Overview
- Travel writer Megan duBois draws on more than 50 cruises over roughly 15 years across nearly a dozen lines.
- She skips drink packages that typically cost about $70–$100 a day or £50–£75, noting some lines require every adult in a cabin to buy one.
- She avoids onboard spa and salon services because prices are usually higher than at home, preferring to get treatments before sailing.
- She bypasses paid room service in favor of included dining or takeaway options and she does not buy souvenir lanyards, keeping her key card in her phone case instead.
- She books ports independently or through third parties to save money, recognizing that only cruise-line excursions usually ensure the ship will wait if a tour returns late.