The Cruise Add-Ons Worth Buying (and the Ones I’m Skipping)

One of the biggest reasons people tell me they are hesitant to cruise is because they are afraid of being nickel-and-dimed.

And honestly? I get it.

For a long time, that was one of the things that kept me from cruising too! I worried that the advertised price was just the beginning and that once I got on board, I would feel pressured to buy every package, upgrade, and excursion available.

BUT the more I cruise, the more I realize something important: Cruising is one of the most customizable forms of travel there is.

You can sail the same ship.

You can visit the same ports.

You can even repeat the exact same itinerary.

And still have a completely different vacation based on what you choose to prioritize.

That is especially true on a weekend cruise, where every decision matters a little more because your time onboard is limited.

One of the biggest mistakes I see cruisers make is assuming they need to buy every package, upgrade, and excursion available. You don't.

In fact, I usually start by asking one question:

"What are my goals for THIS vacation?"

Not every cruise is the same.

Not every traveler is the same.

And not every add-on delivers the same value.

Cruise Add-Ons | What They Are and Why They Matter

Cruise add-ons vary widely from ship to ship and sometimes even from itinerary to itinerary. Even if you've been on hundreds of cruises, I highly recommend checking the add-ons for your specific sailing every time.

When I say “cruise add-ons,” I am talking about the extras you can choose before or during your cruise to customize your experience. Depending on the cruise line and cabin category you have booked, you may choose to add drink packages, specialty dining, Wi-Fi, shore excursions, spa treatments, photo packages, fitness classes, arcade credits, bottled water, room gifts, cabanas, beach clubs, transportation, or other onboard experiences. Some cabin types and cruise lines include some of these automatically. Many add-ons are also cheaper when purchased before you sail, which is why I always recommend reviewing your options before embarkation day.

Some add-ons are designed for convenience.

Some are designed for comfort.

Some are designed to create a special memory.

And some are simply not necessary for every sailing, or sometimes at all!

My family is taking a last minute family vacation. And this topic is on my mind, because I am planning a trip for the same 3-night Celebrity cruise on the same itinerary I just went on last month with my mother, but our set-up looks completely different this time.

For our upcoming cruise, I have intentionally chosen to skip several popular packages that I typically buy on other sailings. This post is going to walk you through how I am intentionally choosing add-ons for our upcoming sailing.

Example No. 1 | Internet / Premium Wi-Fi Access

Internet is a non-negotiable for our family. My husband works remotely and has a position in which he can be called upon in an emergency, and I too have a career in which I need to be readily available in emergency situations. Additionally, we both have families at home we care about who we want to be able to access us should a need arise. (And sometimes, we just need to send really cute pictures to our families to make them jealous!) We don't have a goal to work on our vacation or to be glued to our devices, but being available to people at home removes stress for both of us.

Additionally, our children can connect to their devices. I love that I can communicate with my children while they explore the ship with a little more independence. Ultimately, Wi-fi makes everyone in our family happier, and that makes internet a high-value purchase for us.

This is exactly why I love cruising as a family vacation. While our oldest is quickly morphing into a teenager, our youngest is still a happy dude. No planning meals. No driving. No logistics. Just family time. 🤍🚢☀️

Example No. 2 | The Drink Package

For this cruise, we are spending an entire day in Key West, and we are keeping our day in Nassau flexible. On a short sailing, I know we simply won't have enough onboard time to maximize a drink package. So instead of paying for unlimited drinks, we'll purchase beverages à la carte and use our onboard credit strategically.

My mom had Key West on her bucket list for decades. Last month, I finally got to take her there on a retirement cruise, and several times, I caught her just stopping to take it all in. Watching her experience a place she'd dreamed about for so long is one of my favorite travel memories to date. 🤍👯‍♀️

Also, we are traveling during the height of summer heat, and I want to romanticize drinking water for my family, which leads me to...

Example No. 3 | Water in the Cabin

A package of bottled water isn't exciting. But a 12-pack of Acqua Panna Spring Water - premium Italian still natural spring water sourced from the sun-drenched hills of Tuscany - being delivered to your stateroom upon arrival is the Cruise with PIE approved way of romanticizing your water intake. This also means we have solved some real logistical issues for our trip:

✔️ Cold Water in the Room

A MUST for me to sleep at night!

✔️ Flying to the Port

So these are much harder to bring with us onboard.

✔️ Got it on Sale

At just $24, this is CHEAPER than I could buy at the store!

✔️ Water-to-go for Port Days

Staying hydrated is so important.

✔️ Three 1-Liter Bottles for Each of Us

No sharing required!

This is not something I would normally purchase, because I normally buy a drink package. But since we are foregoing that for this sailing, I am presenting these as an "in room gift" to get the kiddos excited about staying hydrated. And THAT is a little Mom hack you are welcome to borrow from Cruise with PIE. 😉

Example No. 4 | Specialty Dining

This is where I think a lot of cruisers accidentally oversimplify "value." At first glance, it looked like Celebrity's Unlimited Specialty Dining Package might be the clear winner.

Celebrity Reflection has several Specialty Dining options onboard, but our family really only had one that we knew we just HAD to do, and that's Le Petit Chef at Qsine. For our family of four, the cost would be about $134 for a single meal. Meanwhile, the Unlimited Dining Package would give us specialty dining every evening of our 3-night cruise at roughly $114 per meal for our family, for a total of about $342.

The grand finale of Le Petit Chef. Is it a popsicle? Is it cake? Is it sorcery? I still don't know, but I do know I ate every bite and still want another one. 😆🍨✨

We decided that the variety offered in the Main Dining Room and the Oceanview Cafe (buffet) is better suited for our family. We have a dad who is a burger guy, mom who loves Italian, older son who eats everything, and younger son who is an extremely picky eater. So, for this vacation, variety and value is key, and we love a cruise buffet for that reason.

So, we are going to enjoy Le Petit Chef on our first night of the cruise as a fun welcome dinner and then enjoy the flexibility of the Main Dining and Buffet so we can enjoy our port stops the next two days.

For this particular sailing, I wasn’t looking for the fanciest dining option or the biggest package. I was looking for the dining choice that would most enhance our overall vacation experience. For us, that means one memorable specialty dinner, then the flexibility of the Main Dining Room and buffet for the rest of the cruise.

Specialty dining isn't just about fancy food. Sometimes it's about creating an environment where your picky eater decides to try calamari for the first time. This photo was taken moments after that very brave culinary adventure aboard Explorer of the Seas. 😂 And before anyone asks, yes... those were his "fancy dinner clothes." One of the things I love most about modern cruising is that families can enjoy incredible dining experiences without stressing over formal dress codes. If my kid is willing to try calamari while wearing a flaming basketball shirt and neon green shorts, I'm calling that a parenting win. ✨

Example No. 5 | Excursions

One of the easiest ways to overspend on a cruise is assuming you need an excursion in every port. For this sailing, we booked a golf cart rental in Key West because exploring the island on our own time is one of our primary goals for that day. Both Hubs and I have been to Key West multiple times, so the golf cart will allow us to introduce our sons to our favorite parts of the island (on their first visit there), keep everyone comfortable in the summer heat, and make the experience more family-friendly.

For Nassau, I was there just last month with my mom and some friends. We purchased tickets to the Royal Beach Club and had a wonderful time. But this cruise has different goals. This time, rather than spend the money for a beach day, we plan to stroll around the port area, browse a few shops, hunt for some suspiciously real-looking luxury knockoffs, and then head back to the ship. For us, the ship is ALWAYS part of the vacation. While many guests are exploring Nassau, the pools, hot tubs, and public spaces onboard are often less crowded. For our family, spending a few relaxed hours enjoying the ship may actually provide more value than purchasing another excursion.

And that's exactly the point.

The best cruise add-on isn't always the one with the biggest discount or the most impressive brochure. Sometimes the best value is spending nothing at all and just enjoying the ship itself.

Mom and me heading to the Royal Beach Club in Nassau last month. We had a wonderful time, but this cruise has different goals, and that's exactly why we're skipping it this time around.

My Rule

I don't buy add-ons because they're on sale.

I don't buy add-ons because everyone else does.

I buy add-ons when they improve:

✨ Convenience

✨ Comfort

✨ Experiences

✨ Memories

The goal isn't to spend the least or the most money. The goal is to spend money where it matters most.

That’s what I call customizable cruising, and it’s exactly why cruising is my FAVORITE form of travel. If you need help figuring out which add-ons are worth it, which ones to skip, and how to make your cruise feel like your vacation, I’d love to help. I’m Paige, owner of Cruise with PIE, a boutique travel agency that specializes in simplifying travel for women, families, and friend groups who want the fun without the overwhelm. Whether you’re cruising solo, taking the kids, planning a girls’ trip, or finally booking that dream getaway, I can help you create a plan that fits you.

Reach out at cruisewithpie@gmail.com to start planning your next trip - just a little sweeter, because you’re planning to Cruise with PIE.