One woman has been on more than 50 cruises and knows the tricks on board.
Now she warns other travelers about the most common cost traps - including all-inclusive packages.
Cruises are booming: in recent years, there has been a real hype surrounding vacations at sea.
The industry has experienced a small kink due to the corona crisis, but now demand is picking up speed again.
So if you are already interested in a cruise next year, Amanda Adler has a few tips for you.
The woman has already been on more than 50 sea voyages and is a real professional when it comes to that.
Cruise junkie reveals: 7 things you should never buy on board
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Many offers on board sound tempting, but can cost you money unnecessarily.
© Stelian Porojnicu/Imago
She also knows about the "blunders" that other travelers like to make or hidden cost traps that it is better to avoid.
After all, there are some temptations on board, which you can confidently save yourself and thus protect your wallet.
1. Cost trap: Expensive balcony cabins
The idea behind it is simple: when you book a cabin on a cruise, you also want to enjoy the view.
To have a little more privacy, to enjoy the fresh air, some insist on a balcony.
But Amanda Adler sees it differently, she thinks that balcony rooms are not worth the extra charge.
Instead, she criticizes the lack of space on the news portal
businessinsider.de.
After all, a balcony isn't spacious enough for seating, let alone multiple people, she says.
If you also like to let some air into the cabin, you have the problem that noise, cigarette smoke and the like blow in from the surrounding balconies.
The mother of one son therefore recommends cabins with a porthole for more privacy.
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2. Cost Trap: All-Inclusive Drink Packages
Many cruise lines are all-inclusive, whether it's food or drinks.
This allows passengers to feast and drink indefinitely throughout the journey.
These packages can be booked in advance and are priced differently depending on the shipping company.
But cruise pro Adler did the math: You couldn't drink that much in a day (not even expensive alcoholic drinks) to recoup the money you spent on it.
Overall, you save more by ordering drinks a la carte, she says.
3. Cost trap: Duty free offers
Even if there are shops on the ship that offer duty-free alcohol or perfume, Adler warns that you shouldn't strike blindly right away.
She looked around on her many trips and found hardly any really cheap offers on board.
Perfume, for example, is often a little cheaper there than in normal retail, but the expert has already found similarly cheap offers on land, she reveals.
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4. Cost trap: Photos as a reminder
There is a photo booth on each ship where you can capture holiday pictures for eternity.
They are a nice souvenir, and the photos are taken in front of funny scenes and in a professional setting.
But if you want to be snapped by the ship's photographer, you have to wait in line for a long time, Adler knows.
According to her, it is cheaper and more authentic to take snapshots of loved ones with your smartphone or your own camera.
4. Cost trap: Internet at a great price
If you don't want to be surprised with a horrendous bill after the cruise, it's better to switch off your smartphone and laptop and do a "digital detox".
After all, in the middle of the ocean there is almost no internet connection.
Although many ships already offer this service, Wi-Fi is often associated with high costs.
However, if you can't let it go or even have to work, the best thing to do is to look on land in the port or in the cities where there is reliable (and free) WiFi.
List of rubrics: © Stelian Porojnicu/Imago