6 Things First-Time Cruisers Get Tricked Into Paying For (That You Don’t Actually Need)

Cruise lines are brilliant at making optional extras look essential, especially for first-timers.

It is in their interests to make you spend as much money as possible with them whilst you are onboard.

As a seasoned cruiser, I only spend extra money on things I know I will actually enjoy and get my money’s worth out of!

In this article, we will look at things that cruise lines say you need – but I would disagree with.

#1.“Unlimited” Drinks Packages

It is very easy to be persuaded that you need to buy a drinks package, so that everything is taken care of when you board.

People will tell you that you won’t have to think about additional drinks charges, everything is paid for which makes it easier all round.

For me, and probably many other people, drinks packages just don’t offer good value for money.

To get your money’s worth out of the package, you will probably need to drink between six and ten alcoholic drinks a day – every day. Is that realistic for you?

If you buy a drinks package, your cabin mate will have buy the same package too – even if they don’t drink alcohol much.

Many cruise lines have a maximum drinks per day clause in their terms and conditions, so “unlimited” doesn’t really mean unlimited at all.

If you buy a drinks package on a big American cruise line like Celebrity, Norwegian or Royal Caribbean, they will add a service charge to your drinks package when you buy it. This is typically around 18 or 20% of the package cost.

This can make the cost of the drinks packages eye-wateringly expensive.

If you are paying over $100/£76 per day for drinks, and then an additional 20% service charge on top, for a week’s cruise for two, you are adding over $ 1,600 to the standard cruise fare.

I would rather “pay as I go”. They will still add the 20% service charge on, but I am only likely to have three or four drinks a day at the most – and they are unlikely to be alcoholic – so I save lots of money.

The cost of individual drinks is added to your onboard account and automatically charged to your credit card at the end of the cruise. It’s no more inconvenient than paying upfront for your drinks package.

Don’t forget that there will be water, juices, and basic tea and coffee in the buffet free of charge. You won’t have to pay for every single drink you have whilst onboard.

Find out more about that here:

Do Cruises Include Drinks? Don’t Miss These FREE Options (Tea, Coffee, Juice & More)

#2. “Premium” Wi-Fi Packages

Bear in mind, cruise ship WiFi is not always reliable.

It is very easy to think you need good WiFi when you sail, but will you really use it when there is so much else going on onboard to entertain you?

It also depends on where you are sailing as to whether it will be worth it. If you are in a Norwegian Fjord with mountains on both sides, the WiFi is unlikely to be reliable even if you buy it.

You can typically buy various Wi-Fi packages onboard.

I normally buy the “Social Package” which allows me to post on social media and check my emails. This means people can get in touch with me in case of emergency.

There is often a middle-priced Wi-Fi package that allows you to stream online content, and a Premium Wi-Fi package with higher internet speeds – but you can never rely on the internet to be as good as it is on land.

If you do buy an internet package, it is often a cost per device, not per cabin. You will have to pay double if both people in the cabin want to use their phones.

Other Ways to Connect to the Internet:

Using Mobile Data In The Ports

• Look at the phone package you have with your provider.
  • You may be able to use the mobile data included in your package at no additional cost.
  • Check beforehand, some countries aren’t covered. You don’t want to have a large bill for using your phone abroad.

Use Free Wi Fi When Docked

• When in port, go to McDonald’s or Starbucks and use their free internet!
  • Ask the crew members – most cruise lines don’t give their staff free Wi-Fi, so they know all the best places ashore to connect to the free Wi-Fi.
• You can often buy a hotspot from your mobile/cell provider.
  • It is basically like buying a chunk of Internet. Do your research before you cruise.

Use An eSIM

You may be able to buy an eSIM if your phone supports it.

eSIMs work in over 190 countries, and now on many cruise ships too.

You install a digital SIM card on your phone. There is no physical swapping of SIM cards.

You typically pay for a specific data allowance (like a chunk of internet) for a set period, which functions as a prepaid plan or bundle. It can work out far cheaper than using your standard phone provider.

#3. Cruise-Line Shore Excursions

In many ports, particularly in Europe, you can just get off the ship and explore on your own. Do some research before you go, and work out what you would like to see in each port.

When I visited Genoa on MSC World Europa the MSC excursion to the aquarium was €52.

It did include a bus transfer, but I walked instead (a maximum 10-minute walk) and bought my ticket for €22! A Bargain! I appreciate that not everybody can do that, but for me, it was great.

There definitely are benefits to booking with the cruise line. If you’re very nervous, or maybe you’ve flown a long way from home, they can be easy and fun.

I’ve been on some great cruise line excursions, but the official ones cost 30–50% more than booking an excursion independently.

But… for most people, booking with a company that isn’t the cruise line is almost always much, much cheaper and dare I say it, in many ways better (smaller groups, more flexible timings, etc.)

You might want to book a cruiseline excursion at tight turnaround ports or tender stops – but usually you’re just paying for the peace of mind of knowing the ship won’t leave without you.

By downloading The Cruise Globe (my free App/website), you will find we’ve just added the option to find the best independent excursions through Shore Excursions Group. Just click the ‘see excursions’ button.

We show you what’s available on the dates when you’ll really be visiting, so there’s never any confusion.

We have exclusive discounts too, and the prices are always really good. If you’re travelling as a family or group, the savings can be huge.

I know I’ll get the ‘but cruise line excursions mean the ship won’t leave without you’ comments, and that’s mostly true (they do have to leave sometimes).

If something did happen on the Shore Excursions Group excursions, though, they pay for all your hotels/food/transport to the next port and give you $1k for the inconvenience.

That sounds like a good deal to me, and I think it shows how confident they are that it won’t happen. I’ve never heard of it happening to anybody, ever, but it’s good to have the reassurance!

#4. Bottled Water and “Room Snacks”

Many first-timers don’t realise tap water on ships is perfectly safe.

Sometimes, on the older ships, it doesn’t always taste great, but I always bring “squirty squash” with me to make it fruit-flavoured if that happens!

I bring my own refillable water bottle along with me. Some cruise ships ( like the Marella fleet) have water coolers on every deck that you can visit to fill up your water bottle.

Otherwise, you might find something similar in the buffet or at the gym.

Mini-bar snacks or bottles of water found in the cabin are rarely free.

#5. Speciality Dining Every Night

New cruisers often think the main dining room is “basic” and they’ll miss out by not upgrading.

The main dining rooms on cruise ships usually serve great food, and I wouldn’t consider booking multiple speciality meals that cost extra.

I may do the odd one or two if there is something I would particularly like to try, or if I have a certain number of speciality meals included as part of a deal or promotion when booking.

I see speciality restaurants as optional treats, not necessities. The cruise line is very keen to promote these extra-charge restaurants, as they make more money by doing so.

Sometimes you can get a free speciality meal as part of your cruise line loyalty scheme. Even if you are new to cruising, with MSC you can match your loyalty status from hotel chains, as well as other cruise lines. This entitles you to free perks.

Find out all about that here:

MSC Status Match – What Is it And is it Worth Doing? A Step-by-Step Guide

#6. Spa Treatments and “Detox” Products

I think the cost of spa treatments are far higher on cruise ships than on land-based equivalent spas. They have a captive audience after all.

If you do pay for a spa treatment, expect them to start trying to upsell at the end, trying to convince you that you need to buy miracle creams or potions at a vastly inflated price. Be prepared to say no, and stand firm!

If you do want to visit the spa or have a treatment, look out for deals when onboard, usually on port days when most of the guests are off on land, exploring.

Some cruise lines have free sauna or steam areas you can use. Again, with MSC’s loyalty status (which I matched from my status with Norwegian Cruise Line), I am entitled to a free hour in the thermal area of the spa.

Before You Go

I always like to try out the free options when I am cruising, rather than paying extra. Have a look at these free things you might want to try next time you sail:

14 Free Things To Try On Your Next Cruise

I am always interested in life behind the scenes for the crew. Find out whether they have to pay for their own food when they are onboard here:

Do Cruise Ship Employees Get Free Food? – Insider Guide