What is your biggest expenditure while on a cruise ship?

[ilikeanswers]

What amenities, products, services and/or facilities do you find yourself spending the most for on board a cruise ship? And does it differ depending on the cruise ship? 

Edited December 7, 2019 by ilikeanswers

[shipgeeks]

Gratuities.  Usually our only extra expense.

[paul929207]

Like Shipgeeks, gratuities but that is usually covered by obc. We go on 20 to 50 day cruises and rarely owe more than $100 on our Onboard Account.

[clo]

Glad to see these replies. Gratuities on this cruise but the TA is picking that up for the next one.

[K32682]

Drinks. 

[cruisemom42]

Varies by cruise line. On mass market lines it would usually be gratuities. 

 

However, the biggest extra "cost" to me is the solo supplement. 

[Floridiana]

Gratuities, but I count them as part of the cruise fare. Other than that, it is excursions. 

[wowzz]

Drink.  No need to tip  as P&O now include gratuities in the fare.

[evandbob]

Usually casino gambling.  Lately we've been booking on line with some TA web sites that offer free gratuities since we tend to book 10 day or longer sailings.

[leaveitallbehind]

Specialty restaurants as we rarely eat in the MDR. 

Edited December 7, 2019 by leaveitallbehind

[idraconis]

Booze.

[Joebucks]

It depends, but it is normally taxis. Such a pain to get where you want and all of the gouging.

[DirtyDawg]

4 hours ago, ilikeanswers said:

What amenities, products, services and/or facilities do you find yourself spending the most for on board a cruise ship? And does it differ depending on the cruise ship? 

 

I'll tell what my biggest expense is if you tell us yours. 

But you have to tell the truth.😉

[Bookish Angel]

4 hours ago, shipgeeks said:

Gratuities.  Usually our only extra expense.

Same here. We almost never buy anything.  

[iancal]

Wine.

[navybankerteacher]

Gratuities, then wine with dinner.  Yes, OBC covers a good part of the total.

[XBGuy]

13 minutes ago, iancal said:

Wine.

 

 

Same for us.

 

All our cruises are one or two weeks.  We, generally, bring a eight or nine bottles of our own wine on board.  So. we start by paying corkage at the pier. We, also, do enjoy the various wine lists on Princess--generally, our cruise line of choice.  I am, primarily, a red wine drinker, and my wife prefers white wines.  So, if I take a bottle of red wine to dinner, she will order a white from their list--and vice versa.  If we are not up for a big dinner, we may go to the ship's wine bar where they offer complimentary Tapas or Sushi with a wine order.

 

Second biggest expense after wine would probably be specialty dining.

[c-boy]

could be a toss up between jewelry purchases and casino donations. 

[cruznjan]

After gratuities, excursions.

[lenquixote66]

Gratuities and $10 tee shirts

[bonsai3s]

Tips.

[MCC retired]

Generally it is the Shore Tours .

[jocap]

It depends on the itinerary- if the ports are complicated, eg Northern Iceland, then it's excursions. Otherwise it's wine.

[ilikeanswers]

5 hours ago, DirtyDawg said:

I'll tell what my biggest expense is if you tell us yours. 

But you have to tell the truth.😉

 

The cruises I have taken there were no extras I had to purchase and none of the optional extras have been of interest to me (usually the only options are souvenirs and spa treatments). My question is really out of curiosity because I noticed a lot of comments on threads about getting great deals with OBC so it makes me wonder what people are spending on board that makes OBC such a desired perk. 

Edited December 7, 2019 by ilikeanswers

[ilikeanswers]

9 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

However, the biggest extra "cost" to me is the solo supplement. 

 

I feel your pain😣

Edited December 7, 2019 by ilikeanswers