Ocean Realm

So you are planning on going on a cruise but want to save money? Remember that if you are going to go to the trouble to find an inexpensive cruise, be sure that pre-cruise prep doesn’t tack on a whole bunch of expenses. Here are tips to help you control these costs:

Go with what you’ve got.

You already have all of the clothing you need for your cruise. Unless you have nothing that fits, or all of your summer clothing is threadbare, you don’t need to buy anything new. Wear your regular bathing suits, shorts, and summer dress clothing that you would be wearing at home. You are just going to relax and unwind. You aren’t going to interview for a job with a fashion magazine.

Same for luggage, use what you have. Nobody cares what your luggage looks like. Brand new sexy leather luggage isn’t going to impress anybody. You’re on a boat. Just go with a casual duffle or regular bag. You’ll look less like you are trying too hard this way too.

Hide your plastic and bring cash.

Of course, you want to bring an emergency credit card in case something unforeseen happens. Don’t use this card for spending money though. You need a budget already set up for souvenirs and sightseeing. Bring along this amount in cash or travelers checks. This stops overspending. It’s too easy to lose track when you are spending on a credit card, it doesn’t seem like you are spending real money.

Stock up on film before you leave.

Of course, no cruise would be complete without taking tons of pictures of your trip to share with friends and relatives upon your return. Film prices on the cruise ship are notoriously expensive though. Stocking up on cheap rolls of film from your local discount store will save you a bunch of money.

Keep your frugality consistent. Since you’ve gone to the trouble to find the best cruise deal, you want to save money on the cruise preparations as well. If you are careful, you can be frugal during your prep and have more fun money to spend. Have fun!

See more of this writer’s work regarding topics including remote thermostats and electric heating thermostat.

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