I've been on 110 cruises. Here are my best tips for saving money before and during your trip.

10.08.2023 - 17:01 / insider.com / Royal Caribbean / Cruises

I've been on 110 cruises in the past few decades, and I've learned some of the best ways to get a great deal before and during a trip.

Here are some of my best tips for saving money on a cruise. 

The lower category of cabin you select, the less expensive it tends to be. 

It might be even easier to downgrade your cabin if you're not planning to spend much time in your room or you're traveling somewhere chilly, like Alaska, where you anticipate you won't use a balcony much. 

Or, if you mostly want a balcony for the views, consider choosing a cheaper room with an exterior window. 

There's also nothing wrong with interior cabins, which tend to be the cheapest option. As a bonus, some cruise lines have virtual "windows" or "balconies" inside interior cabins that can give you the feeling of the real deal. 

A beverage package can be a major expense and poor value unless you're really in a partying mood. In some cases, it might be cheaper to order your drinks à la carte and mix in some more affordable options.

Beverage packages can also be a waste of money if your room includes adults who don't drink much. On most cruise lines, all guests of legal drinking age in a stateroom must purchase a beverage package if one person does.

So if a deluxe beverage package on Royal Caribbean is about $78 a person each day and one person of legal drinking age in your room buys it, everyone else must as well. In that case, four adults sharing a room can easily spend over $2,000 for drinks alone on a seven-night cruise. 

It's not a bad idea to book excursions to enjoy at each port, like scuba-diving expeditions or golf-cart tours, but keep in mind they can be pricier when you book them through the cruise line. 

Many people book excursions through the cruise line because the ship must wait for individuals on its excursions to return. On the other hand, the ship can leave without you if you're on an independent excursion that runs late.

If you're looking to save money it might be worth finding other excursions at your port and hiring a cab service to transport you back to the ship. Just remember that it's your responsibility to get back to that ship on time. 

A vacation is a vacation but definitely know what you're getting into as you have fun on the ship. 

Cruises tend to have a lot of free activities on the ship, like trivia or concerts. They also have some activities or amenities that cost extra and may be tempting.

If you plan to gamble at the onboard casinos, consider giving yourself a strict budget before you start. Enjoy the free glass of sparkling wine at the ship's art auction, but keep in mind you might be better off buying art at home when you have more time to think and do your research. 

Also consider skipping the