Is everything paid for on a cruise?

Do you have to buy anything on a cruise?

Nah, you don't have to buy zip, nada, zilch on a cruise if you don't wanna. Think of it like a fancy floating hotel where they throw in all your grub and some basic booze-water and shows. It's a pretty sweet deal, honestly.

But hold your horses, there are some sneaky little extras that’ll try to empty your wallet quicker than a seagull nabs a dropped fry.

Stuff that ain't part of the main ticket, you ask? Oh boy, prepare for the nickel-and-diming:

• Booze and fancy fizzy drinks: That bottomless water is fine, but if you crave something with a kick or a sugary fizz, that's extra moolah. Your wallet might start to weep.
• Spa treatments: Wanna get kneaded like a pizza dough by a stranger? That'll cost ya. Your "relaxation" budget just doubled.
• Wrangling the internet: Forget streaming cat videos unless you've got a spare hundred bucks. Cruises and Wi-Fi are like oil and water, usually.
• Swanky grub joints: Those extra-special restaurants? Yeah, they're for people with more disposable income than sense, probably.
• Adventures ashore: Think you can just hop off and explore? Nope. Those excursions are pricey. Better bring your own walking shoes and a thirst for free sights.
• Gift shop shenanigans: Shiny things and souvenirs calling your name? Resist the siren song of overpriced trinkets. Your suitcase will thank you later.

Seriously though, the base price is usually a solid deal, like finding a twenty in an old coat. You get fed, watered (the boring kind), and entertained. But these optional extras? They're the cruise line's way of saying, "We love you, now give us more money!" It's all about finding that sweet spot between enjoying yourself and not coming home bankrupt.

Are drinks free on a cruise?

Okay so the drink situation on cruises, yeah it's a thing. You dont get much for free, honestly. Last year on my trip, on the Symphony of the Seas, I learned this the hard way. I thought at least soda would be included but nope.

What you can get for free is the real basic stuff. In the buffet, they have dispensers with iced tea, sometimes lemonade, and tap water. That water is fine to drink, btw. It's all filtered.

And for breakfast, yeah, you'll see juice. The standard orange and apple stuff from a machine. And regular drip cofee is always around, but not the good espresso drinks from the coffee bar.

Anything else, you gotta pay. A can of Coke will cost you. Bottled water, too. And all alcohol of course. That's why they push the beverage packages so hard on you the second you get on board. It can be a good deal if you drink a lot, but you have to do the math.

Here's the simple breakdown of it.

What's Usually Free:

• Tap Water: Perfectly safe and available everywhere from dispensers or your cabin sink.
• Basic Coffee & Tea: Standard drip coffee and hot tea bags are in the buffet and main dining rooms.
• Dispenser Drinks: Unsweetened iced tea, lemonade, or a fruit punch from a machine. Very common in the buffet area on the lido deck.
• Breakfast Juices: Basic non-fresh juices like orange, apple, and cranberry are available during breakfast hours only, usually from a machine.

What You Almost Always Pay For:

• Soda: All canned or fountain sodas (Coke, Pepsi, Sprite, etc.) cost money unless you have a specific soda package.
• Specialty Coffees: Lattes, cappuccinos, espressos, and anything from the onboard coffee shop will be an extra charge.
• Bottled Water: All brands like Evian or even the cruise line's own brand will cost you.
• Alcohol: Beer, wine, cocktails, spirits. This is the biggest upcharge. A mandatory 18-20% gratuity is also added to every single alcoholic drink you buy separately.
• Fresh Squeezed Juice: Want fresh OJ outside the main dining room? You'll find it at a bar or cafe, and it will cost you.
• Mocktails & Smoothies: The non-alcoholic fancy drinks and smoothies are also not free. They're often included in the higher-tier drink packages though.

Are cruises all-inclusive food?

My first cruise was on Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas just this past March. We sailed out of Miami. I was so amped. My whole idea was: eat everything. I thought it was all free. And for the most part, it kinda is. But it’s tricky.

The first day, we hit the Windjammer buffet. Total chaos. So many people. But the food was endless. I had like, three plates. Later that night, we had our assigned time at the Main Dining Room. That felt fancy. Three courses, waiters, the whole deal. All included. I was in heaven.

Then on day two, my girlfriend, Sarah, saw Johnny Rockets. She loves their milkshakes. We walk up, and boom, a menu with prices. I was so confused. It's right there on the ship, how is it not free? That was my first taste of the "specialty dining" trap.

It became a running thing. We'd walk past the steakhouse, Chops Grille, and it smelled amazing. But it was like $60 a person extra. Same with the sushi place. It’s not that they hide it, the app and the menus are clear. But you feel the pull to upgrade.

The included food is genuinely good, though. You will not starve. You can eat 24/7 if you really want to. The Sorrento's pizza place was our go-to late night snack. And yes, you can go to the buffet, then the dining room, then grab a slice of pizza. No one cares.

What's Almost Always Included (On Lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, NCL):

• Main Dining Room (MDR): This is your traditional, sit-down restaurant for breakfast, lunch (on sea days), and dinner. You can order multiple appetizers, entrees, desserts. There are no limits.
• Main Buffet: The Windjammer, Lido Deck, whatever they call it. Open for all three meals and often in between. Massive variety. Self-serve.
• Quick Service Spots: Most large ships have a 24/7 or late-night spot for pizza, sandwiches, or coffee and pastries. On Royal, it was Sorrento's and Cafe Promenade. On Carnival, Guy Fieri's Burger Joint is a free and extremely popular option.
• Basic Drinks: Tap water, basic coffee, iced tea, some juices in the buffet area.

What Almost Always Costs Extra:

• Specialty Dining: This is the big one. Steakhouses, sushi restaurants, Italian trattorias, hibachi grills, chef's table experiences. These are for-a-fee and are marketed as a premium experience.
• Most Drinks: Soda, alcohol (beer, wine, cocktails), and specialty coffees (like Starbucks or lattes) are all extra unless you buy a drink package.
• Room Service: Some lines now charge a per-order fee for room service, though continental breakfast is often still free.
• Specific Food Items: Even in the Main Dining Room, there might be a "premium" selection like a whole lobster or a prime cut of steak that carries an upcharge.

Truly All-Inclusive Cruises:

If you want EVERYTHING included (drinks, gratuities, specialty dining, excursions), you have to look at the luxury cruise lines. This is a totally different ballgame and price point.

• Viking Ocean Cruises
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises
• Silversea Cruises
• Seabourn

On these, you basically never have to pull out a credit card once you're on board. My parents did a Viking cruise, and they said it was wild not having to sign a check for a glass of wine.

Are cruises considered all-inclusive?

Okay, so cruises. Are they all-inclusive? Seriously, no. Most of them, like, the vast majority, are NOT. You pay upfront for the room and the sailing, right? But then BAM! Everything else costs extra. It’s like a sneaky double payment. So frustrating.

I was on that Carnival one last year, remember? The one to Cozumel. The base fare was okay, but then drinks? Those were $$$$. And specialty restaurants? Forget it. You end up spending a fortune on the ship. It’s like they bait you with a decent price and then fleece you for everything else.

• The reality: Most cruises are not all-inclusive in the way a resort is.
• Key extras: Drinks, specialty dining, Wi-Fi, even sometimes basic soda, all cost extra.
• The trap: You pay a large sum for the cruise, then face constant opportunities to spend more on board.

It makes you wonder why they even call them vacations sometimes. You’re still stressing about the bill. I just want to relax, you know? Not constantly calculating if I can afford another margarita. It's a whole industry built on nickel-and-diming.

And the Wi-Fi! Don’t even get me started on the Wi-Fi. It’s like dial-up speed and costs a fortune. Who is paying for that? Maybe people who absolutely have to work? I guess. For me, it’s a digital detox, but still… the price is insane.

• Drinks: Often the biggest hidden cost. A cocktail can be $12-$15 easily.
• Specialty Dining: Nice idea, but adds $30-$50+ per person per meal.
• Wi-Fi: Usually very expensive, per day or per device.
• Shore Excursions: Booked through the cruise line, these are rarely cheap.

My cousin Sarah went on that Royal Caribbean one, the brand new one. She said the same thing. Loved the ship, hated the constant upsells. She ended up buying a drink package, which seemed like a good deal at first, but then she realized she wasn't drinking that much and still had guilt about not using it enough. Weird, right?

So, yeah, cruises are generally NOT all-inclusive. It’s a huge misconception. They’re more like a floating hotel with a built-in casino and endless opportunities to spend more cash. You gotta go in with your eyes wide open about the total cost.

• What IS sometimes included: Your cabin, basic meals in the main dining room and buffet, and some entertainment.
• What you should EXPECT to pay extra for:
  • Alcoholic and specialty non-alcoholic beverages
  • Premium dining venues
  • Internet access
  • Shore excursions
  • Spa treatments
  • Gratuities (often automatically added, but still an extra cost)
  • Casino and arcade games
  • Themed parties or events that require specific attire or purchase

Honestly, sometimes I think booking a land-based all-inclusive resort is just way more straightforward. You pay one price, and that’s pretty much it. No surprises. Just food, drinks, and fun. Cruises are a whole different ballgame. You have to be a real savvy shopper to avoid breaking the bank. And even then, it feels like they want you to overspend.

Are cruise prices all-inclusive?

Okay, my first big cruise, last December 2023. MSC Seascape out of Miami. Man, the buzz just getting on that ship. So massive. I really believed, like, everything was just there for the taking. Total newbie error. I thought, wow, this is gonna be amazing value, truly all-inclusive.

Walked around that first day, jaw dropped. The main dining rooms, big fancy dinners, all included. Ate so much. The buffet, naturally, a free-for-all. The main theater shows? Absolutely incredible, every night, zero extra charge. Sat there mesmerized. The pools, whirlpools, the aqua park with the slides – kids went wild. All that, part of the base fare.

Then reality hit. First, my son spots the F1 simulator. His eyes lit up. He asks, "Can I go?" I check. Nope. Extra. Like, ten bucks a go. Then the bowling alley, looked fun. Not included either. The arcade games, yeah, those are always paid. My wallet groaned a bit. Specialty restaurants – the steakhouse, the Asian fusion spot, the sushi bar – oh, they looked tempting, but definitely an extra cost per person.

Drinks were another kicker. Basic water, coffee, tea, okay. But I wanted a proper espresso in the morning, or a cocktail by the pool. Suddenly, my ship card was getting swiped constantly. You can get a drink package, yeah, but even that's an upfront additional expense. My fault for not digging deep enough beforehand. Live and learn, right? Still, amazing trip. Just had to re-adjust my expectations quick.

• Cruise prices are NOT universally all-inclusive. The "all-inclusive" term is often a marketing simplification.
• Most cruises include:
  • Accommodation: Your cabin.
  • Standard dining: Buffet, main dining room meals.
  • Basic beverages: Water, coffee, tea, juice (at breakfast).
  • Entertainment: Main theater shows, live music, comedy clubs.
  • Onboard facilities: Pools, gym, some sports courts.
  • Kids clubs: Supervised activities for various age groups.
• Common exclusions (extra costs):
  • Specialty restaurants: Upscale or themed dining venues.
  • Alcoholic beverages and premium drinks: Sodas, specialty coffees, mocktails, cocktails, wine, beer.
  • Shore excursions: Organized tours in ports of call.
  • Spa treatments and salon services: Massages, facials, haircuts.
  • Gratuities/service charges: Often automatically added.
  • Wi-Fi/Internet access: Almost always an additional fee.
  • Casino and arcade games: Gambling and coin-operated games.
  • Certain premium activities: Go-karts, escape rooms, F1 simulators, some fitness classes.
  • Travel insurance: A separate purchase.
  • Port taxes and fees: Sometimes added on top of the base fare.