I’ve been on more than 50 cruises over the years, which has given me a strong sense of what’s worth spending my money on and what isn’t.
I rarely hesitate to splurge on spa services, (certain) specialty cocktails, and fine-dining restaurants at sea, but there are a few add-ons I just rarely believe are worth it.
Here are a few things you won’t see me buying on board or paying extra for on a cruise.
To me, balcony staterooms rarely justify their higher price.
This may be a divisive opinion, but I don’t think balcony rooms are worth the extra money.
I’ve found that balcony seating is rarely as spacious as the lounge chairs elsewhere on the ship. If your party is larger than two people, you probably won’t have enough room for everyone to comfortably enjoy the space together.
However, lack of space is just one of my gripes with balcony staterooms.
A significant amount of light can intrude into your room in the morning, and at times, cigarette smoke and noise from surrounding balconies can feel inescapable. Plus, leaving the balcony door open for a sea breeze can just lead to a wind tunnel in your stateroom.
To me, the higher cost of these accommodations doesn’t seem worth it. Save your money and book a stateroom with a sizable porthole instead. This accommodation offers all the sightseeing you need, with a lot more privacy.
Besides, when a ship has so much to explore, it’s best to get out of your room and enjoy everything your cruise has to offer.
Trying to break even on an all-inclusive drink package feels like a Herculean feat.
Many cruise lines offer all-inclusive drink packages that allow passengers to order unlimited beverages throughout their voyage (with a few small caveats).
These packages vary by cruise line, but they’re usually tiered, with the lowest-cost option offering fountain sodas and other non-alcoholic beverages. The most expensive option typically includes these drinks plus other alcoholic concoctions.
Although I understand the appeal of ordering prepaid beverages throughout your trip, I’ve done the math, and it turns out it’s often harder to break even than I expected.
Some of the lowest sale prices for deluxe beverage packages I’ve seen are about $73 per person per day, plus gratuities, which are automatically added to this price.
I’d probably need to purchase six expensive alcoholic drinks almost every day on my cruise, including port days, to see a return on my investment.
Although drinking this much isn’t an impossible feat, I’ll save money and spend less time feeling hungover if I pay for drinks à la carte.
Specialty cups may look cute, but they’re impractical and often go unused in everyday life.
Before investing in a branded hurricane glass or paying a few extra bucks for a specialty cup, ask yourself whether you’ll actually use it at home or if it’ll simply gather dust in the back of a cabinet. For me, it’s always the latter.
After learning the hard way, I’ve gotten into the habit of asking myself this question before pulling out my wallet for any vacation purchases.
Hydration is essential, but I avoid overpaying for plastic water bottles.
Staying hydrated is important, especially if you’ve been making the most of your alcoholic drink package during a warm-weather cruise. However, the cost of buying bottled water on the ship can quickly add up.
Instead, I save money by bringing a reusable bottle to use at filtered-water refill stations throughout the ship. In addition to being a more economical option, it’s also more environmentally friendly than drinking out of a plastic bottle.
If you’re devoted to disposable bottles, many cruise lines allow passengers to bring a case of water aboard on the first day of their trip, which can save them a lot of hard-earned money. Definitely look into your ship’s policy to see if this is allowed.
It doesn’t make sense to pay for underwhelming bar food when there are so many all-you-can-eat options.
A smorgasbord of dining options is usually included in the price of a cruise. Between quick-service eateries, buffets, and traditional sit-down restaurants, there’s no shortage of food on board most sailings.
Although I’m willing to pay more for upscale dining at the ships’ signature steakhouses and celebrity chef-inspired bistros, you won’t find me munching on soggy nachos and tasteless tots that cost a premium at many of the onboard bars.
These types of snacks are generally relatively low in price, which makes it tempting to splurge on them after a few cocktails. However, chances are that you’ll find more fulfilling, complimentary options elsewhere on the ship.
Skip the unnecessary extra charges on items you can easily get on land, where you probably don’t have access to unlimited, complimentary food.
I don’t make any big spur-of-the-moment purchases on the ship.
When you step inside a cruise boutique, you may find luxury items — like pre-owned Rolex watches, gemstones, and vintage Louis Vuitton bags — among other enticing jewelry and accessories. I steer clear of them all.
Unless you’re already an expert, it’s nearly impossible to assess the quality and value of these luxury items when you’re in the middle of the ocean and don’t have a strong internet connection.
If buyer’s remorse kicks in after your trip, you also can’t head back on board to return your items.
So consider saving any big-ticket purchases for a reputable dealer back home, where you can easily research an item’s market value — and take your time debating whether it’s worth it — before buying.
Duty-free alcohol and perfume are usually not that great a deal to me.
I’ve been hard-pressed to find any real deals at onboard shops.
Although you can buy some duty-free items, such as perfume, for less than their retail prices, I’ve usually found similar sales when I’m back on land.
Unless I snag a rare liquor that’s not sold where I live, carrying home an easy-to-break bottle of booze is always more trouble than it’s worth.
Many photo packages fail to capture authentic moments with your loved ones.
Photos are the best vacation souvenir. They take up minimal space, are highly personal, and won’t end up in a donation bin when you clean out your storage closet.
Perhaps the best thing about pictures is that they’re completely free, which is the reason I never waste my valuable vacation time queued up for the ship photographer. After all, the cruise’s staged photos in front of a fake-looking ocean backdrop aren’t that special.
Instead, hire a professional photographer for high-quality family portraits at a port, or use a camera or smartphone to snap your own action shots of your loved ones enjoying time on the ship.
Many onboard internet packages offer slow speeds at hefty prices.
One of the best things about being on a cruise ship is that I’m forced to disconnect, not just because I’m on vacation, but also because there’s not much internet connection in the middle of the ocean.
It can be hard to let go, and it isn’t always realistic to be cut off from land for days on end. However, unless I absolutely need WiFi, I’ll never fork over my cash for low-grade internet on the ship.
Though this service has been improving on many cruises, I’ve still found the internet can be rather spotty and expensive.
If you plan to work remotely on a cruise, allow for a lot of flexibility in your schedule and research ports where you can find reliable WiFi.
This story was originally published on November 17, 2022, and most recently updated on June 15, 2026.
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