5 Ways Louisiana Cruise Guests Can Save $1,000 on Every Cruise

What's it like to cruise out of the Port of New Orleans? For Louisiana cruise guests it usually starts with a very startling blast from the cruise ship's massive horn. If you're sailing on a Disney Cruise your ship might play you a tune or two on their massive noise makers.

After the blast from the horn, the music kicks up and the drinks start flowing as you sail down the mighty Mississippi River toward Venice and the Gulf of Mexico. The New Orleans sail away on a cruise ship is very different than sailing out of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or Port Canaveral in Florida.

Those ports open into the open ocean, when sailing from New Orleans it takes a few hours to reach the "blue water". But it is well worth it when you get there. Speaking of worth, that's what we're discussing today. As a frequent cruiser, I have learned a few tricks that will save you money while you're sailing.

Unfortunately, most people get caught up in the excitement of going on a cruise or just a vacation. They forget to be frugal and in the end, their cruise experience winds up costing several hundred if not more than one thousand dollars more than it should or could have cost.

It all has to do with amenities and how you use them onboard. Now, we aren't saying don't take advantage of these amenities, we're just saying there is a right time to take advantage. And to me, the right time is when the price has been reduced or the amenity is being offered for free.

Did you know you could get free cruises if you gamble? You might have to gamble as much as you think you might earn at least an upgrade if not a complimentary cruise. And if you play enough, you could earn a balcony stateroom or even a suite.

But that's a discussion for a different day. Today, I want to save you $1,000 on your next cruise. Are you ready? Stay with me.