Are cruises all-inclusive? What’s actually included in your cruise fare

You might have heard that cruise fares are all-inclusive, but if you’re new to cruising, that term could be misleading.

While mainstream cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival offer incredible value, covering lodging, meals and transportation in their cruise fares, they are not 100% all-inclusive. In other words, not every single thing is included in your fare. You’ll pay an additional cost for all kinds of extras, including bar drinks, meals at specialty restaurants, specific activities and even specialty coffees.

Of course, a few luxury, small-ship and expedition cruise lines do bundle more amenities into their fares. You just need to pay attention to what’s included and what’s not when choosing a cruise line and evaluating its fares.

Since most cruises are not all-inclusive, let’s talk about what comes with your cruise fare and what doesn’t. We’ll also offer tips on how to create a more inclusive cruise experience the next time you sail.

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Are cruises all-inclusive?

Yes and no.

In the sense that your room, food, certain beverages, select onboard entertainment and transportation between ports come with your basic cruise fare, then yes, cruises are all-inclusive.

However, if you compare a cruise to an all-inclusive experience at a resort with free-flowing adult beverages, unlimited activities and access to all on-site restaurants, cruises are not truly all-inclusive. At least not mainstream cruise lines.

If you seek a truly all-inclusive experience at sea, you’ll want to consider sailing with a luxury cruise line. Your fare will typically include complimentary soft drinks, specialty coffees, most wines and spirits, Wi-Fi, crew gratuities and often specialty dining. Sometimes airfare, pre-cruise stays and shore excursions are included, as well.

For example, Regent Seven Seas Cruises — one of the most inclusive cruise lines — includes unlimited complimentary beverages, shore excursions in every port, prepaid gratuities, specialty dining in multiple onboard restaurants, unlimited Wi-Fi, laundry service, airfare from select gateways and airport transfers to the ship. Higher-category cabins also include a pre-cruise hotel stay and occasionally a two- or three-night land program.

Upscale ocean cruise lines, as well as river and expedition cruise lines, typically have more inclusive fares than mainstream lines but are not all-inclusive, with the exception of expedition cruises offered by luxury cruise lines.

What is included in cruise fares?

For the purposes of this story, we will focus on mainstream cruise lines and what’s included in those lines’ fares.

Accommodation

While cabins vary in size and accouterments, you’ll find that most ships offer — from least expensive to priciest — inside rooms, ocean views (with a window), cabins with private balconies and suites. Generally speaking, older mass-market ships have fewer balcony cabins and suites than newer megaships.

The least expensive fares are usually attached to inside or obstructed-view cabins. (Views can be obstructed by the ship’s lifeboats or the ship’s superstructure, for example.)

No matter which cruise line you pick, your cabin will include a comfortable bed (or beds), ensuite bathroom (usually with just a shower and no tub unless you book a higher-category cabin), closet and a desk/vanity. Cabins are serviced daily by room stewards.

Related: The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship

Dining

Meals in the main dining room are included in your cruise fare. Additional venues, such as a buffet (open long hours each day) and pool grill, are also free. Many ships also have complimentary pizzerias (such as Royal Caribbean’s Sorrento’s) and cafe snacks (think Princess Cruises’ International Cafe).

Other dining establishments, called specialty restaurants, charge either a per-person surcharge or have an a la carte menu on the big-ship lines.

When you want free ice cream on mainstream cruise ships, head to the buffet or pool deck, where you’ll usually find a soft-serve ice cream machine. A few lines will offer scooped ice cream at the buffet for no charge, but ships with stand-alone ice cream or gelato parlors typically charge extra for those treats.

Related: The ultimate guide to cruise ship food and dining

Room service

Room service used to be free on most cruise ships, but cruise lines have been slowly adding charges over the years. On most cruise lines, you can still order continental breakfast for free, but all-day and late-night dining often costs extra. Suite guests might get room service fees waived as part of their upgraded perks.

Completely free room service is a rare bird these days, with Disney Cruise Line and Holland America being the mainstream cruise lines to offer it.

Some cruise lines offer complimentary room service to select non-suite fare classes. For example, guests can add the “Fantastica Experience” to their MSC Cruises booking for perks like breakfast in your cabin with free delivery. Sailing with Princess? You can opt for the Princess Plus or Princess Premier package and enjoy room service delivery at no charge.

Guests aboard Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean can take advantage of free continental breakfast during morning hours, but have to pay for in-cabin dining the rest of the day.

Expect to pay a service charge for all in-room dining on lines like Norwegian Cruise Line ($9.95) and Virgin Voyages ($5).

Related: Cruise ship room service: A line-by-line guide to in-cabin dining

Drinks

On most mass-market cruise lines, you’ll get complimentary water (not bottled), non-specialty coffee and tea, and beverages like lemonade, iced tea and assorted juices. You’ll usually have the most options at the buffet, where self-service drink machines are located. In the main dining room, you tend to have fewer juice options but can almost always get water, lemonade or iced tea.

Disney Cruise Line includes soda in its fares, but it’s an outlier among the big-ship lines.

Child care

Most cruise lines include complimentary kids’ programming in the cruise fare. This includes age-appropriate activities in exciting onboard settings with trained childcare professionals. Most programs are free, but you will likely pay for after-hours group babysitting.

Entertainment

Complimentary entertainment varies from one cruise line to the next, but you’ll typically get free admission to Broadway-style theater productions and comedy shows. Royal Caribbean’s ice skating and acrobatic/high-dive shows are also free of charge. Live music can be found in many onboard venues, and listening is free — though you’ll probably buy an alcoholic beverage or two since these bands usually play in the ship’s lounges.

Outdoor movies are one of the coolest freebies on board. Princess Cruises was the first to offer “Movies Under the Stars,” and it has become an incredibly popular pastime for cruisers. Most lines offer something similar now. Sometimes, the movies are old favorites, but other lines, like Disney, offer first-run movies during their voyages. Expect free cookies and milk or popcorn and even the distribution of blankets on chilly nights.

Trivia is another popular daytime entertainment option that’s free, but you’ll pay to play bingo — especially if there’s a cash prize.

Cruise ships with art galleries often have free art auctions that often net you a complimentary glass of Champagne. But you’ll need to dig into your wallet to buy a piece of art you see at the show.

Other events to look for in your daily cruise program include cooking demonstrations, game shows, lectures and craft classes. In the evenings, it’s always free to dance the night away in the disco or try out your inner Taylor Swift at a karaoke session.

Also, look for cerebral pastimes like Discovery at Sea, a partnership between Discover and Princess Cruises, which offers fun activities for kids and adults inspired by shows like “Mythbusters” and “Investigation Discovery.” The program includes a guest lecturer program and top-deck after-dark stargazing.

Finally, nearly every cruise line invites passengers to free parties. Study your daily cruise planner and attend events like the embarkation sail-away party or Norwegian Cruise Line’s White Hot Party, where everyone is asked to dress in all white as DJs spin tunes to get everyone onto the dance floor.

Onboard activities and amenities

Many, but not all, of your cruise ship’s onboard attractions and activities are included in your cruise fare. Guests can enjoy the ship’s pools, hot tubs and lounge chairs for sunbathing for free, though certain adults-only or VIP pool areas might require paying for a day pass. Onboard water parks, waterslides and splash areas are also complimentary.

Your cruise fare also typically includes complimentary access to the cruise ship fitness center to use cardio and resistance machines and free weights. However, group and private classes will often charge a fee.

On most ships, onboard attractions like miniature golf, shuffleboard, rock climbing walls and sports courts are free to use, but a few lines are outliers.

What is not included in cruise fares?

Specialty dining

Beyond the included-in-your-fare meals at the main dining room, buffet restaurant and pool grills, many mass-market cruise lines include a selection of “specialty” restaurants. These are book-ahead and pay-extra dining venues that sometimes offer a more upscale dining experience than what’s complimentary.

Specialty restaurants typically include venues like high-end steakhouses, fancy chef’s table experiences or an evening dedicated to the cuisine of a region like Italy, France or Southeast Asia.

You can often purchase specialty dining packages when you book your cruise. Pay for a certain number of meals at the ship’s specialty restaurants upfront, and you’ll receive a discount.

Don’t want to spring for a specialty dining package? Most cruise lines allow you to book your reservation up to 48 hours prior to your sail date. If you missed that window, head to the restaurant as soon as you board, and you may still be able to snag a reservation.

Related: 5 reasons you should splurge on a cruise ship specialty restaurant

Alcoholic and specialty beverages

If you plan to imbibe alcoholic beverages, you have two options. You can either pay per drink during your cruise (as you would at a typical restaurant or bar) or buy a drinks package upfront.

A drinks package can save you money if you think you’ll drink more than a few beers or cocktails per day. However, you can’t purchase one package for one person — it goes by cabin. If one person buys one, everyone 21 or older in that cabin must buy one, too.

Mainstream cruise lines also charge for nonalcoholic beverages, including soda, specialty coffees and teas, bottled waters, smoothies and milkshakes, freshly squeezed juices and bottled water. Many lines offer soft drinks packages that offer unlimited soda or coffee cards for discounts on cafe drinks.

Additional onboard activities

While cruise ships offer a bevy of complimentary attractions and activities, some ships feature onboard diversions that require an additional fee. These are often attractions that can accommodate a limited number of people at a time.

For example, Carnival’s Bolt roller coaster costs $15 per person for two laps of the track. Some select Royal Caribbean ships feature the Royal Escape Room, which is $19.99 per person (and requires a reservation). A go-kart ride aboard select Norwegian ships will cost you $15 per ride. You might also pay for laser tag, VIP or adults-only sun decks, arcade games and virtual-reality rides and simulators.

Spa

Massages, manicures, pedicures and other treatments cost extra — and prices can run the gamut, depending on the cruise line. If you want to splurge on a spa treatment, consider booking it during a port day, as cruise lines often offer discounts.

Other spa offerings, like access to the spa’s thermal suite, some fitness classes and private fitness training, are also an additional cost.

Laundry services

Certain cruise lines offer onboard self-service laundry facilities, which include coin-operated machines, an ironing board and detergent and fabric softener available for purchase. You can also send your laundry away for professional washing, pressing and dry cleaning, which also carries a charge.

Room service

Most cruise lines charge a fee for room service now. For example, on Norwegian Cruise Line sailings, individual menu items on room service orders are complimentary. However, you’ll pay a $9.95 service fee per order. You can order 24-hour room service during your Royal Caribbean cruise, but you’ll pay a $7.95 service fee.

Excursions

Organized cruise ship excursions during your time in port will cost extra, generally starting from around $25, depending on the type of tour. For example, Carnival cruisers can book a St. Thomas Skyride to Paradise Point for $25 per person or splurge on a Taku Glacier Helicopter Landing and Airboat Adventure in Juneau, Alaska, for $700 per person.

You can also book your own excursion directly with tour operators.

Some ships might run a free shuttle from the port into the center of the town, but most of the time, you will get around port on your own dime.

Gratuities

Your base fare likely will not include tips to servers, cabin attendants and other staff. Most of the biggest cruise lines automatically add some type of service or gratuity fee onto passenger bills. Lines with such charges include Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC Cruises, Norwegian and Princess Cruises.

At most lines, you can pay your service charges in advance of sailing (when you pay your cruise fare). If you prefer to pay for tips once you’re on board your cruise, the gratuities will automatically appear on your bill. If you wish to adjust the charges (up or down), you can visit the guest relations desk while on board.

You are always welcome to tip extra in cash to crew members who go above and beyond to make your vacation special.

Related: 7 extra-charge items on cruise ships that are worth the cost (and 7 that aren’t)

Ways to make your cruise fare more inclusive

All-inclusive packages

Many lines offer different types of all-inclusive packages you can purchase when you book your cruise. These packages are designed to provide a hassle-free cruise experience by allowing passengers to pay for one or more of their onboard expenses — such as beverages, Wi-Fi and gratuities — up front and possibly at a discount.

Nearly every cruise line that doesn’t already include alcohol in its fares will sell you an all-inclusive drinks package that lets you have an open bar experience on board.

Some cruise lines have a basic fare class and a more inclusive fare class. For example, if you’re sailing with Holland America, you can purchase the Have It All package, which includes premium amenities like the line’s Signature beverage package, specialty dining, Wi-Fi and shore excursion credit for a set daily rate.

Princess Cruises offers the comprehensive Princess Premier package, which comes with unlimited Wi-Fi on up to four devices, a beverage package, specialty dining and free digital photos. Celebrity Cruises offers cruise-only rates, as well as All Included rates; the latter comes with a Classic drinks package and basic Wi-Fi.

Elite status

If you’re an upper-tier member of a cruise line’s loyalty program, you can take advantage of perks like cabin upgrades, free or discounted Wi-Fi, free laundry, complimentary drinks and priority boarding or disembarkation. Note that you’ll have to sail with the same line many times before the best freebies and discounts kick in.

Related: A beginners guide to cruise line loyalty programs

Book a suite

While you’ll pay a lot more for a suite than for a standard cabin on a cruise ship, it might be worth it if you seek an inclusive and upscale cruise experience. On many mainstream megaships, suite guests have access to sprawling, private “ship-within-a-ship” luxury areas, as well as extra fare inclusions.

For example, guests in Royal Caribbean’s suites enjoy a bevy of perks based on the Royal Suite Class tier their cabin falls under. Some suites include Wi-Fi, specialty dining or access to an exclusive restaurant, a beverage package or complimentary happy hours, and tips wrapped into the cruise fare.

Related: 7 reasons you should splurge for a suite on your next cruise

Bottom line

Now that you understand what’s included in standard cruise fares and how you can create a more “all-inclusive” cruise experience, you can better evaluate the price of your cruise before you book. Sometimes the more expensive rate actually provides better value because you get more amenities included.

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