Cruising can be an expensive trip, especially when you don’t know what you’re doing.  Whether you’re a seasoned veteran, or a rookie, it’s important to know how to save money on a cruise ship, even when you have an all inclusive pass, because you may find yourself spending more money than you think.

Purchase packages ahead of time: All cruise lines are different when it comes to packages.  You may want to look all of the packages over, and see which ones will best suit you.  Remember, once you’re on the ship, you’re stuck with purchasing what they have.  Carefully explore all the options, and see what you’ll make the most out of.

Watch the Internet: Many newer ships will have the Internet, but if you don’t purchase a package, you’re going to have to pay per minute.  This can get awfully expensive if you want to check e-mail, and other things.  It may be your best best to buy this as part of your package before you leave.  If you don’t want to use the Internet, I wouldn’t worry about this at all.

Casinos are evil: Just about every cruise ship has a casino, and some make it easier to spend more money than others.  For example, you may find that one ship will allow you to insert your room key into slot machines.  Since you’re not putting in money, it will deduct it from your room tab.  If you have an addictive behavior, I would just avoid the casinos all together.

Watch the shopping: Many cruise liners have shops on board.  You may want to watch the shopping, especially when you’re bored.  If you find yourself buying a lot when bored, you may want to avoid shopping as well.   If you have a spending problem, it’s always easier to just keep the cash at home, so you’re not tempted to spend it.

Cruise liners are fun, and I recommend that you buy packages ahead of time to save the most money.  Explore your options, and see what works best for you.  As long as you do this, you’ll be able to save some money while enjoy the great oceans of the world.