5 Things Worth Paying for in Advance on Your Next Cruise

Some things on cruises are generally not worth booking in advance. For example, unless you want something very specific, spa treatments are usually easy to book once you're on board, and often have discounts and specials that are as good or better than anything you can book ahead of time (Tip: This is especially true on port days.). Photo packages are another example of something you can usually wait until you're on board to worry about.

On the other hand, some activities and packages on cruise ships can potentially save you money and prevent you from missing out on the things you want to do if you book them in advance.

1. Drink packages

Beverage packages are almost always cheaper if you buy them ahead of time. Now, the question of whether you'll get your money's worth for a drink package is another question for another article. But if you decide to buy one, it's wise to do it before you get on the ship.

Just as one example, Carnival's CHEERS! Package that allows you to get alcoholic beverages (up to 15 per day), as well as bottled water, sodas, and specialty coffees costs $64.95 per day plus an 18% service charge if booked on board. If you buy it on Carnival's website ahead of time, the per-day rate is $59.95. On a seven-night cruise for two people, this can save $70.

2. Shore excursions

Unlike some of the other costs on this list, shore excursions aren't usually cheaper if you book them in advance -- although there are a few exceptions. For example, if you book certain activities at Royal Caribbean's private island Perfect Day at Coco Cay, you can usually get a discount for booking in advance.

The real reason to book shore excursions ahead of time is that the more desirable ones tend to sell out well before the cruise, so it's a good idea to book early. Plus, with shore excursions, you can usually cancel until a few days before the cruise and receive a full refund to your credit card if you change your mind.

3. Travel insurance

I'd strongly suggest buying some sort of travel insurance before you go on a cruise. If you get stranded in port, or if you get sick in a foreign country or on the ship and need to be medically evacuated or go to a hospital, the cost can be enormous.

There are two main choices when it comes to travel insurance. Cruise lines all sell some variation of a "vacation protection plan," and this will cover medical expenses, as well as if you need to cancel your trip at the last minute for a covered reason. There are also private travel insurance policies that can provide better coverage and good value.

The general guideline is that if you're just taking one cruise and only plan to travel occasionally and domestically otherwise, buying the cruise line's protection plan is probably sufficient. But if you're a frequent traveler -- and especially if you plan to take multiple cruises in a year -- an annual travel insurance policy could be the best way to go.

4. Specialty dining packages and reservations

There are tons of free food choices on cruise ships. Between the buffets and food in the main dining room, as well as other venues, it's quite possible to take a cruise and not spend an extra dollar on food.

Having said that, many cruise ships have specialty restaurants, such as steakhouses, sushi joints, and more. These have an extra cost, but may be a little cheaper if you book in advance. But like shore excursions, the biggest reason to book specialty dining reservations in advance is to avoid missing out if they book up.

In addition, some cruise lines offer unlimited dining packages or meal bundles. These can be a great value and are often cheaper (or only available) to buy in advance, and they can sell out in many cases.

5. Internet packages

Some people like to stay connected while at sea, and on many cruise lines, at-sea internet quality has improved dramatically in recent years. For example, Royal Caribbean offers its excellent VOOM Surf and Stream internet package for $30.99 per guest, per day for an upcoming cruise I've booked if I buy it on board. Pricing can vary, but a quick look shows that I can buy it for $22.99 per day for this cruise if I pay in advance.

Another tip is that unless you plan to do lots of work, or plan to be on your phone a lot, you may only need one internet package for two travelers. Only one device can be logged on at a time, but it's usually easy to switch back and forth.

What if prices end up going down?

With many expenses, it's worth noting that you can typically cancel and rebook at the lower price rather easily. As an example, if you prepay for a drink package and your cruise line runs a Black Friday sale that makes it significantly cheaper, it is usually rather easy to get a refund for the original purchase and rebook at the current price. On the other hand, capacity-limited activities like shore excursions may have their own cancellation policies (although these rarely get cheaper).

Having said that, booking and paying for these five things in advance of your next cruise is generally a good idea to make sure you get the best possible deals and don't miss out on restaurants and shore excursions you want to try.