Booking a cruise might feel wonderfully straightforward. After all, almost 35 million people climb aboard a ship yearly.
You choose the ship. You pick the cabin. You select an itinerary. And you imagine yourself waking up somewhere new every single morning. Job done, right?
Not quite.
The cruise far is typically just one part of what you end up paying for. Once the excitement of booking has settled, plenty of travelers realize there are a few extras they hadn’t really thought about. Some are optional, of course, but others make a noticeable difference to how much you spend and how smoothly the trip goes.
That doesn’t mean you need to buy every package the cruise line offers. In fact, it’s usually worth doing the opposite: Deciding what you’ll genuinely use before adding things to your booking.
Keep reading on to learn four purchases people usually forget when planning a cruise.
1. Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is hardly the most exciting part of planning a cruise. Maybe this is why it gets left until the very end.
But cruises have a few situations that are worth considering before you travel. You may have flights to catch before boarding, multiple ports of call, prepaid activities, and a fairly strict schedule. If something disrupts your plans, catching up with the ship isn’t always as simple as arriving a few hours late.
That’s where travel insurance for a cruise may be worth looking into. The right policy depends on your trip and the type of coverage you’re looking for. It’s important to check the details rather than assuming every travel policy covers the same situation.
Take the time to look at things like medical coverage, trip cancellation, missed connections, and any exclusions that could apply to your plans. If you’re traveling with an existing medical condition or taking part in activities with special requirements, those details may matter, too.
It’s not the fun part of booking, but it is better to understand your options before you’re standing at the airport wondering what happens next.
2. Pre-Paid Drink and Wi-Fi Packages
This is where cruise spending sneaks up on people.
You board the ship. You start enjoying yourself. You order a few drinks. Maybe you connect to the Wi-Fi to check in with family or post some photos. Before you know it, the bill at the end of the trip is much higher than you thought.
Cruise lines often sell drinks and internet packages before departure. Whether they’re worth buying depends entirely on how you’ll use them.
If you only drink occasionally, a package might cost more than simply paying as you go. On the other hand, if you know you’ll regularly order eligible drinks, the numbers might work out differently.
The same goes for Wi-Fi. Ask yourself how much you really need it.
If you’re happy to disconnect for a week, don’t bother with a full internet package. If you do need to keep in touch with family or check work occasionally, buying access in advance may make more sense.
The key here is not to buy something simply because it sounds convenient. Look at the price and think honestly about whether you’ll use it.
3. Specialty Dining Reservations
Most cruises include plenty of food. As a result, it is easy to forget about specialty restaurants altogether.
Then you get onboard, walk past a restaurant that looks fantastic, and discover that the best reservation times have already disappeared. That’s disappointing.
Specialty dining is a nice way to break up the routine. Even more so on a longer cruise trip. You might want to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, or another special occasion. Or perhaps you just fancy something different from the main dining room.
Before booking, check what is already included in your cruise fare. There’s no point paying extra for a restaurant experience if you’re perfectly happy with the dining options already available to you.
But if a specialty restaurant is something you really want to try, don’t leave the decision until the last minute. Popular venues and convenient reservation times fill up quickly.
4. Independent Shore Excursions
The cruise ship arrives at a new port. What will you do? Getting out and exploring is a common scenario.
You could book excursions through the cruise line. That’s not your only option, though. Independent tour operators may offer different experiences, smaller groups, or activities that aren’t available through the ship.
Of course, booking independently requires a little more planning.
You need to ensure you understand where you’re going, how long the excursion will take, and – most importantly – when you need to be back at the ship.
A cruise ship won’t wait around just because your independent tour is running late.
So, check the timings carefully. Leave yourself a comfortable buffer. And pay attention to whether you’re dealing with the ship’s time or local time. That small detail has caught out many more travelers than you’d expect.
To conclude, heading off on a cruise could be excellent value. However, the advertised fare won’t necessarily represent the final budget. For this reason, you need to complete your research ahead of time and make the necessary purchases. That way, you’ll be prepared and able to enjoy your trip.
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