“It can be tempting to book that rock-bottom cruise deal you come across, but the real value of a cruise comes when you book incentives that will help to save on money you would otherwise spend onboard,” she said.
If you know you’ll want to take advantage of the bars onboard, a drinks package — or included drink package — could be well worth it, she said.
“The real value of a cruise,” said one expert, “comes when you book incentives that will help to save money you’d otherwise spend onboard.” (Joe Raedle/Getty Images / Getty Images)
Another tip when looking for a cruise vacation: Look for costs you know you’ll incur, such as onboard internet or specialty restaurants, and try to find deals that include those costs in the fare, McDaniel recommended.
A great opportunity to snag such added-value incentives is taking advantage of a program like Norwegian Cruise Line’s “Free at Sea” perks.
AFFORDABLE VACATION IDEAS IN THE YEAR AHEAD INCLUDE FOUR CRUISE OPTIONS: HERE’S WHAT TO KNOW
This is available for the line’s newest ship, Norwegian Viva, which boasts amenities like go-kart racing and watersides, plus specialty dining venues and amazing nightly entertainment.
4. Be flexible with your timing
One valuable hack to stretch your vacation dollars is to avoid peak travel times like holidays and school-vacation weeks.
“Take New York City, for example, which is always busiest between Christmas and New Year’s Eve,” said Sarah Firshein, a New York-based spokesperson with TripAdvisor.
“A lot of people might be leaving money on the table if their flight price drops.”
