Author: Holly Johnson / Source: Wise Bread
Like all-inclusive resorts, Caribbean cruises offer many components of a vacation for a single nightly rate. Once you settle on an itinerary and choose your cabin type, you’ll get your lodging, daily and nightly entertainment, and three meals a day plus snacks (and drinks like water, coffee, and tea) for one price.
If you choose a budget cruise line or a cruise line with lower rates for kids, your cruise itself may even be downright cheap.Of course, that doesn’t mean cruises are devoid of extras and upcharges. Far from it. In addition to your cruise fare, you’ll have to pay government-mandated taxes and fees, for example. And if you want an upgraded trip, you can choose from a selection of add-ons including alcoholic drink packages, internet packages, onboard laundry services, dining at specialty restaurants, and more. (See also: How to Get a Cruise Cabin Upgrade for Free)
In addition to luxuries you can pay for on the ship, cruises also come with the option of booking excursions for your days at port. For a per-person rate, you can partake in any number of pastimes, from snorkeling and diving to historic city or nature tours. While shore excursions can make your cruise activities more diverse, they tend to be expensive. A single snorkeling tour can easily add upward of $100 per person, and remember, that’s on top of what you’ve already paid for your cruise. (See also: Best Credit Cards for Cruises)
If your goal is keeping costs down, it helps to choose a cruise itinerary where you’ll find ample affordable or free things to do.
Here are five Caribbean ports of call to consider as you map out your affordable vacation plans. (See also: Are All-Inclusive Vacations and Cruises Worth the Money?)1. Curacao
If your cruise takes you to Curacao, you won’t have to look hard for ways to spend an affordable day in the island’s capital of Willemstad. Within walking distance of the cruise port, you’ll find the famous city center with its brightly-colored Dutch Caribbean architecture; the Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge, which swings open with much fanfare when ships come into port; and Willemstad’s floating market, which features fresh fish and local produce along with locally made wares.
Just a 15-minute taxi ride away, you’ll also find the Curacao Sea Aquarium, an affordable place to take the kids for an up-close look at local sea life. Ticket prices for adults are $21, kids ages five-12 are $11, and kids four and under are free. For the price of entry, you’ll see local tropical fish and coral, sea lions, rays, turtles, and even sharks.
Mambo Beach Boulevard is another affordable and fun place to spend your cruise day in Curacao. Here, you can shop local stores or visit a gorgeous protected beach for an entry fee of $3. Beach chair rentals also cost only $3, and you can order food from many local vendors in the area or bring your own. (See also: 10 Secrets to Saving…
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