How to Avoid ‘Money-Saving’ Cruise Hacks That Could Cost You More

This is a sponsored post for Marella Cruises.

I love finding ways to save money on cruises. Whether it’s getting a cheaper fare, finding a good deal on drinks or avoiding hidden costs, there’s something very satisfying about knowing you’ve got a bargain.

But not every money-saving trick works out quite as well as you’d hope. Sometimes, the things you do to save a few pounds can leave you spending considerably more by the time your holiday is over.

The tricky part is that most of these tips aren’t necessarily bad advice. In the right circumstances, they can save you a fortune. It’s when you follow them without considering the bigger picture that you can end up actually spending more.

1. Skipping the Drinks Package to Save Money

Cruise drinks packages can be expensive, so it’s understandable that some people look at the daily price and immediately decide against buying one.

After all, how much are you really going to drink? A couple of glasses of wine with dinner, perhaps a cocktail in the evening and the occasional soft drink throughout the day. Surely paying as you go would work out cheaper?

Well, it might. But those drinks can add up surprisingly quickly, especially when you remember that you’re on holiday and probably spending more time relaxing in bars than you would at home.

Of course, the opposite can also be true. There’s no point paying for a drinks package if you’d struggle to consume half of what it’s worth. The trick is to work out what you’d realistically drink rather than assuming one option must be cheaper.

It’s also worth remembering that not every cruise line charges separately for drinks. Marella Cruises, for example, includes a selection of beers, wines, spirits, cocktails and soft drinks in its standard All Inclusive drinks package offering. For a relatively small fee, you can pay to upgrade to the premium drinks package, which includes extra cocktails, premium spirits and your daily caffeine fix from The Coffee Port, but there’s already plenty included without spending anything extra.

Before deciding on a drinks package, do a little maths based on your own habits. It’s not the most exciting part of planning a cruise, but it could save you a decent amount of money.

2. Waiting Until the Last Minute for the Biggest Discounts

We’ve all seen those incredible last-minute cruise deals. A sailing that’s suddenly hundreds of pounds cheaper, sometimes departing in just a few weeks.

It’s tempting to assume that waiting until the last possible moment is always the best way to book a bargain. And sometimes it absolutely is. If you’re flexible about your dates, destination and cabin, last-minute deals can be fantastic.

But there’s a gamble involved. Popular sailings can sell out, prices can rise rather than fall, and you might discover that the only cabins left are the more expensive options rather than the ones you could have booked months earlier.

There’s also the question of flights. Even if the cruise fare drops, you may be faced with limited flight availability or increased airline prices closer to departure.

My advice would be to book when you find a price you’re genuinely happy with, especially if you have specific dates or an itinerary in mind. Holding out for an even better deal sounds sensible, but there’s no guarantee that one will appear.

3. Travelling Further to Get a Cheaper Cruise

Imagine finding two similar cruises, with one costing £200 less than the other. The cheaper one seems like the obvious choice, doesn’t it?

But then you notice that the selected airport is much further away.

A departure from a different airport might look cheaper, but if getting there involves a lengthy journey, overnight accommodation or additional parking costs, it’s worth checking whether you’re actually saving anything.

I’d always recommend calculating the cost of getting from your front door to the ship, rather than comparing individual elements of the fares alone. And, pick a cruise line that offers flights from all over the UK – not just London…

4. Booking Your Own Flights Because They’re Cheaper

Arranging your own flights can be a brilliant way to save money on a cruise. You might find a bargain, use frequent flyer points or choose flight times that suit you better.

But it’s one of those hacks that needs a little extra thought…

Firstly, there’s the cost of everything else. Checked luggage, overseas transfers and possibly a hotel stay can quickly reduce the saving you’ve made on the flights themselves.

Then there’s the potential impact if your travel plans change.

If you’ve booked everything separately and your flight is delayed or cancelled, you’ll need to make your own alternative arrangements to reach the ship, which could result in additional costs.

That’s why I’d always recommend arriving at least a day early if you’re arranging your own flights, particularly for a long-haul sailing. It adds to the cost, but it gives you a useful buffer if things don’t go to plan.

Alternatively, look at cruise packages that include the travel arrangements.

With Marella Cruises, fly-cruise holidays include flights, luggage and overseas transfers Having everything arranged as part of one package can make the process much simpler, especially if you’re not keen on organising all the different parts yourself.

And Marella Cruises is one of the best cruise lines for regional departures too.

5. Booking the Cheapest Cruise Without Checking What’s Actually Included

This is one of the most important things to consider before booking, it’s something I’d encourage everyone to think about before booking.

When you’re comparing cruise prices online, it’s very easy to sort the results from cheapest to most expensive and start looking at whatever appears at the top.

But there’s often more to consider than the advertised cruise fare.

You could find a cruise advertised for £599 per person that looks like an incredible bargain. Then you discover that flights aren’t included, you’ll need to arrange transfers, drinks are extra and there are daily gratuities to consider.

Another cruise might cost £899 per person but include most of those things already.

Suddenly, the lower-priced holiday doesn’t seem like quite such an obvious winner.

It’s something I noticed when pricing up the cruise I took with Marella. Marella’s cruises are All Inclusive as standard, so meals, drinks, snacks, tips and service charges are already covered. Flights, luggage and overseas airport transfers are included too.

It means you can head off on holiday knowing that many of the expenses you’d otherwise need to budget for have already been taken care of.

You can still spend extra if you want to. Speciality dining, the premium drinks package, spa treatments and shore excursions are among the things you might choose to pay for. But you don’t have to spend more to enjoy your meals and drinks and make the most of your time onboard.

That’s a big part of the appeal for me. Rather than having to keep track of what you’re spending, you have a much clearer idea of the overall cost before you even leave home.

Remember, the best-value cruise isn’t necessarily the one with the lowest advertised fare. It’s the one that gives you the best value for the holiday you actually want.

Before booking anything, I’d suggest adding up the things you’re realistically likely to spend money on, including travel, drinks, tips and other extras. Then compare that figure with the price of a cruise where more is included.

You might be surprised by how little difference there is, or even discover that the seemingly more expensive holiday works out cheaper.

Final Word

I’m always looking for ways to get the best value from a cruise and that doesn’t necessarily mean choosing the lowest fare.

Booking your own flights, skipping drinks packages and waiting for last-minute deals can all work brilliantly. They can also cost you more if you haven’t thought through the details. Taking some time to look at the bigger picture can help you make a more informed choice

For me, the best approach is to look at the whole holiday rather than trying to save a little money on every individual part.

And if you’d prefer a cruise where many of those costs are already covered, it’s worth taking a look at Marella Cruises’ All Inclusive holidays.

After all, getting a great deal should mean enjoying your holiday knowing you’ve chosen the option that offers the best value for you.

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