The cruise fare is the start of your spending, not the end. Gratuities, drinks, specialty dinners, internet and shore trips are billed on board. A simple cap, agreed before you sail, keeps the final bill close to the fare you saw.
This guide belongs to our destination decisions topic and works alongside the main page on a cruise honeymoon from Malaysia.
What extras should we expect on a cruise?
Think of the fare as a room with meals. Everything else is a choice, or at least a line you can ask about. The table lists the common ones and the question that makes each clear.
| Extra | What to ask |
|---|---|
| Gratuities or service charge | Is it prepaid or added daily, and is it per person? |
| Drinks | Which drinks are inside the fare, and what is a package? |
| Specialty restaurants | Is there a cover charge, and is a set menu cheaper? |
| Wi-Fi | Is it per device, per day or per message? |
| Shore excursions | Is transport included, and what time must we be back? |
| Spa and salon | Are there port-day discounts, and is tipping added? |
| Photos | Are portraits free to look at and paid only if kept? |
| Laundry and room service | Which items are free and which are charged? |
Why do these costs feel small and add up?
Each item looks modest by itself. A coffee, a photo, a short Wi-Fi session. On a ship, every purchase goes onto one cabin card, so there is no moment where you feel the money leave.
A week of small yeses can equal a day of the fare itself. That is why a cap works better than good intentions.
How do we set a cap for two?
Use three buckets and give each a limit before you sail. Write them in your phone notes.
- Fixed extras. Gratuities and anything you will certainly use, such as a Wi-Fi plan or a drinks package.
- Chosen treats. One specialty dinner, one spa visit, or one excursion. Pick them now and book them early if there is a discount.
- Loose spending. Coffee, souvenirs and photos. Give this bucket a daily limit for two.
Our honeymoon budget calculator can help you total the buckets alongside flights and hotel nights.
Are drinks packages good value for couples?
Only if both of you would drink enough to use it. A package is priced as if you will drink steadily all day. If one of you prefers water and the other has two cups of coffee, paying per drink may be cheaper.
Read our guide on drinks packages and value for couples for a quick way to test it. Ask if both adults in a cabin must buy the same package, since some ships require it.
Which extras are worth paying for?
Most newlyweds find three extras worth the money: one good dinner, one comfortable excursion and a Wi-Fi plan if family at home expects updates. Spa treatments and portraits are lovely but easy to skip on a tight budget.
Our page on hidden honeymoon costs couples miss covers the costs outside the ship, such as transfers, parking and the night before boarding.
What should we do next?
- Pick two cruise fares and ask each for a written list of inclusions.
- Fill in the three buckets together and agree a daily limit for loose spending.
- Check the onboard account every evening and compare it with the cap.
- Send us the fares, and we will lay out the total for two with extras separated, so the comparison is fair.