Loading Page...

What all is included when you pay for a cruise?

The price of your cruise vacation includes:
  • Ship accommodations.
  • Ocean transportation.
  • Most meals onboard.
  • Some beverages onboard.
  • Most entertainment onboard.




When you pay for a standard cruise in 2026, your fare typically includes accommodation, core dining, and onboard entertainment. Specifically, you get your stateroom (cabin) and access to meals at the main dining room and buffet, along with snacks at select poolside venues. Most daily activities, such as theater shows, live music, deck parties, and use of the pools, hot tubs, and gym facilities, are also included. For families, supervised kids' and teens' clubs are generally complimentary. However, "pro" travelers know to check their specific line, as many items now cost extra: alcoholic beverages, specialty coffees, sodas, and bottled water usually require a separate "drinks package." Additionally, specialty "fine dining" restaurants, shore excursions, spa treatments, Wi-Fi, and gratuities (crew incentive fees) are almost always additional costs unless you are sailing on a luxury, "all-inclusive" line.

People Also Ask

This outline features some of the must-know nuances of cruise fare inclusions as well as cruise fare extras.
  • Food on Cruise Ships. ...
  • Drinks on Cruise Ships. ...
  • Room Service on Cruise Ships. ...
  • Shows and Entertainment on Cruise Ships. ...
  • Activities on Cruise Ships. ...
  • Spa Services on Cruise Ships. ...
  • Fitness on Cruise Ships.


MORE DETAILS

The price of your cruise vacation includes:
  • Ship accommodations.
  • Ocean transportation.
  • Most meals onboard.
  • Some beverages onboard.
  • Most entertainment onboard.


MORE DETAILS

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.

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

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.

MORE DETAILS

So which food is included and which cost extra? While not all the food on Royal Caribbean is included, there is enough food and drink for you to enjoy that is included so you will not need to pay extra for food. However, you may feel inclined to pay for drinks or meals anyway as a way to enhance your cruise.

MORE DETAILS

Most cruise lines charge between $400 and $4,000 for a 7-night Caribbean trip in a balcony stateroom. Remember that these cruise costs are only estimates, and that prices can vary greatly based on the cabin style, time of year, number of individuals in the room, as well as cabin placement.

MORE DETAILS

U.S. citizens are generally required to present a valid U.S. passport when traveling to The Bahamas, as well as proof of anticipated departure from The Bahamas. Those traveling to The Bahamas on a cruise may use another Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) compliant document.

MORE DETAILS

All travelers are advised to carry a valid passport with them when taking a cruise to Mexico, regardless of their nationality and port of departure. US citizens on closed-loop cruises, meaning they begin and end at the same US port, can travel to Mexico with proof of citizenship other than a passport.

MORE DETAILS

U.S. citizens do not need a passport to travel between the U.S. and these territories:
  • American Samoa.
  • Guam.
  • Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
  • Puerto Rico.
  • U.S. Virgin Islands.


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

Sodas and other applicable non-alcoholic beverages remain unlimited and will not be counted toward the 15 alcoholic beverages limit, and all other policies and procedures remain the same. Guests are expected to enjoy alcohol responsibly and staff members are trained not to serve guests who appear to be intoxicated.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

On embarkation day, an initial bank hold of up to $200 (depending on cruise length) is placed on all credit card and debit card accounts to verify that the card is valid: 2 - 6 day cruise: $100 USD for each stateroom charged using the same credit card or debit card.

MORE DETAILS

Do cell phones work on cruise ships? It's a common question with varying answers. Guests are free to utilize their cellular data or connect to our onboard Wi-Fi on any ship. But, please be aware that cellular data used on the ship or in certain ports of call will result in charges from your cell phone provider.

MORE DETAILS

Will my cruise ship cabin have a private bathroom? Cruise ships offer ensuite bathrooms in even the smallest and least expensive cabins, just as you'd find in a hotel. Some suites or family cabins will even have a master bath and a second half-bath or shower-only full bathroom.

MORE DETAILS

Taking food back to the room You can take food from the buffet back to your room if you'd rather eat away from the crowds. If you take food from the buffet or another informal location and bring it back to your room, nobody will object.

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

After breakfast service ends in the late morning, all major cruise lines offer an all-day room service menu of salads, sandwiches, snacks and desserts.

MORE DETAILS

Anything except fresh fruits, vegetables and dairy products can be brought into The Bahamas. All meats must be canned or frozen.

MORE DETAILS