First Time Taking a Cruise? 3 Upgrades You May Want to Pay For

Taking a cruise is a truly unique experience. And if it's one you've never had before, you may be eager to book a cruise for your next vacation.

Now in the course of budgeting for a cruise, you'll need to factor in expenses like:

• Getting to your destination
• The cost of your room
• Mandatory fees
• Excursions

It's also a good idea to budget for the upgrades you may decide to pay for. But are they really worth the money? Although that's a personal choice, here are three specific cruise upgrades you might appreciate as a first-timer.

1. A room with a balcony

If you're used to staying at hotels and resorts, you may be surprised -- and not in a good way -- at how small cruise cabins tend to be. That's why it could pay to upgrade to a balcony room for your first trip.

Balcony rooms tend to be larger, so you may not feel as claustrophobic. And also, you get your own private outdoor area where you can sit, listen to music, read, and stare at the ocean without having to deal with the bustle and crowds that cruise ships are known for.

Now the cost to upgrade to a balcony room will depend on a number of factors, such as your cruise line, the length of your trip, and the number of people in your booking. But as an example, for a five-night Royal Caribbean cruise in June, the cost for two guests to stay in an interior room is $652. For a balcony room, it's $1,127.

Clearly, that's a big difference in cost. But while you are paying $95 more per night, remember that you're on vacation. You don't want to feel cramped in a room. And if you tend to need downtime during your travels, then the higher cost may be worth it if you can swing it.

2. Internet service

Many people feel uncomfortable cutting off communication with the outside world when they travel. But without internet service, that might be your experience on a cruise ship.

The cost of internet service can vary based on the length of your cruise, your cruise line, and other factors. But usually, you're looking at somewhere in the vicinity of $20 per day. So for a five-night cruise, that's $100. It's not a negligible sum, but it's a cost you may want to plan for.

3. The specialty dining package

Some cruise lines offer a specialty dining package that allows you to book meals at different restaurants on board, as opposed to having to dine in your ship's main dining room. If you're someone who doesn't love noise and crowds, this might be a good option for you. (Though to be fair, if you're really averse to noise and crowds, you may want to question your decision to book a cruise in the first place.)

Now once again, the cost here can vary based on your cruise and its offerings. According to Royal Caribbean Blog (which is not the cruise line's official site), the unlimited dining package generally costs $115 per guest for a three-night cruise and $260 per guest for a seven-night cruise. This may be worth it for a more pleasant dining experience every night. And also, you may find that the food at the specialty restaurants is better than the main dining hall food.

Booking a cruise has the potential to result in a pretty large credit card tab. So before you decide on specific upgrades, see what your budget allows for. But if you can swing these, it could make your first cruise experience a lot more enjoyable and comfortable from start to finish.