Budget Cruising 101

In case you haven't noticed, there are tons of cruise deals out there right now. Fall is the low season for cruising to many places, so if you keep your eyes open, you can find a rockin' deal that fits your budget. Now you can be the one that comes back home with a tan in the middle of January and make all your friends jealous of your globetrotting. While cruising seems like a luxurious and expensive endeavor, it can be really affordable if you know when to go, how to cruise and what to book where. Of course, cruise shopping is not always easy. With so many hidden fees, rates can look fabulous and then when you try to book, you end up looking at a not so reasonable total. If you’re like a lot of people, you give up and either don’t go at all or spend way too much because you aren’t informed. Let’s look at what’s included and what’s not.

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Inclusives: 

Entertainment. Almost all entertainment is free once on board. Unless you want to do something where you will win money, like bingo. All shows, trivia, lectures and movies are generally included in your price.

Gym. The exercise facilities are free of charge for everyone, as are the locker/shower rooms. Many exercise classes are also free, but some are not. If you have to sign up for a class, make sure you look to see if it requires payment.

Pools and hot tubs. Many cruisers spend the majority of their time out by the pool with a drink in their hand. While this can certainly be a fun way to spend your time, make sure you don’t imbibe too much (see non-inclusives) and get away from the pool to make more of your time.

Most food. Almost all your food is included in your cruise rate. All buffet and main dining room food is included in this. If you dine at one of the other restaurants that you have to make reservations for, you will use your "sign and sale card" and the cost of that meal will be added to your account to be paid at the end of the cruise. The same counts for the coffee shops where you can purchase pastries.

Some beverages. Unless otherwise specified, alcoholic beverages, sodas and some other specialty beverages are not included, while water, coffee and tea are. You can buy a soda card, which will give you unlimited soda, but it is extra from your cruise rate and you must buy it at the beginning of your cruise. You will usually also be charged at any of the coffee shops.

Non-Inclusives:

Port fees and taxes: This is a big one. The more ports you cruise into, the more fees you pay and each country has its own tax rates, so you can’t really estimate the totals. I like to assume a high rate and consider if I would go on the cruise if I were spending twice as much as the published price. This can happen with many cruises after taxes and fees are assessed. You can always Google port fees, too.

Some entertainment. Things like bingo, rock wall climbing and miniature golf can be extra charges to your account.

Spa use. The spa sounds awesome and relaxing, but prices can be much more than those on land, unless you reserve a time on port day, where they discount services.

Some exercise classes. Some exercise classes are free, while others incur a fee. These are generally what they consider the most popular classes, like pilates or spinning.

Shopping. Anything you purchase on the boat will be charged to your account.Internet. Internet fees can be horrendously high, but if you want to be connected, buy a package deal, as it'll be much cheaper than paying a la cart.

Land Excursions. The crew on your ship will do everything they can to get you to buy an excursion package once on board. Book through an independent company before you leave home and save up to 65% (and in some cases, even more).

So, what can you do to minimize costs on your cruise? 

• Cruise in the off-season. Different cruise destinations have different peak seasons. Choose a destination that has an off-season that coincides with your vacation time.
• You are allowed a case of soda or bottled water (on most cruises) per passenger. Bring your own and store them in your cabin fridge. 
• As I said above, book your shore excursions before you leave home, through a reputable independent company and save a mint on them. More money for souvenirs and other sightseeing at your port city.
• Avoid buying art and/or jewelry onboard, unless it's deeply discounted on one of the last days. Chances are, you can find the same thing on land for much cheaper. I'm talking about real jewelry, like gold and diamonds.
• Find an internet cafe on land and pay a fraction of the cost as you will on the ship.
• Get an inside cabin. If you're active, like we are, you will be so busy NOT being in your stateroom that you'll barely have time to enjoy the room anyway. Don't spend up to twice as much on a room with a view if you won't be in it longer than to change clothes and sleep.
• Spend time going to free activities, instead of hanging out by the pool all day. Honestly, you are paying to have the crew entertain you, so go to karaoke, towel-folding classes, trivia and all those other fun sounding activities. Each day you'll get a schedule for the next day. Plan out what you want to do and maximize your time on the ship. Even if something sounds hokey, try it anyway and you might find you liked it.
• Shop at "non-approved" stores in port. For the most part, these shops get a commission for each cruise passenger that buys from them. If you go just a few blocks away and shop "off the map", you can get much better deals. Of course, if you plan to shop for jewelry or other pricey items, make sure you get a certificate of authenticity and that your jewelry is stamped. 

Now, go forth and find the perfect cruise for you and spend your time packing and planning your excursion days. Do you have a favorite cruise experience?

Need more holiday travel tips? Check out my ebook for less than $1.00.

Review: Travelon Anti-Theft Signature 3 Compartment Crossbody

When I travel, I don’t like to look like a tourist. Luckily, this hasn’t been much of a problem, but depending on where you go, there’s better ways to blend in than others. With crossbody bags becoming more and more popular, it’s easy to not stick out when carrying one around your travel destination. Travelon’s anti-theft Signature series are great for organization, security and also look like regular handbags.

On my trip to the east coast, I used the Signature 3 Compartment Crossbody as my main day bag much of the trip. In fact, I liked it so much that I’ve continued using it as my day-to-day bag once I returned home. With the three outside compartments, you can keep all your necessities organized, but also have a place for everything without making the bag bulky.

I like to keep my cameras and travel charger together, snacks together, makeup together and so on. A lot of bags aren’t set up for that, but this one is. All three outside compartments are different sizes and close with Travelon’s patented zippers that open and close smoothly, so even if you only have one hand free, you can get in and out of those pockets with ease. Of course, if you’re worried about thieves, like sightseeing in a very busy area or going to a crowded museum/theme park/underground station, you can clip these zippers to the bag, essentially locking them and giving you the peace of mind that all your belongings are safe.

The main compartment of the bag is the most secure, which is why there are RFID blocking pockets for your credit cards, ID and passport inside. Keep your cash, phone and other items you worry about losing in here, too. The roomy main compartment is where I keep items like a makeup bag with aspirin, bandages and such – basically, a mini mobile medicine cabinet – a reusable grocery bag, which can come in handy for a lot of situations, snackish things I don’t want to get crushed and a coverup, either a cardigan or scarf. Surprisingly, all these things fit in with room to spare. Perfect for a place to put those little souvenirs you pick up, so you don’t have to keep track of another bag.

Do you travel with your iPad or netbook? If so, these will slip right inside. I’ve taken a full-size notebook with me to meetings in order to take notes an also several magazines without a problem.

You won’t just find zipper clips on this bag for security. The bag has a slash-proof construction, so you won’t fall victim to those thieves who cut open the bottom of a tourist’s bag and let their wallet and other goodies fall out into their own waiting bag. The strap features the same thing, which means no matter how hard someone tries to pull the bag off of you, it won’t snap. I don’t know much about robbers, but I’m pretty sure if they realize they will have to drag you down the street along with your purse, they will give up. They’ll search for easier targets.

Dining out can be one of the hardest times to keep track of your bag. Do you put it in your lap or between your feet or hang it on your chair? None of those are great options, but this crossbody bag has a clip that attaches the shoulder strap to the bag. You can undo that clip, wrap the strap around a solid object – like the arm of your chair or the leg of the table – making it impossible to run off with. A thief is going to look pretty silly running down the street with a restaurant chair, and he’ll be fairly easy to spot and catch up with. Nope. They’re going to look for easier targets.

One problem with a lot of crossbody bags is that the straps are thin and can cut into your shoulder and neck. You don’t have that with this bag, because the shoulder strap is wide, adjustable and has rounded edges, so you don’t feel like it’s slowly trying to cut off your head. It’s super comfortable, and if you want, you can adjust the strap and wear it as a regular shoulder bag, too.

Travelon is all about the little details. They know it can be hard to find things in your bag when you’re out and about, especially when things have a way of finding their way to the furthest crevice in the bottom when you need it. For that, they have this lovely little light that lives on a clip inside the bag – which I also use to keep my business cards and car keys handy – so you can search inside when it’s dark. It also helps that the inside of the bag isn’t black, helping you see inside more easily.

I love the pleats on the front compartment. It makes the bag pretty and also gives it a nice shape. Speaking of which, you’ll notice that one side of the bag is higher than the other. That helps it fit comfortably to your body when you wear it across your body. If you’re like me, you feel a lot safer having your purse close to your body when traveling, because you keep all your important things with you.

If you’re looking for a new day bag, everyday purse or a gift for a traveler on your list, the Anti-Theft Signature 3 Compartment Crossbody is a fantastic option. It’s affordable, has Travelon’s wonderful construction and quality, looks nice and is water and stain resistant. Anyone will blend in perfectly with it across their body, even when dressing for a fancy night out.

More information

Size: 13.75 x 11.5 x 3 | Strap Drop Length:  16-29.5 

Colors it comes in: black | cayenne | blue | khaki | jade

How much is it?: $65.00

Where you can buy it: Travelon website

Other specs: Nylon

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Stay tuned for another great bag from Travelon that I tested out on my trip. 

Disclaimer: I was provided with the Anti-Theft Signature 3 Compartment Crossbody for the purposes of this review, but all opinions are 100% mine.

It's Holiday Travel Planning Time!

Can you imagine October is almost over? That means it's time to start (or continue) thinking about your holiday travels. Each year, millions of people take to the road and sky to visit relatives, friends or even just get away from the chaos of everyday life. If you want to be one of them and also want to be able to afford another trip during the next year, then I have you covered with my Holiday Savings ebook. It's over 50 pages of ways to save money and your sanity over the holidays while traveling. There are tips on renting cars, getting the best prices on hotel rooms, saving on airfare, how to pack, what to pack, how to get free travel and ideas for gifts that won't have you stuffing a big suitcase and checking it to your destination. That's not even all!

You probably think this ebook loaded with tips is priceless, but I'm offering it for 99 cents! As an added bonus, this book comes with cold weather packing lists that can be viewed and also downloaded to your computer for use over and over. I've aimed to arm you with all the information you'll need to make the most of your budget and also save as much as possible so you don't have to choose between that yearly trip you want to take and visiting your family over the holidays. 

Small Business Saturday is coming. It's your chance to help small businesses by shopping with them. Shopping small is the best way to help the economy and keep the family-owned businesses going. I think SBS should be every day, so if you need help with your holiday travel, you help keep this blog going for less than a dollar and learn some invaluable tips that will help you for years to come. You can purchase it and download it immediately on Amazon. Save hundreds for less than a dollar! How can you pass it up?

What is your biggest holiday travel challenge?