What's Included on a Celebrity Cruise (and What Costs Extra)
Quick Take
Celebrity sells most sailings under an "Always Included" fare, which bundles basic Wi-Fi, a Classic drink package, and crew gratuities into the price you see. Your stateroom, main dining, the buffet, room service, entertainment, the pool, and the gym come with every fare. The extras that catch people off guard are specialty restaurants, drink tier upgrades, shore excursions, the spa, and premium internet.
Always Included vs. Cruise Only
Celebrity prices most sailings two ways. The default is Always Included, which folds three perks into your base fare: a Classic drink package, basic Wi-Fi for one device, and prepaid crew gratuities. You'll sometimes see a lower Cruise Only rate, which strips all three back out.
Cruise Only looks cheaper on the booking page, but it rarely wins once you add the pieces back. If you plan to drink anything beyond tap water and want to tip the crew, Always Included usually costs less than buying those items separately. For most travelers I steer them toward Always Included and only compare Cruise Only when someone flat out doesn't drink and won't use the internet.
One detail worth knowing: the Classic package and basic Wi-Fi apply to the guests in the stateroom, and gratuities cover the standard crew tip pool. Specialty dining staff and bar service above your package tier still expect the usual gratuity, so it isn't a total tipping free pass.
There's a third option on some sailings called an all-in Retreat or higher-end fare, which layers the Premium drink package and premium Wi-Fi on top of everything in Always Included. Those upgraded fares matter most for suite guests who already get extra perks, so I only push clients there when the suite pricing pencils out. For a standard veranda, Always Included is the fare I quote nine times out of ten.
Watch how the promotion is worded when you book, because Celebrity runs seasonal deals that occasionally toss in the Premium upgrade or bonus onboard credit at no extra charge. Those offers come and go, so the same cabin can carry a different bundle from one month to the next. It's the kind of moving target a travel advisor keeps an eye on so you don't overpay for something a current promo already covers.
Dining: What's Free and What's Not
Your fare covers a lot of food. The main dining rooms are included every night, and Edge-class ships spread that across four complimentary restaurants with different menus. The buffet, the poolside grill, the Spa Cafe, and the room service menu are all part of the deal too.
Specialty restaurants are where the extra charges begin. Venues like Le Petit Chef, Fine Cut Steakhouse, Raw on 5, and the Tuscan Grille carry a cover charge that generally runs $45 to $85 per person depending on the restaurant and ship. You can book them individually onboard or buy a dining package ahead of time if you know you'll eat there more than once.
A few small a la carte items also cost extra even in free spaces. Premium coffees outside your drink package, certain room service delivery fees during off hours, and a handful of upgraded buffet stations can add a charge. None of it is large, but it's worth watching if you're tracking every dollar.
If you're weighing specialty dining, my advice is to pick your spots rather than buying a big package on reflex. The main dining rooms on Celebrity are strong, so one memorable steakhouse night or a fun evening at Le Petit Chef usually satisfies the craving for something different. Buying a three or four night dining package only makes sense if you already know you prefer specialty venues over the included restaurants.
Kids and picky eaters are covered without any extra spend, too. The buffet runs long hours, the poolside grill handles burgers and pizza, and the main dining room has a children's menu every night. Families rarely need to touch a paid venue to keep everyone fed and happy.
Drinks: The Classic Package and the Premium Upgrade
The Classic drink package that comes with Always Included covers a wide spread. You get beers, spirits, cocktails, wines by the glass up to about $10, specialty coffees, teas, bottled water, and sodas. For most guests that list handles the whole trip without a second thought.
The Premium upgrade raises the ceiling. It covers cocktails, wines by the glass, and spirits up to roughly $17, plus premium bottled waters and a few extras. The upgrade typically runs about $15 to $25 per person per day, and everyone in the stateroom who is 21 or older has to upgrade together.
Whether the upgrade pays off comes down to what you order. If you like a top-shelf pour, a specific wine label, or a cocktail that lands above the Classic cap, the Premium tier can be worth it. If you're happy with a house margarita and a glass of the featured red, the Classic package already has you covered and the upgrade is money you don't need to spend.
Shore Excursions, Spa, and the Rest
Shore excursions are almost always an added cost. Celebrity's tours range widely, from a $60 city walk to a $300 private catamaran day, and independent operators in port can be cheaper if you're comfortable arranging your own. Booking through the ship costs more but guarantees the ship waits for you if the tour runs late.
The spa is its own line item. Massages, facials, and salon services carry treatment prices, and the thermal suite (the heated loungers and steam rooms) usually needs a day or cruise-length pass. Some fitness classes like spin or personal training also carry a fee, though the main gym is free.
A couple of other extras round out the picture. The casino operates on your own money, premium Wi-Fi that streams video costs more than the basic tier bundled in your fare, and photo packages, laundry service, and specialty gift shops all ring up separately. Nothing here is a surprise once you know to look for it.
The basic Wi-Fi in your fare handles browsing, email, and messaging on one device at a time. If you need to stream video, hop on a work call, or connect several devices at once, the premium tier is the upgrade you want, and it usually runs a set daily rate. Plenty of guests get by fine on the included basic tier and only miss streaming, so decide based on how connected you want to stay.
Thermal suite access deserves a special mention because guests love it and it's easy to overlook. That's the area with heated tile loungers, aromatherapy steam rooms, and a relaxation space away from the pool crowds. A pass typically covers your whole sailing, and it's one of the extras my clients say they'd happily buy again.
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How to Budget for a Celebrity Cruise
Start with your fare and assume it already covers your room, all your meals in the main venues, a Classic drink package, basic Wi-Fi, and crew tips. That baseline handles more than people expect, so a lot of guests spend far less onboard than they feared.
Then build a small extras budget on top. Pick one or two specialty dinners, decide up front whether the Premium drink upgrade fits how you drink, and set a number for excursions in each port. If the spa or a photo package matters to you, add a round figure for that too.
Most of my clients land somewhere between a few hundred and a thousand dollars in onboard extras for a week, and the number swings almost entirely on excursions and specialty dining. Decide those two before you sail and your final bill won't surprise you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Always Included cover gratuities?
Yes. The Always Included fare prepays the standard crew gratuities for guests in the stateroom, so you won't see a daily service charge added to your account for the main crew tip pool.
Is the Classic drink package unlimited?
It is, within the price caps. You can order as many covered drinks as you like, with a sensible limit on how many at once, and anything priced above the Classic cap costs the difference or requires the Premium upgrade.
Can I bring my own drinks onboard?
Celebrity lets you bring a limited amount of wine or champagne at embarkation, and there may be a corkage fee if you drink it in a dining venue. Hard liquor and cases of beer are not permitted to be carried on.
Do kids get the drink package too?
Guests under 21 don't receive the alcoholic package, but the fare still covers soda, juice, and water for them through the non-alcoholic portion, so their basic drinks are handled.
Are specialty restaurants worth the extra charge?
Many guests enjoy one or two specialty nights as a treat, especially the steakhouse or Le Petit Chef. The main dining rooms are strong enough that you never have to pay extra to eat well, so treat specialty dining as an option rather than a need.
Should I book excursions through Celebrity or independently?
Ship excursions cost more but come with the guarantee that the ship waits for you. Independent tours can save money and offer smaller groups, though you take on the timing risk yourself.
Final Thoughts
Celebrity's fare structure is friendlier than it first appears once you separate the bundle from the add-ons. Your room, your meals, your drinks under the Classic tier, your Wi-Fi, and your tips are already handled on an Always Included fare, which leaves only a short list of real extras to plan around.
Focus your budgeting on specialty dining, drink upgrades, excursions, and the spa, and you'll walk off the ship without a shock at the front desk. If you want help comparing fares or deciding whether an upgrade pays off for your trip, that's exactly the kind of thing I sort out with clients every day.
More cruise reads:
- Celebrity Captain's Club Explained: Celebrity's Loyalty Program
- How Much Does a Celebrity Cruise Cost? A Real Budget Breakdown
- Celebrity Solstice Review: Premium Cruising on a Freshly Refit Ship
- Carnival VIFP Club Explained: Carnival's Loyalty Program
- Celebrity Drink Package Guide: Is It Worth It?
- Celebrity Gratuities Explained: How Tipping Works
