I’ve been fortunate enough to have gone on more than 25 cruises so far. As a seasoned cruiser, I’ve learned quite a few tricks along the way. I’m sharing some of my cruise hacks that will save you money on your next cruise. I’m also sharing my cruise carry-on bag packing list as a free printable below.
Cruise Hacks
1. Become a Shareholder
Did you know you can get free onboard credit if you are a shareholder of cruise companies? If you own at least 100 shares, you can get $50 to $250 onboard credit.
For example, Carnival Cruise gives $50 to $250 onboard credit to shareholders. You also need to own a minimum of 100 shares and request no later than 14 days before the cruise departure date. Carnival cruise shareholder benefits apply to Princess Cruise, Holland America, Seabourn, Cunard, Costa Cruise sailings.
Norwegian cruise offers shareholders $50 to $250 onboard credit per stateroom for cruises on Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises or Regent Seven Seas Cruises. You must own a minimum of 100 shares to be eligible for the onboard credit, and you have to make a request 15 days before sailing.
Check with your cruise line to see if you’re eligible and consider buying at least 100 shares for free onboard credit. If you have an upcoming cruise, it may be worth buying at least 100 shares for free onboard credit!
2. Refer a Friend
Another cruise hack that people don’t know is cruise lines give incentives for you to refer a friend. It’s an easy way to earn free onboard credit. Many cruise lines give referral bonuses for new cruises booked by first time cruisers.
The free onboard credit for referrals are usually in the range of $25-$50 per referral. Both you and your friend will get onboard credits. If you know of a friend going on a cruise for the first time, do a referral so you can both get free money from the cruise!
3. Champagne
Many cruise newbies don’t know this cruise hack, it’s easy to get free champagne on a cruise.
The trick is to attend cruise art auctions where they serve free champagne. The best part is there is no obligation to buy from the art auction.
There are also other ways to get free champagne, just check the daily planner. I’ve been to gift shop events where they give out free champagne with a raffle to attract customers into their store.
You’re more likely to find free champagne on sea days than on port days. For more tips on how to get free champagne and drinks on a cruise, check out my article on 10 ways to get free champagne.
4. You Can Bring Wine Onboard
Did you know some cruise lines will let you bring bottles of wine onboard the ship? This is a money saving cruise hack that many cruisers don’t realize.
Some cruise lines will allow you to bring wine and/or champagne onboard the ship on embarkation day. However, there are usually restrictions on the amount and type of alcohol you can bring. For example, Royal Caribbean allows one sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne per guest, while Disney Cruise Line allows two unopened bottles of wine or champagne.
Just know that if you bring the bottle of wine to the main dining room, you will have to pay corkage. I suggest getting wine glasses from the bar, either bring your own corkscrew or borrow one from your cabin steward and enjoy your wine in your stateroom. You can even pour a glass of wine and bring it with you to dinner.
5. Your Wine Follows You
Here is another cruise hack that many cruisers are not aware of: your wine bottle follows you. That means if you order a bottle of wine from the main dining room, if you don’t finish your bottle, you can access it anywhere on the cruise ship later on.
That means if you go to a specialty restaurant or sit at a lounge, you can drink that bottle of wine. Just ask the bartender or the server to track down the bottle of wine for you. It’s a money saving cruise hack because you save money by buying wine by the bottle instead of by the glass.
6. Shore Excursions
Another money saving cruise hack is you don’t always have to buy shore excursions from the cruise. One way to save money on shore excursions is to book directly with independent tour operators like Viator.
The shore excursion offered by the cruise line is usually more expensive because they charge a premium for the guarantee that the ship won’t leave you behind. But in my experience, independent operators often offer the same tour at a lower price, and I’ve never been left behind by the cruise ship. After all, they do the same tour with cruise passengers every week!
Always compare the prices of the cruise shore excursions with those available on Viator. This has helped me save a lot of money over the years.
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7. Internet
Cruise newbies are often surprised at how expensive it is to make phone calls at sea. I learned it that hard way, I forgot to switch my cellphone to airplane mode, and people were able to call me while I was at sea. When I got back home, I was hit with a hefty cellphone bill, which I could have avoided.
Now, whenever I start sailing, the first thing I do is switch my phone to airplane mode. If I’m on a cruise with a lot of sea days, I subscribe to the cruise internet plan.
But if I’m on a cruise with back-to-back port days, I don’t buy the internet package at all. My cellphone plan includes free international text and data, so I wait until I get off the ship and at port to check my email and text messages.
Another strategy I use to save on internet expenses is to download my e-books and movies at home before going on a cruise. That way, I can read my books and watch movies without having to be connected to the internet since they are already downloaded on my phone, Kindle, or iPad.
8. Free Laundry
Did you know that some cruise lines offer complimentary self-service laundry for their guests? Princess and Cunard are among those that provide self-service washers and dryers, with Cunard even offering detergent for free.
It’s important to research ahead of time to see if your specific cruise ship has these self-serve laundromats. Not all cruise ships have it. If not, be sure to pack some travel detergent so you can do some light washing in your cabin, especially if you are going on a long cruise.
9. Avoid the Buffet Rush
This is a cruise hack that many newbies don’t know. On the first day of the cruise, after checking in, most people head straight to the buffet for lunch. However, it’s always very crowded and chaotic, since almost every passengers have the same idea.
Instead, have your lunch at the dining room or at a lobby cafe on embarkation day. You can enjoy a more relaxed and less hectic meal and save the buffet for another day. Just ask the cruise staff to find out which restaurants are open for lunch on embarkation day.
10. Last Minute Cruise Deals on Repositioning Cruises
If you want the best cruise deals, you can usually find it on last minute deals on repositioning cruises. Repositioning cruises is when the ship moves from one region to another. For example, a repositioning cruise is when you start in Florida and end up in Europe.
These cruises are typically transatlantic, with plenty of sea days. They are often longer than usual, so they take place during the shoulder season, that’s why they are not as popular.
If you look, you can find some fantastic last-minute deals. You can even get deals as low as $50 per person, per night on these repositioning cruises! Check out my article on how to get the best last minute deals and when to book a cruise to get the best deals.
Get Your Free Cruise Carry-On Bag Packing List
Sign up once and you will get access to ALL exclusive content on this website. After unlocking the printable, just save the printable image and then print it. Use it as a checklist to pack your carry-on bag so you don’t forget anything! I hope you like it!
I have cruise packing lists with free printables for your next Caribbean cruise, Mexico cruise, Bermuda cruise and Mediterranean cruises.
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