Paying Extra for the Extras
As we talked about before, there is a lot that goes into planning a trip of any kind and there is always a cost involved. When you do your research, it will allow you the chance to compare prices, find freebies, and see what the locals enjoy versus what the tourists find. When working with a tight budget, this is even more crucial.
Cruising has so many "freebies", that it is easy to pick this vehicle of transportation rather than any other way, as long as you stick with the cheaper version. When cruising, we do not get the drink package. Water, iced tea, lemonade, milk, coffee, fruit punch, and orange juice are all at no extra cost.
We do limited internet, so we pay as we go or need it for work. We pay for Specialty dining for special occasions and only with our OBC (Onboard credit) we are given with the cruise. We don't pay for alcohol because we can bring it with us and drink it (as long as you bring what's allowed and don't get anything confiscated Christopher)
Our T-Mobile plan assists with the cost of internet on land, so we only purchase daily on sea days, on an as-needed basis. Entertainment is covered. There are so many different things you can do that are free or minimal cost. (See post called Entertainment, Activities, and Games) There is also plenty of time for reading, card/board games or just taking a nap.
There is a gym, walking path, sauna, and art auction with free champagne! I could go on, but the point is, that knowing what is available, what you enjoy doing, and what doesn't cost much, allows you to keep your budget at the number you like, without going over.
We also join the Facebook pages so that we can talk to others who have been on the cruise or we find the page for the town or city so we can ask questions, and again, find out the local favorites. All in all, I like scheduling our trips a year out or so for the research time. Allows for a memorable vacation without a lot of fluff that I do not want to pay for.

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