Pricing
What a Cruise Really Costs: Fares, Fees, Gratuities and Extras Explained
What goes into a cruise price: fare, taxes and port fees, daily gratuities, packages and extras, plus how to compare two quotes on a true like-for-like basis.
By the MyCruiseMonkey team. Updated October 14, 2026, about a 8-minute read.
The number in a cruise ad is a starting point, not a budget. Between the fare and the moment you walk off the ship, several other costs show up: taxes and port expenses, daily gratuities, drinks, Wi-Fi, excursions and the cost of getting to the port. None of these are hidden if you know where to look, and once you understand the pieces you can compare quotes with confidence.
This guide walks through each part of a cruise price, shows current published gratuity rates for the big lines, and gives you a simple method for comparing two quotes on equal terms.
The parts of a cruise price
Cruise fare
The cruise fare is the base price per person for your cabin, usually quoted for two guests sharing. It covers your accommodation, most meals in the main dining room and buffet, basic drinks such as water, coffee and tea, most entertainment and the ship’s pools and public spaces.
Fares are usually quoted “per person, double occupancy.” That matters in two ways. A third or fourth guest in the same cabin is often priced much lower than the first two, and a solo traveler in a standard cabin usually pays a single supplement because the line prices the cabin for two.
Non-commissionable fare (NCF)
Some booking breakdowns show an NCF, or non-commissionable fare. It is not an extra charge. It is a slice of the cruise fare that the line does not pay travel agency commission on. You pay it either way. It becomes relevant when an agency offers perks funded from its commission, because those perks are calculated on the commissionable portion of the fare, not the whole thing.
Taxes, fees and port expenses
Lines bill government taxes, port charges and related fees on top of the fare. Carnival, for example, uses the label “Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses” in its booking terms. These charges are per person and depend on the itinerary: the ports you visit, how many there are and the length of the cruise. Two cruises with similar fares can have quite different fee totals.
These charges are usually not discountable, and onboard credit can’t be used to pay them. Carnival’s published onboard credit terms state that the credit may not be applied to cruise fare or taxes, fees and port expenses.
Daily gratuities or service charges
Most mainstream lines add a daily gratuity (sometimes called a service charge or crew appreciation charge) to each guest’s onboard account for every night of the cruise. You can usually prepay it with your booking, which simply moves the cost forward. Suite guests often pay a higher daily rate.
Luxury lines such as Regent Seven Seas and Silversea generally include gratuities in the fare, which is one reason their fares look higher at first glance.
Published daily gratuity rates for major lines
The table below summarizes published rates as reported in The Points Guy’s cruise tipping roundup dated October 13, 2026. Rates are per person, per night, in US dollars, and lines change them periodically. Check the line’s own site or ask us before you budget.
| Line | Standard cabins | Suites or higher categories |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean | $18.50 (includes junior suites) | $21 |
| Carnival | $17 | $19 |
| Norwegian | $20 | $25 (suites and The Haven) |
| Celebrity | $19.50 | $20.50 Concierge and AquaClass, $24.50 The Retreat |
| Princess | $18 to $20 depending on category | Included with Princess Plus or Premier packages |
| Holland America | $18 | $20 |
| MSC | $17 on US voyages | Children 2 to 11 pay half on most cruises |
| Viking | $20 for all cabins | Same rate |
| Virgin Voyages | $22 for all cabins | Same rate |
| Cunard | $18 | $19 Grill suites |
| Disney | Suggested $16 | Suggested $27.25 concierge and suites |
A few lines also add an automatic percentage to bar bills, specialty dining or spa services. The same roundup reports 18% on bar and specialty dining purchases at Royal Caribbean and 20% on bar purchases at Norwegian, for example. That means the price on a drink menu is not quite the price you pay.
A worked example
Using the Royal Caribbean standard rate above, two adults on a seven-night cruise would add 2 guests x 7 nights x $18.50 = $259 in gratuities. On a family cruise with two kids, the number roughly doubles, since most lines charge children too (some exempt very young children; Carnival exempts children under 2 and Norwegian exempts children under 3, according to the same source).
What is usually included, and what usually costs extra
On a mass-market or premium line, the fare typically covers:
- Your cabin and housekeeping
- Main dining room, buffet and some casual venues
- Water, coffee, tea and some juices
- Theater shows, live music and most activities
- Pools, hot tubs, fitness center access and kids’ clubs
Common extras include:
- Alcoholic drinks, soda and specialty coffee (or a drink package)
- Wi-Fi
- Specialty restaurants
- Shore excursions
- Spa treatments and some fitness classes
- Photos, casino play and shopping
- Travel insurance
- Flights, a pre-cruise hotel night, port parking or transfers
Luxury and some premium lines bundle more of these into the fare. If you are comparing a mainstream line with an all-inclusive one, the gap in total cost is often smaller than the gap in fares.
Packages and bundled fares
Many lines sell bundles that combine drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities and sometimes specialty dining. Examples include Princess Plus and Premier, Celebrity’s All Included fare and Norwegian’s Free at Sea promotions. Each has its own rules and exclusions.
Two rules catch people out:
- Everyone in the cabin may have to buy it. Several lines require all adults in a cabin to purchase an alcoholic drink package if one does.
- Packages have price caps and daily limits. Drinks above a set price may cost extra, and some packages limit the number of alcoholic drinks per day.
A bundle saves money only if you would have bought most of what is in it. If you drink one glass of wine at dinner, a drink package probably costs more than paying as you go. Our guide to onboard credit and perks covers this in more depth.
How to compare two quotes on equal terms
Most “this site is cheaper” moments come from comparing quotes that are not actually the same product. Before comparing totals, line up these details:
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Ship and sail date | Prices change by date, sometimes by a lot within the same month |
| Cabin category, not just type | “Balcony” can cover several categories with different locations and sizes |
| Number of guests | Third and fourth guest pricing changes the per-person math |
| Fare type | Non-refundable deposit fares are often cheaper but less flexible |
| Total with taxes and fees | Some quotes show fare only |
| Included perks | Drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities or credit change the real value |
| Deposit and final payment dates | Affects cash flow and when penalties start |
Then build a simple total for each option:
- Cruise fare for all guests
- Plus taxes, fees and port expenses
- Plus daily gratuities (rate x guests x nights), unless included
- Plus packages you would buy anyway
- Minus the realistic value of included perks you would actually use
Value perks at what you would have spent, not at the line’s retail price. A Wi-Fi package you would never have bought is worth close to nothing to you.
Prices move, and that is normal
Cruise fares are dynamic. They rise and fall with demand, and lines run promotions frequently. Some lines publish price-match or price-protection policies that may let you reprice before final payment, with conditions. Royal Caribbean’s published Best Price Guarantee, for example, lets you request a match for the same cruise, date and room type before final payment, with eligibility limits. Our guide to price drops and repricing explains how these work and when it is worth acting.
Costs people forget
- Getting to the port. Flights, a hotel night before the cruise and transfers can add up, especially for one-way sailings.
- Port days. Taxis, beach clubs, meals ashore and tips for local guides.
- Specialty coffee and bottled water if they are not in your package.
- Laundry on longer cruises.
- Travel insurance. See our cruise travel insurance guide.
A sensible budgeting approach
Start with the total cruise price including taxes and fees, add gratuities, then add a daily spending estimate based on how you actually like to travel. If you are new to cruising, our first cruise guide explains what a typical day onboard looks like, which makes the estimate easier.
Get a clear, complete quote
If you would like a quote that shows the total cost, what is included and how the fare compares with similar sailings, tell us about your trip on our cruise finder. A specialist will reply with options that are laid out line by line, so you can see exactly what you are paying for. You can also read how it works first.
Quick answers
Are taxes and port fees included in the advertised cruise fare?
Usually not. Most US cruise advertising shows the cruise fare per person and lists taxes, fees and port expenses separately, so the amount you actually pay at checkout is higher than the headline number. Always ask for a quote that shows the total for everyone in the cabin, including taxes and fees.
Are cruise gratuities mandatory?
On most mainstream lines a daily gratuity or service charge is added automatically to your onboard account for each guest, per night. You can usually prepay it before the cruise. Policies on adjusting or removing it vary by line, and some luxury lines include gratuities in the fare, so check the line's current policy before you budget.
How do I compare two cruise quotes fairly?
Make sure both quotes are for the same ship, sail date, cabin category, number of guests and fare type (refundable or non-refundable deposit). Then compare the total including taxes and fees, add the daily gratuities, and put a realistic value on any included perks such as drinks, Wi-Fi or onboard credit. Only count a perk at the price you would actually have paid for it.
What is an NCF on a cruise booking?
NCF stands for non-commissionable fare. It is a portion of the cruise fare that the line does not pay travel agency commission on. It is part of what you pay, not an extra charge, but it matters for agency perks because offers funded by an agency's commission are calculated on the commissionable portion only.
Is a cheaper cruise fare always the better deal?
Not always. A lower fare can carry a non-refundable deposit, fewer included perks or a less useful cabin location. Compare total trip cost, what is included and how flexible the booking is before deciding.
Sources and fact-checking
We write our own guides and check hard facts like fleet sizes, ship specs and published fees against these sources. Cruise lines change things often, so we re-confirm details in every quote. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
