How do you do it?

[DreemWeaver]

How do you all go on so many cruises? Is there some secret? Do you earn cruise miles or something, like air miles? I would really appreciate some "insider information."

 

Thanks.

 

Su

[GoinCruisin]

How do you all go on so many cruises? Is there some secret? Do you earn cruise miles or something, like air miles? I would really appreciate some "insider information."

 

Thanks.

 

Su

 

I give up a few things in my everyday life so I can cruise more often. I book group cruises so I can just put the $25 down and pay over the course of 18 or so months (booking way in advance helps) No insider info from me... just a matter of making what I love so much, a priority in my life :D I love my CC friends and can't imagine not cruising with them often!! :D

[Mamanance]

I live in Florida. Plus you have to known when the cheap times are. Hurricane season, and the first week of Dec. Try 4 or 5 day ones too, if you don't mind an inside or port hole you can get them for $299

[hockeyluver]

We save all year for our one week of warmth in the winter. We dont do any vacations in the summer. We use DH's vacation pay for the deposit, then put a little down each month and voila it is paid for by the due date. Also we get inside cabins, dont care where i sleep as long as i am on the ship!!:p

[zaandam_2]

its a matter of priorities. i rarely eat out. never go to movies and such. my car is 6 years old (still looks and drives good). think of all the 'little' things you may spend money on. it adds up. i'm always looking for a 'deal' on cruises too. winning the lottery helped too (joking)

[LHP]

I agree with Zaandam.

 

Yes, it does take some cash to cruise with a family of four. But first of all, we are very blessed with being satisfied with what we have. We live way below our means. We are very weird ducks. Our home and all our cars (and motorhome) are all paid for.

 

We prefer cruising to eating out at high dollar restaurants, driving new cars every other year or other vices that really eat into your budget quickly. Oldest son is going to a good college on a full academic scholarship, instead of to Georgia Tech (where he was also accepted) which would have cost us at least $15,000 a year. My cell phone only costs $19.00 a month for 75 minutes (500 weekend minutes), because I have it strickly for emergencies only (and talking to family on the weekends).

 

Unlike most of our friends, who spend 110% of every raise they get. They have the have the big house (and the utility bills that go with them), new cars, spend $150.00 on a meal for 2 and have two cellphones with the maximum plans for $100.00 a month.

 

But you know what, that is what makes them happy. I don't whine around them about not having a big house and they don't whine around me about not being able to go on a cruise. Everyone is happy.

 

If you are flexible, there are good deals at the last minute. We are not allowed to post websites here. But Google "last minute" +cruising and see what comes up. We have cruised in every kind of cabin (except a suite). It does not matter to us. When you compare it to places like Disney World, cruising is very affordable...IMHO.

[kchesneylover]

Live like a Pauper, Sail like a Princess.

Some people like new, shiny cars, I like to cruise...

 

Some people like to charge lots of new, shiny clothes, I wear the same stuff to work week after week, ocassionally buying clothes at Tj Maxx, Marshalls, Ross, etc.

 

Some people like new, shiny diamonds and jewelry. - - -You can't really wear jewelry while snorkeling.

 

Some people like to go out to lunch everyday and go to happy hour every Friday, I am the nerd and I pack my lunch everyday.

 

Some people go to movies, I buy the movies when they come out on DVD, thus saving me money to cruise.

 

It really is a matter of saving your money and what priorities in life matter most to you. I do not have kids, so cruising (and dreaming about cruising) is a big part of my life.

 

Even though I have only been on two- almost three cruises, I think I am well on my way to about 20 more over my lifetime, because I...

 

Live like a Pauper and Sail like a Princess.

[MrPete]

I plan them.

[Ronath]

You just have to love to cruise. We've done the Disney thing, etc. and find a cruise comes out as cheap as most other vacations, other than camping. Other than an occasional land vacation to Hawaii, it's all cruises for us. We are also "empty nesters" as the kids are now adults. That helps alot. As we lived in the New Orleans area (before Katrina), we've also taken quite a few out of New Orleans and didn't have to worry about air fare. And yes, a great military rate.

[afdds]

Get a wonderful military discount with Carnival! :D

 

Thank you Carnival for supporting our troops!

[kchesneylover]

That is an awesome piece of advice, MrPete. Half the fun of cruising is planning.

 

If you book cruises way in advance, or cruise during hurricane season, which we do, you can save lots of money. Also, booking in advance gives you time to pay for your cruise a little at a time, rather than all at once.

 

 

 

I plan them.

[rvrgirl]

Plan ahead. Book early and pay each month. Look for specials.

But I have to say the airfare is starting to kill us. Wish we lived on the East Coast. That would help:) Living out in S. Calif. we don't get much to choose from:( (Even though I don't think I could ever live anywhere else but beautiful sunny Calif.:D )

[shipshapegal]

We are retired and have saved for a long time while working. I wish we had started cruising sooner, we love it so much, but at least we have it now. We are also retired military (thanks Carnival for the great discounts!).

[zaandam_2]

another tip is to book lesser category cabins. insides, and especially the 1a gaurantees, are great bargains.

[SantanaTto]

We live in New Jersey so we only do cruises out of NYC or Bayonne so that we do not have to add hotels and airfare... We could also do Phialdelphia and Baltimore if necessary as they are also pretty close..

 

My husband was in the military so we now look for the cruises that offer good military discounts. We also will cruise during hurricane season for the extra discount. We look for last minute cruises too if we have the vacation time available. We both have jobs that let us take last minute vacations instead of having to plan them far in advance... so that helps.

 

We have no problem staying in an inside room if the price is right...

 

We LOVE to cruise...anytime, anyplace!

[Bunkie103]

Such practical suggestions and comments! A week at the Jersey shore renting a house where you still have to cook would run you a cool $1500 or more. We can easily cruise for that and be waited on hand and foot.

 

I buy clothes I need on clearance. Now have a closet full of dressy dresses perfect for formal night and not one cost more than $25. DH bought his tux on E-bay and it looks great.

 

I love the group cruises where I can put $25 down and save up the rest of the deposit each payday.

[Ms Belvedere]

How do you all go on so many cruises? Is there some secret? Do you earn cruise miles or something, like air miles? I would really appreciate some "insider information."

Thanks.

Su

 

We sail when the prices are low, usually early Fall during hurricane season, right after the Christmas/New Years Holiday, and mid-Spring. We shop like crazy for decent flight prices and look for hotels that offer free parking both at the airport and at the port.

 

As others have said, I pack my lunch every day, buy when things are on sale, we save our bonuses and awards from work for vacations. We have no car payments and the mortgage is manageable. Our land vacations are a trip to the shore here and there usually only for a few days, or to a local historic area for a weekend away.

 

Everybody's circumstances are different and keep in mind that the people on Cruise Critic are cruise fanatics. The average person hasn't cruised often.

[Gator Bait]

You do a lot of compromising .Can't have everything. I love to cook, so we don't eat out. We shop at Walmart, I use coupons whenever I can, wherever I can. We have basic cable, no giant flat screen HDTV, a vehicle we paid cash for 6 years ago. Macy's lost a good customer when I found out about consignment stores.We bought a smaller home instead of that dream house that I always wanted when we could afford it. Now I can have that big house, but decided that with the savings on maintenance, furniture and all those trappings that go along with that fancy house, we could cruise any time we wanted to. Just because you don't have a mortgage doesn't mean living in your house is free. There are so many ways you can cut costs. Oh, and we spent the last 20 years living like paupers while we were earning the highest income we would ever earn. We invested the money instead of keeping up with our friends. They thought we were crazy living like that, but they still liked hanging with us. We retired in our 40's, we still live below our means. Our friends keep refinancing their homes, to pay for their lifestyle and will probably never have that home paid for. You have to do a lot of compromising.

[DM797]

I think the key for cruise cheap is simple.

1) Take a stateroom guarentee if your not a picky person. Some people do enjoy their suites and balconys etc. But for me its just not in the budget, I'm just a young student who likes to get away with the gf.

 

2) Flights/Driving to ports. Flights can sometimes cost more than the cruise itself. For me i book my cruises around times that my parents are driving to Florida. That way my transportation is free.

 

3) Dont do expensive shore excursions. I've always had amazing times doing my own thing. Locals are cheap and friendly and can always direct you in a good way.

 

4) If your looking to budget, dont play in the casino. And dont over drink.

If you want to drink, spend no more than $100 on board, and smuggle the rest. haha.

 

Happy Cruising, I'm sure in the future after college being a budget traveller wouldnt be as much as a concern as it is now, but watching every penny can really help with getting to your next vacation.

[Top-Cat]

I have never paid attention and realized the group cruises were only $25.00 down. Cool, so I will check on those.

 

I have done stuff from yard sales to ebay to cruise $$. Even thought of a part time job for a short time. We are lucky that we live close enough to the port and can drive, so we don't have to pay to fly.

 

Great topic!!

[kchesneylover]

Gosh, you gotta love those military discounts. Maybe I should find me a man in uniform!!!

 

 

<but what would my DH think?!?!?>

[seamama1]

Let's see; I drive a 9 year old car that runs like a top and has been paid off for 6 years..will drive it until the wheels fall off...Hate car payments!

 

I don't have cable TV. Why should I actually pay for bad TV when I can get all the bad TV I want for free?:p

 

I love to cook so don't eat out much. No credit card debt (I pay if off every month), live in a nice apartment that I rent (sold my house 20+ years ago) and rent is under 500.00 per month. Don't need fancy digs or the latest "gadget".

 

I don't own a cell phone! Don't want one!

 

I am not a clothes horse and those I need, I buy on sale. Same with shoes.....Payless has served me well for years (I wait for sales here too). I am a confirmed coupon clipper in the supermarket and don't buy many "ready to eat" products. I prefer fresh and I will make it myself. Frozen Macaroni and cheese in my supermarket is 3.98 for a sub-standard package that is supposed to feed 2 - HA! For that money, I can make a huge mac and cheese, fresh corn, tomatoes and have left overs (ya get the point, I guess).

 

I Love to cruise! Have been doing it on a regular (2-3 times a year) basis for 20 years or so. It is my favorite vacation. I will take short week-end get-aways here and there but only in off-season when prices are the best. I also cruise during off season when prices are the lowest. I shop, shop, shop for the very best prices (I don't give a rat where it's going - it's all about the price) and only reserve when I know the price is the lowest I can find. Then I continually check for price decreases for that OBC.

 

I figure you're a long time dead. I will not pinch my pennies and "save" for the day that may not come. Carpe Diem, dontcha know.

 

I just think, by reading this thread, that those of us who love cruising so much will make whatever sacrifice is necessary to spend a week at sea on a lovely ship with fine people, good food, entertainment and the best view in the world.:)

[kchesneylover]

I like the way seamama1 thinks! Everything she said is SPOT ON! (I don't own a cell phone either, btw.).

[Cuizer2]

How do you all go on so many cruises? Is there some secret? Do you earn cruise miles or something, like air miles? I would really appreciate some "insider information."

 

Thanks.

 

Su

 

One cruise at a time, over a long period of time, starts to really add up. I try to plan one cruise a year. I have my seventh cruise booked (started in 1999) and on five of them have always managed to have some family or friends on the cruise with me.

 

And remember, a three night cruise counts as one cruise. So does a 14 night cruise. So you can go on lots of 3 - 5 night cruises, or fewer 10 - 14 night cruises.

[onlysister]

I think the moms who have children in the military should get a discount too...I tried it today with my PVP, he didn't go for it. What is the use of having 3 children in the army if I can't get a discount. (Oh, one just touched down in New York about 30 minutes ago...been in Baghdad for about a year.) 2 youngest ones are either in boot camp or going next week for bootcamp. How far away is San Antonio from Galvaston? She will be stationed at Ft Sam Houston for a while. Hmmmmmm. will have to think about that.

 

dawn