Want to outsmart the cruise lines? There are clever ways that savvy cruisers save money or have a better trip that while they aren’t against the rules, it’s pretty clear that cruise lines would be better off if not everyone knew about them.
Now I’m pulling back the curtain and letting you know these tips because they can make a big difference in your next cruise…
The Easy Way to Save 10% on (Some) Cruises
Let’s start with a tip that’s decently known, but cruise lines have definitely put the brakes on it in recent months.
I’m talking about buying discounted cruise line gift cards through AARP. Members are offered up discounted cards for everything from movies to restaurants to cruises. What you may not realize is that anyone can be a member. I’m personally one, and it costs just $15 a year.
On the site, cruise lines sell cards at a 10% discount. So you can buy a $500 gift card for $450 and you can buy multiples to cover the entire cost of your trip.
Essentially the cruise you’re looking at is selling with a secret 10% discount only AARP members know about.
But cruise lines are definitely slowing this down. Right now only Celebrity and Royal Caribbean offer the cards. In recent months Carnival, Princess, and Holland America all pulled their cards from the site, likely because too many people were taking advantage of the deal.
So take advantage while you can because no one knows how much longer this will last.
The Shore Excursion Guarantee Is Not a Big Deal
Cruise lines often promote their shore excursions with the promise that ‘the ship won’t leave without you,’ which sounds reassuring. In reality, it’s not as big of a deal as it seems.
Yes, this can offer peace of mind especially if you are new to cruising. The thought of the ship leaving without you seems scary. The truth is that missing the ship is extremely rare, especially if you’re mindful of time.
Honestly, most excursions leave early in the morning and last only a few hours. Even if there were delays, you still have tons of time to get back to the ship.
So while the cruise line’s “we won’t leave you” pitch might sound like a huge benefit, it’s really just a bit of marketing.
I will say if you are doing an all-day excursion that gets you back late, then yes it’s beneficial. But normally I wouldn’t let the guarantee keep you from exploring on your own or booking an excursion outside of the cruise line’s offering.
Bring an Old Card for Your Cabin
Whenever you cruise, one strange item to throw in your bag is an old gift card or an old room keycard… just in case.
Many ships — though not all — have implemented an energy saving feature that honestly, I find a bit annoying. Instead of just a normal light switch in the cabin, they have one that’s operated by a card.
You insert the card and then you can turn on the lights. If the card isn’t there, the lights only stay on for a short time before turning off. It’s designed so that you put your room keycard in there when you enter. But it’s way too easy to have the card in, walk out the room and have the door lock behind you.
Instead, you can bring an old card, put it on the holder on day one and not worry about it for the rest of the cruise.
How to Claw Back Money on Your Cruise Fare
There’s no sense in giving the cruise line more of your hard-earned money if you don’t have to. That’s why if you’ve booked a cruise and want to make sure you’re getting the best deal, keep checking the price.
Cruise fares can fluctuate, though not as wild as airfare. So that $2,000 cruise could drop to $1,900 for example. The good news is that many cruise lines offer price protection or allow you to reprice your cruise if the fare drops.
If you notice the price has dropped, you can call the cruise line or your travel agent. Depending on the line’s policy, they may offer you the difference as a refund or an onboard credit.
Now just to be sure, sometimes you can call and ask and the cruise line won’t work with you at all. Other times you can call and they are more than happy to make up the price difference. I’ve personally had it happen both ways.
No matter, keeping an eye on the fare is a smart move to keep more of your cash.
Take Full Advantage of Your Loyalty Rewards
I’ve gone on the record to say that cruise line loyalty programs… they really aren’t that big of a deal. I personally don’t let it influence my decision on which line to sail, and I don’t think most passengers should either.
Now if you sail a lot and regularly — as in upwards of a couple of weeks every year — then yes, staying loyal to one cruise line can lead you to some higher tiers where you actually get some decent benefits each trip. But for casual cruisers, they aren’t likely to reach a status level to a point where you get many freebies.
That said, I’ve noticed that it’s easy to not take full advantage of what perks you do have. Cruise lines have these long lists showing everything included with your loyalty status. It’s impossible to remember everything included.
What you’ll want to do is be proactive and ensure that you know everything that’s offered to you on the ship. After all, you don’t want to pay full price for something that should be discounted for you based on loyalty.
How to Turn $7 into $40 on a Cruise
I’m not going to say that bringing your own soda or bottle of wine or champagne is something that the cruise line hopes you don’t find out. It’s not really that big of a secret and the rules are posted on their websites. But there’s no arguing that people who take advantage of keeping way more of their money instead of giving it to the cruise line.
Generally the major lines usually allow you to bring on a 12-pack of non-alcoholic drinks and a bottle of wine or champagne per adult.
At home, a 12-pack of Coke runs about $7. On the cruise ship, the same thing would run about $40 with sodas priced at $3 per glass. And that $10 bottle of wine? It holds about five glasses and wines run $8-12 per glass.
It’s really the best of both worlds too. Bringing your own you are keeping more of your money from the cruise line’s pockets but you are also able to bring on exactly the brand that you like instead of settling for what’s available on the ship.
No, You Don’t Need a Balcony (on Short Cruises)
Look at a modern ship versus one built decades ago and the first difference you’ll notice is the size. But just after that, you’ll notice new ships are covered in balconies.
One way the cruise lines make more money is by loading up the ship with balcony cabins. These rooms have a small outdoor space that’s relatively private. Passengers like them because they offer light, a view, and fresh air. Cruise lines love them because they fetch much higher rates than interior rooms.
Now, by all means if you want the balcony, get it. But don’t let the cruise line make you think it’s a must have if you’re on a short cruise. In that case, I’d say it’s just not worth it. The vast majority of people spend way less time on the balcony than they think they will. Most people just step outside for a few minutes here and there.
On a short cruise that time is going to be even less as you’re more likely to be out exploring the ship and ports of call trying to pack in as much as you can. Five days or more, then yes, spring for the balcony as you’ll have more downtime and you’ll likely enjoy it more.
But while the cruise lines might not like it, I’d tell you to save the money on shorter cruises.
How to Save Serious Cash on Wi-Fi
Let’s talk about cruise ship wi-fi and what cruise lines might not want you to know but you need to understand to be a better cruiser.
I’ll start with speed. Pretty much all the cruise lines have switched over to Starlink, and with that they seem to brag about how fast the connection speed is. I’m unimpressed.
To me the speed is still slow, usually under 10 Mbps. Given you’re sharing a connection with thousands in the middle of the ocean, it’s not bad, but nothing to write home about. Honestly, if the lines didn’t tout the change, I wouldn’t have even noticed it happened.
Then there is the cost of it. Wi-Fi is expensive. What I’ve found is that if you can hold off, you can save a decent chunk. The last time I sailed NCL for example, I noticed that each day of the cruise the cost of the wi-fi package dropped along with the days left in the cruise. So waiting to buy until later in the trip and making due without for a couple of days saved me a ton.
Finally, if you don’t want to pay at all, keep in mind that wi-fi is often available in ports of call. Here you can access service for free in some cases or for just a few bucks for a day pass.
Flip Price Changes Around to Save Money
This tip is specifically for those Royal Caribbean fans out there. If you’ve sailed the line, then you likely know that it uses something called ‘dynamic pricing.’ That’s just a fancy way of saying that you can see different prices for items on board like drink packages or wi-fi or admission to the waterpark on CocoCay, depending on your specific trip.
But even then, the price you pay can vary as the cruise line runs sales and simply seems to change prices here and there.
One tip is that the things you buy before the cruise are refundable. So what you can do is purchase a package or item through your account and lock in the price. If you go back later and see that it’s dropped, then you can refund the item and then repurchase it, saving yourself the difference. It is a bit of a pain dealing with multiple transactions, but it’s a way to make sure you get the lowest price and the cruise line gets less of your money.
Cruise Line Sales? They Are BS
This is one that I’ve mentioned in other videos, but everyone needs to know about it. Head to any cruise line website, and you’ll find that — surprise! — they are running a sale right now.
Or check your email and you’ll see there’s a limited time opportunity to buy a cruise for cheap. You better take advantage. After all, it says it ends soon, so it’s only for a limited time, right?
The cruise lines can’t like people pointing it out, but these sales run constantly. Sure, after the timer hits zero the offer may be tweaked slightly and reintroduced but it’s essentially the same deal. In fact, sometimes the offer isn’t even tweaked, it’s just announced as “extended.” To me, it’s a big marketing gimmick.
Don’t worry about having to hurry up and book due to a sale. Even if it ends, a new one will take its place. I can say that in all my years of cruising, I have never once booked a trip because of a specific sale and I’ve never been disappointed that I got hit with a higher price.
Don’t Waste Money Getting to Port This One Way
When it comes to getting to the port, I’ve done everything from public transportation to driving to Uber to the cruise line transfers.
Now, I get the appeal of booking your ride to or from the port through the cruise line. But unless you’re traveling solo, you’re getting a lousy deal.
While convenient, these transfers are often overpriced compared to alternatives. Cruise lines may charge $30–$50 (or more) per person, one way—meaning a round trip for a couple could cost over $100 per person just for a basic shuttle.
Instead, using Uber, Lyft, or a local taxi can be significantly cheaper, especially if you’re traveling with a group. You also get more flexibility in your schedule, so you’re not stuck waiting for a bus to fill up. In Mobile, Alabama, I waited more than an hour before my cruise line shuttle went to the ship.
The cruise line transfer? Convenient, yes—but rarely the best option
How to Eat at the Steakhouse for Half Price
This is one that the cruise line doesn’t mind you know about, but if everyone took advantage then you could expect it to quietly go away.
Many cruise lines, like Carnival and others, allow you to purchase select steakhouse items à la carte during dinner in the main dining room—often at a lower cost than the full steakhouse experience.
For example, instead of paying $50-$60 per person for the steakhouse, you can get a perfectly cooked filet mignon, lobster tail, or ribeye delivered right to your regular dinner table for around $20. Meanwhile, you don’t have to deal with reservations or getting dressed up to eat in the steakhouse.
This is also perfect if only one or two people in your group want a premium option, while others are happy with the standard fare.
Now, if this caught on to the point that the steakhouse actually saw its reservations or revenue plummet, don’t be surprised if changes were made.
