What's Typically Included
Most cruise fares include your cabin accommodation, all meals in the main dining room and buffet restaurant, room service (basic items), entertainment including theatre shows, live music, and comedy, use of the pool, gym, and most onboard facilities, port calls and the use of tender boats where needed, and kids' clubs (on family-friendly ships). This represents excellent value — you are getting accommodation, food, and entertainment for one price.
What's Usually Extra
The most common extras are: alcoholic and premium non-alcoholic drinks, specialty restaurants (typically £25-50 per person), shore excursions (£30-200+ per excursion), Wi-Fi packages (£8-20 per day), spa treatments and salon services, photos taken by the ship's photographers, gratuities/service charges (£10-15 per person per day on most lines), and laundry services. These extras can add up, so it is important to budget for them.
All-Inclusive Options
Several cruise lines now offer all-inclusive or semi-inclusive fares. MSC Cruises' all-inclusive packages include drinks, Wi-Fi, and gratuities. Celebrity Cruises' Always Included fare bundles drinks, Wi-Fi, and tips. P&O Cruises sometimes offers drinks-inclusive promotions. Virgin Voyages includes all restaurants, basic drinks, tips, and Wi-Fi. When comparing cruise prices, always check what is included — a higher fare that includes drinks and tips may actually work out cheaper than a lower fare plus extras.
How to Compare Fairly
When comparing cruise fares, add up the total cost including service charges, drinks packages, and any must-have extras for a fair comparison. A £699 fare with £15/day gratuities added equals £804 for a 7-night cruise. A £799 fare with gratuities included is actually cheaper. At CompareCruises, we show you what is included in each fare so you can compare like for like.