I've been on more than 30 cruises with my family. Here are my 6 tips for saving money on board.

• As a budget-conscious, frequent cruiser I've found ways to save money while on these vacations.

• My family packs smart, takes advantage of included entertainment, and avoids pricey upcharges.

• We splurge on having fun in port but never book overpriced cruise-line shore excursions.

My family loves cruising, and we've found it's a fantastic way to explore different destinations while enjoying the amenities and entertainment offered on board.

And, after more than 30 cruises as a family, we've also found lots of ways to save money.

Here's how we make the most of our cruise budget and you can, too.

We pack smart and research everything we're allowed to bring on board.

For my family, saving money on a cruise starts during the packing process.

I always ensure we pack essentials like sunscreen, toiletries, and medications to avoid having to purchase them on board at inflated prices. I also bring reusable water bottles to fill at onboard water stations to save on beverage costs.

Also, many cruise lines allow you to bring some beverages, such as a limited amount of beer or wine, water, sports drinks, and soda, in your carry-on luggage. It's important to research guidelines in advance, as bringing these drinks on board can also save you money.

Instead of specialty dining or expensive drink packages, we take advantage of the included food and beverage options.

Today's cruises offer dining upcharges everywhere you look. From celebrity-chef-helmed restaurants to premium coffees, these extra food and beverage costs add up quickly.

With so many included dining and drink options on a cruise, my family prefers to skip these upgrades and only splurge on special occasions.

When it comes to cocktails, we avoid grossly overpriced drink packages and instead take advantage of "drink of the day" specials to save on our liquid refreshments.

Add-on experiences can add up quickly, so monitoring our onboard tab is essential.

Dining is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to upcharges.

Things like bingo, arcades, spa services, and WiFi all come with an extra charge as well, and it's easy to rack up a hefty tab.

I'm always on high alert for which services will cost extra and we make a point to check our itemized bill regularly to ensure we don't blow our budget on non-essential experiences.

Complimentary onboard activities are a major reason we love cruising, so we take full advantage of these offerings.

Before indulging in activities that cost an added fee, my family takes advantage of the ship's complimentary amenities, such as poolside entertainment, miniature golf, trivia contests, and live shows.

With cruises now including everything from zip lines, water slides, and carousels to rock climbing, ice skating, and laser tag, we often find that these activities are more than enough to keep us entertained without spending anything extra.

If there's an add-on I really want, like a massage, I try to book these on port days, as many cruise lines offer a discounted rate while the ship is docked.

Local vendors often offer cheaper shore excursions than those sold through the cruise line.

If there's one thing I splurge on, it's experiences in the cruise ports of call. However, although shore excursions booked through the cruise line are convenient (the ship won't leave without you when you're on one), they're also pricey.

Local tour operators often offer similar experiences at lower prices, and booking these on your own can save you money.

For example, renting a car at a stop can also be a great option if a rental-car facility is near the port.

While on a cruise in Iceland, my family rented a car in Akureyri. It was hundreds of dollars cheaper than going on a shore excursion, and we were able to customize our trip to see all the geothermal hot spots on our wish list.

Participating in cruise-line loyalty programs gets me onboard freebies and allows me to save even more in the future.

There's a reason many travelers remain loyal to a particular cruise line. Just like airlines and hotel chains, cruise companies have reward programs that incentivize you to book with them in the future.

My family frequently sails with Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean, and we've earned perks such as free and discounted beverages, onboard gifts, priority boarding, and more.

These small incentives add up. Plus, most cruise lines offer a discount on future cruise bookings when they're made onboard your current sailing. This is a great way to save money on future cruises and it keeps us looking forward to our next vacation!

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