By Carey Reilly
Carey Reilly from the Truetrae.com team here! I recently had a chance to visit Disney cruise line’s newest destination, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point on the beautiful island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. We boarded the Disney Magic from Fort Lauderdale, Florida for a 4-day cruise and had an amazing time!
Cruises can get pricey but I have some great strategies to help you save and still have a magical trip.
Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point
The newest port of call, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point is on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. Once you disembark grab one of the complimentary strollers or wagons if you have little ones as it’s about a 15-minute walk along the pier to the island. The beautiful pink sand beaches are among the main attractions, where cruisers can relax on the loungers under colorful umbrellas. These are free and on a first come first serve basis at both the family and adults-only beaches. Parents can also drop their kids off for free to play at Sebastian’s Cove with on-site counselors and splash around at the Rush Out Gush Out water zone. A great place to spot your favorite Disney characters is at the Beach Party Bash, where you can do the limbo with Goofy.
Pick a Port Close By
Whether traveling in a pair or with a larger family you can literally save thousands on airfare, checked luggage fees, car rentals and taxis by sailing out of a port within driving distance to your home. Here are some of the US ports and by the way – they aren’t all in Florida.
– Port Canaveral, Florida
– Fort Lauderdale, Florida
– New Orleans, Louisiana
– Galveston, Texas
– San Diego, California
– Honolulu, Hawaii
Book with a Travel Agent
One of the best ways to save time and money is to book your cruise with a travel agent. Their services are complimentary to travelers, and they can help you find the best itineraries at the lowest price. Kim Anwar from Magic Family Getaways explains how they find deals on cruises, “Agents have the inside scoop of when to book for the lowest price, they also can strategize other opportunities for discounts. Some agents help you avoid making costly non-refundable mistakes and try to get you on-board credits and recommend good insurance policies.” Using a travel agent’s expertise can secure you a smooth and more cost-effective cruise.
Book a 3-Night Cruise and/or Sail Offseason
Choosing a shorter cruise is a great way to save money. Disney offers 3 or 4-night Bahamian cruises out of Fort Lauderdale and Port Canaveral with stops at two of their exclusive ports of call, Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. Spending a day on one of these islands can help you save on the costs of food, beverages, and activities as they are all included. Plus, the ship’s kid’s club and its counselors move over to the island so the kids are taken care of and the parents can hit the beach!
Booking a cruise during the off-season can lead to significant savings. The weeks or months to save the most are typically when the kids go back to school, hurricane season, September, October, and November, and the slower months of January and February. Cruising during these months will not only save you money but the ship will be less crowded too!
Be Efficient and Save
You can lock in the lowest price of an upcoming cruise while onboard your current cruise. Take advantage of Disney’s onboard-only booking, by giving a refundable deposit for your next reservation for a future cruise. Once you select the dates to cruise you will receive 10 percent off your trip. Disney also uses demand-based pricing; as the ship fills up the prices go higher. So the cheapest price for any ship is at the time Disney opens booking for a new sailing. Lock in the price and then your deposit is fully refundable. It’s also important to sign up with your email on Disney’s website to be first in line to receive notification when a ship’s reservations open.
Love spa services? Disney’s Senses and Spa salon is typically less busy when the ship is in port so this is a great time to save on a facial, massage, or hair treatment. Sometimes the savings can be upwards of 20 percent.
Some Disney Choices Can Help You Save
Let’s be real. When you are on a cruise very little time is spent in your cabin. A great way to save is to let go of the idea of getting a room with a view, verandah, or on a top floor. All of those options cost more money. To save up to 35 percent off, let Disney choose your room for you. This is known as a “Guaranteed Rate.” Essentially you give Disney your most preferred category of room and then Disney chooses your room for you but it does come with some restrictions on payment and cancellations.
Consider booking on one of Disney’s older ships. Disney has a fleet of over eight ships, and you can save a significant amount of money sailing one of their older ships like the Magic which was built in 1989. The age of their ships won’t matter to most cruisers as Disney prioritizes restoring their vessels and making sure they are all up-to-date and beautiful.
Individual glasses of wine and beer can quickly add up and tap out your budget. Avoid buying costly cocktails and glasses of wine, and instead, bring your own. Any passenger over the age of 21 on a Disney cruise is allowed to bring up to bottles of wine or six bottles of beer. You can also restock at any port. **Disclosure: The author participated in a press tour, courtesy of Disney.
