Cruising on a Budget - Free, Discounts & Splurges

[2FLGuys]

So I am a bit of a Frugal Guy all around and was wondering if anyone had insight into getting the most out of Cruising on a budget.

 

For example, I've read some daily's where certain events/activities offer complimentary services, drinks, raffles for dinners, etc. and I have been on other cruises where if you go to the Spa right off you can become part of the demonstration.

 

Please share your experiences and opinions on getting the most for the least as well what things worth SPLURGING for?

 

 

ps: I'll be traveling on the NCL Pearl Jan 30 to the W. Caribbean, but please share experiences from others ships/sailings as well as it may be helpful to others on the boards.

[luddite]

:)In Belize, the best price on Belikin Beer has been from a vendor on the dock where Carny boats tender in.

[slcreads]

Cruised on the Pearl to Alaska in May 2010. We were in the first wave of passengers boarding. We went up to the spa immediately upon boarding to get an "early" tour and buy our passes for the week. They did ask if I was interested in getting a FREE spa treatment and during the formal tour of the spa happening about an hour later. The spa treatment I was offered was worth $120. I declined, but if you are game for being on display during the tour I would suggest going up to the spa as soon as you board.

 

There are MANY opportunities to participate in free drawings, get discount coupons for drinks and/or services, free bingo tickets and discounted slot and game play in the Casino. I am not certain, but I think there were also Early Bird dining special pricing for speciality restaurants. If I recall correctly there was a discount on the speciality dining prices for the first night on board as well. Also, if you are a beer drinker, you get a discount by buying a "bucket" of bottled beer containing 6 bottles priced the same as buying 5 individual beers.

 

I'm sure others will reply with other ways to cruise on a budget. I will tell you that the "free" dining options on the Pearl were all good and had a varied menu everyday.

[2FLGuys]

Luddite: Something tells me we would get along pretty well. LOL... I'll be sure to stock up.

[2FLGuys]

Cruised on the Pearl to Alaska in May 2010. We were in the first wave of passengers boarding. We went up to the spa immediately upon boarding to get an "early" tour and buy our passes for the week. They did ask if I was interested in getting a FREE spa treatment and during the formal tour of the spa happening about an hour later. The spa treatment I was offered was worth $120. I declined, but if you are game for being on display during the tour I would suggest going up to the spa as soon as you board.

 

There are MANY opportunities to participate in free drawings, get discount coupons for drinks and/or services, free bingo tickets and discounted slot and game play in the Casino. I am not certain, but I think there were also Early Bird dining special pricing for speciality restaurants. If I recall correctly there was a discount on the speciality dining prices for the first night on board as well. Also, if you are a beer drinker, you get a discount by buying a "bucket" of bottled beer containing 6 bottles priced the same as buying 5 individual beers.

 

I'm sure others will reply with other ways to cruise on a budget. I will tell you that the "free" dining options on the Pearl were all good and had a varied menu everyday.

 

Thanks!!! I don't mind being on display for the world to see. I will keep my eyes out for free drawings, games and raffles. Did I hear that there is a Daily Slot pull on the Pearl with your chance to win Free/Discounted Dinners, Services, Drinks? Love some discounts on Beer. Thanks again for your reply.

[coffeecat]

Luddite: Something tells me we would get along pretty well. LOL... I'll be sure to stock up.

 

On recent Jewel sailing they had a buy 7 bottles of wine and get 20% off. There was a table set up in the atrium on the first day only. I think this is offered on other ships as well. A great deal I thought. About 5 whites and 5 reds plus one sparkling wine to pick from. Bex reisling was great and the others we picked were very good!

 

The Pearl is AWESOME! We were on her in 2009 and can't wait to go back in Feb.

 

Have a great cruise

[toomuchluggage]

Ask the bartenders to wtar your drinks down. That way they last longer.lol

[luddite]

Ask the bartenders to wtar your drinks down. That way they last longer.lol

 

Yikes!! That's a bit extreme, innit? :eek::eek:

[2FLGuys]

Ask the bartenders to wtar your drinks down. That way they last longer.lol

 

No sir... Liquor is a general Splurge Item. But finding discounted or free liquor is even better. LOL :D

[swedish weave]

I saved money once in the shops. DW wanted something with diamonds, so I bought her a deck of cards.

[2FLGuys]

I saved money once in the shops. DW wanted something with diamonds, so I bought her a deck of cards.

 

ROFOL!!! You saved thousands I'm sure. Just think with all that you saved you can book another cruise! ;)

[swedish weave]

ROFOL!!! You saved thousands I'm sure. Just think with all that you saved you can book another cruise! ;)

 

I save a little before the cruise by getting up early and cooking my breakfast, then I wipe bacon grease on her mouth and when she gets up I tell her she already had breakfast. Every little bit helps !!

[luddite]

I saved money once in the shops. DW wanted something with diamonds, so I bought her a deck of cards.

 

Yeah well....

Mine prefers emeralds. What in hell would I do with a city or an isle?:eek:

[catspajamasfan]

No sir... Liquor is a general Splurge Item. But finding discounted or free liquor is even better. LOL :D

 

2flguys-

 

Are you just beer drinkers or other vodka, rum, other too? We're thinking about doing bottle service in our room. The initial sticker price is crazy....but I think for us...when the math is done, it seems like it may save a bit.

 

Have you thought about this?

[2FLGuys]

I save a little before the cruise by getting up early and cooking my breakfast, then I wipe bacon grease on her mouth and when she gets up I tell her she already had breakfast. Every little bit helps !!

 

I literally burst out laughing at this comment and am still chuckling...

[2FLGuys]

2flguys-

 

Are you just beer drinkers or other vodka, rum, other too? We're thinking about doing bottle service in our room. The initial sticker price is crazy....but I think for us...when the math is done, it seems like it may save a bit.

 

Have you thought about this?

 

As a bartender I drink almost anything in front of me. LOL so yes we were strongly considering it. I figure at a btl cost of about $70-80 you can get your drinks to about $4 a cocktail. Not bad something we will continue to consider for our room drinks.

 

I've been on Carnival where their Casino bar offers a matchplay card if you buy one of their signature cocktails does NCL offer anything like this?

[toomuchluggage]

I don't know how you would swing this but my wife lost her charge card a few years ago and I never reported it stolen because who ever has it is charging way less.

[johnql]

I've been on Carnival where their Casino bar offers a matchplay card if you buy one of their signature cocktails does NCL offer anything like this?

I haven't heard of that but you can always purchase the Triple Play Chips in the casino. You get $15 in chips for $10. See link (Item #706):

 

http://www2.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise/bon-voyage-gifts

 

You can often obtain a coupon book that gives you a couple of match play coupons for table games in the casino. There's also usually a coupon for a free spin at the "Spin to Win" slot machine. A CCer recently posted that he/she actually won a free cruise on the Spin to Win machine - a rare event but I guess it does happen.

 

The casino also usually has at least one free drink session at the bar in order to attract gamblers.

 

Art auctions serve free glasses of champagne.

[CaliforniaDreamer]

This happened on my Pearl Pacific Coastal Cruise:

 

They have free liquor tastings at the duty free shops once the ship gets under way.

 

Free champagne at the art auctions.

 

Check for two for one martini specials around 5:30-6:30. Check the dailies. I forget the name of the bar.

 

Usually just before the casino opens, the first day, they have free rum punch.

 

The Spa also holds a raffle for free services around 6:00 the first day. Check the daily for specific time for your cruise. Some prizes are free and some other may be just a discount. one person won a prize and it had to be used the first night, so they gave it to me, since they couldnt use it.

 

Sign up for future cruise reward for $250 and you get an automatic $100 onboard credit and the $250 can be applied to the deposit for your next NCL Cruise taken within the next 5 years.

[luddite]

Martini Clinic is a good deal.

Beer Clinic, not so much. Unless you like to drink swill. Then, it's a good deal.

[Mommy oooo]

On recent Jewel sailing they had a buy 7 bottles of wine and get 20% off. There was a table set up in the atrium on the first day only. I think this is offered on other ships as well. A great deal I thought. About 5 whites and 5 reds plus one sparkling wine to pick from. Bex reisling was great and the others we picked were very good!

 

The Pearl is AWESOME! We were on her in 2009 and can't wait to go back in Feb.

 

Have a great cruise

 

 

This bottle of wine deal, is this to drink in the dining room? We sail RCCL alot so I know how everything operates there. We drink wine at dinner and we always get the package of 7 bottles and you end up paying less. I'm assuming what you are talking about is the same thing. ON RCCL they also had different levels. 3 levels. we always got the middle level because there were more wines to choose from, as we only drink red.

[Mommy oooo]

I saved money once in the shops. DW wanted something with diamonds, so I bought her a deck of cards.

 

Probably one of the funniest comments I ever heard. Thanks for making me chuckle.

[terrymtex01]

OP.. that is one thing I really like about NCL. You can literally board a ship, have a blast, and not spend anything extra, unless you want to. Keep in mind of the daily tips that are charged to your account. You are coming across to me as the same kind of drinker I am. You can take or leave it, that it isnt necessary. A lot of people think that buying a bottle of booze on the ship is expensive, but I believe if you compare it to the cost of buying it drink by drink on the ship it isn't that bad. I MAY have two adult beverages per cruise and the same thing for my partner, so for us, it is usually cheaper to just buy per drink. My biggest drink expense is coffee. We always stay in a suite so we have the great coffee machine, but that doesn't do us any good while out and about, so that is where I spend money for beverages. A cup of coffee that you purchase starts at a little over $2.00 and can go up from there, depending on what you order.

 

My opinion, stay away from bingo. It is ok if you just want to kill a bit of time and spend $50.00, but the winnings (if you win) are not worth it, IMHO. I would rather put that $50.00 in a slot machine.

 

Keep an eye out on the Freestyle Daily as that is where you will see most of the specials being offered that day.

 

Oh.. and except for a ship replica, I never really buy anything in the gift shop other than something we might need for the cruise or snacks, etc. As far as buying gifts, we wait until we are in port.

 

I save a little before the cruise by getting up early and cooking my breakfast, then I wipe bacon grease on her mouth and when she gets up I tell her she already had breakfast. Every little bit helps !!

 

Doug heard me laughing when I read this and came in to see what I thought was so funny. I told him "this guy is SOOOO like you". He then told me to look at my hands, that there were plenty of diamonds to prove me wrong. LOL. I still thought this was TOOO funny.

[kodiaknurse]

Not sure if this is the kind of frugal you are talking about, but we bring on a case each of our preferred pop and we use rum runners. If you are not sure what a rum runner is - goggle it! They work great. Refill at each port with desired alcohol. Bring pop on at each port as well. Now saying all that, I am mostly a beer drinker and do purchase beer on board. I use the rum runners for in suite only. Have a great cruise!

[coffeecat]

This bottle of wine deal, is this to drink in the dining room? We sail RCCL alot so I know how everything operates there. We drink wine at dinner and we always get the package of 7 bottles and you end up paying less. I'm assuming what you are talking about is the same thing. ON RCCL they also had different levels. 3 levels. we always got the middle level because there were more wines to choose from, as we only drink red.

 

The way that it worked on the Jewel last month was they gave me 7 receipts (and I managed not to lose them!). I could take them to any bar or restaurant and have them redeemed. One time I turned one in to the bar and he gave me the bottle and off I went back to the room. Whatever you don't finish when dining, they will save for you (and give you another reciept) so you can have it with another meal (even if you are eating in different restaurants which is sweet). There is still an 18% gratuity I believe so the 20% covers that...but still I think it saved me a good amount and I was very happy with the choices...I really like wine, but am by no means a wine expert but most who have done this like the choices-definitely try the Bex (it is a sweeter Riesling but very good).

 

If you are interested, it was only offered on the first day so make sure you look for it when boarding (I think a lot of this ships are doing this). You will be on the Pearl a week before us! She is an awesome ship...one of my NCL favs.

 

Happy cruising,

Coffeecat