Booking a cruise is always an excellent consideration to spend your long-awaited holidays, breathe the fresh sea air, and visit several spots during a single voyage. Most travelers can’t afford to stay in suites and take exotic cruise itineraries. Thus, once you are planning to sail on a budget, you should know a couple of useful tricks to find a cruise at the most affordable price. In this article, we’ll walk you through some best tips on how to cruise on a budget.
How to plan a cruise on a budget?
1. Subscribe for mailing lists
While it is possible to find some good cruise deals by searching on the Internet, it would be better to sign up for a list mailing of the cruise line you want to sail with. Many modern cruise lines are likely to send exclusive offers discounts to their subscribers and the latest info about the best cruise deals, so don’t forget to check your email regularly to save some money on your sailing. Additionally, if you have a travel agent, you can ask them to hunt the cost-effective cruise deal for you, not to mention that such agents have access to bonuses and exceptional offers.
2. Seek the affordable cruise lines
If you doubt how to budget for a cruise, looking for cost-effective cruise companies is your best bet. Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and MSC Cruises are well-known for various affordable voyage options to choose from. Moreover, most of these cruise companies incorporate free activities aboard the ships. The Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries are considered the cheapest ones.
3. Select a cruise not far from home
Multiple domestic cruises are cheaper than international ones, and you can save even more money if you drive to a departure port instead of flying to it. Affordable cruise options include Mexican Riviera, Western Caribbean, and the Bahamas, and most of them set off from homeports in the U.S.
4. Sail in the cheapest time of the year
If your goal is to cruise on a budget, avoiding the busiest cruise seasons throughout the year is key. Mid-August to late October, with the peak in September, is the time when you can cruise to the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Mexican Riviera at the lowest prices due to the hurricane season. And it doesn’t mean you encounter a hurricane during sailing – when a storm appears on radar, the captain will alter the route to avoid it. In contrast, late-summer and autumn cruises feature primarily sunny weather.
5. Book an inside cabin
Another tip for an affordable voyage is booking an inside cabin – you will lack the ocean view, but herewith save significant amounts of money. Even though the cabin’s interior might vary from ship to ship, you don’t miss that much if you prefer to spend time outside of the stateroom.