I love travel hacks — I even write a regular column documenting my favorite ones.
And I also love cruise ships, which can be a remarkable — and remarkably affordable — way to travel.
Here's a list of my best cruise ship-related hacks!
When it comes to cheaper cruises, here are four solid hacks:
Consider "repositioning" cruises. These are when ships make seasonal trips between different regions in the world, and they're always the cheapest and least-crowded cruises. (But they also have fewer ports of call.)
Plan your cruise around the price, not the date. Cruise lines use "dynamic pricing" more than any other travel entity — that is, they price based on demand. I regularly see prices two or even three times higher for the exact same itinerary on the very same ship.
Explore all pricing options. Any website or travel agent who says they have the lowest cruise ship prices is lying. Consider all your options: discounts and credits directly from the cruise ship line (and via mailing lists); online discount outlets (especially VacationsToGo and Perx, if you qualify); and even travel agents who not only often have access to excellent pricing, but also they know when a price is particularly good.
Once you book, monitor the price. Because demand is constantly shifting, prices can shift on the same cruise too. So once you book, check back weekly to see if the price has fallen. If it does, contact the line for a refund of the difference. And even though the cruise lines all say they won't adjust your price within 90 days of the cruise — after you've paid your fare in full — I have found this is not true; whenever I ask — or have my travel agent ask — the cruise line has always refunded me the difference. And even if you don't get a refund, they might still offer you ship credit.
My husband Michael and I have spent more than a year living on cruise ships, and we have never gotten sick (despite having witnessed many norovirus outbreaks). How can this be?
We use the hand-washing stations on the ships before going to the buffet, and then again one more time before we sit down to eat.
I think we are always literally the only people on the boat who do this.
VacationsToGo.com (the discount option) is a great resource even if you don't buy your cruise through them, because they have a comprehensive, searchable list of almost all cruises everywhere in the world.
Likewise, CruiseCritic.com is an amazing resource, with both editorial and user reviews of virtually every ship in operation, and even of individual rooms.
There are advantages to booking any shore excursions through the cruise line — especially their guarantee that the boat will never leave you behind if your cruise gets back late. Also, after years of skyrocketing prices (and people gravitating toward cheaper independent tours), on-board prices have become more competitive lately.
But I've literally never had a truly great tour arranged by a cruise ship, so I still think you're almost always better off going with a local indie company. Check out your options at TripAdvisor, Airbnb Experiences, and Get Your Guide.
Always carefully read the reviews, of course, and do verify they offer hassle-free refunds if your ship is rerouted or the port of call is canceled. But your tour will almost certainly be more affordable, less crowded, and just… better.
Also, if you pick a well-reviewed, reputable company, they will be extremely mindful of getting you back to the boat on time.
Taxis at major cruise ship terminals tend to be fairly well regulated, but at individual ports of call? It's often a free-for-all with ridiculously inflated rates. Taxis sometimes even charge "by the person" to keep people from sharing.
Here's what you can do to control prices:
Survey local prices on a rideshare app before the ship docks, so you have a baseline of local rates.
Consider the cost of local transportation while calculating the cost of cruise ship excursions.
Always ask the price before getting into a taxi. Often, even metered cabs don't use meters on cruise ship days.
If you're not being charged per person, say to the crowd around you, "Would anyone like to share a cab to [the place you're going]?" Someone always will, and this is a great way to make friends. But also always carry cash so you can quickly settle the fare and don't get stuck with the entire thing.
Walk away from the terminal, hopefully to a place where you don't look like a cruise ship passenger. In a big city, rates may immediately fall. And if you hail a cab from the front of a nearby hotel — or, better still, if you have the bellhop do it — you're much more likely to get normal rates.
Use rideshare, which may still have surge pricing but will at least help you avoid the most outrageous scams.
Take public transportation, which is also a great way to get a sense of the locals. Ask at the info counter how to get to the closest metro station or bus stop.
Don't stress too much. Cruise ships can be hard on local communities!
Cruise ships pack a lot of people into a relatively small area, and many of these passengers often want to do the same thing at the same time — namely, get off the boat during a port of call or, like, eat.
So go against the grain. When it comes to getting off the boat, either go early or get off late. On cruise ships, the mid-morning bird gets screwed.
And when it comes to meals, either eat early or late — not at eight for breakfast, noon for lunch, and six-thirty for dinner.
Alaska is a must-see destination, but it's expensive with a short tourist season due to the weather. A hill I will die on is that a cruise ship is an easy and incredibly affordable way to visit the state — and you'll see far more wilderness and wildlife than you'd expect.
Cruise ship loyalty programs — which usually have automatic enrollment — can offer great perks: various discounts and freebies on Wi-Fi, laundry, and spa services, and sometimes even free cruises at top levels.
And some cruise lines will honor your loyalty status from a different cruise line: Virgin and MSC currently match every other cruise line, and Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Azamara (all owned by Royal Caribbean) match each other.
You can get onboard ship credit simply for owning a small amount of stock in the cruise ship company. If you own at least 100 shares of their stock at the time of booking, both Carnival (which also owns Holland America, Princess, Costa, Cunard, Seabourn, and other lines) and Royal Caribbean (which also owns Celebrity and Silversea) offer onboard credits of $250 USD (for bookings of 14 days or longer), $100 (for bookings of 6-13 days), and $50 (for bookings of five days and under). But you do have to email the company the necessary details beforehand.
(Please note: if you're getting an onboard credit for another reason, you may not get this second credit. This credit is also not available when using "interline" rates.)
Current stock prices are about $30/share, which you can quickly earn back if you take a lot of cruises. Plus, you'll still own the stock.
When booking a cabin, the cheapest ones are called "guaranteed" — meaning you're guaranteed a cabin, but the cruise line picks the exact room (based on the category you choose).
But there are always a few cabins on any ship that are truly horrible, particularly with noise issues, so I think it's always better to pay a bit more to select your own cabin.
Call up a ship map — and also check out individual cabin reviews — and avoid any cabin that is directly above, below, or next to a pool, nightclub, theater, or public area. If you're prone to seasickness, consider the lower decks and middle of the ship.
But keep in mind the cabins are all categorized — and priced — based on desirability.
I have friends who dismiss "interior" cruise ship cabins out of hand. Which is fine if you're truly claustrophobic.
But the interior cabins can be a remarkably good deal — half the price of a balcony cabin or even less. And keep in mind that, except for the balcony, you're getting the exact same cruise ship experience.
I don't think everyone needs "full" travel insurance, but I do think everyone needs insurance with at least $500,000 medical evacuation coverage — and this is especially true on cruise ships, where medical evacuation can involve helicopters and be really expensive.
For the record, your credit card provides little or no coverage here.
But whenever buying travel insurance, specifically make sure cruise ships are covered.
Cruise lines aggressively promote "packages" that often include internet, crew gratuities, and alcoholic drinks.
But before you sign up, consider:
You probably won't drink much alcohol on "port days," or on the day before disembarkation, and do you want to be heavily drinking that many days in a row anyway?
One most lines, you can bring one bottle of alcohol per cruise per person anyway (for in-room consumption).
Do you really need internet coverage? Michael and I just check in whenever we're in port or near a shore, and honestly, we now find the media detox is one of the best parts of cruising.
Many ships allow you to make a standing nightly dinner reservation in the venue of your choice. But before using that reservation, we always check out the buffet options — and we're often surprised by the one-night-only superior selections.
When researching various boats, always check if the boat has a laundromat. If it doesn't, you'll have to use the expensive on-board laundry services (which can easily run $100 or more per week) — or you'll have to handwash your clothes in the sink.
Also, even if the boat does have a laundromat, at-sea days can be very busy. Your best bet is to once again go against the grain, doing your laundry on a port day or in the evening, especially during peak dinner hours.