Taking a cruise is a dream for many people; however it’s easy to be put off by reports of the huge price tag many still associate with cruises. Whilst it’s true that going on a cruise can be an expensive way to holiday there are several ways to reduce the cost, and the overall value of cruises can be very high; with additional offers often including on-board spending money, food and beverages and entertainment. It’s important to remember that cruises are as diverse and varied as any other holiday with a huge range of different providers, options, destinations and durations; meaning that whatever your budget, there is a cruise to suit you.
Due to this range of choices, it’s very difficult to put a figure on the ‘average’ amount a cruise could cost – from just a couple of hundred pounds for a short cruise in Europe, to figures of around £15,000 for a round-the-world experience. More important than ‘cost’ can often be ‘value’, with many cruises offering vastly different packages for their guests.
Reducing the cost of your cruise
Read the small print
It’s incredibly important to know what is, and what isn’t, included in your cruise package. Many travellers have budgeted for their holiday, only to realise that they have made a mistake when they are on-board. Planning ahead and reading carefully can help to mitigate some of these problems, and there are often ways to reduce the cost included in the small print. For example, many cruise lines will allow children unlimited drink refills for a small supplement, but this often has to be purchased before boarding. Some more examples are available here, but don’t be put off, careful planning will avoid these pitfalls.
Shop around
There are now a large number of cruise lines, all of which offer their own packages, deals and experience. Look carefully at the companies you’re considering – do their activities meet your own interests? Would you enjoy the entertainment? What are your dining and excursion options? Whether you’re looking for the adult-only experience of Saga (exclusively for the over 50s), the luxury experience of Celebrity Cruises or the family fun of Royal Caribbean it’s important to shop around to ensure the best deal. For example, Celebrity Cruises include all meals and some soft drinks as standard – however closer inspection of their cruise deals also found offers of premium drinks packages and on-board spending money worth hundreds for those booking in 2013.
Consider going ‘all inclusive’
Paying a little more up front may drastically reduce the overall cost of your cruise, and taking advantage of cruise deals such as dining packages is often better value than paying up front once on-board. Whilst it may feel counter intuitive to spend more when shopping for a cheaper cruise, paying attention to what’s included and spending a little more to go ‘all inclusive’ could reduce the cost by hundreds of pounds.
Be flexible
If you’re prepared to wait until the last minute, can be flexible with dates or destinations or are able to travel at short notice then there are often many deals which can be found at a highly discounted rate. Some cruise lines would rather sell their cabins for cheaper prices than have them remain vacant, so last minute deals can often be very enticing. Don’t worry if you don’t have the flexibility for a last minute offer however, as cruise lines usually offer the biggest incentives in terms of spending money and additional packages at the beginning of the season and to those who are able to book in advance – meaning that it’s still possible to get a great deal, even if you’re more constricted in your options.
