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When taking a traditional "road trip" or flying to a vacation destination, expenses can add up quickly. Even a relatively inexpensive motel will usually cost around $50/night, and eating in restaurants is difficult to do for less than $5.00 per person per meal. A typical couple will spend over $80 a day just on food and lodging. Add in fuel costs, airline tickets, car rental, and the price of vacation activities such as tours, museum visits, and park admission, and the cost begins to soar.

While cruises have traditionally been considered "luxury" vacations, they are actually much less expensive than the typical couple or family trip. Cruising does have many drawbacks, but price is not one of them. In fact, a budget cruise is to travel what a mobile home is to housing- an affordable alternative for those who don't have much to spend.

Web sites like CruiseCheap, eCruises, and AmericanDiscountCruises offer deals that make cruises the most affordable way to travel. If you're willing to take an inside-facing cabin and forgo extras like shore excursions, then going on a cruise will save you hundreds of dollars on your next vacation.

As an example, consider a deal offered today by CruiseCheap. An eight night Eastern Caribbean cruise is available for only $400 per person. Because food is included in the price, that means a couple would spend only $100 for both food and lodging.

The $100/day quote above is greater than the $80/night food and lodging estimate for a typical "road trip," however, that $80/day was assuming the average person spends only $15/day on food. That means pinching pennies by eating fast food an/or packing groceries. On a cruise ship, however, the food included with the price of the cruise is equivalent to that available in an expensive restaurant. The meals available on a cruise ship are the kind that would cost at least $10-$50 per person per meal.

The cruise price also includes entertainment. Nightly shows include comedy acts, magicians, Broadway-style shows, and musical acts. There are also activities such as trivia games, karaoke, and dancing. None of the clubs on board a cruise ship have "cover charges" so if you feel like going dancing or listening to the karaoke acts, you can do so for free, regardless of whether or not you want to order a drink.

Remember that going on a cruise is only a value if you make smart choices. There will be plenty of temptations to spend more money. Once you arrive at your port of call, tour guides will want to charge you for a sightseeing tour and vendor will try to hawk a variety of goods. However, if you don't mind walking when you explore the city and you know how to say "no," you can keep most of your money in your pocket.

There are also plenty of ways to spend money on the ship. Various shops sell souvenirs, and although tea, coffee, juice, and water are available with meals, alcoholic beverages, specialty coffees, and soft drinks cost extra. Most cruise ships also have a casino as well as opportunities to play bingo. Throughout the cruise, staff members will take pictures of you, which you can purchase later. Booking a cruise is only a good value if you can avoid these financial traps.

Learn more about this author, Raven Lebeau.
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