Cruises represent a fine opportunity for budget travelers. With transportation, accommodation and dining costs all built into one price, it's easier to control the total cost of the trip. Naturally, it isn't quite that simple, as there are other expenses and pitfalls that can make a cruise trip much more expensive than necessary. Take a look at some cruise tips for an important element in your planning.
Not every cruise is a bargain, but comparing cruise lines often proves to be a rewarding experience for budget travelers. Here is a step by step approach for finding an affordable cruise and then avoiding some expensive pitfalls common to these trips.More »
How to Find Cheap Cruises
Not every cruise is a bargain, but comparing cruise lines often proves to be a rewarding experience for budget travelers. Here is a step by step approach for finding an affordable cruise and then avoiding some expensive pitfalls common to these trips.More »
5 Pre-Sail Cruise Tips
With one payment, you can control dining, accommodation and most transportation costs. That's a valuable thing: much extra money is spent on these elements of a trip, and over-spending becomes less of a problem when a cruise is booked. But with such a large initial outlay of cash, there are other issues to consider. Should you insure the trip? What about transportation to and from the port of embarkation? Take 5 pre-sail cruise tips to ensure a successful and enjoyable cruise.More »Saving Money Aboard a Cruise Ship
Most budget travelers focus on finding cheap cruises. That isn't a bad strategy, but many board the cruise ship and proceed to waste a lot of money because they've failed to account for expenses that are incurred after leaving port. It's important to pay attention to the money you spend aboard ship, and be ready for the budget challenges. Take a look at some cruise tips for on-board expensesMore »Cruise Tips for Cargo Cruise Lines
If you have more free time than the average traveler and your schedule is flexible, you should look at freighter cruise lines. On many cargo vessels, some cabins are added for paying passengers. It supplements the cost of the trip for the line, which is still primarily in the business of delivering goods rather than pampering passengers. There are fewer stabilizers and certainly very little in the way of entertainment. But the trade-off is peace, quiet, some rarely visited ports-of-call and daily rates that are sometimes significantly cheaper than what is offered on traditional cruise lines.More »Underrated Cruise Departure Ports
To get the most value from a budget cruise, consider the departure port your first port-of-call. Avoid the rush to embark directly from the airport. Spend some time before or after your cruise in the departure port. Take a look at 10 underrated ports that offer free and unique attractions to those who make time for a visit.More »Repositioning Cruises
It's a logistical reality -- many cruise ships need to be repositioned twice a year. No cruise line wants to be selling trips in January along the coast of Norway. A more profitable place during January might be the various lush islands of the Caribbean. Getting between these two locales requires a lengthy and expensive trip, so cruise lines accept paying passengers. These "repo" cruises are seldom advertised as much as other itineraries, but they often present great value for those with flexible schedules and a sense of adventure.More »Watch Out for Overpriced Shore Trips
It doesn't take long. Once the cruise has been booked, the emails begin arriving. They'll urge you to book the cruise line's shore trips. They're already filling up, and you don't want to be left out, right? The cruise line will make all the arrangements, but the prices are often inflated for these trips. Many times, you can book shore trips on your own and save significant money. Take a look at a few examples of how this can work in favor of your budget.More »Carnival Cruise Review
Carnival has lived through some difficult times recently, and some budget travelers might not consider it a viable alternative. But Carnival provides a reasonably priced alternative to high-end cruises, many of which are out of reach for travelers with limited funds. Don't look for fancy food or top-tier entertainment, but service and itinerary choices are often just as good as the final price. Note: this review pertains to the Carnival Destiny, a ship that since has been remodeled and renamed. But many of the basic principles of a Carnival cruise are still applicable for current cruise shoppers.More »All-Inclusive Cruise Pricing: A Review
To the novice, cruise pricing is all-inclusive by definition. But reality shows that you pay extra for a lot of items on a standard cruise. Most beverages, Internet connections and gratuities all come at an extra price. But there are some cruises that are marketed as truly all-inclusive. Is such an option viable for budget travelers?More »A Typical Eastern Caribbean Cruise Itinerary
Stable currencies and developing tourist facilities in many areas make the eastern Caribbean a smart place for budget travelers to vacation. Although islands such as Barbados and Puerto Rico offer a full array of resorts and fine dining, other island nations in this region are just beginning to see these amenities take hold. In the developing areas, prices are often quite reasonable. Check out seven possible destinations in the eastern Caribbean and consider some of the shore trips that are possible.More »A Typical Eastern Mediterranean Itinerary
This is an not an exhaustive look at all the ports in the eastern Mediterranean or Adriatic Sea, but you can get a feel for the riches available to budget travelers who book a cruise to this region. Some of the highlights include shore trips in Venice, Athens, Dubrovnik and the ruins of ancient Ephesus on the western coast of Turkey.More »
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