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Almost anyone can take a cruise vacation that’s everything depicted in the movies and on television. You can enjoy The Bahamas, Hawaii, Mexico, and even Alaska aboard luxury cruise ships with all the amenities of a resort on land.
The key to making the most of your cruise vacation is to know where you can save money without sacrificing fun or rest and relaxation. Many cruises are all-inclusive, but that doesn’t necessarily mean “ALL inclusive”. There are extra charges for items on board as well as activities and shore trips.
You deserve to enjoy your vacation and all that comes with it, and you can do it on a budget! What could be better than that?...
...When you book your own airline tickets, if the route you picked to make it to the ship fails, you are on your own. Don’t risk missing the whole cruise over a few frequent flyer miles. Sure you can probably get on if you can catch the ship, but will you be able to find a flight and transportation to the ship. Will it be worth it, considering how much you’ll have to pay in last minute travel arrangements? No matter how you get there, try to avoid this situation by booking a flight that leaves you plenty of time to get you to and from the port to the airport.
Paying the brochure rate for a cruise is like paying the full sticker price for a car. You should be able to easily find a good discount off those rates, if you can’t, keep looking around.
It’s a good idea to book early. The booking rates become more expensive the closer to sailing. Although some people report that if you’re able to wait until the last minute, there are deals that can be had on under-booked ships. The objective of the cruise line is to have a full house before sailing. If they find themselves with some empty cabins, they may reduce the rate just to fill them. Just keep in mind that you will be limited on your choices as far as where your room is located, whether you have a balcony or not, etc...
...Let the controversy begin. Tipping has become a hot topic among cruisers. Some cruise lines have pulled away from tipping, but they seem to have done so just enough to confuse the issue. Tipping is a traditional part of cruising and just like the restaurants you frequent at home, it is an important part of the income of those that will help you on your cruise. The people that will be assisting you are in the service industry, and it is the passenger tips that will make up the largest percentage of their income. Some of these employees make as little as $25 a week, so they rely heavily on their tips and are willing to reward generous tipping with outstanding service. Each cruise line will provide their own guide to tipping; in fact some even provide all the envelopes for you to pass them out in. For some general guidelines to help you know who and how much to tip...
...Whether it’s golf or snorkeling, there are still ways to save money while taking advantage of participating in your favorite activities while on your cruise. The cost of a simple day at the beach can skyrocket if you rent snorkel gear, floats, and other water toys. While there's nothing you can do to cut down on the cost of a Jet Ski rental, you can save money by bringing along some of your own toys.
Discount and sporting goods stores sell snorkel gear relatively cheap and a blow-up rubber raft can cost as little as a dollar. Take your own and if you don't want to bother carrying them home, give them away—you can really delight a local youngster with a simple gift and save money to boot. When snorkeling, you might want to pack a small ziplock bag with corn flakes. Drop a few and watch the fish come to you. Careful, though - it can REALLY draw a crowd!
Another great tip for snorkelers out there - pack a few large milk-bone dog biscuits. Take one along with you snorkeling (easier for guys - put one in swim trunks pocket). When the biscuit softens up a bit, you can rub off pieces and the fish will swarm. Easier and cheaper than the 'fish food' tablets you can purchase...
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