19 Ways to Save On a Last-Minute Summer Cruise

If you're wishing you had booked a cruise for summer break but life got in the way, it's not too late! These travel hacks can help you surprise your family or sweetheart and save big on a last-minute cruise everyone will enjoy.

First things first. If your goal is saving money on a cruise this summer, don't get your heart set on a single cruise line. Use a travel discount website like Expedia.com or Priceline.com to compare cruise pricing among multiple cruise lines for your desired dates, and you're destined to find the best deal.

Keep your eye out for "kids cruise free promotions" that can help you save considerable sums on your cruise fare. Also remember that MSC Cruises, which boasts popular European itineraries and affordable cruises out of Miami, lets kids ages 11 and under cruise free on many of their itineraries year-round.

Believe it or not, but a travel agent can help you save money on a cruise and score special perks. They can often get you the lowest pricing available, plus access to onboard credits, internet packages, special dining packages, and other benefits that help you save even more.

VacationstoGo.com is a cruise discount website that sells unsold cruise cabins at drastic discounts. While they offer deals all year long, check out their 90-day ticker to save up to 82% off cruises available to book within three months, including many summer dates.

Consider signing up for a flexible travel credit card that lets you earn points you can use to cover part of your trip. For example, the Capital One Venture Rewards lets you earn a big signup bonus and 2x points on each dollar spent. Once you earn rewards, you can cash them in to cover part of a cruise or any other travel expenses charged to your card.

Considering round-trip domestic flights can easily cost $400 per person or more, start your search with cruise ports you can drive to. Even when you factor in the cost of gas and parking your car, you can still save big if you avoid paying for airfare and checked baggage.

Booking a balcony cabin or a suite is always preferred, but you can save money if you're willing to book in inside or ocean view room. You may not spend much time in your cabin anyway, so who cares? Plus, booking a cheaper cabin can free up cash to spend on other components of your trip.

Check out each cruise line's main websites for their ongoing deals. Some may have special drink packages, onboard credits, or discounts available if you book a last-minute trip, but you'll never know unless you take the time to check. Also, consider signing up for cruise line newsletters so you hear about any new deals that come out.

In addition to being flexible when it comes to choosing a cruise line, don't be afraid to consider alternate itineraries as well. Some itineraries may be drastically discounted if they aren't selling as well, which means even more savings for those who take advantage.

Also consider the prospect of booking a "discount" cruise line like MSC Cruises or even Carnival. These cruise lines offer some of the best cruise pricing all year long - especially for families - and you may be surprised to find they offer plenty of luxury and pampering.

If you're worried about forking over the dough for a seven-night cruise, don't forget to check out shorter itineraries from your favorite cruise lines. In the Caribbean, for example, you can book many weekend cruises out of ports in Miami and California - often for huge discounts.

You can buy a pricey beverage package once you're on board your ship but doing so will generally cost you $30 to $50 per day. You can save money by skipping as many alcoholic drinks as you can and drinking free water, tea and coffee in the buffet and main dining room instead.

Some cruise lines will let you match your status from another cruise line to score better perks or savings. MSC Cruises will even let you match your status from another hotel brand like Hilton or World of Hyatt. They also offer most of their Voyager's Club members a 5% discount on cruises or better.

Cruise lines offer their own excursions for convenience, but they are often marked up by 30% or more. If you have the time and some planning skills, try booking your own excursions off the boat. You can save money this way and still get the same experience.

Also consider if your credit card rewards program lets you book excursions with points. If you have a credit card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, for example, you can cash in points for snorkeling excursions, city tours, day trips and more in most cruise ports around the world.

It can be tempting to get off your ship and eat a few fancy meals while in port, but you should try to avoid this if you can. Try to eat all your meals on your cruise ship before you disembark, and you can save money at every stop - even if you do ultimately stop for a snack or a few cocktails while you're off the ship.

Cruise lines don't let you bring your own liquor or beer or board, but a handful will let you bring on a bottle of wine per person. Doing this can help you avoid paying for drinks when you're in the mood for wine, and you can enjoy your beverages in your cabin or out on the pool deck.

If you want to whittle down the cost of your cruise even more, try to avoid buying souvenirs. They only take up space and you may never think about them again. Take pictures instead of paying for souvenirs, and you'll have memories that last a lifetime.

Finally, don't forget that sometimes onboard activities get "cheaper" as your cruise goes on. You may find drastically discounted spa treatments, drink packages or merchandise on board after day three or four of your cruise, so wait it out and see how much you can save.