What is included in your cruise fare?

So you’re ready to set sail, but do you know exactly what is included in your cruise fare? While most cruises are not all-inclusive, you expect certain things to be included: your cabin, dining in the Lido Deck buffet and main dining rooms, basic daily entertainment — such as stage shows and comedy acts — and access to the onboard fitness center.

However, over the last decade or so, cruisers have begun to gripe about the nickel-and-diming that seems increasingly common onboard. Not sure what your cruise ship charges extra for? Before you set sail, check out our handy guide:

Azamara Cruises

Included: Azamara is actually closer to all-inclusive than many lines in its price point. Fares include all nonalcoholic and some alcoholic beverages; one evening excursion per sailing; fitness and nutrition classes, computer, shore excursion, and destination lectures; wine tastings; cooking demonstrations; laundry service (for suite guests) and self-service laundry for all guests; gratuities; and an onboard concierge to answer questions and make reservations.

Not Included: Flights to and from the embarkation port, shore excursions, specialty restaurants (except for suite guests), Wi-Fi, dry cleaning, and salon and spa services.

Carnival Cruise Line

Included: 24-hour room service, youth clubs, and coffee, tea, and lemonade; at breakfast, juice is also included.  In addition, some specialty dining venues are complimentary.

Not Included: You’ll pay extra for transfers to and from the embarkation port, shore excursions, transfers to and from the ship, most specialty restaurants, alcoholic beverages, Wi-Fi, fitness classes, nighttime babysitting, all laundry services, gratuities, and salon and spa services.

Celebrity Cruises

Included: 24-hour room service, some nonalcoholic beverages, and youth clubs.

Not Included: Flights to and from the embarkation port, shore excursions, transfers to and from the ship, specialty restaurants, alcoholic beverages, Wi-Fi, fitness classes, babysitting, laundry, gratuities, and salon and spa services.

Celebrity Cruises has amazing specialty restaurants like Tuscan Grille, but they cost extra. - Photo by Celebrity Cruises

Costa Cruises

Included: Youth clubs, fitness classes, afternoon tea, and coffee in the morning.

Not Included: Flights to and from the embarkation port, shore excursions, transfers to and from the ship, specialty restaurants, nonalcoholic and alcoholic beverages, 24-hour room service, Wi-Fi, yoga and pilates classes, laundry, gratuities, salon and spa services, the movie theater, and the golf and racing simulators.

Crystal Cruises

Included: Optional airfare service package, one meal in Prego and either Silk Road or the Sushi Bar; 24-hour room service; all nonalcoholic beverages and some alcoholic beverages; fitness and enrichment classes, gratuities, free Wi-Fi for 1 or 1.5 hours per day; self-service laundry, and transfers to and from the ship.

Not Included: Flights to and from the embarkation port (if you choose not buy the package), shore excursions, additional meals in specialty restaurants, additional Wi-Fi, valet laundry and dry cleaning, and salon and spa services.

Cunard Line

Included: 24-hour room service, most nonalcoholic beverages, expert talks, the planetarium, and supervised youth programs.

Not Included: Flights to and from the embarkation port, shore excursions, transfers to and from the ship, specialty restaurants, alcoholic beverages, Wi-Fi, fitness classes, art workshops, laundry, gratuities, and salon and spa services.

Disney Cruise Line

Included: Disney focuses on kids, and the line’s amenities reflect that: family-friendly deck parties with fireworks (in the Caribbean), movies on deck or in the theater, supervised youth programs, 24-hour room service, the water park area, nonalcoholic beverages, as well as adult-only shows, lectures, and activities.  There are also two portable "wave phones" in each cabin which allow guests to call any onboard phone, stateroom phone, or another wave phone around the ship.

Not Included: Flights to and from the embarkation port, shore excursions, transfers to and from the ship, specialty restaurants, alcoholic beverages, Wi-Fi, fitness classes, laundry, gratuities, and salon and spa services.

Children's programs on Disney are included. - Photo by Disney Cruise Line

Holland America Line

Included: Some onboard classes; room service; nonalcoholic beverages; cooking demos, wine tastings for high-level members, and supervised youth clubs.

Not Included: Flights to and from the embarkation port, shore excursions, transfers to and from the ship, specialty restaurants, alcoholic beverages, Wi-Fi, cooking and fitness classes, laundry, gratuities, and salon and spa services.

MSC Cruises

Included: Kids ages 11 and under sail for free (as the 3rd and 4th guests in a room), supervised youth programs, the aqua park, some nonalcoholic drinks, and room service.  The line also offers dinnertime and showtime babysitting for kids ages 1 to 3.

Not Included: Flights to and from the embarkation port, shore excursions, transfers to and from the ship, specialty restaurants, alcoholic beverages, Wi-Fi, fitness classes, laundry, gratuities, salon and spa services, 4-D cinema, Virtual World, and the golf simulator.  In addition, lunchtime babysitting for kids ages 1 to 3 will incur a small fee.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Included: Some nonalcoholic beverages, the Asian -fusion restaurant, the aqua park, Spice H2O adults area, and supervised kids’ programs.

Not Included: Flights to and from the embarkation port, shore excursions, transfers to and from the ship, specialty restaurants, sodas and alcoholic beverages, Wi-Fi, fitness classes, babysitting, laundry, room service, gratuities, salon and spa services, and some onboard lectures.

Norwegian's Spice H20 is included in the fare, but not all adult-only areas are. - Photo by Norwegian Cruise Line

Oceania Cruises

Included: Oceania is one of the few lines that include airfare, offering flights to and from the embarkation port from 26 locations.  However, it's important to note that selecting the program that includes airfare is optional, and guests also have the ability to book cruise-only.  The same optional program also includes free internet.  For all guests, the line includes complimentary shuttle service from the ship to city center in many ports, specialty restaurants, guest lectures, 24-hour room service, and nonalcoholic beverages.  On select ships and voyages, there are also artist workshops and cooking demonstrations.

Not Included: Shore excursions, alcoholic beverages, Wi-Fi, laundry, gratuities, salon and spa services, and culinary classes.

Princess Cruises

Included: 24-hour room service, movies on deck, some nonalcoholic beverages, Alfredo's pizza, activities including the Discovery at Sea program, dancing and fitness classes, and supervised youth programs.

Not Included: Flights to and from the embarkation port, shore excursions, transfers to and from the ship, specialty restaurants, soda and alcoholic beverages, Wi-Fi, cooking classes, laundry, gratuities, and salon and spa services.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Included: Regent is the most all-inclusive line: flights to and from the embarkation port, shore excursions, pre-cruise hotel room, transfers to and from the ship in all ports, specialty restaurants, expert lectures, cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, 24-hour room service, all beverages, youth programming on select voyages, Wi-Fi, fitness classes, self-service laundry, gratuities, and sauna and steam rooms in the spa.

Not Included: Laundry services including dry cleaning and pressing, and salon and spa services.

Royal Caribbean International

Included: Room service between 5 am and midnight, some nonalcoholic drinks, some specialty dining venues, water park, and supervised youth programs.

Not Included: Flights to and from the embarkation port, shore excursions, transfers to and from the ship, most specialty restaurants, alcoholic beverages, Wi-Fi, fitness classes, babysitting, laundry, gratuities, and salon and spa services.  In addition, the skydiving simulator RipCord and the North Star observation capsule now incur an extra fee aboard Quantum of the Seas.

The RipCord on Quantum now carries a charge. - Photo by Royal Caribbean

Seabourn

Included: All specialty restaurants, 24-hour room service, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, self-service laundry, and fitness classes.

Not Included: Flights to and from the embarkation port, shore excursions, transfers to and from the ship, Wi-Fi, dry cleaning and laundry service, and salon and spa services.

Silversea

Included: Silversea is close to all-inclusive: specialty restaurants, 24-hour room service, nonalcoholic and alcoholic beverages, butler service, fitness classes, self-service laundry, some shore excursions, transfers to and from the ship in most ports, and gratuities.

Not Included: Flights to and from the embarkation port, Wi-Fi, laundry service, and salon and spa services.

Viking Ocean Cruises

Included: Specialty restaurants, 24-hour room service, nonalcoholic beverages, beer and wine with lunch and dinner, unlimited WiFi, access to the spa facilities, fitness classes, self-service laundry, and some shore excursions.

Not Included: Flights to and from the embarkation port, transfers to and from the ship, non-mealtime alcoholic beverages, laundry service, gratuities, premium shore excursions, and salon and spa services.

Windstar Cruises

Included: Specialty restaurants, 24-hour room service, nonalcoholic beverages, port and destination lectures, and use of water sports equipment.

Not Included: Flights to and from the embarkation port, shore excursions, transfers to and from the ship, alcoholic beverages, Wi-Fi, laundry, gratuities, and salon and spa services.

Updated on March 11, 2019.