I'm Taking a Cruise This Month. Here Are 4 Tricks I Used (Or Plan to Use) to Save Money

I'm a frequent cruiser, and over the years I've learned some excellent strategies to make my trips as affordable as possible. My wife and I are getting ready to set sail on a short three-night cruise on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas, and here are some of the strategies we used to book this long weekend getaway without spending too much money.

1. I prepaid for as much as possible

There is a lot that is included in your cruise fare, but there are a lot of extras you might want to put on your travel credit card. Internet access, spa treatments, meals at specialty restaurants, drink packages, and shore excursions are just a few examples.

One of the most important things that I wish I knew before my first cruise is that all of these things can be significantly less expensive if you buy them ahead of time. For the cruise I'm about to take, both internet access and a specialty meal were 25% cheaper through Royal Caribbean's app compared with the onboard price. And a quick look shows that the unlimited drink package costs 30% less if paid in advance.

Not only do you save money by booking things in advance, but it also can be a big help for budgeting, as you can pay for a little bit of your vacation at a time instead of getting one large bill on the ship.

2. I'm taking advantage of what's included

Every cruise has plenty of complimentary food and free entertainment, so it's important to take advantage of them. On some cruise ships, you'll need to book certain shows and activities ahead of time. For example, I made sure to reserve the Aqua Theater show on our cruise, as well as a comedy show for the following night. Plus, we booked one specialty dinner, and are planning to take advantage of the numerous free options for the rest of the trip.

3. I'm planning to pack wisely

I'll be the first to admit it. I'm not the most attentive packer when I travel, especially when it comes to making sure I have all the toiletries and accessories I need. I'm good about remembering the most important things, but I often forget items like toothpaste, shaving gel, and other small but essential items. And while it isn't exactly a smart strategy, I know in the back of my mind that I can always find the nearest CVS or Walgreens and get what I need.

But on a cruise ship, it's important not to forget these items. You're stuck on a ship and can't just go to the store to buy whatever you forgot. Some ships have a very limited selection of basic items, but in many cases your best option is to find a convenience store in the next port, where you'll likely pay several times what the items would have cost at home.

Another big tip is to pack whatever drinks you're allowed to bring. My wife and I are not planning to purchase a drink package, as we wouldn't use it enough to make it worthwhile. But Royal Caribbean allows us to each carry one bottle of wine onto the ship, and this can save us a significant amount of money versus buying glasses of wine at the bars on the ship.

4. We chose the closest possible cruise port

Many of the best cruise itineraries on my radar would require me to sail out of Miami, Galveston, or even Seattle, but none of those are within a reasonable driving distance. Fortunately, I have an excellent cruise port (Port Canaveral, near Orlando) within a six-hour drive, so we decided to book a cruise that leaves from there to save money on airfare.

Of course, this isn't practical for everyone. If you live in say, Colorado, there aren't any cruise ports that are easily drivable. But if you live close enough to drive to a cruise port and avoid having to budget for airfare, it could be a big money-saver to take advantage.

How much can you save?

Obviously, how much you can save by using these strategies varies from trip to trip and depends on what your preferences are. But it's fair to say that they can make your cruise much cheaper. Not having to pay for airfare alone can result in $1,000 or more of savings in many cases, and we saved well over $100 by simply paying for internet access and our specialty dining ahead of time.