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Is Your Cruise Really All-Inclusive? The Hidden Costs Nobody Warns You About

Professor Melissa
Professor Melissa
🏅Authority
👁️ 11K views📅 9 months ago⏱️ 18:43
What This Creator Said
Creator Had Mixed FeelingsTips & Advice🏅Authority Creator
Veteran Cruiser

Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.

Creator's Key Takeaways

I recently booked a Panama Canal cruise and I had a little sticker shock even though I've taken over 40 cruises when I saw all of those port fees and those taxes because Panama is notorious for them.

On most lines, daily gratuitities range from about $16 to $25 per person per day depending on the cabin class.

I will buy one internet package, the highest package, and I will share it with myself and with my children.

The one cruise line that I think is worth buying the drink package, the only cruise line that I ever buy the drink package, in fact, is Holland America Line.

Creator's Tips & Advice

Be aware of port fees, which can add $100 to $250 per person depending on the itinerary.
Consider prepaying gratuities or letting them be added automatically to your bill.
Share a single Wi-Fi package across devices to save money, but check if your cruise line allows it.
Evaluate drink packages carefully; they may not be worth it unless you are a heavy drinker.
Use a travel rewards credit card to avoid foreign transaction fees and earn points.

🆕New to Cruising? This Creator Addresses:

Unexpected port fees and taxesResearch your itinerary's port fees before booking, as they can add significant costs.
Gratuities being automatically added or optionalUnderstand that gratuities are usually automatically added, but you can choose to prepay or remove them.

Questions This Creator Answers

QWhat are the hidden costs on cruises that can wreck your budget?
QHow do gratuities work on cruise ships?
QWhat are the best strategies for managing Wi-Fi costs on a cruise?
QAre drink packages worth the cost?
QHow can you avoid foreign transaction fees on a cruise?

Topics Covered

Wifi ConnectivityMehValue PricingMehDrink Package½ Happy BaconService Crew2½ Happy BaconPort DestinationMeh

Port Highlights

Alaska
Panama Canal1½ Sad Bacon
How to read the Trip Bacon Score
Happy Bacon — creators loved this aspect
Sad Bacon — creators took issue with this
Meh — no strong opinion either way

Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = “meh”, 5 = “bacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.

About our Bacon Score methodology
YouTube Video Description

You step onto the ship ready to relax, but by the end of the cruise, your onboard bill is screaming louder than the sail-away party. Sound familiar? Let’s pull back the curtain on all the sneaky ways cruises drain your wallet. If you like cruising but don’t like wasting money, this is the episode you didn’t know you needed. Bring a notebook or your Notes app—you’ll want to keep track. **FREE Casino Cruises** https://urcomped.com/Affiliate/LandingPage/60?src=profmelissa **Best Credit Card for Cruisers** https://www.capitalone.com/credit-cards/lp/referrals/?referralCode=9W5Y0T8W&customerName=Kelley&programCode=3014&pId=923812&oC=COFR58RSsw **CHAPTERS** (0:00) Why do cruises feel “all-inclusive” until your bill arrives? (1:29) Are gratuities optional or expected? (3:25) Who benefits from your gratuities? (4:21) What’s the best (and worst) way to tip crew members? (6:28) Is cruise ship Wi-Fi worth the price—or just highway robbery at sea? (9:55) Are drink packages a good deal or a trap in disguise? (13:07) How do port days affect the value of your drink package? (15:08) Why could using a debit card cost you even more on a cruise? ----------------------------------------------- PODCAST Want this video in audio form? Stream my podcast: Spotify: https://profmel.com/spotify Apple: https://profmel.com/apple ----------------------------------------------- LINKS 🛳 Shop my favorite cruise outfits and essentials: https://profmel.com/shop 🛳 Want to become a travel agent? https://www.profmelissa.com/travelagent 🛳 Get my top recommended travel card: http://www.profmel.com/card 🛳 Want to book a cruise or take a cruise with me? https://profmel.com/book 🛳 Get FREE Port Guides, cruise advice, and more at https://www.profmelissa.com/ 🛳 Get my FREE Cruise Packing List & Planning Guide: https://profmel.com/subscribe 🛳 Want to book my favorite private drivers? http://www.profmel.com/drivers ------------------------------------------------- CONNECT WITH ME TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@professormelissa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProfMelissaCruises/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_melissa_newman/ ------------------------------------------------- Please note that sometimes, my posts contain affiliate links. This means I may receive a commission through purchases, but this does not affect you as a consumer or cost you more in any way. I appreciate your use of my links, as this helps support my channel. ♥️