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Cruising has become a choice for many people looking for holiday escapes to new and exciting places. It is very possible to have a cruise holiday on a budget today and for this reason more families are cruising than ever before. Literally thousands of cruise ships embark annually on cruises to near and far, which vary from 3 to 14 days in duration.
Where do you begin to set a budget for a cruise holiday? Some people set a budget based on a per diem for each day. Others decide on a bottom line figure and search for a cruise priced under this figure. The place to begin is with a travel agent who knows the meaning of a budgeted cruise. You provide the bottom line and some of the things you would be interested in while on a cruise, and they do the rest.
Choosing an inside cabin as opposed to an outside cabin lowers the cost and helps to keep your cruise costs in line with your budget. A travel agent works with you to find the right cruise at the right price, which may mean giving up some of the extras.
Very often people look at a cruising brochure stating, “All inclusive, 7-day cruise” or a similar statement. The reality is most cruises are not all-inclusive. The basic cost of a cruise is just what it says, ‘basic’, which means the cost of a cabin and meals for the duration of cruise. There are additional costs such as service tips, alcoholic beverages, golf, dance lessons, spa treatments and more. Onshore excursions are additional costs as are most activities such as tours, food and drinks.
Many cruise lines offer budgeted cruising by including service tips, baby-sitting and other extras in the cost of the cruise. By paying in advance for many of the extras, parents are not constantly increasing their credit card balance for children to participate in activities not included in the cost of cruise. Prepaying for airfare, car park, hotel overnights and insurance helps keep the cost within your budget. Skipping onshore excursions also helps keep costs down.
When planning a budgeted holiday cruise the basic cost may not seem expensive, however all of the extras add up quickly. Staying within a budget means setting aside a certain amount of money for each day and not spending more than the budgeted amount. Cruising is like any other holiday getaway; there is always a temptation to over spend.
Among the cruise lines offering budget cruising is Ocean Village Cruises. Ocean Village is an award winning cruise line well suited to the 30-50 crowd. The cruises are less conventional than other cruise lines and a good start for first time cruisers. There is no set meal time, no formal dress codes, no crowded cabins and most service fees are included in the price.
Ocean Village Two includes an amusement and entertainment arcade for kids and six additional games for teens in the ‘The Attic’ teen lounge. Both Ocean Village and Ocean Village Two offer Fly-Cruise holidays and stay and cruise holidays. The Ocean Village Cruise Line offers family cabins, baby-sitting and daily Kids’ Teas.
Thomson Cruises offer family-friendly cruises and adult only cruises on five different ships. During the summer months couples can get cabin upgrades up to £200 in savings. Thomason Cruises helps cruisers on a budget by offering all inclusive holiday packages. Cruises on the Island Escape, formerly with the Island Cruises Line, offer an informal, laidback atmosphere. Island Cruises’ former ship the Island Star is now sailing with Pullmantur Cruises, a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Cruises.
Thomson Cruises offers deals on Fly-Cruise packages with flights on Thomson Fly Aeroline, a sister company. Thomson Cruises has been a leading UK cruise line for over 40 years. Their budget cruises include alcoholic drinks, meals, snacks and beverages, some activities and entertainment in the price of the cruise. All inclusive means prepaid so you are not adding the cost of these items to your credit card balance daily.
Fred Olsen Cruises offers up to 60% savings and no more fuel charges among the benefits cruisers can enjoy during the 2009-2010 cruising season. Fred Olsen offers a wide variety of cruises to near and far.
For a budget cruise look for all the discounts offered on several cruises and then select the cruises most suited to your budget’s bottom line. The secret to a safe travel budget is limiting your cost to be no more than your holiday pay per week. Avoiding the pitfall of going into debt for the sake of a holiday cruise is possible today.
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