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That'll Cost You

Six things you might have to pay extra for on your next cruise
By Paul Lasley and Elizabeth Harryman
He was a retired bus driver. She was a former high school teacher. When we met the Detroit couple eight years ago aboard Holland America Line's Ryndam, they had already sailed on 25 Holland America cruises. On the Ryndam, cruising the Caribbean for 12 days, the couple never took shore excursions, opting instead for walking tours of the ports. They never gambled in the casino, never went for spa treatments, never overindulged in the bars or lounges. And they had a fabulous time.

Cruise lines often boast that cruising is an all-inclusive vacation. For the most part, it is; cruise fares typically include accommodations, meals, entertainment, and onboard activities. But increasingly, cruise lines are offering passengers whole boatloads of activities and enhancements that cost extra. They're known in the industry as "onboard revenue," and, although most lines decline to divulge specifics, analysts estimate that these extras make up as much as 30 percent of a cruise line's overall revenue.

As our Detroit friends demonstrated, you don't have to spend a lot of money onboard to have a good time. Some things, though, might be worth the price. It helps to know what to expect. Here's a rundown of the most common "onboard revenue" options cruisers face.

Shore excursions. Some are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Who could pass up the chance to hike on a glacier in Alaska, for example, or tour the Hermitage in St. Petersburg? But other tours prove less compelling. In our experience, most Alaskan and Caribbean ports are better seen on foot than from a tour bus.

Fitness activities. Cruise lines that used to offer several complimentary classes daily now charge about $10 for specialized classes, such as Pilates and yoga. But most onboard fitness centers still offer at least one free class a day, and there's no charge for using the gym or jogging around the deck.

Spa treatments. It's always nice to be pampered, but passengers should be skeptical about treatments that promise such things as instant cellulite disintegration. Moreover, some cruise ship therapists push customers to buy products to an unconscionable degree.

Photography. Shipboard photographers roam most cruise ships, but the snapshots aren't free. The formal portraits these photographers take, however, typically are of high quality and cost less than photos taken at studios on land.

Beverages. Alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, bottled water, and special coffees (such as espresso or cappuccino) cost extra, but all cruise lines serve complimentary regular coffee, tea, and milk.

Art auctions. The Rembrandt and Picasso sketches offered at these auctions aren't originals, so passengers should be very careful about purchases. But the original artworks hanging on the walls of most cruise ships are often quite good and are always available for viewing.

The more selective passengers are about cruise ship extras, the better they'll be able to afford their next vacation. By the end of our Caribbean trip, our friends from Detroit were already planning their next Holland America cruise.


How would you like to pay?
$10 -The typical average gratuity automatically added every day to each passenger's shipboard account. It's divided among crew members such as waiters and room stewards. Passengers can have the amount adjusted either upward or downward.
$30 - The cost per person of a meal at Harry's, a specialty restaurant aboard Carnival Cruise Lines's new Carnival Liberty. The 1940s-style supper club offers USDA Prime dry-aged steaks, live jazz, and a top-notch wine list. It's worth the splurge; the same meal ashore would cost at least $100 per person.
$130–$160 - The average daily fare per person (not including onboard extras) for mainstream lines such as Princess Cruises and Holland America Line.
$500–$700 - The average daily fare per person of a truly all-inclusive cruise (including even gratuities) on some luxury lines such as Radisson Seven Seas Cruises and the Yachts of Seabourn.

This article first appeared in Westways,
the magazine of the Auto Club of Southern California.