It's easy to blow a small fortune on all the add-ons offered by the cruise lines. So, which
you should go for and which to skip. Some, as you will see, are opposite to what many
cruisers, maybe you too, are doing.
In my experience, your cabin while maybe will not make your cruise, it can break the enjoyment
of your cruise. Get it wrong and it is hard to have a great time. As too many people find
out the hard way, as they keep telling me.
A better cabin is worth paying extra for.
Cabins have become more important in post-pandemic cruising, where you need to have a place that
you won't mind being in if you have to quarantine. And they are a place you may find you want
to spend more time in too as we adapt to the new way of travelling.
I recommend at least look at a balcony cabin. You will have access to fresh air and can
enjoy sailing, sunrises, sunsets and views sat out there. One warning, is that once you
have cruised in a balcony cabin, it is so good that it is hard to go back to oceanview
or inside cabins.
I believe that a good cabin is worth paying extra for and always do
Although a lot of cruise passengers I speak to only self explore in ports to save money,
I think excursions are worth paying for on many cruises to get the most of every single
port.
First off, if you're cruising to a place you've never been before, or is quite foreign with
unfamiliar languages and customs, or perhaps has a reputation for being a little bit risky
or the sights are a long way from the port, then spending extra to go on an organised
cruise line tour is worth it. You will get good information, have your questions answered
and see the key sights.
Remember, if you go on the cruise line tours they ensure you get back to the ship on time,
or the ship will wait. They will not wait for late comers self touring or on independent
excursions.
In ports new to me, I almost always go on a cruise line excursion - even if it is one
of the "on your own" tours which are part escorted and part free time.
Speciality Dining is one area that I more torn on. I was in the "not worth it" camp
but have moved into the "it is worth spending on" in some cases.
Cruise lines have made it a part of the cruise experience, and are constantly adding to the
range and choice of venues, which is very appealing.
Of course, the dining included in the Main Dining Room, buffet restaurant and informal
dining venues around the pool will be enough, but going to a more speciality dining venue
can add a sense of event and occasion to the cruise.
Asian, Brazilian, Italian, French, Sushi and so on venues give you the chance of having
a table to yourselves, instead of having to share with strangers; dining in a more intimate
setting together and tasting some new cuisine that you may not have tried before .
So, if you are on a cruise celebrating a special event like birthday or anniversary, or just
want to be a bit romantic, they are definitely worth the extra.
I am not convinced that going to them often though is worth the fairly large extra costs.
So, resist the temptation to book packages.
If you do want to go and try lots of them, one alternative is to go dining at these specialty
venue during lunch, as the surcharge is usually lower.
If you are on medium and large ships, one of the best things to spend extra on is access
to the private adult-only cabana areas. These are on lines ranging from Princess Cruises,
Holland America, Seabourn and so on.
You can escape from the busy pool decks and have a space to relax and unwind. Many will
include some drinks and food, and sell daily or cruise-long packages.
They are a great treat and make sea days especially enjoyable. That is when they become worth
paying for.
Linked to that is the private cabanas on the cruise line islands in the Caribbean. These
can be a bit costly if you are travelling as a couple, but if you are travelling with
friends then they become more attractive cost wise. And so worth it
You'll have a place of your own where you can lie in the sun (or escape it) and will
often include snacks, drinks, Wi-Fi and snorkel gear. You won't have to fight for a deck chair
or worry about someone removing your belongings if you go exploring.
You need to reserve these cabanas early as they book up quickly. Definitely proving they
are worth splashing out on.
Although many say they like to switch off, most of us are used to being connected and
our friends and family - and they expect us to be.
So, if your line does not bundle Wi-Fi into your fare (which more are starting to do)
then budget it as you will likely want to use it - and so buy it for the entire cruise
before or on boarding to get the best price,
If you only want basic connection like social media and messaging, many lines now have lower
priced packages for that. For example, lines like Carnival offer that for about $8 a day
After years of lousy internet, the lines are moving to super fast Wi-Fi like Royal Caribbean
and Princess where you can stream movies, FaceTime or WhatsApp video call home.
Being connected is what we are used to, and I think worth spending to have that.
Personally, I think skipping beverage packages is a good idea as it will probably will cost
you more.
One warning sign for me is how pushy the lines are trying to get passengers to buy drinks
packages. That suggests to me they must be a good earner for the line.
First, you have to consume a huge amount to make them worthwhile and cheaper than buying
drinks individually, and secondly most lines require everyone in the same cabin (or even
other cabins with same credit card registered) to also buy the same package.
So, at a minimum do a rough calculation of how many drinks you will have and if it will
be cheaper. Also, take into account if you have a very port intensive itinerary, as you
will also be on the ship less time to use the package. If you have private island calls,
also check you can use the package on there.
The only time I ever have a drinks package is if it is bundled into the fare, either
as standard (like on Celebrity currently) or as a promotion. And they prove to me they
do not pay back.
The spa on ships are busy. And, in my view, it's not worth spending on.
The prices are much higher than most five-star hotels on land, and will have a hard sell
push at the end of treatment for products, which the consultants earn commission on and
are very skilled at getting passengers to buy.
The only time I use the spa is if I have a lot of On-Board Credit and have not found
better value things to spend it on.
Like the Spa, attending events like wine, whiskey and other tastings is probably not
worth spending on. These again will largely be guises for product selling.
Which brings me to shopping on board. If you are going to buy things on board, be that
anything from toiletries, alcohol to clothing and jewellery, then check what you can pick
it up for in port or back home. That Wi-Fi you bought will come in handy for doing that.
Duty-free alcohol and perfume is probably your best bet for getting a decent price.
But generally on board shopping in my experience is not good value
The other thing the lines push a lot are photos, which suggests again to me they must be a
good earner.
These will cost a lot. Individually or in packages it is a lot. I am not convinced they
are worth paying extra for. Will you really treasure them or will they stay packed away
once you get home?
One thing to consider is, if you do want some professional portrait shots for display at
home, price what they would cost at home versus booking a session on the ship. This is one
thing that usually costs less. So, worth it.
If you want more cost saving and budgeting ideas for cruising, I have created this playlist
with 2 videos that you will find helpful, so click to watch them right now