three best ways to save extra money on cruises

[whickey]

I thought that this would be a great topic for young families when there are many members going and they are already streached because of the tickets

My three best ways to save money on ships are

1)carry your bags yourself to the x-ray machines instead of using a porter
2)book a Garenteed cabin
3)Hit the welcome aboard party hard for the free drinks

[Rhonda66]

What is a garanteed cabin?

[whickey]

A garanteed cabin is when you don't assign your cabin number when you book your cruise. they offer you a garanteed cabin which garantees you a room within that class. (ie you book a balcony and get a balcony)As you book you cabin on certian decks and places on the ship it can be more expensive then the advertised rate or you upgrade your cabin. You are assigned your cabin number a week before the ship sets sail. I have book garanteed cabin on two of my cruises and have received a great location one deck below the lido both times. A location which would have cost me $350.00 more per person then what I paid. you can feel the sway of the ship a little more since your cabin will more then likely be in the front or the back of hte ship, however my girlfriend is pron to car sickness and it was never enough to cause her a problem.

[Rhonda66]

I went through a travel agent and they didn't mention a garanteed room does that mean they pulled on over on me and I'm going to get screwed?

[CableCruiser]

I'm not sure I want them to pick my cabin for me. There are some locations I really don't want to be like right near the elevators.

[CableCruiser]

I know what you mean about the free drinks. I hardly ever drink but I take advantage of the Captains and the Past guest party. I sample everything!

[whickey]

No at all. Very good chance either that they did not know about it. Find out what you paid and call carnival and see what a garanteed is worth that way you can find out. Garanteed is not for everyone. sometimes you get put in an area that not everyone likes that is why it is cheaper, you get all of the left over and picked through cabins. My experiance has taught me however that you are more likely to be a couple cabins from the front and back. And I do drink so I need all the help I can get when it comes to prices

[whickey]

opps i mean "Not at all"

[Billy in FLL]

One thing that helps is to bring your own "adult beverages" on board. The one draw-back is the coming back and forth to the cabin to re-load. I won't go in to specifics, but it saved Debi and I hundreds of $$$ bring our yummies!!

[Larry in Miami]

If you plan on doing excursions they are often cheaper if you book them off the ship.