What Your Cruise Fare Actually Covers (and What It Doesn't)

The advertised cruise price covers less than most first-time cruisers expect. Think of it as the cover charge, not the whole bill. Knowing exactly what is included — and what is not — before you book means no surprises when your final onboard account arrives on the last morning. Here is a clear rundown.

What's Included in Your Fare

Your cabin. Whatever category you book, your cabin comes with a bed, bathroom, closet, safe, television, and basic toiletries. Daily housekeeping is included. A stocked minibar and premium toiletries are not.

The main dining room. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner with table service, a changing daily menu, and no extra charge. Quality varies by cruise line, but it is always included and always a full meal.

The buffet. Casual, self-serve dining available for most of the day, including basic beverages like coffee, tea, juice, and water at both the buffet and dining room.

Entertainment. Stage shows, live music, comedy, movies, and deck parties are all part of your fare. Only special add-ons like VIP seating or backstage experiences cost extra.

Kids' programming. If you are travelling with grandchildren, supervised children's activities are included on family-friendly lines during standard daytime and evening hours.

The gym, pool, and hot tubs. The main fitness centre, jogging track, and swimming areas are free to use. Specialty fitness classes and personal training carry an extra charge, as do adults-only retreat areas.

What Costs Extra

Gratuities. An automatic daily service charge, usually $16 to $20 per person per day, covering your cabin steward and dining staff. Best left in place rather than removed.

Alcohol and specialty drinks. Beer, wine, cocktails, and specialty coffee are billed separately unless you are on an all-inclusive line. Unlimited drink packages exist but rarely pay for themselves unless you drink quite a lot every single day.

Specialty restaurants. A steakhouse, sushi bar, or other premium dining venue usually carries a $30 to $75 per person cover charge, on top of your fare.

Wi-Fi. Internet access is billed separately on most mainstream lines, typically $18 to $26 per device, per day.

Shore excursions. Cruise line tours are convenient and come with a guarantee the ship will wait if you run late, but they cost more than arranging a similar tour independently at the port.

Spa treatments and photos. Massages, salon visits, and professional photography are priced well above what you would pay on land.

Medical care. The ship's medical centre bills for every visit, medication, and treatment, much like a private clinic. This is exactly why travel insurance with solid medical coverage matters — OHIP does not cover you once you are outside Canada, and shipboard medical fees add up quickly.

Laundry. Self-service and valet laundry are both billed per load or per item.

What "All-Inclusive" Really Means

Some cruise lines advertise themselves as all-inclusive, but the term covers different things depending on the line:

• Luxury lines typically include all meals, all drinks, gratuities, Wi-Fi, and most excursions in the fare, though the sticker price is several times higher than mainstream lines.
• Premium lines include meals, wine and beer with lunch and dinner, gratuities, and Wi-Fi, with excursions priced separately.
• River cruise lines are usually the most inclusive of all, bundling meals, drinks, and excursions into one upfront price.
• Mainstream lines — the largest and most common — include only the basics described above, with everything else billed as you go.

A Sample Budget

For a typical seven-night mainstream cruise, per person, in US dollars: base fare around $700, gratuities around $126, drinks around $280, Wi-Fi around $140, one specialty dinner around $50, and one shore excursion around $80 — bringing a realistic total closer to $1,400, roughly double the advertised fare.

The Bottom Line

Reading the fine print before you book, rather than after your final bill arrives, is the simplest way to avoid an unpleasant surprise. Know what is included, decide which extras are worth it to you, and budget for the rest before you ever step on the gangway.