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Onboard Spending Budget Planner
The cruise fare is just the headline number — build a realistic budget for everything you'll actually spend once you're onboard.
Package vs. pay-as-you-go
A drink package charges one flat daily rate per person regardless of how much you actually drink; pay-as-you-go only charges for what you order. Toggle between them to see which is more realistic for how you actually cruise — light drinkers often come out ahead paying as they go, while frequent drinkers usually save with a package.
What's not included
This planner covers the common onboard categories, but specialty dining cover charges, casino losses beyond your set budget, and souvenirs are easy to forget — pad the discretionary line if any of those apply to you.
Frequently asked questions
Is the auto-gratuity charged automatically?
Yes, most mainstream cruise lines add a daily gratuity charge per person to your onboard account automatically — you can usually adjust it at guest services, but budgeting for the default rate avoids surprises. See the dedicated gratuity calculator for a closer breakdown including extra tips.
Should WiFi be per device or per stateroom?
Enter whatever total you expect to actually pay — many lines price a WiFi package per device per day, so multiply that rate by nights and devices before entering it here as a single total.
Why is excursion budget separate from the port excursion calculator?
This planner treats excursions as one lump budget line for overall trip planning. The dedicated port excursion cost calculator breaks that same spending down port by port and compares ship-run tours against independent operators.