Cruise fares always include accommodation, meals, entertainment and a daily programme of on-board activities.
Unless you’re sailing with luxury lines such as Crystal, SeaDream, Regent Seven Sea Cruises, Seabourn or Explora Journeys – where a host of extras are covered in the price – you’ll be faced with an extensive range of potential add-ons. The choice can seem bewildering, so we’ve demystified the options to help you decide whether to splash the cash or save money.
There is one cruise add-on I never buy – photo packages. It can be fun to have a photo with the captain on formal night, which you can buy as a one-off, but it’s so easy to take great photos on your phone that I avoid the expensive bundles pushed by ships’ photographers.
Shorts
A second add-on I treat with caution is the spa. Treatments are often two or three times what you would pay at your local salon, often with an obligatory tip on top. And, while I’ve had some excellent massages at sea, others have left me underwhelmed and out of pocket.
