The Ultimate Guide to Cruising Without Paying Extra

After taking quite a few cruises, I’ve learned that you really don’t have to spend a lot of extra money once you step onboard. In fact, we’ve had cruises where we didn’t spend anything beyond the cruise fare and still had a wonderful time.

That might sound impossible when you see all the specialty restaurants, drink packages, shops, excursions, and other extras available on a cruise ship. But the truth is, so much is already included in your cruise fare.

With a little planning, you can enjoy plenty of good food, drinks, entertainment, activities, and time in port without constantly reaching for your wallet. Here are some of the ways we keep our cruise spending to a minimum.

ENHANCE PRIVACY IN YOUR CABIN WITH THIS CURTAIN HACK

 

I really liked the room setup on Harmony of the Seas, but there was one problem: I needed a little privacy at night.

My daughter and grandson like their room completely dark, and they usually go to bed fairly early. I'm just the opposite. I'm a night owl and often have trouble sleeping. I might stay up reading, watching TV, or just relaxing while everyone else is asleep.

I didn't want my late-night activities to disturb them, so I came up with a simple solution: I created my own little sleeping area using the blackout curtain.

It worked surprisingly well. I could stay up as late as I wanted without the light from the TV or my reading lamp bothering them, and they could sleep in their darkened space.