Taking a Cruise: The Most Economical Vacation Ever

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Learning to Cruise

We like to take a Caribbean cruise at least once a year. Not only can you visit some of the most magnificent islands in the world, but you can also travel for a fantastic price. I had always wanted to cruise, but I thought it was something so far out of reach that I never looked into it much.

In 2014, a friend told me that her family loved to cruise and that it was completely economical. I was shocked, so I began researching.

Last Minute Cruising

The next hurdle in my cruising quest was talking Sean into it. Sean had never been excited about taking a cruise, but he decided to appease me and go. We booked a last-minute cruise, where the cruise lines were filling up rooms that did not sell out. We landed a room with a view for $179 each. There were taxes and fees, but for around $1000, we were able to take a four-day cruise with all meals and onboard entertainment included.

That year we traveled to Key West, Florida, and Cozumel, Mexico. We chose to take cheap excursions at each port because we didn’t know what to expect. Sean, Jackson, Lucy, and I went on a trolley tour through Key West and a kid-friendly snorkeling expedition in Cozumel. A funny note about that cruise… Jackson and Lucy both won $150 each in Hasbro gift cards while participating in onboard entertainment. Their fares technically cost $30 each. It was on this trip that our love for cruising was born!

Saving Money While Taking a Cruise

In years since we have extended our trips to 8-9 days, yet sometimes only paying $1250 for the entire cruise. These cruises included all of our meals and onboard entertainment. Usually, cruises must be paid in full a few months before they sail, so I began including my gratuities in my payment so that we owed nothing when we boarded. Plus, on these cruises, we always earned state board credits. To date, we have never paid for anything once boarding the ships except for souvenirs.

On our 2018 visit to the Yucatan Peninsula, the cruise line actually refunded me $36 that I didn’t use by the end of our trip. We take excursions, but I try to keep all but one very economical each time we cruise. I believe kissing a dolphin cost me more than any excursion to date.

Disconnecting from the Rat-Race

Besides a great deal financially, one of the best benefits of cruising is that it forces us to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of life. We usually only check our email once daily, and we call family members while in a port when our cell phone plan covers it. The disconnect helps us focus on each other rather than the distractions of life.

Cruise Amenities

Kids typically have high-interest programs that are open 20 hours a day. However, Jackson and Lucy usually opt to play trivia or trivial pursuit rather than participate in the kids’ clubs. For parents who need a break, free babysitting is always available if desired!

Sometimes, it is just nice to sit and relax with a good book and watch the sunset over the water. Cruise options and amenities are endless.

Our cruises have always had amazing breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Tip… either book excursions where lunch is included or return to the ship to eat; it will save you money.

Movie nights on the water and the comedy clubs are fantastic. Jackson and Lucy are still telling jokes from our last visit to the onboard, family-friendly comedy club. Plus, who doesn’t love unlimited ice cream and a 24-hour a-day pizza bar?

I can’t say enough about cruises and how economical and ravishingly fun they are. We are looking forward to wherever our next sailing takes us.

Interested in taking a cruise from Miami? Check out Trip Advisor for the fantastic park and sail deals in the area!

Do you have any tips for cruising economically? We would absolutely love your insights! Please leave a comment below.

Would you like to learn about other great ways to vacation? Check out how we learned to plan vacations on a budget and 15 Budget-Friendly Places to Visit in Georgia!