Stop Overpaying on Cruises: 7 Extras You Shouldn’t Buy

Cruises are marketed as nearly or fully all-inclusive, and that is true for the basics. Your stateroom, housekeeping, main dining rooms, buffets, entertainment, pools, gym, and kids clubs are usually covered. But there are a bunch of extras that add up and surprise people when the invoice slides under the door the night before checkout. Gratuities, Wi-Fi, specialty dining, drinks, shore excursions, spa treatments, and private-island add-ons are common budget pitfalls.

What the base fare usually covers

• Stateroom and housekeeping
• Main dining room and buffet meals
• Basic beverages at breakfast (water, tea, regular coffee, basic juices)
• Onboard entertainment and production shows
• Pool access, gym, kids clubs and most daily activities

The common extras that add the most to your bill

• Gratuities or service charges — often added daily and per person or per cabin. Expect roughly $10 to $20 per person per day on many contemporary lines; some packaged options include these.
• Wi-Fi — streaming vs basic tiers can be pricey. Cruise Wi-Fi is much better than it used to be but still often costs extra.
• Beverage packages (alcoholic and nonalcoholic) — can add $40 to $80+ per person per day depending on line and package level.
• Specialty dining and cover charges for premium restaurants
• Shore excursions and private-island add-ons — cruise-run tours are convenient but expensive.
• Spa treatments, fitness classes, laundry, photos — another set of optional charges.
• Room service delivery fees and pay-per-use experiences like simulators, arcades, or shore transport shuttles

Quick budgeting rule of thumb

Plan for an extra $80 to $100 per person per day if you expect to use Wi-Fi, drink regularly, do specialty dining, and book a few excursions. If you plan minimal extras, your out-of-pocket will be much smaller — sometimes only gratuities and a few incidentals.

Line-by-line: What is and is not included (and how to save)

Celebrity

Included: excellent dining, entertainment, main venues. Not included: beverage packages, Wi-Fi, specialty dining, excursions, gratuities. Suites and AquaClass often come with drink packages and premium Wi-Fi.

Tip: If you do not drink, buy Wi-Fi a la carte and purchase occasional drinks on an open-tab basis. Look for post-booking discount emails for packages.

Princess

Included: main dining, buffet, casual options and shows. Not included unless you add it: specialty drinks, laundry, excursions, spa, specialty dining and gratuities.

Tip: Princess Plus and Premier bundles (roughly $65 to $70 per person per day) can include gratuities, Wi-Fi, a beverage package, specialty-dining credits and excursion credits — often worth it if you plan to use those services.

Holland America

Very similar to Princess. They offer Have It All packages that often bundle gratuities, Wi-Fi, drinks and credits for excursions and dining. Pre-purchasing on sale can save a lot of money and reduces nickel-and-diming onboard.

Royal Caribbean

Included: lots of free activities, high-quality production shows, many onboard facilities like rock-climbing walls, ice rinks, pools, and family attractions. Not included: gratuities, specialty dining, beverage packages, room service fees, premium experiences (VOOM internet, iFly, simulators) and private-island add-ons.

Tip: Royal is highly a la carte. Book extras in advance during pre-cruise sales for big discounts. Prepaid specialty dining and internet packages are often cheaper than buying onboard.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)

NCL has a similar inclusion set to contemporary lines and offers More at Sea bundles. These can include beverage packages, Wi-Fi, and specialty dining credits but usually do not include gratuities.

Tip: More at Sea is a strong value for many cruisers — compare the cost of ala carte vs bundle based on your daily consumption.

Virgin Voyages

Virgin moved to tiered fares: Base, Essential and Premium. Essential is generally the sweet spot and includes specialty dining and Wi-Fi; gratuities must be prepaid separately. Premium adds extras like a daily bar tab and faster Wi-Fi.

Tip: Prepay gratuities for a discount and buy bar tabs ahead of time when promos include added credit.

Viking Ocean

Included: one excursion per port, beer and wine with meals, Wi-Fi, 24-hour room service on many ships, gym and thermal suites. Not included: premium spirits, additional excursions beyond the included one, and gratuities for many US bookings.

Tip: Consider a spirits package if you enjoy cocktails or beer outside mealtimes. Viking still offers strong inclusions compared to contemporary lines.

Oceania

Oceania’s Your World package now includes gratuities, unlimited Wi-Fi, self-service laundry, specialty dining and beverages with meals (beer and wine at lunch and dinner). You can choose wine/beer with meals or an excursion credit depending on the fare.

Tip: If you do not drink with meals, opt for the excursion credit. Many travelers also use happy hour bar specials for a balance of value and variety.

Explora Journeys and Silversea

Explora and Silversea are close to fully all-inclusive: premium beverages, gratuities, Wi-Fi, and dining venues are usually covered. Extras are mainly ultra-premium wines, special overland packages, and multi-day pre or post tours.

Tip: These premium lines cost more up front but often result in far fewer end-of-cruise charges.

Azamara

Included: gratuities, basic beverages with meals and in bars, some special events, self-service laundry and shuttles into port towns. Not included: premium beverages, Wi-Fi is often extra, shore excursions and spa services.

Tip: Review Azamara’s on-board package offers and consider upgrading to an ultimate beverage package to avoid on-the-spot charges.

How to decide: package or pay as you go

• Do the math. Add up your likely drinks, Wi-Fi needs, excursions and specialty dining across the cruise length. Packages can be worth it if you will use them heavily.
• If you do not drink, skip drink packages and compare Wi-Fi-only or bundles that include gratuities and delivery fees.
• Pre-purchase bundles during booking or early post-booking emails to get discount pricing.
• Loyalty programs reduce costs. Repeat cruisers often get complimentary or discounted Wi-Fi and drink perks.
• For port-heavy itineraries, you may not get full value from some packages. Plan shore activities carefully.

Budgeting checklist

• Base fare (including taxes and port fees)
• Gratuities or service charges times nights (or confirm package inclusion)
• Drinks: package vs ala carte; bottled water and specialty coffee
• Wi-Fi: devices times days; streaming vs basic
• Specialty dining: number of nights you plan to book
• Shore excursions: number of ports and average cost; private-island extras
• Spa, classes, laundry, photos and incidentals

Top money-saving tips

• Pre-purchase Wi-Fi, beverage bundles and specialty dining during early booking sales.
• Use off-ship independent excursions for better value in many ports.
• Check loyalty discounts for Wi-Fi and beverage credits.
• Prepay gratuities when there is a discount to avoid surprises at checkout.
• Think twice about on-ship photos and spa treatments — these are classic impulse purchases that inflate final bills.

Summary: which lines are closest to truly all-inclusive?

• Mostly all-inclusive: Explora Journeys, Silversea, Azamara, Oceania
• Almost everything included: Viking Ocean (one excursion per port and other strong inclusions)
• Packages matter: Princess, Holland America, Celebrity, NCL
• Tiered/variable: Virgin Voyages (Base, Essential, Premium)
• Highly a la carte: Royal Caribbean — lots included in activities but extras are sold separately

What are the single biggest unexpected charges on cruises?

Gratuities and Wi-Fi are the most common surprise charges. Beverage packages and shore excursions are also frequent budget busters if you do not plan ahead.

Are drink packages ever worth it?

Yes, if you drink several alcoholic drinks or specialty coffees per day, a package can save money. Run the numbers: compare expected drinks per day to the package daily rate. If you drink little or occasionally, ala carte is usually cheaper.

Should I buy excursions from the cruise line or independently?

Cruise excursions offer convenience and guaranteed reboarding times, but they are often more expensive. For many ports, independent local operators provide equal or better experiences at a lower cost — just ensure they meet ship reboarding schedules.

Does booking a suite always include extras?

Many lines offer more inclusions with suites, such as premium drink packages, faster Wi-Fi and specialty dining credits. But inclusions vary by line and fare family, so verify the suite perks before booking.

How can I avoid a big bill at checkout?

Prepay gratuities and packages when discounts are available, track onboard spending daily, and avoid impulse purchases like photos and premium spa treatments late in the cruise.