Most things may be free on cruise ships, but there are many options for added services and products that could set you back a surprising amount.
Youtube channel Eat Sleep Cruise asked cruise lovers what would they never spend their money on the next time they are on a cruise.
A list was compiled from the of users’ answers with the biggest cruise rip-offs to help any of those soon to be embarking on a grand cruise ship and where to not waste your money.
Paying for on board photos was straight out the gate when it came to the biggest waste of money on cruise ships, as most people have their own means to take pictures.
Onboard art galleries and art auctions were also described as a money grab for cruise liners.
According to the Youtube video, many works of art on cruises are in fact simply prints with paint brush strokes painted over them to give them the illusion of being art.
Many of these art pieces are also marked-up by 50 to 100% with some previous reports of unhappy buyers having to file lawsuits against cruise lines or the art auctioneers onboard after they claimed the value of the artworks had been inflated.
Other incidents include holidaymakers purchasing forged art pieces which resulted in some being able to get refunds back from the cruise liners without any lawsuits or media involvement.
Another big thing to avoid on cruises, according to feedback, are the salon and spa services.
Many cruise ships have a spa onboard, which can range from a small number of rooms with massage tables to large sections that include sun decks, saunas, and pools.
These services are said to come at a pricey upcharge on ships compared to the prices you would find on spas on the mainland.
Gambling was also mentioned by many users.
The spend on gambling will come down to the person but many warned the thrill and excitement of being on a cruise ship has in turn hurt their pockets hard when gambling as many get lost in the moment.
Casinos are one of the biggest money makers for cruise lines with bingo also mentioned by some users.
According to Cruzely, cruise ship casinos offer some of the poorest payouts of any casino too with Blackjack among the poorest payout of all.
