Cruise Line Policies Compared: 8 Lines Side by Side (2026)
Cruise lines look similar from the outside, but the rules that decide what a week on board actually costs and feels like vary a lot. Here are the eight big lines side by side, with links to each one's full rules.
The eight lines at a glance
| Line | Gratuities (per day) | Wine allowance | Casino smoking | Kids club from age | Wifi (per device, per day) | Drink package (per day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean | ~$18–19 USD | 2 bottles per stateroom | Designated section on many ships | 3 | $20–30 USD | $70–105 USD + 18% |
| Carnival | ~$17 USD | 1 bottle per adult (21+) | Designated section on most ships | 2 | $20–30 USD | $70–75 USD + 20% |
| Norwegian | ~$20 USD | No fixed limit | Designated section on most ships; tighter on newer ships | 3 | $25–40 USD | $100–120 USD retail |
| Princess | ~$17–18 USD | 1 free per adult; more with corkage | Varies by ship | 3 | $15–25 USD | ~$60 USD |
| Celebrity | ~$19.50 USD | 2 bottles per stateroom | No — casinos are non-smoking | 3 | $27–35 USD | $65–100 USD + 20% |
| Holland America | ~$18 USD | 750 ml bottles; ~$20 corkage each | Designated areas on most ships; not Noordam or Zuiderdam | 3 | ~$26–38 USD (Premium, Stream) | ~$61 USD + service charge |
| MSC | ~$17 USD | Generally none | Designated section on most ships | 3 | ~$16–20 USD prepaid; $31–33 on board | ~$85–100 USD incl. 18% |
| Disney | ~$16 USD | 1 bottle or 6 beers per adult, embarkation only | No casino on board | 3 | $30–49 USD | Varies by quantity |
Gratuities and drink packages are per person; all figures are recent rates in US dollars and change from time to time. Confirm the detail on each line's page before you sail.
Gratuities
Every line adds a daily gratuity or service charge to your on-board account, and most let you prepay it with your booking. The detail, including suite rates and how to adjust it, is in Cruise Gratuities for Canadians and on each line's page: Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, Princess, Celebrity, Holland America, MSC, Disney.
Alcohol and wine allowances
MSC allows none, and Norwegian sets no limit but charges corkage on every bottle. The rest allow one or two bottles, per adult or per stateroom; Disney, once the most generous, has allowed one bottle or six beers per adult since June 2026. The full table is in Cruise Line Alcohol Policies Compared.
Onboard rules that differ
Smoking and vaping
Cabins and balconies are smoke-free on every line. Casino smoking is the main difference, and it's set out in Smoking and Vaping Rules on Cruise Ships.
Kids clubs
Carnival starts at age 2, and Royal Caribbean, Disney and MSC offer paid care for babies. The full comparison is in Kids Clubs on Cruise Ships: Ages, Hours and Costs.
CPAP machines
Every line allows CPAP machines. Most lend an approved medical cord and ban your own; Carnival lets you bring a plain cord without a surge protector. The desks are in Can You Bring a CPAP Machine on a Cruise Ship?. Distilled water for the humidifier is covered in CPAP distilled water on cruise ships.
What can be bundled into the fare
Wifi
Several lines include wifi in their bundled fares, which changes the real price of a cruise. Every line's packages are in Cruise Wifi and Phone Roaming for Canadians.
Drink packages
Package prices and the rules that catch people out, such as every adult in the cabin having to buy, are compared in Are Drink Packages Worth It on Your First Cruise.
Every policy, line by line
- Royal Caribbean: price drops, gratuities, cancellation, dress code, CPAP, smoking, alcohol, kids club, wifi, drink package
- Carnival: price drops, gratuities, cancellation, dress code, CPAP, smoking, alcohol, kids club, wifi, drink package
- Norwegian: price drops, gratuities, cancellation, dress code, CPAP, smoking, alcohol, kids club, wifi, drink package
- Princess: price drops, gratuities, cancellation, dress code, CPAP, smoking, alcohol, kids club, wifi, drink package
- Celebrity: price drops, gratuities, cancellation, dress code, CPAP, smoking, alcohol, kids club, wifi, drink package
- Holland America: price drops, gratuities, cancellation, dress code, CPAP, smoking, alcohol, kids club, wifi, drink package
- MSC: price drops, gratuities, cancellation, dress code, CPAP, smoking, alcohol, kids club, wifi, drink package
- Disney: price drops, gratuities, cancellation, dress code, CPAP, smoking, alcohol, kids club, wifi, drink package
Have a question about this? A licensed cruise expert can answer it for free — no booking required, no pressure.
Ask a cruise expert →Comparing the real cost across lines
The cheapest fare isn't always the cheapest cruise once gratuities, drinks and wifi are added. A consultant can price the same dates on two or three lines with everything included, so you can compare like with like.
Want this priced up for your dates? Speak to a licensed cruise expert — same price as booking direct, plus perks like onboard credit and prepaid gratuities the websites don't show. No fee, no obligation, and you can book online if you'd rather.
Get a quote or book online →Frequently asked questions
Which cruise line has the lowest gratuities?
Disney's recommended gratuity is the lowest standard rate of the eight big lines, about US$16 per guest per day in standard staterooms; Norwegian's, at about US$20, and Celebrity's, at US$19.50 since July 2026, are the highest. Confirm current figures, as lines raise them periodically.
Which cruise lines include wifi and drinks in the fare?
Celebrity's All Included fares, Princess Plus and Premier, Holland America's Have It All and Norwegian's Free at Sea promotion all bundle drinks and wifi in some form. Disney doesn't include wifi as standard, and Royal Caribbean, Carnival and MSC mostly sell them separately; Celebrity's All Included no longer covers gratuities.
Which cruise line is best for families with toddlers?
Carnival's kids club takes children from age 2, a year younger than the others, and Royal Caribbean, Disney and MSC offer paid care for babies from 6 months. Princess, Celebrity and Holland America have no care for under-3s.
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