What is included with my cruise fare?
(Royal Caribbean & Celebrity Edition)
If you’ve been cruise-curious for a while, you’ve probably wondered: “Okay, but what exactly do I get for the price of my cruise?” It’s a fair question. With resorts, hotels, and airlines constantly piling on extra fees, the idea of a vacation where most things are bundled into one price sounds almost too good to be true. But here’s the thing: cruising is different.
When you book a Royal Caribbean or Celebrity cruise, you’re paying for more than just a place to sleep—you’re paying for an entire experience wrapped up in one tidy package. Let’s break down what’s actually included so you know exactly what you’re getting (and what you might want to budget a little extra for).
Your Floating Hotel Room (With an Ocean View Bonus)
The most obvious thing included in your fare is your stateroom—your home base for the trip. Whether you choose an interior cabin, an ocean view, a balcony, or a suite, your room is fully included in the price. Daily housekeeping is part of the deal too, and yes, they even do fun little touches like towel animals.
Unlike a hotel, your “room” also happens to float you from one destination to another while you sleep. You wake up each morning in a new port, ready to explore, without ever repacking a suitcase. Try getting that deal on land!
All Your Meals (and Then Some)
Food is one of the best parts of cruising, and your fare covers a lot of it.
Royal Caribbean: Included dining covers the Main Dining Room (multi-course, sit-down meals every evening), the Windjammer Marketplace buffet, Café Promenade for snacks and coffee, Sorrento’s Pizza, and usually a grab-and-go option or two. There’s no limit—you can eat as much as you want, whenever you want.
Celebrity Cruises: Expect a more elevated, modern-luxury approach. The Main Dining Room (sometimes split into multiple themed restaurants, depending on the ship), Oceanview Café buffet, Mast Grill for poolside bites, and 24-hour room service (with some late-night delivery fees) are all included.
From breakfast to midnight snacks, you’ll never go hungry. Specialty restaurants—think steakhouses, French bistros, or sushi bars—do cost extra, but they’re totally optional.
Entertainment (More Than You Can Do in a Week)
Here’s where cruising really shines. Every single night you’ll find professional entertainment included in your fare.
Royal Caribbean: Think Broadway-style musicals, ice skating shows, high-energy aqua theater performances, comedy acts, live music, parades, and even outdoor movies by the pool.
Celebrity: Expect sleek productions with live music, dance, aerialists, comedy shows, and intimate lounges with everything from jazz trios to acoustic guitarists.
The best part? It’s all included. No tickets to buy, no extra charge, no “sorry, we’re sold out.” Just show up and enjoy.
Activities for All Ages
Daytime on a cruise ship is never boring, and so many activities are part of your fare.
On Royal Caribbean: You can climb rock walls, zip down waterslides, go ice skating, mini-golf, play trivia, join dance classes, or just relax by the pool. Most of the big thrills (like FlowRider surf simulators or bumper cars) are included too.
On Celebrity: Activities lean more toward enrichment and relaxation—think wine tastings, art classes, cooking demos, glassblowing shows (on certain ships), trivia, and outdoor spaces like the Rooftop Garden or Lawn Club.
Whether you want adrenaline or zen, it’s already baked into your cruise fare.
Kids and Teens Programs
Parents, rejoice! Both lines include supervised programs for kids and teens at no extra cost.
Royal Caribbean’s Adventure Ocean has age-specific clubs full of science experiments, games, arts and crafts, and even late-night group babysitting (after 10 p.m., that part has a small fee). Teens get their own lounges with video games, music, and plenty of hang-out space.
Celebrity’s Camp at Sea rotates activities constantly, from STEM projects to sports and art. Teens get their own spaces too, complete with events and activities designed just for them.
It’s a win-win: kids are entertained and safe while parents sneak off for spa time or cocktails.
Fitness and Wellness Options
Cruises aren’t all about food and naps—unless you want them to be! Your cruise fare also includes access to the ship’s fitness center, which is usually stocked with treadmills, bikes, weights, and sometimes gorgeous ocean views while you work out.
Group classes like spin or Pilates may cost extra, but yoga, stretching, and dance classes often pop up for free. Pools and hot tubs are always included, and both lines have adults-only solariums for a quieter escape.
Basic Beverages
Here’s one area that can confuse first-timers. On both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity, your fare includes:
Regular coffee and tea
Iced tea, lemonade, fruit punch, and flavored waters
Juice at breakfast
Water (not bottled)
Specialty coffees, soda, bottled water, fresh juices, mocktails, wine, beer, and cocktails are extra—but you can always add a drink package if that’s important to you.
Little Extras That Add Up
Don’t forget the small but mighty inclusions:
Room service breakfast (continental style) is usually free.
Daily entertainment schedules with events around the ship.
Port transportation (when needed, like a short shuttle from ship to port gate).
Friendly service—your stateroom attendant, dining staff, and crew are all part of the experience and included in the fare.
What’s Not Included (But Good to Know)
To set realistic expectations, here are the main things not included in your base fare:
Alcoholic beverages and specialty coffees
Gratuities (unless prepaid or included in a promotion)
Wi-Fi packages
Specialty dining restaurants
Shore excursions in ports
Spa treatments and fitness classes like Pilates or spin
Photos and souvenirs
These are all optional extras, so you can spend as little—or as much—as you like on them.
Final Thoughts
The beauty of cruising with Royal Caribbean or Celebrity is that your fare covers the big essentials: your room, all your meals in the main dining venues, entertainment every night, pools and fitness centers, kids’ programs, and endless daily activities. Unlike land vacations where you’re constantly whipping out your wallet for food, shows, and fun, a cruise bundles all of that into one upfront price.
So when you hear people ask, “But what’s actually included in the price of a cruise?”—the answer is simple: a lot more than you think. And with the right planning (that’s where I come in!), you can decide if you want to stick to all the included fun or splurge a little for extras like specialty dining, cocktails, or a dreamy spa day.
Either way, you’ll never feel nickel-and-dimed, and you’ll come home with memories that are priceless.