Cruise fees and drink-package rules by line
Gratuities, service charges and drink-package rules for six mainstream cruise lines, each with the page it came from and the date we read it. Last verified: 2026-10-18. Not re-verified on 2026-10-20: cruise-line pages are now checked by hand, and this update did not re-check them, so confirm every figure on your own booking. "Not verified" means we did not confirm it, so we show nothing instead of guessing.
Prices change. Example: in April 2026 Carnival raised daily gratuities by $1 (Cruise Hive, Apr 3 2026). Treat this page as a starting point and confirm on your own booking. See the dated fee changes log for every change we have found, with sources, and the drink-package rules page for who in the cabin must buy a package.
| Line | Daily gratuity per guest | Percentage service charges | Drink package covered | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival Cruise Line | $17 (suites: $19) USD per guest per day | Drinks 20%; specialty dining 20%; spa not verified | CHEERS! | details & sources |
| Royal Caribbean International | $18.5 (suites: $21) USD per guest per day | Drinks 20%; specialty dining 20%; spa 20% | Deluxe Beverage Package | details & sources |
| Celebrity Cruises | $19.5 (suites: $24.5; Concierge and AquaClass staterooms: $20.5; The Retreat suites: $24.5) USD per guest per day | Drinks 20%; specialty dining 20%; spa 20% | Classic Drink Package | details & sources |
| Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) | $20 (suites: $25) USD per guest per day (ages 3 and up) | Drinks 20%; specialty dining 20%; spa 20% | Free at Sea Unlimited Open Bar Package | details & sources |
| Holland America Line | $18 (suites: $20) USD per guest per day | Drinks 20%; specialty dining 20%; spa 18% | Signature Beverage Package | details & sources |
| Princess Cruises | $18 (suites: $20; Mini-Suites, Cabanas and Club Class: $19) USD per guest per day | Drinks 20%; specialty dining not verified; spa not verified | Plus Beverage Package (also bundled in Princess Plus / Premier) | details & sources |
Carnival Cruise Line
Last verified 2026-10-18 · not re-verified on 2026-10-20
Daily gratuity / service charge
$17 per guest per day (standard cabins); $19 suites. Carnival describes this as a recommended amount; added to the onboard account unless prepaid, adjustable onboard. Effective for sailings on/after Apr 2 2026.
news report of the line's own guest notice (carnival.com gratuity page would not load for our reader) Sources: USA Today, Feb 4 2026: Carnival raises gratuity and drink package rates Cruise Hive, Apr 3 2026: increases now in effect
Percentage charges on drinks, dining, spa
Carnival's CHEERS! page lists the package price plus a 20% service charge. Cruise Hive reports the add-on service charge moved from 18% to 20% in Dec 2025.
Sources: Carnival CHEERS! page Cruise Hive, Apr 3 2026
Drink package: CHEERS!
- Price: $69.95 per person per day. US$69.95 per person per day pre-cruise, US$74.95 onboard, plus 20% service charge, per the page. Must be bought for the entire cruise. Carnival announced on Oct 14 2026 that drink and Wi-Fi package prices will vary by sailing length, itinerary and season starting Dec 1 2026 (USA Today, Oct 14 2026, updated Oct 15); the price here is the CHEERS! page price as read on 2026-10-18.
- Everyone in the cabin? Each adult assigned to the same stateroom must purchase the program (guests must be 21+).
- Limits: Up to 15 alcoholic drinks per 24 hours; drinks over US$20 get a 25% discount instead of being covered; state/local taxes may be charged in US waters.
Sources: Carnival CHEERS! page USA Today, Oct 14 2026: dynamic pricing from Dec 1
Royal Caribbean International
Last verified 2026-10-18 · not re-verified on 2026-10-20
Daily gratuity / service charge
$18.5 per guest per day (standard cabins); $21 suites. Official FAQ: gratuities are optional and can be adjusted or removed at Guest Relations before the morning of disembarkation; applied daily to SeaPass account if not prepaid.
official line page Sources: Royal Caribbean FAQ: gratuity price and policy
Percentage charges on drinks, dining, spa
Official FAQ: 20% gratuity auto-added to spa/salon, beverages and beverage packages, specialty dining, room service and minibar; optional and adjustable.
Sources: Royal Caribbean FAQ: gratuity price and policy
Drink package: Deluxe Beverage Package
- Price: No default price recorded. Price varies by ship and sailing; not recorded here. Enter the price from your own booking.
- Everyone in the cabin? Anyone buying the Deluxe Beverage Package must buy it for ALL guests of legal drinking age in the same stateroom (official FAQ). A Royal Caribbean spokesperson, quoted by Royal Caribbean Blog, said exceptions ended Aug 1 2025.
- Limits: Per the line's package PDF: covers single drinks up to a stated value (US$14 on select ships and dates); excludes room service, minibar, souvenir glassware and super-premium drinks above the cap. The official FAQ adds that alcohol-inclusive Deluxe packages are not available on 2-4 night sailings departing Australia.
Sources: Royal Caribbean FAQ: does everyone in my stateroom need the Deluxe package Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package PDF Royal Caribbean Blog, Aug 2 2025: exception rule dropped (third-party report)
Celebrity Cruises
Last verified 2026-10-18 · not re-verified on 2026-10-20
Daily gratuity / service charge
$19.5 per guest per day (standard cabins); $24.5 suites; Concierge and AquaClass staterooms: $20.5; The Retreat suites: $24.5. Official FAQ: US$19.50 for Inside, Oceanview and Veranda; US$20.50 Concierge and AquaClass; US$24.50 The Retreat. Optional, adjustable before the morning of disembarkation. Cruise Hive (re-read 2026-10-18): rates rose US$1.50 per guest per day on Jul 29 2026 for reservations booked on or after that date; guests booked earlier can prepay at the prior rate if paid at least 48 hours before sailing.
official line page Sources: Celebrity FAQ: gratuity program Cruise Hive, Jul 2026: Celebrity clarifies the new gratuity price hike USA Today, Jul 30 2026
Percentage charges on drinks, dining, spa
Official FAQ: 20% gratuity auto-added to spa/salon, beverages and packages, specialty dining, room service and minibar.
Sources: Celebrity FAQ: gratuity program
Drink package: Classic Drink Package
- Price: No default price recorded. Price varies by ship, itinerary and length; 20% gratuity is added at checkout. Enter your own booking price.
- Everyone in the cabin? All guests of legal drinking age in the same stateroom must buy the same package (pre-cruise or onboard). The FAQ lists some exceptions; read the FAQ for the current list.
- Limits: Classic covers drinks up to a per-serving value stated in the FAQ (US$12 at last read).
Sources: Celebrity beverage packages FAQ Celebrity drink packages page
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)
Last verified 2026-10-18 · not re-verified on 2026-10-20
Daily gratuity / service charge
$20 per guest per day (standard cabins); $25 suites. Official FAQ: for bookings made on/after Jan 1 2023, US$25 for The Haven and Suites; US$20 for Club Balcony Suite and below; charged for guests 3 years and older. Guests sailing to Hawaii are charged an additional 4.275% GET tax on the prepaid service charge. Called an onboard service charge; can be prepaid; NCL says its service charge is refundable if you cancel.
official line page Sources: NCL FAQ: what is the onboard service charge NCL FAQ: how do gratuities work
Percentage charges on drinks, dining, spa
Official FAQ: 20% gratuity/service charge on beverage purchases, specialty dining and spa/salon.
Sources: NCL FAQ: how do gratuities work
Drink package: Free at Sea Unlimited Open Bar Package
- Price: $45 per person per day. US$45 per person per day plus 20% gratuity plus taxes/fees is the ONBOARD price for the Unlimited Open Bar, purchasable in the first two days of the cruise (NCL FAQ). With the Free at Sea promotion, NCL's promotion terms list beverage package pricing of US$32.00 per person per day for 2-5 night sailings and US$28.50 for 6+ night sailings, paid before the cruise (news reports describe this as the package's gratuity charge; the 2-5 night rate rose from US$28.50 on May 1 2026 per Cruise Hive). Enter your own booking price if different.
- Everyone in the cabin? NCL says the Unlimited Open Bar applies to all guests 21 and older in the stateroom; guests aged 3-20 in spots 1 or 2 get complimentary soda and juice instead, and all guests in the stateroom must choose the same offer (NCL FAQ and promotion terms).
- Limits: NCL's promotion terms state limits such as two beverages per person per transaction, packages are personal and not shareable, and $15 off drinks in the Connoisseur's Collection/Signature Selection. Read the current terms for per-drink value caps.
Sources: NCL FAQ: who does the Unlimited Open Bar apply to NCL FAQ: buying Unlimited Open Bar onboard NCL promotional terms and conditions NCL beverage packages page Cruise Hive, May 1 2026: NCL Free at Sea drink charge rises on 2-5 night sailings (third-party report)
Holland America Line
Last verified 2026-10-18 · not re-verified on 2026-10-20
Daily gratuity / service charge
$18 per guest per day (standard cabins); $20 suites. Official FAQ ('Crew Appreciation'): US$18 non-suite, US$20 suite; adjustable; Princess notes the amounts can change without notice.
official line page Sources: Holland America FAQ: Crew Appreciation rates and charges
Percentage charges on drinks, dining, spa
Official FAQ: 20% on beverages, bar retail, specialty cover charges and a la carte items; 18% on spa and salon.
Sources: Holland America FAQ: Crew Appreciation rates and charges
Drink package: Signature Beverage Package
- Price: $55.95 per person per day. US$55.95 per guest per day pre-cruise per the FAQ; 20% service charge applies per the terms page.
- Everyone in the cabin? All adults of legal drinking age for the itinerary in the same stateroom must buy the same package for the whole cruise; underage guests must buy the Quench package.
- Limits: 15 drinks per day; Signature covers drinks priced up to US$12.
Sources: Holland America FAQ: beverage package options Holland America FAQ: non-drinking companion Holland America beverage package terms
Princess Cruises
Last verified 2026-10-18 · not re-verified on 2026-10-20
Daily gratuity / service charge
$18 per guest per day (standard cabins); $20 suites; Mini-Suites, Cabanas and Club Class: $19. Official FAQ ('Crew Appreciation'): US$18 most staterooms, US$19 Mini-Suites/Cabanas/Club Class, US$20 Suites. Adjustable before you settle your account; not refundable after the cruise. The page notes a US$1 prepay discount that ended Mar 8 2026. Crew appreciation is included (prepaid) in the Princess Plus and Premier packages.
official line page Sources: Princess FAQ: onboard experience (Crew Appreciation)
Percentage charges on drinks, dining, spa
Princess beverage page: a 20% service charge is added to beverage package prices on all itineraries except Australia. Specialty-dining and spa percentages not verified. Other Princess fees listed in the Plus & Premier FAQ (read 2026-10-17) for guests without a package: a US$14.99 cover charge for multi-course prix fixe meals at select casual dining venues, a one-time US$14.99 per person per voyage OceanNow delivery access fee, and a US$5 fee per room service order placed by stateroom phone. Princess says bar service charges are included in the Plus and Premier package prices.
Sources: Princess beverages page Princess Plus & Premier packages (FAQ: what changes without a package)
Drink package: Plus Beverage Package (also bundled in Princess Plus / Premier)
- Price: No default price recorded. Princess's beverages page puts the value of the Plus beverage package at US$64.99 per day. The Princess Plus bundle (drinks, 4 casual dining meals, Wi-Fi for 1 device, crew appreciation) is US$70 per person per day pre-cruise and US$75 onboard; Princess Premier is US$105 pre-cruise and US$110 onboard; Sun Princess and Star Princess are US$5 higher (Plus US$75/US$80, Premier US$110/US$115). These prices took effect Oct 13 2026; packages bought before that date are honored as purchased. Pre-cruise price requires buying at least 4 days (96 hours) before departure; bought for the full voyage. Enter your own booking price.
- Everyone in the cabin? Princess's Plus & Premier page says the packages apply to guests 1 and 2 on the reservation and must be bought 4 days (96 hours) before departure for the lower price; purchases onboard or within 4 days of departure cost an additional US$5 per person per day. We did not find a Princess page that says whether other guests may or must buy it; ask Princess.
- Already included in Plus and Premier: Princess says crew appreciation (the daily gratuity) is included in the Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages and cannot be removed, exchanged or refunded, and that bar service charges are included in the package price. The bundles also include other items (for example Wi-Fi, casual dining meals, room-service delivery), so do not enter those costs again.
- Limits: Plus: drinks up to US$15 each, 15 drinks per day (specialty coffee/tea and bottled water counted separately). Premier (current terms, purchases on/after Jul 22 2025): drinks up to US$20 each, no daily limit on included alcoholic drinks. Packages cannot be shared.
Sources: Princess Plus & Premier packages Princess Plus & Premier terms Princess beverages page
Corrected Oct 20, 2026: removed a Cruise Critic link from the Carnival gratuity sources because we could never load that page to confirm it (the figure is still sourced to USA Today and Cruise Hive), and rewrote short quoted phrases from cruise-line pages in our own words. No figures changed. See the corrections log. If a cruise is cancelled or a refund is late, see refunds and complaints.