Cruises have long been a favourite way to visit multiple countries and cities without the exhausting travel. However, if unprepared, wannabe holidaymakers could be paying hundreds, if not thousands, more than necessary.

According to cruising expert, Life Well Cruised, who runs a YouTube channel in which she shares her knowledge, there is one essential cruise tip to follow. This, she said, “isn’t a big secret but it is something that a lot of people underestimate that makes a big difference”. The expert revealed that even before arriving on board, the booking process can throw up unexpected surprises and extra costs that only the most experienced cruiser knows how to avoid.

When planning your next voyage, the YouTuber reveals the most important thing is to "be flexible", especially when choosing your dates.

“For instance, if you wanted to cruise at the beginning of February, always take a look at the week before and the week after if you can be flexible,” she explained, adding that the soon-to-be cruisers may be able to find a similar cruise or itinerary just by looking at the surrounding dates.

“It can make a huge difference - it can save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on that cruise.”

There are many sneaky hacks and money-saving tips that avid cruisers have discovered over the years, and many have now shared their knowledge with the world.

In a post on their blog, travel site AllCruiseHotels.com said planning what you're going to do about food for however long you're on board is crucial.

"Most cruise ships nowadays have pretty impressive buffet-style dining venues and even cafes that are already included in your fare," the website says.

However, it cautions that this "doesn’t mean they will stop trying to lure you into their speciality five-star restaurants, which are not included".

The website recommends budgeting how much you're prepared to spend on restaurant food before you even get on the ship. That way you can limit impulsive purchases and making financial decisions "when you’re starving".

Another way to save a pretty penny is to book an inside cabin, which can save around £400 compared to a balcony, but still allow passengers to use the wide range of public lounges and open decks to admire the scenery.

Tim, from the TikTok channel @cruisetipsandchat said: “You get perfectly decent acccomodation inside, just the same standard as the rest - you just can't see outside!”