All Inclusive Cruises and What Cruising Really Costs
What fares include, what costs extra, and how to compare an inclusive line with an a la carte one.
Get an All-In Cruise QuoteAll Inclusive Cruises and the Real Cost of Cruising
Cruise fares look simple until you add everything up. Some lines sell all inclusive cruises where drinks, Wi-Fi, tips and even excursions are in the fare; others keep the fare low and sell those things separately. Neither model is a trick, but they are hard to compare. This site lays out what each kind of line includes, so you can see what cruising costs at cost — before anything is added on board.
We do not publish prices, because fares change daily. Instead, we explain the structure: what a fare covers, what usually costs extra, which lines bundle what, and a simple way to compare an inclusive fare with an a la carte one for the way you actually travel.
Three Ways Cruise Lines Price a Voyage
| Model | Typical examples | What the fare usually covers |
|---|---|---|
| A la carte | Most mainstream lines | Cabin, main restaurants and buffet, entertainment, pools; drinks, Wi-Fi, specialty dining, excursions and daily gratuities extra |
| Included or bundled fare | Virgin Voyages, Viking, Celebrity Cruises’s All Included fare, Norwegian’s More At Sea | Some combination of drinks, Wi-Fi, dining or excursions, depending on the line and fare |
| All-inclusive luxury | Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, Seabourn, Explora Journeys | Most drinks, Wi-Fi, all dining and gratuities; some also excursions or flights |
Inclusions change. Lines revise what their fares include, sometimes by market and fare type. We describe what each line publishes at the time of writing; always confirm the inclusions on your own quote before you book.
What You Will Find Here
All inclusive cruises explained
What “all-inclusive” means at sea, the levels of inclusion, and what is almost never included.
Best all inclusive cruises
Line by line, what the most inclusive fares contain, from Virgin Voyages to Regent Seven Seas.
All inclusive cruises 2027
Inclusions have changed recently. What to check when booking for 2027.
Total cost of a cruise
Every component of the bill, from fare and port charges to gratuities and the flight.
How much does a cruise really cost?
A cost-per-day method for comparing any two cruises fairly.
Inclusive vs a la carte
Side by side: which model suits which kind of cruiser.
Who Pays Less on Each Model?
Light drinkers, families with young children and travelers who explore ports independently often pay less on an a la carte line: they simply do not buy what an inclusive fare bundles. Couples who enjoy a cocktail before dinner, wine with every meal, a specialty restaurant or two and an organised tour in each port often find an inclusive fare competitive, and they enjoy not signing for every drink.
The only way to know is to compare totals for your own habits. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise do this every day.
Why “At Cost” Matters
Two cruises with similar fares can end with very different bills. One line may add a daily service charge per guest, sell Wi-Fi by the day and charge for every soda; another may fold all of that into the fare. Looking only at the headline number rewards the line that leaves the most out. Looking at cost per day, with your own habits, rewards the cruise that really suits you. That is the comparison this site is built around.
Advice Without the Fine Print
Cruising at Cost is part of the Smart Traveler network, led by Mister Cruise. He has sold travel since 1972 and worked full-time in the industry since 1977. He has sold or originated more than $500 million in cruises and has trained more than 500 travel agents.
Ask for a quote and our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will show the full cost — fare, taxes and fees, gratuities and the extras you plan to use — and book everything for you. Not a call center. Meet Mister Cruise →
For extra questions about tips, drink packages and Wi-Fi, our sister site Ask the Cruise Specialists answers them one by one. For live promotions, see Cruising for Less and Wave Season, or join the Mister Cruise cruise-offers newsletter.
Cruise Costs: Quick Answers
Are all inclusive cruises really all-inclusive?
Rarely completely. Even the most inclusive lines charge for some things, such as spa treatments, premium wines or certain excursions. The word describes a range, not a promise.
Is an all-inclusive cruise cheaper overall?
It depends on how you cruise. If you would buy drinks, Wi-Fi and excursions anyway, bundled fares can work out well; if you would not, an a la carte fare may cost less. Our cost-per-day method shows how to compare.
Why don’t you show prices?
Fares change constantly, and a printed price would mislead. Ask our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise for a current, all-in quote through the free quote form.
What is never included?
Travel to the ship is usually extra unless your fare says otherwise, and so are personal spending, travel insurance and anything bought ashore.
Get an All-In Quote, Not Just a Fare
Tell us how you like to cruise. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will compare an inclusive line and an a la carte line for your dates, with every cost shown. Free.
Compare My Options