Before I tell you all my tips and tricks, you might wonder how I know these. Well, I’ve been on a total of 7 different cruises (all on the same cruise line, Carnival). And each time, I learn a new trick or hack that I wonder why no one told me.
*Like all my posts, these are my opinions. I have only cruised on Carnival Cruise line so take that into consideration if booking with a different cruise line.
One of the best ways to travel the world in my opinion, is CRUISING! Why?
Well, I have a whole other blog post on why, linked here. But this post is all about tips and tricks! I could probably write a novel about cruising, but I’ll try to keep this post to a minimum! Be sure to leave a comment if you have additional questions!
Ready? Here we go!
Like any vacation, cruising can get pricey. BUT I have ways to save you money while still having the time of your life!
Saving Money Tips:
Book WiFi early– If you want to be connected while still in the middle of the ocean, you’ll need to buy a Wifi Package. The way to get a deal on this (at least on Carnival Cruise Lines) is to buy it early! There is a discount when you purchase the WiFi plan ahead of time. Then once your on the ship, you can log in right away with your folio number! (basically your ID number, located on your ship card).
Researching Excursions Yourself- Excursions through the cruise ship can be very expensive per person. But, you can easily do the same excursion for LESS money. The key to this is making sure it’s a popular destination you want to go to on the island or destination you get off at. There are usually taxi’s willing to take you to most popular places. This saves you money by purchasing transportation on your own and not through the cruise line. Now, if your not willing to kind of go with the flow, you may want to spend the extra money to purchase the cruise lines excursions. But with this, they fill up fast so act quick.
Added Gratuity- The cruise line can pull some tricks! They always add “gratuity” on to your bill (over $100!). But the hack to this is, you can take it off at guest services after they put it on your bill (usually close to the end of your trip). This way, you can tip individual people on the ship who you think deserve it.
Bring Your Own Soda- The drink package on the cruise ship is outrageous, at least in my opinion. Did you know, each person can bring a 12 pack of soda on the boat! Money saving!
What to Pack Tips:
Electrical cord- There is only one outlet in the room, yes ONE. That does not do much when you have multiple people in a room, phones, hair straighteners, curling irons, and sound machines. So the hack is, BRING AN ELECTRICAL CORD! You’ll thank me later!
Skip the Body Wash– No need to pack something not needed! The cruise line provides an endless amount of body wash right in the shower! It’s in a dispenser on the wall, and I actually love the scent! They also have shampoo but if you’re picky, you will want to bring your own.
Food Tips:
Ordering More Than One Thing– A lot may not know this, but you can order more than one entree, appetizer, and dessert! It’s kind of an unwritten rule that you only order one, or so we think. You can order as many as you want!
Iced coffee DIY- If you’re a cold coffee person like me, you’ll be disappointed to know they only serve free HOT coffee. Cold latte’s and specialty drinks are an extra charge. But this hack, you can turn HOT coffee into ICED. Fill up a cup of ice all the way to the top, add hot coffee from dispenser, add half packet of sugar, and cream to taste. Ta Da! Iced Coffee.
Bring Your Own Wine– You can bring your own wine on the ship! I recommend the tiny bottles with the twist of caps. Otherwise, you’ll be charged an uncorking fee! Pack the wine inside of your suitcase. Make sure you wrap it safely!
Good To Know:
Want a Chair by The pool?– Finding a chair next to the pool can be a struggle. There are SO many people on the ship and not a lot of pool chairs. The tip? Get up early! Put your towel down, grab some breakfast and go lay out. If you don’t get up early, you won’t have a chair by the pool.
Want it Quiet?- There are always kiddos on the ship, and they are so much fun! But sometimes you want some peace and quiet. Well, there is a secret area for only adults 21 and up! On Carnival, it’s called Serenity. It’s outside of where the spa is. Located farther up on the ship so it’s a bit more windy, but quiet!
I love cruising so much and I hope you found these tips helpful in some way. If you have specific questions, feel free to leave a comment or DM me on Instagram @cierrarobinblogs. I would love to answer your questions!
