10 COMPLETE WASTES OF MONEY ON A CRUISE | How to Save Money on a Cruise!
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- čas přidán 17. 06. 2024
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Everyone asks us on how to save money on a cruise. That is why we are always cautious about all those "extras" that the cruise lines try to sell you pre-cruise and while you onboard. So, to help you from breaking your budget on your next voyage, we share the 10 things that are a complete waste of money on a cruise.
Do you have additional things that are a waste of money on a cruise? Share them with us in the comments section below. Please let us know your cruise tips on how to save money on a cruise!
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-----WASTES OF MONEY ON A CRUISE-----
0:00 Introduction
0:50 Priority Boarding
1:50 Onboard Photos
2:30 Drink Packages
3:42 Art Auctions
4:40 Cruise Line Shore Excursions
5:42 Upcharge Seminars and Classes
7:15 Specialty Dining
8:05 Spa Treatments
9:00 Onboard Shops
9:40 Casinos
If you are looking for how to save money on a cruise, you can start by cutting out some of the additional costs from all those cruise "extras". Cruises are an amazing value, as so much is included in the cruise fare. Your cabin, most dining, onboard activities, and entertainment are usually all part of the price you pay for the cruise. Still, not everything that is on the ship is included. There are several add-ons, some that probably a waste of money.
For starters, one of our cruise money saving tips is to pass on priority boarding. Many cruise lines let you pay for the privilege of being the first on the ship and the first off at the ports of call. This service does little to improve your overall cruise vacation. Plus, if you complete your check-in early enough, you will be among the first on the ship for NO additional cost.
You will see photographers everywhere on your ship. While it is fun to pose for a few professional photos, the $20+ price per photo is usually not worth it to most cruisers. That is an easy way on how to save money on a cruise.
Another waste of money on a cruise is attending those art auctions. Don’t waste your time trying to get a free glass of champagne out of the deal. Even if you are an art expert, we suspect you will find these art auctions to not be worth your time.
We wouldn't recommend spending your money on a spa treatment on the ship either. If you want to pamper yourself, we suggest you do some pre-cruise investigating of your ports of call. You will likely find resorts and beach breaks that offer massages by the ocean for a much better price! The same goes for shore excursions. You can usually find cheaper and more authentic experiences when booking with local vendors instead of the cruise lines.
While these next two items might be a bit controversial among cruisers, if you are looking to save money, we suggest you skip purchasing a drink package and any specialty dining.
For many cruisers, a drink package is a waste of money. To "break even" travelers need to consume 6-8 alcoholic beverages, depending on your drink preferences. So, unless you can constantly drink this many beverages each day, you can save money on a cruise by purchasing your drinks a la carte.
Most modern cruise ships offer a variety of restaurants and different dining options that are complimentary. With all of these options, you don’t have to spend your money on specialty dining on a cruise. While we do splurge from time to time, skipping specialty dining is an easy way to save money.
Skip the duty free shopping and up-charge classes and seminars too. Most importantly, if you don't want to waste money on a cruise, stay away from the casino. It is easy for us to say not to waste your money at the cruise ship casino as we are not big gamblers. This is another simple way of how to save money on a cruise.
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After being on 21 cruises (so far); I agree with all your points except one. This is one my husband and I kind of disagree on. I personally don't want to have to worry at all on vacation, so, to me, taking the ship's excursions is best. If you take a private excursion and something goes wrong (bus breakdown, accident/or whatever that delays travel, ) and you can't make it back to the cruise port in time for the ship's leaving .... the ship will leave without you. However; if you are on a ship excursion, and something goes wrong and you are delayed in getting back to the ship on time, the ship Will wait for that excursion to return.
Thanks for sharing. Happy cruising!
I agree. Seen myself where someone took an excursion outside of the ship and got back late and from our balcony we saw them running down the dock trying to catch the ship as we were pulling away. I don't want to worry if the car for my private excursion gets a flat tire that I won't make it back in time
Never had issues with private tours. Their livelihood depends on doing a good job. People missing a ship is a huge hit for them. If folks do their research on private tours before choosing, risk is much lower. I will continue to use private tours. Cruise line tours are just way overpriced. Plus, private tours tend to be more fun. I've done some cruise line tours, so I can compare the two.
Plus, a private tour is not the only reason why people miss the ship, lol. When I see people running to the ship, it's usually not due to a private tour company. Hahahaha.
@@s.n.e.8941 Exactly you will find most of those runner have been getting bored up in bars lost track of time.
For the casino I agree only a little. My tip has always been give yourself a set amount of money to play with and don’t go in expecting to win. Just have fun.
I bought the drink package on one of my early cruises and figured out that I had to drink at least 8 pina coladas/day for the break even point. No problem there since I drank about 10/day, lol.
I'm thinking they same, lol 8 beers in a day are rookie number. Definitely worth it.
I'm planning a surprise father's day cruise for my husband & thinking about the drink package but it's almost a thousand dollars for 4 days. That's a bit pricey we couldn't drink a that much in a year. Are the drinks really that pricey on board now?
@@bigpoppa1fasho yes. 1 fancy female drink is about 16 dollars
been waiting for this comment!!!!! i get every cents worth of that drink package!!!!!💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽
@@bigpoppa1fasho To be honest, I haven't seen any cruises leaving the USA NOT offer free drinking or specialty dining in a long time. They throw freebies at you to get on board nowadays since Covid wiped them all out into near bankruptcy and are begging for cruisers now.
One thing I don't like are cruise ships that are decked out like an outlet mall. I have that 5 miles from here. If I'm on a cruise I don't need to know there's a Michael Kors store near by. People go on cruises to get away from that stuff.
Exactly and this is the problem now all has to be on a ship people not satisfied with fair ground etc on land want them on ships also. Cruises were meant as the word says for cruising. Thats it cruising understand the word
agree. Don't get the amusement park with roller coasters, go karts on the ship. I will sail the smaller, old ships until they aren't available any longer.
Anything you buy on a cruise ship is probably cheaper at home.
@@mandywalker3393
If we wanted roller coasters we'd go to Six Flags. 😃
@@ellisjames7192 Exactly on one cruise the ship had a watch my son in liked prices over AUD 900 onside 45% off can work that out so he checked online same watch in Sydney with all taxes and everything else paid was AUD 350. Bottle of wintry in RCL ship cost AUD 94 wbaout USD 75 in retail store who paid al cities and taxes AUD 17.95. Beer more expensive on cruise ships why as they do not pay taxes ir duty and years ago the passengers got this duty free not the greedy cruise lines. This all started to happen when American companies such as Carnival started buying up such as Cunard, P&O and so on and decided they wanted the duty free for them selves. We stupidly let them get away with it.
My wife and I have been on over 30 cruises and I agree on everything you said. We seldom take the ship’s excursions and have taken many local excursions and have never had a problem. Just remember the onboard time and return in plenty of time. We’ve had wonderful experiences. My wife and I and another couple we were traveling with, took a local cab to Ephesus on a Caribbean cruise instead of the ships excursion. Instead of $175 per couple on a large bus with 50 people, we paid $50 + tip for a full day of personal care. After taking us to several interesting sites the driver asked if we wanted to have tea at his home and meet his family! We did and had a wonderful time.
Any tips for excursions in Labadee, Haiti? Thanks!
That's fantastic. I probably would have tipped the driver $80-100. You're still coming out ahead, and got a much better experience.
Ephesus as in Turkey? Must have been a hell of a driver to get you to Europe and back to the Caribbean in time for your departure. What did he give you to smoke? Just kidding of course. My wife and I hired a limo to take us around Roatan. Jose was wonderful and took us to his resort where he worked full-time. We ate lunch and invited him to eat and when we asked for the check, the manager said "It's on us. We don't want you to think Jose took you here to have you spend money". Great day!
Great point! It’s a little different when you have a large group of people screwed beyond their control as opposed to just a couple people😂
Onboard wifi, especially from ships who haven't upgraded to speeds and reliability that rivals land based internet. If you don't need to connect to the world at sea, check if your mobile phone provider covers you while in foreign countries at no additional cost, and handle your internet usage while the ship is docked. I have Sprint and I'm covered with complimentary 4G service while in Mexico and Canada.
Agree
One of my favorite things about being on a cruise is the chance to unplug! We make sure we have an international calling plan in case of an emergency but my phone basically becomes a camera once we’ve left our departure port.
I do a music cruise, and my big money saving rule is: Only go to the Merch room once per day BEFORE drinking. Do NOT go to the merch room AFTER drinking.
I do 70000 Tons of Metal every year and merch and booz take all my money !!!😫😫😫
Spending money on a cruise is part of the entertainment and cruising. It's like eating out instead of cooking at home
We did a Couples Massage on RC a few years ago and were pretty much held captive in the room until we had listened to a 15-minute presentation on every item they had used, of course all at ridiculous prices. Never again.....
I can attest to this. I went to the spa on an Oasis class ship, and they were trying to sell me everything from shoe inserts to various add-ons to my massage and take-home lotions and treatments. It added stress to what would have otherwise been a pleasant, relaxing experience.
For the drink packages - I would say that you'll probably consume more drinks on sea days and private island days than on port days. So factor in getting off the ship on port days and realize that you won't be onboard to drink the 'included' drinks. Itineraries with lots of port days might not be cost effective for drink packages. If you do purchase a drink package - keep an eye out for pre-cruise sales around holidays. Don't wait until you board the ship to order the drink package.
Different styles , preferences, and pocket books make many of these choices “up to you”. I like to have things well organized ahead of time and avoid the stress of stressing out for a “cheaper option”. My experience tells me that excursions purchased off the ship always put you at risk of quality and arriving back to ship on time. Maybe a waste of money for you , but a much more convenient choice for others. “Different Strokes”. Keep an open mind, we all have our own price, and what is a good value. Keep up the good work.
I once did a private excursion that was a 7 minute walk from the port so I was safe there.
It's true that value is in the eye of the beholder I would also just venture to say that it's worth it to do the research on these. For many very heavily visited ports the locals have streamlined the process for visitors doing popular excursions and the cruise ships are charging such an inflated rate that I've seen enough reviews that said the price the cruise charged made the excursion not worth it or something they wouldn't do again BECAUSE it was overpriced. I def think though any excursion that's a great distance from the port or more obscure and less popular I'd prob prefer to do those through the cruise lines for safety too.
If you are an art collector and you do your research on what you're buying. Plus understand that you can request a lower starting bid. And you don't pay any sales tax. You can save as much as 40% off of the galory retail price.
Me and my wife only buy art on ships.
On one of our early cruises we went to the port talk and heard about all the places the ship wanted us to shop at. Then later I was walking the deck and found an officer leaning against a railing. I came up and started a conversation. I’m a friendly guy. Then I asked him where does the crew shop when in the upcoming port. He quietly told me of a shop a street over from the busy Main Street. We went there and saved money on the same merchandise over the ship’s recommended stores.
S
Great idea that I never thought of, thank you. Easy too!
Now THATS a tip 🍻
Thanks for the tips; very helpful
Excellent! Thank you for sharing!
Great video if your looking for someone to validate your cheapness. I did the key and the benefits were a life saver for us. We had incredible photos taken of us on MSC for our 30 anniversary that were priceless since we had no wedding photos because we eloped. You don’t have to spend extra money on s cruise but for some people these extras are invaluable experiences that create incredible memories. My husband passed away last year and I cherish all the fun we had on cruises and the pictures we paid extra for are priceless now. Sure we could have taken our own photos but they never would have been as good as the ones we received. What’s a complete waste of money for some can be a lifetime of memories for someone else. Life is short, have as much fun as you can afford.
Thanks for watching. Happy cruising.
There's nothing wrong with saving money here and there. Especially as cruising gets more and more expensive.
Do what makes you happy. How ones spends their money is subjective. I love small and large ships. Each brand brings something unique to the cruise game. I’m grateful that each ship provides a unique service to one’s vacation experience.
I got a haircut on a cruise and it was slightly less than I normally pay, especially with my loyalty discount. The barber was excellent and congenial.
I totally agree, Thank you!
I agree with everything you said! Thank you
Thank you for being honest, I agree with all of these. Some cruise you tube channels seem to be friends with the cruise lines and will tell you to sign up for all of these.
I love going to other dining places on cruises. Sometimes they serve food that the main dining doesn't. Including the steak house or Italian restaurants on carnival cruises.
On top of that, it's said to avoid the casino, but I actually get cheaper rates on cruises because I spent money in the casino, plus free drinks while playing.
Thku so much for the information
I find it often better to book with the line for excursions. Especially if it's a port of call that's new to us.
Thank you so much for this video. I have not ever taken a cruise yet but plan to in the near future.
Thank you for sharing
If you can travel lightly with nothing but what you carry, it helps immensely with embarking/disembarking. With Royal Caribbean we literally walked straight on, an avoided the que given out when leaving. My wife and I literally walked right off ahead of even the first class passengers as luggage is a real PITA with any traveling. It pays to travel light-if you do need something just buy it at whatever port-NOT onboard the ship because it's a racket. My $5 Cozumel shot glass I got for a sister comes to mind when she actually used it and the dishwasher washed the cheap ass sticker clean off the glass. Trinkets and junk in the gift shops all at exorbitant prices but the ones selling stuff out in the open on deck were very reasonable.
Good video, but we always get a drinks package and here's why: if we don't get it, then we're always wondering if we're drinking so much that we should have got it, and end up limiting how much we drink and being very conscious of cost.
Even though we may ultimately pay a little more for a drinks package, it's a fixed cost, we stop worrying about it, and just have as many drinks as we want without worrying. Our vacation is about relaxing and being carefree, and just getting drinks cost out of the way helps with that.
Does that also include the hundreds of extra dollars for gratuities for the package? So, overall, the drink package costs even more than the printed daily cost. Then, folks also tip on top of that. It really adds up.
All those drinks used to be duty free form bars on cruise ships until the cruise lines discovered they were missing out and decided they wanted all the profits after all there is no duty or tax on any alcohol or anything else for that matter. A bottle of wine I bought on That bloody awful monstrosity of a ship Ovation of the Seas (she and her sister ships) cited among 12 worst cruise ships) cost of that bottle with conversions as USD on board came to AUD 94 about USD 70 on shore including duty and taxes in Australia AUD 17 about USD 13 and I can tell you buying duty free cost the cruise line lass than USD 1.50 per bottle. So a hell of a mark up what is the point of being at sea to get ripped off like that then on top of that they also charge 18%. Never mind Gratuities that there never was before. Amazing people thing cruising is a good deal. Then add being directed to up scale restaurants at extra cost because of sitting costs in main dining room. By the way I love cruising but not to be ripped ff at every turn..
My rhing about drink packages..
A 7 day cruise... You pay for a 7 day drink package. BUT. You usually have 3-4 shore days in that cruise where you are not around to drink as much. You are basically paying double for each sea day of drinking.
@@lauramata4244 That's just one perspective though. Depending on the parties involved, That drink tab may well be worth it, if they aren't the type of folk who can run it up to the last penny.
Taking my first cruise in 2 weeks thanks for the video very informative 👊🏼
We are glad you found it informative.
Thanks DB a great review for old salts and new cruisers alike. Hi from Bob and Jill in Connecticut
Thanks!
Really helpful tips.
I agree with all of this except if you’ve never done a Chefs table you should do it once. This used to be one of those hidden offerings, you could only reserve onboard and it was done once/cruise. Now it is every day and can be booked in advance. It’s usually like 7 courses with a wine pairing for each. Try it.
Reading the comments it's apparent that value=$$$ is in the eye of the beholder. Some people want the peace of mind that comes with a ship sponsored shorex while others want to save money. Husband and I love the thermal suites, something we can't find on land. It may not be for everyone, but we find value.
To each his own. Value is in the eye of the beholder.
I am comfortable sorting my own shorex to save $ but also to find something I really want. I also splurge for the NCL thermal suite on transatlantics, which is what I am usually on.
@@barbarahallowell2613 Big fan of thermal suites
Great information 👍🏽
I personally always do the priority checkin (faster 2 the fun, ect.) every time now. I thought it would be a waste of money too until I tried it. No more long lines to get on or off the ship is good. But the biggest perk for me is that your stateroom is ready the moment you step on the ship and my bags usually beat me to my cabin somehow. So within a few minutes of being on the ship I can drop my stuff off at my cabin and start my vacation worry free for my family. The guest services is also a nice perk to be able to swing by even during the busiest times and be seen almost immediately. 90 dollars ends up saving a several hours worth of time across a 7 day cruise, which is worth it to me personally. I guess it is a time v money thing on which you consider more valuable to you. Happy Cruising :)
Thanks for the feedback. Happy cruising.
I like to just wait to get on the ship later. Then the room is usually ready anyways.
Regarding the excursions comment. I've found as a solo cruiser that you can get tours slightly cheaper outside of the ship but you're taking a huge risk. A friend of mine tried to save $20 by getting a private tour. The car broke down and she missed the ship. She ended up having to spend a lot more than $20 to get to the next port of call.
Cars breaking down and also buses too. This sounds kinda fishy that this happens more often than not. It makes me wonder if those cruise destinations are in cahoots with someone
@@raracuzz1358 you never now. In my case peace of mind is important especially seeing as I'm on vacation. So if I can't afford the extra 20 bucks to use the ship's excursions then I shouldn't be cruising in the first place in my opinion
For me any extra money that I spend for a ship excursion relative to a less expensive independent excursion is money well spent for the peace of mind that it provides. Knowing that the ship will wait if the excursion returns late, after the planned time of the ship’s departure from the port of call, is priceless.
For me, the money saved is NOT worth the risk. If I am on vacation, the last thing I need is to worry about is being left behind. Is saving $20 worth it considering what you already paid for the cruise. Penny wise and pound foolish
@@raracuzz1358 I doubt that cruise want to leave passengers behind. How does that benefit them?
The one exception I have to the photos is for families or friends cruising together from different parts of the country. Although it is more expensive onboard than on land, it is worth it if everyone is in the same place and looking nice. You can go to a number of different photographers and choose a great shot of your group, then chip in for the digital copy and have prints made at home. And although this is a personal choice, we have always enjoyed most of the specialty dining options, especially as repeat cruisers.
Great video. 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
I've been on 6 cruises in my life and the last on was in 1997 so I'm in for a big surprise in March and in saying that, everything you have said in this video is absolutely true! Although, they didn't have the drink package back then, but I agree, it's not a good deal unless you wanna miss most of your cruise by sleeping all those drinks off. 😖
We've taken enough cruises to know you speak the truth. We have done the specialty dining and been very underwhelmed. The only specialty dining we do is Johnny Rockets as we really enjoy the food and the crew singong. As for Royal Caribbean's " the key" it depends on the price. If it is priced low enough we enjoy getting on the ship early and the relaxed luncheon and not having to hassle with our carry ons, but the real kicker for us is the breakfast and escorted debarkation. It makes that last morning so much nicer. Even on sale the "Key" is overpriced but I use an e!extend wheelchair and my husband is not getting around like he used to so we appreciate the extra convenience.
Spending some money might be the FUN part of having a vacation. Just make sure you make some research before not to pay too much and also make sure you save some money before you indulge yourself on your vacation.
My professional photos taken by the ship’s photographer were hands down the most beautiful photos ever taken. Worth every penny!
We each bring a carry-on suitcase and a small tote. We are there to get a little break from a Chicago winter. Tina
I totally agree with all of your tips and it was a great video!!
Thanks.
Thanks for the information
My pleasure
The drink package for Norwegian allowed my mother and i to get unlimited Starbucks, pressed juices and sparkling water for every meal we had. It was definitely worth it and I wouldn’t call it a waste of money…
I would also say the same about specialty dining
Value is in the eye of the beholder. What is value to some is not to others. For me anything "extra" on a cruise is NOT worth it. I don not drink so a drinks package means nothing. So is "specialty dining". The rest of the food on the ship is perfectly fine for me. I have not need to dine on a $70 steak on a ship. I would not do that at home.
@@ellisjames7192 I totally agree with you. I have been on 9 cruises so far and spent $0 on drinks or specialty dining. I am very happy with the food and services in the MDR. 😊
He may be referring to alcohol drinks packages, which usually force all adults in a cabin to get it and must pay for each day. You would need about 8 cocktails a day to break even. Non-alcoholic one though is definitely worth it.
I always get a balcony room because I'm trying to relax and d-stress. I will get a spa treatment while at Port because I've seen just about everything I've wanted to see. If I want to buy a keep sake I get it on the last day of the cruise when the prices drop. I usually cruise every other year, had to cancel due to covid. Getting the itch about now. Lol8
One of my favorite parts of the cruise is the massage!! I can't give that up
Drink packages, photos and specialty dining are all something we don’t use any money. MSC has very reasonable price excursions and we also like priority check in.
I also agree with everything you have to say except that I feel safer being with the ship's excursions. Especially since if they're late getting back the ship won't leave without you. Also depending on the country visited your life maybe in better hand's.
I do buy the unlimited drink package but I do drink whiskey all day long on the cruise and in the hot tub. Why not it's a vacation but you are correct, if you drink only a few glasses a day not worth it.
He really left out the important thing booking an excursion through the cruise line. Like you said, the ship will wait for you if you are late. Book an independent excursion and you may be left behind. I would NEVER book an independent excursion. It is NOT that serious.
I once did a private excursion that was a 7 minute walk from the port so I was safe there.
They same operators and buses. The only exceptions are long all day trip eg Austrlia barrier reef. Otherwise they service the ship etc and the cruise lines spin the fear so you pay them
I believe the Key is completely worth it because it comes with internet plus other benefits and it's frequently on sale.
Fully agree. The Key not only provides priority boarding - it provides private time for flow rider and rock climbing - which saves you all the queue time. Also free room service also. It also provide priority entry to the shows so that you get the best seats. The benefits may change from time to time - so read the fine print
Really goof video thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great info!
Glad it was helpful!
Right on !!
Great tips on how to save money on a cruise ship!
Thanks.
Agree on the booze pass, especially considering youll be in port half the time.
As for art shows and casinos, theyre something to do and a place to meet people. You dont have to buy any art or gamble, tho the casino is more fun when participating.
Thank you so much for this video. I’m a first time cruiser, cruising Feb ‘22. I was trying to buy everything, thinking I’d be saving money. This was really helpful!
The old saying...." Do you really need it"
Remember, yr fare is already steep and includes all yr basic needs.
How would you saving money if you are spending more money? Does that make sense?
i agree with you on most everything ...mind you I am still working on my first cruise and why I watch things like this regularly. but to me even though pricy the cooking classes would be worth it ....i am a trained chef and learning these new culinarial techniques would be fun and worth it to me
Could you take a cooking class at home? Why do you need to take one on a cruise ship?
@@ellisjames7192 not saying i couldn't just for me getting to learn these skills and recipes while on the ship "for me" ould be an enjoyable experiance.
Thank you so much
You’re welcome.
I always get the drink package. Throughout the day it is easy to max out the package at 15 drinks per day
everything on a cruise is meant to empty to your pockets, your just a walking $ sign to them. cattle to shuffle around. Try going to one of these locals and stay for a week on island. My fav time of day is 3pm when the cruise ship cattle get loaded up and leave. It does not seem relaxing in the least to be surrounded by some many people all the time, to each their own. Enjoy
I always listened to comments like this about the Key and didn’t bother with it. Then once there was a sale which let me buy it for almost no extra money, so I did.
Now I will never sail without it. Between the priority boarding, priority tender boarding, priority seating at shows, and the ability to disembark at my own schedule, my whole cruise was improved. Royal’s the Key includes the internet which I always bought anyway, so paying a few bucks more for all the priority stuff was totally worth it to me.
The only reason to book a shore excursion through the cruise line is the insurance of not being stranded if something goes wrong.
That is more than good enough reason for me. Peace of mind cannot be over estimated.
Yeah it’s always fun to laugh at the folks frantically sprinting down the dock trying not to get left behind cause they don’t have such assurances
The money I saved from avoiding those 1O things I tip the housekeeper and other cruise staff.
when we purchased the Key for our cruise, we did it more for it included the internet and was only 2 dallors more, then we also got the bonuses.
I agree with most points. Except Rccl's The Key usually includes priority for some activities, which is clutch on a crowded ship. It also includes wifi for 1 device(per Key holder) That's better than their current wifi packages.
I agree. Not worth it to worry
I couldn't agree more with the 'onboard photographs' and 'priority boarding' points - I've never actually got to the port early enough to know that priority boarding is even a thing, ha! The onboard photographs really make me laugh - so many great photo opportunities onboard, yet so many ships have those tacky backdrops instead...
I always buy the Key. I wouldn’t sail without it. It includes so much more than priority boarding. And it includes the top tier internet,which I would buy anyway. So for a few extra dollars I get the priority boarding - which really does make a big difference in getting on the ship early and quickly - the priority tender boarding, which takes a lot of stress off me if I have to meet a tour, the priority seating in the theaters, and the ability to take my time disembarking at the end. All these things make a huge difference to me. There are other extras as well, but those are the ones I care about,
I also do at least one massage - more on longer cruises. The cost isn’t really any more than at home, and i have a physical condition that is helped by massage. And 18% is less than I tip at home.
The rest, I agree. I generally buy the soda package. It’s cheap, and I really like the specialty sodas. But I don’t buy the alcohol package. I book my cruises through Viator for the most part rather than through the ship. And I avoid the casino.
As others have mentioned - there's another word for people who take private excursions...they're called pier runners. I most situations, the private companies get you back with oodles of time to get back on board but a lot of pier runners were on private excusions/tours. As far a souvenirs, you're right, buy them at the ports. Yes, some of them are trashy and such but the people selling them are local. This is their business.
In my experience it is not people who take private's excursion it is people who spend their time on shore in bars.
@@dlgregory35 Yes, that too...then I guess we can call those private excursions anyway LOL.
Not quite true. Many of those pier runners have not even been on a excursion they get caught up in stores and in bars and they are the majority of so called pier runners.
My souvenirs are the pictures I take. That other stuff means nothing to me.
Hi, You are perfectly right. I like to sit on the slot machine and every time I'm in the casino I have free drinks. I try my luck and it is a win, win situation, because while spending a few dollar I save a lot ordering drinks while playing and having fun.
Agree with all points however I do the speciality dinning not all are worth it but some are.
Drink package is the way too go went on 3 cruises, liquor bill was 1500-1700$ each cruise, drink package for 2 … 450$.
You make more sense than that Sal Pitera guy! Great video, thanks!
If you don't book a excursion through the cruise line and you are late getting back to the ship the ship will not wait for you. We were on an excursion in Hawaii and the bus broke down on the way back to the ship. We were 45 minutes late and they held the ship for us because we booked through the cruise line.
True, but many tour companies guarantee they will get you back or pay to have you meet the ship.
Agree and if you read the fine print they are not responsible for beyond there control. Off of Roaton a storm came in and the tour missed a sail they helped but did not fully help. Our table mates told us their horror story
On Carribean cruises We've had many of the same dishes in the main dining or specialty steak house for exception of the cut of steak. For the Alaskan cruise and For peace of mind we decided to take ship service excursions because there was no real savings. And when we went to book thoses excursions with private companies thwt were all booked. With staffing being low it sas our option, but it was only $5-10 difference per perrson. We definitely will save money by taking pictures for our souvenirs on this trip.
I definitely agree on the art auction.
If someone is interested in original art for their home, I strongly recommend they support a local gallery and artist.
I wouldn't go for the high end drink packages, but I do get a soda package, because I will often have a couple of sodas at most meals.
And how would to carry it home with all your liggage? So they mail it to you?
@@1dbedfo yes, free shipping to wherever you want
I got sucked into the Art auction on my 1st cruise. Yes I did buy 3 pieces. Which are still sitting in the tubes that they sent them to us in. 2.5 years ago!!!
The art auctions are a fun people-watching experience. There's no need to buy anything. Some of the art directors give interesting talks aside from the auctions. I may not want the art in my home, but I enjoy hearing about some of the methods used to create the art forms, and some of the artists have interesting life stories. It's just something to do on a sea day.
I was at art auction. This guy trying to impress his girlfriend won a painting for $2k. She was so upset.. called him stupid. At end of auction he canceled the drawing and they both went to the jewery shop next door.😂
I picked up an art auction painting of an elephant for $12 at Salvation Army!! Half price color price tag!
My husband uses a wheelchair. So we opted for taxis. Excursion fares X 2 = taxi fare, plus taxis have better access to narrow roads which restricts coaches. Plus taxi drivers know and can stop at local toilets. They will also know places not advertised on excursions. Fares can vary, but are rarely more than an excursion, with more benefits.
The high end liquor in the duty free shop are an excellent price and worth buying. I have never had to pay anything extra when I come back to the US.
I’ve served in many officer roles on several cruise lines. I was also a shopping guide. YES - the shops we recommend are legit. And covered if you have a problem. HOWEVER - you NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING. Get with the Shopping Guide and let them know - "I'm appraising this the moment I get home, I'd appreciate if you and I could meet in the store and negotiation with me." Now - the shopping guide isn't going to make an appointment shoreside for a bobble. This is for significant purchases. If they happen to have a shopping hour in a particular store - GO THERE. They are watching every sale. And prices are 9/10 cheaper than others.
The BEST ADVICE I can give as a shopping guide - even if you don’t go to the lectures - shop ONLY in the recommended stores and TELL YOUR SALES PERSON BEFORE YOU BUY that you are excited to show your ships shopping guide what you purchased and how good a deal you were given. ALL salespeople know this guide and they know they can’t screw you over if your going to show off your purchase!!!
As a former art auctioneer - DO NOT BUY ART. I can assure you - you are being ripped off by this 3rd party company. I went through a ton of training. When I got onboard and saw what I was selling - I quit after three weeks. I couldn’t look people in the eyes and sell posters as “art”.
Thanks for the warnings.
Thank you very much for the honesty and for the tips. I have gone to the talks by the Shopping Guide & then to the recommended stores & once bought a fairly expensive ring. I always wondered if going to a recommended store truly was a better choice.
@@wpepco it is good when you’re armed with that info. And when the sales people know you know the shopping guide - they will generally bump prices down. They know you’re going to report back.
I would say that anything that you have to pay for in addition to the basic cost of the cruise is unnecessary. We only eat and drink what is provided in the cost. We have water in the main restaurant or tea or coffee in the buffet or buy soft drinks onshore. I never visit the spa or casino and we take our own photos. We can happily live without onboard wifi and if I need to phone someone I do so in port or in dock. Unless I get onboard credit, I only purchase a ship's teddy bear and a fridge magnet. I do excursions with the ship so I know the ship will wait for me but only if there is no other way of getting there and I limit them to one per cruise.
My husband and I purchase the drink package because it includes speciality coffee beverages and we like our coffee! We also drink soda drinks and enjoy wine at dinner and an alcoholic beverage at the evening shows. It's a break even for us. If you have lots of ports, I don't recommend it--you are just turning yourself into an alcoholic by trying to get "your moneys worth"--not a great idea to get the drink package.
The drink package is worth it ,not just alcohol ,soda,water specialty coffee have always found it worth it
In the numerous cruises i have taken i have seen few cruise tour activities that are exclusive. Nearly all are also sold on the dock and you will save 50% and still be with other passengers. Same with cruise tour extensions like Alaskacan be a third the cost arranged privately
lol.
Them drink packages are essential for some of us 🍻🍻 We're the folk who, together, can run a $200 bar tab, while bar hopping, and still show up to the grand ball in perfect order. In other words, each of us will run out a bar tab before the halfway point on a cruise where vacationing is the goal all around 🤣
Most of the time soft drinks are included in an alcohol drink package. But not served free at other places. So if you are a big soda drinker you can get a soda package instead.
Most book shore excursions for security and guaranteed return to the ship.
Always see what’s included in the price, gratuities are something to check as it does vary from cruise line to cruise line. You won’t go hungry on a cruise and the buffet area is usually worth a visit if you fancy some extra cookies to eat while waiting for lunch. Avoid alcohol on a cruise as it gets expensive. Tea and coffee are usually good and free in the buffet, check to see if water is free or if you have to pay. Remember the time on a cruise is not the same as local time so be aware what time you are expected to be back on board and allow extra time for your return journey back to the ship. Check to see if they have a free laundry so you can wash bits and pack less stuff and travel light. Another thing to be aware of is your mobile phone, turn it to airplane mode so you don’t end up with a very large bill due to roaming and data charges. If you have a travel alarm clock then use that and keep it set to ship time.
Avoid alcohol on a vacation? Lol
@@PaulWeezy50 This. I'm out here for fun, and brews with the bros is part of that.
@@MaddJakd Exactly! The drinks are flowin' before breakfast whenever I'm on vacay. 😂
All good points... the takeaway from this is: use the advice as you wish/or don't wish.... use your spending money, in a way that you feel is good value, fun....and doesn't break the bank. I think the most important one that I would listen to is anything with safety, such as Excursions (cruise vs. offshore bookings) That would be the one that I would never take a chance on, ever! All the rest is...take a chance...have good stories for sharing with friends when you get home...but does not hugely impact your vacation....if you come home with spa products that they sold you!!!
Very good points
The one major disagreement I would have with this list is in regards to Specialty Dining, at least as it relates to Royal Caribbean. Cynically, I can say that this is by design, but I found that the quality level in the included food on the ship is not what it used to be, so spending the extra dough to eat at the specialty venues was well worth it for me. I didn’t have a single meal in those restaurants that wasn’t excellent. I guess it’s a question of quantity vs. quality. While on the subject of food, I’d also say that while I love the convenience of getting as much food as you want delivered to your room for one flat fee, the quality of the room service food was subpar. I wish in general that there were better options available for late-night dining. The pizza at Sorrento’s is edible, but not much better than that.
But the question is why would they need speciality restaurants why would they take away various food that was also in MDN? Obviously more greed and we stupidly go to these speciality restaurants. I do not know abut you but even in the worse dining room the food is more comprehensive than I eat at home.
Talem
The price in RCI specialty restaurants are sky rocketing.. princess is more reasonable
I went on Royal last year and the dining room food was excellent. I made the mistake of paying extra at the steakhouse one night and it was sub par. On Carnival though we went on a japanese restaurant, it was only $18/extra per person and I felt it was worth it that time.
drink packages are great because i usually drink something like 15-25 per day!
I agree with most of the tips but one, the spa treatments are not much more than what you find off the ship at home. I do agree they try to up sell the products but which spas don’t lol. I’ve been on 8 cruises, I’ve had at least 5 massages and well worth it!
The spa treatments on Oasis were significantly more expensive than what I pay at home. I wanted a foot massage. They were charging $150. I pay $25 plus tip for a foot massage. Their spa treatments are way over priced.
Don’t forget if you go on a non-cruise ship affiliated tour and you are late the ship does not wait for you if you were on a cruise affiliated excursion shore excursion they will wait for you no matter how long it takes since it is sponsored by the ship. Could make a difference.
I once did a private excursion that was a 7 minute walk from the port so I was safe there.
Thanks for the great video! Absolutely agree with most of these. Cruise lines are becoming more and more all inclusive as people want more control over what the final bill will be. Obviously, the fares are getting higher and higher because of those inclusions. I like knowing how much I am going to pay for the vacation before I go.
Thanks, glad to hear you agree with our tips!
Which do you not agree with?
We booked our shore excursion though the cruise and the excursion bus ran late getting back to the ship but they were able to call the ship and gave them a new eta so we did not miss the boat.
Was on a carnival cruise and went the the seminar talking about all the ports of calls, they were giving away prizes throughout the event some of the prizes were 20% off a short excursion so they're giving you is 20% off a $100-500 bill want great marketing ploy, congratulations you won the privilege of giving us another $$$ for something you wouldn't have spent money on other wise
These points are made with the impulsive purchaser in mind and as you have made clear, plan ahead, make a budget and keep to it! All sales people know how to encourage us to have the endorphin rush that spending gives us, so be wise to their ploys and get your pleasure from saving for your next cruise!
Live a little. If you can afford it, have fun. You’re on vacation.
I do agree with you on most of your recommendations except one. I had purchased a bracelet at “recommend” jewelry store and one of the stores came loose and lost. The cruise line did secure a prompt refund.
That is very good to know. Thanks for shary.