Before our Mexican Riviera cruise on Discovery Princess, we thought we had the budget figured out. Cabin — checked. Flights — checked. A little spending money for drinks — checked. What we hadn’t fully accounted for was the steady drip of extras that appear the moment you step onboard.
These aren’t obscure fees buried in the fine print. They’re the everyday extras that most cruise lines charge separately, and knowing about them upfront makes the difference between a relaxing holiday and an anxious final billing review.
For a full breakdown of what IS covered in your cruise fare, see our guide to what’s actually included in your cruise price.
1. Gratuities — $14–18 per person, per day
This is the one that catches most first-timers off guard. Cruise lines automatically add a daily gratuity charge to your onboard account — typically $14–18 per person per day. On a 14-night sailing for two people, that’s $392–504 before you’ve bought a single drink or booked a single excursion. Factor this into your total cruise cost at the booking stage rather than treating it as a surprise at the end.
Note: some cruise lines include gratuities in the base fare — Celestyal Cruises, for example, bundles them into every ticket price. Always check your specific cruise line’s policy before budgeting for this.
2. Wi-Fi — $10–20 per device, per day
Internet access costs extra on virtually every mainstream cruise line. Basic packages (email and light browsing) sit around $10–15 per day; premium packages run $18–25. Satellite internet in the middle of the Atlantic is genuinely slow — even premium can struggle with video calls during peak hours.
Our approach on longer crossings: buy the basic package for essential communication and treat open-ocean days as a proper digital detox. In port, most cafés offer free Wi-Fi.
3. Beverage Packages — $25–55 per person, per day
Basic non-alcoholic drinks are included. Everything else is extra. Cruise lines sell packages at different tiers:
| Package tier | Typical daily cost | What’s covered |
|---|---|---|
| Soft / non-alcoholic | $25–33 | Sodas, juices, specialty coffees, sometimes beer & wine |
| Easy / classic | $35–42 | Beer, house wine, standard cocktails |
| Premium | $45–55 | Premium spirits, cocktails, wines, specialty coffee |
One important rule: all guests sharing a cabin must purchase the same package level. If you drink more than 3–4 drinks per day, a package typically pays off. Light drinkers usually save money paying per drink. Pre-purchasing before boarding is almost always cheaper than buying onboard.
4. Shore Excursions — $50–180+ per person
This is where cruise budgets can spiral fastest. On our Discovery Princess Mexican Riviera sailing, we booked a ship excursion in Puerto Vallarta for $100 per person — $200 for the two of us, for a single port stop. Ship excursions offer one thing independent tours can’t: a guaranteed return. If an official excursion runs late, the ship waits.
That said, local operators or platforms like GetYourGuide and Viator often offer comparable experiences at $50–70 per person. For well-touristed ports where you’re comfortable navigating independently, independent booking saves real money.
Research each port before you sail rather than booking at the onboard excursion desk, where prices are consistently higher.
5. Specialty Dining — $40–80 per person
Beyond the main dining room and buffet, cruise ships offer specialty restaurants — Italian, Japanese, steakhouse — that charge a cover fee of $40–80 per person. For a couple on a 14-night sailing, two or three specialty dinners adds $160–480 to the bill.
Many cruise lines sell dining packages that reduce the per-restaurant cost if you plan ahead. Worth building one or two into the budget for a sea day when you want something different.
6. Spa Treatments — $80–200+
Onboard spas are full resort-style facilities with pricing to match: a 60-minute massage typically runs $100–150, facials and body treatments $100–200, and a day spa thermal suite pass $35–70 per person. If spa time matters to you, look for deals on port days — when many passengers are ashore, spas often offer reduced rates to fill the schedule.
7. Premium Activities and Fitness Classes — $10–100
Most onboard activities are included — pools, shows, gym access, deck games. But a few require payment: racing simulators ($10–15), go-kart tracks ($15–20), specialty fitness classes like yoga or spin ($20–40), and personal training sessions ($75–100 per hour).
Check your specific ship’s schedule and pricing before boarding if you plan to use these regularly.
8. Room Service — $3–8 delivery fee
Late-night snacks or breakfast in bed come with a delivery charge on most mainstream cruise lines — typically $3–8 per order. The simplest workaround: a quick trip to the buffet. Many passengers keep a small stock of snacks from port supermarkets in the cabin for exactly this reason.
9. Laundry — $3–12 per item on most ships
Laundry is charged per item on most cruise lines and adds up faster than you’d expect: t-shirts $3–6, trousers $5–8, dresses $8–12. One notable exception: on the Discovery Princess, laundry and ironing were complimentary — a genuine perk we hadn’t expected. This is not standard across the industry.
Before packing, check your ship’s policy. If laundry is charged, hand-washing small items overnight or using self-service coin machines (available on some ships) saves considerably.
10. Medical Care — $100–150+ per consultation
Cruise ships have qualified medical staff — but none of it is covered by your fare. A standard consultation runs $100–150; X-rays are similar; medications are charged at onboard pharmacy prices. For serious incidents requiring evacuation, costs can reach tens of thousands of dollars. Comprehensive travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is non-negotiable for any cruise.
11. Professional Photography — packages from $150
Ship photographers capture portraits and candid shots throughout the voyage. Individual prints or downloads typically cost $15–20 each; full voyage photo packages start around $150 and include digital access to everything taken during your cruise. For families or couples marking a milestone trip, the package is usually good value. For everyone else, your phone camera covers it.
Full Budget: What to Expect on a 14-Night Sailing
| Extra cost | Typical daily rate (per person) | 14-night estimate (2 people) | Skip it if… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gratuities | $14–18 | $392–504 | Already pre-paid at booking |
| Wi-Fi (basic) | $10–15 | $140–210 each | You’re happy offline at sea |
| Beverage package (classic) | $35–42 | $980–1,176 | You drink fewer than 3–4 drinks/day |
| Shore excursions | Varies by port | $300–800+ total | You book independently |
| Specialty dining (2 visits) | — | $160–320 | Main dining room is enough |
| Spa (1 treatment each) | — | $200–300 | Not a priority for you |
| Laundry | — | $30–80 per bag (free on Discovery Princess) | Check your ship’s policy before packing |
| Travel insurance | — | $80–200 (pre-trip) | Never skip this one |
| Conservative total (2 people) | — | $1,500–2,500+ | — |
How to Keep These Costs Under Control
Pre-book before you board. Most cruise lines offer pre-cruise prices on beverage packages, specialty dining, and internet bundles. Prices onboard are consistently higher. Set a reminder to check 4–6 weeks before sailing.
Use ports for what the ship charges for. Wi-Fi in port is usually free. Drinks and snacks from port supermarkets cost a fraction of onboard prices. A quick supermarket stop in the first port can cover cabin snacks and water for the entire voyage.
Research shore excursions before you board. The excursion desk onboard is convenient but expensive. GetYourGuide, Viator, and local operators at the dock generally offer comparable experiences at lower prices. For straightforward ports, joining a local guide at the pier works well — and we found the prices matched what we’d pre-booked online for our Caribbean stops [LINK: Caribbean ports guide].
Track your onboard spending in real time. Most cruise lines have apps showing your running account balance. Check every couple of days rather than waiting for the end-of-voyage statement. Small charges accumulate quietly.
FAQ: Cruise Extra Costs
How much spending money do I need for a 7-day cruise?
Budget $100–150 per person per day on top of your cruise fare to cover gratuities, drinks, one or two shore excursions, and incidentals. That puts a 7-day trip for two at roughly $1,400–2,100 in extras. Pre-purchasing a beverage package and skipping spa treatments brings that down significantly.
Can you avoid paying gratuities on a cruise?
Technically yes — you can request to have automatic gratuities removed at guest services. In practice, most experienced cruisers leave them in place, because the tips go directly to crew members whose base wages assume that gratuity income.
If you had a genuinely poor experience in a specific area, a targeted conversation with management is usually more appropriate than removing all gratuities.
Is a cruise drink package worth it?
It depends on your drinking habits. If you have 3–4 drinks a day including specialty coffees, juices, sodas, and alcohol, a classic package typically breaks even or saves money. Light drinkers are usually better off paying per drink. Be honest about your own patterns before deciding.
Are ship shore excursions worth the cost vs. going independently?
Ship excursions offer one thing independent tours can’t: a guaranteed return. If the excursion runs late, the ship waits. In complex or remote ports, that peace of mind is worth the premium. In straightforward well-touristed ports with reliable transport, independent tours can save 30–50%.
What happens if you need medical care on a cruise?
Every cruise ship has a medical centre with qualified staff. Consultations typically cost $100–150 and are charged to your onboard account. This is why travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is essential — a serious incident requiring airlifting to a mainland hospital can cost tens of thousands of dollars without coverage.
Do all cruise lines charge for Wi-Fi?
Yes — Wi-Fi is an extra cost on virtually all mainstream cruise lines including MSC, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Carnival. Some luxury lines include it in their fares, but these lines also price significantly higher overall.
Factor $10–20 per day per device into your budget, or plan to use free port Wi-Fi during stops.
Featured photo from Pexels