5 Cruise Money-Saving Secrets We Actually Use (That Most People Don’t Know About)
We love cruising — but we love cruising smart even more.
After multiple sailings across Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Carnival our family has picked up some genuinely useful money-saving tricks along the way. Not the obvious stuff you read everywhere like “book early” or “skip the drink package.” We mean the real insider tips that can save you hundreds of dollars on your next sailing.
Here are 5 cruise money-saving secrets our family actually uses — and the results speak for themselves.
1. 💰 The Price Guarantee Trick That Saved Us $300
This one is so good we had to put it first.
Most major cruise lines offer a price guarantee when you book — meaning if the price drops before your sailing date you’re entitled to the difference. But here’s the thing nobody tells you:
The cruise line will not call you. You have to call them.
We booked our upcoming Christmas Carnival cruise back in April. A few months later a really great sale came out — so I called Carnival, gave them my booking number and the new promotional code I’d found, and asked them to apply it to our reservation.
We saved $300 USD off our total cruise fare. Just like that.
The agent on the phone was incredibly helpful — she even let me try multiple promotional codes I’d found and we went with whichever one gave us the most savings.
Here’s exactly how to do it:
- Book your cruise early to secure your cabin
- Watch for sales and promotions as they come out — sign up for the cruise line’s email list and follow their social media
- When a better promotion appears call the cruise line directly
- Give them your booking number and the promotional code
- Ask them to apply it to your existing reservation
- You can call back again if an even better promotion comes out later
The key is you have to be proactive. The cruise line won’t do this for you — but they absolutely will apply a better price when you call and ask. This works with Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and most major cruise lines that offer price guarantees.
💡 Our Tip: Set a calendar reminder to check cruise line promotions every few weeks between booking and sailing. Major sales happen around holidays, Wave Season (January-March), and Black Friday. One phone call could save you hundreds.
2. 🍺 Ask for the Bucket of Beers Deal on Royal Caribbean
If you enjoy a cold beer on your cruise this one is for you — and most people have no idea it exists.
Royal Caribbean offers a bucket of beers deal — buy 4 get 1 free. You just have to ask for it.
That’s the trick right there. It’s not advertised loudly and it won’t appear on your app or in the daily newsletter. But walk up to a bar, ask for a bucket of beers, and they’ll fill a bucket with ice and your beers of choice.
A few things to know:
- Not all beers qualify — there are some exclusions so ask your bartender which brands are included
- It works at most bars on the ship
- The bucket keeps them cold which is a bonus on hot sea days by the pool
- It’s a great option for couples or groups who want to enjoy drinks without committing to a full drink package
💡 Our Tip: This is one of our favourite ways to enjoy drinks on Royal Caribbean without paying for a full beverage package we’d never use enough to justify. A few buckets over the course of a 7-day sailing and you’ve saved a meaningful amount compared to individual drink prices.
3. 📱 MyVegas Rewards App — Free Onboard Credit From Your Couch
This one sounds too good to be true. It isn’t.
MyVegas Rewards is a free app where you play casino-style games — and earn real world rewards. No real money involved. You just play, accumulate loyalty points, and redeem them for actual cruise perks.
We’ve personally cashed in points for:
- Free onboard credit to use however we like on the ship
- Casino credits — great if you enjoy the casino onboard
- Cruise discounts — and yes, there are even free cruises available
The redemption process is straightforward — you request your reward through the app and receive a code to apply to your booking.
💡 Our Tip: Download the app now and start playing even if your next cruise is months away. Points accumulate over time — the earlier you start the more rewards you’ll have available when you need them. It costs nothing and takes 10-15 minutes of casual playing to earn points. We play while watching TV in the evenings.
4. 🛏️ The RoyalUp Bidding Program for Cabin Upgrades
We are firm believers that an interior cabin is perfectly wonderful for a cruise vacation. When you’re exploring ports, attending shows, lounging by the pool, and enjoying dinner — you’re barely in your cabin anyway.
So we book interior to lock in the best price — and then we use Royal Caribbean’s RoyalUp program to bid on upgrades.
Here’s how it works:
- After booking your interior cabin you’ll receive an email invitation to bid on higher cabin categories
- You set the maximum amount you’re willing to pay per person for the upgrade
- Royal Caribbean reviews bids as the sailing approaches and awards upgrades based on availability
- If your bid wins your credit card is charged and your cabin is upgraded
- If it doesn’t win you sail in your original interior cabin — no charge, no problem
We have won ocean view cabins and for a fraction of what we would have paid to book them outright.
A balcony in Alaska? Absolutely worth bidding on. Watching glaciers calve from your private balcony with a morning coffee is one of the most magical cruise experiences we’ve ever had.
💡 Our Tip: Bid on what genuinely excites you but don’t count on winning. Book your interior cabin fully prepared to enjoy it — then treat the RoyalUp bid as a fun bonus possibility. Set your maximum bid at an amount that feels like a great deal to YOU and let it go. If you win — amazing. If you don’t — you’re still on a cruise. 🚢
5. 🎰 Casino Programs for Free Cruises — Yes, They’re Real
We want to talk about this one because we see a lot of skepticism online — and we can confirm from personal experience that casino loyalty programs that reward you with free cruises are absolutely real.
Our Parents have sailed on four free cruises with Holland America through their casino program. Four. The only cost was port fees.
Here’s the basic concept:
- When you play in the casino on a paid cruise the cruise line tracks your play
- Once you reach a certain level of casino activity you become eligible for complimentary future sailings
- The cruise line covers your fare — you pay port fees and any onboard expenses
A few important things to understand:
- Every cruise line’s program is different — the requirements, thresholds, and rewards vary
- You do need to reach a qualifying level of casino activity on a paid sailing first
- This works best for guests who genuinely enjoy casino play — it’s not worth gambling money you wouldn’t otherwise spend just to earn a free cruise
- Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and most major lines have some version of this program
💡 Our Tip: If you enjoy the casino on your cruises ask the casino host about their loyalty program on your next sailing. They’re usually happy to explain how it works and what benefits are available. You may already be closer to a reward than you think.
The Bottom Line on Cruise Savings
The cruise lines are not going to hand you these savings — you have to know to ask, know where to look, and be willing to make a phone call or download an app.
But the effort is absolutely worth it. Between price guarantee savings, bucket deals, MyVegas rewards, RoyalUp upgrades, and casino programs our family has saved thousands of dollars across our cruises over the years.
Every dollar saved on the cruise itself is a dollar available for an excursion, a specialty dinner, or a souvenir that your kids will remember forever.
Cruise smart. Save more. Sail often. 🚢
— Kevin, Angie, Taylor and Cassidy
Family Adventures Tool Kit
