What's included in a cruise fare — and what isn't
The price you see for a cruise covers the basics: the cabin, most meals, most entertainment, and the transport between ports. But the final bill is almost always 30–60% higher than the advertised fare, because of a set of extras worth knowing about in advance.
What is included
The cabin and room service; meals in the main dining rooms, the buffet and some casual venues; the evening shows, the pools, the gym, the kids' clubs; and the transport port to port. On modern ships most activities (surf simulator, rock wall) are included too.
What is almost always extra
- Daily gratuities — $16–23 per person per day (unless a luxury line).
- Drinks — anything beyond water/coffee/tea/dilute juice: alcohol, soda, specialty coffee, bottled water.
- Specialty restaurants — $25–75 per person per meal.
- Shore excursions — $60–250 per person per port (you can arrange your own for significantly less).
- Wi-Fi — $15–35 a day.
- Spa, laundry, photos, casino, bingo, classes.
What's worth adding and what isn't
Worth it: one specialty dinner per sailing (an experience, not every night); an organised shore excursion at the one port that's hard to reach alone (a glacier in Alaska, say). Less so: a full wifi package if you don't have to work — buy a single day; shore excursions in European cities you can walk into from the quay.
Answers to your questions
Are meals included in a cruise fare?
How much does the final bill add over the advertised fare?
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About this page
Written and checked by the Around the World team. We compare prices across the major providers, cross-check official sources, and update when something changes. We have no stake in any one provider — links are affiliate links, and the price is the same for you.