Cruising for a bruising

Think your cruise price is all-inclusive? Wake up and smell the $4 lattes, the $10 yoga classes, and the $5-a-pop souvenir photos. Or better yet, read the fine print of your contract. On a cruise ship, incidentals have a nasty way of adding thousands of dollars to your overall cruise cost.

Before your cruise, sit down with your family and discuss what is included in the fare. Most likely, that will be your accommodations, meals in dining rooms and cafes, and activities in the kids’ clubs. Come up with a policy about what everyone is allowed to do and buy, and what is forbidden. You might even decide on a cash-only rule for incidentals to keep from racking up costs. Here are some strategies to avoid becoming an incidental tourist....