Budget Caribbean Cruises

As finances become tight within many households, people are looking for other ways to cut costs. But cutting corners should not mean that you must cut out vacation time if there is a way to do it on a budget. Cruises provide easy escapes for a long weekend and might be just the thing to recharge your batteries. Although, budget is not necessarily within the vocabulary of cruises, choosing older ships within reputable cruise companies as well as itineraries that have less exotic ports of call can save valuable pennies.

Carnival Cruises

Carnival Cruises, especially the older ships such as the Imagination and the Elation, have lower rates than other cruises with more on-board activities. Also, choosing to depart from Mobile, Alabama, versus Tampa, Florida, saves money as well. On-board activities include lounging by the pool and listening to a calypso band to set the Caribbean mood. Their pool level has a water-slide for kids and an LED screen showing movies and sporting events on the newer ships, such as the Destiny or Fantasy. Poolside is not the only spot to be active; on the higher decks of newer Carnival ships, there is a mini nine-hole golf course as well as a running track and gym.

Carnival Cruise Lines
3655 NW 87th Ave.
Miami, FL 33178
(888) CARNIVAL
carnival.com

Royal Caribbean

If luxury on a budget is your goal, then Royal Caribbean offers more than Carnival in terms of on-board activities. Royal Caribbean is known for its rock wall on the sports deck, available on the Voyager class of Royal Caribbean ships. As for traveling families, there is plenty to do for kids of all ages, including exclusive "teens only" sections for kids ages 15-17. With fewer ports of call in the Caribbean, Royal Caribbean is able to keep the prices low for all of the extra on-board activities on newer ships such as the Navigator of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean International
1050 Caribbean Way
Miami, FL 33132-2096
(866) 562-7625
royalcaribbean.com

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises only offers five-night cruises in the Caribbean versus Carnival's and Royal Caribbean's four-night budget option. Their spa and fitness facilities are state of the art and their emphasis is on fine dining and shopping. On newer ships they even offer art auctions. Booking on the Celebrity Century, one of the more standard ships in this fleet, will save money.

Celebrity Cruises
(877) 202-4345
celebritycruises.com

Costa Cruises

Cruising on the Costa Fortuna for a seven-night trip around the Caribbean costs the same per night as Carnival's four-day trips. This Italian company has many of the standard amenities, including a spa, gym and planned activities for kids. Leaving out of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, the seven-day trip has more time to fit in a variety of ports of call at a reasonable price.

Costa Cruises
200 S. Park Road Suite 200
Hollywood, FL 33021
(877) 88-COSTA
costacruise.com

Resources

Orbitz

Article Written By Nicole Miller

Nicole Miller is a freelance writer living in Los Angeles. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from California State University, Northridge and is a published writer who has contributed to Inside Kung Fu Magazine and the Examiner.com.

Editor's Pick

5 Top North American Wildflower Hikes

Springtime brings a sense of new beginnings and new life as flowers begin to bloom and fill the air with their sweet and pleasant fragrance. Luckily we can see wildflowers all summer long, since spring hits at different times throughout North America. See flowering cactu...
More National Parks...
Popular Article

National Park Substitutes: Great Spots Without the Crowds

Coping with crowds at national parks can get tiresome, especially during the peak tourist season. If you want to escape from the herd, or just take a breather from the bustle of bigger attractions, the United States has plenty of less-visited but still worthwhile spots t...
More National Parks...
Featured Destination

Prevent Yourself from Getting Lost While Hiking

When you're hiking you're going to want to make sure you stay found. What I mean by that is that you've put an itinerary in the car, you know the area that you're hiking to, you know the route and the trail you plan on being on, you know what the trail markers are going ...
More Camping Basics...