Posts in category: Diplomacy

With all the changes cruise lines have made recently, what can you still get for free in 2024? We have listed some of the best things you can enjoy on a cruise ship without spending an extra penny.

Perhaps you’ve read about the extra charges for room service on your favorite cruise line or an extra fee for getting another entree in the main dining room.

In an effort to reduce costs and pay back debt some companies have had to make a few adjustments. For instance, your stateroom might get cleaned only once per day instead of twice.

Cruises still offer an excellent value for the money, and even though not everything is included when you sail with one of the mainstream lines (Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, MSC), there are still plenty of things that won’t cost you any extra.

A few of these items are a surprise to first-time cruisers or to those who haven’t been on a cruise in a while. For some of them, all you need to do is ask.

1. That extra main course for dinner

What’s better than dining at sea? Getting an extra steak or pasta dish just because you can. Even though some cruise lines are now charging extra if you want to get a 3rd entree, most will let you get at least a 2nd one for free– for now.  All you have to do is ask.

Tip: If you do want a second main course be sure to do it when you’re first ordering, especially if you’re eating with others at your table. The cruise wait staff likes to keep everyone on the same meal course, and you could delay their dessert if you don’t order an extra entree until later. I’m a peaceful person, but please don’t mess with my chocolate melting cake!

2. Free raffle tickets to the spa on embarkation day

Embarkation day can be a busy time, but make sure you swing by the spa at some point during the day. You can get a free tour of the spa and thermal suite and sometimes even get a free 5 minute massage or facial treatment.

Almost every cruise line gives out free raffle tickets for one of their service as well. You just have to be present during the drawing to win, which is usually later that same day.

I know many who have received free spa treatments and massages from these raffles, so it’s worth a shot.  Plus, it’s nice to check out the spa before committing to thermal suite access anyway.

Note: I’ve attended some of these drawings that were, well, quite drawn out, taking up to an hour. Since they function as infomercials for the spa’s services, this extra hour or so of your time might not be worth it. The gym area, where these drawings are usually held, can also get quite crowded, with over a hundred people vying for a chance at a free massage.

3. Prizes for participating in games and game shows

One of my favorite parts of cruising is both watching and participating in all the games and activities on board. Whether it’s the Love and Marriage game show, Family Feud, Deal or No Deal,  or a scavenger hunt, these games provide another way to spice up a sea day. Who doesn’t love a good Battle of the Sexes game in the main theater!

Participating in these game shows could get you some free stuff to take back to your cabin too. Granted, these prizes might just be little trinkets, plastic trophies, or coffee tumblers, but they’re free and it’s fun to actively enjoy these kinds of activities on a ship anyway.

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4. Prizes for playing cruise ship trivia

I always try to participate in at least one round of trivia when on a cruise. You can check your daily cruise planner for when these events take place, and you will find all kinds of topics to choose from as well.  On my last Carnival Celebration cruise I was amazed at the dozens of different topics and themes for trivia enthusiasts throughout the week.

So, whether you’re a history buff, sports fanatic, or a person filled with useless facts, give trivia a try and win yourself a free lanyard, t-shirt, or cruise-branded keychain. Some trivia events allow you to be part of a group too.

Note: Some cruise lines have had to cut back on prizes given for trivia, so do this one for the love of winning just in case you leave empty-handed.

5. Tournament trophies

So, the prize for winning a cornhole or ping-pong tournament might only be a ship-on-a-stick trophy or medallion necklace, but hey, it’s a free souvenir you can take home and brag about. I have a collection of these at home, and every glimpse of them just makes me get “Cruise Fever” all over again.

And now with pickleball courts on many cruise ships, there’s an extra trendy activity to enjoy on modern vessels.

6. Gifts for attending a shopping talk

While I’ve never been a huge fun of the shopping talks on a cruise ship, you can get some cool free stuff by attending them. In fact, that’s the only reason some people even go. These talks do offer some helpful information about cruise ports and what you can expect if you’re wanting to go on a shopping spree when you get off the ship. And they mainly happen on cruises where duty-free shopping is available in port.

Some of these talks have a raffle at the end, but they always provide you with vouchers and coupons that you can use in port to redeem for free gifts at the different shops in the area.

7. Drinks and appetizers for attending a special event or meetup

Between the welcome and farewell parties on a cruise ship there are all kinds of other events throughout the week. Whether it’s a Cruise Critic meetup or a special event you can often get a free beverage and delicious appetizer to go with it. On mainstream lines these drinks cost extra, so this is a way to get a little something for free. The same goes for art auctions and talks that will typically offer a glass to each participant.

8. Onboard credit if you own some cruise stock

I recently wrote an article on the benefits of owning cruise stock in three different publicly traded cruise lines.  If you’re a frequent cruiser it makes sense to earn some perks for owning stock since you can benefit from this over and over again.

Each of these publicly traded cruise companies require ownership of 100 shares before you receive onboard credit and that can range from $50 to $250 per cruise, depending on the duration of your voyage. So yes, this “freebie” requires buying something first, but using this onboard credit over and over again can really add up, especially if you cruise a lot.

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Just bear in mind that a cruise line could take away this benefit from their shareholders in the future, so enjoy it while it lasts.   An extra $100 of onboard credit on a 7-day cruise is a nice incentive.

9. Room service

There have been a lot of recent changes involving room service policies on cruise lines, but most offer at least some room service for free. Typically, you can still get a continental breakfast delivered to your cabin that is complimentary, although you should still tip the delivery staff.

Royal Caribbean and Carnival only offer the continental breakfast sent to your cabin for no extra cost, but Norwegian Cruise Line has implemented a standard $4.95 even for this limited breakfast.

Disney Cruise Line and Holland America Line still offer free room service for almost everything on the menu, and almost all luxury cruise lines will provide free room service as well.

Read our cruise room service guide here to see which cruise lines charge fees and how much.

10. Mattress Padding

If you find that your cruise cabin mattress is a little stiff you can ask your room steward for a mattress topper. These are usually provided for free to guests who need them, but they are only available in limited supply. So test out that bed before it’s bedtime to find out if you need some padding or not.

11. Loyalty and status match perks

You might have perks available that you didn’t even know about. Some cruise lines like MSC Cruises and Virgin Voyages have status match programs that allow you to receive perks from sailing with a completely different cruise line. You will want to read the fine print and know all the details involved, but some of these perks could include free WiFi, free dry cleaning, onboard credit for drinks, and all kinds of other good stuff.

Also, be aware that cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises are owned by the same parent company and offer shared benefits when it comes to loyalty perks. Royal Caribbean Group calls these loyalty status perks “unique but comparable”.

12. Free onboard credit for referring a friend

Some cruise lines will give you onboard credit simply for recommending a cruise line to a friend. Holland America has a program called “Refer a Friend” that will pay you $50 in future cruise credit when a friend goes on a cruise with them. And the best part is that your friend gets $50 as well, so they have an extra incentive to give you “credit”.

Other cruise lines like Seabourn, Viking, and Princess Cruises also have referral programs, and some pay as much as $250. For most of these referral programs the friend needs to be new to that cruise line, but it’s a great way to not only introduce new people to the wonderful world of cruising but also get rewarded for it as well.

What did I miss?

What do you like to get on a cruise ship that doesn’t cost you anything extra? Let us know in the comments below and share the knowledge!

Also, check out these articles for more great tips on saving money and having the best cruise possible:

When you book a cruise, your time spent off the ship is just as important as your time spent on it.

Shore excursions can make or break a cruise for many people.  Getting a few things right ahead of time will not only save you money. It will save you from a bad experience as well.

I hear many first-time cruisers booking a cruise because of the amazing itinerary.  But then they have no idea what they will do once they get there. These shore excursion tips for your next cruise will help keep that from happening.

If you want to make the most out of your cruise, make your time at shore count. With so many activities and tours to choose from it can be a little overwhelming, but the time spent planning your excursion will pay off when you look back at the timeless memories made.

There are 10 rules I try to follow every time I plan my shore excursions, and I hope they can be a help to you.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links for which we will be compensated if a purchase is made through them.  Thank you for your support!

Booking through the cruise line or on your own

There’s one thing to note before we dig in. You can book your excursions through the cruise line or on your own. There are pros and cons to each, but I will boil it down to the basics.

If you book your excursion through the cruise line you won’t have to worry about being left behind at the port if things are running late. The same can’t be said if you book your own excursion, but you can also save a few dollars and even find “unlisted” excursions if you book your own.

Booking through the ship will give you some peace of mind as these tours are fairly well vetted, and you can work directly with the cruise line for making changes, so if this is important to you that’s something to remember.

FYI: If you book an excursion through our partners at Shore Excursions Group they offer a guarantee to get you back to the ship and have 24/7 support with over 300 ports of call.

Regardless of how you decide to book your activities and tours at shore, here are some guidelines to follow:

1. Know your limitations

Don’t let the excitement of a shore excursion’s description make you forget about your own limitations. When planning your shore excursion activities, consider how much time and money you want to spend as well as any physical limitations that may affect your ability to participate in certain activities.

The view from the top of the mountain may look stunning in pictures, but the tour may require some rigorous hiking to get there.   You may need to find a different excursion if any health-related issues would complicate this.

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Make sure you look into any age requirements before making a reservation too; many tour companies have minimum age restrictions for certain tours if you’re bringing a family with young children.

2. Know what each port offers

If you’ve ever been on a cruise ship that was pulling away from port as you listened to a fellow-passenger describe an amazing excursion that you didn’t even know about, you will want to note this point.

Save yourself some regret and do a ton of research about each stop on the cruise itinerary ahead of time.

Even if it involves doing research on tours you have no interest in, at least you will know what the port has to offer and can plan accordingly.

Often a cruise port will have an attraction that you can book through the ship, but you might find that you can just hire a local taxi and see it yourself for just the cost of transportation.

You can visit our cruise ports page for some information about some of the most popular places on cruise itineraries or visit some cruise forums. There are many list articles or “things to do” articles that will break down some of the more common things travelers do in these port cities around the world.

As an informed traveler you will know exactly what attractions are “must-see” and can even have a back-up plan in case your scheduled excursion gets canceled. More on this later.

3. Read reviews with a critical eye

It’s always a good idea to see what other cruise travelers have to say about a certain tour or excursion. You can get useful information about what to really expect and if that particular activity is good for families, children, the elderly, etc.

But read them with a critical eye as not all of them may be as genuine as they seem. And some may have complaints that aren’t typically the case for every traveler.  In fact, some people only leave a review when they have had a bad experience.

Still, you want to read as many reviews on an excursion of interest to know if it’s right for you. You can find such reviews in places such as Trip Advisor, Google, and Cruise Critic. You can even ask in our Facebook group about particular cruise ports for some ideas.

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4. Make sure you have time

This is especially true if you are booking an excursion on your own. In some ports of call there are excursions that require 1-2 hours of driving before even starting your tour.  If your ship is only in port for 6 or 7 hours it could be cutting it close.  Way too close.

If you think time will be an issue at all I would suggest you find another excursion. First, you don’t want to feel rushed as you enjoy your day at shore, and secondly you definitely don’t want to come close to missing the ship. No excursion is worth that hassle.

Booking through the cruise line itself will ensure this isn’t a problem, but it’s still your responsibility to get back to the ship on time, unless you want to end up on someone’s Tik Tok video as a “pier runner”.

5. Book as early as you can

There are a couple of reasons for this. First, some of the more popular shore excursions will sell out and fill up fast, so if you don’t book them earlier enough you may not be able to at all. You can try to get on a waiting list if someone drops out, but it’s always a good idea to book the shore excursions you know you wan to enjoy as soon as you can.

And secondly, booking in advance rather than waiting until you’re on the ship takes the stress out of the equation. You can take your time reading reviews, looking at pictures and videos, and make an informed decision about an activity in port without feeling pressured.

6. Get confirmation details from tour provider

After you booked your excursion be sure to get all the necessary information from the tour operator. Things like the exact time and date, meet-up location, names, and contact information in case you need to reach out to them are important to get as soon as you can.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard of cruisers missing their excursion due to a mix-up about the meeting time or place

7. Check-in with tour provider

Once you have the contact information for the shore excursion company, make sure you reach out to them before your cruise. Don’t rely on them to reach out to you if there are any changes.

Proactively call or email the tour operator.  Make sure everything is still good to go and that your booking is actually on the books. You can also check-in with them to ask any questions you might have and to know what other items you may need to bring with you.

8. Check “ship time” vs “shore time”

After you get on your cruise ship remember that ship time isn’t always the same as shore time. And since your phone or watch may automatically change the time to adapt to shore time you might want to bring a watch that has a time set to the ship’s time.  In this case a “dumb watch” might be more helpful than a “smart watch”.

Why do cruise ships sometimes have a different time than the ports they are visiting? This helps to ensure that all activities, events, and schedules on board remain consistent and organized, and passengers don’t get confused by changing time zones as they travel from port to port.

9. Bring necessary items

It all comes down to being prepared. Your shore excursion might have you out in the sun for 5 hours straight. Make sure you have the sun-screen, water, and appropriate clothing to be ready.

Also, know what documentation you might need to bring ashore. This depends on the port of call and is unnecessary for private island excursions. Most of the time you don’t need to being your passport, but each tour operator should tell you exactly what is needed in that particular country and area. Even if I don’t bring my passport I will sometimes have a copy of it somewhere in my bag.

Other things to bring may include comfortable footwear, a light jacket that can packed in your bag, snacks, and some cash. Cash is good to have on hand for tips at the end of the tour and also for some souvenir shopping.

And lastly, don’t forget to bring any medications that you might need, especially if you end up spending more time on shore than anticipated.

10. Have a back up plan

Your shore excursion might get canceled. This can happen even if you booked through the ship and there was not enough interest for that particular excursion. Or sometimes weather conditions may cause an activity to be canceled.  And on this point, I should mention that travel insurance is almost always a good idea.

Always have a back-up plan just in case your day at shore isn’t as perfect as you had hoped. Also, this is why it’s important to look at the refund and cancellation policy of the excursion before you book. Any good tour operator or excursion company like Shore Excursions Group will have a refund and cancellation policy in place.

A Holland America Line cruise ship will visit all seven continents on one 132 day cruise in 2026 the cruise line announced today. Holland America created this unique itinerary after talking to guests and travel agents about that would appeal to them on a cruise around the world.

The cruise will take place on Holland America Line’s Volendam and includes a four day Antarctic Experience. This roundtrip Grand World Voyage from Port Everglades will visit 47 ports, 39 countries, and all seven continents.

The cruise will overnight in the following nine ports: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Papeete, Tahiti; Sydney, Australia; Bali, Indonesia; Singapore; Malé, Maldives; Safaga (Luxor) and Alexandria (Cairo), Egypt; and Lisbon, Portugal.

The cruise will start off sailing the East Coast of South America, before crossing the equator and heading towards Antarctica. The ship will then make its way over to Easter Island and the South Pacific.  After visiting Australia and the Great Barrier Reed, the ship will visit Singapore, the Maldives, and Egypt. After spending some time in the Mediterranean and Europe, the ship will make its way back to Florida.

“We asked thousands of past guests and travel advisors for their opinions about the perfect Grand World Voyage, so this may be one of our most thoroughly researched routes ever for a world cruise,” Antorcha told world cruise guests. “This itinerary includes destinations we know guests love, packed with memorable moments and overnight stays. We are purposefully visiting fewer ports to allow more time to explore the destinations we visit and to create a voyage that does not feel rushed.”

This Grand World Voyage will depart from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on January 4, 2026.  Guests who take advantage of early booking will receive up to $2,000 in on board credit, a 3% pay discount, free WiFi Surf package, and other extra perks.

This epic 132 day cruise is now open for bookings.

Carnival Cruise Line is currently building a private destination on Grand Bahama Island called Celebration Key. The cruise line has announced a pier extension and four of Carnival’s largest cruise ships will be able to visit on the same day.

Celebration Key will open to Carnival cruise ships in the summer of 2025. Just last month, Carnival announced new details about this private port that you can see here. Now, they have announced an expansion to what is shaping up to be an incredible destination.

The pier extension will be completed in 2026 and will allow for four Carnival cruise ships to visit on the same day. The pier will be able to handle four Excel class ships at once. Carnival is expecting four million guests to visit Celebration Key each year by 2028.

The port also now includes a Phase 2 expansion that will offer more space and amenities for Carnival cruisers. Phase 2 is expected to open to guests in 2027.

Celebration Key will have a mile-long, white sand beach, the largest freshwater lagoons in the Caribbean, and a range of dining, shopping and entertainment options.

It will include five distinct areas, known as portals, providing endless ways for Carnival cruisers to spread out, relax and enjoy their own kind of fun.

“As is fitting for our plans for Grand Bahama island, our vision for Celebration Key is quite grand, and we’re already thinking about the next phase of expansion and development,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Building the second pier now allows us to implement growth plans and build itineraries with certainty, and signals to the local community just how important this development is to Carnival Cruise Line and the future of the island.”

“This is a momentous day for Grand Bahama and bodes extremely well for its future. The incredible level of new investment on the pier extension highlights the partnership between The Bahamas and Carnival Corporation and demonstrates the popularity of The Bahamas as a destination. Celebration Key will play a vital role in supporting the future prosperity of Grand Bahama and the country at large,” said Cooper.

“Carnival Corporation’s dedication to our island’s growth is both commendable and inspiring – we applaud their expanded investment in Celebration Key in Grand Bahama and welcome the imminent exponential boost to the Grand Bahama economy,” said Minister for Grand Bahama The Honourable Ginger Moxey M.P. “We are on the brink of an exciting chapter for Grand Bahama, with Carnival Corporation’s expansion opening doors to unprecedented possibilities for our residents. Let us collectively gear up for this transformative journey, as the spin-off opportunities are bound to bring about a wave of prosperity touching every corner of our beloved island.”

Cruises to Celebration Key are open for bookings. This private port will only be visited by Carnival cruise ships.