After more than 55 cruises, I’ve developed a fairly predictable routine, especially as a budget-conscious cruiser. For instance, I usually book the cheapest cabin available, skip most onboard add-ons, and look for ways to save money wherever I can. I’ve always felt that the less I spend on a cruise, the more money I can spend booking another trip.
But my 12-night sailing aboard Norwegian Dawn was different than my usual sailing. This African cruise sailed from Mauritius to South Africa, visiting destinations that had been on my travel bucket list for years.
I had always dreamed of visiting Africa and seeing wildlife on safari, so when I found a cruise that combined multiple countries with several safari opportunities, I knew this wasn’t going to be an ordinary vacation.
Instead of approaching the cruise with my usual money-saving mindset, I decided to spend a little more in a few key areas. Looking back, every one of those decisions made the experience significantly better during my Norwegian Dawn cruise.
1. Skipping my usual interior cabin
One of the first things I did differently was spend a little extra on my cabin. Normally, I book an interior stateroom. I truly don’t mind sleeping in a dark room, and interior cabins are usually the cheapest option available. Most of the time, I’d rather save the money and spend it elsewhere.
However, for this cruise, it was only about $200 more to book an obstructed oceanview cabin instead of a guarantee interior. The upgrade gave me something I rarely have on a cruise: the ability to choose my cabin location.
Because I anticipated rough seas while sailing across the Indian Ocean, selecting a midship cabin was important to me. Our obstructed view overlooked a lifeboat, but I honestly didn’t care. The natural light made the room feel more spacious, and our carefully selected location helped minimize motion during several periods of rough weather.
The cabin was also exceptionally quiet because it was surrounded by other staterooms above and below. While I still don’t mind interior cabins, having natural light and a comfortable location made a noticeable difference during a 12-night voyage.
2. Booking NCL’s Free at Sea package was worth the cost
When booking our cruise on Norwegian Dawn, we also decided to purchase Norwegian Cruise Line’s Free at Sea package. The package cost about $500 each and included unlimited beverages, two specialty dining meals, internet minutes, and a $50 shore excursion credit.
At first, I wasn’t convinced it would be worth the cost. I had never booked Norwegian’s Free at Sea package before, but I was quickly convinced it was absolutely worth it.
One of the biggest reasons I decided to splurge was knowing I planned to book excursions in nearly every port. Because Free at Sea provided a $50 excursion credit at each destination, I was able to save roughly $300 throughout the cruise.
Once I factored in those savings, the math became much easier to justify. For $200, I could enjoy unlimited cocktails, wine, beer, and soda for 12 nights. This is just a fraction of what you would pay on another cruise line!
The Free at Sea beverage package ended up being one of my favorite perks. While I wasn’t trying to drink my money’s worth, I loved not worrying about every cocktail I ordered. Whether it was a mojito by the pool, a glass of wine with dinner, or an espresso martini after a show, I could just enjoy the vacation without constantly calculating my onboard spending.
This freedom made my Norwegian Dawn cruise feel much more relaxing.
3. Choosing shore excursions in every port was the best decision I made
Perhaps the biggest splurge of the entire trip was booking shore excursions in every port.
Normally, I prefer exploring independently or booking tours through third-party operators. Cruise line excursions tend to be significantly more expensive, and I usually enjoy the flexibility of creating my own plans.
This African itinerary was different. Many of the ports on this sailing were industrial ports located far from the attractions I wanted to visit. Several safari excursions required drives of two hours or more inland, and there weren’t independent tour operators waiting just outside the terminal.
Because I was traveling somewhere completely unfamiliar, I decided not to take any chances. By the time everything was booked, I had spent around $1,500 on excursions alone. It was a significant investment, but I have no regrets.
Not only did the excursions allow me to experience everything I had envisioned before the trip, but they also came with a few unexpected benefits. In some ports, excursion guests received priority for immigration processing and tender operations. Instead of waiting in lengthy lines, we were often among the first passengers off the ship.
After flying halfway around the world to reach Mauritius, I wanted to maximize every port day. Booking the excursions removed a lot of stress and ensured I made the most of every destination.
Don’t be afraid to splurge on Norwegian Dawn’s excursions if it will alleviate stress and simplify your vacation.
4. The thermal spa became my favorite place on Norwegian Dawn
Before this cruise, I had never purchased a thermal spa pass. In fact, I rarely spend money in cruise ship spas at all, as I think they can be a huge rip-off!
A few days into the sailing, I wandered through the fitness center and noticed the thermal suite below. The space included heated loungers, hot tubs, an indoor pool, steam rooms, saunas, and a dedicated relaxation area overlooking the ocean.
It looked inviting, but I initially walked away. Then our scheduled port call in Madagascar was canceled because of rough weather. Once the refund for my canceled excursion appeared on my onboard account, the thermal spa suddenly seemed much easier to justify.
I purchased a pass and ended up using it almost every day for the remainder of the cruise.
Because we encountered several storms during the voyage, the outdoor pool deck wasn’t always enjoyable. Instead, I found myself spending afternoons stretched out on heated loungers watching the ocean pass by through the windows.
More than once, I wrapped myself in a robe and accidentally fell asleep. For roughly $200, I had access to the thermal spa for nearly two weeks. Compared to spending a similar amount on a single massage, it felt like a much better value.
5. I made staying healthy a priority
The final thing I did differently didn’t cost much money at all. After spending more than 24 hours traveling to Mauritius, I was determined not to get sick during the cruise.
The year before, I seemed to catch every cold that came my way, and the last thing I wanted was to spend a bucket-list vacation confined to my cabin. Because of this, I made a conscious effort to stay healthy throughout the trip.
For example, I washed my hands frequently, carried hand sanitizer everywhere, stayed hydrated, and took a daily multivitamin along with vitamin C and zinc supplements. Instead of staying out late every evening, I prioritized sleep whenever possible and even squeezed in a few workouts during sea days.
Most importantly, I paid attention to the small habits that are easy to ignore while traveling, such as not touching your face. By the end of the sailing, it felt like half the ship was coughing and sneezing. Somehow, I managed to make it through all 12 nights without getting sick.
Norwegian Dawn reminded me that some cruises are worth the splurge
I’m still the type of cruiser who looks for ways to save money whenever possible. Most of the time, I’ll happily book the cheapest cabin, skip the spa, and avoid unnecessary extras. But my experience on Norwegian Dawn reminded me that not every cruise should be approached the same way.
When you’re sailing halfway around the world for a once-in-a-lifetime itinerary, spending a little extra in the right places can dramatically improve the experience.
From choosing a better cabin and purchasing Free at Sea to booking every excursion and discovering the thermal spa, these upgrades helped me get the most out of a cruise I’ll never forget.
