What's Included on a Royal Caribbean Cruise (and What Costs Extra)
One of the most common surprises I hear from first-time cruisers is how much of a Royal Caribbean fare is already paid for, and how a few extras can quietly add up if nobody warns you first. The good news is that the base fare covers far more than people expect. The trick is knowing where the paid line items start.
As a travel advisor I walk clients through this every week, so I built this guide to lay it all out plainly. I'll cover what's included in your cruise fare, what costs extra, and how to build a realistic budget so there are no unwelcome charges waiting at the end of your sailing.
Quick Take
Main Dining Room
The main dining room is included every night of your cruise, and it's a proper sit-down experience with a menu that changes daily. You get appetizers, entrees, and desserts served to your table, and you can order more than one of anything if you're torn between two dishes. This alone delivers a lot of the value in your fare.
You can choose traditional dining with a set time and the same waitstaff each evening, or My Time Dining if you'd rather eat on your own schedule. Room service is also available, with a small delivery fee on most orders outside of continental breakfast. For a lot of families, the main dining room becomes the anchor of the day, a nightly sit-down meal that costs nothing beyond the fare.
The Buffet and Most Casual Venues
The Windjammer buffet is included for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and it's the workhorse of the ship for a lot of families. Beyond it, most casual spots are free too, including the Café Promenade for sandwiches and snacks, Sorrento's for pizza, and the Solarium Bistro on many ships. You will not go hungry on the included menu.
Entertainment
Royal Caribbean's entertainment is a genuine highlight, and nearly all of it is included. That covers the main theater production shows, live music around the ship, comedy sets, parades, and signature spectacles like the AquaTheater diving shows or ice-skating performances on ships that have them. Reserving a seat in advance is smart for the big shows, but it doesn't cost anything.
Pools, Fitness, and the Kids Club
All the pools, hot tubs, and most of the top-deck features come with your fare, including water slides, the FlowRider surf simulator, and mini golf on the ships that carry them. The fitness center is free to use, and the Adventure Ocean kids club is included for potty-trained children in the standard age groups. That's a lot of built-in activity at no added cost.
On the larger ships you'll also find features like the rock-climbing wall, the zip line, and bumper cars, all included in your fare. The teen spaces and daytime programming for older kids are free too, which gives parents some breathing room during sea days. When people say cruising is a strong value, this stack of included activities is a big part of what they mean.
What Costs Extra
Now the part that trips people up. None of these extras are required for a great cruise, but most guests choose at least a few of them. Knowing the price ranges up front is how you keep your onboard account from surprising you on the last night.
Specialty Dining
Specialty restaurants like Chops Grille, Giovanni's, and Izumi carry a cover charge, typically running from about $23 to $110 per person depending on the venue. Gratuity is already included in that cover. If you want to sample several, a dining package bought before you sail usually costs less than paying à la carte for each meal.
Drink Packages
Alcohol is not included in your fare, and this is often the single biggest add-on. The Deluxe Beverage Package runs roughly $55 to $120 per person per day, with an 18% gratuity added on top. There's also a Refreshment Package for non-alcoholic drinks in the $29 to $42 range, and a soda package for less. Buying online before your cruise usually beats the onboard price.
Wifi
Internet through Royal Caribbean's VOOM service is a paid add-on. The Surf and Stream plan tends to run around $18 to $40 per device per day depending on your ship and dates. Booking it in advance can save you close to 30% compared with buying it once you're aboard, so lock it in early if you know you'll need to stay connected.
Gratuities
Daily crew gratuities are a separate charge of about $18.50 per person per day in standard staterooms, or around $21 per person per day in suites. You can prepay them before you sail or let them post to your onboard account. These tips support your stateroom attendant and dining staff, so plan for them as a real part of your budget.
Shore Excursions
Anything you do off the ship in port is extra. Ship-organized excursions range widely, from around $50 for a simple beach day to a few hundred dollars for a premium adventure. You can book independently in port to save money, though the ship's tours guarantee you won't miss the boat if something runs late.
Spa, Casino, and Arcade
The Vitality Spa charges for massages, facials, and salon services, with a 20% gratuity added automatically. The casino operates like any other, and the video arcade on the larger ships charges per game or through a credit package. These are easy to skip entirely, but worth noting if your crew loves any of them.
How to Budget for Your Cruise
Here's the framework I use with clients. Start with your fare, then add gratuities as a fixed cost, since almost everyone pays them. For a seven-night cruise that's roughly $130 per person before you've added a single extra, so build it in from the start.
Next, decide on drinks honestly. If you'll have a few cocktails and coffees a day, the Deluxe package often pays for itself; if you barely drink, skip it and pay per item. This one decision moves your total more than anything else, so be realistic about how much your group actually consumes.
Finally, set a per-port budget for excursions and pick one or two specialty dinners if they appeal to you, rather than every night. As a rough planning number, many guests spend an extra $50 to $150 per person per day on top of the fare once drinks and a few splurges are included. When I quote a cruise, I build all of this in so you see the true total before you book.
✈️ WORK WITH ME
Planning your next trip? I'm a travel advisor and I book cruises at no extra cost, and I'll help you budget it right. Get a free quote and grab my free tips on Substack: substack.com/@jacksonjetsetting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is food included on a Royal Caribbean cruise?
Yes, plenty of it. The main dining room, the Windjammer buffet, and most casual spots like the pizza counter and café are included in your fare. Only the specialty restaurants carry an extra cover charge.
Are drinks included on Royal Caribbean?
Water, standard coffee and tea, milk, and juice at meals are included. Soda, specialty coffee, and all alcohol are extra, either bought individually or through a drink package that runs roughly $29 to $120 per person per day depending on the tier.
Do I have to pay gratuities?
Gratuities are automatic, about $18.50 per person per day in a standard cabin and around $21 in a suite. You can prepay them before sailing or let them post to your onboard account, but plan on paying them as part of your budget.
Is wifi free on Royal Caribbean?
No. VOOM internet is a paid add-on, usually about $18 to $40 per device per day. Buying it in advance online is cheaper than purchasing once you're onboard, so book early if you need to stay connected.
Is the kids club included?
Yes. The Adventure Ocean program is included in your fare during regular daytime and evening hours for potty-trained kids in the standard age groups. Late-night group care past closing time carries a small hourly charge.
How much extra should I budget per day?
A common range is about $50 to $150 per person per day on top of the fare once you factor in drinks, gratuities, and a few splurges. Skip the drink package and cut specialty dining, and you can bring that number down considerably.
Final Thoughts
Royal Caribbean packs a huge amount into the base fare, which is a big part of why cruising delivers such strong value. The extras are real, but they're almost all optional, and once you know the price ranges you can decide exactly which ones are worth it for your trip.
The cruisers who feel blindsided are usually the ones who never mapped out the add-ons before boarding. Do that math ahead of time, or let me do it for you, and you'll sail with a clear budget and zero last-night surprises on your account.
