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Judy Schwartz
"I've been fortunate to snorkel in beautiful Hawaii, watch whales in Alaska, explore castles in Scotland, hike through breathtaking Giant's Causeway in Ireland, marvel at Stonehenge, and more," says Judy Schwartz, a retired public school teacher who has been on 47 cruises — and learned how to save money while doing so. She has eight money-saving tips for anyone looking to go on a cruise.
When you cruise, the ship is your hotel, your mode of transportation, your restaurants, and oftentimes, it provides professional entertainment, too. It's all of those financial decisions in one.
Each cruise line has its own culture and reputation. Going on a cruise that isn't compatible with your personality can be a big money mistake.
"Cruise lines like Carnival cater towards a fun, party crowd. Norwegian is known for its family-friendly cruising with extra dining options. Princess has a more upscale reputation." says Schwartz.
While Schwartz was teaching, she enjoyed cruising during school breaks with her family. She made friends with other families on the ship at trivia tournaments, lounging at the pool, or while playing ping pong.
Your cruise ship isn't merely a way to get from point A to point B. It's your neighborhood. There might be between 3,000 and 4,000 people on your ship. You'll see folks at the buffet, at the specialty restaurants, in the casino, and more.
Schwartz says, "You might want more space if you plan on spending a lot of time in the room. Or you can get a cheaper, smaller cabin and have more money to spend on excursions."
"When I sailed to the Bahamas during the winter from the Northeast, I really enjoyed a balcony room to sit outdoors in the sun with some privacy," she says.
Schwartz encourages people to look before they book, "Look where the cabin is. If you can, avoid a noisy cabin right under the pool or on a deck right above or below the theater."
Schwartz says drink packages aren't worth it for most guests. That's because there are strings attached.
The best candidates for a drink package are people traveling solo or couples, where you both expect to imbibe lots of expensive drinks (i.e., not beer) while sailing.
Schwartz says, "If you get sick and need to go to the ship's doctor, your insurance may not cover it. Plus, you must pay the bill up front, then try to get reimbursed by your insurance. So look into buying insurance from the cruise line or from a third-party insurance provider." The best cruise travel insurance companies will cover you in case of a medical emergency — though make sure you know what your plan covers before you buy.
"I learned this lesson the hard way when my husband had a major infection and had to be treated on the ship."
Schwartz also says that if you're on Medicare, you may not be covered when you're outside the U.S.
Schwartz recalled, "When we were in Labadee, Haiti (a private beach port of call), it was exceptionally hot. While walking back to the ship, we saw a helicopter come to evacuate a guest to the hospital. This can cost you $25,000 or more. Then we saw another helicopter come for another guest!"
Schwartz says you should make sure to pack items that would be very expensive to buy on the ship. This includes:
Schwartz says cruises have specific rules about where you can take kids. Babies under 12 months old usually aren't allowed to be at sea more than two days.
Norwegian doesn't allow babies under six months of age or passengers who will enter their 24th week of pregnancy or later.
Understand the ship's code of conduct. If you violate it, you could be booted from the ship or even banned from the cruise line. Be respectful to workers and your fellow travelers.
Schwartz warns, "Come back to the ship early when it stops at a port. They will leave you. You'll get stuck, and the cost to get back on the ship can be very expensive."
Schwartz enjoys excursions to the ports of call, but she's punctual. When she tours places like picturesque Honfleur, France, or the medieval old town of Tallinn, Estonia, she makes sure to be back on the ship in plenty of time.
If you need your passport, you also want a credit card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees. Otherwise, you'll be adding about 3% to every swipe when you get off the ship to explore.
