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TIPS For Saving money on board....

CoastalCounseling

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CoastalCounseling

CoastalCounseling

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We are a younger couple with a child. We choose to cruise on a budget, taking advantaage of feebies when we can. This allows us to save our money for more important things, like dolphin swims! :)

 

Here is what helped us keep our charges down once under sail:

 

Drink the free beverages.... tea, coffee, juices, milk

 

Pack plastic sandwich baggies, room service sandwiches make for an inexpensive lunch ashore. (We will pack a sandwich to take ashore for Key West this trip)

 

HAL allowed us to bring on a bottle of wine for our cabin, some diet coke in our suit case etc...

 

ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS??

 

THANKS!

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bravemom

bravemom

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prepack a little bon voyage tote bag for the kids (mine are from payless shoe store and can be used for school when we return) with crayons, color book, go fish & flash cards, hot wheels or polly pockets, bubbles (my favorite are the smallest size-i get them in a box of a dozen at the party outlet), glow sticks (the kind that are popular at concerts-again from the party outlet) and a few of your kids favorite treats. saves trips to the ship stores.

 

again for the kids-instead of an autograph book (i don't care where we are going, my daughter always wants one) buy a cheap t-shirt at the first port and bring a laundry marker. the result is a souvineer that costs less than an autograph book and will be much more useful.

 

(if you are an irish coffee drinker like myself)-instead of ordering 2 drinks in a row (and paying auto tip with each) order a double shot neat of irish whiskey (my choice would be jameson) and a cup of coffee with a whip cream top (free)-pour the whiskey in to the coffee yourself. when you are ready for your second drink the bartender will pour you another cup of coffee with the whipping cream.

 

compare local wine prices with those on board (check the cruise lines web site) if the cost is 15 or 20 dollars more on board, pay the corkage fee and have your own stored for dinner.

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jetfixer03

jetfixer03

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We brought some nice wine (my son was a wine distributor at the time :)) on our princess cruises and paid the corking fee, it was either $5 or $10, can't remember exactly. But it was well worth it, especially if you want to go for a nicer bottle. Does anyone know what the fee is on HAL, if it is allowed?

 

Thanks,

 

Chris J

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MrsPete

MrsPete

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I'd say the biggest thing is to skip alcohol. I'm amazed at how much some people say they spend per day on drinks!

 

Bring your own camera.

 

Bring suntan lotion, extra batteries, asprin, etc. You'll pay $$$ for these onboard.

 

Skip the casino, spa treatments, etc. Theres' plenty to do onboard without spending money.

 

Oh, and the very obvious: choose an inexpensive cabin and spend your time up on deck!

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HOSKI

HOSKI

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We book our own excursions or on islands we are familar with we do our own thing.

I order drink coupons on Carnival for my fro-fro drinks, only saves about .50 per drink but that is my limit so I don't buy any more than I have coupons for.

I take my own soda as I'm a Pepsi drinker.

If I want cabin gifts (usually cruise for DD birthday) I order from a private company and have it sent to the ship. Some will include beer and my pepsi.

Make hubby buy buckets beer on lido deck verses individual ones at the other bars.

We bought inexpensive snorkel equipment instead of renting each time (savings over time).

We look for hotels in our departure city that have free parking for the week when you fly or cruise.

Always book our own air.

Research each port and look for coupons online.

Take lots of $1s so we don't overtip because we have no small bills.

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mconthehighseas

mconthehighseas

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Having an over-the-door shoe holder to store things helped us keep track of things better, so we did not have to buy replacements onboard. I hate it when I have to buy something that I know I already own. And I always find it right after I buy a new one.

 

Use the library onboard, instead of buying a new book to read on the cruise. Saves packing room too.

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txsmiles

txsmiles

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If I want cabin gifts (usually cruise for DD birthday) I order from a private company and have it sent to the ship. Some will include beer and my pepsi.

Great idea... how does this work? What ports have you done this in? Do you know whether local florists can deliver flowers to the ship at on the day you depart?

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HOSKI

HOSKI

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Most ports have these companies that deliver the gifts. NOLA is a tough one to get alcohol but others are fine. Here is what I recently got in NOLA:

Child's gift basket filled with small toys $25, 12 pk Pepsi $4, 12 pk orange slice $4, 1 Mylar and 4 latex happy birthday balloons $8 tax and shipping $21.64. Total $62.64 And I figured it out as follows: gift basket (Carnival does not have closest was $29 and has less, 24 sodas @ 2 = $48, balloons as priced at home delivered $16 = $ $73 And the issue is not even the savings but having Pepsi and a gift basket made and delivered with the company knowing my daughter is 5.

 

I have done other gifts in other ports and always been pleased and saved. I will list some of the ones I have and you can check their websites or call. One note, the place I'm using in NOLA is not doing deliveries till after Aug. 1st as they closed for two months due to family illness.

 

http://www.classiquegifts.com

http://www.giftsahoyinc.com

http://www.cruisegiftsonline.com (ocean promotions)

http://www.shipboardgifts.com

http://www.wellwishers.com (pricey)

bon voyage gifts 1-800-217-4438

http://www.basketsbycelebrations.com (NOLA no alcohol)

Just because of you 1-800-882-9707 (very good prices but will substitute)

 

Have fun and hope you find something you like. Many do not advertise the soda on their sites but will provide it as an add-on to any gift.

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HOSKI

HOSKI

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I've been using them a few years now. Baskets by Celebration emailed me tonight to let me know they reopened a few days early. She is the one providing the birthday basket for me in Sept. on the Holiday.

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mirrajay

mirrajay

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Anyone know if there is a limit to how many bottles of wine/champagne you can have delivered to your room? One of these companies a package with 4 bottles - will the cruiseline allow you to do that!?

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