6 Costly Mistakes Cruise Goers Make

A typical Caribbean cruise starts at around $100 a day per person and includes the room, food and many on-board activities, according to SmarterTravel.com. Those willing to gamble on availability and accommodations could pay even less. In hopes of filling any remaining cabins, cruise lines tend to offer even cheaper deals as the departure date draws near.

Booking a cruise also helps travelers protect themselves against unfavorable exchange rates. For a cruise through Europe, for example, accommodations and meals are paid for in U.S. dollars rather than pricey euros. Making the trip even more affordable, some cruise lines are offering reduced or free airfare, says Stewart Chiron, a cruise industry expert and president of Cruiseguy.com.

But even though cruises can be very budget-friendly, travelers still need to be careful — or else all that savings will float away. Whether you're a veteran cruiser or someone who has never stepped foot on a boat before, here are six costly cruising mistakes to avoid.

1. Booking Direct

Booking a trip directly through a cruise line can cost you. Instead, book through a travel agent who can offer you much lower prices. Large travel agencies buy rooms in bulk at discounted rates, explains Chiron, so when the agencies need to move inventory, agents will often pass along some of the savings.

To find the best deal on any given cruise, compare prices on CruiseCompete.com, recommends Anne Banas, executive editor of SmarterTravel.com. The site allows users to solicit multiple price quotes from agents around the country for the exact sailing dates you request.

2. Forgetting to Monitor Prices

Don't book a cruise and then never think about it again. Instead, monitor the prices until the ship sets sail. Should the cruise lower prices, you (or your travel agent) can call the cruise line and request a discount, says Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor in chief of CruiseCritic.com. While they won't give travelers cash back, they usually offer a free room upgrade or onboard ship credits, which can be put toward spa treatments, beverages and shore excursions.

3. Failing to Book Airfare First

With airfares — and associated fees — getting pricier by the day, it's more important than ever to secure reasonable airfare before you book a cruise. "You don't want to find a great deal on a cruise only to later see airfares are $500 to get you to port," says Genevieve Shaw Brown, senior editor of Travelocity. With more than 20 departure ports in the U.S., travelers should be able to find an affordable plane ticket to one of them. Consider a port like Miami that's near multiple airports, says Brown. With so many flights flying into the region, prices are typically low as a result of competition.

4. Overpaying for Excursions

Half the fun of a cruise is exploring the exotic ports of call. The trouble is, shore excursions can quickly add up to serious money. One way to spend less on land-based activities is to book them through an independent tour operator. Making your own arrangements is often 15% to 20% cheaper than signing up for the cruise line's tour, says CruiseCritic.com's Brown.

There is one risk, though. If you get held up in traffic or some other snafu and return late to the ship, it will leave without you. That's why travelers shouldn't take chances in more complicated destinations like St. Petersburg, Russia, or Alaska. The Caribbean and Hawaii, however, are easy to navigate and flush with competing tour operators.

5. Staying in Touch

Many cruise goers are often pleasantly surprised to discover that their cellphone works while at sea and start chatting away with friends and family. What they don't realize is that they're being charged hefty roaming fees, anywhere from $2.49 to $5.75 a minute, warns Cruiseguy.com's Chiron. The only upside to using your cellphone is that the in-room satellite phone will cost you even more — as much as $10 to $20 a minute, he says. Email isn't any cheaper. Internet charges onboard a cruise can cost about $40 an hour.

6. Assuming Everything Is All-Inclusive

Finally, don't confuse a cruise with an all-inclusive vacation. In addition to the shore excursions, you'll pay extra for beverages and other items. And despite selling themselves to the public as an all-you-can-eat fiesta, many cruise lines, including Norwegian Cruise Line and Celebrity, now charge travelers as much as $30 to eat at alternative restaurants.

Also, don't forget to budget in miscellaneous expenses such as a tip for the wait staff ($10 a day, per person or an added $280 a week for a family of four). And thanks to the high price of oil, cruise lines, including Carnival (CCL), Disney (DIS), and Silversea Cruises, now add a fuel surcharge to cruisers' bills that ranges from $7 to $10 a person per day.

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