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Avoid expensive excursions where possible. Do some advanced research and use a guide book/map, your feet, a Bus, Taxi or Tram to visit tourist attractions at a fraction of the cruise line cost.
It's not just about money. On many occasions you can actually see more of a particular tourist sight or two, than you would doing a whistle-stop type excursion.
[ 08-29-2008: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]
Pam
quote:Originally posted by PamM:It's cheaper to stay in the armchair but not as much fun.
I knew somebody would say that!
No, I think I've decided that I'd rather worry about paying the horrible credit card bill after the cruise, than constantly worry about money when I'm on the cruise. So (unusually for me) I switch off the 'can I afford it?' head routine when we're aboard; we just ask ourselves 'do we want to do it?'.
When I was training travel agents on how to sell luxury cruises to their clients, the biggest shock to many came when I had them compare the cost per day of a mass market product with that of a luxury product that was virtually all inclusive.
Many people fail to take into account how much is spent onboard for drinks (both alcohol and pop)/ tips/ shore excursions etc. etc.
Often the all inclusive product appears more expensive but upon close examination can actually work out to about the same per day (sometimes lower) once ALL additional expenses are realistically taken into account.
That combined w/ superior accommodation/ fewer passengers/ superior service often makes the case for selecting the luxury product (ASSUMING IT IS A PRODUCT THAT IS SUITED TO YOU).
Let's face it just because you have money - doesn't mean you'll like Silver Sea - sometimes Carnival fits just as well.
Reed
I addtion to the liquor, the biggest saver is not taking a ship tour. We always find it so much more fun to do our research and then do our own thing. The last ship tour I remember taking was about 7 years ago when we stopped in Columbia. My husband was too nervous to go off by ourselves so we took a ship tour.
Internet time on a ship can build up very quickly as well, so keep an eye on that. As you become a more traveled passenger on Princess you do get free internet time. It use to be completely free once you became a Platinum member but now it's a certain amount of minutes depending on what level of frequent cruiser you are.
Joan
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