I have never paid for a shore excursion offered by the Cruise line. I have only paid for a shore excursion one time and don’t typically like to waste money. Typically, I do my research on the port before we set sail (if I haven’t already been there) and I find a place that I want to go. For example, I have been to Cozumel several times and I usually go to Carlos and Charlie’s right on the beach. I have also been to Chakanaab park which is occasionally offered as an excursion but I believe you can just taxi there yourself. Another great place that I have been told about is Coconuts on the other side of the island. These are all places that you can taxi to and do yourself. If you want to do a guided excursion, check out third-party websites that have lower-cost excursions.

Flights

While we are on the note of transportation, I’m going to tell you about my preferred airline. I worked for an airline for several years and flew standby and was oblivious to how much airfare cost. I no longer have that luxury and over the years of paying for flights, I have found that Southwest Airlines is my go-to airline. There have been times when I’ve seen a lower-cost flight but when I add in baggage fees it costs either the same or more. Another favorite feature of mine is the ability to change flights. When it comes to booking vacations, I am incredibly indecisive and tend to book things at the very last minute. One day I book something and the next day I decide that I want to leave a day earlier. For example, I just booked a Las Vegas trip and decided to leave a day earlier and changed my flight without any fees.

Bring your alcohol

I’m not going to encourage you to try and sneak alcohol on board because it’s a hit-or-miss plan. However, most cruise lines allow you to bring on a 750ml bottle of wine per adult in the stateroom. Make sure you read the fine print for your cruise line because some only allow two bottles. I know most cruise lines require that you carry this on in your carry-on bag and you do not put it in your checked luggage. I don’t know about you but If I’m taking a 3 or 4-day cruise, two bottles of wine can get me a long way. I also tend to drink more at the port where it’s cheaper than the ship’s prices. The ship will also offer a special drink every day and it typically comes in a souvenir cup for a cheaper price.

Don’t waste your money on specialty dining

Cruise ships have food EVERYWHERE. There are so many included options for food that you don’t need to go to a Specialty Dining restaurant. The dining room offers amazing food and it’s already included in your cruise fare. The only reason I would encourage specialty dining is if it’s a special occasion. If you choose to do specialty dining, make sure it’s not the night of the captain’s dinner. That’s the best night to eat in the main dining room.

Avoid the mini bar and in-room snacks

This is probably something that everyone knows to avoid in most hotels but some people forget this while they are on a cruise ship. I have taken a picture and taken items out of the fridge and used them for my storage but I always make sure to put the items out of sight so nobody accidentally grabs them. At the end of the cruise, I will look at the picture and put everything back the way that I found it. If you look at the prices, you could buy a case of water for the price of one bottle or one snack could be the cost of an entire meal at some places. Save money and skip the convenience snacks.