Luxury Cruising Editorial

There’s been a lot of buzz about cruise ship health inspections going away because of job cuts.  But is it really true?  If you only read a few headlines, you might think that cruise lines were sailing without any guardrails for health and safety.

But those claims have largely been exaggerated and misleading.

These reports and social media posts have definitely made it sound like cruise ships were about to turn into the Wild West in terms of sanitation standards. And it hasn’t helped that several outbreaks have popped up just weeks before many of these claims began circulating.

But the reality is far less scary and doesn’t grab as many headlines.  The truth? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) remains fully operational, and inspections are continuing as they always have.

The sticking point comes from the large number of layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), where over 2,400 CDC employees, including some civilian VSP were let go.

This news quickly got picked up by the media and started buzzing in online groups, which led to a lot of worried talk about what would happen to the program. Some people online were even saying that ships would basically become breeding grounds for sickness.

“Goodbye inspectors, hello norovirus,” one user stated on Reddit.

Fortunately, we have some clearer information now.  A CDC spokesperson clarified to USA TODAY: “This work has not stopped.”

The VSP relies primarily on 12 U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) commissioned officers.  The important bit is that they were unaffected by the layoffs.

An HHS person also confirmed that these officers will keep things going with the VSP. And it’s worth remembering that the cruise lines themselves pay for this program, not your tax dollars.

So, the VSP does a lot of checks – around 200 every year – and they also keep an eye on outbreaks. So far in 2025, there have been 12, mostly norovirus, compared to 18 last year.

Despite the shake-up with the layoffs, it’s just not true that inspections are stopping. Even with the HHS changes, the VSP is still making sure ships stick to the rules, giving them scores out of 100 and letting everyone know if there’s a bigger outbreak (when 3% or more get sick).

So, if you’re planning a cruise, the crew will still be very busy making sure the ship is clean and safe.  And at any moment a surprise inspection can still happen while that ship is in a U.S. port.

The truth is less dramatic, but hopefully it will still get a bit of attention as well.

This article won’t be very popular with the cruise lines, but when you’re cruising on a budget, you have to save money wherever you can. And besides, for every cheapskate—I mean that term affectionately—there are two more cruisers ready to blow the budget to pieces.

This is for those who want to spend as little as possible on a cruise and avoid all those additional charges that tend to add up by the end of a vacation at sea.

With the many up-charges cruisers face when they board a cruise ship is it really possible to avoid the extra costs and still enjoy the vacation?

Cruise lines make a significant portion of their revenue from onboard sales. Things like drinks, spa services, shore excursions, and specialty restaurants can add to an already fantastic cruise experience. However, all the extra expenses can add up quickly and exceed the cost of the cruise itself if you’re not careful–I’ve seen it happen.

On the one hand, I believe a cruise is a great opportunity to indulge and not worry about trying to spend as little as possible on the ship.

However, those on a tighter budget who still want a wonderful cruise vacation without having to worry about overspending will appreciate some of the tips in this article.

By the way, if you’re tired of being “nickle and dimed” by all the extras on a cruise you can always check out an all-inclusive cruise line.  Sure, it cost more, but some cruisers love the idea of paying one time and not having to worry about a single extra charge.

You can check out our list of the best 5 all-inclusive cruise lines here.

Here are seven ways to avoid spending any extra money once you’ve boarded your cruise ship.

1. Just drink water, juice, and coffee

If you’re not already an avid water drinker before the cruise, this will be a tough pill to swallow. However, by drinking water and other free beverages on board a cruise ship, you can save yourself a boatload of money.

In addition to water, there are typically a variety of included juices, as well as complimentary coffee and tea. On cruises where I want to save some money, I usually have an orange juice for breakfast and some hot coffee to get me started, then just drink water throughout the day.

Water enhancers are a great way to add some flavor to your water. I know many cruisers who bring a small bottle of MiO or another brand of flavored liquid water enhancer. These enhancers come in flavors like raspberry lemonade and sweet tea, and some energy drink makers even supply drops with added electrolytes. So, if you’re looking to spice things up, your water doesn’t have to be so boring.

Related: 10 Biggest drink package mistakes cruisers make

While a drink package will save you money over buying drinks individually it will also cost quite a bit.   For instance, a Carnival CHEERS! Beverage package costs about $82 per day per person plus a service charge.   This equates to over $1,148 for two people on a 7-day cruise.

If you really must have some soda on board your ship, many cruise lines will let you bring a 12-pack of cans onto the ship upon embarkation.

Note:  A recent update from Norwegian Cruise Line now disallows bringing beverages on board.  And MSC Cruises has stated that it does not allow passengers to bring drinks of any kind on their ships, with the exception of distilled water for medical needs and baby milk.

2. Replace a paid shore excursion with self-guided tours

Shore excursion costs can add up quickly, especially on a cruise with several ports of call. If you’re on a family cruise, these costs can multiply. However, you don’t have to purchase these excursions through the cruise line, nor do you have to purchase them at all.

I always enjoy exploring a port on my own first to get a feel for it. Then, I ask a local vendor or someone who lives near the port where the best places to visit are. You can also pay a few dollars to a taxi driver and get some great tips along the way. But, if you’re looking to spend zero extra dollars, there’s nothing wrong with doing a lot of research ahead of the cruise and creating your own self-guided tour of a cruise port.

Not every cruise port is suitable for a self-guided tour, but certain popular ports offer free tours. For example, when I was on an MSC cruise in Barcelona, I found several free tours. I took a group tour of Barcelona with about 15 other tourists and was happy to give a donation to the tour guide who did an excellent job at the end.

If a port is not walkable you will want to spend some cash for a local driver to bring you closer into town.

But if you really are determined to not spend a dime you can just follow the next point.

Related article: 10 most over-rated shore excursions

3. Stay on the ship

To piggyback off of the last point, any time you get off the ship—with the exception of a cruise line’s private island— everything you want to do or eat will cost money.   Even though mainstream cruise lines like Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line, and MSC Cruises are not all-inclusive cruise lines, they do provide many services and edibles for free.

So, when you get off the ship and get hungry or want to enjoy an amusement those costs can add up.  If you really don’t want to spend an extra penny, just stay on the ship and enjoy all it has to offer.

The great thing about staying on a ship on a port day is that you will get to enjoy mostly empty pools and hot tubs and almost every other part of the ship will be less crowded as well.

There are still plenty of things to do on board during a port day.  And whether you want to play some cruise ship trivia, enjoy the waterpark, or just relax in the solarium you will find port days free of crowds.

4. Get the most out of included places to eat

I absolutely love eating at specialty restaurants on a cruise ship.  The food and service is incredible and I like avoiding the crowds.

But cruise lines offer more included restaurants and eating options than ever.  Some cruise lines like Carnival do seem to offer more free places to eat than some other lines in the same category, by the way.  But whatever cruise line you are on make sure you do some research and find every single eatery that is included in the price.

Then take advantage of all of them.  Get the most out of what you already paid for.  The MDR (Main Dining Room) will offer excellent quality on most cruise ships, but you can check out the menu on the cruise ship’s app ahead of time.   If that night’s menu doesn’t appeal to you check out the buffet or another included restaurant.

I’m amazed at how many times I talk to cruisers at the end of a cruise and they didn’t even realize one of the restaurants on board was complimentary.  Some restaurants have a cost for dinner but offer a free lunch as well, so it pays to do some research on your ship before you ever sail.

You don’t have to spend an extra penny on your cruise to keep from going hungry.  But if you must splurge, the article below might help.

Read more: 11 extra-charge cruise perks worth every bit of the cost

5. Do your homework during the packing process

It’s easy to forget to pack certain things during your cruise.  And anything you do forget you can probably buy on the ship or in a port.  But by being prepared during the packing process you will save yourself the trouble of having to pay a premium for things like sunscreen, bug spray, and water bottles.  (Remember, if you’re going to be drinking water during your cruise having a collapsible water bottle will come in handy).

Buying commonly forgotten items in the gift shop on board your ship is convenient but it sure isn’t cheap.

You can read my recent article on 15 things people often forget to pack for a cruise to make sure you don’t make the same mistakes.

6. Save money on laundry

Doing laundry on a cruise ship can be expensive. Here are some tips to help you save money while still having clean and wrinkle-free clothes.

First, pack some wrinkle-release spray. I mentioned this item in a previous packing article, and it can save you a few dollars from having the cruise line press or iron your clothes for you. Suitcases can easily wrinkle clothing, but wrinkle-release sprays can typically smooth most of them out.

After unpacking, try another trick to get wrinkles out of shirts. Lightly spray some water on the clothing, and then give it a few sharp downward snaps, like snapping a towel but with two hands in a downward motion. Doing this a couple of times and letting your clothes dry on a hanger in the shower can get rid of most wrinkles.

Some cruise lines offer an iron in the launderette that you can use for free. Just make sure you use it at a different time than right before dinner, as there will be a line then. Note that not every cruise line provides an iron. In those cases, you would have to pay anywhere from $5 to $10 to have an article of clothing pressed.

If you want to save more money, you can wash a few articles of clothing in your stateroom sink the old-fashioned way. However, packing enough clothes for each day of the cruise can help you avoid this problem altogether.

7. Avoid cruise ship Wi-Fi fees with a good mobile plan

Wi-Fi is available on every cruise ship these days, and the download speeds you can get today are very impressive.  But these Wi-Fi plans are not usually free and can really add to the budget if you have multiple devices you want connected.

By using a good cell phone plan with international data included you can at least get by until your cruise is over.  As someone who writes for Cruise Fever and cruises often it’s difficult for me to NOT buy the Wi-Fi package, but on some occasions I have simply relied on my T-mobile plan that provides unlimited data and texting when traveling internationally.

This is only useful when in port or at least close enough to a tower to get a signal, but it’s still a viable option that doesn’t cost me an extra penny.

Check with your cell phone provider to see if they either offer international data for free or at a discount.  I actually switched to my current provider just based on getting international data, as I use it all the time when traveling abroad.   Google Fi also offers plans with international data at affordable rates.

If you still want Wi-Fi but won’t need it all the time you can often buy Wi-Fi packages from companies in popular cruise ports and upload all your vacation photos then.

You can even find free Wi-Fi in some cruise ports.  Just make sure you’re using a VPN on your connection.

Final Thoughts

Remember, besides your cruise fare there are some extra expenses that you can’t get out of.  Things like port fees and taxes have to be added to that listed cruise price, causing some first-time cruisers sticker shock.

But don’t forget to include gratuities in your cost analysis as well.  While you can pay more or less than a cruise line recommends by seeing guest services, I recommend prepaying gratuities and then adding to it with cash to the individual crew members if you feel it is warranted.

Cruise photos is another area that can really add to your cruise budget.  I have purchased many photos from cruise lines over the years, but buying photos on every cruise would just be too expensive.  If you must buy a photo that one of the crew took during your cruise you can opt for a photo package which makes the prints cheaper.

However, you decide to spend your money on your cruise I hope you enjoy every moment of your vacation.  These money saving tips aren’t for everyone to follow, but if they help even save you a few dollars on your cruise then I’m delighted.

Read more:  12 things you can still get for free on a cruise

Families planning Hawaiian cruises could soon face higher costs, as the state considers new taxes on cruise ship passengers. The proposed measures, which include a per-passenger fee or an 11% tax, similar to taxes paid by hotel guests, have triggered a strong threat of legal action from the cruise industry.

Some lawmakers in Hawaii are arguing that the fee increase will ensure cruise visitors contribute their “fair share” to the state, making them equal with other tourists who pay the Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT).

“All we’re asking is for them is to pay their fair share,” State Rep. Adrian Tam, House Tourism Committee Chair, stated. “They are benefiting from Hawaii’s natural beauty.”

However, cruise lines are opposing the tax hike and threatening a lawsuit. Attorneys representing the cruise industry have sent a letter to Hawaii’s Attorney General and lawmakers, claiming the taxes are unconstitutional under long-standing maritime law.

They argue that federal regulations limit taxes on vessels to the cost of providing port services. The letter warns of “costly and time-consuming litigation” if the state proceeds.

Danial Farkas, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., spoke to reporters about the financial impact on passengers. He noted that guests on Norwegian Cruise Line’s inter-island Pride of America cruise already pay around $100 in existing fees and excise taxes per person for a five-day voyage.

The proposed new taxes could double this amount.

“And what that means is that for a family of five, such as myself, that’s an extra $500 to the price of a ticket,” Farkas warned. “And it is going to make very, very quickly the cost of a cruise simply unaffordable.”

Farkas also suggested that if the costs become too high, cruise lines could simply pack up and leave. “It picks up and moves, it’s got propellers, it’s got rudders, and we can move it wherever we want,” Farkas stated.

With both the House and Senate in Hawaii having passed their own versions of the cruise passenger tax bills, the final decision on how much more tourists will be taxed will be made in negotiations between the House and Senate in a conference committee.

Until then, future cruise passengers to Hawaii will have to wait to see if their vacation is about to get more expensive to the 50^th state.

With over 651 million followers on Instagram, soccer super star Cristiano Ronaldo has the largest audience on the platform.  And when he sends out a message, it gets a lot of attention.

A recent Instagram post has just revealed that Ronaldo and his partner Georgina Rodríguez are teaming up with a cruise line as part of a new publicity campaign.   The couple are promoting Aroya Cruises, a Saudi Arabian cruise line that currently has one 5,000 passenger ship.

In the shared video, Ronaldo and Rodríguez are seen in a casual setting at home, seemingly deciding on their next vacation. With Rodríguez scrolling through her phone, they land on Aroya Cruises as their vacation choice.

What follows is a bit of digital creativity, as the living space is transformed into a scene aboard the Aroya, complete with a balcony showing ocean views. In the video the couple says “Yalla,” the Arabic word for “let’s go,” which also serves as Aroya Cruises’ catchy tagline.

Ronaldo stated his enjoyment of the “Saudi lifestyle” and the Arabian nature of Aroya Cruises. Georgina Rodríguez also participated in the campaign, leveraging her own 65 million Instagram followers.

“Georgina and I are happy to feature in this campaign together and can’t wait to take our family on a cruise. We enjoy the Saudi lifestyle, and Aroya Cruises is intrinsically Arabian, from its design to its cuisine. Yalla Aroya Cruises,” Ronaldo stated.

Aroya Cruises was created by Cruise Saudi in 2023 to develop the cruise industry in Saudi Arabia. Their ship, Aroya, can accommodate 5,000 guests and 1,925 crew and was acquired in 2023 after previously being built for other cruise lines.

Initially offering 3- and 4-night cruises from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, starting in December 2024, Aroya Cruises is primarily targeting the Saudi market and nearby regions.

However, the cruise line has plans to expand, with 6- and 7-night cruises in the Mediterranean departing from Istanbul starting in June 2025, visiting destinations in Greece and Turkey.

Aroya features a wide range of amenities. It also includes dedicated facilities and times for female guests and separate prayer rooms for women, catering to the local culture.

Aroya Cruises is making a smart move by tapping into Cristiano Ronaldo’s huge social media presence to get the word out about their new Saudi Arabian cruise line. It’s a quick way to instantly grab attention as they set their sights on both the local Saudi market and their ambitions to sail the Mediterranean.

No one wants to think about plumbing while taking a cruise.  But what every cruise passenger needs to realize is that the toilet on a ship operates very differently than a toilet back home.

Carnival Cruise Line is once again reminding guests not to flush certain items down the toilet, as it wreaks havoc on cruise ship plumbing.  In fact, a total of 10 cruise cabins were left with inoperable toilets after one guest committed the cardinal sin of flushing the “unflushable”.

Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, once again took to social media this morning to address a frustratingly familiar issue: passengers flushing wet wipes down cabin toilets.

This time, the seemingly innocent act by one guest resulted in a domino effect, not only blocking their own toilet but also causing nine other toilets to stop working.  That’s not a great way to start a vacation.

“It not only had this person very upset that their toilet was blocked, but it also blocked and stopped the flushing of nine other toilets—nine!” Heald stated.

As many seasoned cruisers and Carnival followers may remember, this isn’t the first time Heald has had to deliver this particular message. In fact, as we previously reported, Heald has creatively addressed the problem of flushing wet wipes in the past, even highlighting the unpleasant task faced by the ship’s plumbers, affectionately known as “Luigi.”

Despite clear warnings displayed in bathrooms and on stateroom televisions, some passengers continue this habit, leading to blockages.

While household toilets can typically handle wet wipes and standard toilet paper, cruise ship plumbing is designed for rapid processing—you know that powerful vacuum sound that sounds like an airplane is taking off–and relies on a specific type of paper that breaks down easily.

Yes, wet wipes, even those marketed as “flushable,” often don’t disintegrate sufficiently in cruise ship toilets.  Don’t use them on a ship.

This latest incident, not only affected the passenger that flushed the wet wipes, but it also interrupted the cruise vacations of nine other cabins as well.

Heald admitted that cruise ship toilet paper isn’t the comfiest stuff in the world, saying the following:

“Listen, I’m not going to stand here, or sit here, and proclaim that our laboratory paper is the best toilet paper in the world. It’s not. But it is designed to accommodate the suction toilet system. Please don’t flush anything, anything, anything down the toilet – any other toilet paper and wet wipes and all that kind of stuff. Please don’t do it because it does not just affect you, but it affects others as well.”

As we outlined in a previous article, beyond wet wipes, other items that should never be flushed down a cruise ship toilet include feminine hygiene products, diapers, cotton swabs, hair, bandaids, food scraps, cigarette butts, coffee grounds, dental floss, contact lenses, and essentially anything that isn’t toilet paper or human waste.

While cruise ship toilet paper might seem thin, it’s important for the comfort and convenience of everyone on board.