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7 of the biggest cruise rip-offs (and how to avoid them)
From forking out £30 a day on wi-fi to a £400 full body massage, we take a look at where your cash
Jo is an award-winning travel journalist and hiking holiday enthusiast. Her specialisms include sustainable travel and money-saving advice.
Plenty of cruise fans look for special offers when considering their next voyage on the high seas. But those savings can quickly be swallowed once you set sail.
From overpriced drinks packages to sneaky tipping policies, extras can soon see your onboard bill spiralling.
Here we reveal the unexpected traps to be wary of and how to avoid paying through the nose.
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1. Wi-fi at sea
If you want to keep in touch with family while on a cruise , it’s going to cost you. The most expensive way to connect is pay as you go: for example, P&O will charge you £30 a day on its ultimate package (which you'll need to stream music or make voice calls). Prices escalate if you want to connect multiple devices.
Signal is likely to be slow and unreliable anyway – especially on sea days when everybody is trying to scroll. So wait for port stops if you can to take advantage of free wi-fi in cafes, hotels and restaurants. Or getting an eSIM for your phone could be more affordable.
Failing that, check for pre-purchased wi-fi packages before setting sail. P&O offers discounts around 10% if you book up to four days before departure.
Find out the best cruise lines – as rated by passengers
2. Are cruise drinks packages worth it?
A drinks package may seem like the most cost-effective way of enjoying a tipple on your cruise: a fixed daily price that allows you to have an ‘unlimited’ selection of beers, wines and spirits without fear of running up a huge bar bill.
But when we compared the prices of drinks packages for some of the biggest cruise lines, we were surprised by how much you’d have to quaff to get your money’s worth.
For example, Cunard’s offering costs £54 per person per day – so you’d need to drink eight glasses of wine (£7.50 each) or knock back 12 beers (£4.75) on a daily basis for a package to be cheaper than paying as you go at the bar.
Typically every person in the cabin must buy the package (to prevent sharing) for every day you're at sea – and premium drinks are not included.
To keep costs down, look out for heavily discounted drinks packages when booking, or consider bringing your own alcohol on board. Some cruise lines allow this for limited amounts, but may charge a corkage fee.
Looking for a trip along the Danube or Rhine? See the best river cruise lines of 2025
3. Onboard spa treatments
A bit of relaxation during long sea days may be tempting, but check the price list first. Many cruise lines require you to buy a spa package or a day pass to use facilities like saunas and steam rooms. For example, Fred Olsen charges £15 per person for an hour in its thermal suite (or £25 per couple).
Treatments cost even more. A 75-minute Swedish full body massage is $449 with Princess Cruises. An 18% service charge is also added to your final bill, meaning the price inflates to a staggering $530 – almost £400! An extra tip for exemplary service is ‘discretionary’, the website states. It’s enough to get those newly loosened muscles tensing all over again.
If a soak is important to you, look for cruise lines that don’t charge extra for spa access. You can use the hydrotherapy pool, infrared sauna and steam room for free with Which? Recommended Provider (WRP) Saga Ocean Cruises. And, if you’re desperate for a treatment, you may want to wait until you arrive at a port and can go ashore.
4. Cruise gratuities
Gratuities can quickly spiral at sea. In our recent survey, Cunard passengers were least happy: 33% told us they were dissatisfied with how tipping was handled on board. The cruise line adds a daily charge of $17-$19 (£12.75-£14.20) per person – depending on your grade of cabin – plus 15% to every drink purchase at the bar.
If you’d rather not be stung, choose a cruise line that includes gratuities in the upfront price. WRPs Saga, Silversea, Noble Caledonia and Seabourn all do this – and drinks are thrown in too, meaning you’re not obliged to tip at the bar either (unless you want to).
5. Pricey shore excursions
While some cruise lines throw in excursions for free (like WRPs Saga, Silversea and Noble Caledonia), most charge a premium. In our survey, Norwegian Cruise Line passengers were most dissatisfied with the quality and price of excursions – with 16% rating them as poor.
One disgruntled passenger described NCL’s tour guides as ‘unprofessional and unprepared’ and concluded that the cost was too high for the ‘poor standard’ they received. When we checked, a four-hour orientation tour of Split in Croatia, with a snack and a glass of wine thrown in, started at £133 per adult (£96 for children).
Consider booking excursions through an independent company. One Carnival customer told us they saved ‘around 40%’ on a small group snorkelling trip in Turkey. However, you could risk being left behind at port if the tour runs over. Most cruise lines offer a back-to-ship guarantee with their own excursions.
6. Solo supplements on cruise cabins
Most cruise cabin rates are based on two people sharing, meaning if you sail alone you’ll often pay a premium. We previously found that a couple would pay £749 per person on a week’s Mediterranean cruise with P&O, while a single person was charged £1,198 for the same trip.
Look for cruise companies that specifically cater for solo travellers to see if you can get a better deal. Around 20% of Saga’s cabins are designated for solo travellers – with four different grades available. The cruise line also hosts a ‘singles mingle’ party and lunch to get you acquainted with other guests.
Wave season (typically between January and March) is another great time to look for affordable solo deals.
How to book a cheap cruise holiday
7. Professional photos onboard
If you’re not content with capturing holiday snaps on your own camera (or phone), most ships have professional photographers doing the rounds.
But a perfectly framed backdrop will cost you: for example, P&O charges £25 for one photo and £250 for a whole collection. You’ll pay even more if you want to add branded mounts or frames.
Again pre-purchased packages work out cheaper, but why not ask a willing crew member to photograph you together? It will save you a small fortune, even if it does lack the professional touch.
Why you should consider an all-inclusive cruise line
If you want to enjoy your ocean voyage without the fear of your onboard bill spiralling, consider choosing an all-inclusive cruise line. You may pay a higher upfront price, but there will be fewer nasty surprises later on.
Sail with top-rated cruise line Saga and you won’t have to cough up extra for drinks, wi-fi, tips or travel insurance. You’ll even be transferred from your front door to the port (and back again).