10 Ways to Avoid Getting Nickel & Dimed on Your Cruise

dmoten · April 19, 2013

Thanks for the advice. I believe you have to pick and choose what you spend your hard earned money on. Sometimes in our desire to have fun on vacation we don't always think, and make good choices. If one does not spontaneously make a decision, then they can have an enjoyable time, get what they want and not have a huge credit card bill in the process.

Jan115 · April 19, 2013

Thanks for the advice. I believe you have to pick and choose what you spend your hard earned money on. Sometimes in our desire to have fun on vacation we don't always think, and make good choices. If one does not spontaneously make a decision, then they can have an enjoyable time, get what they want and not have a huge credit card bill in the process.

I think I wrote this mostly from experience. My husband and I would inevitably return from a cruise and wonder where all the money went! :tongue:

WeCruiseToo · April 22, 2013

Stay far away from the casino. Your lungs will thank you, too!

This is almost completely off topic, but when we sailed Celebrity Summit in December (and again last week :biggrin: ) the casino was completely smoke free! We rarely gamble ourselves, but Mom & Dad like to play (and they usually win a little) but they can’t handle the cigarette smoke at all. The non-smoking casino was a really pleasant surprise! (And I’m pretty sure all Celebrity ships have smoke free casinos now!)

Jason · April 23, 2013

Since the cruise lines make most of their money from onboard purchases, every activity is meticulously planned to try and squeeze out as much money as possible from passengers....these tips do a great job at helping us be aware of those traps. Thanks for sharing!

7SeaCruiseTravel · April 23, 2013

Stay far away from the casino. Your lungs will thank you, too!

This is almost completely off topic, but when we sailed Celebrity Summit in December (and again last week ) the casino was completely smoke free! We rarely gamble ourselves, but Mom & Dad like to play (and they usually win a little) but they can’t handle the cigarette smoke at all. The non-smoking casino was a really pleasant surprise! (And I’m pretty sure all Celebrity ships have smoke free casinos now!)

Thanks guys - I did not know this! One more reason for us to cruise Celebrity to the Mediterranean next summer. :biggrin: Hopefully, the smoke-free casino will be a trend we will be seeing on ALL ships in the near future.

KeithnRita · April 23, 2013

We've become a little more conservative over the years and cruises and your advise on avoiding being nickel and dimed is spot on. Maybe with age we're just a little wiser. We no longer take money we intend to lose in the casino and we seldom book ship excursions. We kicked the bingo habit many cruises ago and we haven't bought art for a long time. I must admit we do indulge in the over priced spirits and Rita still loves the gift shops and the spa. So we are adding to the cruise line's bottom line.

DebbieandJerry · April 25, 2013

Thanks for sharing. These are great tips.

As with any vacation, I think you have to decide beforehand what you are willing to spend and what you are willing to splurge on. But that boils down to communication!

Jan115 · April 26, 2013

Debbie - I totally agree. Unfortunately, our plans sometimes fall apart once we're onboard and get caught up in the moment. I guess a little self-discipline doesn't hurt, either - LOL!