Cruising has gotten more expensive over the last few years, and I think a lot of us are getting more thoughtful about where our money actually goes. I recently made a video about what I think is absolutely worth paying for on a cruise, and so many of you asked for the opposite list.
So here it is. These are the things that, after years of cruising and talking with so many of you in our cruise community, I no longer think are worth the money.
I won’t go so far as to call any of these rip offs, since value is so personal. Still, I hope this gives you something to think about before your next cruise.
Food and Snack Upsells
1. Specialty Snack Decorating Classes
While researching this topic, I came across a Reddit thread where cruisers were fired up about paying $40 to $45 to decorate a single cupcake with sprinkles. I haven’t personally done one of these classes, but I completely understand the reaction.
2. Movie Theater Style Popcorn
I have a confession here. We were on a Disney cruise, went to a show, and could buy popcorn and candy just like at a movie theater back home.
We bought it, more than once, because it smelled incredible.
Even while I was enjoying it, I knew they had me. With so much included food on a cruise ship, paying extra for popcorn at the movies just isn’t something I’d do again.
3. Restaurant Menu Upsell Items
I don’t mind paying for a proper specialty restaurant experience. What does bother me is when a regular included menu, whether in the main dining room or a specialty spot, has a pricier item tucked in.
If it’s going to cost me an extra $20 for a lobster tail, I’m passing every time.
4. Room Service With a Delivery Charge
I do enjoy room service, especially a coffee and a little pastry while getting ready in the morning. The moment a cruise line adds a delivery fee, though, I lose interest.
There’s so much food available just steps away at the buffet or a cafe. It really isn’t a hardship to grab it myself and bring it back to the cabin.
Ship Attractions and Add-Ons
5. Private Island Water Parks
We visited the water park at Perfect Day at Coco Cay a few years back, and it was around $130 per person at the time. Between the four of us, that added up to roughly $300 for the day.
Here’s the thing. There is so much included at that island already that we only spent about two hours in the water park, and I’m honestly not sure I even went down a slide.
6. Cruise Ship Cabanas
This one is a personal line I just can’t cross. Cabana prices range anywhere from $500 to $2,000 depending on the ship or private island, and that’s a big ask for a day of shade and loungers.
I know plenty of cruisers who book them every time and love every minute. If you’re one of them and I’m missing something, I’d genuinely love to hear about it in the comments.
7. Bingo
When I asked our cruise community what they consider a waste of money onboard, bingo came up again and again. The complaint is always the same: the cards are pricey, the game itself only lasts a few minutes, and hardly anyone actually wins.
I haven’t personally played, so I can’t speak from experience here. If you’ve had a bingo win, I’d love to know down in the comments.
8. The Art Auction
I know collectors are going to disagree with me, and that’s fair. If the art you’re bidding on genuinely brings you joy, then it’s worth it for you.
For me, once I factor in shipping and duties on top of the purchase price, the numbers just don’t work out. I also hear from a lot of cruisers who admit they made a purchase at an art auction that they later regretted.
9. Cruise Ship Arcades
The kids’ arcade racks up tokens fast, and most parents will tell you it adds up quickly. The adult version of this, the casino, deserves its own mention too.
I’m not a casino player myself, since I don’t love losing money. What I have noticed lately is more cruisers chasing free casino play offers, and some have told me privately that they’ve lost thousands of dollars over a few cruises trying to earn those perks.
Cabin and Booking Choices
10. A Balcony Cabin on Every Cruise
I like a balcony as much as the next cruiser, and I started out in an interior cabin, so I’m not precious about it. On a recent Alaska cruise with Oceania, my son had an ocean view cabin with a floor to ceiling window, while we had a forward facing balcony that turned out to be shady and windy.
Looking back, we barely used our balcony on that sailing. If you’re heading somewhere with cooler or rainier weather, I really do think an ocean view cabin can give you all the same light and views for a lower price than a balcony cabin.
11. Booking the Newest Ship Every Time
I love a brand new cruise ship as much as anyone. What I’ve noticed is that the newest ships can run 50% more than a slightly older ship in the same fleet.
If the itinerary or the food and overall onboard experience matters more to you than sailing on the newest hardware, an older ship can deliver the same trip for a lot less. It’s always worth comparing before you book.
12. Ship Within a Ship Suite Experiences
I’ve genuinely enjoyed the ship within a ship experiences before, things like MSC Yacht Club, the Sanctuary Collection on Princess, and the Celebrity Retreat. When I looked closely at current pricing, though, I noticed the cost of these suite enclaves has climbed a lot over the last couple of years.
I also compared that pricing to some smaller luxury cruise lines and what comes included there. If a big ship’s entertainment and variety of restaurants matter to you, that’s still worth paying for.
If you’re purely chasing value, though, it’s worth putting both options side by side.
Onboard Packages and Perks
13. The Drink Package, Depending on Your Cruise Length
I do like having a drink package on most sailings. There’s real value in not tallying up every drink, and it makes trying new cocktails feel more relaxed.
That said, the longer the cruise, the harder it gets to make a package worth it, and you can end up ordering drinks just to hit your money’s worth. Friends of ours found this out the hard way on a transatlantic crossing, when their package didn’t even include specialty coffee, and they’ve told me they’ll just buy the coffee package on its own next time.
14. Early Access Programs Like The Key or Faster to the Fun
I’ve purchased Royal Caribbean’s The Key before, and my main letdown was the embarkation day lunch. You do get priority boarding, priority disembarkation, and priority tendering when you need to tender ashore, and there’s some value in that.
Where it gets tricky is the price. If The Key is bundled with something like unlimited Wi-Fi for just a couple of extra dollars a day, I think it’s worth grabbing.
At $100, $200, or more on top of your fare, I’d personally skip it.
15. Spa Services Like Massages
Spa pricing onboard is almost always higher than what you’d pay at home, so it may not be worth it depending on your budget. The part that really gets under my skin is the product upsell that so often follows a treatment.
Here’s my trick. I let the spa staff know upfront that I only want the service itself, that I’m not interested in buying products, and that I’m on a bit of a schedule.
Once you say that clearly, most staff back right off, whether you’re getting a massage or, like me, just a simple blowout.
Cruise Line Shore Excursions
I do enjoy booking shore excursions in port, especially somewhere new to me. Over the last few years, though, cruise line excursion prices have climbed noticeably, and being on a tour with 50 or 100 other passengers just isn’t my favorite way to see a destination.
Sometimes we explore on our own. More often, we book with an independent provider like Shore Excursions Group, which offers tours and excursions across almost every port and itinerary, along with cruiser reviews to help you compare.
Their tours run up to 40% less than the same excursion through the cruise line, and I’ve found the quality holds up well. They also offer a back to ship guarantee, which matters to me as someone who likes to plan carefully.
Final Thoughts
I’m sure I didn’t cover every single thing cruisers consider a waste of money, and that’s the fun of a topic like this. Value really does depend on what you personally enjoy and what you can budget for without a second thought.
I’d love to know which of these you agree with, and which ones you’d actually defend. Please let me know in the comments below
Happy cruising!
Ilana