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Are food and drinks free on a cruise?

Your cruise fare always includes food for breakfast, lunch and dinner on a cruise ship. However, not all venues that offer food will be free. The main dining room and cruise ship buffet will always be included in your cruise fare, though a few specialty items might cost extra.



On a standard cruise in 2026, most food is included, but most drinks are not. Your cruise fare covers meals in the "Main Dining Room," the "Buffet," and several "Quick-Service" spots like poolside grills or pizza stations. You can eat 24/7 without spending an extra dime. However, "Specialty Dining" (like high-end steakhouses or sushi bars) requires an additional cover charge, usually $30–$60 per person. Regarding drinks, "Basic" beverages are free: tap water, regular coffee, iced tea, and lemonade. Soda, specialty coffee (Starbucks), and alcohol always cost extra unless you purchase a "Beverage Package." These packages usually cost between $60 and $100 per day. Luxury cruise lines (like Regent Seven Seas or Silversea) are the exception; they are truly "all-inclusive," meaning every drink, including top-shelf spirits and wine, is included in the initial ticket price. For mainstream lines like Royal Caribbean or Carnival, you should budget for "extras" if you enjoy anything beyond basic water and coffee.

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If you're planning a cruise and researching your cruise options, you've probably noticed that not everything is included with your cruise fare. Taxes, gratuities or a service charge, plus other “extras” are just some of the things not included with your cruise fare.

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Cruise line drinks packages let you order as many drinks as you want while on a cruise for one flat fee. This takes the place of paying for drinks one at a time. At some lines, there are several tiers of drinks packages. Basic tiers often just include sodas and bottled water.

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Bringing food on a cruise recapped That said, generally speaking, liquor and spirits are never permitted; wine, champagne, beer and nonalcoholic beverages are allowed only occasionally in limited quantities; and while fresh, homemade or perishable foods are forbidden, packaged snacks are just fine.

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Food and drinking are usually complimentary on the cruises. You are also allowed to bring your own snack on the cruise so that you can have what you love. A certain time is fixed for every meal - breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can either have it with everybody in the dining room or bring it to your room.

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Guests are not allowed to bring beer or hard liquor onboard for consumption or any other use. Alcoholic beverages (beer, seltzer, or hard liquor) seized on embarkation day will be returned at the end of the voyage provided that they are in the original sealed package.

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What drinks are free of charge?
  1. Water. Water is always free of charge on most cruise ships. ...
  2. Flavored water. Some cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean drink package provides their passengers with several options of flavored waters to choose from. ...
  3. Lemonade. ...
  4. Tea and coffee. ...
  5. Hot chocolate. ...
  6. Milk. ...
  7. Fruit juices.


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In many cases, no. Several of the biggest cruise lines, including Carnival, Holland America and MSC Cruises, have a rule that if one adult in a cabin orders a drinks package, all adults in the cabin must order the package. This is to prevent two or more people in a cabin from sharing a single drinks package.

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The only bar that will be consistently open late and may stay open 24/7 is the casino bar on most ships. As far as am drinks, the main bar in the atrium is usually available earliest, pool bars shortly there after.

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Is Food Included on a Cruise? Most food is free or included on a cruise. This includes breakfast, lunch and dinner in the main dining room, buffet and some casual restaurants on the cruise ship. Alternative dining in specialty restaurants often has an additional charge and is not included in the cost of a cruise.

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Having continental breakfast brought to you and served in your cabin is usually free of charge, specifically on mainstream lines (keep in mind the one caveat is that leaving a small tip is the norm). Most luxury cruise lines have no-fee room service policies in place for their guests.

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Water is always free of charge on most cruise ships. You may be asked to pay a fee for some versions of bottled water. However, you can likely ask for a jug of iced water in any restaurant or bar for no added cost. There are several water dispensers present on a cruise ship so that you can help yourself.

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Final word. On most cruises, you're welcome to wander the ship with a drink in your hand, at least in most areas. It's just like one large resort, so grab your favourite tipple and then find your perfect spot to enjoy it. Just make sure you ask for plastic glasses if you want to head over to a pool or hot tub.

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On most mainstream cruises, sodas are available for purchase (using your onboard account) in the ship's dining rooms and bars, and in stateroom mini-bars. As an alternative to paying separately for each soda you drink, cruise lines offer packages that can be purchased in advance online or onboard on embarkation day.

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While purchasing a beverage package prior to your cruise is the most cost effective, you can opt to purchase one on board for a slightly higher price.

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Policy – No alcohol may be taken aboard at embarkation, and alcohol purchased in port or at the ship's duty-free shop will be held and returned at the end of the cruise. Policy – Wine and champagne are allowed onboard. No beer or spirits may be taken onboard for consumption.

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