Cruising on a Shoestring - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

askdad · 03-19-2006, 09:57 PM

We have a rather livley thread going elsewhere on definitions of formal wear. Some of the comments suggested that when you cruise on a budget, formals are an additional expense.

OK so I don't care if you are on a budget or rolling in dough we all look for ways to save money. This thread is asking for you to share things you do to help lower the cost of a cruise. I'll throw mine in latter.

Thanks in advance
Harry

jemingway · 03-19-2006, 10:05 PM

I take a small bar with me and about 20 bottled waters. Pennies, I know. More importantly, my wife doesn't buy jewelry.

jemingway · 03-19-2006, 10:06 PM

We also usually skip the ship's excursions and grab a local cab driver for our own excursion.

hopingtocruise · 03-19-2006, 10:49 PM

I"m all for hearing how to save money on a cruise!

patty

houch · 03-19-2006, 10:59 PM

You don't have to wear fancy, expensive formals, a nice dress you would wear to a wedding will work just fine on formal nights. I try to buy mine on sale, one basic dress and change the tops for a different look. It works for me.

localady · 03-19-2006, 11:06 PM

We don't drink much on a cruise and we don't tend to indulge in spa treatments or other moneymakers for the ship. When on warmer itineraries, we get big refillable cold drink insulated containers (many time in the ship store with a logo for $5) and keep it filled with ice tea rather than purchasing lots of sodas. Plus the ice tea is better for us. We also stay away from the casino, bingo and the art auctions.

Many would say, wow, how boring.....

but hey if we really want it, we will buy it. Usually though we'd rather spend the money on another cruise!!

No

for this gal equals more travelling!

cruisin' chick · 03-19-2006, 11:27 PM

We don't contribute to the secondary on-board revenue very much. We don't hit the casino or art auction. On our last cruise (15 days) we bought among the three of us: two drinks, three sodas, two hot chocolates. We brought on board bottled water, sodas, specialized water (basically because my hubby needed to avoid the ship's water as he's allergic, I'm not into Coke, our girl likes the Walmart flavored water).

We also get inside cabins. Most of the time we don't go on shore excursions, just go into the port and walk around or hire a taxi to take us on a tour. On our last cruise, we did book three excursions through Princess.

askdad · 03-20-2006, 05:37 PM

Great responses. Keep them coming. Karen and I are leaving teaching in June so I'm sure we will be using some of these.

We buy our "formal" clothes, in fact most of our clothes at buyout shops or look for closeout sales (50% - 70%) off. We are rather frugal when it comes to excursions, and like many, stay away from the extra money makers i.e. casinos, pictures, etc.

We do splurge and get balcony rooms but this is someplace we may cut back on after June.

LepHysteria · 03-20-2006, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by houch

You don't have to wear fancy, expensive formals, a nice dress you would wear to a wedding will work just fine on formal nights. I try to buy mine on sale, one basic dress and change the tops for a different look. It works for me.

Thats a very good point. You don't have to wear formals in order to fit in. That dress you wear to a wedding would make a great choice. And if you want feedback, you can always do a CLF fashion show

LepHysteria · 03-20-2006, 05:45 PM

We usually just save money elsewhere as we certainly don't save on cruises. We stay in balcony cabins, I get

when we visit ports, Naren usually gambles (but he almost always wins too). We do smuggle our own wine and liquor onboard. I do get that big insulated cup and fill it with chilled wine. It's a great way to enjoy a drink all night long.