How not to go Overboard with Cruise Extras

So you may have already booked your cruise, or your just in the process of dreaming up that perfect sailing, either way you’re going to want some key hints and tips to help you save ££’s on cruise extras

As each cruise line is different the inclusions in the fare can differ dependant on the size of the ship and ultimately it comes down to how you like to spend your holiday that will make up your budget

Here are a few things to consider

Speciality Dining – If you are celebrating a special occasion or just fancy trying something different on board, most cruise lines offer an array of dining options which can be booked on board for a supplement (Most costing anything from $10 to $45) If your cruise includes On Board Spending money take advantage of this by pre-booking your restaurants via your cruise personaliser before you set sail.

Shore Excursions – With so much packed into a cruise and lots of different destinations to discover its best to plan in advance for your excursions, you will have access to the excursions that are on offer from the cruise line. I would recommend pre-booking via your cruise personaliser for exclusive destinations that only they offer such as Labadee – Royal Caribbean’s private beach in Haiti or Castaway Cay, Disney’s Private island in the Bahamas.

Top Tip – Cruising Excursions offer a variety of port packages which save £s and can be booked through ourselves.. Just ask your cruise consultant for more information.

Drinks Packages – In most recent years Drinks packages have become popular, offering fantastic value for money and not having to worry about a big bill at the end of your cruise, Cruise lines such as Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Marella and Norwegian sometimes offer these as part of the cruise fare. If you do find that Drinks are not included in the fare some cruise lines offer Drinks package for a set price which will save you anything between 10% and 25% of the cost of buying drinks individually.

Gratuities – Either prepaid or added to your onboard account at a guide price set by the cruise line tips vary depending on Length of Cruise and stateroom type. If you want to Tip individually for good service on board this can be taken off at the time of booking with some cruise lines – I personally like to include them in my cruise fare but that comes down to personal preference.

Casino – This one speaks for itself, be wary if you do plan to visit the onboard casino and you have an account it is very easy to get carried away!

I hope you find these tips helpful when planning for your next cruise, and would love you to share your own in the comments box below

Eliza x