9 Things Expert Cruisers Refuse to Spend Money on While Cruising

We recently asked our social media followers what things they refused to spend money on during a cruise. They came through, voicing many answers that we agree with. We decided to pass along the wisdom to anyone who may be a first-time cruiser or just wants to conquer their next cruise with more wisdom going in. Here are nine things expert cruisers refuse to spend money on aboard the ship, so you don’t make any of these newbie mistakes.

9 Things Expert Cruisers Refuse to Spend Money on While Cruising

1. Photos

One of the top answers that we received for things expert cruisers refuse to spend money on was photos from the ship’s photographers. In the current digital age, it’s not difficult to see why travelers are not quick to shell out extra cash for professional photos on the ship.

We literally carry around great cameras in our pockets already. As well, since we’ve become accustomed to taking lots of photos in our daily lives, including lots of candids, many passengers feel that ship-sponsored photos feel too posed or “fake.” (I’m especially looking at you, embarkation day photo with a PHOTO of the ship as the background!)

I’ve been on over a dozen cruises at this point. I only possess three photos that I’ve either gotten printed or purchased digitally from the ship’s photography studio. And those were for special events or circumstances where we didn’t get that shot on one of our phones or cameras. Even on a recent Disney cruise, I was able to take photos with characters and pose with fun backgrounds and get those shots on my phone.

Unless you’re getting married on a cruise or celebrating another special event that warrants a professional photographer, you likely don’t need to utilize the services of the ship’s photography studio.

2. Artwork

I have three words for the onboard art auctions: just say NO. In my opinion, the art gallery is a money grab for the cruise line. It completely fleeces the passengers who end up buying an art piece. Many frequent cruisers agree with me.

Very often you can get the same pieces on land for a fraction of the price they charge on a ship. Many pieces in the art galleries on cruise ships are just prints. Brush strokes have been strategically added to give them dimension and make them look more authentic.

The auction is designed to garner interest for the art and boost sales, often promising a free print for attending. If you want to attend for a print, that’s fine. But we highly recommend you don’t purchase artwork during your cruise.

3. Salon and Spa Services

Another popular response was salon and spa services. If you’re unfamiliar, cruise ships have salons that offer everything from haircuts and hair styling to manicures, pedicures, and waxing. They also feature spas that offer massages, wraps, facials, and treatments like teeth whitening and acupuncture.

Getting a massage or fresh haircut sounds wonderful during a cruise and some people really enjoy it — which is perfectly fine! However, these services come at a pricey upcharge on the ship vs. the prices you’ll find at most landside salons and spas.

I’d personally much prefer paying for a massage or haircut at home than going on a cruise and paying a premium — and spending precious time on the ship in a salon chair or a dark treatment room. Plus, your relaxed muscles from a massage might be undone quickly once you have to lug your bags through the airport on your way back home!

4. Casino

Many cruisers said that they don’t spend any money in the casino during a cruise. For some, it’s because they just don’t gamble — whether on land or at sea. Others feel that a cruise is for enjoying the ship, the fresh ocean breeze, and the beautiful views, which you can’t enjoy in a dark (often windowless) casino.

Casinos are a huge moneymaker for the cruise lines. This is why anytime you find a ship that doesn’t have a casino, it costs more than the average mainstream cruise (think Viking or Disney). Therefore, guests are losing thousands of dollars in cruise ship casinos each day. Why gamble away your money (and use precious time on the ship) in the casino when you could be enjoying the ocean breeze on the upper deck?

5. Bingo

Bingo is essentially a mild form of gambling in the same vein as the casino. Many cruisers don’t bother with buying bingo cards and playing the popular game of chance during a cruise. Yes it can be fun, however many frequent cruisers value the experience of actually being on a ship and being at sea above all else. This means you probably won’t find those passengers inside marking numbers off cards during their sailing.

6. Jewelry

You board the ship and, upon arriving to your cabin, see a flier for a raffle event at the onboard jewelry shop. While these raffles are real, the event is obviously designed to get you into the store so that some sparkly gemstones catch your eye. But in most cases, do not pass go.

Jewelry on cruise ships is often sold at a huge markup in a similar way that the art is. Unless there’s a cruise line branded piece you want or something specific you just can’t walk away from, many expert cruisers suggest not spending your money on jewelry while on a cruise ship. Similar can be said of large jewelry store chains in port, such as Diamonds International.

7. Bottled Water

Many cruisers refuse to spend money on bottled water during their voyage, and I’m actually one of them. The tap water on cruise ships is perfectly okay to drink — and yes, that includes the water in the sink in your stateroom! You’re getting the same water out of your cabin faucet that you’re getting at the buffet or main dining room, and it’s all highly filtered.

I always bring my own stainless steel water bottle on cruises. I don’t need it much on the ship because in most spots, you’re never far away from a beverage station or bar. Though, it’s especially handy when it’s time to head into port, because it’s always good to have some water on hand. Bringing your own water bottle reduces your trip expenses. It also helps the environment by reducing the use of plastic.

8. Specialty Dining

For some, a huge part of a cruise is enjoying all the different cuisines available on the ship and reveling in fine dining throughout the journey. They are most likely the ones that enjoy the ship’s extra-charge specialty restaurants, and it’s a wonderful option! Others don’t put as much of an emphasis on the gastronomical experience of traveling. They’re fine enjoying included options on the ship such as the buffet, main dining room, and poolside grill.

Spending extra money on specialty restaurants creates more value to some than to others. If you’re wanting to indulge in the steakhouse and enjoy a hibachi experience, go for it! If you’re good with the complimentary offerings, that’s perfectly okay too.

You don’t have to spend extra money on cruise food to have a great vacation. If you are on a budget, we would recommend skipping specialty dining and putting your vacation dollars elsewhere.

9. WiFi Access

Many travelers also say that they don’t spend any money on WiFi access during their cruise vacations. For lots of people, cruising is a time to get away and unplug, free of the constant updates and work obligations that come from “normal life” on land. Cruising is a wonderful opportunity to do this. In fact some people lock their phones away in their cabin safe for the majority of the cruise for just this reason.

However, some people aren’t able to as freely untether themselves from communication back home. Or, they want to stay up to date with the news or share updates from their trip on social media. Some need or want internet access during their cruise, and it’s a blessing that it’s an option that’s available. Others want to disconnect, and we think that’s wonderful as well.

If you opt to forego paying for cruise ship WiFi, check your cell carrier’s coverage plan. You may be able to take your phone out of airplane mode to utilize service while in ports of call for no additional fees.

Comments

Do you agree with this list of things expert cruisers refuse to spend money on? Do you have any other add-ons that you never buy on a cruise? Drop us an anchor below to share your thoughts.