Are you thinking of going on a Holiday cruise but want to stick to a budget, you’re not alone. Holiday cruises are typically more expensive but there are plenty of ways to save money. Here are valuable tips to help you save money on holiday cruises.
Suburbs 101 participates in affiliate programs including the Amazon Associates Program and may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sales
One way to save money on your holiday cruise is to book during Black Friday or Cyber Monday sales. Major cruise lines often roll out enticing promotions during this time, offering extras like complimentary drinks, onboard credit, free WiFi, and more.
But if you are thinking of booking a cruise for this Holiday season, you might be out of luck. It’s too late because many families plan their holiday cruises well in advance, often booking them a year ahead. So, when you take advantage of Black Friday deals, you’ll likely be reserving a Holiday cruise for next year.
Depart from a Cruise Port You Can Drive To
One effective way to save money on your holiday cruise is to choose a departure port that’s within driving distance of your home. This allows you to avoid the high costs of airfare, which can skyrocket during the holiday weeks. By driving instead of flying, you can significantly reduce your travel expenses, as you’ll only need to cover parking and gas.
Holiday Cruise on an Older Cruise Ship
One way to save money is to book a Holiday cruise on an older cruise ship. Older cruise ships are usually a lot cheaper than the newer cruise ships, even for the same itinerary. You will still feel very festive sailing on these older cruise ships since the cruise staff will often go all out with the Holiday cruise activities and decorations.
Book Early to Get the Best Cabins and Best Rates
The popular cabins on Holiday cruises sell out quickly. If you’re planning to cruise during the busy Christmas and New Year’s weeks, you need to book early—ideally a year in advance. This is especially important if you need multiple cabins, since booking early will help you get cabins that are near each other and in the best locations.
Also, by booking early, you also have the advantage of lower rates because many cruise lines do price matches. If you find a lower price after you’ve booked, simply call the cruise line to request a price match.
Go on a Caribbean Cruise
Another way to save money on Holiday cruises is to choose a cheaper destination. Generally, a Caribbean cruise costs less overall compared to an Alaska or European cruise. This is largely because you can avoid expensive shore excursions in the Caribbean. In most Caribbean cruise ports, you won’t miss much if you skip these excursions. The experience often revolves around heading to the beach or exploring local shops, which you can easily do by taking a cab.
While if you go on an Alaska or European cruise, there are sights and attractions to see that you probably don’t want to miss out on. As a result, you’ll likely end up paying for several shore excursions and they can be add up- many Alaska cruise shore excursions are upwards of $200 per person!
Kids Sail Free
When cruising with kids, be sure to look out for Kids Sail Free promotions. This can add to significant savings since you’ll only need to cover minimal port fees for the kids. While the prime holiday weeks of Christmas and New Year’s typically don’t include this offer, you may find it available the week before Christmas or the week after New Year’s.
These off-peak holiday weeks usually have lower cruise fares with additional promotional freebies, including Kids Sail Free. It might even be worth considering skipping a few days of school to take advantage of these savings.
Wait for the Gift Shop Sale
Don’t buy souvenirs from the cruise gift shop on the first day of your cruise! To save money on t-shirts and other souvenirs, it’s a good idea to wait for the gift shop sale days. During these sales, you can often find items like t-shirts and pashmina wraps for just $10 each.
These sales typically take place on sea days when the gift shop sets up tables filled with discounted merchandise. If you see a sale, don’t wait—buy everything you want since the same deals might not be available the next day.
Set a Limit on Your Kids Cruise Card
It’s important to call guest services and set a daily spending limit on your kids’ keycards to prevent overspending. Many families find themselves spending more than they want to on their children’s charges.
The kids’ keycards act like credit cards on the cruise ship, giving them the freedom to buy whatever they want. Whether it’s souvenirs from the gift shop, arcade games, or rides, your kids charges can accumulate quickly and disrupt your cruise budget.
Join Free Holiday Onboard Activities
One of the best things about going on a Holiday cruise is that there are many fun Holiday activities onboard the cruise ship. From Holiday arts and crafts to Photos with Santa to Gingerbread Displays- there are many festive Holiday activities on the cruise ship.
The best part is that these activities are all free of charge. Be sure to check the cruise daily planner so you don’t miss out on any of the fun!
Bring Your Own Wine
Did you know most cruise lines will allow you to bring one bottle of wine or champagne? Many people don’t take advantage of it. Many cruise lines will allow you to bring 1 bottle of wine or champagne (750 ml) per adult on embarkation day only. Just know that it has to be bought onboard the ship on embarkation day or the first day of your cruise.
If you try to bring wine on any other port day, it will be confiscated and stored for the duration of your trip, only to be returned when you disembark. Also, most cruise lines will charge a corkage fee if you bring wine to the main dining room, so it’s best to drink it in your stateroom.
Use Wifi in Port
Don’t buy the cruise WiFi package. Instead, use the free WiFi typically available at cruise port terminals when you dock. If your cellphone plan includes international coverage, wait until you’re at port to send texts and go online.
Download Movie, EBooks and Games at Home
Before you leave home, it’s a good idea to download ebooks, games, and movies to enjoy offline on your devices. This way, you’ll have everything ready to go without needing to pay for pricey cruise WiFi.
Bring Holiday Gifts from Home
To save money on your holiday cruise, bring gifts from home and pre-wrap them. Buying presents on the cruise ship can be quite pricey, this is a simple way to save money on your cruise.
You Don’t Need to Worry About Decorating Your Cabin
When you go on a holiday cruise, the cruise ship will be decked out with lots of festive decorations from Christmas trees to holiday lights to Gingerbread displays. With all the decorations around the ship, you will feel like you don’t need to add anything to your cabin. You will feel festive enough without having to do any decorating!
But if you do want to decorate, it’s best to bring your own holiday decorations (such as Christmas magnets like this) so you don’t waste money buying overpriced decorations in the gift shop.
Bring a Refillable Water Bottle
Save your money and don’t buy the cruise ship’s expensive bottled water. Instead, bring along a refillable water bottle. You can easily refill it at the buffet or ask the bartenders for water while onboard. Also, the assistant waiter in the main dining room can fill your bottle for you.
Having a refillable water bottle is convenient, since it allows you to take water back to your stateroom and on shore excursions. I like these water bottles because they are simple in design so it’s easy to wash.
Get Free Champagne from the Art Auction
Art auctions will usually give out free champagne to attendees. It’s a great way to enjoy some free bubbly during your Holiday cruise.
The best part is there’s no obligation to buy art and you don’t even have to sit through the entire art auction. Check out 10 Ways to Score Free Champagne at a Cruise (How to Get Free Drinks!)
Don’t Buy the Cruise Beverage Package
Cruise beverage packages are expensive typically ranging from $80 to $100 per person per day. The worst part is they will ask all passengers in the cabin to buy a beverage package- even the kids have to buy the non-alchoholic package.
This can mean you are spending an extra $250 per day just for drinks- that’s $1750 more on a 7 day cruise. If you’re not a heavy drinker, save that money and order drinks a la carte instead. Check out 8 Reasons Why Cruise Ship Beverage Packages are a Waste of Money
Check out these free cruise printables
What to Pack: Caribbean cruise (free packing list)
What to Pack: Alaska cruise (free packing list)
Should You Remove Automatic Gratuities on Your Next Cruise?