For centuries, people traveled by boat when travel over water was necessary. Until recently, that was the only way to get across the ocean because there were no planes. This method of travel was considered dangerous and only the bravest of men would attempt it and that was only when it was necessary.
Today, travel by boat over large bodies of water has taken on a new spin. Now boats are built bigger, better and safer and the destinations that one can travel to are endless. No longer is this type of travel only used for trading and other business-like activities; nowadays people are happy to board a large ship with the promise of setting sail for exotic islands and ports around the globe! There are many cruise companies all over the world, some big, some small. Some offer endless amenities while others are more subtle and down to the basics. The type of cruise you choose to embark on will depend on where you want to go, what you expect to have access to onboard, how many ports you would like to see, where you are departing from, how long you wish to go for and what your budget is. In this article, I will discuss budget friendly cruises for those travelers who wish to see the world without breaking the bank!
If you have never been on a cruise before, here is a run-down on what to expect. Once onboard, you will be shown to your guest room and from there, it is up to you what you do. Most cruises have a variety of organized activities and there are always plenty of things to do on your own too. Some organized activities include meals, dances and exercise classes. If you prefer to be on your own, depending on the cruise, you will have an endless supply of things to do including casino gambling, swimming, fine dining, live entertainment or you can just sit pool-side or deck-side and relax. Your ship will be making various stops at ports-of-call that are laid out in your itinerary. Once you disembark the ship, you will have the choice to either wander on your own or avail of the guided tours that are available through your cruise line. When your time is up at a specific port, you will return to the ship and head for the next scheduled stop.
When it comes to cruises, you may be familiar with some of the popular ones like Carnival and Celebrity and, although you can find great deals with these cruise lines, there are dozens of other ones that you have never heard of that have everything you want in a cruise but for a much lower price. While planning your cruise, you probably have luxury in mind and automatically turn to the bigger and more popular cruise lines hoping for the best deal and you may find one. But before you book, it is worth your while to take a look at the ones you gave little thought to in the past. Here are some cruise lines that offer discount cruises:
And here are some tips on how to find that perfect cruise to suit your budget:
1) Research, research, research! In this case, a good search engine is your best friend. Search for budget cruises, cheap cruises or discount cruises. Visit websites of companies you know of and also visit airline and travel-booking websites as they also offer cruise packages from time to time. You can make visits to local travel agents and inquire about what they have to offer.
2) Take into consideration that you may need to fly to a different city in order to board your cruise ship unless it departs your city. If you do need to fly, look for flights through discount airlines, start searching for low-cost air travel as early as possible and maybe even consider flying into a smaller, lesser-known airport that is close to your destination and get a shuttle to your boat if this option is available.
3) Pack as lightly as possible to avoid extra baggage fees.
4) Consider waiting until the last minute to book your cruise if it is departing from your city. Doing this can save you hundreds of dollars!
5) Although it may seem like a good idea to wander off by yourself at various ports-of-call, this could get expensive. Consider taking part in organized group tours at least most of the time as these usually include various items within the tour like transportation, admission fees and sometimes meals.
6) Prices for some destinations will cost more than others so if you must pay as little as possible for a cruise and are flexible with your destinations, take this into account.
7) When you have a cruise package in mind, make sure you know what is included in the price as each one varies.
With these tips and some thorough research, you will be on your way to enjoying a vacation like no other and at a price that will leave you with no regrets!
Photo via Brandon Godfrey
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