Are Cruises All-inclusive? What to Know Before You Book

While cruises are often grouped into the all-inclusive vacation category, exact inclusions can vary by line — and it’s important that you know exactly what you’re getting before you book. “The question most people ask when booking their first cruise vacation is, ‘What is included in my base cruise fare?’ The answer is relatively simple: food, drinks, entertainment, kids/teens clubs, and recreational activities,” says Nikki Kennedy, a travel advisor at Marvelous Mouse Travels. “However,” she adds, “it truly depends on the cruise line.”

Ahead, we’ve tapped several cruise advisors to weigh in — and we’ve rounded up our favorite all-inclusive cruise lines and tips for picking the best one to suit your specific travel preferences.

What is included on a cruise?

As we mentioned above, inclusions vary by cruise line. Travel + Leisure A-list advisor Mary Curry explains, “As a general rule, small-ship cruises tend to be more inclusive than large ships. Often, they will include the shore excursions and even, on many, the alcohol on board.” In some cases, extra perks like gratuities and Wi-Fi are included.

Meanwhile, mainstream mega-ship ocean lines like Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Carnival Cruise Line offer excellent value since they include meals (usually excluding specialty dining), accommodations, and select onboard entertainment, activities, and facilities (including kids clubs). Many aren’t technically all-inclusive; however, per Jennifer Travis, another travel advisor at Marvelous Mouse Travels, passengers can upgrade their vacation package or purchase add-ons in advance that include perks like drinks, specialty dining, or Wi-Fi, to name a few.

What is not typically included on a cruise?

While specifics will vary depending on the cruise line, Travis notes that many “do not include beverages (soda, tea, coffee, wine, spirits, etc.), specialty restaurants, Wi-Fi, or gratuities as part of the base cost of the cruise.” That said, she says that Virgin Voyages is among the only large-ship lines that include “non-alcoholic beverages, Wi-Fi, gratuities, and all restaurants as part of the base fare package.”

When it comes to small-ship cruise lines, Curry explains that it’s optional services, such as “premium alcohol, laundry, travel insurance, or satellite telephone,” that aren’t typically included since “only a select number of guests onboard” will utilize them.

On the contrary, “Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruise Line, and Princess Cruise Lines all offer upgrade packages that come with an additional cost that you can add on to your cruise and pay over time so that you have more of an all-inclusive package by the time you board the ship.” Also, says Travis, other cruise lines, “such as Royal Caribbean and Carnival offer a la carte options such as beverages packages, Wi-Fi, and more that can be purchased after you book your cruise.” Meanwhile, Kennedy is quick to note that room service and evening childcare may also cost extra, depending on the line. Spa treatments cost extra, too.

All-inclusive Cruise Lines

Although they are typically more expensive, all-inclusive cruises provide excellent value and peace of mind for cruisers. Ahead, we’ve rounded up our favorite all-inclusive cruise lines, plus a few mega-ship lines that offer comprehensive add-on packages.

Silversea

According to Curry, luxury cruise line Silversea “allows travelers to choose the fare category that best matches their desired inclusions from Door to Door to Essential (cruise only – excursions not included).” The former is among what she deems “the most inclusive in the industry” since fares include flights, a pre-cruise hotel stay, airport transfers, gratuities, a menu of shore excursions, gourmet dining, complimentary beverages, and butler service.

AmaWaterways

AmaWaterways is among Curry’s favorite all-inclusive river cruise lines since the company includes a selection of shore excursions in each port. “This is great for travelers who want a lot of variety as they can choose between foodie experiences, hiking, biking, traditional city tours, gondola rides, canal cruises, and more without having to weigh the costs,” she says. “I find that encourages travelers to choose the excursions that most interest them rather than feeling constrained to basic city tours included and having to pay extra for everything else.” Some alcoholic beverages are included, too, depending on the itinerary.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, or Uniworld for short, is known for its all-inclusive sailings across four continents. Guests enjoy unlimited premium wine and spirits, fantastic farm-to-table fare, and a selection of curated excursions, including private after-hours tours of popular attractions along with hiking, cycling, kayaking, and golfing activities. Back on board, passengers enjoy ship-wide Wi-Fi, entertainment and enrichment offerings, fitness center access, and wellness classes. Gratuities and airport transfers are also included.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Small-ship luxury line Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers premium all-inclusive fares that come with a slew of perks, including unlimited shore excursions, unlimited alcoholic beverages, specialty dining, Wi-Fi, gratuities, valet laundry service, and more, plus included one-night pre-cruise hotel stays and butler service for guests staying in certain room categories.

Viking

Viking offers adults-only cruises to destinations around the world. Voyages include one complimentary shore excursion in every port of call; Wi-Fi; 24-hour coffees, teas, and bottled water; beer, wine, and soft drinks with onboard lunch and dinner; specialty dining; and lectures and entertainment.

Virgin Voyages

As previously mentioned, Virgin Voyages offers a slew of amenities included in the standard cruise fare, including access to all on-site restaurants (some of which would be considered specialty dining on other lines), as well as group fitness classes, Wi-Fi, gratuities, and what the company calls “essential drinks” (like coffee, tea, soda, and water). The onboard entertainment offerings — which run the gamut from live music to themed parties to acrobatic performances — add to the fun.

Ponant

French cruise line Ponant offers luxury sailings across the globe, and, according to Curry, many sailings include dining, alcoholic beverages, unlimited Wi-Fi, and excursions on certain itineraries. 

Honorable Mentions: Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises

“Norwegian Cruise Lines and Princess Cruises are my two favorite cruise lines when it comes to cruisers looking for that all-inclusive experience,” says Travis. She’s quick to call out Norwegian’s Free At Sea promotion, which includes an unlimited open bar, up to $180 in specialty dining savings, shore excursion credits, Wi-Fi, free third and fourth guests, and two-for-one airfare. Per the pro, “This is a huge value to consider for any cruiser.”

Additionally, Travis explains that Princess has a similar offer with its Princess Premier package upgrade. For an additional $80 per person per day, the package includes Wi-Fi on up to four devices, alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, gratuities, two specialty meals per sailing, unlimited premium desserts, room service, and fitness center access. This, she says, “makes the cruise experience as close to all-inclusive as possible.”

Tips for Picking the Best All-inclusive Cruise

Consider your travel style.

To narrow down the best all-inclusive cruise to suit your needs, Curry recommends considering not only your travel style but also the “relative value you place on flexibility, convenience, independence, budget, and experience.” For example, “Some all-inclusive lines may require you to choose your shore excursions in advance while others will have more flexibility to book these onboard.” Similarly, while some have a large range of choices, others may only include one to two excursion options. 

Factor in your non-negotiables.

What are your non-negotiables on a cruise? Ask yourself which amenities are most important to you and narrow down your options from there. For example, in Kennedy’s case, she prioritizes complimentary kids club access since she has three young children. Another person may prioritize included specialty dining or alcoholic beverages, which, per the advisor, can add up quickly.

Reach out to an expert.

Combing through the different choices can feel overwhelming, so consider reaching out to an experienced travel advisor. Curry especially recommends finding “an agent who represents a wide variety of options in an area” so that they can “truly provide objective advice tailored toward your specific interests.”