T-shirts, wood carvings, framed feathers with pictures of parrots painted on them—souvenirs are likely to be perhaps your largest incidentals expense during your cruise. If you tend to buy things on the spur of the moment, consider setting your souvenir spending limit in advance, and bring cash or travelers’ checks along for not a penny more than you wish to spend. If you are less impulsive and prefer to carry plastic, many of the shops at cruise-ship ports do take credit cards.

Other incidental expenses include everything from sundries (which you can get onboard as well as on land) to souvenir photos and fountain soda. If you are traveling with children who are gluttons for carbonated beverages, consider purchasing an all-they-can-drink soda package before your ship sets sail. Cruise lines that cater to kids, like Carnival and Disney, usually have these available, and sometimes even include a souvenir plastic cup.