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Photos and souvenirs on board are often an underestimated cost item during a cruise. A single cruise photo costs on average €15 to €20, and for a family or group that amount can quickly add up to tens or even hundreds of euros extra. Souvenirs and small purchases on board fall into the same category: not expensive per item, but together often a serious drain on your holiday budget. Discover how to estimate these hidden costs in advance and which choices are smart to make.
Why cruise photos are so expensive
The professional photographers on board are ready at strategic moments. When you embark, during the gala dinner, on excursions and on deck you get several chances a day to have your photo taken. It seems like a nice service, but the prices are steep. A single print costs on average €15 to €20. For five photos you will easily pay €75 to €100, without having really thought about it beforehand.
The photo service often follows a fixed structure. Your photo is taken, the photos are shown on screens on board and you buy them either immediately or at the end of the trip. Some cruise lines offer photo packages that include a fixed number of prints or digital files. Those packages usually cost between €100 and €300, depending on the length of the cruise and the number of photos.
The tricky part is that you do not always know how many photos you will end up buying. The shots are professional and attractive, which makes you more inclined to pay for images you could have taken yourself. Especially for families or groups, costs can quickly turn out higher than expected. You can find more insight into this kind of extra spending in the article on cruise prices and hidden costs.
‘ Still, a package is not always the best choice. ’
Are photo packages cheaper than single prints
Photo packages seem like a good-value option if you plan to buy several photos. For a fixed amount you then get a certain number of prints, digital files or even unlimited shots during the cruise. The price ranges between €100 and €300, sometimes more on luxury cruises or longer journeys.
Still, a package is not always the best choice. If you only end up buying a few photos, you will pay more than necessary. For travellers who mainly take their own photos with their phone or camera, a package is often not a sensible investment. It is better to decide in advance whether you really want several professional shots or whether your own equipment is sufficient.
Also pay attention to the terms and conditions. Some packages only include digital files, others only prints. Digital photos are convenient if you want to print or share them yourself, but check whether the quality is suitable for larger formats. Ask on board for the details before you buy a package.
What do souvenirs and other items on board cost
Besides photos, you will find shops on board selling souvenirs, clothing, jewellery, perfume and other items. Prices are often higher than in regular shops ashore. A simple T-shirt will easily cost €25 to €35, a small bottle of perfume can cost €50 to €100 and jewellery or branded items are even more expensive.
The onboard shops often operate duty-free, which means that in theory some products such as alcohol, perfume and cigarettes should be cheaper. In practice, prices are not always that attractive. Compare what items cost in your own country beforehand so you know whether a deal on board is really a bargain.
The same applies to souvenirs. A memento of your cruise is nice, but a standard coffee mug or keyring does not need to cost €15 to €20. Many port cities offer the same souvenirs at a lower price. If you want to buy a keepsake, do so when visiting a port rather than on board.
How to avoid unnecessary spending
The best way to avoid high costs for photos and souvenirs is to draw up a budget in advance. Decide how much you want to spend on extras on board and stick to it. Take your own photos with your phone or camera so you only pay for shots that you really think are special.
If you still want to buy professional photos, choose carefully. Do not let yourself be tempted by every photo opportunity, but select one or two nice portraits or group photos that you cannot take yourself. Digital files are often more practical than prints, as you can print them later yourself in whatever size you want.
The same applies to souvenirs: wait until you are ashore. Port cities have plenty of shops and markets where you can buy the same or similar items more cheaply. In addition, the choice is often broader and more authentic than the standard cruise merchandise on board.
Practical tips for photos and souvenirs
- Set a budget in advance for extra spending on board, including photos and souvenirs
- Take your own photos with your own equipment and only buy professional shots that are truly special
- Ask about the terms and conditions of photo packages before deciding, especially for digital files
- Compare souvenir prices on board with those in port cities
- Buy souvenirs during a port visit instead of on board for a better price–quality ratio
- Pay attention to duty-free offers and check whether they are really cheaper than at home
‘ The trick is to choose consciously. ’
When extra spending on board is worth it
Not all extra spending on board is unnecessary. A professional photo at a special moment, such as a gala dinner or a formal evening, makes a lovely keepsake. Especially if you cannot take that shot yourself because of the setting or the moment. The same goes for a special souvenir that you cannot find anywhere else.
The trick is to choose consciously. Ask yourself whether a purchase is genuinely valuable or whether you are buying out of habit or temptation. Many travellers later say that they spent more on photos and souvenirs than they had planned, simply because the sales pressure and convenience on board are so great.
By setting limits in advance and only buying what truly adds to your travel experience, you prevent small expenses from quietly eating up a large part of your holiday budget. That way, you have more left over for other things that will make your trip even more enjoyable.
Other hidden costs on board
Photos and souvenirs are not the only extra cost items during a cruise. Drinks, speciality restaurants, spa treatments, excursions and service charges also often come on top of the basic price. For many cruises, the ticket price includes basic meals and accommodation, but not the extras you use on board.
Some cruise lines offer all-inclusive packages that include drinks and some excursions. Others charge service fees automatically, often between €10 and €15 per person per day. Add this all up and you will see that the total travel costs can differ significantly from the original ticket price.
By identifying in advance what is and is not included, you avoid surprises. Read the terms and conditions of your cruise, compare what different companies offer and decide which extras you really want to use. This way you keep control of your budget and enjoy your trip more.
On the Traveler Tips website you will find much more information about cruises, costs, planning and practical tips for a well-prepared trip. Discover which routes suit you best, how to pack smartly and what you need to arrange before departure. Read more and travel smarter starting here.
Frequently asked questions
Set a fixed budget in advance for photos and souvenirs (for example €30–€60 for photos, plus your own limit for souvenirs) and include this in your total cruise budget. Decide beforehand how many professional photos you want to buy at most and stick to that strictly, because single photos often cost around €15–€20 each. Agree with your travel companions that you will only buy photos or souvenirs that are truly special (for example one per port or per formal evening). Also focus on taking your own photos with your phone or camera, so you are less tempted to buy the expensive ship photos.
On cruises, official ship photos often cost around €15–€20 each, so for a few photos you will quickly spend €30–€60. Souvenirs in the onboard shops are generally (significantly) more expensive than similar items ashore, due to the “captive audience” situation. Budget-friendly alternatives are taking your own photos with your phone or camera and only buying one or two really special ship photos. For souvenirs it is usually cheaper to shop locally in the ports or to order something online at home instead of buying it in the onboard shop.
For mindful travellers, professional photos and exclusive souvenirs are usually not an investment that matches the extra cost, because a single photo already costs around €15–€20 and total spending quietly adds up. They rarely add anything to the actual experience compared with self-taken photos or a few carefully chosen, meaningful keepsakes. Those who are conscious about money and experiences usually do better to opt for their own photos and at most one truly special souvenir.
The cruise line generally mainly offers physical prints; clear information about systematically offering digital photo files is lacking or not consistent.
