Cruise line all-inclusive packages: Everything you need to know

4 weeks ago 9

Luxury lines aren't the only ones offering all-inclusive cruise packages these days. Mainstream and upscale cruise lines, which traditionally have offered a basic fare and then charged passengers a la carte for onboard expenses, have begun to provide more inclusive fare add-ons. Cruisers are buzzing about these new options that allow them to pay upfront for popular amenities and not feel nickel-and-dimed on board.

This new pricing strategy, which goes beyond popular drink packages, has large-ship cruise lines such as Celebrity, Holland America and Princess jockeying to compete with luxury lines and their all-inclusive fares. Small-ship cruise lines Azamara and Windstar have also hopped on the trend.

These packages are designed to make the cruise experience hassle-free by allowing passengers to pay for most of their onboard expenses — such as beverages, Wi-Fi and gratuities — before they board. However, they might not always be the best option for every cruiser.

Here's a look at which cruise lines offer all-inclusive packages, what's included, how much they cost and the factors that can make them a great deal or a potential waste of money.

Celebrity Cruises' All Included package

The package

Celebrity Cruises — known for having a grown-up, bar-centric ambience on board its ships — offers an All Included cruise fare on any itinerary (excluding the Galapagos Islands). With this fare type, passengers get two included amenities: basic Wi-Fi and Celebrity's Classic beverage package.

The package used to include crew tips, but Celebrity removed that benefit in 2023.

The price

What's the cost of the All Included package? That depends on the destination, itinerary length and time of year. Celebrity Cruises would not provide an average, but in the 2025 fares we priced out, passengers could expect to pay $70 to $85 per person, per day above the base cruise fare. However, it's possible the difference in pricing could be higher or lower on certain cruises.

When browsing for cruises on Celebrity's website, the prices you will see are the Cruise Only fares (except when noted, mostly on Retreat categories). During the booking process (right after cabin selection), you can choose either the higher All Included fare or the lower-priced Cruise Only fare.

Tip: If you'd like to book a balcony cabin at the All Included price, always price out AquaClass cabins as well. Those rooms come with extra amenities (thermal suite access, exclusive dining room) and sometimes cost just a few dollars more (or even less) at the cruise-only fare than a veranda cabin with the add-on package. If you prioritize the spa over drinks, that might be the better upgrade for you.

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All passengers on the reservation must select the same fare. One person can't book All Included and the other Cruise Only. Families sailing in the same cabin must all book the same fare type, although underage passengers will only have access to nonalcoholic beverages.

The value

The two amenities that come with an All Included booking are typically priced as follows:

Classic beverage package: $90 per person, per day, plus a 20% bar gratuity, for a total of $108
Basic Wi-Fi: $18 to 20 per person, per day (depending on itinerary)

The Classic beverage package only includes drinks priced up to $10. Note that the All Included fare covers the bar gratuity normally charged to guests who purchase a beverage package independently.

Celebrity's Basic Wi-Fi plan is its value-priced option. It offers access to basic web functions: texting on messenger services, web browsing and email.

Let's crunch the numbers. Bought a la carte, Celebrity's Classic beverage package and basic Wi-Fi will cost roughly $110 per person, per day; you will also be on the hook for a 20% automatic bar gratuity, for a total of $128.

At $70 to $85 extra per person, per day, Celebrity's All Included fares are a good value for cruisers who plan to toss back multiple basic cocktails daily — there's no daily limit — and are content with basic Wi-Fi.

Passengers who book All Included fares can also opt to upgrade to the Premium beverage package (for drinks costing up to $17) for an additional $15 per person, per day. (Alternatively, they can pay the overage — $2 on a $12 glass of wine or cocktail, for instance — plus a 20% gratuity on the overage.)

The Premium drink upgrade puts the total cost of the All Included package at roughly $85 to $100 per person, per day. Celebrity's Premium beverage package is regularly priced at $105 per person, per day, plus there's an automatic 20% gratuity added to the package price (bringing the total daily cost to $126).

That means passengers already considering the Premium beverage package will definitely save by purchasing the All Included package and upgrading.

Celebrity cruisers can also upgrade their package to Premium Wi-Fi, which allows messaging and video chat on messenger services, web browsing, email, social media posting, video chat live and watching videos and movies. The upgrade costs an additional $10 per person, per day.

Premium Wi-Fi costs $25 to $28 per person, per day when purchased a la carte, an increase of $7 or $8 over the basic cost. Paying $80 to $95 for the All Included fare with upgraded internet is still a good deal if you already plan on purchasing a drinks package.

Holland America's Have It All

The package

Passengers booking a cruise on any Holland America ship can get four premium amenities included with the Have It All package. The line's premium package makes a HAL cruise semi-inclusive when passengers upgrade their base fare.

Here's what's included:

The Signature beverage package, which includes wines, beers, spirits, cocktails and nonalcoholic options (such as sodas and specialty coffees) that cost $11 and under, as well as bar gratuities. There's a daily limit of 15 beverages per person.
Specialty dining, with one dinner at either Pinnacle Grill, Canaletto or Tamarind, included on a six- to nine-night cruise, two dinners on a 10- to 20-night cruise and three dinners on a cruise of 21 days or longer (excluding Grand Voyages).
Wi-Fi Surf package for web surfing, social media and email on one device.
Shore excursions credit of $100 per person on a six- to nine-night cruise, $200 on a 10- to 20-night cruise and $300 on a cruise that's 21 days or longer (excluding Grand Voyages).

The price

Right now, the Have It All package costs $55 per person, per day if purchased precruise (up from $50 last year).

You can upgrade to a Have It All package once on board for $65 per person, per day.

Two passengers sharing a cabin must both select Have It All at the time of booking. Unlike some cruise all-inclusive packages, HAL's Have It All doesn't include crew gratuities. These will be added to passengers' onboard accounts at $17 per person, per day for guests in cabins and $19 per person, per day for guests in suites.

The value

Holland America values the package at $110 per person, per day, so you're saving 50%. Here is what we calculated all the elements of the Have It All package would cost if purchased separately for a seven-night cruise:

Shore excursion credit: $100 per person, per cruise
Specialty dining: $25 to $46, based on restaurant selected
Wi-Fi: $216.93 (at $30.99 per day)
Signature beverage package: $384.65 (at $54.95 per person, per day)

Right now, the Have It All package costs $385 per person for a seven-night cruise, which is essentially equal to the $384.65 Holland America charges for its Signature beverage package for a cruise of this length. Plus, passengers get an extra $342 to $363 toward shore excursions, specialty dining and Wi-Fi perks. So, at $55 per person, per day, the Have It All Package is a terrific value, even for moderate drinkers.

Princess Plus and Princess Premier

The package

Princess Cruises updated its package benefits in August 2024, adding more inclusions to its higher-tier Princess Premier package. Currently, the line says its basic Princess Plus package offers a savings of $93 per passenger, per day, and its upgraded Princess Premier package, with additional included perks, offers a savings of $220 per passenger, per day.

The price

Princess Plus is priced at $60 per person, per day. What's included?

Plus beverage package, which includes drinks up to $15 (with a 15-drink alcoholic beverage limit per day), bottled water, specialty coffee and juice bar drinks
Wi-Fi for one device per guest ($24.99 per day if booked separately)
Crew appreciation, aka gratuities ($17 to $19 per person, per day based on cabin or suite category)
Two "casual dining" meals per guest, per cruise (at casual sit-down restaurants, like Alfredo's and Kai Sushi, and pop-up venues, like Planks and Steamers)
Two "premium desserts" per day (purchased at the Gelateria, Swirls or Coffee and Cones)
Two fitness classes per cruise
Room service delivery at no extra charge
No-fee OceanNow delivery (ordering food and items on your app to wherever you are on board)

Princess Premier costs $90 per person, per day. It features the following perks:

Premier beverage package, which includes unlimited drinks up to $20, plus everything you get with the Plus package
Wi-Fi for up to four devices per guest
Crew appreciation
Unlimited specialty dining meals per guest
Unlimited casual dining
Photo package (unlimited digital, plus three prints up to 8 inches by 10 inches in size)
Unlimited "premium desserts" (at Gelateria, Swirls or Coffee and Cones)
Unlimited fitness classes
Reserved theater seating for production shows
Room service delivery at no extra charge
No-fee OceanNow delivery
Princess Prizes (a chance to win extras like a wine tasting, a chef's table experience, onboard credit or even a free cruise)

You can book the all-inclusive packages prior to sailing or on the first or second day of your cruise.

For either plan, each beverage package also includes bar gratuities (18% per beverage when ordered without the Plus or Premier packages). Passengers under 21 will automatically receive the Zero Alcohol package, which includes fountain sodas, fruit juices, specialty coffees and teas, frappes, milkshakes and Red Bull energy drinks, plus a discount on bottled water and juice.

The first and second guests in a cabin must each book the same Plus or Premier package, but the third and fourth guests are not obliged to do so, meaning a family doesn't have to pay for amenities that kids won't use.

Wi-Fi, reserved theater seating and the photo package are shareable, so a family of four with two parents on the Princess Premier plan can have their children's devices on Wi-Fi, take home great family photos and sit together in the theater. However, the free specialty and casual dining meals only apply to guests who pay for the package; your friends and family can join you for meals but will have to pay the cover charge.

The value

It might take a while to add up the cost of all the amenities, but you don't have to. For couples, the Princess Plus package is a no-brainer.

Wi-Fi and crew appreciation (totaling $42 to $44 per person, per day) alone account for more than 50% of the $60 per person, per day (or $420 per person for a seven-night cruise) package charge. With less than $30 per day left to break even and with drinks up to $15 included, you don't have to overindulge to get your money's worth. Those premium desserts, casual meals and fitness classes are the icing on the cake.

For $90 per person, per day or $630 per person for a seven-night cruise, Princess Premier offers additional savings — mostly if you already planned on purchasing a beverage package and think you'll use at least some of the other perks.

The Premier beverage package costs $84.99 per person, per day, plus an 18% service charge, bringing the total to $100.30 per day if purchased separately. The Princess Premier all-inclusive package covers those gratuities, as well as a long list of other inclusions. If you prefer premium wines and spirits and are planning on purchasing the upgraded drinks package, Princess Premier will more than pay for itself.

The two specialty dining meals are valued at $74 per person, per cruise or more; this also gets you close to breaking even if you weren't going to purchase a beverage package. Wi-Fi for up to four devices normally costs $45 per day or $315 per seven-night cruise. Combine the two, and you're already ahead. Unlimited desserts, casual dining, fitness classes and digital photos only add to your value.

The bottom line: At $90 per day, Princess Premier can be a good value — especially in comparison to other cruise-line all-inclusive packages costing the same or even more.

Azamara's Experience More

The package

While Azamara's basic cruise fares already include crew gratuities and standard spirits, beers and select wines (a choice of two whites, two reds and a rose daily), the cruise line's Experience More packages bundle additional onboard amenities at savings of 29% to 34%.

There are four options priced per couple/cabin and one designed for solo travelers. All are available on cruises of eight days or longer, with the exception of one package specific to shorter sailings (seven days or fewer).

The price

The least expensive option for two people sharing a cabin is the Experience More Essentials package. It includes a Premium beverage package for two (with additional beer and spirits selections), unlimited Wi-Fi for one device and a $300 shore excursion credit. It's priced at $799 per cabin.

The Experience More on Short Cruises package is the only one available on sailings of seven days or fewer. It includes the Ultimate beverage package for two, unlimited Wi-Fi for one device, a $200 shore excursion credit, a $100 onboard spa credit, a chef's table experience (with a multicourse tasting menu) or Three Table Tour (one night at Aqualina, one night at Prime C and one night at your choice of restaurant), and one bag of laundry per voyage. It's priced at $899 for two people in the same cabin.

The Experience More Enjoyment package includes the Premium beverage package for two, unlimited Wi-Fi for two devices, a $500 shore excursion credit and a $200 onboard spa credit. It's priced at $1,199 for two people.

The most comprehensive option for two people is the Experience More Indulgence package. It includes the Ultimate beverage package for two, unlimited Wi-Fi for two devices, $700 shore excursion credit, $250 onboard spa credit, a chef's table experience or Three Table Tour, and five bags of laundry during the voyage. It's priced at $1,699 for two people.

Singles can get in on the savings, too, with the Experience More for Solo Travelers package. It features the Ultimate beverage package for one, unlimited Wi-Fi for one device, a $350 shore excursion credit, a $150 onboard spa credit, a chef's table experience or Three Table Tour, and three bags of laundry during the voyage. It's priced at $949 per person.

What's the difference between the Premium and Ultimate beverage packages in these offers? The Premium package includes a larger selection of beer than the included list, plus name-brand spirits such as Absolut, Captain Morgan and Bombay Sapphire. The Ultimate package includes all the Premium offerings, plus a selection of wine and Champagne by the glass, Evian and Perrier water and more top-shelf spirits.

If bought separately, the Premium package costs $26.95 per person, per day, and the Ultimate package costs $34.95 per person, per day.

The value

Azamara has done the math for passengers:

Experience More Essentials: priced at $799, valued at $1,120
Experience More on Short Cruises: priced at $899, valued at $1,260
Experience More Enjoyment: priced at $1,199, valued at $1,780
Experience More Indulgence: priced at $1,699, valued at $2,570
Experience More for Solo Travelers: priced at $949, valued at $1,330

If you already plan on booking shore excursions and specialty dining reservations, enjoying wine and spirits beyond those included in the cruise fare, using Wi-Fi and paying for amenities such as specialty dining or spa treatments, the all-inclusive upgrades offer good value.

However, if you don't plan on taking advantage of all the extra-fee services on board, you'll need to do the math around the amenities you would use to determine whether a package is right for you.

Windstar Cruises' All-Inclusive Fare and All-In Package

The package

Windstar Cruises offers an All-Inclusive Fare option for a set daily fee. For Windstar, all-inclusive means unlimited beverages, unlimited Wi-Fi and all gratuities. Passengers can also still opt to book a base cruise-only fare and pay for onboard expenses on an a la carte basis.

The price

Passengers who choose the All-Inclusive Fare prepay $89 per person, per day; the package must be booked within five days of the sail date. Those who book a cruise-only fare can also purchase the All-In Package for $99 per person, per day once they are on board.

Both the inclusive fares and onboard package cover unlimited Wi-Fi, crew gratuities and wine, beer and cocktails ordered on board (as well as the 18% beverage service charge usually tacked onto bar bills).

The value

We took a look at the a la carte items covered in the inclusive package to determine the value of Windstar's offering (based on a weeklong sailing).

Crew gratuities: $16 per person, per day
Beverage package: $65 (for Captain's Exclusive Beverage Package, which includes cocktails and aperitifs, among other drinks); these also incur an 18% service charge
Unlimited Wi-Fi: $245 for a seven-night cruise ($35 per person, per day)

Wi-Fi and tips account for $51 of the $89 daily charge before factoring in bar charges. That leaves $38 for beverages. So, the value is there with the All-Inclusive Fare if you plan to enjoy at least three or four alcoholic beverages daily throughout your cruise — and you'll avoid the added service charges.

However, guests who only indulge in the occasional glass of wine or cocktail will not see the full value of the package. Similarly, passengers who prefer to buy one of Windstar's cheaper, more limited usage Wi-Fi plans (200 or 500 megabytes of data) or intend to share the cost of the Unlimited Wi-Fi plan by logging in one device at a time might find the $89 or $99 daily charge is not worth it.

Bottom line

Should you upgrade to one of these packages? While convenience is certainly a motivating factor, whether a plan has value depends in most cases on what you think your bar tab will be.

If vacation mode means you'll be tossing back tropical cocktails at the pool all day or enjoying multiple glasses of wine at both lunch and dinner, booking an all-inclusive package is a smart option. If you're not a big drinker or an enthusiastic social media user, the better deal is sometimes to stick with the basic fare and pay as you go for what you use.

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Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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