50 Cruises Later: 4 Things You Should Skip Paying Extra For

If you’ve boarded a large cruise ship, chances are you’ve been charged some hidden fees and surcharges. Some all-inclusive packages on cruises don’t take into account alcoholic beverages, gastronomic specialties, and luxuries like priority boarding.

With so many upgrade options, it’s easy for your expenses to skyrocket. As a frequent cruiser who has been on over 50 cruises and paid for those enhancements, I’ve discovered that I can have a terrific cruising experience without them.

These are 4 things that aren’t worth paying extra for if you go out on cruises

No windows to enjoy the view on cruises

During a recent voyage on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas, I tested this idea by taking the cheapest feasible cruises on the market. I forewent nearly every upgrade and went with the least expensive accommodation. These are the extras I didn’t miss and didn’t skip. There were no porthole cabins available when I booked my family’s trip, so I decided to stay in the most affordable option—an interior stateroom—to save money. To be honest, it was fantastic. 

Except for not having a view, the stateroom was quite identical to the ship’s more costly staterooms. We were able to sleep like babies because the room was dark at night, which was a benefit of not having a window.

Although my family and I didn’t spend much time in the stateroom during the day, it would have been lovely to have a view of the sea. I would go to the deck whenever I needed sun or just wanted to look at the sea. I believe that choosing a cheaper hotel and skipping costly upgrades is a smart strategy to save a lot of money on your trip if there is a significant price difference between different types of accommodations.

Same VIP experiences without paying an extra dime 

VIP seats in onboard theaters and expedited boarding are just two of the many benefits that Royal Caribbean’s The Key program gives travelers. Each person must pay around $30 (€28) per day. The Key isn’t, in my opinion, the finest use of your money. Although our ship was full, my family and I found embarkation and disembarkation to be swift and easy, and we had easy access to the performances and activities on board without priority entry.

If you truly wanted some of the benefits, you could also get them for less money, such as high-speed internet. Some cruisers find comfort in knowing that they won’t miss out on the activities they are looking forward to thanks to the Key, but I was able to do everything I wanted without having to pay for the program.  

Several free activities for you to enjoy on cruises

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Classes for cupcake decorating, the escape room, and cocktail classes are among the extra-charged and rapidly sold-out attractions on Symphony of the Seas. Instead, I concentrated on taking advantage of the free activities offered on my seven-night cruise. I had a lot of choices because Symphony of the Seas is the second-largest ship in the world. Among our favorite activities were zip-lining, ice skating, rock climbing, laser tag, miniature golf, and merry-go-round rides. We were so busy that we hardly had time to consider how we were going to pay for other things.

Unlimited beverage packages can be expensive on cruises

If purchased on the ship, the Symphony of the Seas’ alcoholic beverage package costs roughly $100 (€93) per person each day. Even on my vacation days, when I drink the most, I don’t drink enough to justify the expense, so I paid for drinks at the bar a la carte to save money on this trip.

Cruise line-specific packages differ, but in my experience, they frequently result in overindulgence, making them a simple add-on to omit.

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