I've been on more than 50 cruises. There are 9 things I never buy on board.

• As an avid cruiser, I’ll splurge on onboard luxuries like fine dining, spa services, or cocktails.
• However, some extras, like balcony rooms and souvenir photos, never feel worth the cost to me.
• I think unlimited drink packages and high-end, duty-free purchases are rarely a good value.

Specialty cups may look cute, but they’re impractical and often go unused in everyday life.

Hydration is essential, but I avoid overpaying for plastic water bottles.

It doesn’t make sense to pay for underwhelming bar food when there are so many all-you-can-eat options.

Many onboard internet packages offer slow speeds at hefty prices.

This story was originally published on November 17, 2022, and most recently updated on June 15, 2026.