In reference to above – some cruiselines let you work out free and some charge 10 bucks or so to come to the classes. Massages and spa services are NEVER included.

Tipping is included automatically, read up on the website of your specific cruise line to find out the daily charge.

Gym classes are around $10/day, but you can use the equipment for free if you don’t do an actual class.

Gambling, obviously, isn’t free.

You cannot use cash or any means of payment other than the card (in Carnival’s case, it’s called the Sail & Sign) they issue. If you have young children, be sure to deactivate this so that it is only a room key!!

Photos- any pictures they take can be viewed an purchased on board; they don’t charge you to take the picture, just to keep it.

Room service is free, though.

Remember, anyone on the ports knows that you’re a tourist off a ship and will try to sell you anything from jewelry to drugs…just say "no"!

I have gone on two cruises (and just got back from one Aug. 5 – Aug 12. Both were on Carnival from Galveston, TX. I have enjoyed both, and they can be pricey if you are not frugal with what you spend on the ship. I have been with just my wife on the first one, and the second with my wife and 7 and 5 year old kids.

Hope this helps!

There is no cash used on ships since this cruise card is used. Things that go on your cruise account include:

Gratuities: At the end or the cruise and for any alcoholic drinks on ships; and for soft drinks. The ship provides free coffee, tea(hot & cold) , milk, juices, and punch or lemonade. If you want Coke or Pepsi or any soft drink you must pay for it.
There is a gratuity added to every drink you order.

The biggest expense will be gratuities and they will be about $10 per day per person. So for a 7-day cruise count on about $140.00 for two people.

If you buy any tours or excursions from the ship they also go your your cruise account. These can add really big dollars since tours generally start at around $30 per person. So if you have 4 port stops and you do a tour (for 2) at each, then you are looking at about $250. So select tours carefully or don’t buy any, just go on your own. One way to keep that expense from getting you at the end of your cruise is to pick your tours now and pay for them in advance.

The ship’s staff will take photos all over the ship, at dinner and especially on formal nights. These photos are not free but generally cost $15 to $25 depending upon the size. So skip most of them and take your own photos on and off the ship; just ask other passengers and they will gladly take them for you.

Spa treatments can add big dollars if you get a massage or a wrap or hair and/or nails done on ship. The use of the gym is free but these other treatments cost money.

Specialty restaurants; Many ships, especially Norwegian Cruise Lines, have specialty restaurants, like Chinese, Tex-Mex, Italian, etc, but these will cost you a gratuity/or service charge of $15 to $20 per person each time you go. So skip these and eat all of the free food in the main dining room and the buffet.

Make sure that your travel agent includes the port fees and taxes in the prices they quote you. The quotes on the web often don’t include these fees. They can add $75-150 to each guest.

With the exception of the tips, most of the other fees are optional.

Tips…usually $10 per day per guest.

Photos. $20-25 per sheet

Spa fees. $50-200 per service.

Bar drinks. $4-12 each plus 15% gratuity.

Sodas. $1.75 per can or purchase a soda fountain card. $35-45,depending on cruise line and length of cruise.
Don’t drink the sodas they put in your room. It is just like a hotel mini bar…

Shore excursions. $50-200 per guest.

Bottled water for shore excursions…$3.50-5.00

Bingo cards. $5-10 each.

Parking at the port. Check with the local port authority.

Speciality coffee shoppee…$3.50-10.00 for gourment coffee and cakes

Cash for tips and taxis while on shore. Using $1, 5 and 10 in US dollars.

Casino. ?????

The best way to manage your spending is to open a cash account instead of a credit card account. When you board, you will open your account using a cash deposit. As you charge, the cruise line deducts the charges from your account. When you run out of money, you can add more cash or stop spending.

My sister always uses a cash account so she does not overspend. I use a credit card and always get sticker shock on the last day of the cruise when I get the bill.

For instance, your cruise fare will include the cruise price, port taxes and any state or local taxes that might be attached. Once you have paid in full, that expense is done with.

Extras expense that you may incur would be alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, shore excursions, shopping, casinos, any specialty restaurants on board that you may want to try, specialty coffee and dessert bars on board.

You will also need to tip the longshoreman at the pier who takes your luggage – $1.00 or so a bag. Always a good idea to do this…don’t want your luggage to end up in the water…HA!

You cruise fare paid includes all meals onboard (except those specialty restaurants), all entertainment onboard (not the arcade), your stateroom, port taxes, other landing fees.

Many cruiselines also include the gratuities in the fare. You will want to tip anyway and paying them with your cruise fare is the easiest way. That works out to about 10.00 per person, per day…..7 day cruise – $70.00 per person. This tips your room stewards, your waiters in the dining room and elsewhere on the ship and the busboys who take care of your tables.

Other than the fare and tips you pay, all other costs are in your total control. If you don’t drink alcohol, then your bill will be lower. Wanna play bingo? That’s your decision.

If you book with a reputable cruise company, there will be no surprises for you.