| People ask me all the time how to cruise on a budget. | | | | drive instead of fly to my cruise port. I do not believe |
| After giving it a lot of thought, I have decided on 3 | | | | that flying saves as much time now as it once did, with |
| important tips for cruising on a budget. | | | | all the security measures. If I factor in my trip to the |
| 1. Book your cruise early, not last minute: While it is | | | | airport, the time it takes to clear security, wait for |
| possible to find last minute cruise ship deals, usually the | | | | departure, finding my luggage at my destination, a two |
| best thing is to book early. I have found from | | | | hour flight can easily take 12 hours. |
| experience that prices of cruises go up, not down, as | | | | That is why on my next cruise, I intend to drive. I will |
| they get closer to cruise time. | | | | save about $1000 in airfare and I will arrive with a lot |
| Of course there are exceptions, but cruising has | | | | less stress. |
| become very popular in the last 10 years and most | | | | 3. Read your ships daily Newsletter: Whether it is the |
| cruise now tend to be mostly sold. | | | | Princess Patter or the Carnival Capers all the cruise |
| Last minute deals are often available for less popular | | | | lines will slip under your door a daily newsletter. This will |
| destinations such as Alaska and Eastern Canada but | | | | outline the days itinerary and allow you to plan your |
| for most Caribbean and Mexican Riviera cruises, you | | | | day with events that will not cost any additional money. |
| should try to book as early as possible. | | | | Otherwise you could easily end up in the casino or the |
| 2. Drive to the cruise port rather than fly: Another | | | | bingo simply because you feel that you have nothing |
| technique that I use to save money on my cruise is to | | | | else to do. |