How Much Spending Money for a Cruise Do You Need?

One of the questions we get asked most often is:

“One of the questions we get asked most often is about spending money for a cruise — specifically, how much should you actually bring?”

The short answer? It’s completely up to you.

One of the things we love most about cruising is that it can fit almost any budget. You could step on the ship and not spend another dollar for the entire vacation — or you could splurge on excursions, specialty dining, and spa days. The beauty is that you’re in control.

Here’s exactly how our family of four plans our cruise budget — from drinks and excursions to souvenirs and Wi-Fi.

Can You Cruise Without Spending Any Extra Money?
Absolutely — and we’ve done it. Your cruise fare already includes everything you need for a genuinely wonderful vacation:

Your cabin
All meals in the buffet and main dining room
Snacks throughout the day
Broadway-style shows and entertainment
Kids Clubs
Pools and Hot Tub
Most onboard activities

Even in port you don’t have to spend a single dollar. We often walk around port towns, explore waterfronts, visit local parks, and take in the scenery completely free. Some of our favourite port days have cost us absolutely nothing — and they’ve produced some of our best memories.

Drinks: What We Actually Spend

We budget for one or two specialty drinks per person per day — not a full drink package.That might be:

🍺A beer or glass of wine at dinner
A specialty coffee in the morning
A cocktail or the Drink of the Day special
Happy Hour drinks when available

Why we skip the drink package: We simply don’t drink enough to make it worthwhile. Before purchasing any beverage package, estimate honestly how many drinks you’ll have each day — for many families, paying individually is the better value.

For the girls it’s even simpler. Cassidy loves the complimentary lemonade and Taylor is perfectly happy with milk or water. We’ve never needed a soda package.

💡 Family Tip: Run the math before buying any package. Drink packages make sense for heavy drinkers — not for most families.

Kids’ Extras: The Hidden Costs

The kids clubs are included and excellent — but a few optional extras can quietly add up:

🎮 Arcade games
🍬 Candy shops
🧸 Build-your-own stuffed animals (on some ships)
🎯 Special kids activities and experiences
🕹️ Video game lounges

Our tip: Some cruise lines let you pre-purchase arcade credits before sailing at a discount. It’s a great way to set a spending limit the kids can see and manage themselves.

Souvenirs and Gift Shops

Cruise ship gift shops are fun to browse — but prices vary dramatically. Some items are far more expensive than you’ll find in port, while end-of-cruise sales and logo merchandise can actually be great deals.

What works for us: We give everyone a souvenir budget before the cruise begins. Knowing the limit ahead of time makes shopping stress-free and eliminates impulse purchase arguments entirely.

Wi-Fi: Our Controversial Choice

We have never purchased a Wi-Fi package — and it’s become one of our favourite parts of cruising.

We expected the girls to struggle. Instead the opposite happened. Between exploring the ship, swimming, attending shows, and making new friends, they barely missed their devices.

In port we occasionally connect to free Wi-Fi at local restaurants or visitor centres if we need to check in with family. Otherwise we’re fully present and completely disconnected — together.

If you work remotely or have genuine connectivity needs, a package makes sense. For most families we’d encourage you to try going without it at least once.

The Casino

If you enjoy casinos, cruise ships offer plenty of opportunity. Many experienced cruisers earn perks like free drinks, discounts, or future cruise credits through casino loyalty programs.

Our rule: We treat the casino as entertainment, not income. Set your budget before you walk in and stick to it.

Art Auctions

Almost every cruise ship hosts art auctions during the voyage — and even if you have zero intention of buying anything, they’re genuinely fun to attend. Some cruise lines offer complimentary champagne during auction events, making it a lovely free afternoon activity.

Specialty Restaurants: Worth It?

We’ve never paid extra for specialty dining and haven’t felt like we missed out. The included Main Dining Room has introduced our family to dishes we’d never tried before — and some of those meals rank among the best we’ve ever had.

If you’re celebrating a special occasion a specialty restaurant can absolutely be worth the splurge. But don’t feel pressured. The included dining is genuinely excellent.

Excursions: The Biggest Variable

This is where cruise budgets vary the most — and where your decisions have the biggest impact.Some families spend hundreds or even thousands on excursions. Others choose free or low-cost adventures:

🚶 Walking through port towns
🏖️ Finding free or low-cost beaches
🥾 Hiking local trails
🏛️ Visiting museums and local markets

Onboard optional experiences can also add up:

Beverage tastings
Behind-the-scenes ship tours
Cooking classes
Spa treatments
Escape rooms
Surf simulators and specialty attractions

These experiences can be amazing — but they’re best enjoyed when you’ve planned and budgeted for them in advance rather than decided spontaneously onboard.

Easy-to-Overlook Expenses

A few costs that catch first-timers off guard:

Gratuities — if not prepaid, these are added automatically to your onboard account
Professional photos — photographers are everywhere onboard and photos add up fast
Spa treatments — prices are premium
Laundry services — consider packing a small travel detergent instead Room service fees — some cruise lines now charge for this
Medical visits — onboard medical care is expensive, travel insurance is worth it
Port transportation — taxis, shuttles, and rideshares in port

So How Much Should You Actually Budget?

Every family is different – but here’s a simple framework that works for most:

Budget Level	Per Person	What It Covers
Minimal	$0-$100	Mostly Included activities, one or two extras
Moderate	$100-$300	Drinks, souvenirs, arcade, small excursions
Splurge	$300+	Multiple excursions, specialty dining, spa, shopping

Our Final Advice

Decide on your budget before you sail. Prioritize the experiences that matter most to your family. And don’t feel pressured to spend money just because the options are there.

Some of our favourite cruise memories — watching glaciers calve, exploring charming port towns, attending incredible shows, and lingering over dinner together — didn’t cost us a single dollar beyond the cruise fare.

The best cruise memories aren’t usually the most expensive ones. They’re the moments you share together.