Your cruise fare covers a lot: your cabin, most meals, entertainment, and getting from port to port. But once you book, the offers start rolling in: drink packages, Wi-Fi, specialty dining, excursions, spa deals, photo packages, and more. Some are excellent value. Others you’ll never use. Here are cruise add-on packages explained clearly, so you can decide what’s worth buying before you sail.
Don’t Overpay for Cruise Extras
We compare bundled fares and add-on packages so you only pay for what you’ll actually use. Free expert advice.
Why Cruise Lines Sell Add-On Packages
Cruise lines keep base fares competitive and earn a large share of their revenue onboard. Packages bundle popular extras at a set price, often with discounts if you buy before you sail. That’s good news for you, if you buy the right ones.
1. Beverage Packages
What it is: Unlimited drinks for a daily price, with tiers for soda, non-alcoholic specialty drinks, and alcohol.
Typical cost: Roughly $10–$20 per day for soda and $60–$110+ per day for alcohol packages, plus an 18%–20% service charge on most lines.
Worth it if: You’ll have about 5 or more alcoholic drinks every day of the cruise.
Watch out for: Rules requiring every adult in the cabin to buy the package. Read our full guide to cruise drink packages.
2. Wi-Fi / Internet Packages
What it is: Internet access per device for the cruise. Most lines now use satellite systems like Starlink, which are much faster than older systems.
Typical cost: Often $15–$35 per device per day, with discounts for multiple devices or prebooking.
Worth it if: You need to work, stream, or keep teens happy.
Watch out for: Basic “social” plans that block streaming or video calls.
3. Specialty Dining Packages
What it is: A set number of specialty restaurant meals (steakhouse, sushi, Italian, teppanyaki) at a discount compared with paying one at a time.
Typical cost: Varies widely; packages of 2–5 meals often save 20%–40% off à la carte pricing.
Worth it if: You’d dine in specialty restaurants at least two or three times.
Watch out for: Package meals that don’t include every item or require reservations far in advance.
4. Shore Excursion Packages
What it is: Tours in each port, booked through the cruise line, sometimes bundled for a discount.
Worth it if: You want the guarantee that the ship waits for ship-sponsored tours running late.
Watch out for: Higher prices than some independent operators. See cruise line vs independent excursions.
5. Prepaid Gratuities
What it is: Paying daily service charges in advance instead of having them added to your onboard account.
Typical cost: Usually around $16–$20+ per person per day on mainstream lines, higher in suites.
Worth it if: You like budgeting in advance, or want to lock in today’s rate before a potential increase.
More detail: should you prepay cruise gratuities?
6. Bundled Fare Packages
Some lines bundle multiple extras into the fare itself:
- Celebrity All Included: Drinks, Wi-Fi, and gratuities
- Princess Plus and Premier: Drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities, and more; Premier adds premium perks. See Princess Plus vs Premier.
- Norwegian Free at Sea: Choice of perks like open bar, specialty dining, excursion credit, and Wi-Fi. See Free at Sea explained.
- MSC fare experiences: Higher fare tiers include drinks and other extras.
Bundled fares are often the best value when you’d buy most of the components anyway.
7. Spa and Thermal Suite Passes
What it is: Access to thermal suites, saunas, and heated loungers for the cruise, or bundled treatments.
Worth it if: You want a quiet retreat on sea days.
Tip: Look for port-day spa specials, which are often discounted.
8. Photo Packages
What it is: Digital or printed photos taken by ship photographers.
Worth it if: You’ll take formal-night portraits or want professional family photos.
9. Activity and Experience Passes
Some ships charge for premium attractions, such as escape rooms, go-kart tracks, North Star, or VR experiences, or sell combo passes. Others include them. Check before you sail so you can prebook popular time slots.
10. Royal Caribbean’s Key, Carnival’s FTTF, and Priority Perks
Priority boarding and convenience packages, like The Key on Royal Caribbean or Faster to the Fun on Carnival, offer early boarding, cabin access, and priority services. They’re a nice-to-have, mainly for short cruises where embarkation time matters more.
Which Add-Ons Are Usually Worth It?
| Package | Usually Worth It For |
|---|---|
| Drink package | Regular daily drinkers, sea-day heavy cruises |
| Wi-Fi | Remote workers, teens, frequent sharers |
| Dining package | Foodies dining out 2+ times |
| Prepaid gratuities | Budgeters and travelers locking in rates |
| Bundled fares | Anyone who’d buy drinks and Wi-Fi anyway |
| Spa pass | Relaxation-focused travelers |
| Priority boarding | Short cruises, families eager to start |
How to Save on Add-Ons
- Prebook online. Lines often run sales on packages before sailing.
- Watch prices after you buy. Some lines let you cancel and rebook a package at a lower sale price before sailing.
- Use onboard credit. Many travelers apply OBC to packages. See what onboard credit covers.
- Compare bundled fares. Sometimes upgrading your fare is cheaper than buying packages separately.
- Ask your advisor. Agents can help you weigh bundles, promotions, and perks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to buy any add-on packages?
No. All are optional. Many cruisers enjoy great trips with none at all.
Are add-ons cheaper before the cruise?
Usually yes. Prebooking pricing is typically lower than onboard pricing.
Can I cancel an add-on package?
Most prebooked packages can be cancelled for a refund before sailing. Policies vary by line and package.
Can a travel agent add packages to my booking?
Yes. Your advisor can help add many packages or guide you through the line’s online planner.
Get Expert Help Choosing Add-Ons
The right add-ons can make your cruise easier and more enjoyable, and the wrong ones can quietly drain your budget. At The Cruise Headquarters, we help you figure out which packages make sense for how you travel. Request a free cruise quote today.
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Package vs à la carte: how to decide
Packages win when you’d use the included items every day. Paying as you go wins for light users. A quick test for each package:
- Estimate what you’d buy per day at onboard prices.
- Multiply by the number of days, including port days.
- Compare to the package price plus its service charge.
- Remember line rules: many drink packages must be bought for every adult in the cabin.
Plan add-ons without overspending
- Buy pre-cruise when the line runs package sales, then watch for further drops.
- Prioritize the one or two add-ons you care about; skip the rest.
- Use onboard credit for add-ons where the line allows it.
- Set a daily onboard budget and check your folio in the app.