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When you go on a cruise is everything free?

Ships & Cruises – Frequently Asked Questions Your cruise price includes almost every part of your onboard experience, such as: Your stateroom along with all applicable taxes and port fees. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Soft drinks served at meals and at each ship's beverage station.



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As a reminder, meals in the main dining room and buffet, water and juice from buffet or pool-area dispensers, select fitness classes and use of the gym, kids and teens facilities, some onboard workshops and seminars, the main pools, most entertainment and your room are included in the price you pay for your cruise.

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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.

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Food on Cruise Ships Free Food on Cruises: Meals are free of charge in cruise ship main dining rooms, buffets and select specialty venues such as Princess' International Cafe, Carnival's Blue Iguana Cantina and Guy's Burger Joint, Royal Caribbean's Park Cafe and Boardwalk Dog House and Norwegian's O'Sheehan's.

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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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The answer to this question varies a lot by person, their travel habits, spending preferences, length of the cruise and destination. Many people suggest $100 per day, and this has generally worked well for me in my cruising experiences, but there are a lot of variables to consider.

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You probably won't need much actual cash while onboard, as many cruise lines will just charge purchases to your account. Even ship casinos these days have cashless credit systems. On nearly all cruises, passengers are given an itemized bill at the end of the trip listing all charged expenses.

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What is the cheapest time to book a cruise? Prospective cruisers can usually find a lot of good deals at the beginning of the year during wave season, Goldberg-Glazer said. That period typically lasts from January until March. However, the optimal time to book may depend on when you plan to sail.

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Given that most people sail with two people to a room, that means you can bring 24 cans/cartons of anything you want as long as it's non-alcoholic. Just be sure that it is not in a bottle. With the prices of beverages on the cruise (around $2-4 per non-alcoholic drink), that can save you a lot of money.

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In short, whether you need a passport depends on the cruise, including the start and end points, the ports you'll visit and your plans at those destinations. More often than not, the answer is no. U.S. citizens don't need a passport if the cruise starts and ends in the same U.S. city.

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Some cruise lines specifically advertise themselves as all-inclusive, and you'll likely encounter fewer add-on opportunities on these ships. On other cruises, however, expect to pay for anything above and beyond the basics.

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Bars are everywhere on a cruise ship, and the alcohol flows freely. But it's certainly not free. Drinks are big business on a cruise.

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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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Upon entering the terminal, you'll need to show your cruise documents and go through a security line. You will need to pass through an x-ray machine and have your carry-ons scanned, but the process is not as rigorous as at the airport. (You likely won't need to remove your shoes, for example.)

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In general, plan on giving $16–$23 in gratuities per day for each passenger. Note that the amount should be tabulated for each individual in your party—don't try to tip once per couple or group. So if you're planning to go on a 7-day cruise, expect to give a total of between $112 and $161 per person in gratuities.

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Bring a cup. Yes, yes, of course the ship will have plenty of glasses for you to drink from. But they tend to be pretty small… especially in the buffets. So why not save yourself a few trips to the water cooler by bringing your own, larger cup or, better still, one of the wildly popular Yeti tumblers!

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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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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.

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Yes, cruise lines allow you to bring snacks on board, provided they are non-perishable. In other words, you're welcome to bring pre-packaged snacks and treats for you or your kids to eat onboard your cruise. Please note that you can't bring can't bring any homemade foods, meats, fruits or cheeses on a cruise.

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