What's Included in Your Cruise Fare (And What Costs Extra)
A complete breakdown of what's included and what costs extra on every major cruise line, so you can budget accurately and avoid surprises.
Planning your first cruise? One of the most common questions new cruisers ask is "What's actually included in the price?" The good news is that cruise fares include quite a lot — your stateroom, meals, entertainment, and more. But there are also extras that can add up quickly if you're not prepared.
In this guide, we break down exactly what's included and what costs extra for every major cruise line, so you can budget accurately and avoid surprises.
In This Guide
- What's Included on Every Cruise
- What Usually Costs Extra
- Carnival Cruise Line
- Royal Caribbean
- Norwegian Cruise Line
- Princess Cruises
- Disney Cruise Line
- Holland America Line
- MSC Cruises
- Virgin Voyages
- Luxury Lines (Regent, Seabourn, Oceania)
- Tips for Saving Money
What's Included on Every Cruise
No matter which cruise line you choose, your fare includes these essentials:
- Your Stateroom — From interior cabins to balcony suites, your accommodation is included
- Dining & Buffet — Main dining room meals, buffet restaurants, and most casual eateries
- Basic Drinks — Water, coffee, tea, lemonade, and iced tea
- Entertainment & Shows — Broadway-style productions, live music, comedy shows, and deck parties
- Pools & Hot Tubs — Access to all main pool areas and hot tubs
- Fitness Center — Gym equipment and basic fitness facilities
- Ship Activities — Trivia, games, poolside activities, and onboard events
- Kids Club — Supervised youth programs for children (on family-friendly lines)
- Soft Serve Ice Cream — The unlimited soft serve machine is a cruise staple
What Usually Costs Extra
These are the most common add-ons that aren't included in your base fare:
- Daily Gratuities — Typically $16-$20 per person, per day (automatically charged)
- Shore Excursions — Guided tours and activities at ports of call
- Specialty Dining — Upscale restaurants beyond the main dining room ($25-$75 per person)
- Alcohol — Beer, wine, cocktails, and spirits (drink packages available)
- Soda — Fountain drinks and canned sodas (soda packages available)
- Specialty Coffee — Lattes, cappuccinos, espresso drinks
- Wi-Fi — Internet packages range from $15-$25 per day
- 24/7 Room Service — Many lines now charge for room service (except continental breakfast)
- Spa & Salon — Massages, facials, hair styling, and spa treatments
- Casino — Gambling is never included
- Nursery — Childcare for infants and toddlers under 3
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival offers excellent value with a fun, party atmosphere, and many free dining options. Here's what to expect:
Included in Your Fare
- Stateroom
- Dining & Buffet (including Guy's Burger Joint, Blue Iguana Cantina)
- Basic Drinks (water, coffee, tea, lemonade)
- Soft Serve Ice Cream
- Entertainment & Shows
- Pools & Hot Tubs
- Fitness Center
- Ship Activities (Hasbro Game Show, trivia, deck parties)
- Kids Club (Camp Ocean)
Costs Extra
- Daily Gratuities ($16 per person/day)
- Shore Excursions
- Specialty Dining (Fahrenheit 555, Bonsai Sushi)
- Alcohol
- Soda
- Specialty Coffee
- Wi-Fi
- 24/7 Room Service
- Spa & Salon
- Casino
- Nursery (Camp Ocean Night Owls)
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean is known for mega-ships with many activities like flowrider and rock climbing walls. Their inclusions are similar to Carnival:
Included in Your Fare
- Stateroom
- Dining & Buffet (including Windjammer Marketplace)
- Basic Drinks
- Soft Serve Ice Cream
- Entertainment & Shows (ice skating shows, Broadway productions)
- Pools & Hot Tubs
- Fitness Center
- Ship Activities (FlowRider, rock climbing wall, zip line)
- Kids Club (Adventure Ocean)
Costs Extra
- Daily Gratuities ($18 per person/day)
- Shore Excursions
- Specialty Dining (Chops Grille, Izumi)
- Alcohol
- Soda
- Specialty Coffee
- Wi-Fi
- 24/7 Room Service
- Spa & Salon
- Casino
- Nursery (Royal Babies & Tots)
Pro Tip:Download the Royal Caribbean app to do free in app messaging to others in your group.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian pioneered "Freestyle Cruising" with no set dining times. Their base inclusions match other mainstream lines:
Included in Your Fare
- Stateroom
- Dining & Buffet (multiple complimentary restaurants)
- Basic Drinks
- Soft Serve Ice Cream
- Entertainment & Shows
- Pools & Hot Tubs
- Fitness Center
- Ship Activities
- Kids Club (Splash Academy)
Costs Extra
- Daily Gratuities ($20 per person/day)
- Shore Excursions
- Specialty Dining (Cagney's, Le Bistro, Teppanyaki)
- Alcohol
- Soda
- Specialty Coffee
- Wi-Fi
- 24/7 Room Service
- Spa & Salon
- Casino
- Nursery (Guppies)
Pro Tip: Norwegian frequently offers "Free at Sea" promotions that include drink packages, Wi-Fi, specialty dining, and shore excursion credits.
Princess Cruises
Princess offers a classic cruise experience with a slightly more refined atmosphere:
Included in Your Fare
- Stateroom
- Dining & Buffet
- Basic Drinks
- Soft Serve Ice Cream
- Entertainment & Shows
- Pools & Hot Tubs
- Fitness Center
- Ship Activities (Movies Under the Stars)
- Kids Club
Costs Extra
- Daily Gratuities ($16 per person/day)
- Shore Excursions
- Specialty Dining (Crown Grill, Sabatini's)
- Alcohol
- Soda
- Specialty Coffee
- Wi-Fi
- 24/7 Room Service
- Spa & Salon
- Casino
- Nursery
Pro Tip: Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages bundle drinks, Wi-Fi, and gratuities for better value than buying separately.
Disney Cruise Line
Disney cruises are premium-priced but include more than most mainstream lines. Here's what makes Disney special:
Included in Your Fare
- Stateroom
- Dining & Buffet (rotational dining at three themed restaurants)
- Basic Drinks
- Soda & Drinks — Fountain drinks are included.
- 24hr Room Service — Complimentary around the clock
- Soft Serve Ice Cream
- Entertainment & Shows (Broadway-quality productions)
- Pools & Hot Tubs
- Fitness Center
- Ship Activities
- Kids Club (Oceaneer Club & Lab)
Costs Extra
- Daily Gratuities ($14.50 per person/day)
- Shore Excursions
- Specialty Dining (Palo, Remy, Enchanté)
- Alcohol
- Specialty Coffee
- Wi-Fi
- Spa & Salon
- Nursery (It's a Small World Nursery — for ages 6 months to 3 years)
Why Disney Costs More: Disney includes more in the base fare (soda, room service) and offers exceptional kids programming and character experiences but, of course, comes with a higher price.
Holland America Line
Holland America offers a more traditional, refined cruise experience with some nice included extras:
Included in Your Fare
- Stateroom
- Dining & Buffet
- Basic Drinks
- 24hr Room Service — Complimentary around the clock
- Soft Serve Ice Cream
- Afternoon Tea — Traditional service with pastries
- Entertainment & Shows (Lincoln Center Stage, B.B. King's Blues Club)
- Pools & Hot Tubs
- Fitness Center
- Ship Activities
- Kids Club
Costs Extra
- Daily Gratuities ($16 per person/day)
- Shore Excursions
- Specialty Dining (Pinnacle Grill, Tamarind)
- Alcohol
- Soda
- Specialty Coffee
- Wi-Fi
- Spa & Salon
- Casino
- Nursery
Hidden Gem: Holland America's complimentary afternoon tea service and 24-hour room service make it feel more premium than its price suggests.
MSC Cruises
MSC is a European line offering great value, especially on Mediterranean itineraries:
Included in Your Fare
- Stateroom
- Dining & Buffet
- Basic Drinks
- Soft Serve Ice Cream
- Entertainment & Shows
- Pools & Hot Tubs
- Fitness Center
- Ship Activities
- Kids Club
Costs Extra
- Daily Gratuities ($14 per person/day)
- Shore Excursions
- Specialty Dining
- Alcohol
- Soda
- Specialty Coffee
- Wi-Fi
- 24/7 Room Service
- Spa & Salon
- Casino
- Nursery
Virgin Voyages
Virgin Voyages takes an "all-inclusive-ish" approach, including more than traditional cruise lines and is adults-only line (18+):
Included in Your Fare
- Stateroom
- All Restaurants & Specialty Dining — Over 20 dining options included
- Basic Drinks
- Soda — Fountain sodas included
- Wi-Fi — Essential Wi-Fi included
- Entertainment & Shows
- Pools & Hot Tubs
- Fitness Center — Group fitness classes included
- Ship Activities
Costs Extra
- Daily Gratuities (suggested $20/day)
- Shore Excursions
- Alcohol (bar drinks and wine)
- Specialty Coffee
- Spa & Salon (but the thermal spa is free)
- Casino
- Tattoos (yes, you can get a tattoo onboard)
Why Virgin Stands Out: No kids, no buffets, no formal nights, and ALL restaurants are included.
Luxury Lines: Regent, Seabourn & Oceania
Luxury cruise lines cost significantly more but include almost everything. Here's what you get:
Regent Seven Seas (Most Inclusive)
Regent is often called "the most inclusive luxury cruise line" because nearly everything is included:
- All-Suite Accommodations
- All Restaurants & Specialty Dining
- Unlimited Alcohol — Premium wines, spirits, and cocktails
- Room Service
- Wi-Fi
- Shore Excursions — Unlimited excursions in every port!
- Daily Gratuities — Pre-paid, no tipping needed
- Entertainment & Shows
- Pools & Hot Tubs
- Fitness Center
- Ship Activities
Costs Extra: Spa & Salon, Casino
Seabourn
- All-Suite Accommodations
- All Restaurants & Specialty Dining
- Unlimited Alcohol
- Room Service
- Wi-Fi
- Daily Gratuities
- Entertainment & Shows
- Pools & Hot Tubs
- Fitness Center
- Ship Activities
Costs Extra: Shore Excursions, Spa & Salon
Oceania Cruises
Oceania is "upper premium" — between mainstream and ultra-luxury:
- Stateroom
- All Restaurants & Specialty Dining
- Basic Drinks
- Soda & Drinks
- Room Service
- Entertainment & Shows
- Pools & Hot Tubs
- Fitness Center
- Ship Activities
Costs Extra: Daily Gratuities, Shore Excursions, Alcohol, Wi-Fi, Spa & Salon, Casino
Tips for Saving Money on Cruise Extras
- Book during a promotion — Lines like Norwegian offer "Free at Sea" with drinks, Wi-Fi, and dining credits
- Pre-purchase packages — Drink packages, Wi-Fi, and dining are cheaper when booked before your cruise
- Bring your own wine — Some lines let you bring wine onboard (with a corkage fee)
- Skip the soda package — Stick to free lemonade, iced tea, and water
- Use the gym instead of spa — The fitness center is free; skip the expensive spa treatments
- Book specialty dining at lunch — Same food, lower prices than dinner
Summary
Every cruise includes your stateroom, meals, entertainment, and basic drinks. The main extras to budget for are:
- Gratuities: $14-$20 per person, per day
- Drinks: $50-$100/day for a drink package, or pay per drink
- Wi-Fi: $15-$25 per day
- Shore Excursions: $50-$200+ per port
- Specialty Dining: $25-$75 per meal
Happy cruising!
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