What’s Included at No Extra Cost on a Cruise?
The Ultimate Family Guide to Royal Caribbean, Princess, Disney, Celebrity, Carnival, and Norwegian
Cruises are like floating cities with zip lines, Broadway-style shows, and more food than a county fair. But one of the biggest questions families ask when booking is:
“What’s actually included at no extra cost?” It’s crucial to know what’s included in a cruise to avoid unexpected expenses.
The answer? Well… it depends.
Cruise lines love to woo you with promises of “all-inclusive,” but not all inclusions are created equal. Some give you soft-serve 24/7, others give you a Broadway show and a side of filet mignon (for free). And yes, some charge extra for things you’d think would be included (we’re looking at you, soda).
This guide breaks down what’s included on six of the most popular cruise lines for families—Royal Caribbean, Princess, Disney, Celebrity, Carnival, and Norwegian—so you can set sail with no financial surprises and maximum family fun.
🚢 Royal Caribbean: Action-Packed Family Fun (with Fries on the Side)
Royal Caribbean is the cruise line of “WOW” factor. Think rock walls, FlowRiders, skydiving simulators, and robot bartenders. But what’s actually included in your fare?
✅ What’s Included:
- Accommodations: Your stateroom (inside, oceanview, balcony, or suite) with daily housekeeping.
- Dining:
- Main dining room (fancy dinners, no extra charge)
- Windjammer buffet (open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
- Park Café (home of the roast beef sandwich you’ll dream about)
- Sorrento’s Pizza (open late = parent MVP)
- Café Promenade (sandwiches, pastries, coffee)
- Soft serve ice cream on the pool deck
- Entertainment:
- Broadway-style shows (like Hairspray and Mamma Mia!)
- Aqua shows on Oasis-class ships
- Comedy acts, live music, parades
- Activities:
- Rock climbing walls
- Mini-golf
- Sports courts
- Pools & hot tubs
- Water slides (on newer ships)
- Kids & teens clubs (Adventure Ocean = free, drop-off fun)
🚫 Not Included:
- Soda (get a beverage package or bring your own)
- Specialty restaurants (Chops Grille, Izumi, Johnny Rockets)
- Wi-Fi
- Some activities like laser tag and escape rooms
- Gratuities
🎯 Best For:
Families who want non-stop activities. If your kids get bored easily, Royal Caribbean will run them ragged—in the best way.
Book a Royal Caribbean cruise here.
👑 Princess Cruises: Sophisticated, Calm, and Surprisingly Kid-Friendly
Princess has a reputation for quiet elegance, but don’t count it out for families. Their Discovery™ at SEA program makes it a hit with kids who love animals, space, and learning (but make it fun).
✅ What’s Included:
- Accommodations: Clean, comfy cabins with room for families
- Dining:
- Main dining rooms (multi-course dinners)
- World Fresh Marketplace (buffet)
- Slice Pizzeria
- The Salty Dog Grill (burgers, fries, hot dogs)
- Coffee & Cones (complimentary ice cream)
- Entertainment:
- Broadway-style production shows
- Movies Under the Stars® (blankets, popcorn, and all)
- Live music & game shows
- Activities:
- Discovery at SEA programs
- Camp Discovery (free kids’ club for ages 3–17)
- Pools & hot tubs
- Trivia, arts & crafts, and enrichment programs for all ages
🚫 Not Included:
- Soda and specialty coffees
- Room service (some items may incur a delivery fee)
- Specialty dining
- Wi-Fi (unless you get a MedallionNet® package)
- Gratuities
🎯 Best For:
Families who like a calmer cruise with educational experiences. Great for multi-generational groups and curious kids.
🐭 Disney Cruise Line: Where the Magic Really Is All-Inclusive
Disney may cost more up front, but what you get included is jaw-dropping. If you want to cruise and not nickel-and-dime your way through vacation, this is your golden ticket.
✅ What’s Included:
- Accommodations: Spacious, family-friendly staterooms with split bathrooms (genius!)
- Dining:
- Rotational dining at 3 themed restaurants (same servers follow you!)
- Cabanas buffet
- Quick-service food by the pool (burgers, pizza, nuggets, fruit)
- Eye Scream Treats (unlimited soft serve!)
- Room service (yes, Mickey bars at midnight are a thing)
- Entertainment:
- Broadway-caliber Disney shows
- Fireworks at sea
- First-run Disney movies (often still in theaters)
- Character meet-and-greets
- Deck parties, pirate night, themed trivia
- Activities:
- Pools & splash zones
- Kids clubs (Oceaneer Club & Lab, Edge, and Vibe—free!)
- Special events and crafts
- Castaway Cay: private island with lunch and beach chairs included
🚫 Not Included:
- Soda is included in dining areas, but not from room service
- Alcohol
- Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
- Port Adventures
- Gratuities
- Wi-Fi
🎯 Best For:
Disney-loving families who want a totally kid-focused cruise where almost everything is included—and magical.
✨ Celebrity Cruises: Upscale Luxury with Family Perks
Celebrity is often seen as the “adult” cruise line, but don’t let the chic interiors and gourmet food fool you. There’s something here for families who appreciate the finer things—even if one of those things is unlimited ice cream.
✅ What’s Included:
- Accommodations: Stylish cabins with family options
- Dining:
- Main dining room (high-end, beautifully plated meals)
- Oceanview Café (buffet with global flavors)
- Mast Grill (burgers and hot dogs by the pool)
- Soft-serve ice cream and pastries
- Entertainment:
- Live theater shows and musical acts
- Silent discos
- Pool games and enrichment activities
- Activities:
- Pools & hot tubs
- Camp at Sea: youth program for ages 3–12
- Video game lounge for teens
- Lawn games on select ships
🚫 Not Included:
- Soda
- Specialty dining (like Eden, Le Petit Chef)
- Wi-Fi (included in some fare types, like Always Included)
- Some fitness classes
- Gratuities
🎯 Best For:
Families with older kids or teens, foodies, or multigenerational groups who want a classier, quieter cruise—but still family-friendly.
🎉 Carnival Cruise Line: Family Fun, Fries, and Free Burgers
Carnival is the fun ship—and unapologetically so. It’s built for families on a budget who still want excitement, entertainment, and a pool day (or ten).
✅ What’s Included:
- Accommodations: Rooms with fun family layouts, even some with multiple bathrooms
- Dining:
- Main dining room (think comfort food classics + surprises)
- Lido Marketplace (buffet)
- Guy’s Burger Joint – 🍔 YES, included! <– Our family favorite!
- BlueIguana Cantina (tacos, burritos—made fresh)
- Pizza Pirate (open 24/7)
- Swirls soft-serve (also 24/7)
- Entertainment:
- Playlist Productions shows
- Comedy Club (PG shows for families)
- Dive-in Movies
- Game shows and trivia
- Activities:
- WaterWorks (waterslides galore!)
- Ropes course, mini-golf
- Camp Ocean (ages 2–11, free!)
- Circle “C” and Club O2 for teens
- Seuss at Sea (parades, story time, and themed breakfasts)
🚫 Not Included:
- Soda
- Some specialty dining (Steakhouse, Bonsai Sushi)
- Wi-Fi
- Gratuities
- Arcade games
🎯 Best For:
Budget-conscious families who want to eat, laugh, swim, and repeat. Carnival keeps it fun and affordable.
🎭 Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL): Freestyle Family Cruising
NCL is all about freedom—eat when you want, wear what you want, and do as much or as little as you want. It’s a great fit for laid-back families with varied tastes and schedules.
✅ What’s Included:
- Accommodations: Wide range of cabins, from studios to family suites
- Dining:
- Main dining rooms (no set times!)
- Garden Café buffet
- The Local Bar & Grill (comfort food, open late)
- Soft-serve ice cream, included
- 24-hour room service (some fees may apply)
- Entertainment:
- Broadway-style shows (Footloose, Six)
- Comedy and live music
- Game shows, trivia, and dance parties
- Activities:
- Pools, waterslides, splash parks
- Mini-golf, basketball courts
- Splash Academy (kids 3–12), Entourage (teens)
- Ropes course and go-karts (on select ships; some may cost extra)
🚫 Not Included:
- Soda
- Most specialty dining (teppanyaki, steakhouse, etc.)
- Wi-Fi
- Laser tag & go-karts (extra fee)
- Gratuities
🎯 Best For:
Families who want flexible dining, good entertainment, and plenty of onboard fun without strict schedules.
🎻 Holland America Line: Understated Elegance with Surprising Family Appeal
Holland America is known for refined, adult-focused cruising—think classical music, art galleries, and cooking demos. But don’t be fooled: they’ve quietly built a solid offering for families, especially those who appreciate a slower pace, beautiful scenery, and (bonus!) really good food.
✅ What’s Included:
- Accommodations: Tastefully decorated cabins, including family oceanview staterooms with extra space
- Dining:
- Main Dining Room (elegant multi-course meals)
- Lido Market (buffet with rotating global options)
- Dive-In Grill (yep—burgers, fries, and Nathan’s hot dogs included)
- New York Pizza (made-to-order and included!)
- Ice cream and fresh-baked cookies at the buffet
- Entertainment:
- Live music at the Music Walk (Lincoln Center Stage, B.B. King’s, Rolling Stone Rock Room)
- BBC Earth Experiences (nature doc magic)
- Daily trivia, game shows, and enrichment talks
- Activities:
- Pools & hot tubs
- Club HAL: Free youth program (ages 5–17) with crafts, games, and movie nights
- Digital workshops and art activities
- Pickleball, fitness center access
🚫 Not Included:
- Soda and specialty coffees
- Specialty dining (Pinnacle Grill, Tamarind)
- Wi-Fi (available as part of the “Have It All” package)
- Babysitting services (not available)
- Gratuities
🎯 Best For:
Families who want a calm, scenic cruise (hello, Alaska!) with great food and less chaos. Perfect for multi-gen travel where grandparents and grandkids all find their groove.
Book a Holland America cruise here!
So, What’s the Bottom Line?
If you’re planning a family cruise, here’s the TL;DR:
| Cruise Line | Best For | Soda Included? | Kids Club? | Ice Cream? | Broadway Shows? | Specialty Dining Extra? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean | Adventure-loving families | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Princess | Educational fun & quiet vibes | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Disney | Total family immersion | ✅ (mostly) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Celebrity | Classy cruising with kids | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Carnival | Budget fun seekers | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Norwegian | Flexible, casual fun | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Holland America | Scenic serenity & foodie families | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ (musical acts) | ✅ |
Ready to set sail?
Now that you know what’s included on each cruise line, you can match your family’s style (and snack preferences) with the perfect ship. Whether your crew craves character meet-and-greets, adrenaline-pumping waterslides, or unlimited pizza and soft serve, there’s a cruise with your name on it.
Just a small word of caution. Sometimes the website is not clear on what is actually included and what is not, because each ship is different. For example, we were excited to go on a new ship that had a trampoline park, the website was not clear on whether or not it was included. It turned out that it was not included and cost extra, so we didn’t do it!
Let the only surprise on your cruise be towel animals—not your final bill.
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