What's Actually Included in a Cruise Fare
A cruise fare buys more than a hotel room and less than the brochure photos suggest. The cabin, most of the food and nearly all the entertainment are covered; tips, drinks, wifi and anything ashore are not, on mainstream lines at least.
What's included in a mainstream cruise fare?
This applies to lines such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, MSC and Princess on a standard fare. Prices are at recent rates and vary by ship.
| Category | Included | Usually extra |
|---|---|---|
| Cabin | Your cabin, daily housekeeping, towels, toiletries | Upgrades, late check-out |
| Food | Main dining room, buffet, pizza, grill and deli-style venues | Specialty restaurants, about US$30–80 per person |
| Drinks | Tap water, drip coffee, tea, some juices and iced tea | Alcohol, soda, specialty coffee, bottled water |
| Entertainment | Theatre shows, live music, comedy, trivia, movies | A few premium attractions on the biggest ships |
| Facilities | Pools, hot tubs, gym, jogging track, daytime kids clubs | Spin or yoga classes, thermal suites, late-night group babysitting |
| Room service | Continental breakfast on many lines | Most other items, by delivery fee or per item |
| Service | Gratuities, about US$16–25 per person per day | |
| Connectivity | Wifi, about US$15–40 per device per day | |
| Ashore | Getting on and off the ship, tenders | Excursions, port meals, taxis |
For the finer print, see which drinks are included by default and what room service costs.
The extras that add up fastest
- Gratuities. Added daily per person, children included on most lines. On a 7-night sailing that is US$110–175 each. Prepaying gratuities as a Canadian explains when it helps.
- Drinks. A cocktail runs about US$12–16 plus an automatic service charge of around 18–20%. A couple who each have two drinks a day spend US$300–400 over a week.
- Wifi. Easy to skip on a sea-day-light itinerary, harder if you work or have kids at home.
- Specialty dining. One or two dinners out is normal; the main dining room is good enough that many people never pay for one.
- Shore excursions. Usually the biggest single extra. In Alaska, a whale-watching trip alone can be US$150–250 per person.
Taxes and port fees: in the price or not?
Port fees and government taxes are charged per passenger and are often shown separately from the cruise fare. On a 7-night sailing they commonly add US$150–300 per person, depending on the ports. Always check whether a quote is "fare only" or "fare plus taxes and fees", as explained in why your cruise costs more than the advertised price.
How inclusions change by type of line
The further up the price ladder you go, the more is folded into the fare.
- Mainstream lines include the essentials listed above and sell everything else separately, with frequent promotions bundling drinks, wifi or onboard credit.
- Premium lines such as Celebrity, Princess and Holland America offer bundled fares that add drinks, wifi and sometimes gratuities for a daily premium. Check exactly what each bundle contains, since names and contents change.
- Adults-only Virgin Voyages includes gratuities, basic wifi, soft drinks and all its restaurants in the fare.
- Luxury lines such as Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn and Silversea generally include drinks, gratuities and wifi, and Regent includes many excursions too. What the luxury premium buys breaks this down.
"All-inclusive" means very different things depending on who is saying it, which is why what all-inclusive means on a cruise is worth reading before you compare a mainstream deal with a luxury fare.
Have a question about this? A licensed cruise expert can answer it for free — no booking required, no pressure.
Ask a cruise expert →Compare the week, not the ticket
Price each option the same way: fare, taxes and fees, gratuities, your realistic drinks, wifi and excursions, side by side. A pricier fare with tips and drinks included regularly beats a cheap fare plus extras, and the same cabin with prepaid gratuities or onboard credit attached is a different product from the bare fare. For the bigger picture, see how a cruise compares with a flight-and-hotel holiday.
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
Is food really free on a cruise?
Main dining rooms, buffets and several casual venues are included and effectively unlimited. Specialty restaurants charge a cover or à la carte prices, roughly US$30–80 per person on mainstream ships at recent prices.
Are tips included in cruise fares?
Rarely on mainstream lines. Automatic gratuities of about US$16–25 per person per day are added to your onboard account unless prepaid, while several luxury lines and some bundled premium fares include them.
Are drinks included in a cruise fare?
Only the basics: tap water, drip coffee, tea and usually some juices or iced tea in the buffet. Alcohol, soft drinks, specialty coffee and bottled water cost extra unless you buy a drink package or book a line that includes them.
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