When you book a cruise, you are given a price. But what does that include? What are those hidden costs in your all-inclusive cruising experience?
These items are not hidden fees. You know about them. But when you look at the great price of your cruise that is not the only price you pay. There are certain additional costs that happen in the course of your cruise. Read on to learn what those items are + some tips on how to minimize them!
This information is for mainstream cruise lines like Carnival, Disney, Royal Caribbean. It would necessarily not include other lines such as Viking, Princess or Celebrity.
Gratuities
You are told about the gratuities up front, so this isn’t really a hidden cost of cruising, but it something that you have to pay. Gratuities are added to your bill on the last night of the cruise. The price depends on your cruise line and even the size of your stateroom. It is generally between $10-15 a night per person. You can adjust your gratuity with guest services but that is generally frowned upon. If you remove or reduce the gratuities, remember that it is split between many hard working people who are trying to support a family back home. You can also pre-pay your gratuity prior to getting on board so it is easier to budget for.
Alcohol
There is a choice to pre-purchase an alcohol package but do the math to see if that is the best option for you. Most packages require you to drink at least 8 drinks a day to break even. If you are not getting an alcohol package then any alcoholic drinks and specialty coffees and soft drinks (depending on the line) you purchase on board will be added to your bill.
And remember – not all drinks are the same. Those coconut shells and swirly cups will cost you almost as much as the alcohol in your cup so if you are not planning on actually taking it home skip the fancy cup.
This may be the one actual hidden cost in this post. I never see the prices for those fancy cups until they show up and I’ve taken that first delicious sip and then the friendly waiter hands me the receipt to sign and somehow it is twice as much as the listed price for that Bahama Mama on a menu! Not that I’m looking at a menu because the best place to order those silly things is in the pool.
Excursions
Not all ports are created equal. Some ports are great to walk around. Other ports have nice beaches that you can conveniently walk to. Some ports have nothing. Make sure you do some research before your cruise to figure out what ports you need to book an excursion in so you’re not sitting around a boring port while the rest of the ship is off having fun around the island! (I’m looking at you, Ochos Rios!)
Pictures
This one isn’t important to everyone, but if you are one of those people that stops for those photographers every time they have something set up, remember that the price of those pictures can add up.
Normally we will take the photos while getting on board, but have never ourselves purchased them. If you are on a family trip, then plan it out and figure out when you want to do a set of photos. Most cruise lines will allow you to purchase a photo package where you can buy a set amount of pictures up from and then select which ones you want. This is a great option if you are planning to buy a lot of pictures. But just for a couple…a tripod is cheaper and you can just take your own! And we completely skip the photos at dinner.
Souvenirs
Lining the walkways to and from the ports are shops full of keepsakes, magnets, Christmas ornaments, and t-shirts. These are not usually super expensive, but you can end up buying too many! If you’re trying to watch your budget, stay away from these booths no matter how many times they call you back in!
On-board Shopping
Same thing with the onboard shops. They are very easy to completely avoid, but they do have those cute t-shirts and ornaments and hats to remember your cruise. Some of these items are actually super cheap (and sometimes they have t-shirt sales), but most of these items are overpriced. Budget accordingly.
Lobster & Premium Steaks
Some cruise lines (Carnival) have now started charging an extra fee for lobster and premium steaks on short cruises. They still provide lobster on formal nights on longer cruises and it continues to be available for the shorter cruises, but you have to pay for it yourself.
Specialty Restaurants
Specialty restaurants are very popular these days for cruise lines. These restaurants are completely optional. You can eat very well and feel like you’ve had a great experience only going to included restaurants but, understandably, the cruise lines push their specialty dining. They want to sell you these fancy, classy, tasty meals at an upcharge. Some of them have a relatively low upcharge of around $20 per person, while others can be more expensive and over $50 per person. Is the specialty dining on cruise ships worth it? It depends on how you view your food. I would absolutely pay extra for Royal Caribbean’s steak house. Everything else? I personally wouldn’t. But that’s just me.
Interested to know more about INCLUDED food on cruises? Check out these posts:
Ultimate Guide to Food on Carnival
Afternoon Tea on Carnival Cruises (yes! It’s free!)
Spa Services
Massages, manicures, pedicures, salon services, saunas, and other spa services are not included in the cost of the cruise. It is possible to book a room that includes the saunas and some other spa services, but basically if it requires a person to do something to you, it is still an upcharge.
Please note these spa services are normally very expensive. Unless you want it to be done for a specific occasion, you are better off getting these services on land before or after your cruise!
What else?
There are of course, other costs that can occur. Speciality tastings, specific activities on board, and occasionally even some shows can have an upcharge.
Are any of these costs required? Just the gratuities. (And technically not even those.)
Everything else is completely optional. Your cruise experience without the things listed is completely up to you. Some people are perfectly happy without the shopping, some without the alcohol, while some don’t care to go on excursions.
Some of these hidden fees of cruising are really hidden and you don’t see them until the end. Others you know about going into it. Just know yourself and budget accordingly!
What to read next:
Interesting in a cruise line with more included? Take a look at: What is Included on a Celebrity Cruise
Looking for more about the more budget friendly line of Carnival? Check out What is Included on a Carnival Cruise
