Cruise Clarity — Onboard Cost Reference

Gratuities · Wi-Fi · Specialty Dining · Drinks Packages · 7-Night Total Extra Cost · All major lines

Independent · No affiliate links · Data compiled by a former cruise ship Purser’s Office staff member · Reviewed quarterly

The advertised fare is only the starting point. This independent reference shows what every major cruise line actually charges once you're on board: gratuities, Wi-Fi, drinks packages, specialty dining and service surcharges, plus the real 7-night extra cost for two people, so you can compare like for like before you book.

This is a reference table. Want to calculate your specific cruise? Enter your fare, nights and preferences for a personalised total.

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⚠️ Show why these costs matter — the 5 biggest surprise charges ▼

Most cruise fares look reasonable until you board. These five charges appear on virtually every mainstream ship's onboard account — and most passengers don't see them coming.

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Daily Gratuities
Gratuities are added automatically — $16–$20 per person, per day. On a 7-night cruise for two that's $224–$280 before you order a single drink. Some lines include them; most don't.
Read the full gratuities breakdown →
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Wi-Fi Is Per Device
Wi-Fi is charged per device, not per cabin — so a couple who each connect a phone pays double. Onboard rates also run 20–40% higher than pre-cruise prices.
Read the full Wi-Fi breakdown →
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Drinks Package Gratuity
Drinks packages add an 18–20% gratuity on top — automatically. A $100/day package becomes $118–$120 per person; over 7 nights for two, that's an extra $252–$280.
Read the full drinks-package breakdown →
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Specialty Dining Cover Charge
Specialty restaurants charge a cover even when dining is "included" — typically $40–$75 per person, per visit.
Read the full dining breakdown →
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Spa Service Charge
Spa treatments carry an automatic 18–20% service charge. A $150 massage becomes $177–$180 before you leave the room — it's always in the small print.
Read the full spa breakdown →
Columns:
Cruise Line ⊕ Gratuities
per person / day 		Wi-Fi
per device / day 		Specialty Dining
cover charge / person 		Drinks Package
alcohol pkg / day (pre-cruise) 		Surcharge
on drinks / dining / spa 		7-Night Extra Cost
2 people · grats + Wi-Fi + drinks × 7

Tip: tick the ⊕ box on up to 3 cruise lines to compare them side by side.

Cruise Line ⊕ Gratuities
per person / day 		Wi-Fi
per device / day (pre-cruise) 		Specialty Dining
cover charge / person 		Drinks Package
alcohol pkg / day (pre-cruise) 		Surcharge
on drinks / dining / spa 		7-Night Extra Cost
2 people · grats + Wi-Fi + drinks × 7
🇺🇸  US / International
💳 Gratuities in this market: Auto-charged daily · $16–$25 per person · not included in advertised fare on most lines · Australian homeport sailings: not charged — tipping not culturally expected
Mainstream
Royal Caribbean $18.50 $21 suites $20–35 VOOM Surf+Stream · $39 onboard $35–60 Chops ~$46 · Chef's Table ~$90 $95 +18% grat on top Deluxe Bev Pkg mid · +18% grat on most sailings 18% Drinks · mini-bar · 20% spa $1,939 ($18.50+$25+$95)×7×2
Carnival $17 $19 suites $20–26 Social $20 · Value $24 · Premium $26 $20–45 JiJi $24 · Steakhouse ~$45 $83.94 grat included Cheers! incl 20% grat · $89.94 onboard 20% Drinks · specialty dining · spa $1,749 ($17+$24+$83.94)×7×2
Norwegian (NCL) ⚠️ Biggest Hidden Cost $20 $25 Haven / suites $30–40 Browse $30 · Streaming $40 $30–59 Cagney's ~$40 · Teppanyaki ~$39 $28.50 Free at Sea: pkg "free" but $28.50/day grat mandatory · standalone $109+20% 20% Drinks · specialty dining · spa $1,092 Free at Sea: drinks are "free", but the $28.50/day gratuity per person is mandatory — that's $399 for two over 7 nights, before you've bought anything else.
MSC Cruises $17 Caribbean · €12 Europe · $23 Yacht Club Caribbean 🇬🇧🇮🇪 UK & Ireland bookings: auto-gratuity removed entirely — not charged $16–21 Browse $16 · Stream $21 $25–50 Varies by ship $85 grat included Premium Extra 7+ nights · grat folded in 15% Individual drinks only · not on packages $1,680 ($17+$18+$85)×7×2
Disney Cruise Line $16 $27.25 Concierge $30–49 Browse $30 · Stream $49 $45–75 Palo $45 · Remy $75 No package Individual drinks only · no unlimited pkg 18% All bar purchases $644 ($16+$30)×7×2 — no drinks pkg
Add ~$60–80/day pp if drinking
Premium
Celebrity Cruises ⚠️ Watch the Surcharge $18 $19 AquaClass · $23 The Retreat $20–35 Basic $20 · Premium $27–35 $58–169 Fine Cut $58–67 · Chef's Table $135–169 $90 +20% grat on top Classic ~$85 · Premium ~$125 · +20% grat on top 20% Drinks · specialty dining · spa · room service $1,904 ($18+$28+$90)×7×2
+20% grat on pkg not included here
Princess Cruises 🔺 Gratuities raised Mar 2026 $18 $19 Mini-Suite · $20 Suites Japan sailings: still charged (crew appreciation, not a tip) $25–45 Classic $25 · Max $45 $35–115 Crown Grill $39 · Chef's Table $115 $76.69 grat included Plus Pkg ($64.99+18%) incl grat 20% Drinks · specialty dining · spa $1,677 ($18+$25+$76.69)×7×2
Holland America $18 $20 suites $20–29 $20–45 Pinnacle Grill $45 · Tamarind $30 $64.84 grat included Signature $54.95+18% all-in 20% Drinks · specialty dining $1,507 ($18+$25+$64.84)×7×2
Virgin Voyages $20 $22 onboard · from Oct 2025 ✓ Included Basic Wi-Fi incl · Premium ~$30/day ✓ Included All 20+ restaurants Bar Tab — unused credit lost $300 / $600 pre-purchase with bonus credits · leftover credit is forfeited, not refunded None No auto-surcharge $280 $20×7×2 — grats only
Wi-Fi & dining incl · drinks via Bar Tab
Premium Plus
Viking Ocean $20 +15% on bar tabs separately ✓ Included ✓ Included Wine/beer at meals incl Meals only · Silver Spirits ~$27/day adds spirits/cocktails anytime · both guests must buy 15% Bar tabs beyond inclusion $280 $20×7×2 — grats only
Wi-Fi, dining & drinks largely incl
Oceania Cruises ✓ Included Since Jan 2025 ✓ Included ✓ Included Prestige Select ~$30/day Non-alc always incl · wine/beer meals-only & only if chosen over excursion credit · spirits need Prestige 20% Bar purchases beyond inclusions $420 $30×7×2 — drinks upgrade only
Grats, Wi-Fi & dining all incl
Azamara ✓ Included $18–25 $49.95 Prime C & Aqualina · Veranda Plus: 1/cruise incl · suites: all incl Standard drinks incl (all day) Bars & lounges, not just meals · Premium ~$32/day · Ultimate ~$40/day ~18% Premium drinks above inclusion $308 $22×7×2 — Wi-Fi only
Grats & drinks largely incl
Windstar $16 Auto-added · not optional ~$35/day 1 device · cheaper voyage plans · Starlink ✓ Included Rare special dinners extra $99/day All-In pkg · or à la carte ~$10/drink +18% 18% $1,386 All-In $99×7×2 — incl. drinks, Wi-Fi & grats
Luxury / Ultra-Luxury
Regent Seven Seas 🏆 Most Inclusive Overall — Excursions Included ✓ Included ✓ Included ✓ Included ✓ Included None $0 Everything included in fare
Seabourn ✓ Included ✓ Included ✓ Included ✓ Included None $0 Everything included in fare
Silversea ✓ Included ✓ Included ✓ Included ✓ Included None $0 Everything included in fare
Crystal Cruises ✓ Included ✓ Included ✓ Included ✓ Included None $0 Everything included in fare
Ponant ✓ Included ✓ Included ✓ Included ✓ Included None $0 Everything included in fare
Explora Journeys ✓ Included MSC's luxury brand · global incl. US ✓ Included ✓ Included ✓ Included None $0 Everything included in fare
Expedition
Lindblad / Nat Geo ✓ Included ✓ Included Limited in polar regions — Wine & beer incl with meals Spirits extra ~18% ~$0 Grats & Wi-Fi incl · spirits extra
Quark Expeditions ~$15–18 $20–30 Limited polar coverage — ~$50 Packages vary by voyage ~15% $1,274 ($16+$25+$50)×7×2
Australian Homeport Sailings
Carnival Australia ✓ Included Not charged — tipping not expected A$20–30 A$25–45 A$90 Cheers! equiv incl service charge 20% A$1,610 (A$0+A$25+A$90)×7×2
Royal Caribbean (AU) ✓ Included Built into AU/NZ pricing A$20–35 A$40–65 A$115 Deluxe Bev Pkg mid 18% A$2,002 (A$0+A$28+A$115)×7×2
Princess Cruises (AU) ✓ Included Not charged on AU homeport sailings A$25–45 A$40–120 A$95 Plus package mid 20% A$1,820 (A$0+A$35+A$95)×7×2
🇬🇧  UK-Based
💳 Gratuities in this market: Mostly included in fare · P&O, Marella, Saga: no separate charge · Cunard charges in USD · Fred. Olsen: £5 discretionary
Mainstream
P&O Cruises (UK) ✓ Included Since 2019 £15–20 £20–45 £50 Classic package mid None P&O removed auto service charges on drinks £938 (£0+£17+£50)×7×2
Grats incl in fare
Marella (TUI) 🏆 Best UK Value ✓ Included £10–18 £15–35 Most dining included ✓ Included None £196 £14×7×2 — Wi-Fi only
Grats & drinks incl in fare
Ambassador Cruise Line £6–7 £10–15 £15–30 £30–45 Packages available ~10% £791 (£6.50+£12+£38)×7×2
Premium
Cunard ⚠️ All charges billed in USD $17 $19 Grill Suites · +15% bar · charged in USD to all guests $24–36 Basic $24 · Premium $36 · 1 device $40–75 Grill class guests: included £35–55/day Classic / Premium packages 15% Bar & wine $574 + £315 Grats/Wi-Fi in USD · drinks pkg in GBP
Fred. Olsen £5 Discretionary · Freedom Fare: included £12/day · £63/week £20–45 £40 Freedom Fare incl select drinks ~12% £798 (£5+£12+£40)×7×2
Saga Cruises ✓ Included ✓ Included ✓ Included ✓ Included None £0 Everything included in fare
Luxury
Hebridean Island Cruises ✓ Included ✓ Included Signal limited on Scottish coast ✓ Included ✓ Included None £0 Everything included in fare
🌍  International & River
💳 Gratuities in this market: River cruising: mostly included · Expedition: mostly included · Hurtigruten Coastal: optional · Costa: €11 mandatory non-removable
International Ocean
Costa Cruises ⚠️ Gratuity Mandatory & Non-Removable €11 Mandatory · cannot be removed or adjusted €12–20 Packages sold per voyage €25–50 €30–55 My Drinks packages · varies by ship 15% Individual drinks €966 (€11+€16+€42)×7×2
Celestyal Cruises ✓ Included Port fees & grats in Celestyal One fare ✓ Included Essential Wi-Fi in all fares Via CelestyalPay wallet Select drinks incl with meals Cocktails & extras via prepaid wallet None Wallet model — no auto-surcharge ~€0 Grats, Wi-Fi & meals incl
Extras via CelestyalPay wallet
Luxury
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises ✓ Included ✓ Included ✓ Included ✓ Included None €0 Everything included · Europa / Europa 2
Among highest-rated ships globally
Expedition
HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) 🏆 Best Expedition Value ✓ Included ✓ Included Limited in polar regions ✓ Included Wine & beer incl with meals Spirits extra ~15% ~$0 Grats, Wi-Fi & dining incl · spirits extra
Aurora Expeditions ✓ Included ✓ Included Limited polar/remote regions — Wine & beer incl with meals Spirits extra ~15% ~A$0 Grats & Wi-Fi incl · spirits extra
Hurtigruten Coastal Optional No auto-charge · Scandinavian norm ~$20–30 ~$20–45 ~$52 Packages available ~15% ~$1,071 (~$0+$25+$52)×7×2
Grats optional
7-night total methodology: (Gratuities + Wi-Fi + Drinks package) × 7 nights × 2 people. Pre-cruise rates. Mid-range alcohol package used. Specialty dining, spa, shore excursions not included in total. Lines showing $0 / £0 / €0 have costs built into the base fare — always compare total voyage price. Solo travellers: gratuities, Wi-Fi and drinks are charged per person (roughly half the two-person totals shown here), but most lines add a 150–200% single-occupancy supplement to the fare itself — so the all-in cost per person is usually far higher than half. All amounts USD unless stated (£ = GBP · € = EUR · A$ = AUD). Data reviewed quarterly. Always verify on your specific booking.
Comparing:
Side-by-Side Comparison