Is the food free on cruises?

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 almost all mainstream cruise lines (like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Princess), a significant portion of the food is "free" in the sense that it is included in your base fare. You can typically eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner at no extra cost in the Main Dining Room (which offers multi-course seated service) and the Buffet (which offers a wide variety of casual options). Additionally, most ships have several "complimentary" snack spots, such as 24-hour pizzerias, poolside burger grills, and cafes serving sandwiches and pastries. However, "specialty restaurants"—such as high-end steakhouses, sushi bars, or celebrity-chef venues—do require an additional cover charge or a la carte pricing. In 2026, the trend has shifted toward more "included" casual dining options to keep passengers satisfied, but "luxury" items like lobster or premium cuts of steak may still carry a surcharge even in the main dining room. Basic beverages like water, lemonade, and regular coffee are free, while sodas and alcohol always cost extra unless you have a "drink package."

People Also Ask

Free Drinks on Cruises: Cruise ship drinks that are available in the buffet or in the main dining room at breakfast are typically included in your cruise fare. These include items such as tap water, iced tea, select juices, regular coffee and regular tea.

MORE DETAILS

Free Activities on Cruises: Trivia, pool games, big-screen movies, dance classes and sports deck activities (basketball, rock climbing, mini-golf, shuffleboard and more) are all normally free on a cruise ship. Ships that offer enrichment classes do not typically charge extra for them.

MORE DETAILS

There is no need for cash. The same goes for most gratuities. Cruise lines now offer prepaid options for gratuities to your room steward and dining room waiters. So you can pay them before you even get on the ship.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

Guests may also bring non-alcoholic beverages as carry-on items on boarding day. Non-alcoholic beverages may not exceed 12 standard (17 oz.) cans, bottles or cartons per stateroom. Milk and distilled water brought on for infant, medical, or dietary use are permitted.

MORE DETAILS

Generally, most cruise lines offer all-inclusive packages that include meals in their price. This means you can eat as much as you want during your stay!

MORE DETAILS

You still need to add in taxes and fees, and other expenses we will talk about here. On the average 7-day sailing with a mainstream cruise line a person will spend $1,300 – $2,000.

MORE DETAILS

Shelf-stable snacks like chips, pretzels, protein bars or any other items packaged in sealed wrappers are permitted on every major cruise line. Just stick with store-bought goodies including candy, savory snacks, cookies or granola bars instead of whipping up a batch of homemade muffins or sandwiches to bring with you.

MORE DETAILS

Sure, you can eat at the buffet at almost any time of the day or make a reservation at a specialty restaurant, but to dine in the main dining room, most cruise lines require you to show up at either a set time or during a limited timeframe.

MORE DETAILS

Because they are charged on a daily basis, you do not have to worry about tipping each crew member yourself. Many passengers, however, still like to leave extra tips for their stateroom attendant and dining room waiters at the end of the cruise.

MORE DETAILS

Carnival Cruise Line: Carnival has one of the loosest beverage policies of all cruise lines, allowing each guest to carry on a maximum of 12 sealed 12 oz. cans or cartons of a non-alcoholic beverage (e.g., sodas, juices, milk, or sparkling water) – a policy that most cruise lines have eliminated.

MORE DETAILS

If a symbol is displayed on your cruise cabin door, it means that you are open to the experience and other swingers are welcome. Worn on your clothing (pineapples, pink flamingos, and a black ring), it says that you are “secretly” looking. It acts as a subtle signal most casual glances wouldn't pick up on.

MORE DETAILS

Whether you order from the bar, main dining room, or a specialty restaurant, soda will cost extra on all Royal Caribbean cruise ships. Currently, the price for a can of soda is $3.50, before the 18% gratuity. Additionally, cruisers wanting juice from a bar or during other meals will also be charged $3.50.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

Do I need a passport? We recommend that everyone taking a cruise from the United States have a passport book. Though some “closed-loop” cruises may not require a U.S. passport, we recommend bringing yours in case of an emergency, such as an unexpected medical air evacuation or the ship docking at an alternate port.

MORE DETAILS

If you take closed loop cruises (meaning your trip begins and ends at a U.S. port), you can sail to a variety of dreamy destinations as a U.S. citizen without a passport. For “closed-loop” cruises, U.S. citizens will need to provide: A boarding pass. A government photo I.D.

MORE DETAILS

Never use a debit card on a cruise. In many situations you can use cash for the pre-authorisations, but just remember that you'll need to have enough to cover the full amount of this charge, which, in some cases, can be pretty steep. You'll then get your cash back at the end of your stay or cruise, minus any charges.

MORE DETAILS