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I recently wrote a blog post breaking down every single penny I spent on my Celebrity Beyond Caribbean cruise, and it got me thinking… I didn’t actually spend as much as I thought I was going too. And the initial idea of paying for a “luxury cruise” sounded more expensive that it turned out. But, in all honesty, don’t think I could have saved more money If I had tried. I truly maxed out the potential savings.
Let’s break it down…
The initial booking cost £961 per person and that was for 7 Nights in an Inside cabin onboard Celebrity Beyond, with Celebrity’s All Included Package which covers Classic Drinks and Wi-Fi. And yes, I did prepay things before I embarked, but ultimately, I didn’t spend a single penny onboard.
Yep. I walked off that ship without them charging my credit card.
Here’s a few money saving tips I followed:
Shop around with multiple travel agents and book with whoever gives you the most.
My loyalty is to the price, not to a specific agent or agency. Sounds brutal, but it’s probably the most true to all of us. Bonus tip to book during the WAVE period.
Look at the bar menus before you go.
Ask yourself if every drink you want is included in the package. Don’t forget about the non alcoholic drinks too like lattes and cappuccinos. They’re often sneaky! Personally, I knew that upgrading to the Premium Package would save me money.
Ask yourself if you really need a Balcony cabin.
Personally, If I know I’m going to be out and about all day, I personally would rather book an Inside cabin and save the money.
Is the excursion unique to that destination?
I will only book an excursion if it’s something truly unique to that destination. And then, I will try and book it locally rather than via the Shore Excursion desk.
Are the Speciality Dining options that different from the MDR?
I will always skip Speciality Dining. If you’re booking a luxury cruise, the food in the Main Dining Room and buffet is still going to be amazing.
Do you need to purchase the onboard photos?
I have never bought a photo package and never will. I’ve already spent $1k on my iPhone and $3k on my cameras, I can take the photos myself 😂
A bonus tip is that always list out the essential items you’re going to need. Pain killers, snacks, candy… I always bring my own pain killers and snacks onboard. Strange one, I know. But I’m not paying $22.99 for paracetamol and Pringles from the onboard shop when I know it costs 39p from Tescos.
And If you 100% know you’re going to cruise with that cruise line again, BOOK ONBOARD! The reduced deposit is a great way to secure your next cruise without having to pay the full amount.
These tips alone could save you $1,000.
Do I think I would have bad a better experience in a balcony cabin? Maybe. But also, not really because I was barely in the cabin.
