↑ Also, I've seen RV has a voom data package. Has anyone used their own service provider's data?

Wifi is expensive and unreliable on a cruise. If you need it, better to buy it in advance at a discounted price over on board. But I would try to live without it unless you absolutely need to be connected 24/7.

You won't have mobile data service on board, and if your provider roams on the "Cellular at Sea" network voice service is in the range of $8 a minute or so. So again, just plan not to use it. In port, you can obviously connect to local networks based on whatever your carrier's roaming package is.

Shop-a-holic wrote: ↑ Costco Travel (and I'm sure there are tons of others) has some of these cruises available as well. Is there a particular benefit or drawback for booking direct vs with Costco Travel?

Typically, prices will be the same whether you book direct or with an agency. Costco Travel gives you a Costco gift card for a percentage of the fare, which is the advantage of booking with them. The disadvantage with using an agency is that they own your reservation, so you can't make changes directly with the cruise line - have to call Costco or whatever agency you go with and they will call the cruise line on your behalf.

Shop-a-holic wrote: ↑ Costco Travel (and I'm sure there are tons of others) has some of these cruises available as well. Is there a particular benefit or drawback for booking direct vs with Costco Travel?

Cruisecos still depend on travel agents (TA) to sell and distribute so they will charge highest/full prices so as not to undercut the travel agents they depend on for such. Travel agents are free to reduce by way of commission rebates, on-onboard credits, gifts among other things. Of course, the higher your fare (especially the CCF or "commissionable" portion) , the higher the potential rebates. Costco rebate is really a pittance and I've never bothered with it as I can get better pricing elsewhere.

I've never had a problem with booking with a TA (never booked directly as the fares have always been higher). Only drawback is they'll probably not contact you (at least in a timely fashion) if the cruiseco is offering upgrades at reduced prices. One TA did get us an UG from an interior to a decent window view (on a 2 week+ cruise too).

Have a look at Vacationstogo.com to see how low you can book the same cruise for.

I have posted this on the other cruise thread, there's some fear mongering, but I would not be surprise if cruise line would start rolling out fuel supplement soon.

https://www.cruzely.com/explained-what- ... ming-soon/

Hopefully, like the last time, they would grandfathered the rates of those who already booked.

thriftshopper wrote: ↑ Have a look at Vacationstogo.com to see how low you can book the same cruise for.

Good point I forgot to mention - OP, consider using a US travel agent as well if you can handle some currency risk.

The exchange rates the cruise lines use for their fares when sold in CAD are often not favourable, you can often do better whether using an agent or booking direct by booking in USD.

I've also booked with US agents I've found on Cruisecompete - but keep in mind some of these agents have more restrictive fees or cancellation polices than the cruiseline themselves.