I've been on dozens of cruises, and I've learned to avoid 6 spending traps that drive up the bill

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• I love going on cruises, because the whole cost of my vacation is in a single fee.
• However, I still take care to avoid overspending on things like shopping and spa treatments.
• For emergencies, I have an annual travel insurance policy protecting me.

I always say booking a cruise is like buying a "vacation in a box," mostly because the cruise fare includes lodging, transportation, food, and most of your activities.

That said, cruising also comes with its share of hidden costs that you have to know about and plan for, including the cost of things to do in port, cruise ship gratuities you typically pay at the end of your cruise, and whatever money you wind up losing in your ship's onboard casino. Cruise travel insurance can help cover emergency costs as well, which is why I have an annual travel insurance policy.

There are also quite a few spending traps to be aware of, which I have learned during the dozens of journeys I have taken with Carnival, Princess, Virgin Voyages, and MSC Cruises throughout the Caribbean, Europe, and the Middle East. When I'm budgeting for cruises, I watch out for these six spending traps.

1. ATM fees

First off, I always get the cash I need from home before I take a cruise in the Caribbean or Europe especially. Why? Because the alternative is getting cash at whatever ATM you can find in port during a cruise, which will almost certainly charge high ATM fees.

A lot of cruisers seem to think they won't need any cash during their sailing, but they quickly discover they want to tip someone for excellent service on the ship, or they need money for a taxi or street food when they get off the ship for a few hours in port.

It's a lot easier to have this money with you ahead of time, so that's exactly what I do. For Caribbean cruises in particular, this part is easy since almost all spots in and around cruise ports accept US dollars.

2. Drinks (if you drink a lot)

I drink a lot on cruises, and I'm not just talking about cocktails and beer. I can't live without Coke Zero and lattes either, and I don't want to skip out on my favorite beverages (or all the caffeine I need) on vacation.

This is why I always have a drink package when I cruise, which is easy since I normally cruise with MSC Cruises. Not only does the cruise line offer constant "free drinks and WiFi" packages that let you enjoy endless basic alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, coffees, and more, but I frequently book in the MSC Yacht Club as well.

This VIP "ship within a ship" comes with a premium drink package that works all over the vessel, so I can have endless cappuccinos and drink Aperol spritzes without worrying about a surprise bill. That's exactly what I plan to do on my next cruise in the Yacht Club on the MSC Seascape, which is the line's newest ship that sails out of Miami.

3. Shopping

Cruise ships always have shops galore, but they don't offer anything you can't buy before your trip — usually at a lower cost. These stores will also try to entice you into visiting by offering a free gift that's usually something like an inexpensive necklace or a beach tote.

Don't fall for it! If you get sucked into a store, you could wind up wasting valuable vacation time and some of your travel funds to boot.

4. Spa treatments

I am not against spa treatments on a cruise by any means, and I frequently get a message or relax in the thermal areas of the vessels I'm on. However, I never book spa treatments before a cruise or during the first few days of a journey since prices tend to be a lot higher in general.

After you cruise for a while, you quickly notice that cruise lines roll out all their best deals after the first few days of sailing. This often means you can book massages and other spa treatments for up to 40% off, which is a nice benefit if you're looking to save some cash.

5. Too many excursions

I have also learned to stop pre-booking and paying for so many excursions, especially when I'm traveling with my family of four. The more I cruise, the more I have found that my family really needs some downtime on a cruise, and that some group excursions are a lot more trouble than they're worth.

There are times lately, especially in the Caribbean, when we don't even get off the ship, or we just get off for a few hours to walk around. That seems to be more than enough, and we mix in a few organized excursions we're dead set on doing to mix things up.

There are also ports where I just want to do something easy, so that's what we do. On my next Caribbean cruise, we've booked a resort day pass at an all-inclusive resort in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic through a platform called Resort for a Day. This day at an all-inclusive resort includes beach time, a chair, towels, food, and drinks (including alcohol), and it only set us back $74 per person. At this point, we only have to pay for a taxi ride there and back.

6. Under packing

Finally, I have learned the hard way to bring all the toiletries and sunscreen we could possibly need, as well as remedies for seasickness and a first aid kit. The fact is, having to buy these items on a cruise ship or in a port can be overly expensive, and you don't get a lot to choose from, either.

I typically check a bag when I fly to my cruise departure destination for this reason, even if I have to pay checked bag fees to do so. After all, a $30 checked bag fee is nothing when you compare the costs of bringing sunscreen and medicines from home versus paying that much or more for a single can of sunblock on the ship.

This article was originally published in September 2023.