Planning a cruise? Steer clear of surprise charges and incidental fees

It’s hard to find a vacation bargain that’s as inexpensive as a cruise. Where else can you get food, lodging and transportation for as little as $50 or $100 a day?

But if you’re not careful, you can spend three or four times as much on incidentals.

Here are some suggestions from Smarter Travel, which recently compiled several ways to avoid gimmicks that will sabotage your vacation budget:

— Avoid the single supplement charge, which forces solo travelers to pay for two people (double occupancy). Look for promotions lowering the rate, or for lines that offer single rooms.