Other Smart Tactics to Cut Onboard Spending

Forget the midnight buffets or whatever—what actually nukes my budget are those sneaky little charges. Prepaid service fees. Port taxes that seem to change depending on the day. “Convenience” options that are anything but. Sometimes I honestly believe they’d charge for air if they thought you’d pay it.

Prepaid Gratuities

Standing in line at guest services, listening to someone argue about surprise service charges? Been there. Prepaid gratuities aren’t some mysterious scam—they’re just a way to stop your final bill from exploding. Family Cruise Companion says paying tips ahead of time means one less thing to stress about when you’re trying to pack up and not cry about your bank account. But you have to double-check the cruise line’s tipping rules, because some (Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, whatever) will sneak daily charges onto your account unless you handle it early. Nobody tells you that prepaying sometimes keeps you at last year’s lower rates before they hike them up. I’ve forgotten before, and then random “convenience” fees hit my account for stuff I never even touched.

Prepaying doesn’t just cover dining staff and housekeeping—sometimes it even includes porters or random onboard workers. The best part? You don’t have to awkwardly fumble with cash or envelopes. Carnival’s guest services said people who prepay spend about 25% less, which, okay, maybe. Use the app, skip the line, and maybe you won’t need a drink to recover from your checkout bill.

Choosing the Right Cruise Port

Ever get off at a port that’s basically a parking lot and suddenly you’re paying $99 for a shuttle to the “real” town? Yeah, me too. The port you pick can totally wreck your budget, and cruise lines know it. Port fees? Not fixed. Mad About Cruises claims travel agents have secret ways of finding port-based deals, but I’m not convinced. New Orleans sometimes throws in free transfers, Miami charges you for breathing. And flying across the country for a “deal” doesn’t save money if you then drop $300 on airport taxis. My cousin still does it. I don’t get it.

Some “discount” ports are just ugly shipping yards with a palm tree. The trick is to find homeports that toss in perks like free parking, easy airport access, or fewer weird surcharges. Start your trip at a port that’s not a nightmare to reach and you’ll dodge a bunch of random fees—suite check-ins, luggage porters, all that. Sometimes just switching departure cities saves enough for a couple of shore excursions. Or at least some halfway decent souvenirs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who even knows what’s included anymore? I try to write down every “free” amenity, but then specialty dining, drink packages, and those tiny water bottles keep showing up on my bill like bad luck.

What onboard amenities are usually included in a cruise package?

Main dining rooms, buffets, basic drinks like coffee and water—that’s the standard, unless you accidentally book some “no-frills” fare everyone warns you about. Pools, gym access, most shows—they’re usually complimentary, unless you wander into a spa or something with a velvet rope. Espresso? Gelato? Suddenly that’s $8. I once took a “free” yoga class, lost my room key, and had to pay $10 to get a new one. Not sure how that’s my fault. Luxury cruise lines brag about all-inclusive, but “all” just means “most,” and you’ll find out what’s not included the hard way.

How can you find hidden discounts on cruise line extras?

Loyalty clubs, pre-purchase deals, random flash sales—always buried in your email, which, yeah, I actually read. Sometimes the app hides beverage package discounts under “system updates.” I don’t even bother asking travel agents about Wi-Fi deals anymore; turns out, they get a kickback for selling you the expensive stuff.

This one cruise expert in Miami (probably not an actual expert?) told me prepaying online can save up to 35%. Another guy from Vancouver only books shore excursions through third-party sites—he claims they’re always cheaper. He also missed the boat once, so there’s that.

Are there specific times of the year when cruise deals are most abundant?

“Wave season”—January through March—supposedly floods the internet with deals. Except I found a Black Friday cruise that was $300 cheaper than anything I saw in the spring. Some old couple at the bar swore by September right after school starts: empty ships, low fares, extra onboard credit. Nobody mentions hurricane season or random port swaps. Well, the crew grumbles about it by the elevators, but nobody listens.

Oh, and Alaska cruises? Prices drop fast in early May. If you see a “kids sail free” deal, double-check—usually it’s only if you want twin beds and don’t mind a surprise insurance fee.

Which onboard expenses should first-time cruisers be aware of to budget effectively?

Think you’re done after buying the cruise? Nope. Daily gratuities can hit $20 per person, Wi-Fi can run over $100, and every specialty coffee, photo, or “port fee adjustment” pops up like a bad penny. The breakfast buffet is never open when I want pancakes. Travel insurance and medical stuff on board aren’t covered by your health plan. My friend’s kid swallowed a marble—$175 for an X-ray, and nobody even gave him a sticker.

Can joining a cruise line loyalty program significantly reduce onboard costs?

People love to brag about their fancy lanyards—gold, platinum, “diamond plus,” whatever. First time I signed up, I got a free drink voucher. It was sparkling wine, but hey, free is free. Used priority boarding a bunch of times, didn’t pay a cent. Higher tiers sometimes toss in laundry, cocktail hours, room upgrades—though this site says luxury lines just build those perks into the fare and call it a day.

Last cruise, my neighbor had a pillow menu and a robe for being “Emerald level.” I got a chocolate on my pillow. Apparently, every ten nights you rack up with one brand, you save a little, but honestly, it’s mostly for bragging rights.

What strategies do experienced cruisers use to minimize expenses while on board?

So, I watched this couple literally unzip their suitcase and pull out wine like it was a secret mission—nobody blinked. Apparently, most cruise lines just shrug and let you bring a bottle or two, but then you get slapped with some random corkage fee if you actually want to drink it at dinner. I still have no clue if that’s enforced or just a scare tactic. Someone else (was it the guy in the Hawaiian shirt?) said they swear by dragging a reusable water bottle everywhere because, honestly, who’s paying $4 for water? But then again, the tap water on ships—eh, sometimes tastes like pool chemicals. Maybe that’s just me.

I swear, all the best hacks come from eavesdropping in elevators. One morning, a crew member—looked like he hadn’t slept in a week—told me you could skip laundry fees by just rinsing stuff in the hot tub and letting it dry on your balcony. Gross? Maybe. Genius? Also maybe. I haven’t tried it. Yet.

Wi-Fi prices? Forget it. I just download everything—offline maps, random podcasts, whatever—at home before I leave. Messaging apps too, though half the time I forget and then regret it instantly. Oh, and those ship-sponsored shore excursions? Total wallet trap. I’ve started booking through outside companies (this blog swears it’s half the price), but then I’m always paranoid I’ll be the idiot waving at the ship as it sails away without me. Worth the risk? Depends on the day.