Ahoy, Tatiana!
Planning a Disney Cruise can be overwhelming, especially when its your first! Some of my best planning and budgeting tips are:
~Try to cruise during an "off" time. If you can, don't plan to cruise during summer or school breaks, the price will definitely be higher. My husband and I celebrated our 5th anniversary aboard the Disney Magic this past October. We were able to do two cruises in a row (usually referred to as "Back to Back") for a very reasonable price.
~Save a little at a time. We often use Disney gift cards to pay for our cruise. I buy at least one $50 card every time I shop at Target. This helps us to save gradually for our amazing vacations.
~Don't overbook yourselves. When choosing your
Port Adventures, remember it is NOT required that you leave the ship every single time it docks.
~Splurge on one of the
Adult Exclusive Dining Options. Depending on the ship, you might have the opportunity to dine at either Palo or Remy. I absolutely can not get enough of brunch in Palo, it is my one MUST DOs on every cruise. Be sure to factor it into your budget, you will NOT regret it!
~Keep a change jar in your kitchen. At the end of every day, empty out your change that accumulates in your purse and your husband's pockets (and maybe the cup holder of the car!) into the jar. Ours is actually a popcorn bucket from Walt Disney World. You will be surprised how quickly small change adds up. When the jar is full, cash it in and put it towards your cruise.
I hope this helps with planning a wonderful 8th anniversary trip! I look forward to more questions from you as you plan.
Happy Cruising, Tracy V.