Food and beverages As part of the cruise price, there is always complimentary food of many types and flavors. Drinks included are tap water, some juices and iced tea on most lines; everything else typically costs extra. Coffee and tea are complimentary, but you'll need to pay for specialty coffee beverages.

On most mainstream cruise lines, the majority of your food is included in the base fare, but it is not "all-inclusive" in the strictest sense. Your fare typically covers unlimited meals in the Main Dining Room (multi-course sit-down service), the casual Lido buffet, and various 24-hour snack stations like pizza parlors or soft-serve ice cream stands. However, modern cruise ships have moved toward a "freemium" model where they offer Specialty Dining for an extra fee. These are smaller, themed restaurants like steakhouses, sushi bars, or Italian trattorias where you might pay a flat cover charge (ranging from $20 to $60) or an a la carte price. Furthermore, items like alcoholic beverages, soda, specialty coffees (like lattes), and room service often incur additional costs unless you have purchased a specific beverage or "all-in" package. While you can easily spend your entire vacation without paying a cent extra for food, the temptation of premium cuts of meat or celebrity-chef-branded restaurants is a significant part of the modern cruising business model.