Start shopping for rates early. Getting the best rate is a matter of timing. Call your travel agent for deals on next summer's rates, even if that is eight months away. Let your agent know you are shopping around for deals and to contact you if he or she comes across a good rate.
Sign up for email promotions from all the major cruise lines. They often have sales advertised only to email subscribers and past customers.
Plan your trip off-season if you can. Going in the fall can be half the rate of a Christmas cruise.
Paying for excursions while you are making your reservations is only one of your options. You may receive a huge discount if you wait to book until you get to your destination. The savings will leave more in your budget for shopping. You do risk the possibility of a sold-out excursion, but it is slim because so many companies do the same ones.
Buy the soda drink pass for the trip. If you know you have already paid for it, you will tend to use it more and drink alcoholic beverages less. Alcoholic drinks are not usually included in the price of your cruise, so beware of your rising bar bill!
Order house-brand alcohol when drinking alcoholic drinks. House brands can cost half as much as name brands.
Keep your wallet out of the cruise clothing stores. Yes, they have beautiful things, but they are expensive things too! Try shopping at your ports of call, which offer better deals on equally great goods.
Spend some of your day at an all-inclusive beach -- a wonderful way to enjoy your ashore. The beach provides the drinks, food and equipment. Fill up on the sun and sand, and then visit another hot spot in town.
Relax and do nothing. This is a vacation, remember? It is supposed to be unproductive. Take in the sun on the Lido deck and read that book you have been meaning to read.
