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Budget-Friendly Cruising: Proven Tips to Keep More Cash in Your Pocket

8 Smart Ways to Save Money on Your Next Cruise

Cruises can be an amazing way to travel—your lodging, food, and entertainment are all bundled into one price. But once you’re onboard, it’s easy for extra costs to add up fast. From overpriced essentials to expensive excursions, a few smart choices can save you hundreds of dollars.

Here are my favorite tried-and-true cruise money-saving tips so you can enjoy your vacation without blowing your budget.

1. Pack Cruise Essentials to Avoid Overpriced Purchases

Before boarding, make sure you pack all of your everyday staples, including:

While cruise ships do sell these items, you’ll pay a premium price—sometimes up to 5x more than what you’d pay at a normal convenience store. If you do happen to run out of something, wait until you’re in a port city to restock rather than buying it onboard.

Bottom line: Pack it if you can—it’s one of the easiest ways to save money.

2. Book an Interior Stateroom to Cut Cruise Costs

Balcony rooms are beautiful, but ask yourself how much time you’ll actually spend in your room. Most cruisers are out exploring the ship, lounging on deck, or enjoying activities all day.

An inside stateroom can save you a significant amount of money, and the room is still perfectly comfortable for sleeping and getting ready.

Pro tip: Use the savings for excursions, dining in port cities, or another future trip.

3. Skip Paid Cruise Dining Upgrades

Cruise lines often push specialty dining upgrades that cost anywhere from $50–$100 per meal. While these restaurants can be good, there are already tons of complimentary dining options included in your cruise fare.

At the end of the day, upgraded dining is still “cruise food,” and it won’t compare to a high-quality restaurant you can enjoy in a port city for the same price—or less.

Save your money onboard and splurge on food in port instead.

4. Use Daily Room Service Drink Specials

Drink packages can be expensive, but there are ways to enjoy cocktails without overspending.

Some cruise lines offer daily room service drink specials, such as discounted cocktails or bundle deals. For example, Norwegian often runs room service specials like two drinks for $10—which is 3x cheaper than ordering from the bar.

Check your cruise line’s mobile app or in-room TV for daily specials.

5. Bring Wine Onboard (Check Cruise Line Rules First)

Bringing wine onboard is one of the easiest ways to save money on a cruise—especially if you’re not planning to purchase a drink package. That said, every cruise line has its own wine policy, so it’s important to check the rules before you pack.

Here are a few common examples:

  • Norwegian Cruise Line allows guests to bring an unlimited number of wine bottles in their luggage at embarkation.
  • Royal Caribbean typically allows two bottles of wine per stateroom.

Most cruise lines state that a corkage fee applies if you bring your own wine and consume it in public areas or have it opened by staff. However, there’s an easy way to avoid this extra charge:

Money-saving tip:
Purchase wine with twist tops and enjoy it inside your stateroom. Since no corking service is required, you can usually avoid the corkage fee altogether—saving money on both wine service fees and expensive drink packages.

6. Book Excursions Independently to Save Big

Cruise line excursions are convenient but often come with a hefty markup. You can usually find the same tours through third-party sites like Tripadvisor or Viator at a fraction of the cost.

Before booking independently:

  • Read recent reviews
  • Check company ratings and cancellation policies
  • Confirm return times match your ship’s schedule

This is one of the biggest ways to save money on a cruise.

7. Negotiate Prices in Port Cities

When shopping in cruise ports, prices are rarely fixed. Vendors often expect travelers to negotiate.

Try countering with a lower price or politely walking away—many vendors will reduce the price to make the sale. If not, you can always return later.

This works especially well for souvenirs, tours, and local goods.

8. Reduce Cruise Wi-Fi Costs

Cruise Wi-Fi is expensive and easy to burn through. Instead of purchasing a high-tier package:

  • Buy the lowest Wi-Fi package needed onboard
  • Use an international eSIM while in port for affordable internet access (I’ve had the most success with Airalo- http://www.airalo.com)

This strategy can save you a surprising amount of money during your cruise.

Final Thoughts

Saving money on a cruise doesn’t mean sacrificing fun—it just means being intentional. With these budget cruise tips, you can avoid overpriced extras, spend smarter, and fully enjoy your vacation.

For more practical travel advice and real-life money-saving tips, follow along on Life Unleashed.

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