01 The three unavoidable extras
These will hit almost every cruiser who doesn't have a bundled fare tier covering them. Daily gratuities, drinks beyond the basics, and Wi-Fi unless bundled.
- Gratuities / service charges: $18-20 per guest per day on standard cabins, $20-25 on suites (Princess/Royal $18-$18.50 standard; Norwegian $20 standard; Princess suite $20; Royal full suite $21; Norwegian Haven $25). 7-night cruise for two = $252-350 in gratuities alone.
- Bar drinks: $8-15 for beer/wine, $10-14 for cocktails. 18-20% automatic gratuity on every drink. A few drinks per day = hundreds per week.
- Wi-Fi: $15-18 per device per day unless bundled. Bundled Wi-Fi is usually the best value if you need it at all.
02 The common extras most cruisers hit
Not unavoidable, you can skip them, but most cruisers pay for at least one or two.
- Specialty dining: $29-75/guest/meal. Usually better than main dining, but main dining is genuinely fine.
- Shore excursions: $50-300+ per person per port booked through the ship. 30-50% more than independent booking, but the ship waits for their groups.
- Photos: $20-30 per print, $250-500 for a full digital package. Most cruisers skip them entirely.
- Soda: Not always included. Refreshment packages run $10-25/day.
03 The optional money pits
These add up fast if you're not paying attention.
- Casino, obvious. Set a hard budget before boarding.
- Spa treatments, $150-300+ per service. Thermal suite pass ($30-200/week) is the one spa thing often worth it.
- Specialty classes (mixology, wine tasting), $30-125 each. Some are genuinely fun; some are content marketing.
- Room service, flat fee per order on most lines ($5-10), plus 18%. Continental breakfast via door-card is still free.
- Laundry, drop-off per-piece is expensive. Self-serve machines are reasonable.
- Minibar, any bottle you open is on your account. Check before you drink.
04 What is NOT a hidden fee
Cruise lines include more than people assume.
- Main dining room: three meals, multi-course dinner, included.
- Buffet, open most of the day.
- Casual venues (Princess Alfredo's, Royal Park Café, Norwegian Indulge): free.
- Basic coffee/tea/iced tea/lemonade/water, always free.
- Pools, hot tubs, gym, shows, live music, kids club on family-oriented lines.
05 How to know what your cruise will really cost
Two steps before you board.
- Pick the fare tier honestly. Bundled upgrades save money if you'll use what they bundle, cost money if you won't. Our calculator runs the math for your specific trip.
- Budget a float. Even fully bundled, expect $100-300 per person per week for excursions, photos, spa, gift shop, anything beyond bundled fare. More if you have casino interest.
- Knowing the real total up front means no surprises at disembark.