Having been on over 25 cruises, I can confidently say that cruising is one of the most exciting and relaxing ways to travel. However, even seasoned cruisers can make costly mistakes that leave a sour taste in their mouths.
I've had my fair share of slip-ups, from forgetting to place my phone in airplane mode to booking pricey last-minute excursions. These mistakes can quickly add up, making your vacation more expensive than planned and causing you unnecessary stress.
Here are 8 costly cruising mistakes and practical tips on how to avoid them, so you can make the most of your cruise vacation.
Not setting limits on your children's cruise cards
Cruises are popular family vacations because of their convenience. For example, you don't have to worry about carrying credit cards around the ship. Instead, your cruise card is linked to your card (or can be paid with cash on the final night).
Because it's easier to charge things from non-alcoholic drinks to unique merchandise to your room, it's important to set limits on your children's cruise cards. Otherwise, you might be surprised by a large bill on the last night!
One parent learned this the hard way after sailing aboard Margaritaville at Sea's Islander. They were given a hard copy of their onboard statement and were shocked to learn that their final balance was over $1,500 because of arcade charges racked up by their children.
"$12 a minute is what they spent if you were wondering 🙃 since the card kept working, they assumed they had an 'infinity card,'" mebeingmom captioned the TikTok video showing the final bill.
Karra 🧶📚 commented, "I am so grateful to see this before our family cruise next month." Mebeingmom responded and highly recommended turning the spending off!
Forgetting to pack over-the-counter medication
One of my must-pack items on any vacation is my DIY pharmacy. It contains everything from pain relievers to acid reducers, band-aids, cold & flu medication, eye drops, gas relief, seasickness pills, and more.
My rule of thumb is that I'd rather be prepared for the worst than be caught off guard without the medication I need.
There's nothing worse than feeling ill on a cruise ship, especially since ships don't have fully-stocked pharmacies. While the onboard stores have limited inventory, the available medication is often overpriced.
For example, when cruising on Wonder of the Seas, I was appalled to learn that a single pack of Dramamine with two pills was $3.50. A pack of 36 tablets can be purchased on Amazon for just $12—roughly 30 cents each rather than $1.25.
If you notice you've forgotten anything, I'd recommend stopping by a drugstore en route to the port. Though slightly less convenient, you'll save money on everyday essentials. Plus, the medication you're missing might not be available on the ship.
Read more: How to make your own DIY cruise first aid kit
Thinking you don't need travel insurance
Travel insurance should be purchased for every voyage, whether a 4-night Bahamian getaway or a port-intensive European cruise. If you're like me and travel frequently, it's easier (and more affordable) to purchase an annual plan, rather than buying a separate policy for each trip.
Last year, one couple was forced to pay $10,000 for services received in the cruise ship medical center since they didn't have travel insurance.
They shared the valuable lesson they learned on the r/cruise Reddit thread. In a now-deleted post titled, "Appendix burst on honeymoon!" jellocore explained how they were on a cruise to the Bahamas when they began suffering from intense stomach pain.
"The medical center was closed and they had an 'emergencies only' line. I waited 4 hours before calling because I couldn't tell if it was an emergency...Not only did I have appendicitis, [but] my appendix ruptured. This is very serious and I will be in the hospital for at least a week."
The costly mistake cost the newlyweds their entire vacation budget and drained their savings, as the bill was over $10,000.
Flying in the morning of departure
Though flying into Florida the morning of your cruise might seem smart to save money since you won't need a pre-cruise hotel, it's also the easiest way to blow your entire vacation budget. If your flight is delayed or canceled, the ship won't wait for your travel party.
Arriving 30 minutes after the all-aboard time could mean you miss the cruise and are stranded at the port. If that happens, you'll likely be responsible for getting yourself to the next port of call at your own expense, which can be a huge financial setback.
To avoid this risk, arrive at least a day before your cruise departs. This gives you a buffer in case of unexpected travel disruptions.
Not putting your phone on airplane mode
Because your cruise ship will be sailing in international waters to different ports of call, and often different countries, you can't use your cell phone as usual. If you do, you might be surprised by a large cellular bill from your provider, whether it's Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile.
This is because when you're at sea, your phone may connect to satellites or international networks, which can result in roaming charges. These fees can accumulate quickly!
For example, when I was cruising on MSC Seashore, I had my cellular service on while ashore since my phone plan charges just $10 per day for international passes but neglected to put my phone back on airplane mode.
I received a text message from Verizon while we were sailing away from France saying, "Welcome aboard. With INTL TRVL 50MB 1MO you get 50MB of data for $20.00 to use while on board." That wasn't all, either. Had I made a call, it would have incurred a charge of $2.99 per minute, while each outgoing text message would have cost $0.50."
While I was horrified by my mistake, I'm glad I quickly realized my cell service was still on before I started sending text messages to friends and family back home or scrolling through social media apps.
Because I know I won't have regular service on cruise ships, I always purchase a Wi-Fi plan. Typically, it's cheaper to do so in advance!
Read more: 12 Annoying Mistakes I've Made on Cruises
Booking your add-ons onboard
Cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Margaritaville, MSC, and Carnival let guests pre-book add-ons through the line's online planning portal.
Typically, reserving shore excursions, specialty dining, and drink packages before your cruise can help you save money, as cruise lines charge more for these add-ons when on the ship.
For example, on my first-ever visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay, I made a last-minute decision to visit Thrill Waterpark, paying $149 for my day pass. However, another family onboard paid close to $50 each through a Black Friday sale on Royal Caribbean's website.
Let's just say I learned my lesson and prefer to book as many add-ons before my cruise as possible.
Knowing drink packages are one of the most expensive cruise extras, I kept my eye on Royal Caribbean's prices for my Icon of the Seas cruise.
As soon as I saw the Deluxe Beverage Package available for about $70 per person, per day, including gratuities, I jumped at the opportunity to buy it. A few weeks later, I noticed the price had risen to over $77 on the website.
Read more: 9 things you have to book in advance for cruise vacations
Not prepaying gratuities
Though port fees are included in the advertised price of a cruise, gratuities are not. These extra fees are charged daily per person and are divided between the hardworking crew members who work to make your vacation memorable, including cabin stewards, the dining and culinary services staff, the guest services team, and others.
Rates vary based on the cruise line and are current as of March 2025:
- Carnival Cruise Line: $16.00 for standard cabins and $18.00 for suites
- Celebrity: $18.00 for standard cabins, $19.00 for Aqua Class and Concierge rooms, and $23.00 for The Retreat
- Disney Cruise Line: $16.00 for standard cabins and $27.25 for Concierge cabins
- Holland America Line: $17.00 for standard cabins and $19.00 for suites
- Norwegian Cruise Line: $20.00 for standard cabins and $25.00 for suites
- Princess Cruises: $16.00 for standard cabins, $17.00 for mini-suites, and $18.00 for suites
- Royal Caribbean: $18.50 for standard cabins and $24.00 for suites
- Margaritaville at Sea: $20.00 for standard cabins and $24.00 for suites
When you book your cruise, you can elect to prepay your gratuities, effectively adding them to your balance to be paid by the final payment date, or choose to have them added to your onboard account during your cruise.
One major benefit to prepaying gratuities is that you are grandfathered into the current rate and don't have to worry about unexpected price increases.
For example, if you're sailing with Carnival in November 2026, they could decide to raise the rate of their standard gratuities from $16.00 to $16.50 per person, per day. However, if you prepaid your gratuities when you booked the cruise, you'll be locked in at the original $16.00 rate, even if the price increases before you sail.
Read more: 11 do's and don'ts of cruise ship tipping
Overpaying for shore excursions
Finally, don't overpay for your shore excursions. While excursions are one of the best parts of a cruise, they aren't necessarily the cheapest. Sometimes, they can cost upwards of $200 per person depending on the tour!
As I've become a more seasoned cruiser, I've strayed from booking excursions directly through the cruise line unless I'm in an extremely unfamiliar port of call. While the convenience of having a pre-arranged tour can't be beaten, I save so much money by booking through third parties or arranging my own days ashore.
For example, my partner and I visited Roatán, Honduras, in Feb. 2025. Rather than reserving a tour through Royal Caribbean, we booked through Viator and paid $140, including an extra tip, for a private driver! Our 3.5-hour adventure took us to Daniel Johnson's Monkey & Sloth Hangout, the Roatán Rum Company, and the Roatán Chocolate Factory.
So, before assuming you must book your tours through your cruise line, browse reputable third-party operators and see what else is available. You may find a similar excursion for a fraction of the cost!
Read more: Ultimate guide to cruise excursions
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
