You can still get a cabin for this freeper cruise. If you're on a budget consider an inside stateroom. They're still available for under 900 bucks. Try staying at Disney or other resorts for that price. There's no comparison, taking into account unlimited food all day, each day........entertainment of every possible kind, stops at beautiful islands, a luau beach-day with steel band , white sand and azure water, plus a moveable feast of scenes, sights, sounds and sensations every single day. Cruises are a great way to take an economy vacation if you know the ropes and have a little will-power.
Inside cabins are very compact, but have all the amenities such as TV, safe, fridge, etc. Queen or twin beds. Plenty of storage space. Many regular, seasoned travelers deliberately choose inside cabins so they have money to spend elsewhere on the voyage.
You really shouldn't care all that much about a smaller cabin.....you're mostly in there only to dress, shower and crash. The square footage becomes relatively unimportant when compared to the fantastic opportunity to live like royalty on a hassle-free vacation getaway.
Ships today seek to maximize their cash flow with tempting ways to get you to spend extra money over and above the all-inclusive fare you paid.
Now most of them have PC (Personal Choice) gourmet restaurants where the food and service are deelish, but they'll cost you $30 more per person. Resist the temptation. The dinners in our Dining Room feature delicious eats........and the freeper fun and conversation at table will be worth more than 10 gourmet bistros.
Have your steward empty your fridge of all the beverages that are in there when you board. Bring your own water bottles in your check-in baggage. Bring wine in your carry-ons.
You can always buy more bottled water in a supermarket or store right near the dock. Buy a soda card if you drink a lot of pop. (Tips on soda cards above).
If you're sunning on deck, resist summoning that steward rolling his drink cart around the deck. He'll put whatever you drink on your running tab.
If you're dry, drink from your own water bottle....or hie your body to an area on the ship where you can get free iced tea, coffee, hot tea or ice water 24 hours a day.
Other ship offerings include massages, some spa activities, hair cuts, computer room, ice cream bar, and other goodies all for a charge. Eat your ice cream for free at lunch or dinner, good pizza is always available for free, and forget the computer for a week....you'll live, and your eyes will welcome the rest.
More tips to follow.
Bahama Mama
No, you don't have to take shore excursions. You'd be surprised how many passengers chose to stay on board when the ship's in port.
You can roam the mostly deserted ship and discover new activities. The pools are comparatively empty as are the lunch dining facilities. It's a great way to spend doing what you came for, sunning, swimming, reading, eating, napping, ah.....nice prospect, eh?
If you want to take at least one shore excursion, look for a bus tour of an island. They're usually the least expensive. Or, shopping is always a fun thing to do in the morning when it's cool. See where a straw market is, or a whatever else you can see on foot. Most islands now have attractive outdoor shopping malls right near the deck. You can then go back to the ship for a free yummy lunch, and the rest of the day is yours.
Unsolicited advice....DO budget a few sous for purchasing SOMETHING on the islands......even if it's just small potatos. Spoil yourself by buying something to take home for yourself or your neighbor who's feeding of your cat, or whoever.
I don't buy anything much in the islands, just small, inexpensive treasures that catch my eye or my sisters would be delighted with. I just like to wander around and get the feel and atmosphere of wherever I am.
DO leave a little extra space in your luggage for any purchases. Don't buy 'big" things. If you do, most shops will ship your purchase to your home.
Bring stamps for your postcards. You can buy them on board, but they get added to your tab and there's usually a wait in line.
Wait for the end-of-the-week sales in the ship's shops. They can be very good sales, especially in costume jewelry and fun watches.
Tuck bandaids in your wallet for any foot blisters. Wrap a couple aspirin or Tylenol in foil. You probably won't need them but it's expensive to buy a whole bottle in the ship's shop or in port. Heck, they're expensive here at home, also.
Don't want to buy formal dresses for the two formal nights? Buy one silky, chiffony, swingy black palazzo pants or long sleek black skirt. Buy two different tops to wear with the same bottom. Tops can be strappy, strappless, sleeveless, sequiney, just look for bargains. With different jewelry, it'll look like two different outfits. Or, of course, bring your dressy cocktail outfit, (short or long dresses or dressy pantsuit). Again, remember color and style-wise, we're in the tropics. Don's bring that long-sleeved winter dress with the tight turtle neck. You'll melt away like the Oz witch.
Or do what Bahama Mama did one cruise. I went to a nearby "Hawaiian" shop and bought a bright red and orange tropical print ankle length dress with slit up the side for a little under $25 dollars.
Brightly colored, interesting el cheapo baubles and beads, dangly earrings, plus bright red strappy heels which I already had gave me a zingy tropical evening dress for a little over thirty bucks. Oriental stores may have similar dresses. Or type in "sarongs" or "Hawaiian dresses" in computer search and order on-line. Remember, you don't have to look like a prom queen on formal nights. Simple but smart will do the trick. A lot of people go back to their cabins after the formal dinner....and, shhhh, change into something more comfortable for exploring all the different night life venues on the ship.
Bahama Mama is the Baggie Queen. I use baggies for everything when I travel. Don't buy those satiny fold-up jewelry holders. Use small baggies. Wrap chainy things in saran so they don't tangle. Use a baggie for earings and bracelets. Use another for rings and watches. Put the baggies in your cabin's dressing table drawer. You can see perfectly what to pull out when you're getting dressed.
Pack a pair of shoes in one of those big two-gallon baggies you can get at Wal-Mart, Target and other fine shops. Then you can pile the bags of shoes compactly on the bottom of your stateroom closet or on a shelf. They'll stay neat and clean (and TOGETHER), and you can see at a glance what shoes you're pulling out of the stack.
If you like at least some casino play during our trip, budget yourself a set-amount of cash for some casino play during the week. I put my separate casino cash in a pretty zipper pouchy thing and that's all I bring into the casino. If I'm lucky, the money will grow. If not, I had fun.
I especially like the casino on formal nights when some men and their ladies come in wearing tuxes and gowns. It's so Monaco-ish. Of course, there I am, playing the nickel slot machines......
Well, there you have it. When your final bill is placed under your door the night before disembarkation, you'll be tickled tan to see only a few bucks total at the bottom. You've had a great time on a shoestring.
Other of our repeat freeper cruisers may have other money-saving tips....if so post 'em here.
I'll be giving some more tips on what to bring clothes-wise and otherwise later in the week.
Bahama Mama