Many people see a cruise as a dream holiday, but the price means that for many it stays a dream and nothing more. However, with the right approach, a cruise doesn’t even need to be as expensive as other holidays. Here are our best tips to make your money go further for a luxury holiday at sea.
Get the Best Deals on Late Bookings
If you’re able to be flexible there are some great bargains available on short notice. Cruise providers stock their ships to cope with a full compliment of passengers, so an empty cabin is a pure loss for them. That’s why they start offering deals on unclaimed places as the departure date draws near, and if you jump on one of these opportunities you can go on a cruise for a fraction of the price.
You don’t even need to be an eagle-eyed bargain hunter to find these offers—Bolsover Cruise Club keeps listings of current offers year round so you can always find the perfect bargain.
Take Advantage of Everything Included in the Price
Aboard a cruise liner you’ll find a mixture of free facilities and premium goods and services. Of course, everything that’s free is really something you’ve already paid for, so why not get the most out of it. From buffets to sporting equipment, there’s enough aboard any ship that you can have a great holiday without paying a penny more than the price of admission.
This means that you can actually go on a cruise and still spend less than you would on many package holidays, and of course you can budget any extra money to do a few really special things.
Choose Local Ports of Departure
A big hidden cost of cruise holidays is getting aboard in the first place—many of the trips of exotic destinations begin in equally exotic ports and many of us can’t afford to fly somewhere specifically to get on a boat.
But there are cruises leaving from more accessible locales, travelling routes as varied as a trip around the Irish coast to round trips from Southampton to Malta. Choosing one of these will save you money in the long run, without costing you the chance to see some amazing sights both from the deck and when you’re in port.
