Do you have to pay for things on a cruise?

That depends on what you consider all-inclusive. Certain luxury and river cruise lines include things you would typically have to pay for on a mainstream line, such as beer or wine with meals, top-shelf cocktails, shore tours, specialty dining venues, internet, concierge and butler service, crew tips and more.



While cruises are marketed as "all-inclusive," in 2026, you should still expect significant "Extra-Charge" items. Your base fare covers your stateroom, standard meals in the buffet and main dining room, and basic entertainment. However, you will pay extra for Gratuities/Service Charges (typically $16–$20 per person, per day), Alcoholic Beverages, and Specialty Dining (upscale steakhouses or sushi bars). Other costs include Wi-Fi packages, shore excursions, spa treatments, and "premium" snacks like Ben & Jerry's or Starbucks. For 2026 travelers, a high-value "pro-tip" is to look for "All-In" bundles (like Princess Plus or Celebrity All-Included) during the booking process; these often bundle Wi-Fi, drinks, and tips for a lower daily rate than if you paid for them individually once on board. Always check your "Onboard Account" via the ship's app daily to track spending, as "small" charges for professional photos or bingo can quickly add $500–$1,000 to your final bill at the end of the week.

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There are fees for accessing some areas of the ship, including limited-access sundecks and some spa pools. Services like laundry and dry cleaning, baby-sitting, baby care items ordered in advance, and some fitness classes may also show up on your bill as extras.

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Many cruise lines offer free room service, which can be a great way to get free food and drinks. While the menu is typically limited, you can still enjoy a free breakfast or snack in your cabin. Some cruise lines also offer free late-night snacks, which can be a great way to satisfy a midnight craving.

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On-board credit is money that can be used during your cruise for extras such as Shore Excursions, Spa Treatments, Speciality Dining or Gift Shop purchases etc. In plain English On-board credit is like 'free money'! This is basically a credit of money which is automatically deposited into your onboard spending account.

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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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Prices for cocktails on cruise ships usually run about $10-14 per drink, before gratuity. So expect to spend about $12 to $16.50 per beverage when gratuity is added.

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Most veteran cruisers recommend that you budget between £75-£100 per day for other costs. You can cut back on spending and reduce your budget. However, you're probably going to need at least £50 a day. So, once you've booked your cruise, you'll want to set aside around £350-£700 for other costs.

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Generally speaking, all-inclusive in the cruise world means that the fare you're quoted includes the cost of your room on a ship (based on double occupancy), port fees and taxes, most meals, gratuities, and alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages.

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Norwegian's Free at Sea offer entitles guests to free perks like drink packages, specialty dining, WiFi, kids sail free (or 3rd & 4th guests sail free), and more. The number of perks that cruisers receive does vary based on the current sale and the stateroom category booked.

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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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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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And how much cash should you take on your next cruise? We're here to help you figure it out! Experts say the average cruise passenger spends anywhere from $52 to $89 per day, but the amount you'll spend will, of course, vary based on cruise line, ship, experience and your individual preferences.

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Tip: Unlike hotel prices, cruise fares are listed per person, not per cabin, with rates based on two people occupying a stateroom. Cruise lines offer single travelers the opportunity to book a double cabin for themselves by charging a “single supplement,” which is basically 1½ or 2 times the list price for one person.

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You also may have a few questions about what is included on a cruise. It helps to think of it this way: Your cruise fare is mostly all-inclusive — your stateroom, dining in a variety of locations, onboard entertainment and access to pools, hot tubs and other amenities and activities are typically included on a cruise.

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Everything you pay for onboard a cruise is added to a cruise account, usually using your cruise card. This card is your room key, but it also serves as your payment card during the ship. Everything is added to an account, which you then have to pay off on the last morning of your cruise.

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7-8 Daytime Outfits On your 7 day cruise, you'll need a casual daytime outfit for each day, plus at least one backup outfit in case you get wet.

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While water, juice, and tea are usually free on a cruise, you often have to go to the ship's restaurants to get them. Meanwhile, non-alcoholic drinks like sodas cost extra (usually around $2-3 per serving), so bringing those on with you when allowed can save you a decent amount.

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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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Yes, you can buy a beverage package. These all-you-can-drink packages allow passengers to pay a set fee up front for unlimited drinks (of a certain type, as outlined by the package's fine print), rather than pay per drink once onboard the cruise ship.

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