10 Extra Cruise Expenses People Forget

There are 10 Cruise Expenses a Lot of People Forget About https://cruisefever.net/0117-the-10-most-overlooked-cruise-expenses-and-how-to-avoid-them/ First time cruisers are usually caught off-guard when they face a few of these expenses on their cruise. We want to make sure you know how to budget for your cruise vacation and know what to expect. So here are 10 of the most overlooked cruise expenses for which you should be prepared. 1. Cruising solo - If you're going on a cruise by yourself more than likely you will still have to pay for two people. The price you see on the brochure or website is for one person and cruise lines base their prices on double-occupancy. After all, if you're reserving a cabin for yourself, that's one less room the cruise line can sell to a couple. There are some cruises lines that offer solo cabins and others offer lower rates for cruisers traveling alone. 2. Parking at the port - This is a very overlooked expense for cruisers looking to drive to the cruise terminal. Leaving your vehicle at the port can cost anywhere from $15 to $40 a day, the most expensive being in NYC. For a 7 day cruise this can amount to over $200. Some options? Stay at a nearby hotel that offers included parking and shuttle service or find a park and cruise service near the port. See our post on cruise port parking costs here: https://cruisefever.net/parking-at-cruise-ports/ 3. Surfing online - While I'm a big proponent of just leaving your email and voicemail unchecked while on a cruise, for some of us that can be impossible. If you want to keep in touch with home and do some surfing while on your cruise ship, remember this will cost you extra. Cruise lines now offer fast internet speeds at sea and charges can range from $5 to $50 and more a day. I prefer internet packages that charge by the day rather than by data used. 4. Spa and salon - Those massages, facials, and hair treatments will cost you extra, so budget these items into your vacation plans. Having onboard credit can help justify some splurging at the spa, but the average 45-minute massage will cost $80 - $140. And don't forget to factor in the cost of the tip on your treatment. 5. Shopping - Whether it's on the ship or at a cruise port, make sure you save up some extra money for shopping. Besides bringing home a few souvenirs, you might find some excellent deals. Even on the ship there are "sidewalk" sales for affordable t-shirts and trinkets. If you're a big shopper you might even be interested in the "shopping talk" that most cruise ships have. 6. Cruise photos - The photographers on a cruise ship do a fantastic job. You might not like the salesy approach some cruise lines take to those cruise photos, but the truth of the matter is, getting your pics taken at sea is so easy and fun, it’s worth getting at least a few photos. The quality is usually very good, but budget $100 or so for a few good shots that you like. You could easily spend hundreds of dollars on pictures if you really love your poses. 7. Tips/Gratuities - This one sneaks up on some first-time cruisers too. Although, some cruise lines allow you to prepay your gratuities during the check-in process, don’t forget that tips add up quick. Most cruise lines ask from $12 to $15 per day per cruiser for gratuities. So a cruise for 2 on a 7 day cruise can total at least $200 just in tips. Remember that if your service is subpar you can talk to guest services about changing this amount. 8. Specialty dining - Sure, there is plenty of free food on a cruise ship, but some nights you might just want a nice, quiet dinner with extraordinary service and dining selections. Most alternative dining options start at $20 and can go up to $50 per person. Some luxury lines include these restaurants for free, but most of the main stream lines require an extra surcharge for the privilege. 9. Shore excursions - This one is overlooked a lot too. You can just walk around the port for free if you want, but some ports offer an experience you won’t be able to get anywhere else, so why not just live a little. Whether you want to rent a cabana, get a guided tour, or do some kayaking and snorkeling, remember this is an extra cost for your cruise. 10. Some onboard activities – Your cruise ship will have a ton of free activities to take part in, but some cost extra. Some fitness activities like yoga and spinning classes might have an extra charge at the gym. Bingo will also cost extra. Some ships now have escape rooms, laser tag, and IMAX movies, and these all may cost an extra few dollars.