A cruise is a great vacation value, because of its all inclusive nature. Your ticket on board includes your trip, your meals and your entertainment. There are still more ways to save money on a cruise. 

1. Buy a Combination Ticket

The first way to save money on a cruise is to book well in advance a combination cruise and airfare ticket. By booking the airfare with the cruise, you eliminate the need for transportation on shore as the cruise line will pick you up at the airport and deliver you to the ship eliminating the need to pay a taxi or shuttle service. Make sure to fly in on the same day as the cruise leaves and eliminate the need for a hotel.

2. Buy Shore Excursions In Port

The second way to save money on a cruise is to plan your shore excursions in advance, but book them at port. Know what you want to do in port, but do not purchase the tickets. Most shore excursions do not fill up. The shore excursion companies will offer deep discounts at port to fill the empty seats.

3. Eat On Board The Ship 

The third way to save money on a cruise is to eat on board the ship. Your cruise ticket includes all the food you want during most hours of the day and night for free. Take advantage of this and eat a hearty breakfast before leaving the ship in the morning. Then there will be no need to eat on shore. When returning to the ship, eat a hearty supper.

4. Pack a Medical Supply Bag

The fourth way to save money on a cruise is to pack a medical supply bag. Make sure and pack all the prescription medicines that you will need, but also pack the incidentals that you will need. A bottle of aspirin that may cost $2 at the local drug store often costs more than $10 on board.

5. Eat at the All You Can Eat Buffet

The fifth way to save money on board a cruise ship is to take advantage of the all you can eat buffet on special occasion nights. If you do not already own special occasion clothing, then on the formal nights choose to eat at the buffet. This way, you do not have the need to buy special occasion clothing that you may never wear again.

6. Look for Bargains

The sixth way to save money on the ship is to take advantage of shopping bargains. Most ships offer souvenirs for sale at bargain prices at certain times of the day. We all feel led to buy these souvenirs, but by watching when you buy them, you can often buy them at deeply discounted rates.

7. Take Advantage of Free Activities

The seventh way to save money is to take advantage of the free classes and activities. Cruise ships love for you to spend money in the casinos and card games. Look instead for free activities that they offer. Most cruise ships offer free dance lessons, free towel folding lessons and free cooking classes. Look daily at the newspaper provided on board and plan your day to take advantage of these free activities.

8. Use the Internet On Shore

The eighth way to save money is to use the internet on shore. Internet rates on board the cruise ships are exurbanite. Instead, find out when on shore where the nearest internet café is. Many public libraries offer internet access for free.

9. Use Cell Phones On Shore

Likewise, the ninth way to save money is to use cell phones only when in port. Call your provider ahead of time and see what plan they offer that will cover the area where you will be traveling. Switch to the recommended plan and make the necessary phone calls when in port.

Special thanks to guest writer Emily Willis who wrote this article and is a frequent writer on financial topics and Buy.com weekly deals.

As the New Year approaches, many of us will start thinking about how to improve our finances in the coming months. For me, there is one habit that is almost a no-fail way to save a little extra money.

Avoid the stores.

Yep. No shopping, browsing, or entering of any domain that sells ANYTHING. Period.

Take a no-shopping day at least once a week. That means everything from avoiding coffee at Starbucks to grocery shopping for that day.

Make do with whatever you have in the kitchen for dinner. Avoid running out to get a newspaper at the corner liquor store. Skip the urge to check out your local CVS.

Stay out of every store for a day. That is the only fool proof way I know of to save money. Really save money. Not impulsively spending $25 on something because you will "save" $5.00. That is not really saving. Now avoiding the impulse buy altogether and having that extra $25 in your pocket at the end of the day is really saving. And chances are by the next day you will realize you did not really need that item. Whatever it was.

After a "no shopping day," figure out what you could have potentially spent that day had you followed your normal habits, and take that amount of money and save it. An envelope could work, or a deposit into your savings account would be even better.

What is your best tip for saving money?