What Does a Cruise Include? A Complete Guide to Cruise Fares
- Jan 6
- 8 min read
One of the most common questions first-time cruisers ask is surprisingly simple:
What does my cruise fare actually include?
It’s a good question—because the price you see when you’re shopping for a cruise isn’t always the same as the total amount you’ll spend on your vacation.
The good news is that cruises include quite a bit. Your accommodations, meals, entertainment, transportation between destinations, and many onboard activities are generally bundled into one fare.
But beverages, Wi-Fi, specialty restaurants, excursions, gratuities, and other extras may—or may not—be included depending on the cruise line and fare you choose.
And that’s where things can get confusing.
Understanding what’s included before you book makes it much easier to compare cruises accurately, set a realistic vacation budget, and decide which upgrades are actually worth paying for.
What You’ll Learn in This Guide
We’ll cover:
What’s typically included in a standard cruise fare
Which expenses usually cost extra
Why inclusions vary so much between cruise lines
How cruise packages and bundled fares work
Why the lowest advertised fare isn’t always the best value
How to estimate the real cost of your cruise before booking
What’s Usually Included in a Cruise Fare?
While every cruise line is different, most standard cruise fares include the same basic components.
Your Stateroom
Your cruise fare includes your accommodations for the duration of the voyage.
Depending on what you book, that could be an interior stateroom, oceanview room, balcony, or suite.
Your stateroom also generally includes regular housekeeping service from your cabin attendant.
The important thing to remember is that your cabin isn’t simply your hotel room—it’s traveling with you.
You unpack once, settle in, and wake up in a new destination without changing hotels, renting cars, catching trains, or hauling luggage from one city to another.
That’s one of the biggest conveniences of cruising.
Most of Your Meals
You could easily spend an entire cruise eating only at complimentary restaurants.
Most ships include:
Main dining rooms
Buffets
Casual restaurants
Poolside grills
Pizza or other quick-service venues
Snacks and desserts
Exactly what’s available varies considerably by ship.
Some cruise lines include a surprisingly large number of restaurants, while others reserve many of their more distinctive dining experiences for an additional charge.
Breakfast and lunch in the main dining room can also vary by cruise line and itinerary, while dinner is much more consistently available.
🌊 Wavebound Tip
Don’t assume a restaurant is included simply because it’s listed as a dining option on the ship. Before sailing, I recommend looking at which venues are complimentary and which carry an additional charge. You’ll know what you want to try—and won’t be surprised once onboard.
Basic Beverages
Most cruise fares include a selection of non-alcoholic beverages, generally including things like:
Tap water (not bottled)
Drip coffee
Tea
Select juices
Beyond that, the rules vary.
Soda, specialty coffee, bottled water, energy drinks, mocktails, beer, wine, and cocktails may cost extra unless they’re included in your fare or you’ve purchased a beverage package.
There are exceptions. Some cruise lines include considerably more beverages in their standard fare, which is why comparing inclusions matters.
Entertainment
One of the easiest things to underestimate when comparing a cruise with a land vacation is just how much entertainment is already included.
Depending on the ship, your fare may give you access to:
Production shows
Live music
Comedy
Game shows and trivia
Deck parties
Movies
Nightclubs and lounges
Live demonstrations and activities
Larger ships can have entertainment happening simultaneously in several different venues every evening.
There are exceptions—some specialty entertainment experiences carry an additional charge—but you certainly don’t need to pay extra to stay entertained.
Pools, Fitness Centers & Onboard Activities
Access to the ship’s pools, hot tubs, fitness center, and many recreational activities is generally included.
Depending on the ship, that might also mean:
Sports courts
Walking or jogging tracks
Waterslides
Mini golf
Games and competitions
Dance classes
Enrichment programs
Some of the more elaborate attractions found on newer ships—such as simulators, arcades, escape rooms, go-karts, or certain adventure activities—may cost extra.
Kids’ & Teen Programs
Most family-oriented cruise lines include supervised youth programs in the cruise fare.
Programs are usually divided by age and can include organized activities, games, crafts, parties, and dedicated spaces for children and teens.
There may be additional charges for certain services, particularly late-night childcare or programs for very young children, so families should check the policies of their specific cruise line.
What’s Usually NOT Included?
This is where cruise budgeting becomes more important.
A cruise can absolutely provide a great vacation using primarily what’s included. But most travelers choose at least a few extras.
Here are the ones you’re most likely to encounter.
Alcohol, Soda & Specialty Coffee
Unless your fare specifically includes beverages, drinks beyond the basics are typically charged separately.
If you enjoy several drinks throughout the day, a beverage package may be worth considering.
But don’t automatically assume you need one.
Packages vary significantly in price, beverage limits, included brands, and rules. Some cruise lines also require every eligible adult in the same stateroom to purchase the package.
🌊 Wavebound Tip
Look at how you actually drink—not how you imagine you’ll drink on vacation. A beverage package is only a good deal if you’ll use enough of what’s included to justify the cost.
Specialty Dining
Cruise ships have increasingly expanded their specialty restaurant offerings.
You might find steakhouses, seafood restaurants, sushi, French or Italian cuisine, chef-driven tasting menus, hibachi, and other specialty concepts.
These restaurants may charge a fixed cover price, à la carte pricing, or be included as part of a dining package.
Are they necessary?
Absolutely not.
But they can be a great addition if you’re celebrating something special or simply enjoy making dining part of the vacation experience.
Shore Excursions
Your cruise gets you to the destination.
What you do once you arrive is usually up to you.
Cruise line excursions, independent tours, beach clubs, snorkeling trips, food tours, sightseeing excursions, and other activities generally cost extra.
But you don’t necessarily need an excursion in every port.
Some destinations are very easy to explore independently. Others are places where I strongly prefer having a tour planned in advance.
Private islands and cruise-line beach destinations can also provide an inexpensive port day because basic beach access and some amenities may already be included.
Wi-Fi
Internet access has improved dramatically on cruise ships, but Wi-Fi is still commonly an additional expense.
Some cruise lines include it in certain fares or packages, while others sell internet separately by device, passenger, or number of days.
If staying connected is important—particularly if you plan to work, stream, or communicate regularly from the ship—Wi-Fi should be part of your budget comparison from the beginning.
Gratuities or Service Charges
Many cruise lines add a daily gratuity or service charge for each passenger.
Depending on the cruise line and fare you’ve selected, this may be:
Added to your onboard account
Prepaid before sailing
Included as part of a package
Included in the cruise fare (generally luxury line offerings)
Luxury and more inclusive cruise lines are more likely to include gratuities.
Regardless of how they’re collected, I recommend considering them part of the cost of your cruise when you’re comparing vacation options.
Spa Treatments, Shopping & Casino Spending
Massages, salon services, spa treatments, shopping, casino gaming, photos, arcade games, and other personal purchases are typically additional expenses.
These are completely discretionary—which also makes them one of the easiest areas to control if you’re cruising on a budget.
Why “What’s Included?” Depends on the Cruise Line
This is where cruise shopping gets interesting.
Two cruises with similar itineraries and similar cabins can have very different advertised prices—and very different inclusions.
A contemporary cruise line may offer a lower starting fare and allow you to add exactly what you want.
A premium cruise line may offer packages that bundle beverages, Wi-Fi, gratuities, dining, or other benefits.
Luxury cruise lines may include most of those things from the beginning.
None of those approaches is automatically better.
The question is:
Which approach gives you the experience you want at the best overall value?
Contemporary Cruise Lines
Contemporary cruise lines generally offer some of the lowest entry-level fares and the greatest ability to customize your vacation.
You’ll typically receive your accommodations, meals at complimentary restaurants, entertainment, and many activities.
Then you can add things like drinks, Wi-Fi, specialty dining, excursions, and other experiences based on what’s important to you.
This can work exceptionally well for travelers who don’t need many extras.
Premium Cruise Lines
Premium cruise lines tend to sit somewhere in the middle.
You’ll usually find a somewhat more refined onboard experience, and many offer fare options that bundle popular extras such as beverages, Wi-Fi, and gratuities.
For travelers who know they’ll use those amenities, a bundled fare can provide both convenience and better cost predictability.
Luxury & More Inclusive Cruise Lines
Luxury cruise lines generally have much higher advertised fares—but looking only at that number can be misleading.
Depending on the line, the fare may already include things such as:
Premium beverages
Wi-Fi
Gratuities
Specialty dining
Room service
Shore excursions
Transportation or other destination services
That’s why comparing a $2,000 cruise with a $5,000 cruise isn’t always as simple as it looks.
Once you make the inclusions comparable, the price difference may be smaller than you expected.
The Middle Ground: Bundled Cruise Fares
You don’t necessarily have to choose between a basic fare and an all-inclusive luxury cruise.
Many cruise lines now offer bundled fares or packages that create something closer to an all-inclusive experience.
Depending on the cruise line, these can combine:
Beverage packages
Wi-Fi
Gratuities
Specialty dining
Shore excursion credits
Other onboard perks
These packages can be a great value—but only when they include things you were already planning to purchase.
🌊 Wavebound Tip
When comparing fares, don’t ask only, “How much does this package cost?” Ask, “How much would I spend on these things anyway?” That’s the number that tells you whether the upgrade actually provides value.
The Lowest Cruise Fare Isn’t Always the Cheapest Cruise
This may be the most important takeaway from this entire guide.
When you’re comparing cruises, it’s very easy to compare the advertised fares:
Cruise A: $2,500
Cruise B: $3,200
Cruise A appears to be the obvious bargain.
But what happens if Cruise A doesn’t include the beverage package, Wi-Fi, and gratuities you already know you want—while Cruise B does?
Suddenly, that $700 difference may disappear.
The same thing happens when comparing a mainstream suite experience with a more inclusive luxury cruise.
Rather than asking:
“Which cruise has the lowest fare?”
I prefer asking:
“What will this vacation realistically cost me based on how I actually travel?”
That’s a much more useful comparison.
How to Build a Realistic Cruise Budget
Before booking, think beyond the cruise fare and consider the entire vacation.
Your budget might include:
Cruise fare, including taxes and port fees
Gratuities
Beverage package
Wi-Fi
Specialty dining
Shore excursions
Spa or onboard activities
Pre- or post-cruise hotel
Transportation to the port
Airfare, when needed
Travel insurance
Personal spending
You won’t necessarily need every item on that list.
The goal isn’t to add every possible expense.
It’s to identify your likely expenses before you compare your options.
That gives you a much clearer picture of what your vacation will actually cost.
So, Is Cruising Really a Good Value?
It certainly can be.
Think about what you’re combining into one vacation:
Your hotel travels with you. Your meals are largely covered. Entertainment is waiting for you every night. There are activities throughout the day. And while you’re sleeping, the ship is transporting you to your next destination.
You can spend very little beyond the base fare—or build a highly customized vacation with upgraded dining, drinks, excursions, spa treatments, and other experiences.
That’s one of the things I enjoy most about cruising.
There’s no single right way to do it.
The key is understanding what you’re paying for and choosing the cruise line, ship, fare, and extras that fit the way you want to travel.
Choosing the Right Cruise Fare for You
Cruise pricing can feel complicated because you’re not simply choosing a ship and a cabin anymore.
You’re choosing between fare types, packages, amenities, dining options, beverage programs, Wi-Fi plans, and dozens of other variables.
And the cheapest option on the screen isn’t necessarily the one I’d recommend.
When I help clients compare cruises, I’m looking at the entire vacation—not just the advertised fare. That means considering what you actually want included, which upgrades you’ll use, and where spending a little more upfront might ultimately provide better value.
My goal isn’t to find you the cheapest cruise. It’s to help you find the cruise that makes the most sense for you.
If you’d like help comparing your options and understanding what your cruise will really cost, I’d be happy to help.
Ready to start planning?
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