In relation to cruising, I’m a hard-core finances traveler. The extra money I can save, the extra typically I can journey – and that is at all times my purpose!
Though touring has change into more and more dearer in the previous few years, I nonetheless discover unbelievable worth from cruising. With lodging, meals, leisure, and onboard facilities included in your cruise fare, it gives distinctive worth in your cash. My finances could be stretched additional whereas cruising with a lot included within the fare.
Nevertheless, there are at all times alternatives to splurge whereas cruising. Costly add-ons and upselling each appear to be extra prevalent than ever. Due to this, finances vacationers would possibly discover fixed temptation to splurge on cruise extras, together with drink packages, web purchases, specialty eating, and excursions.
For me, 2024 was a giant 12 months of journey. I sailed on eight totally different cruises throughout 4 continents. These far-flung itineraries required lengthy worldwide flights, throughout which I flew on practically 100 separate flight segments in 2024. This amounted to 135,206 miles of flying, with 13 days of the 12 months spent within the air.
I used to be in a position to verify a number of main locations off my bucket record this 12 months by cruising, together with South Africa, Madagascar, Belgium, Indonesia, and Australia. I used to be in a position to attain these nations whereas cruising on 4 extraordinarily port-intensive itineraries.
This included two sailings on Norwegian Cruise Line to South Africa and New England. I additionally cruised twice with Movie star Cruises to Norway and Australia in 2024. Different sailings included weekend cruises with Carnival Cruise Line.
Between bank card factors, low-cost inside cabins, and my distant work jobs, I used to be in a position to stretch my trip finances considerably this 12 months. With a number of large splurges in 2024, some purchases have been completely definitely worth the expense, whereas others felt like a waste of cash.
Price it: Balcony stateroom
Considered one of my favourite cruises of the 12 months was a 7-night Norway fjord crusing on Movie star Apex with my husband. We departed from England and visited three ports all through Norway, together with one cease in Belgium.
Though we sometimes e book cheaper cabins like inside assure staterooms, we determined to splurge on a dearer balcony cabin for this cruise. We knew Norway can be extremely lovely with beautiful views of the fjords all through the week. Due to this, we wished to have our personal personal balcony so we wouldn’t miss any of the sights!
Our deluxe porthole balcony stateroom was expensive at $4,200, which is actually on the costly aspect for a 7-night itinerary. However, the splurge was completely worthwhile! With additional area within the cabin and our personal veranda, our cabin felt like a slice of luxurious.
We additionally determined to splurge on selecting our particular stateroom as a substitute of reserving a balcony assure. Though we saved cash final 12 months reserving this sort of cabin on our Jewel of the Seas cruise with Royal Caribbean, our stateroom was above the nightclub. We could not sleep till midnight every night due to the loud noise!
This time, we strategically picked our stateroom as a result of it was nestled amongst different cabins. This was price each single penny!
The spotlight of our balcony was crusing via the fjords from the privateness of our veranda. After bringing two bottles of wine onboard for embarkation day, my husband and I loved a soothing pleased hour on our balcony every night, sipping wine because the ship sailed away from the ports of name. Watching the awe-inspiring fjords drift by made the splurge unforgettable.
Waste: Spa therapy
Throughout our cruise via the Norwegian fjords, my husband and I made a decision to splurge on a pair’s therapeutic massage. Cruise ship spas are notoriously costly, so the $400 price for our spa therapy was not shocking.
Sadly, the general expertise fell in need of expectations. The therapeutic massage itself was great, however I anticipated extra for the worth. I had excessive hopes for the Edge class spa, which is usually marketed as a top-of-the-line amenity for Movie star Cruises. As a premium cruise line, the onboard expertise is centered round fashionable leisure and rejuvenation.
First, the therapeutic massage room lacked ambiance – it felt very plain and resembled a fundamental spa in a shopping center. A few of the points of the expertise additionally felt low-cost. As an illustration, the masseuse positioned a rolled-up paper towel over our eyes for the facial portion of the therapeutic massage. For the price of the spa therapy, I might count on no less than a heat towel for my eyes.
Sooner or later, I’ll in all probability prioritize thermal spa passes that can be utilized all through the length of the cruise. Whereas cruising in Africa, I spent about $200 on a thermal spa cross to make use of for the 12-night voyage. This was the primary time I splurged on a thermal spa cross – and it was undoubtedly price it!
This was among the finest splurges I made throughout that itinerary. I loved the heated loungers with my e book each afternoon, typically leading to a nap. This buy felt much more worthwhile, as I might benefit from the spa facilities day-after-day of the cruise. On the flip aspect, massages solely final about 60 minutes.
Price it: Drink packages
As a frequent cruiser, I hardly splurge on a drink package deal as a result of they’re terribly costly. Earlier than 2024, I had solely bought Royal Caribbean’s drink package deal as soon as and struggled to get my cash’s price. Maintaining with the required stage of consuming all through the cruise felt extreme, and I in the end misplaced cash on the drink package deal.
Additionally, with my Royal Caribbean loyalty standing, I obtain 5 every day drink vouchers for complimentary drinks priced as much as $14 every. This perk is greater than adequate for me, primarily offering the advantages of a drink package deal with out the added price.
Nevertheless, one of many cruises I booked this 12 months included a drink package deal within the cruise fare. I cruised with Norwegian Cruise Line to Africa onboard Norwegian Daybreak in January 2024. The cruise line’s “Free at Sea” pricing included a drink package deal, by which company solely wanted to pay for the gratuities on the package deal. I had by no means tried this package deal earlier than, however I assumed the worth was affordable.
For the 12-night cruise, I solely paid about $500 in gratuities for Norwegian’s normal drink package deal. This included many of the drinks that I wished to order, similar to mojitos, martinis, and piña coladas.
Having the ability to indulge all through this port-intensive itinerary was definitely worth the splurge. I appreciated not having to fret about paying for each drink consumed, though I do want specialty espresso was included in Norwegian’s normal drink package deal. Even nonetheless, I simply drank greater than $500 price throughout the 12-night cruise – and I might splurge on Norwegian’s drink package deal once more.
Waste: Specialty eating
Specialty eating is often a splurge I take pleasure in. When crusing on longer itineraries, a specialty restaurant can present a change of tempo from the principle eating room. Specialty eating places on cruise ships embrace higher-quality entrees and extra attentive service for an inexpensive surcharge. Nevertheless, this wasn’t at all times the case throughout my 2024 cruises.
Whereas cruising in Norway with my husband, he was particularly enthusiastic about eating at Uncooked on 5 onboard Movie star Apex. As a sushi-lover, we heard rave critiques concerning the upscale expertise. Throughout our first sea day, we booked Uncooked on 5 for lunch to do that raved-about restaurant.
Sadly, Uncooked on 5 didn’t stay as much as our expectations. My husband tried two sushi rolls and one plate of oysters for lunch. Whereas the meals was edible, the meal was not significantly spectacular. Equally, I attempted the pork butt and felt the meat was rubbery and hard. For $60, our cash might have been spent elsewhere.
Not all specialty eating was disappointing, although. My husband and I additionally dined at Rooftop Backyard Grill throughout our cruise and had among the finest meals on any cruise! I additionally tried Tuscan Grill on Movie star Solstice, which is considered one of my new favourite cruise ship eating places. The truth is, the meal was so pleasant the primary time that we returned for a second go to throughout our 15-night cruise in Australia.
Price it: Cruise line excursions
I’m a destination-focused cruiser, so I normally choose my sailings based mostly on the ports of name. If I’m going to spend money and time to journey, I need to be sure that I am visiting locations that I truly need to see. Due to this, I plan my days ashore meticulously to maximise the time in port.
Whereas excursions via the cruise line could be undeniably costly, my splurges in 2024 on these excursions have been completely worthwhile. Cruise-sponsored excursions present added safety that your cruise ship is not going to depart with out you. This implies sudden site visitors or delays aren’t a trigger for concern throughout your time ashore.
As well as, I’ve found that cruise-sponsored nearly at all times obtain precedence for disembarkation. In the event you’re docked in a port that requires tendering ashore, cruise-sponsored excursions might be among the many first to go ashore. These excursions additionally obtain precedence for ports of name that require face-to-face immigration.
All through 2024, I splurged on excursions provided via the cruise line – even when the associated fee was considerably greater than reserving an impartial tour. Whereas cruising round South Africa, we booked a number of safaris all through our itinerary. Most of those safaris have been hours away from the ports and required vital journey. To not point out, we have been required to do face-to-face immigration in South Africa.
I felt Norwegian’s excursions can be the most secure possibility for touring, particularly whereas touring to an unfamiliar a part of the world. We additionally obtained precedence disembarkation in each port, which allowed us extra time ashore. As a result of we have been booked on a Norwegian tour, we additionally averted the chaotic immigration line with these going ashore on their very own.
All through 2024, I discovered myself reserving extra excursions via the cruise line for these causes. I additionally booked the Flam Railway throughout our Norway cruise via Movie star Cruises. As well as, we visited the Nice Barrier Reef whereas cruising in Australia. As an alternative of wanting to economize with an impartial tour, we opted for Movie star’s snorkeling tour as a result of we might be touring removed from the anchored ship.
Price it: Disembarkation excursions
Disembarkation excursions turned a brand new favourite splurge of mine in 2024. These excursions permit company the chance to tour the disembarkation metropolis earlier than heading to the airport or persevering with on with their travels. As an alternative of ready round on the airport all day, you possibly can make the most of your time to discover the encircling space.
The primary disembarkation tour I booked was in Cape City, South Africa, which was via the cruise line. As a result of our flight didn’t depart till 11 within the night, we had a whole day to tour the town. I used to be ecstatic to see a tour of the Cape Peninsula to go to Cape Level and Cape of Good Hope, that are the southernmost factors in Africa. After all, I couldn’t wait to additionally see the dear penguins waddling round Boulders Seaside!
With simply two days to discover Cape City, I used to be thrilled with this all-day tour, because it made probably the most of our restricted time within the metropolis. We have been in a position to enterprise across the Cape Peninsula all day and nonetheless arrive on the airport with loads of time. As well as, we didn’t want to fret about storing our baggage someplace in a safe location on the coach bus.
After this optimistic expertise, I made a decision to make the most of the identical technique in Singapore after disembarking from my cruise round Australia. We solely had in the future to discover Singapore earlier than flying house the next day, so we organized a disembarkation tour via Viator.
With 4 folks, we had a personal van that shuffled us across the metropolis to the principle sights. We have been in a position to preserve our baggage within the automobile safely earlier than checking into our lodge later that evening. This was one of the best ways to finish a incredible cruise.
With future cruises, I’ll proceed to e book disembarkation excursions if the fitting alternative presents itself. I’d fairly see extra of the native sights than wait round all day on the airport!