What Is Included on a Cruise?

If you're new to ocean travel and ready to book a thrilling vacation, you're probably wondering what is included on a cruise. Your cruise fare covers most of what you’ll experience – your stateroom, dining across at least seven venues, Broadway-caliber entertainment, the pools and the waterslides, supervised kids' programs and access to Royal Caribbean's private destination. Here's the full picture of what your cruise price includes, plus the optional experiences you can add if you want to make the trip your own.

Key Takeaways

● Your cruise fare includes your stateroom, complimentary dining, entertainment, hot tubs, fitness centers and most onboard activities.

● Complimentary dining is available throughout the day, with multiple restaurants and casual eateries included on every ship.

● Complimentary beverages include water, tea, lemonade, milk and select juices. Alcoholic drinks, soda and specialty coffees can be ordered on their own or bundled into a beverage package.

● Broadway-style shows, live music, ice skating performances, AquaTheater shows, kids clubs and many signature attractions are included on most Royal Caribbean ships.

● Optional add-ons like specialty dining, Wi-Fi, shore excursions, spa treatments and beverage packages allow you to customize your vacation based on your preferences and budget.

EVERYTHING YOUR CRUISE FARE INCLUDES

Typically, your cruise covers tons of core amenities, dining and onboard experiences. This includes unlimited access to pools, hot tubs, Solarium access where applicable, general onboard amenities, Broadway-style entertainment and your stateroom.

With the price of your trip, you’ll have everything you need for an incredible, memory-making vacation with your group, with opportunities to upgrade where desired.

Is Your Stateroom Included?

Are Pools, Hot Tubs and Ship Amenities Included?

Of course! Pools, hot tubs and fitness center access are typically included in your cruise package. While ship amenities vary by vessel, core public areas are part of the fare. 

When not exploring ashore, your sea days can be spent relaxing by one of the complimentary pools, including the adults-only Solarium pool, or enjoying free activities such as card games and dance classes. You can tame the waves on the FlowRider® surf simulator or reach new heights on the rock-climbing wall and test your smarts with trivia contests. Get your adrenaline fix riding a zip line 10 decks up, or enjoy waterslides and Laser Tag games, all for free.

At night, the ships rev things up with complimentary dance parties and clubs, outdoor movies and Broadway-caliber entertainment. Royal Caribbean is known for offering some of the most innovative entertainment at sea. Performances in the Royal Theater are all included in your cruise fare, so you can enjoy award-winning Broadway musicals such as CATS, Hairspray and Mamma Mia! as well as dive shows in the AquaTheater, multimedia performances in Two70® and ice shows in Studio B. Live music in the ship's bars, lounges and public spaces, such as pool decks and atriums, along with karaoke, poolside movies and '70s, '80s and '90s-themed dance parties, are also complimentary.

What Food is Included on a Cruise?

All ships have at least seven dining venues, and complimentary options are plentiful enough to carry you through an entire sailing - breakfast in the Main Dining Room, a poolside slice at lunch, a multi-course dinner at night and a 24-hour cafe in between, all covered by your fare. Complimentary restaurants cater to every foodie’s preference, whether you love casual dining, a big continental breakfast, quick snacks or fancy dining venues.

Depending on your mood, you can rise and shine with a breakfast of eggs, bacon, fresh fruit and unlimited coffee at the buffet or order a big plate of blueberry pancakes in the main dining room. For lunch, grab a barbecue chicken pizza at Sorrento's Pizza (included), a fully loaded hot dog with sauerkraut at Dog House (included) or choose from international buffet selections, like paella or sushi. And dinner? It can match your mood: a casual buffet or an elegant sit-down meal with a selection of appetizers, entrees and desserts from inspired menus that change daily.

Which Complimentary Dining Venues Are Usually Included?

Top complimentary dining venues include the main dining room, Windjammer, Solarium Bistro, Park Café and El Loco Fresh®.

The main dining room offers an elegant culinary experience morning, noon and night. At breakfast, consider Eggs Benedict or a chorizo-laden burrito. In the evening, you'll find rotating menus with everything from savory duck terrine and crispy Vidalia onion tarts to marinated pork loin and Moroccan-spiced ahi tuna. Windjammer Café (or Windjammer Marketplace on some ships), another popular option, is a buffet-style choice. In the morning, you'll find custom-made omelets and fresh pastries; in the afternoon and evening, selections feature salads, pastas, paninis, Asian and Indian dishes, grilled meats and fish and desserts galore.

In addition, there are a variety of options with more focused menus. No family-friendly ship would be complete without a poolside space that serves chicken tenders, hamburgers and chocolate chip cookies — and Splashaway Café is as popular as you would guess. Sorrento's Pizza, with its grab-and-go mouthwatering slices topped with cheese, pepperoni and even BBQ chicken, is a real crowd-pleaser. Grown-ups and kids alike flock to El Loco Fresh for insanely delicious Mexican burritos, tacos and quesadillas. The Dog House is a popular spot that serves up a menu of hot dogs, including a classic Coney Island and a pork bratwurst.

Solarium Bistro focuses on lighter fare, with a Mediterranean buffet, featuring fruit, yogurt, Greek salad, hummus, mussels and more. Looking for a snack? Mini Bites, located near the Sports Zone, serves sliders, taquitos and mini cupcakes, all with big flavor. If you're up early — or late for that matter — you'll be grateful for Pearl Café or Café Promenade, a 24-hour café that dishes out pastries, wraps and desserts as well as plenty of coffee drinks.

Café@Two70 and Park Café each serve light meals. Highlights at Café@Two70 include a tasty Thai chicken salad and three kinds of grilled cheese; Park Café may become your go-to spot for deli sandwiches. 

Is Room Service Included?

Room service is included for continental breakfast, including coffee, tea, toast and cereal, which can be delivered directly to your room at no additional cost.

Additional dining options are available through the 24/7 room service menu, with a $7.95 room service charge plus applicable fees.

What Drinks Are Included on a Cruise?

Dining and Drink Upgrades You Can Add

Beyond the complimentary venues, there's a second layer: steakhouse and sushi dinners, cocktails and wine by the glass, soda, premium coffee, bottled water and fresh-squeezed juice. All of it is there to add whenever you feel like it.

Maybe you're marking an occasion, or you've been meaning to try hand-rolled sushi, or you just want a quieter table than the buffet can offer. That's what the specialty dining options are there for, and the lineup varies by ship.

Which Restaurants Are Worth Upgrading For?

Popular specialty restaurants include Chops Grille℠ for steakhouse fare, Giovanni's℠ Italian Kitchen for old-world classics, Izumi for a Far East feast and 150 Central Park for seasonal fine dining. There's even Jamie's Italian, a restaurant serving Tuscan-style fare by British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.

Celebrating a special occasion or hoping for a once-in-a-lifetime banqueting experience? Specialty dining is an optional upgrade that goes above and beyond complimentary options to deliver something special.

If you'd like to try several, a dining package costs less than booking meal by meal and helps save up to 40%. The 3-Night Dining Package covers three dinners, and the Unlimited Dining Package covers a specialty restaurant every night of your sailing plus lunch at specialty venues on sea days. Availability varies by sailing length. Buy your package through My Royal Cruise before you sail and gratuities are included in the price. Children ages 6 to 12 can be added to a package for $14.99 per night, and ages 5 and under dine free.

How Do Beverage Packages Work?

Your fare covers ice water, flavored waters, brewed coffee, assorted teas, iced tea, hot chocolate, milk, lemonade and fruit juices throughout the ship. If you'd like soda, wine, beer, cocktails, premium coffee and tea such as Starbucks, bottled water or fresh-squeezed juice, order them individually or bundle them into a beverage package, which covers your drinks for the whole sailing at a single daily rate.

What Activities Are Included on a Royal Caribbean Cruise?

Most must-try activities on board Royal Caribbean ships are included, allowing families to enjoy hours of fun at no added cost. Activities are included for every age, and availability varies by ship.

Icon of the Seas® and its fellow Icon Class ships offer even more included amenities, including Category 6, the largest waterpark at sea, and Surfside®, a family-friendly neighborhood with an aqua park, infinity pool and climbable Playscape℠.

*Venue names may vary per ship. For the list of dining or entertainment venues, be sure to review things to do on your ship.

What Entertainment Is Included?

On Royal Caribbean cruises, there’s no shortage of free entertainment. Marvel at Broadway-style shows, thrilling ice skating presentations and visual wonders at the AquaTheater. Then, get involved in the action through karaoke, dance parties, outdoor movies and live theater performances. And if live music is your jam, you’ll find a variety of options for every music taste spread throughout the ships.

These performances and first-hand entertainment options are all free and incredible ways to spend your days at sea.

What Onboard Activities Are Free?

Top free activities on board include waterslides, FlowRider, ice skating, mini golf, various sports and more.

While cruising, your kids will never use the dreaded “B” word: bored. With physical and family-friendly attractions, your group will have plenty of opportunities for friendly competition, athletic fun and non-stop action. In addition to multiple pools and hot tubs and fully equipped fitness centers, here are just some of the complimentary onboard activities:

● Waterslides (Category 6, The Perfect Storm®, Tidal Wave℠, Riptide℠, The Blaster®).

● Ultimate Abyss℠ dry slide.

● Splashaway Bay kids aqua park.

● FlowRider surf simulator.

● Rock-climbing wall.

● Ice skating.

● Laser tag.

● Ziplining.

● Mini golf.

● Pickleball.

● Basketball.

● Bumper cars.

● Carousel rides.

Just keep in mind that availability varies by ship.

Are Kids Clubs Included on a Cruise?

Yes! All supervised Adventure Ocean® Youth Programs — Aquanauts for ages 3-5, Explorers for ages 6-8 and Voyagers for ages 9-12— and hosted teen programs (for ages 13-17) in the Living Room, Fuel Teen Club, Social020 and Social100 hangout spaces are free (teen spaces vary by ship). The Royal Babies and Tots nursery for children ages 6 months to 3 years is not included, it charges $9–$12 per hour per child on select ships where the nursery is available.

WAYS TO CUSTOMIZE YOUR CRUISE

Beyond what your fare already covers, a handful of things are yours to choose: a beverage package, a specialty dinner or two, Wi-Fi, an afternoon at the spa, shore excursions, the nursery, the arcade, photos and the onboard shops. Take all of them, none of them, or the two that matter to your group. The daily gratuity for the crew is the one automatic addition, and it is covered below

Are Gratuities Included on a Cruise?

Your stateroom attendant, your waitstaff and the dining and bar teams working behind the scenes are recognized through an automatic daily gratuity, so you never have to carry cash or work out who to tip. It's $18.50 per person per day in a stateroom and $21 per person per day in a suite, added to your onboard account and shared across the crew who look after you. Purchased beverages, specialty dining and dining packages, room service and mini bar items carry an 18% gratuity; spa and salon services carry 20%. The price you're quoted is the price that's settled.

Is Wi-Fi Included on a Cruise?

Staying connected is easy. Royal Caribbean's app comes with your fare and keeps your group in touch onboard, with guest-to-guest chat, daily schedules and ship maps. For streaming, video calls, or posting from the middle of the ocean, VOOM (Powered by Starlink) is $16.99–$30.99 per device, per day or as a package, and costs less when you book before you sail. Wired iCafe stations are onboard as well, and certain suite categories come with Wi-Fi built in. The free Royal Caribbean app comes in handy for keeping in contact with your group with its included guest-to-guest chat, along with many other helpful features to navigate the ship.

How Does the Spa Work?

If your idea of relaxation includes head-to-toe pampering, Vitality Spa treatments, salon appointments and specialty fitness classes are bookable by the service, so you add only what you want. Royal Escape Room experiences, arcade games, sushi-making and cupcake-decorating classes, professional photography and the onboard boutiques all work the same way.

Are Shore Excursions Included?

No. Your fare covers your days on the ship and on our private destinations. Guided shore excursions in every port are booked separately, and you are always free to head ashore on your own and explore at your own pace.

What's Included at PERFECT DAY COCOCAY?

If you're cruising the Caribbean and call on Perfect Day CocoCay, your fare already covers the island: the Oasis Lagoon pool, Splashaway Bay aqua park, and beaches like Chill Island and South Beach are all included. If you’re interested in a premium experience, try upgrading to Thrill Waterpark and its 14 waterslides, the Zip Line, or the Up, Up & Away helium balloon ride. Or settle in at Coco Beach Club, the adults-only Hideaway Beach, or a private cabana or daybed.

Ways To Get More Included In Your Fare

Royal Suite Class, on Icon, Oasis and Quantum Class ships, moves a good part of the optional column into your fare. Suites come with exclusive spaces like the Coastal Kitchen restaurant, complimentary beverages, and a concierge to arrange what you want to do. Benefits are tiered across Sea, Sky and Star Class, and Star Class is the one to know about: specialty dining, a beverage package, gratuities and Wi-Fi are all included, along with a Royal Genie.

Crown & Anchor® Society does the same thing over time. Every night you sail earns points, and each tier moves more onto the included side — discounts on wine, beer and soda, on Wi-Fi, spa services, photos, laundry and the onboard shops. Reach Diamond and you get vouchers for a free drink a day. Higher tiers add members-only events and exclusive booking rates.

What’s Included vs. Not Included on a Cruise?

General amenities, dining and entertainment are completely free as part of your cruise fare:

● Stateroom.

● Complimentary dining options (dining room, buffets, grab-and-go spots).

● Continental breakfast delivered via room service.

● Ice water, coffee, tea, lemonade and juices.

● Onboard entertainment (Broadway shows, ice shows, AquaTheater shows, live music and more).

● Pools and hot tubs.

● Onboard activities (waterslides, surf simulator, zipline, laser tag, rock climbing, bumper cars, mini golf and more).

● Fitness center.

● Adventure Ocean Kids program and teen clubs (ages 3-17).

● App with guest-to-guest chat features.

Ways to customize your cruise:

● Specialty dining.

● 24/7 room service: $7.95 plus tax and fees per room order.

● Alcoholic beverages and soda.

● Wi-Fi.

● Spa treatments.

● Shore excursions.

● Royal Babies and Tots Nursery: $9-$12 per hour per child.

● Laundry services.

*Prices and offers are subject to availability and change without notice.

FAQ: WHAT'S INCLUDED IN YOUR CRUISE FARE?

Is Room Service Included?

Yes, continental breakfast delivered through room service is included at no additional cost. If you'd like to order from the full room service menu outside of continental breakfast hours, a service fee applies.

Are Drinks Included?

Yes, several beverages are included in your cruise fare, including ice water, brewed coffee, tea, iced tea, lemonade, milk and select fruit juices available in complimentary dining venues. Alcoholic beverages, soda, bottled water, specialty coffee drinks and fresh-squeezed juices are available for an additional charge or through a beverage package.

Are Kids Clubs Included?

Yes. The complimentary Adventure Ocean® Youth Program is included for children ages 3 to 12, and supervised teen programs for ages 13 to 17 are also included. Families traveling with infants and toddlers should note that the Royal Babies & Tots℠ Nursery is available on select ships for an hourly fee.

Do Suites Include Extra Perks?

Yes. Guests staying in Royal Suite Class accommodations on select ships receive additional benefits that vary by suite category. Depending on your suite, perks may include priority boarding, concierge or Royal Genie service, complimentary Wi-Fi, beverage packages, specialty dining, gratuities and access to exclusive venues. The specific benefits depend on whether you book a Sea, Sky or Star Class suite.

What is the $99.75 charge on Royal Caribbean?

That charge is typically the automatic daily gratuity. Royal Caribbean adds $18 per person per day for stateroom guests and $20.50 per person per day for suite guests. On a 5-night sailing for two stateroom guests, that totals $180. You can prepay gratuities before your cruise through the Cruise Planner to avoid the daily charge on your onboard account.

Ready To Plan Your Cruise?

Royal Caribbean gives you the freedom to vacation how you want. Want to stick to the complimentary activities, dining, entertainment and amenities? Great! You’ll have an amazing trip with everything you could possibly want. Ready to go big? There are plenty of ways to customize and bundle your trip for maximum fun.

Prefer a quick visual breakdown? Check out the infographic of what’s included in your cruise fare.

No matter what your dream trip looks like, Royal Caribbean has a cruise perfect for your group.