In this article we will go over items that are included in the price of your Royal Caribbean cruise as well as some of the top things that are NOT included in the price of your Royal Caribbean cruise.
Royal Caribbean is not an all-inclusive cruise line. There are many additional items you need to purchase on top of the regular price of your cruise. However, there are many things that ARE included in the price of your Royal Caribbean cruise that you don’t have to worry about getting a bill for at the end.
Let’s start with the things that are included in the price of your Royal Caribbean cruise
1. Food
You can eat as much food as you want, but only in the complementary restaurants. You can go on a Royal Caribbean cruise and not pay a single penny on any food. The Windjammer buffet, the Main Dining Room, Park Café, Sorrento’s Pizza, and several other snack-type areas are free of charge. There are specialty dining restaurants that are for a fee, but the food is good at all the complementary restaurants there is no need to upgrade your meals.
2. Water, Lemonade, Coffee and Tea
Basic drinks are free of charge at all times. If you are looking for something else to drink, those will cost you. But 90% of the time all I ever drink at home is water and coffee so that’s not anything too crazy.
3. Onboard Activities
Rock climbing, ice skating, flow riders, zip lines, water slides, dance classes, trivia, comedy, aqua theater shows, and main theater production shows are all included in the price of your cruise. You can be endlessly entertained without ever paying anything. I don’t think I’ve ever actually paid for an activity on a cruise ship. There are certain activities that cost extra money (the arcade, wine tasting, certain fitness classes). Those are marked with a $ in the cruise compass / app so you are aware they cost extra.
4. Fitness Center
The fitness center is complementary so you can work out as much as you want on vacation. Most ships also have a jogging track if you prefer to get your exercise outdoors.
5. Most spaces on board the ship
With the exception of some suite and loyalty areas, you are free to use public spaces on board the ship. You can enjoy pools, theaters, indoor spaces, outdoor spaces, lounges, bars and open decks. There is a very small amount of the ship that is dedicated to those suite and loyalty perked cruisers.
Things not included in the price of your Royal Caribbean cruise
1. Gratuities
This is the biggest one because it is tacked onto the price of your cruise and there is little you can do about it. (Technically you can go to guest services and ask to have it removed, but don’t be that person.) You can pre-pay gratuities or you can allow it to add itself to your onboard expenses daily. Regardless you have to pay the set gratuities. If you feel like an individual goes above and beyond, your cabin steward or guest services is happy to give you an envelope to give someone specific additional gratuities.
2. Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks
Royal Caribbean kindly offers multiple packages so you can prepay for your sodas and alcohol. This gives a more all-inclusive feel to the cruise. These packages usually require you to drink above 5 or so drinks a day to make the price of the package worth it. We have done drink packages (as part of a promotion when they were on sale) and they do give you a great all-inclusive feel. It’s nice not having to worry if you want a specialty coffee, a coke or a margarita. (But if those are the only three drinks you have in a day, the drink package was not worth it!)
Royal Caribbean does allow each person to bring on board a case of soft drinks. They also allow two bottles of wine per stateroom. If all you need is just a diet coke to get you going in the morning, just bring it on board. That way you don’t have to worry about paying the prices on the cruise ship.
3. Specialty Dining
I know you’re thinking that at the top of this article I said you could eat for free the entire cruise and you absolutely can, but one of the biggest upsells on cruises these days is specialty dining. Royal Caribbean typically offers specialty dining packages so you can get a certain number of nights for a set price. There are also unlimited dining packages. These allow you to bypass the main dining room and buffet at all times of day.
If you are new to Royal Caribbean, I would stick to the main dining room or a short dining package. The food in the main dining room is really good. I think the unlimited package is for people who have cruised Royal Caribbean so many times that they have gotten tired of the food.
4. Certain On Board Activities
Some on board activities come at an extra cost. These include things like bingo, wine tastings, child care, certain fitness classes. These are extra things that can enhance your cruise experience but hopefully are not necessary to you having a good time.
5. Excursions
You can get off the ship for free in *most* ports. (There are certain ports – especially in Europe – where Royal Caribbean charges for a shuttle service into town. If you don’t pay for the shuttle and you don’t pay for an excursion you literally can’t get off the ship. But that is incredibly rare. Out of over 20 ports we have visited, it has only happened to us once.)
Many ports you can get off the ship and either arrange something to do on your own or just walk around town. Often to make the most of your time in port you want to book a ship-sponsored shore excursion. I think they’re worth it. A lot of people say that are too expensive and involve lines and crowds, but there are a lot of benefits to the ship sponsored shore excursions.
Most importantly, they will hold the ship for you if you are late. I have been on multiple excursions that got back close to time for the ship to leave (and one that got back after) and I never worried about it. The excursions are also usually to the best and most popular places and the cruise lines want to make sure you have a good time. Too many people complain about a tour operator? They choose a different one next time. So many times, we have always regretted not taking shore excursions in new ports. We never make it to the best and coolest places unless we take the excursion.
Can you go on a Royal Caribbean cruise and not spend any money other than what you paid for the cruise? No, you have to at least pay the gratuities. But you don’t have to spend any more than that. You can eat, drink and enjoy a ton of free activities without paying anything more.
Some of the extras are a great use of your money. And some of the extras that are worth it to me might not be worth it to you and vise-versa. Choose what add-ons make sense to you. Don’t feel like just because Royal Caribbean is selling a drink package, a dining package and shore excursions that you have to buy them. You can absolutely have a fabulous time without spending any more than what is included in the price of your Royal Caribbean cruise. Except for gratuities.
Curious about a cruise with literally nothing extra to pay? Check out what is included on a Celebrity cruise.
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