Thought I'd never be able to afford anything other than vicarious cruising via UA-cam vlogs, but thanks to your well-thought-out, in-depth reporting on affordable solo cruising, I'll be able to actually book a cruise later this year. Thank you for your service to this country and to cruising!
Great info. I would also add that AARP sells gift certs up to $500 each at 8% discount and you can buy 5/month. You do not have to purchase a membership, just create an account. Use a cash back CC to pay and get additional discount.
I like the way everything lines up for you, for what you want, in the packages that they have to offer, and the choices and rebates sound great! Yeah, I would also look for laundry on a cruise ship! Beautiful background, by the way!! Hope to catch you soon, Kevin, and thanks for sharing!!Take care, and enjoy!!🤗🛳🌅🌺
I’m heading on a transatlantic cruise from Miami to Barcelona in 2 weeks on virgin voyages. $1381 total for everything for 15 nights in a solo inside cabin with a $600 bar tab. Wi-fi and gratuities included.
@@BetterNeurodivergentTravel I booked this deal while sailing on last years transatlantic cruise. They seem to offer some pretty good deals for future cruises book while your on their ships
Something that saves money but not directly involving the cruise itself is if you drive to the cruises, and you get a hotel the night before, some hotels will allow you to park your car with them for the length of the cruise at no additional cost. Also, i believe the New Orleans cruise port parking garage allows Veterans to park for free for the length of the cruise. I know this is niche for people who drive instead of fly to cruise ports.
Awesome pointers! Never heard of cruiseplum, so I will definitely check them out. Question: which cruise line has the best loyalty programs if you are not a gambler and do not like the Caribbean? I have sailed in the Arctic with Hurtigruten and I really love their “exploration” style of cruising. But I don’t think they have a loyalty program or perks.
KEVIN! Thank you so much. I watched your Cruise Plum video last time but had difficulty sorting through it all. With this video you offer detail which will be very helpful to this soon-to-be solo cruiser. I appreciate these sorts of helpful videos very, very much. Thanks! Rhonda 🙂
Great videos! My wife and I join the Ruby in LA tomorrow for the trip up to Vancouver. We got a casino rate of 500 dollars with a 200 onboard credit total for a balcony cabin.
Just found your videos. Thanks for the cruiseplum suggestion. It's weird though. I clicked Reykjavik for 2025 and none the NCL cruises came up. Did a different search for a Mediterranean cruise and when I went to the cruise site, the price wasn't even close to what cruise plum shows. 😯
Princess lets you bring 2 750ml bottles of wine per cabin. Some people have even mentioned they could bring an additional bottle per person in ports as well.
Just to be fair, the $60 per day that you mentioned for drinks on Princess also covers your gratuities and wi-fi for 1 device. (Plus a couple of other items) Still likely more than you might spend, but something to consider.
I just recently found your videos and I've been watching a bunch of them. I'm a single guy in my early 40's, and I'd love to be able to travel more. Thanks for sharing tips and tricks about how to try to get good deals. Hopefully I can get money saved up and travel more in 2025. Unfortunately I have a cane so I worry that all the walking might be too much. But living on a boat for a month or two sounds fun!
Good video. I get onboard credit with most lines by owning stock. I also often book through Costco that gives Costco credit of about 10% of my cruise price. Costco often also includes some additional benefits such as gratuities, beverages, and Wi-Fi. I use those along with the future cruise programs through the cruise line and can book while on board.
Love your videos! Question. We love Princess. We live in Vegas, not big gamblers, but if we gambled enough to get the 3 free offers for future cruises, are they just available cruises chosen by Princess or free to pick where we want to cruise? Thank you!
I was wondering if Rakaten would allow me to still receive the cash back if I book through Cruise-plum? Probably so I would think. Rakuten would be able to connect with cruise-plum.
You should also add shareholder benefits, RCL, CCL, and NCLH all give you onboard credit for owning 100 shares, depending on length of cruise up to $250. It’s a bigger commitment for RCL, but if you cruise with them often, CCL and NCL will payback really quickly
No..but I have interchangeable merino wool pieces that work in all climates. I usually buy a $20 jacket off amazon if im going somewhere cold and donate it when Im done.
"If you're going to gamble and lose that money anyways, you might as well get a free cruise out of it...." Lol. That's definitely a positive spin on it. Can't argue with it though. Just don't bet the farm anywhere -- I do think being able to book 3 free cruises every time certainly makes it worthwhile if you're gonna cruise anyways. I'm *gambling averse* , but Hmm, kinda seems like a much cheaper way to go cruising if that's the objective... Really love that info. Cheers!...from North Vancouver
In March on Sun Princess I had $800 in casino charges, cashed out $200 for cash while on excursions and then left with $665 in winnings. I received $500 casino credit offer the last night of the cruise and then a few weeks later started getting free cruise offers. I have 2 more free cruises for July and August. I’ll play in the ship casinos again to get more offers but it doesn’t appear that you have to leave a loser to get offers.
I just saw a video of someone who has booked a year worth of cruises based on gambling on only two ships. One of which she won $800. I don’t think you have to lose. You do need to earn “credits” which is based off of variety of things, including how much time you spend gambling. The cruises were on Royal Caribbean and carnival. She said that RC rules are straightforward and easy to understand what you need to do to get a free cruise. Carnivals were not as clearly outlined.
Dude! Love your videos. Been bin watching them. I also got links to comps on cruises from your talks. So a huge Ty Have a coffee on me. I have a free Princess cruise belcony for up to 12 days for two to use. Hope to meet you on the boat. Take care.
You usually can't bring plastic bottles of beverages onboard during embarkation. Do they not care if you bring them onboard when you're at a port stop? (as you did for your coffee creamers...or did you just get lucky through security coming back onboard?)
@@PatrickWagzPrincess lets you bring 2 750ml bottles of wine per cabin. Some people have even mentioned they could bring an additional bottle per person in ports as well.
Thought I'd never be able to afford anything other than vicarious cruising via UA-cam vlogs, but thanks to your well-thought-out, in-depth reporting on affordable solo cruising, I'll be able to actually book a cruise later this year. Thank you for your service to this country and to cruising!
Yay!!!!!!!!😀
You do such a great job explaining everything. Thank you!
Thanks, Patty!
Great info. I would also add that AARP sells gift certs up to $500 each at 8% discount and you can buy 5/month. You do not have to purchase a membership, just create an account. Use a cash back CC to pay and get additional discount.
oh that’s great info! thanks 🙏
Well, that was fun. Now I’ll be spending the rest of the day chasing down all those bunny trails. Time well spent. Thanks.
haha! that was my goal! 🙏🙌
Excellent suggestions. I did a blog on 10 ways to get free money for cruises, but you came up with ideas I had not thought of. Thanks
I need to check that one out! I must have missed it.
@@30AndAWakeUp Let me know what you think. It’s on my web page.
Brushing up thank you for the tutorial getting ready to hit the high seas. Have a beautiful day.
No problem!
You have been so helpful:) I booked my first cruise and paid so much because I had a very small window of opportunity. That will never happen again😆
that’s good to hear!!! 🙏
I like the way everything lines up for you, for what you want, in the packages that they have to offer, and the choices and rebates sound great! Yeah, I would also look for laundry on a cruise ship! Beautiful background, by the way!! Hope to catch you soon, Kevin, and thanks for sharing!!Take care, and enjoy!!🤗🛳🌅🌺
Thanks, Maxine! 🙏
Nice to see a website that doesn't try and sell you something or share your info. Thanks for sharing Kev!
yeah it’s my fave for sure 👍
Thanks for lots of new ways to get Cruise discounts! Hope to see you on board one day!
no problem 🙏
I’m heading on a transatlantic cruise from Miami to Barcelona in 2 weeks on virgin voyages. $1381 total for everything for 15 nights in a solo inside cabin with a $600 bar tab. Wi-fi and gratuities included.
that’s an awesome deal! 🙏🙌
Did you find this deal direct or thru a third party? Sounds awesome
@@BetterNeurodivergentTravel I booked this deal while sailing on last years transatlantic cruise. They seem to offer some pretty good deals for future cruises book while your on their ships
Something that saves money but not directly involving the cruise itself is if you drive to the cruises, and you get a hotel the night before, some hotels will allow you to park your car with them for the length of the cruise at no additional cost.
Also, i believe the New Orleans cruise port parking garage allows Veterans to park for free for the length of the cruise.
I know this is niche for people who drive instead of fly to cruise ports.
That’s great info. I’ll have to check both of those out.
I have some friends that do that. The live in Oklahoma and drive the Galveston TX.
Thanks for the tips. Have a cheap solo mini cruise at the start of May now ❤
Sweet!!!
Just got back from a 9 day cruise planning the next one. Thanks for the info on cruise plum.
It’s the best!
..im going to use all your tips to book my 2nd 3rd 4th cruise ...hee hee Awesome tips...thanks for sharing 😊❤
Glad it was helpful!
Awesome pointers! Never heard of cruiseplum, so I will definitely check them out. Question: which cruise line has the best loyalty programs if you are not a gambler and do not like the Caribbean? I have sailed in the Arctic with Hurtigruten and I really love their “exploration” style of cruising. But I don’t think they have a loyalty program or perks.
i’d say probably royal caribbean
I went to Svalbard and Antarctica with Hurtigruten. I got a huge upgrade on the second trip. Are you using their website?
I am sailing from Mauritius to the Middle East on NCL in December. Cruiseplum will help a lot with that.
Kevin’s tips will save me for sure 💪
CruisePlum really appreciate this tip and all your tips, thanks! ❤👍👌👏
it’s the best!!!
KEVIN! Thank you so much. I watched your Cruise Plum video last time but had difficulty sorting through it all. With this video you offer detail which will be very helpful to this soon-to-be solo cruiser. I appreciate these sorts of helpful videos very, very much. Thanks! Rhonda 🙂
Glad it helped! 🙏🙌
I’ve never been on a cruise but still have Cruise Plum bookmarked because of you. 😅 It’s great just looking at the deals to be had!😊
yeah, it’s fun. I like sorting it by length of cruise and seeing how much those really long ones are and where they go! It’s fun to window shop!
Hey Kevin, you do a lot of back to back cruises. Is there a tool/filter on cruiseplumb to do this? Hoping you’re well.
yeah just search by individual ship
Great videos! My wife and I join the Ruby in LA tomorrow for the trip up to Vancouver. We got a casino rate of 500 dollars with a 200 onboard credit total for a balcony cabin.
Sweet!!! See you soon!
Thank you for your time, I found this very intersting.
Thanks for watching!!! 🙏
Thank you so much. Very helpful
Glad it was helpful! 🙏
Very informative! Thanks so much! 😉
awww thank you 😍🙏
Love Huatulco! Excellent video. Saving it!
Glad you enjoyed it! 🙏🙏🙏
This was awesome THANK YOU
Thanks for watching! 🙏
EXCELLENT video. Even though I’ve done more than 100 cruises I’ve yet to find Ty “cruise plum “ … looking forward!
Cruise Plum is the best.
Just found your videos. Thanks for the cruiseplum suggestion. It's weird though. I clicked Reykjavik for 2025 and none the NCL cruises came up. Did a different search for a Mediterranean cruise and when I went to the cruise site, the price wasn't even close to what cruise plum shows. 😯
hmmmm…interesting…maybe there is a lag…or they are sold out
Thanks, Kevin!
🙏
Wow, Kevin, if I’m not mistaken your “initial” cruise journey was to be for a year. I think it’s been more than a year. Awesome!!!!
i had to take a couple months off to help my mother with some stuff ☺️🙏
Thanks!
You bet! 🙏
Is it true that cruise ships will allow a passenger to bring one bottle of wine onboard?
it varies cruise line to cruise line
Carnival and Royal do, I don't know which others, if any.
Princess lets you bring 2 750ml bottles of wine per cabin. Some people have even mentioned they could bring an additional bottle per person in ports as well.
Just to be fair, the $60 per day that you mentioned for drinks on Princess also covers your gratuities and wi-fi for 1 device. (Plus a couple of other items) Still likely more than you might spend, but something to consider.
good point
I just recently found your videos and I've been watching a bunch of them. I'm a single guy in my early 40's, and I'd love to be able to travel more. Thanks for sharing tips and tricks about how to try to get good deals. Hopefully I can get money saved up and travel more in 2025.
Unfortunately I have a cane so I worry that all the walking might be too much. But living on a boat for a month or two sounds fun!
it is a lot of fun!
Greetings to my beautiful Mexico 🇲🇽🤠 from your beautiful US 🇺🇲
Kevin, love the way you pronounce Oaxaca 👏, pronounce the L in HuatuLco
☺️🙌 thank you 🙏
Great info! Thanks for the tip.
You bet! 🙏
Is it cheaper to book last minute cruises or cruises that are a year out or more?
it depends to be honest….it can be but varies from cruise to cruise
Good video. I get onboard credit with most lines by owning stock. I also often book through Costco that gives Costco credit of about 10% of my cruise price. Costco often also includes some additional benefits such as gratuities, beverages, and Wi-Fi. I use those along with the future cruise programs through the cruise line and can book while on board.
Very cool! Thanks for that info. Definitely going to go check out Costco booking.
Love your videos! Question. We love Princess. We live in Vegas, not big gamblers, but if we gambled enough to get the 3 free offers for future cruises, are they just available cruises chosen by Princess or free to pick where we want to cruise? Thank you!
you can pick the cruises you want. Sometimes there is a time frame limit though but it’s usually within a year.
@@30AndAWakeUp Thank you so much!
THANK YOU!! EXCELLENT VIDEO
thank you 🙏
Thank you for the suggestions
thanks for watching 🙏
I was wondering if Rakaten would allow me to still receive the cash back if I book through Cruise-plum? Probably so I would think. Rakuten would be able to connect with cruise-plum.
You can’t book through CruisePlum…it’s just a search engine :)
@@30AndAWakeUp lol I’ve checked out cruise plum never tried to book through it. That explains why…you can’t haha 😂
You did not mention that if you own a hundred shares of a cruise line they give you Cruise credit when you sale.
yeah, I forgot that one but it’s in my how to find cheap cruises vid
You should also add shareholder benefits, RCL, CCL, and NCLH all give you onboard credit for owning 100 shares, depending on length of cruise up to $250. It’s a bigger commitment for RCL, but if you cruise with them often, CCL and NCL will payback really quickly
Yeah, I definitely should have mentioned those!
Do you have the 18inch or 20inch Level 8 carry on?
20
👍🤩💝Thank you. This is valuable & helpful info.
Thanks LA 🙏
Do you have a home port where you keep extra stuff like sweaters cold weather gear etc…?
No..but I have interchangeable merino wool pieces that work in all climates. I usually buy a $20 jacket off amazon if im going somewhere cold and donate it when Im done.
Thanks for sharing this great info! I should add Tampa to a watch list since it is so close. I was just in Puerto Escondido, very beautiful! 🏝️
Oh very cool! I love that place!
Enjoy Astoria today Kevin!
Thanks!
Thanks for this. Is there an option to choose F&B plans on Cruiseplum?
i dont think so
Beautiful
Thank you! Cheers! 🥂
"If you're going to gamble and lose that money anyways, you might as well get a free cruise out of it...." Lol. That's definitely a positive spin on it. Can't argue with it though. Just don't bet the farm anywhere -- I do think being able to book 3 free cruises every time certainly makes it worthwhile if you're gonna cruise anyways. I'm *gambling averse* , but Hmm, kinda seems like a much cheaper way to go cruising if that's the objective...
Really love that info.
Cheers!...from North Vancouver
Yeah, I meant people that are going to gamble at other places like Vegas anyway :)
In March on Sun Princess I had $800 in casino charges, cashed out $200 for cash while on excursions and then left with $665 in winnings. I received $500 casino credit offer the last night of the cruise and then a few weeks later started getting free cruise offers. I have 2 more free cruises for July and August. I’ll play in the ship casinos again to get more offers but it doesn’t appear that you have to leave a loser to get offers.
I just saw a video of someone who has booked a year worth of cruises based on gambling on only two ships. One of which she won $800. I don’t think you have to lose. You do need to earn “credits” which is based off of variety of things, including how much time you spend gambling. The cruises were on Royal Caribbean and carnival. She said that RC rules are straightforward and easy to understand what you need to do to get a free cruise. Carnivals were not as clearly outlined.
I found rakuten a while back but landed 10% when I booked!
sweet!!!
Dude! Love your videos. Been bin watching them.
I also got links to comps on cruises from your talks. So a huge Ty
Have a coffee on me.
I have a free Princess cruise belcony for up to 12 days for two to use. Hope to meet you on the boat.
Take care.
awesome!!!’ 👏 😎
Morning Kevin!
Good morning 🌞
@@30AndAWakeUp It's even sunny in northern Indiana! Chilly, but sunny! 🌄
You usually can't bring plastic bottles of beverages onboard during embarkation. Do they not care if you bring them onboard when you're at a port stop? (as you did for your coffee creamers...or did you just get lucky through security coming back onboard?)
I’ve never had an issue bringing plastic bottler onboard with Princess.
Hey buddy, You need to be my travel agent !
ha!
Cruisep,um good if you want basic fare, many lines offer drink packages or all inclusive packages, doesn't seem helpful for those options.
yeah for sure…but if you know you’re cruise lines package price, it’s pretty easy to just add that to the cost per day.
Come on Master Chief.....Norfolk=Nawfuk!
i was stationed there….Im not from there! 🤣
@@30AndAWakeUp Love your videos, super helpful, thank you for keeping us up to date!
Dam we are a family of 5! No luck!
👍
Too bad they won't allow me to bring on My own wine. LOL
haha!
@@30AndAWakeUp Carnival and Royal allow each adult to bring one 750ml bottle of wine. I'm sure other lines also do, but I don't know specifically.
@@PatrickWagzPrincess lets you bring 2 750ml bottles of wine per cabin. Some people have even mentioned they could bring an additional bottle per person in ports as well.
@@MakingLemonadeCreations Oh, thank you. I have been considering my first Princess cruise.
Thanks!
thanks, Mark! 🙏