Jamaican Cruises on a Budget: What are the Options?

Cruises to the Caribbean can create memories that last a lifetime. Unfortunately, the costs of going on your own little island adventure can be quite high. Before you head out to your local beach, however, don't give up on your cruising dreams! There are quite a number of budget cruise options available, especially for cruises to Jamaica. With some cruise lines offering penny pincher prices, you should be able to put together a great Jamaican vacation, even if your finances are limited.

First, you will need to choose a cruise line. Although many cruise lines offer the same types of cruises, pricing varies greatly according to the company. While you may not be able to afford the five-star restaurants available aboard Cruise Line A's ship, you might easily be able to pay for the buffet-style restaurants on Cruise Line B's ship. By setting your budget from the start, you can see what options are available in your price range at every company. Would you rather go for a 3-day cruise on a luxury ship, or a 7-day cruise on a ship that offers sun and fun but not a lot more than the basics? There are some very popular cruises to Jamaica for under $500 per person. Remember, this usually does not include airfare and all prices related below are for various cruise lines posted April 2008:

• Carnival:
  
  
  • 5-day cruise leaving from Miami in November: $339.00 and up
    
  • 6-day cruise leaving from Fort Lauderdale in Jan/Feb: $449.00 and up
    
  • 7-day cruise leaving from Miami in Sept/Oct: $489.00 and up
  
  
• Royal Caribbean:
  
  
  • 5-day cruise leaving from Fort Lauderdale in Dec/Jan: $429.00 and up
  
  
• Celebrity:
  
  
  • 5-day cruise leaving from Miami in Sept/Oct: $409.00 and up

There are, of course, other cruise lines that visit Jamaica as well, and this is just a representative sampling of some popular cruises for under $500.00 per person. If you're willing to work with a little more money, there are a number of ways in which you can go on a longer or more luxurious cruise and still not break the bank. Here are some tips for cutting costs on your Jamaican cruise, no matter which cruise line you decide to book:

1.Chose an interior room. Interior rooms are rooms that are below deck or in the middle of the ship so that they have no windows. These rooms tend to be darker, even on a sunny day. However, if you don't intend to spend a lot of time in your room, you can save hundreds of dollars by going with an interior cabin and still enjoy the sun on one of the ship's decks.

2.Look for cruises that are all-inclusive. Paying for meals on a cruise ship can be expensive, and many cruise lines have all-inclusive options which include everything except for drinks. Some cruise lines feature different meal plans as well. For example, you might pay for a plan that includes the buffet, but with cash options at the more formal restaurants. This way, you can have a bit more variety and choice.

3.Consider the date carefully. If you can be flexible with your cruise date, you may be able to save some money. For example, cruises over New Year's Day are usually much more expensive, whereas a cruise taken in the ‘off season' will be cheaper.

4.Find out how much it costs to go on shore excursions. One of the most fun aspects of a cruise is the shore excursion, in which the ship docks for travelers to explore a different city, country or island, or a smaller ship takes you into that port from the main ship. Some cruise ships include these in the price, while others build fees into your trip for each excursion. Ask about excursions beforehand, so that your bill doesn't surprise you when you get off the ship.

5.Look for family options instead of couples' options. Even if you don't have children or you are going on the cruise alone, if you look for family-oriented cruises instead of couples' or singles' cruises, you may also be able to save money.

6.Book well in advance. Last minute cruising can get expensive, with both the ship costs and airline tickets costing more than usual. It is much better to plan your Jamaican cruise early, up to nine months or a year in advance. This will give you time to save money and compare rates between companies.

7.Work with a travel agent. This might seem like an unnecessary extra cost, but a travel agent often has knowledge that you may not because he or she deals with industry insiders often. Travel agents can get great deals on flights, hotel bookings, and cruises and they can also help you learn some tricks of the trade when it comes to saving money for travel.

If you take advantage of these tips, you should be able to go on a great Jamaican vacation without having to spend a lot of money.
written by Stephanie Larkin .