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What you have already paid for
A cruise fare covers more than most hotels and less than most all-inclusives, and the line between the two is not where people assume. Here is each line's own published list.
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A cruise fare includes your cabin, main dining room and buffet meals, entertainment, pools and the fitness centre, and kids clubs. Free drinks vary by line but generally cover water, brewed coffee, tea, iced tea, lemonade and juices. Alcohol, soda, bottled water, specialty coffee, Wi-Fi, specialty dining and gratuities all cost extra.
The single most common disappointment on a first cruise is discovering that something you assumed was included is not. It is almost never hidden — every line publishes the list — but nobody reads it before they board.
The free drinks list, line by line
This is the one people get wrong, and each line publishes its own wording.
| Royal Caribbean | "Ice water, flavored waters, brewed coffee, assorted teas, iced tea, hot chocolate, milk, lemonade and fruit juices." |
|---|---|
| Celebrity | "Coffee, tea, iced tea, lemonade, hot tea, milk, non-bottled water, hot chocolate, orange juice and other assorted juices." Plus: "All guests who are actively playing in the Casino will be able to enjoy complimentary 'well' drinks." |
| Carnival | "Non-bottled water, lemonade, unsweetened iced tea, hot chocolate and non-specialty coffee and tea," available 24/7 in the Lido Restaurant. Packaged water is free in the dining rooms and specialty restaurants. |
| Norwegian | The shortest list of the four: "regular coffee, tea and ice water," plus iced tea and some juices at the breakfast buffet. |
Note what is not on any of those lists: soda, bottled water, specialty coffee, and freshly squeezed juice. Carnival publishes specifically that freshly squeezed orange juice is charged.
What the fare covers
Broadly the same across the lines, and genuinely generous:
- Your cabin, with housekeeping. Celebrity publishes twice-daily service, morning and turndown.
- Main dining room, buffet and a spread of casual venues. Royal Caribbean names a dozen: Windjammer, Solarium Bistro, Park Café, El Loco Fresh, Sorrento's, Dog House, Splashaway Café, Café Promenade and more.
- Entertainment. Broadway-style shows, ice shows, AquaTheater, live music, karaoke, poolside films. Norwegian's one exception is published: entertainment at dinner and lunch theatre is extra.
- Pools, hot tubs and the fitness centre.
- The big-ticket activities on Royal Caribbean — FlowRider, rock wall, zipline, ice skating, laser tag, bumper cars, mini golf, carousel. That is an unusual amount of included fun.
- Kids clubs, ages 3 to 17 on most lines.
What is extra
Specialty dining, all alcohol, soda, premium coffee, bottled water, Wi-Fi, the spa and salon, shore excursions, the casino, bingo, the arcade, photographs, laundry — and gratuities, which are not small.
| Royal Caribbean gratuities | $18.50 to $21 per person per day |
|---|---|
| Carnival gratuities | $17 to $19 per person per day |
| Carnival Wi-Fi | $20.40 to $35 per day |
| Carnival, a third main course | $5. Yes, really — a third entrée in the main dining room is charged. |
| Royal Caribbean nursery | $9 to $12 an hour |
| Carnival corkage | $15 per bottle |
For two people on a seven-night cruise, gratuities alone run roughly $260 to $290 before you have bought a single drink. That is the number to put in your budget on day one.
The bundles, and whether they are simpler
Every line now sells a package that bolts the extras back on.
| Princess Plus | $65 per person per day, or $70 on Sun and Star Princess. 15 drinks a day up to $15 each, four casual meals, one-device Wi-Fi, delivery fees waived, and crew appreciation prepaid. |
|---|---|
| Princess Premier | $100 per person per day, or $105 on Sun and Star. Unlimited drinks to $20, unlimited casual and specialty dining, four-device Wi-Fi, up to $300 per guest of shore excursion credit, unlimited photos, reserved theatre seating. |
| Carnival Value Packages | Essentials $50 per person per day, Ultimate $90, Kids & Teens $25. |
| Celebrity All Included | Fare plus basic Wi-Fi and the Classic drink package. Gratuities are not in it — "Onboard staff gratuities are charged separately." |
Questions I get asked
Is the main dining room really included?
Yes, on every line, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You never have to pay for a meal on a cruise.
Is soda free?
No, on any of these lines. Carnival sells Bottomless Bubbles at $11.99 a day for adults and $6.95 for children, full cruise only.
Are the drink packages worth it?
That depends entirely on how much you drink, and the lines do not publish per-drink prices to help you work it out. Count your realistic daily drinks and compare.
Can I skip the gratuities?
They are charged automatically. Policies on adjusting them vary, and it is a conversation with guest services rather than something you simply decline.
Is the fitness centre free?
The gym is. Some classes are charged, which Celebrity publishes.
Where these facts come from
- Royal Caribbean, what is included on a cruise
- Celebrity Cruises, what's included
- Celebrity Cruises, while on board FAQ
- Celebrity Cruises, All Included FAQ
- Princess, Plus and Premier packages
- Princess, what's included in dining
- Carnival, beverage policy
- Carnival, what's included
- Carnival, cruise value packages
- Norwegian Cruise Line, cruise fare inclusions
Ports change their rules and their prices. Check the official pages above before you sail.
Your cruise, sorted
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