CrimsonCruiser

We haven't had too much time to try this specifically with cruising, I admit.Our first cruise was out of Orlando and on embarkation we foolishly flew in day of (thank god we didn't miss it!) and after we spent a few days at Universal Studios so we had a hotel on the park grounds.
Our trip from Miami we had an airbnb that was better equipped than a cheap motel we had looked at for about $30 less a night. Plus it was within walking distance to a 7-11, a Walgreen's type store, and a McDonalds. We used this both on embarkation and disembarkation (private room with bathroom).
Our Galveston trip, Airbnb's were not so lucky. the base price was attractive, but as you mentioned, the fees and what not made it more pricey than a hotel. But the hotels were still $100/night and while we only stayed 1 night each, that was a big pill to swallow. ($200 for less than 36 hours in a room total ?)
 
I generally find airbnb to be a better cost overall but there have been some serious exceptions. T_T
 
Thanks for all the tips! (we also have pet sitting which I forgot to include @.@)

We haven't had too much time to try this specifically with cruising, I admit.Our first cruise was out of Orlando and on embarkation we foolishly flew in day of (thank god we didn't miss it!) and after we spent a few days at Universal Studios so we had a hotel on the park grounds.
Our trip from Miami we had an airbnb that was better equipped than a cheap motel we had looked at for about $30 less a night. Plus it was within walking distance to a 7-11, a Walgreen's type store, and a McDonalds. We used this both on embarkation and disembarkation (private room with bathroom).
Our Galveston trip, Airbnb's were not so lucky. the base price was attractive, but as you mentioned, the fees and what not made it more pricey than a hotel. But the hotels were still $100/night and while we only stayed 1 night each, that was a big pill to swallow. ($200 for less than 36 hours in a room total ?)
 
I generally find airbnb to be a better cost overall but there have been some serious exceptions. T_T
 
Thanks for all the tips! (we also have pet sitting which I forgot to include @.@)

@Matt always posts in the front page of his blog. Here is the schedule for this year:

Voyager of the seas .....8 night Queensland cruise...12th to the 20th of December...............26 days to go                                                                                                                                          Serenade of the seas ...........5 night Tasmania.............Dec 2020...........392 days to go

Freedom. 5/2020...less than 180 because I finally cashed in my RC points from my credit card

Yes, I did!
 

Oasis 115 days 
Oasis 122 days  ... first B2B!
Allure  332 days
Anthem 450 days
This is my 5th post ... do I lose my lurker status?
 
 

Welcome, CrimsonCruiser !

Welcome! 

This may actually be my first post!

This may actually be my first post!

This may actually be my first post!

Hi all,
I don't have any upcoming cruise set yet ( ? ) but regardless of when I finally book cruise #4, I and my mother will have to fly since we live in Illinois. And it's a struggle!
After dealing with conforming to shrinking plane carry-on measurements, checked-bag weight restrictions, transport to and from the airport, hotel costs, food for the night before and hotel to port costs we're often stressed and already pretty monetarily spent before even setting foot on the ship! But I want to take advantage of some of the cost saving tips I keep hearing about (like bringing your own wine or canned beverages on board or buying toiletries in the port city instead before)...but the idea of spending that much on ubers after all of the above costs, really makes me hesitant.
So I come to you, seasoned cruisers, to ask - what are your tips to make flying to the port easier and cost effective? Do you do those other cost saving tips? How? Do you have other cost saving tips?
Some things we already do:
 - We both have TSA pre-check to cut stress
 - We both have 1 free checked bag on the airline we choose so we save about $50 total on choosing to check a bag 
 - We opt for AirBnB's over hotels when the cost is better usually saving $100 / night on lodging

This may actually be my first post!

Did anyone else read the title of the thread and hear @Matt's voice say "Get ready to hear the Top Ten things that experienced cruises wish they had known before their first cruise............UP NEXT!!!"
While I sit in timeout from posting, I am going to watch the replay of last night's live stream.     ?

This may actually be my first post!

I spend so much time watching all types of cruise videos! Vlogs, packing videos, ship tours, port tours - even for places I'm not going. It reminds me of the last cruise and just takes some of the edge off of having to wait.

I spend so much time watching all types of cruise videos! Vlogs, packing videos, ship tours, port tours - even for places I'm not going. It reminds me of the last cruise and just takes some of the edge off of having to wait.