Cruises change all the time, and so have the free stuff you can get. While free cruise cabin upgrades are less likely these days, there are still some awesome freebies you’ll want to lookout for.
In fact, there are even some new free giveaways cruisers can take advantage of on their vacations.
Whether you’re a seasoned cruiser or a first-time cruiser, everyone loves scoring free stuff on a cruise ship. The good news is that finding freebies on a cruise ship is easier than you might think; you just need to know where to look!
With that said, here are 10 ways to get free stuff on a cruise ship.
10 Clever Ways to Get Free Stuff on a Cruise Ship
1. Participate in Onboard Entertainment
If you’re brave enough, consider participating in the onboard entertainment. Whether it’s the Love and Marriage show, the Newlywed game, or the bellyflop competition, participating in the onboard entertainment is a great way to earn free stuff.
Typically, the cruise line will give a bottle of Champagne to those who participate. However, I’ve seen cruise lines giveaway spa packages to couples, complimentary specialty dining, free cocktails, and cruise line merchandise.
2. Receive Free Items in the Duty-Free Shops
Although visiting a shop to receive a freebie may seem counterintuitive, the onboard shopping experience on cruises is different. Shops onboard cruise ships often host promotional events throughout the sailing, where cruise passengers can receive freebies, raffle tickets, and good deals.
These giveaways usually take place in the evenings and are a way for the cruise line to attract shoppers to their stores. Every evening, the onboard jewelry store, like Effy, offers a pendant or free charm and raffle tickets to earn extra discounts and gifts.
Recently, I was on Enchanted Princess with my Grandmother, and we would visit Effy every evening to get a free pendant and enter into the raffle. Throughout the cruise, we got many free pendants (which made great gifts), and we even won the raffle once.
When we won the raffle, we got a free bottle of champagne, some extra pendants, an Effy book, and extra discounts for the shop.
As someone who loves free things, I definitely think visiting the shops is worth it!
3. Attend the Art Auctions for Free Champagne
The art auction is a great place to receive freebies on a cruise. When you attend the champagne art auction, you’ll receive a free glass of sparkling wine and learn about the different art pieces.
You may even get a complimentary print to take home if you’re lucky.
A useful cruise tip for cruisers who don’t purchase the drink package is to attend the art auction to get free champagne and sparkling wine!
Related: 11 Reasons Not to Buy the Drink Package on a Cruise
4. Take a Spa Tour
Although booking a spa package may not be in your budget, visiting the spa on embarkation day doesn’t hurt. Not only will you receive refreshing complimentary fruit water, but you may also get a chance to sample the spa facilities.
In addition to a product sample, you may also receive a raffle ticket. You can earn a personal training session or even a complimentary massage by attending the raffles in the spa.
If you enjoy receiving free stuff on a cruise ship, enter as many raffles as possible to increase your chances of winning.
Related: 30 Do’s and Don’ts For Cruise Embarkation Day
5. Receive Free Onboard Credit for Booking a Future Cruise
Booking a future cruise while you’re still onboard your current cruise is a great way to receive free onboard credit. Most major cruise lines have a dedicated “Future Cruise Desk” or “Cruise Next ” office where you can book a cruise or even place an open booking.
When you book a future cruise onboard, you typically receive onboard credit that can be used for expenses like drinks, specialty dining, shore excursions, or spa treatments. The amount of credit offered often depends on the length and type of cruise you book.
Additionally, onboard booking promotions may include reduced deposits and flexible cancellation terms, making it a low-risk way to lock in your next cruise vacation while also getting a little something extra to enjoy during your current cruise.
The onboard credit is automatically applied to your account for the next cruise, allowing you to enjoy some amazing perks without paying extra.
6. Win Prizes Playing Trivia and Other Onboard Activities
Trivia is a cruise activity staple and a great way to win cruise line merchandise, medals, trophies, and other prizes. Attending trivia is a fun way to participate in the onboard activities, and receiving free stuff is an amazing bonus.
Furthermore, don’t be afraid to participate in the other onboard activities. A few years ago, I participated in a crew vs passenger activity on Celebrity Cruises and won a medal.
Not only was the activity super fun, but winning the medal served as a wonderful souvenir from my Celebrity cruise vacation.
7. Take Advantage of Cruise Line Loyalty Programs
Cruise lines have loyalty reward programs that offer repeat cruise passengers free perks like onboard credit, free wifi, specialty dining, and cabin upgrades. It’s a good idea to check your cruise line’s loyalty program before booking your cruise to ensure you’re taking full advantage of the cruise line loyalty programs.
On certain cruise lines, you may receive loyalty welcome gifts. For instance, Carnival offers welcome gifts to their diamond and platinum members. These gifts range from Carnival-branded beer cozies to hats, towels, and other Carnival Cruise Lcine swag.
Virgin Voyages and MSC Cruises offer status match programs. These programs allow cruisers to transfer their loyalty benefits from another cruise line to Virgin or MSC and instantly enjoy comparable offers.
8. Upgrade Your Stateroom
Although booking suites can be pricey, many offer a variety of free perks that only suite guests can enjoy. These free perks and items can often make cruising in a suite a good value overall and worth the upgrade.
Cruise lines will provide company-branded tote bags, slippers, hats, and towels. You may also receive complimentary water bottles, champagne, chocolate, and other amazing freebies.
Recently, I sailed in an MSC Yacht Club Deluxe Balcony Suite, and I really enjoyed the freebies. We received comfortable slippers, Venchi chocolates daily, and water bottles.
One thing that impressed me was that we had one complimentary bottle of alcohol of our choice. Since we had the beverage package, I ordered a bottle of Belvedere vodka and took it home with me.
If you cruise in a balcony cabin but spend a lot of money on cruise extras, consider booking a suite. Often, suites offer many cruise extras that make them a great value.
9. Attend Special Events for Free Drinks
A great way to receive free drinks is to attend special onboard events. Whether its Captain’s cocktail, singles meet ups, champagne waterfall, welcome aboard party, or past passenger parties, these events are great opportunities to get free cocktails.
At these gatherings, you’ll have the chance to meet different officers, crew members, cruise passengers, and even the captain!
If you’re a cruiser who enjoys free drinks and experiences unique to cruise vacations, be sure to attend the onboard gatherings and events.
10. Cruise Line Shareholder Benefits
Cruise line shareholder benefits can offer valuable perks to those who own stock in a cruise company. Many major cruise lines, like Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean Group, provide shareholders with onboard credits as a benefit for holding a certain number of shares (usually 100 or more).
The onboard credit can be used for specialty dining, shore excursions, alcoholic beverages, spa services, onboard shops, and more. The amount of onboard credit awarded typically varies depending on the length of the cruise vacation, with longer sailings earning higher amounts.
So, if there’s a cruise line you love to sail with, consider investing in them and enjoy the free onboard credit!
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Final Thoughts on How to Get Free Stuff on a Cruise
Getting free perks, beverages, upgrades, and merchandise on a cruise is not only possible, but often, it is quite easy if you know where to look and how to take advantage of the opportunities. Whether it’s scoring free onboard credit by booking a future cruise, attending the art auction for free drinks, or visiting the onboard shops for free jewelry, there are plenty of ways to earn free stuff while you’re at sea.
What free items have you received on a cruise? Please let me know in the comments below.
Happy Cruising!
Ethan
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Ethan Schattauer, a seasoned cruiser since the age of four, has gone on over 40 cruises with his family. Drawing from his extensive travel experiences, Ethan offers a fresh and youthful perspective on the world of cruising. He also writes about cruise cuisine, onboard experiences, and practical tips, providing valuable insights for cruise travelers worldwide.