Cruise holidays, often seen as a lavish way to travel, include endless meals from continental breakfast spreads to smart evening meals, in the fare.

However, costs start to soar when adding drinks and other extras, including selecting the best room on the ship. Add to that a few excursions, the total cost can creep up into the thousands.

While excursions are also known to be costly, one savvy cruiser has shared the secret to keeping expenses to a minimum in an online cruise forum.

They claimed it’s entirely feasible to spend “virtually nothing” beyond the initial cost of the holiday.

“If you want, you can spend virtually nothing but your cruise fare. You’ll have access to the main dining room, the buffet, probably other things like a pizza shop, burgers by the pool, that kind of thing”, they said.

The cruiser added: “Excursions are extra, but you don’t have to do them. Depending on the port, there’s often (but not always) fun to be had just getting off the ship and exploring the town.”

According to the sea-voyager, many port destinations offer free attractions such as museums, galleries, or parks for a day of exploration without additional cost.

The passenger also mentioned their strategy to avoid overspending: “I don’t get the drink package because I don’t drink all that much. I bring a couple of bottles of wine on the ship, then I buy drinks when I want.”

For those who enjoy alcoholic beverages frequently, investing in a drinks package could be economical.

One guest commented on the forum post: “Most food is included on almost all lines. Certainly, enough food that you will not go hungry even if you do not pay a cent over the fare.

“There are also some fancy dining options that are an upcharge. You really don’t have to do these.”

They continued: “They’re nice, but for your first cruise, literally all of the places are new, trying out the included places first is totally first.”

The largest cruise ships typically feature several restaurants onboard, and guests can always enjoy free meals at the buffet.

For those looking to save money, cruising off-season and keeping an eye out for deals is a smart move.