Save Money On A Cruise Vacation

Book early, anywhere from 1-3 months in advance. Due to overcapacity, there are great deals out there. If you wait until the last minute, the less expensive cabins may be booked and you'll have to spend more on a cabin.

-Avoid going during peak times such as Christmas or school breaks. The best deals are off-season. I have friends who take a cruise every fall. They get fabulous deals on ships to great destinations. Last October, they took a European cruise and paid an unbelievably low price.

-Shop around! There are many online travel agencies specializing in cruises. The deals are posted online and updated daily. E-mail or call them to inquire about any other discounts such as senior discounts. Also, if you have booked with a cruise line before, they may offer you a discount as a repeat customer.

-When you book, make sure you are told where your cabin is. You can see the ship's decks and cabin numbers online. My friends and I got what we thought was a fantastic deal on a 10 day cruise to the Panama Canal. Well, let me tell you! Our cabins were right in the front of the boat and my friends were seasick during the whole cruise. The best place for your cabin is in the middle of the boat. The reason I mention this is, if you want to change your cabin once on board, you probably won't be able to. When a deal sounds too good to be true, beware.

-Once you are on the boat, you can save money by doing the following:

1. Don't book land tours on the boat. They are very expensive. At most ports, there are small tours available as soon as you disembark. I've taken many. They're very good & much cheaper. Another alternative is to hire a taxi driver to tour the island or city. Negotiate before entering the taxi.

2. Drinks, which include soft drinks, alcohol or bottled water, are usually not included in the price of the cruise.

3. The ship's photographer takes photos of you at certain times - entering the boat, at the dinner table or leaving the boat. You can avoid buying any of these photos by bring your own camera or purchase a disposable one to use.

4. If you intend to go to the casino, only take with you the amount of money you are willing to lose. Leave the rest of your cash, traveler's checks or credit cards in the cabin's safety deposit box.

5. On the boat, there is always something to eat during the day. Before you leave for a visit at a port, eat well. When you return late afternoon, there are light meals available. Like this, you can prevent spending  for a meal while visiting a new destination, which can be expensive.

6. If you need dry cleaning or ironing services, check the prices.
Sometimes, the ironing service is cheap. I brought an iron with me on a cruise and then found out, at the end of the cruise, that the charge was only $1 per item. They do this because they are concerned about possible fire in the cabin if an iron is left unattended.

7. There are shops on board the ship. Don't be hasty! You have the time to compare prices in port and on the ship. I bought a pair of earrings on the ship and then saw the same pair at a store on the island for $100 less.

Lastly, always be polite. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

For the latest cruise deals, check out the travel page at http://50plusfun.com/travel.