7 Cruise Expenses That Can Surprise First-Time Passengers

Cruise fares often include accommodations, meals, and entertainment, but gratuities, excursions, beverages, and other extras can substantially increase the final bill.

Reviewing these expenses before departure can help first-time passengers avoid surprises.

Andy Dean Photography/Shutterstock You find a seven-night cruise advertised for $699 per person, and suddenly, that dream vacation seems surprisingly affordable.

Your cabin, meals, entertainment, and transportation between destinations are included, so how much more could you possibly spend?

Unfortunately, plenty of first-time cruisers discover that the advertised fare is only part of the final vacation bill.

From daily gratuities to specialty restaurants and shore excursions, seemingly small charges can add hundreds of dollars to your trip.

Here are seven expenses worth investigating before booking your first cruise.

1.

Daily Gratuities Can Add Up Quickly Many first-time cruisers don’t realize that several major cruise lines automatically add daily service gratuities to their onboard accounts.

For example, Royal Caribbean publishes per-person daily gratuity rates that vary by stateroom category, with suites generally carrying higher charges.

On a seven-night cruise, even a hypothetical $18 daily charge would add $126 per person, or $252 for two passengers sharing a cabin.

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