Watch out for these 6 fees and 1 sneaky trick that could make your cruise vacation more expensive

24.11.2023 - 11:53 / insider.com / Royal Caribbean / Patrick Scholes

If you're not careful, you could easily blow past the base fare of your cruise vacation.

Compared to recreating a cruise itinerary with airfare and hotels, booking a vacation at sea could be an economical vacation option. After all, the ticket includes accommodations, access to the pool deck, food, and entertainment.

But on top of the price to sail, you could find yourself dishing out more cash than you initially anticipated. And it's not just for the fun excursions at port: Expect to pay up for comforts like WiFi, nice restaurants, and booze.

If you're new to cruises, these are the six fees to watch out for and one sneaky psychological trick that could get you to spend more, especially if you're traveling on a new ship filled with attractive and expensive amenities.

Budgeting for the cost of flights is an obvious must-do when planning a vacation. But for travelers interested in taking a European cruise, Patrick Scholes, an analyst at Truist Securities, suggests booking airfare before the cruise. If not, your flight could be more expensive than the sailing itself.

Let's look at an example: From May 10 to 12, Royal Caribbean says its Anthem of the Seas will sail two nights roundtrip from Southampton, England to Le Havre, France starting at $366 per person. But roundtrip flights can easily match or exceed that price, more than doubling the cost of the entire trip.

Spending days without internet connectivity may seem impossible to some travelers. And cruise lines know that — WiFi on ships can range from about $10 to well over $20.

With Carnival, the ability to browse social media sites like Instagram and Facebook starts at $12.75 a day. But for people who want access to all of the internet, it'll be $17 a day. And this still doesn't include streaming or video calls, which is an additional $1.70 daily.

With Norwegian Cruise Line, be ready to pay $30 a day for one device. Again, this doesn't include streaming, which is an additional $10 daily.

Cruise fares generally include access to venues like the buffet and the main dining room. But if you want to splurge on a sushi or steakhouse dinner, you'll have to pay up.

For example, a teppanyaki dinner at Royal Caribbean's Izumi restaurant starts at $46 per person. But if you plan to hit at least three specialty restaurants during your cruise, you're better off buying the unlimited or three, four, or five-restaurant package starting at $75 per person for three venues.

Be prepared to pay for the luxury of sunbathing on the pool deck with a piña colada in hand. Many major cruise lines sell beverage packages for soda and alcohol drinkers.

With Carnival, this starts at $60 a day — not including the 18% service charge — for spirits, sodas, and caffeine under $20 each