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Cruise Things That Are a Total Waste of Money

Professor Melissa
Professor Melissa
🏅Authority
👁️ 154K views📅 4 months ago⏱️ 15:11
Royal Caribbean Group logo
Royal Caribbean Group
What This Creator Said
Creator Warns AgainstTips & 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

The unlimited drink package it sells you a feeling. It sells you a feeling of freedom, that's right.

If you book a massage or a facial thinking you're going to experience zen and relaxation and comfort and calm, you know what really happens?

Today when you get an email from a cruise line about an upgrade it's more of an upsell.

I almost never do cruise line excursions.

Creator's Tips & Advice

✓Pay a la carte for drinks instead of buying a package unless you are a heavy drinker.
✓Avoid pre-paying for large photo packages; buy individual photos after seeing them.
✓Hire a private driver for shore excursions instead of booking cruise line tours.
✓Check the app for room service fees and look for free continental breakfast options.
✓Bring a Ziploc bag with snacks for times when food options are limited.

🆕New to Cruising? This Creator Addresses:

Missing the ship during an excursion — Book a cruise line excursion for peace of mind, as the ship will wait for you.
Wasting money on packages — Be honest about your habits; don't let cruise lines convince you to buy unnecessary packages.

Questions This Creator Answers

QAre cruise line drink packages worth it?
QWhat are the hidden costs of cruise ship spa treatments?
QHow can you avoid wasting money on cruise upgrades?
QWhat are the pros and cons of booking shore excursions through the cruise line?
QIs duty-free shopping on cruises actually a good deal?

Topics Covered

Drink Package3½ Sad BaconDining Room Service3 Sad BaconExcursions2 Sad BaconValue Pricing4 Sad BaconSpa Fitness2½ Sad BaconWifi Connectivity1½ Sad BaconDuty Free Shopping3 Sad Bacon

Port Highlights

Cozumel2½ Sad Bacon
Top: Beach club visit
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↓

Ever look at your final cruise bill and wonder how you spent so much money on things you barely used? Cruise lines are experts at selling extras that sound smart online but quietly drain your wallet once you are on board. This episode breaks down the most common cruise add-ons that waste money, from drink packages and spa treatments to photo packages, shore excursions, duty-free shopping, and so-called upgrades. **Are Cruise Line Drink Packages Actually Worth It?** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt6nNcjNwCc **Private Driver Recommendations** https://www.profmelissa.com/drivers **CHAPTERS** (0:46) Is the cruise drink package actually worth it? (2:11) When does the cruise ship spa become a money trap? (3:45) Are cruise line “upgrades” really upgrades? (6:01) Are cruise line shore excursions worth the premium? (9:58) Is duty-free shopping on cruises really a deal? (12:37) Why should you bring a Ziploc bag on a cruise? ----------------------------------------------- PODCAST Want this video in audio form? Stream my podcast: Spotify: https://profmel.com/spotify Apple: https://profmel.com/apple ----------------------------------------------- LINKS 🛳️ Get my Travel Insurance Guide for Cruisers: https://profmel.com/insurance 🛳️ 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 🛳️ Grab my FREE Cruise Packing List & Planner: 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/professormelissa ------------------------------------------------- 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. ♥️