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Going on a cruise can be a lot of fun. You set sail, enjoy the beautiful ocean views, island hop, explore different places, and just have a blast! But of course, cruises aren’t free or are they? Sure, going on a cruise can cost you a lot of money. But, there’s ways to enjoy a cruise to Mexico even if you’re on a budget.

We actually got our cruise fully paid for with credit card points. Find out tips and tricks on how you can get your free cruise too. 

Related: A FREE 5 NIGHT CRUISE WITH CREDIT CARD POINTS

We used our credit card points to pay for all costs of a 5 night Carnival Cruise to Mexico. The total cost for the cruise came about to be almost $1,000. We were able to apply our credit card points to cover the full $1,000. This meant that we got a FREE 5 night cruise trip!

Just because we got a free cruise trip didn’t mean we planned on blowing a lot of money on the trip. We only ended up spending $200 for the full 5 night cruise which went to two different islands.

If you’re planning to go on one, there’s a few tips that I’ll share so that you can also have a blast without breaking the bank.

1 Save on Beverages

If you have never been on a cruise, be warned that you will be bombarded with drinks (alcohol, sodas, coffee) everywhere! The downside is, it’s not free! You’re going to have to pay for every single drink and it can really add up.

To save money on drinks, you’ve got to be prepared.

Cruise lines may usually offer a drink package which allow you to drink cocktails, coffee, sodas, all at a cost. It can be about $50 per person/day. That can easily tack on $250 per person for a 5 day cruise trip.

If possible, skip the drink package.

What you can do instead is bring your own wine or soda on board.

Drinks To Bring On Carnival

• 1 750 ml bottle of wine per person
• 12 sealed cans per person
• Cannot bring on water

Different cruise lines have their own set of rules regarding what you can bring on ship. It’s important to check their rules before deciding to bring your own drinks on board. The last thing you want to happen is have it confiscated.

For Carnival, we skipped the drink package and brought on 2 of our wine bottles and a case of soda. Since, we couldn’t bring water, we ordered some to the room.

Avoid The Corkage Fee

One thing to keep in mind when bringing your own wine is how to avoid the annoying “Corkage Fee”.

Whatever you do, don’t bring your wine bottle to dinner at one of the cruise ship’s main formal dining halls. They’re going to charge you a fee. It can be anywhere from $14-$15.

What you can do instead is, bring the wine to any of their informal dining options so they won’t charge you.

Check For Drink Specials

When you’re on the ship, you’ll most likely get an itinerary booklet. It’s going to have all the day’s events, specials, entertainment, and more. Check it out, it’s going to have some great things in there.

Some days, they’ll even have specials for drinks.

For example, one day Carnival was running a special on beers for 50%. Instead of a $6 beer, we got them for $3. You can save the most on drinks if you find those specials.

Cost: $15 for beers

Overall, you can save hundreds by bringing your own wine, avoiding the corkage fee, and looking for deals on drinks.

2 Free Dining

Another way you can end up spending money when you don’t have to is by paying for dining at one of the specialty restaurants.

Why spend money on the food when there’s tons of free dining options?

Remember when I mentioned the little itinerary booklet with all the specials, deals, and events? It’s also a good reference tool to find out which restaurants cost money.

If you want to save some money, make sure you avoid the restaurants that charge you.

On Carnival, there were so many free dining options to choose from.

• Main Dining Room
• Lido Restaurant (Buffet)
• Pizza Pirate – Open 24 hours, fresh pizza
• Guy’s Burger Joint – Customized burgers
• Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que – BBQ
• Bluelguana Cantina – Mexican food
• Fresh Creations – Salad bar
• Pasta Bella – Pastas
• Swirls – 24/7 Frozen yogurt
• Carnival Delie – Deli sandwiches
• SeaDogs – Hot dogs
• Off The Grill – Burgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, chicken tenders, and fries
• Room Service – A lot of free items to choose from like, continental breakfast, sandwiches, salads, desserts, and more.

There were so many free dining options to choose from, we didn’t have time to eat at all the restaurants.

3 Free Events

The itinerary on Carnival Cruise Line was ridiculous, in a good way! Literally every hour, there’s always something going on. You definitely won’t be bored.

If you’re not careful, this is another way you can easily spend money. They have a lot of free events/shows/and entertainment. Some of the events do cost money so just be careful.

Some events that could cost money is the poker, whiskey tasting, spa treatments, and so much more.

We avoided all the events that had a charge except one which was Bingo. We paid $15 for 3 tickets and ended up winning $5 back from a free scratcher they gave out.

Tip: If you want to play Bingo, wait till later on in the trip because the prize amount will increase significantly

Overall, all the events were enjoyable. There were comedy shows, evening performances, trivia, and more. We had so much fun! Carnival’s entertainment was awesome!

Cost: $15 on Bingo for 3 tickets

4 Land Ho’-Day 1 on Land

Once you hit land, you’re probably going to explore the island. Again, you could end up spending a lot if you book tons of excursions.

Instead of booking those expensive packages, explore the island on your own. Go on an adventure.

You’d be surprised how much fun you could have!

Rent a Scooter in Cozumel, Mexico

Our first stop was Cozumel, Mexico. We rented a motorized scooter and paid $35 for the rental and insurance all included. We also negotiated with the renter, we could’ve easily spent double had we not haggled.

Cost: $35 for scooter rental

Riding around in the scooter was so much fun!

If you’re ever in Cozumel, try it out.

When you get off the dock, there will be a line of businesses along the street that rent scooters. Talk to a few of the vendors and find the best deal. That’s the good part about Mexico, you’ll get far with haggling.

Once you get your scooter, the vendor can give you a map or directions to get around Cozumel. It’s really not hard at all. It was actually pretty safe too. There’s a separate pathway for scooters far from the main road which makes riding around much safer and very scenic.

We zipped around Cozumel, ate at a local restaurant, bought some souvenirs, went snorkeling in Playa Palancar (Beach), and headed back to the ship in the late afternoon.

Cost: $24 consisting of $10 for Tacos, $10 for sunglasses and $4 magnets at a local store

Go On Your Own Snorkeling Expedition

You don’t have to pay for a snorkeling expedition, you can just do it yourself. Plus, a lot of the paid expeditions will bring everyone to the same beach which makes it really crowded. You can easily go off on your own adventure and find different beaches in Cozumel that’s not as packed.

When we got to Playa Palancar, we whipped out our own snorkeling gear and checked out the fishes/lobsters in the water. We had our own snorkeling expedition!

You can basically have your own snorkeling fun for free.

One thing to keep in mind is, if you’re on the beach you will most likely have to pay for beach chairs and umbrellas.

We paid a fee of $10 to rent chairs and a shared umbrella. We didn’t mind since we got to stay out of the sun and leave our belongings on the chairs. 

Cost: $10 Rental Beach Chairs and Umbrella 

Skip The Beach Umbrella and Chair Fee

So, of course you could always save that $10 and skip the beach chair and umbrella. Or you could get it for free!

After a couple of hours of snorkeling, we decided to eat at the restaurant that sat right on the beach. They were offering free beach chairs and an umbrella if you ordered something from them.

We ended up ordering a fajita platter and soda for a little snack before we headed back to the ship.

Cost: $15 Fajita Platter and Soda

Tip: If you plan on eating by the beach, check to see if they offer free beach chairs and umbrellas. That way, you don’t have to pay unnecessarily.

Check Out The Small Shops Along The Road

On the way back to the cruise port, we stopped by a coconut stand on the side of the road to get a coconut drink! It was the best coconut drink I ever had. The gentleman made it fresh on the spot! 

Cost: $6 Coconut drink with rum added (Regular coconut drink $3)

There were a few shops along the road from Playa Palancar going back to the ship.

They sold things from beautiful hand woven blankets, clothes, souvenirs, and fresh coconut drinks. It’s definitely worth checking out.

5 Day 2 on Land

If you’re on a 4-5 night cruise, chances are you’ll be stopping off at more than 1 port.

Our second stop in Mexico was Progreso.

We did so much in Cozumel that we wanted to just take it easy in Progreso.

Take a Free Shuttle To The Beach

When you get off the ship, there will be free shuttles available to take you to the nearest beach called Playa Puerto Progreso.

Once you get off the free shuttle, all you need to do is walk 5 minutes to the beach. It’s very close by.

The beach of Progreso is actually very laid back. It wasn’t really crowded, the water was a warm turquoise color, the sand was nice and soft, overall it was a nice beach.

Get Free Beach Chairs and Umbrella

Just like most beach areas, those chairs and umbrella’s aren’t free.

Walk along the beach and try to haggle with different vendors to see what they offer.

Some may offer free beach chairs and an umbrella if you order from their restaurant. That’s what we did.

The great part is, you don’t have to step foot into the restaurant. It’s close by the beach so the waiter will come to you, take your order, and bring you food / drinks. It’s actually very nice to hang out right on the beach and enjoy some delicious fried fish and drinks.

Overall, we did splurge a little bit at this particular place because we wanted to enjoy our scrumptious fried fish by the water and drinks. We ended up spending $50, $20 for the fish dish, $20 for drinks, and $10 went towards tip and tax. Overall, I don’t regret it since it was our last land day before going back on the cruise ship. 

Cost: $50 Lunch/Drinks on the beach

After our beach day we were headed back towards the shuttle and went through the market. We picked up 2 magnets for $5 for souvenirs. 

Cost: $5 for Souvenirs

Once we got back on the cruise ship, we enjoyed one more day of being on the cruise ship since we were sailing back to our home port. It was sad to have the trip come to an end. 

6 Debarkation 

If you ever go on any Carnival cruise trip, be prepared to have a lot of fun. The best part about cruises are that you can have a great time without spending a lot of money.

Don’t fall into the trap thinking that a few dollars spent here and there isn’t much. It can really add up.

Once your trip comes to an end, you’re going to get an overall bill for everything you purchased while on the cruise.

If you were mindful and didn’t overspend, then the total shouldn’t be shocking.

Ours came out to under $1,000, which we paid for fully using credit card points. We also ended up spending $200 cash in total for a 5 night cruise, which isn’t too shabby I’d say.

One thing I need to mention is try saving some money for your cabin steward. They do such an amazing job and getting your room nice and clean all day, it seems. They definitely deserve a nice tip. We tipped our steward $25, however I think he deserved much more than that. I’m going to have to increase my budget for our next steward.

Cost: $25 Tip for cabin steward

Total Spent:

• $15 for beers
• $15 on Bingo for 3 tickets
• $35 for scooter rental
• $24 consisting of $10 for Tacos, $10 for sunglasses and $4 magnets at a local store
• $10 Rental Beach Chairs and Umbrella 
• $15 Fajita Platter and Soda
• $6 Coconut drink with rum added (Regular coconut drink $3)
• $50 Lunch/drinks on the beach
• $5 for Souvenirs
• $25 Tip for cabin steward
• TOTAL $200

Budget Friendly Cruise Tips:

• Bring your own case of sodas/wine and purchase the cruise’s water package 
• Avoid the corkage fee by avoiding bringing your own wine to formal dining areas
• Avoid purchasing the cruise line’s drink package, it can tack on additional $280-$300 per person
• Check out their drink special discounts (We purchased beers at 50% off on the cruise ship when they advertised)
• Try their no-fee dining options
• Stick with their no-fee activities (There are tons of them)
• If you want to try playing bingo, wait till their jackpot gets higher (usually towards the end of the trip)
• Try to avoid booking the excursions and go for your own adventure
• Sodas and other beverages can quickly add up, bring your own bottled water especially when on land. 
• When purchasing anything in Mexico, try to negotiate, a lot of the vendors will haggle with you
• Try not to buy too many souvenirs (Do you really need to buy all your co-workers, friends, family something? It can really add up)

Takeaway

If you’re looking to go on a nice cruise, it doesn’t have to put a strain on your finances. Even you could get a free cruise, or even spend minimally while still being able to have tons of fun.

What’s the point in life if you can’t enjoy it. You can still go on great trips and vacations but being budget conscious can help you save more money for your next adventures.

We partner with some awesome companies that offer products which can help our readers. If you make a purchase through one of our partner links, we may receive a commission at absolutely no additional cost to you! Please see my Policy & Disclosure page for full details. 

When you think of Las Vegas you may be thinking how expensive it may be. You can absolutely have an amazing time without breaking the bank at all. I’ll show you what we did to get a free flight for two people, tickets to a popular show, and a trip to the Grand Canyon. Plus there’s SO MANY fun, free, and cheap things to do there. Discover 22 ways to do Las Vegas on a budget and still have tons of fun!

Have Credit Cards Pay You to Travel

So you may be wondering how to get a free flight to Las Vegas. Well, have credit cards pay you to use their card. They pay you by offering travel points when you use their credit card. A lot of travel rewards cards out there offer 50,000 to 70,000 points just for using their cards, that’s pretty much an equivalent to $500 to $700.

Popular Travel Reward Cards:

• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card – 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in 3 months
• Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card – 20,000 after spending $1,000 in 3 months
• Chase Sapphire Preferred Card – 60,000 after spending $4,000 in 3 months
• Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card – 20,000 after spending $1,000 on purchases
• Bank of America Travel Rewards Card – 25,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases
• United Explorer Card – 40,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in 3 months
• Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard – 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $2,500 in 3 months
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card – 40,000 points after spending $1,000 in 3 months
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card – 100,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in 3 months
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card – 125,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 in 3 months
• Hilton Honors American Express Card – 75,000 bonus points after $1,000 in 3 months

Now before you go off and start applying for credit cards, you need to read how we got approved for 6 rewards cards and accumulated 508,421 worth of rewards points.

Credits Cards We’ve Used:

• Capital One Venture (His) 102,009
• Capital One Venture (Mine) 57,534
• Baryclays Arrival 129,966
• Chase Sapphire (Mine) 87,836
• Chase Sapphire (His) 68,909
• Delta Skymiles 62,167

Total 508,421

Breakdown of points used for this Las Vegas trip on a budget:

• $293 – Flight for two using Capital One Venture
• $98.10 – Paranormal Mind Reading Show in Vegas  using Chase Sapphire
• $226.10 – Day trip for two to The Grand Canyon  using Chase Sapphire

We may be getting all these travel points but it wasn’t always like this. Matter of fact, we had 8 credit cards with lingering balances of over $31,000. We got serious about paying off our debt and cleared up all 8 of our credit card balances by using 5 simple steps.

Related: How to Get Out of Debt with These 5 Tips

If you want to get started knocking out some debt today, grab your free Debt Thermometer and join us in the free 5-Day Debt Free Bootcamp.

Steps Used to Get Approved For 6 Reward Cards:

1. We cleared all our credit card debt by using the Debt Snowball Method
2. Our credit naturally shot up to the 800’s by clearing credit card debt which helped us get approved for great credit cards
3. Applied to 1 travel reward card at a time
4. Use 1 credit card for ALL EXPENSES, that way it’s easy to meet the minimum spending requirement for these credit cards
5. Pay off balance in full every month

By paying off all credit card debt, it can tremendously boost your credit score which will help you to get approved for amazing offers too. I also really recommend using only 1 card at a time and pay off the balance in full each month so that you won’t be stretching yourself thin trying to juggle multiple cards. Getting major bonus points from travel cards is the best way to travel for free!

Related:

Use The Debt Snowball Method to Pay Off Debt

Tips on How to Get a 800 Credit Score

How We Got Our First Time Cruise Trip For Free

How To Get Out Of Debt With These 5 Tips

Look For Best Travel Deals Before Booking

Besides finding ways to use credit card points for travel why not get even more savings by finding the best travel deals?

Best Site for Cheap Travel Rates

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is one of the best travel search engines. They provide some of the cheapest flights I’ve seen around. They also have a nice ‘Everywhere’ feature in case you’re not sure where to go, it can pull all different destinations both domestically and internationally and include the best flight prices.
• Orbitz – Orbitz is a reliable site where you can search flights, hotels, vacation packages, car rentals, and cruises. They have really great prices, very competitive rates compared to other travel sites. Plus they also have their own rewards program, where you can earn points to apply towards your next trip.
• Hotwire – Hotwire is another very popular travel booking site that’s been around for nearly 20 years. They have great rates for flights, hotels, car rentals, and bundles.
• Travelocity – Travelocity has also been around for a while. They also offer low rates for flights, hotels, vacation packages, car rentals, and cruises.

Before booking any trip, make sure to get the most out of your money. Stop by Rakuten first because they will have cash back offers for a lot of travel sites like Orbitz, Hotwire, and Travelocity.

Sign up today with Rakuten to get $10 in a welcome bonus and be on your way to start earning cash back for online purchases. Don’t miss out on FREE MONEY!

22 Ways To Do Las Vegas On a Budget

If you’ve never been to Vegas, you have to go! Walking along the Vegas strip is quite an experience, there’s SO much to see and do. There’s great food, entertainment shows, activities, and incredible sights to see. There really is no other place like it. You can find so many places to explore and don’t have to spend a fortune. If you’re thinking about going to Las Vegas in the summer, think again. We went in June and it was VERY HOT! The desert heat is literally no joke. Pick a cooler month other than the summer to go because of how hot it gets. 

1 | Bellagio Fountains

Bellagio Fountains is one of the staples of Las Vegas. It’s a magnificent show of water, lights, and music perfectly coordinated which is both mesmerizing and romantic. The best part about it is that it’s absolutely FREE!

2 | Volcano Show at Mirage

The Volcano show at Mirage is also another free night show that displays intense fire and explosions coordinated to music. Walking down the Las Vegas strip can keep you entertained and all without spending a dime. 

3 | Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is a must see. They have spectacular and seasonal displays that change every 3 months. If you want to get some great pictures with large sculptures or just walk through beautifully decorated floral paths then check out this spot. Oh, and it’s free too!

4 | Aquarium at Silverton

Silverton Casino offers a free aquarium with an abundance of fish, stingrays, and live mermaids to interact with guests on the other side of the glass. It’s a great place to bring your kids to spend a few hours in Las Vegas without spending a cent!

5 | Fremont Street Experience

Experience a free over head light show as a part of the Fremont Street Experience. It’s fun to just walk around and people watch. You will see a lot of street performers and characters. Use caution when bringing your kid’s there. Some people dress up in obscene costumes. Walking around Fremont Street can be fun too, check out the different souvenir shops, staple casinos, museums, restaurants, and more.

6 | Binion’s Casino

While you’re at Fremont Street, stop by Binion’s Casino to get you a free souvenir photo.They will take your picture with a huge stack of 1 million bucks. They give you the glossy 6×8 photo for free! 

7 | Golden Nugget Casino

Have you ever seen a 61 lb gold nugget? You can see it at the Golden Nugget Casino in Fremont Street. It’s called the Hand of Faith.

8 | Welcome To Las Vegas Sign

You have to take your picture at the iconic Welcome To Las Vegas Sign. 

9 | The Park 

The Park is nestled in between New York-New York and Park MGM. It has a lively outdoor hangout spot where you can check out 40 ft tall sculptures, grab a bite to eat, enjoy live music, grab some drinks, and explore more art. 

10 | Sunset Stampede Show

Check out a 10 minute water, laser, light, and sound show at the Sunset Stampede Show at Sam’s Town Hall and Gambling Hall.

11 | Streetmosphere

Experience Streetmosphere which consists of live outdoor entertainment of jugglers, singers, performers, stilt walkers, and living statues at the Grand Canal Shoppes

12 | Seven Magic Mountains

Check out the artwork in the middle of the desert called Seven Magic Mountains. It’s located near Jean Dry Lake and Interstate 15 about 10 miles from  Las Vegas. These colorful boulders are stacked 30 feet high. It makes for some kool Instagram pictures.

13 | 3-D Murals 

Get some trippy photos with 3-D murals at The Linq Promenade + Experience along with free night live entertainments with a light show.

14 | Chocolate Fix

Satiate your sweet tooth at M&M’s World . Do you want to see how chocolate is made? Get a free tour at Ethel M Chocolates & Cactus Garden plus you will get a free chocolate sample at the end of the tour.

15 | Circus Act

Check out a free Las Vegas Circus acts show at Circus Circus. The performances range from trapeze tricks, clowns, juggling masters, contortionists, and more. 

16 | Forum Shops

If you love Roman inspired architecture definitely check out the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. It’s an awesome place to window shop at some luxury stores plus they have The Atlantis aquarium as well. It really is a pleasant experience just to walk around and marvel at the architecture, you’ll feel like you’re in another country. 

17 | Lake of Dreams

Watch a free entertainment show called Lake of Dreams at the Wynn. View a spectacle light display against a 40 foot wall coordinated to music. It might be something your kid’s will enjoy. 

18 | Coca-Cola Store

Get away from the Las Vegas heat and head to the Coca-Cola store where you can enjoy some refreshing Coke Floats and try 16 different international beverages. Don’t forget your picture with the notorious Coca-Cola polar bear. 

19 | Flamingo Wildlife Habitat

Get away from all the noise, lights, and step into paradise at the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat in the Flamingo Hotel. There are also, swans, ducks, pelicans, turtles, parrots, koi fish, Sacred Ibis, and more. 

20 | Las Vegas Strip

Put on your walking shoes and just explore the Las Vegas Strip. Take in all the lights and architecture of the casinos. 

21 | Hoover Dam

Hoover Dam is a must see National Historic Landmark. It stands more than 725 feet above the Colorado River. It’s about 40 minutes from Las Vegas. You can see the Hoover dam for free if you park in one of the free parking areas and walk across the dam and marvel at it’s magnitude. There is a visitor center and tour of the dam itself and the price ranges from $15 and up if you want to learn more about the dam. 

The cheapest way to get there will be to rent a car for your Las Vegas trip and scope out the Hoover Dam for free. 

22 | Grand Canyon

If you go to Las Vegas then it’s a must to check out Grand Canyon. Marvel at the beauty and the magnitude of beautifully carved rock formations. Pictures do not give it justice as the sight will take your breath away. It’s a definite must see. 

The Grand Canyon has 3 major parts. One is the West Rim which is closer to Las Vegas about a two-and-a-half hour drive. The admission is around $56 per person. If you want to take a tour bus the costs are usually doubled but that often includes the ride, admission to the park, and lunch. 

The more cost effective way to go would be to venture to the North and South Rim since the admission is only $35 per vehicle. The downside is the long drive of around 5 hours to and from. People say the North and South Rim have more incredible views compared to the West Rim. I’ve been to the West Rim and was still amazed at the views. 

Do you have any children in the fourth grade? You’re in luck! Fourth graders and their family can enjoy the parks for free here at everykidoutdoors. All you do is print the ticket and show it to one of the rangers there and you’re in. 

The Grand Canyon is truly magnificent and a beautiful place to visit. Whether it’s the West, North, or South Rim, you won’t be disappointed. 

Las Vegas can be full of adventure and fun while staying on budget too! There are tons of things to see and experience without spending a dime. Once you go, it will leave you planning your next trip back to Vegas. Remember, you can still have a blast and not break the bank. Las Vegas is the perfect place for that. 

Thanks for reading and happy travels!