What's included
Once you get on-board, you'll be ready to start eating, drinking, and participating in the many activities available to you. It's natural to wonder then, "What's included and what do I have to pay for?" It's a good question and it unfortunately varies by cruise line and sometimes by ship, depending on what activities are available but there are a few basics that we can cover and then we'll get into details.
The first thing you should take comfort in is that there shouldn't be any surprises about what you are getting charged for and what you aren't. As always, if in doubt, ask.
It is pretty universal that your cruise fare includes your accommodation and your meals at the buffet and the main dining rooms. Ships also have some beverages available for free such as non-bottled water, ice tea, lemonade, or other basic options. Most activities on-board such as live shoes, music, the gym, and kids activities will also be included. If an activity isn't included, it will be made clear to you prior to committing to purchase. That's about all you can count on being offered as part of your basic cruise fare, but though the list seems short, it really is quite a lot.
Everything else, including alcoholic beverages, specialty restaurants, and some unique activities will be an additional charge. Soda pop is another item that should be mentioned as not being included with most cruise lines.
So, beyond those few basics, what cruise lines offer "extras" as part of your fare? Check out the list below to review what note-worthy extras exist on your cruise line of choice. Click the cruise line name for a direct link to their own descriptions of what is included.
- 24-hour soft serve ice cream and frozen yogurt
- Complimentary room service 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. (cash tip suggested)
Celebrity
Celebrity doesn't have an official "what's included" page at the time of this writing. The basics mentioned above are included in addition to 24 hour room service and a cafe that offers complimentary, bite-size sweets.
- 24 hour room service (cash tip suggested)
- Selection of fruit juices
- 24 hour room service (cash tip suggested)
- Guest speakers offer informative talks
- Shuttle bus transfers between the ship and the nearest transport station
- Soda pop
- 24 hour room service (cash tip suggested)
Holland America
Holland America doesn't have an official "what's included" page at the time of this writing. The basics mentioned above are included as well as 24 hour room service (cash tip suggested).
- 24 hour room service (cash tip suggested)
- Coffee Bar (regular coffee and pastries included, specialty coffees at an extra charge)
- Select onboard presentations
- 24 hour room service (cash tip suggested)
Royal Caribbean has no other inclusions in the fare price.
Many people want drinks included in their fares and most cruise lines offer an additional package for purchase to provide that. We'll dig into that in another article.
As a final thought, no matter how much planning you do, there will always be a small "extra" what you want to do, eat, or drink on-board. If you can, set aside at least a little bit of money to allow yourself a spur-of-the-moment indulgence!