What You Should Know Before Taking A Cruise

Picture Courtesy of: Australia's Northern Gateway

Cruise and cheap travel have rarely appeared together in the same sentence but nowadays, taking a cruise doesn't have to be synonymous with being rich. The cruise industry is not only gaining momentum and popularity but it has expanded to a form of vacation that now caters to all types of travelers and vacationers, from family oriented cruises to luxurious like sailing, cruises have become not only extremely accessible but affordable as well.

Why Are Cruises So Popular?

First, cruises allow you to visit several places in a short span of time. Instead of remaining stationary in one place, cruises allow vacationers to experience the beauty and charm of many locations.

As the ship cruises along, it also has a specific itinerary to follow which includes docking in certain locations and letting travelers wonder and discover a wide range of places all different one from the other. This is great because in a seven day vacation, you might get to visit as many as four different cities and locations, making the vacation that much richer.

Which Cruise should I Take?
Carnival Cruises is a great option for a family vacation. This particular cruise caters extremely well to kids and adults a like. With several pools, activities, day cares, nightly entertainment and so much more, this cruise offers a variety of destinations and durations and has the perfect combination of excitement and relaxation.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers extremely luxurious cruises with exotic destinations like India to Africa, Alaska and many more. With 4 ships ranging from luxurious to extremely luxurious, Regent Seven Seas Cruises caters to an all-adult clientele and offers over-the-top accommodations and amenities. This cruise company is expensive so you might want to save-up to make this dream cruise a possibility.

Royal Caribbean International Cruises is another great, affordable cruise option that caters to both adults and children. Perhaps the cheapest cruise out there, Royal Caribbean International Cruises has everything great cruises have to offer but at much better prices which makes it accessible to all. With great Caribbean destinations as well as European and Alaskan destinations, it's a great company for a first time cruiser!

5 Things You Can Do to Save Money On A Cruise

1. Budget. Although food, room and board are included, alcohol, casino, certain shows and nightly entertainment are not. Many ships provide you with a card where all your on-board purchases are tabulated and this can get dangerous. Using a card is so easy and you can easily lose track of how much you're putting on there, much like your own credit card I'm sure so just make sure you plan a budget of how much you want to spend during your cruise and then stick to it, this will prevent surprises upon check-out.



2. Plan the activities you would like to do beforehand. This way, you have an idea of the cost of each activity and therefore helps you budget more accurately. Each ship has a variety of activities and excursions, it's up to you to decide the ones you can afford and want to do. Lack of planning always leads to higher costs so be prepared.



3. Cruise ships are already quite luxurious and grand so opt for a standard room instead of a full balcony or any other rooming option. Room prices can drastically differ from one storey to another and from one type to another and the differences are usually not worth the extra cash. Book standard but vacation big!



4. There are tons of cruise packages and destinations available to you, so shop around, compare prices vs. quality and be patient. Cruises can be expensive so it becomes that much more important to weigh your options and wait for the perfect deal.



5. Another option is to opt for a shorter cruise, so instead of a full week or two, go for a couple days or a few nights. You can break-down your vacation by spending a couple days in the Bahamas and then ending with a cruise from the Bahamas to Mexico or vice versa, it's like getting two vacations in one and that's always nice!

Many people plan cruise vacations long in advance especially because of the cost. So maybe this year instead of doing an all-inclusive, save-up that cash and put it towards an amazing two week cruise the following year, it might seem forever but imagine how worth it it's gonna be after all the wait! Remember, have fun and if taking a cruise doesn't fit your budget then don't sweat it, there are tons of vacation options out there and the perfect one is waiting for you.