What is included in a cruise fare, and what costs extra
Where the headline price stops and the extras begin, so you can compare cruises fairly.
The advertised price is a starting point. To compare cruises fairly, work out what each fare covers.
Usually included
- Your cabin and daily cabin service
- Meals in the main restaurant and the buffet
- Most entertainment, such as theatre shows and live music
- Use of pools, gym and many public areas
Often extra
- Drinks, other than water, tea and coffee at some meals
- Speciality restaurants
- Wi-Fi
- Shore excursions
- Spa treatments
- Gratuities or a daily service charge
- Travel insurance
- Flights and transfers on fly-cruises
- Port charges and taxes on some quoted prices
How to compare
- Ask whether the price you are shown includes taxes and port charges.
- Find out whether tips or a service charge are added.
- Decide whether you want a drinks package, and add its cost to the price.
- Work out how you will get to the ship, and home again.
- Put the extras you are sure to use next to the fare, then compare the totals.
All-inclusive is not all the same
Some lines bundle in drinks, tips or Wi-Fi. What is covered, and for how long each day, can differ. Read the small print for your booking instead of relying on the label.
Our deals page shows the price per person and the date we last checked it.