Cruise Things That Are a Total Waste of Money

Comments · 543

• SP

  @spalover3 · 8 months ago

  On the Spa Intake form you just have to write, “No Upsells Please”.  It works!

  112

• GA

  @garlandcottage · 8 months ago

  Taking a ziplock or two are great when you make yourself little sandwiches during breakfast and then have lunch covered while you're on a tour off the ship.

  172

• BR

  @Bryndela · 5 months ago

  I get the no alcohol refreshment package and try all the different mocktails. I get fresh juice with breakfast every morning I can and get smoothies or milkshakes whenever. I make a point to always have something in my hand, and it also helps me keep hydrated

  17

• MA

  @markhovis4 · 8 months ago

  On the menu in the room it states that coffee and pastries... no charge. We use room service for the coffee and wake up call. Want coffee delivered at 6:30am, the phone will ring before it arrives. Free,

  82

• TH

  @theburnetts · 8 months ago

  Do people really get to the end of a cruise and have no idea how much money they have spent?  That seems absolutely crazy to me.  You should always be aware of what you are spending money on, how much you have budgeted and how much you have left.  It's not rocket science.

  41

• JO

  @jobee1 · 8 months ago (edited)

  I did a photo shoot on MSC when hubs and I did a 30th anniversary cruise.  My husband surprised me with this “gift” and I was not happy but I went along and these turned out to be  some of our most cherished photos.  Our photographer did an amazing job. The fee was eye watering but it was a once in a lifetime thing as we eloped  and have no wedding photos, so for us it made sense but this was a dedicated photo shoot not a package of random photos.

  107

• MA

  @maravonda · 8 months ago

  We travel Royal Caribbean and while the free breakfast is fine, you have to ask for a certain time and I never know when I will wake up.  Last trip (Christmas 2025) the breakfast service in the dining room was the worst I have ever seen....the service was lousy and the food (after a 40 minute wait) was not good.  So from now on we order room service breakfast when we awaken.  The price is doable, the food is hot and tasty and the service is invariably pleasant.  Of course we are spending extra $$$ because they are not delivering the breakfast service they used to in the main dining room.  I am one of those old timers who have been cruising for 40 years and have just learned to roll with the punches....it will never be like it used to be but I can still enjoy it!

  12

• QU

  @QuickCruiseTips8 · 9 months ago

  Duty-free is the biggest ‘trust me bro’ on cruises.

  64

• HE

  @henriquerochelle · 2 months ago

  I had two problems with Royal Caribbean that were thankfully resolved promptly! One was my son who played $500 without permission on the children's video games! I had already stated that only my card could be charged! The second was this year on the Harmony of the Seas in Barcelona, ​​they charged me the cabin cleaning fee again! I went to the reception and they managed to resolve the problem! But if I hadn't noticed, it certainly would have been charged to my credit card! Always check everything on the app or TV before having an unwanted surprise!! But problems happen and everything was resolved quickly and politely!!

  5

• BO

  @bonniephelps9481 · 8 months ago

  Last September I booked a Princess Cruise 16 day return from Vancouver to Hawaii.  I used an agent and was able to book a balcony guaranteed “unobstructed” cabin.  So no matter where they put us, it had to be a balcony that was unobstructed.  This worked out really well for us and we saved about $1500 per couple

  28

• SU

  @sully0001 · 7 months ago

  Get a room on the Spa Deck, you get access to all of the spaces at the spa

  6

• TI

  @timwoody3835 · 9 months ago

  Only time I ever got an upgrade was 11 years ago. I got an email about a month out for a last minute 11 day Panama Canal cruise for $499 for an inside cabin on Princess. The wife and I discussed it and I booked it that afternoon. Of course by the time I booked it that afternoon the price had gone up - to $509 😊. It was a guaranteed inside cabin so we waited until our cabin was assigned which happened about two weeks before the cruise. The same day we got our cabin assignment we got an email asking if we wanted to upgrade to a balcony cabin for $99. Of course we jumped on it and got a Panama Canal cruise in a balcony for $608 + port charges. It pays to be retired in Florida!

  38