What’s Not Included on a Royal Caribbean Cruise

Okay, here’s the honest part. These are the things people get surprised by when they don’t know to plan for them.

Gratuities. A daily gratuity of $18 per person (for staterooms) or $20.50 per person (for suites) will be added to your account. An 18% gratuity is also automatically added to purchased beverages, specialty dining, room service, and mini bar purchases, and spa and salon services have a 20% gratuity added. The good news? You can add gratuities to your cruise fare upfront so there’s no surprise at the end of your sailing. We recommend this for every client.

Drink packages. Sodas, alcohol, premium coffees, fresh-squeezed juices, bottled water — these aren’t included in your base fare. We’ll talk through the drink packages below.

Specialty dining. Restaurants like Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Table, Izumi, and Hooked Seafood are not included. Pricing ranges from $22.99 to $109.99 per person per meal, with kids 6-12 priced at $14.99 and kids 5 and under eating free.

WiFi. VOOM internet (powered by Starlink) is $16.99-$30.99 per day per device, with discounted pre-cruise pricing available. Wired iCafe stations are also available for a fee. Honestly? We usually recommend disconnecting if you can. The Royal Caribbean app has free guest-to-guest chat so you can still find your people onboard.

Spa, salon, and fitness classes. Vitality Spa services, salon appointments, and fitness classes in the gym are all extras.

Shore excursions. Every port stop offers Royal Caribbean shore excursions for an additional cost. You can also explore on your own if you’re comfortable doing that. At Perfect Day at CocoCay (Royal’s private island), a lot is still free — Oasis Lagoon pool, Splashaway Bay, Chill Island and South Beach. But Thrill Waterpark, the zip line, the helium balloon ride, Coco Beach Club, and cabana rentals all cost extra.

The little extras. Royal Escape Room experiences, arcade games, cupcake-decorating and sushi-making classes, professional photos, and boutique purchases are all additional.

Room service. 24/7 room service is $7.95 plus tax and fees per order.

Royal Babies and Tots Nursery. For the youngest cruisers (6 months to 3 years), the drop-off nursery is $9-$12 per hour per child on select ships.

Should You Get a Royal Caribbean Drink Package?

This is one of the most common questions we get, and honestly, the answer is always “it depends on how you vacation.”

Royal Caribbean offers three main drink packages:

• Classic Soda Package — Coca-Cola Freestyle beverages and souvenir cup, plus fountain sodas and refills.
• Refreshment Package — Everything in the Classic, plus premium coffees and teas, fresh-squeezed juices, bottled still and sparkling water, non-alcoholic cocktails, and milkshakes at Johnny Rockets.
• Deluxe Beverage Package — Everything above, plus cocktails, spirits, liqueurs, beer, and wines by the glass.

One important update for guests sailing in 2026: beginning March 15, 2026, the Coca-Cola souvenir cup and Freestyle machine access will no longer be included with the Deluxe and Refreshment Packages. If you want a souvenir cup, you can purchase one onboard for $4.99.

The reason we love that Royal offers packages is simple — there are no surprises once you’re onboard. You know what you’ve paid for, and you can enjoy your vacation without doing mental math every time you order a drink.

BUT here’s the honest part. The right package depends on questions a list can’t answer. Do you drink alcohol? How much coffee will you really drink before 10am? Are you traveling with kids who only want lemonade and Sprite? Are you the kind of person who orders three frozen drinks by the pool, or are you fine with water and the occasional glass of wine at dinner? Are you sailing for 3 nights or 7?

This is where talking with an advisor actually saves you money instead of costing you money. We ask the questions, you tell us how you like to vacation, and we help you pick the package that fits — or skip it entirely if it doesn’t make sense.

Is Specialty Dining Worth It on a Royal Caribbean Cruise?

Short answer: the main dining room is included and it’s genuinely great. You can absolutely sail Royal Caribbean and never set foot in a specialty restaurant and have a fantastic vacation.

That said, if you love trying new things, we’d suggest at least one specialty meal during your cruise. Some families alternate — one night in the main dining room, one night specialty — especially on longer sailings where you have more nights to play with.

Royal Caribbean also offers specialty dining packages that save you up to 40% compared to booking restaurants individually:

• 3 Restaurant Package — Dine at three different specialty venues during your sailing.
• Unlimited Dining Package — Visit specialty restaurants every night of your sailing, plus lunch on sea days. Also includes 40% off bottles of wine under $100 and 20% off bottles above $100.

And good news for families: kids ages 6-12 dine at specialty restaurants for $14.99 and kids 5 and under eat free. You reserve before you sail and the kids’ pricing is adjusted onboard.

If your family loves food experiences and trying new flavors, a specialty dining package can be a great value. If you’d rather save the money for shore excursions or onboard activities, the main dining room has you covered.

How to Avoid Sticker Shock on Your Royal Caribbean Cruise

Here’s the cheat sheet, because honestly, the people getting blindsided in those Facebook posts are usually missing the same handful of things:

• Pre-pay your gratuities so they’re folded into your cruise cost, not a surprise at the end.
• Decide on drinks before you board. Whether that’s a package, a few à la carte cocktails, or just water and the included sodas at meals, have a plan.
• Pick your dining strategy upfront. Are you eating main dining every night? Adding one specialty meal? Buying the unlimited package? Decide before you sail so you can book reservations early.
• Budget for the WiFi you actually need — not the WiFi you’d default to at home. Some families do a single device for emergencies. Some disconnect entirely. Some need full streaming. There’s no right answer, just the right answer for YOU.
• Plan your shore excursions in advance. Whether you book through Royal or independently, knowing what you’re doing at each port keeps you from making expensive last-minute decisions.

For more on making the most of your sailing once you’re onboard, check out our guide to your first day at sea. And if you’re coming from a Disney background and wondering how the two cruise lines compare beyond what’s included, we broke that down here.

So Is a Royal Caribbean Cruise Worth It?

You can honestly read a hundred social media posts and blogs about what’s included and what’s not, but the decision of what cruise to take, what ship, what length, and what add-ons are the best fit for your family is personal. Maybe right now a 3-night cruise with no extras is what fits your budget. Maybe we’re looking at a 10-night Mediterranean sailing with ALL the extras. There is no one size fits all, and that’s where our experts come in.

We aren’t order takers (looking at you, Costco). We listen, we don’t judge, we explain the options, and we talk through your family’s preferences so you can make an informed decision that’s in YOUR best interest. Not ours, and not Royal Caribbean’s.

Because honestly, this isn’t about the cruise. It’s about the vacation your family actually deserves, and making sure you don’t waste a dollar or a moment of it.

If you’ve been pricing out a Royal Caribbean cruise and quietly wondering what you don’t know yet, submit your vacation request. No hard sell, just a conversation about what would actually work for your family.

You have Google. You have a credit card. You have a browser with approximately 47 tabs open right now, and one of them is a Reddit thread from 2019 about whether you should book an inside stateroom. So why would you need me?

I actually get this question a lot. And honestly? I encourage my clients to do their own research. I want you to be informed. I want you to know what you’re getting into.

But here’s the thing I’ve learned after 14+ Disney sailings, more site inspections than I can count, and about a decade of planning family cruises for a living: there’s a difference between booking a cruise and planning one. And the gap between those two things is where families either have the trip of a lifetime… or spend a week feeling vaguely stressed and over-budget.

So let me answer the actual question — not with a generic “top 5 reasons” list, but with the real, specific things I do that a website simply cannot.

1. I Talk You Out of the Wrong Trip (Even When It Looks Right on Paper)

A few months ago, a mom reached out to book her family’s first Disney cruise. She had it all figured out: 3-night sailing out of Port Canaveral, inside stateroom to save money, early dining so the kids (6 and 8) wouldn’t be up too late.

On paper? Completely reasonable.

In reality? It would have been a rushed, logistically tight trip where she’d barely have time to enjoy the ship. So I got on the phone with her and actually walked her through what her week would feel like.

Here’s what we ended up booking instead:

• The Disney Dream out of Ft. Lauderdale — 5 nights instead of 3, which gave them real vacation time, not a long weekend that felt like a sprint.
• An oceanview stateroom near the kids’ clubs (small detail, huge difference when you’re walking back to grab a sweater three times a day).
• Late dining with Dine and Play. This is the one most parents don’t know about.

Let me explain that last one, because it’s the tip that genuinely changes families’ lives.

With early dining on a Disney cruise, you’re pulling wet, happy kids out of the pool at 4:30 to get dressed for a 5:15 dinner. Nobody wants this. Not the kids, not you, and honestly not the server who’s about to watch your 6-year-old cry over bread.

Late dining solves it. The kids get served quickly, and then counselors from the kids’ club come right to the dining room to pick them up. You and your partner get to actually finish your meal. Maybe even a glass of wine. The kids get whisked off to an evening of adventure. Everyone wins.

That family came back raving. And none of it was in the brochure.

2. I See the “Hidden Math” of Your Total Cost

On my most recent sailing — #15, for those keeping track — I met a woman at the pool who told me she’d recently come back to Disney Cruise Line after trying Royal Caribbean because “the price was so much better.”

Then she told me her final onboard bill on Royal.

Almost $2,000 in extras. Water. Soda. Activities around the ship. Little charges, over and over, for things she assumed were just… part of a cruise.

Here’s something most first-time cruisers don’t realize: different lines have very different personalities when it comes to what’s included versus what’s extra. Some lines price higher on the front end and include almost everything. Others price lower and make it back on the back end through what the industry politely calls “onboard spend.”

Neither one is wrong. (If you want the full breakdown on this one specifically, I wrote a whole post on Royal Caribbean vs. Disney Cruise Line. But if you don’t know which one you’re booking, you can end up shocked.

My job isn’t to push you toward the most expensive cruise. It genuinely isn’t. My goal is the most value for your money, and that looks different for every family. What I do is lay out the real, total cost — not the sticker price — so you can make an honest decision about what fits.

You’d be surprised how often the “cheaper” cruise isn’t actually cheaper.

3. I Know the Logistical Cheat Codes

This one is my favorite, because it’s the kind of thing you’d never find on your own.

On our last sailing, we stayed at an official Disney hotel near the port the night before. At 10 a.m., we were picked up by Disney transfers. By noon, we were onboard. Boarding Group 3. One of the first families on the ship.

And here’s the part that blew me away: the people in line next to us were first-time cruisers who had no idea they were getting early boarding. They’d just used the transfers because it was convenient. They got the benefit anyway.

That’s insider knowledge that’s hiding in plain sight. Meanwhile, there are families frantically logging in at midnight 30 days before their sailing to snag an early check-in window, stressing about something that Disney transfers would have handled for them.

Multiply that by dozens of small details:

• Which cabin categories give you the most space for the price
• Which decks are quiet and which ones are near the pool thump
• Where to walk on a sea day for ocean breeze without crowds (Deck 4, every time)
• Which embarkation day activities are worth rushing to and which ones can wait

I’m not making this stuff up as I go. I’ve sailed these ships. My advisors have sailed these ships. We do site inspections. We go on FAM trips. We sit at the adult pool and take notes, which, I’ll admit, is a pretty great job.

4. I’m Your Noise Filter

Let me describe something for you. You’re planning your first cruise. You post a question in a Facebook group. You get 247 replies.

One person tells you to skip the drink package. Another insists you’ll regret it if you don’t buy it. Someone recommends a tour company you’ve never heard of. Three people argue in the comments about whether the buffet is actually good. A fourth person randomly tells you about their divorce.

You close the laptop. You’re more confused than when you started.

This is what I mean when I say clients aren’t just paying me for a booking — they’re paying me to be their single source of truth. From the moment you book with me until the moment you step onboard, you get a curated drip of emails: when to do your online check-in, what to pack, when to book your port adventures, what to expect on boarding day, how the dining rotation works.

No scrambling. No strangers’ opinions. No divorce stories.

Just the information you need, when you need it, from someone who actually knows your family.

5. I’m the One Making the Call When Things Go Sideways

I had two families on the same sailing once — one booked with me, the other had booked it themselves. They were friends, traveling together.

My clients arrived the day before, stayed near the port, used Disney transfers, and were onboard by noon. The kids were in the pool before lunch.

Their friends? Flew in the morning of the cruise. Couldn’t find their luggage at the airport. Didn’t know where to find transportation to the port. Boarded the ship with literal minutes to spare, sweating and stressed, while my clients were already on their second pool drink.

That’s not a fluke. That’s a pattern I’ve seen play out over and over.

When things go wrong on a DIY booking — flight delay, missed connection, a supplier issue — you’re on hold with the cruise line along with thousands of other people. When things go sideways on one of my trips, you text me. I make the calls. I have direct contacts at the cruise lines. I’m your advocate.

You should never be the one hunting down a customer service agent on vacation. That’s my job.

6. I’m Backed by a Team That’s Sailed Everything

Disney is my personal specialty. I’ll talk about DCL all day. But here’s the thing — I don’t push Disney on families who aren’t Disney families.

Our agency has a full team of advisors with deep expertise across Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Virgin Voyages, Princess, Norwegian, and more. When a client comes to me and says “we want to cruise but Disney doesn’t feel like us,” I have actual experts to loop in — people who have recently sailed those ships, know the current cabin categories, and can speak to what that specific brand feels like.

(Not sure where to start? I put together a full guide on which cruise line is actually the best fit for families. You’re not getting one planner’s opinion. You’re getting a whole brain trust. Meet the team here.

The Part Most People Don’t Realize: You’re Already Paying for a Planner

Okay, here’s the part I want everyone to understand, because it genuinely surprises people.

Cruise lines pay travel advisors on commission. That commission is already built into the price you see on the website. Whether you book through me or book yourself, the price is the same.

When you book direct, the cruise line simply keeps that money. You don’t get a discount for doing the work yourself. You just get… less help. (I break this down in more detail specifically for Disney sailings in this post on whether you really need a travel agent for a Disney cruise.)

For larger custom trips — think fully designed European itineraries or Walt Disney World bookings — some of our advisors charge a planning fee because the work involved is significant. But for cruises? Our service is complimentary.

You’re already paying for expertise. The only question is whether you want to use it.

Why I Do This

I’ll be honest with you. The thing that drives me to do this work every day is that I hate watching families spend thousands of dollars on a vacation and then feel lost on it.

I’ve stood next to people at Guest Services on a ship and overheard questions that break my heart a little — questions they should have had answered weeks before they boarded. Questions that meant they were going to miss something they’d paid for.

These are supposed to be the magical moments. The trips your kids remember for the rest of their lives. The photos that live on your fridge. The memories you make with people you love.

They shouldn’t be trips full of stress and regret because nobody was in your corner.

That’s what a cruise planner does that you can’t do for yourself. Not because you’re not smart enough or organized enough — you clearly are, you’re reading a 2,000-word blog post about it. But because I’ve done this hundreds of times, and you’re doing it once, and the difference between those two perspectives is where the magic lives.

Ready to start planning?

Tell me about the trip you’ve been dreaming about. Whether it’s your first sailing or your fifteenth, I’d love to help you build something that actually fits your family.

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Which Is the Best Cruise Line for Families?

You’ve decided you want to take a family cruise — amazing choice! But then you open up Google, start comparing cruise lines, and suddenly you’re drowning in options, loyalty programs, ship features, and prices that all start to blur together. Sound familiar?

Here’s the truth: there is no single “best” cruise line for families. There is only the best cruise line for your family — and figuring that out takes a little more than a quick Google search. As a family travel advisor who has sailed Disney Cruise Line 14 times (and counting!) and helped hundreds of families find their perfect sailing, I’m here to walk you through exactly how we approach this question with every single client.

Let’s break it down!

The First Questions I Ask Every Family

Before I ever recommend a cruise line, I ask a series of questions that help me understand who your family actually is as travelers. Here’s what I want to know:

• How old are your kids? A toddler and a teenager have wildly different needs — and cruise lines cater to those ages very differently.
• Does anyone in your family have special needs, dietary restrictions, or sensory sensitivities? This is a bigger factor than most people realize, and it can absolutely point us toward or away from certain lines.
• Where have you traveled before? First-time travelers and seasoned road warriors need different levels of hand-holding and wow-factor.
• What hotel brands do you love? This one surprises people — but it tells me everything.

That last question is one of my favorites. If a family tells me they’re loyal Hyatt members who always book suites, I know they have high expectations for accommodations, service, and food. If they tell me they usually stay at a Hampton Inn and love the value, I know we’re looking for a great experience at a reasonable price point — and that’s totally valid too!

The point is this: Carnival doesn’t offer what Disney does, and Disney doesn’t offer what Carnival does. Just because I personally love Disney Cruise Line doesn’t mean every family wants — or is willing to pay for — that level of food, entertainment, and service. My job is to match your family to the right fit, not to push my favorites.

The Best Cruise Lines for Families: A Breakdown

Disney Cruise Line: Best for Young Kids, Disney Fans & Families with Food Allergies

Disney Cruise Line is consistently at the top of family cruise rankings — and for good reason. The onboard experience is unmatched for families with younger children. The character interactions feel personal and magical, the entertainment is Broadway-caliber, and the food quality (across all dining experiences) is genuinely impressive.

What really sets Disney apart for families with special needs, particularly food allergies, is their food management process. Disney’s culinary team is exceptional at accommodating allergies and dietary restrictions — they take it seriously in a way that gives parents real peace of mind at every meal.

For neurodiverse families, Disney’s structured environment can actually be a comfort. The rotational dining schedule means kids always know what’s coming next, which reduces anxiety for children who thrive with predictability. The atmosphere, while festive, doesn’t have the overwhelming elements you might find on other ships (no rollercoasters, no casino floor, no bumper cars). That said, they do have fireworks at sea, so it’s always about knowing your specific child’s needs.

Best for: Families with young kids, Disney fans, food allergy households, families with neurodiverse children who benefit from structure and a calmer sensory environment.

Keep in mind: Disney commands a premium price. It’s an investment — but for the right family, it’s absolutely worth it. Considering sailing in 2026?  Check out Disney Cruise Line Summer 2026 Sailings!

Royal Caribbean: Best for Families Who Want “Wow” Factor

If your family is thrill-seeking and your kids are older, Royal Caribbean is hard to beat. We’re talking surf simulators, sky-diving simulators, bumper cars, laser tag, waterslides that go off the side of the ship — the list goes on. Royal Caribbean has built some of the most jaw-dropping ships at sea.

One thing I always tell clients: the ship matters as much as the line. Royal Caribbean’s newer mega-ships like Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas are a completely different experience than their older, smaller fleet. I recently had a client who was exploring Europe itineraries on Royal Caribbean and found the available ships there were older and smaller — without all the bells and whistles they’d seen advertised. Managing those expectations upfront is so important!

For Alaska sailings, Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas is actually a beautiful option — it’s a newer ship with plenty of amenities, and the Alaskan scenery does a lot of the work. I’ve been researching this one personally for an upcoming family trip, and the vibe feels calm and fitting for the destination in a way that really resonates.

Best for: Tweens, teens, and adventure-loving families who want maximum activities and entertainment.

Keep in mind: The bigger the ship, the more overwhelming it can be for younger kids or sensory-sensitive travelers.

Norwegian Cruise Line: Best for Flexible Families

Norwegian pioneered the “freestyle cruising” concept — meaning no set dining times, no formal nights unless you want them, and a very relaxed overall structure. For families who hate schedules and want to do things on their own terms, this flexibility is a major selling point.

Norwegian also has some fun family-friendly ships and a solid kids’ club program. Their pricing tends to land in the middle of the spectrum, and their Free at Sea promotions (which often include dining packages, beverage packages, or shore excursions) can make the overall value really strong.

Best for: Flexible families who don’t want a rigid schedule and want solid value with good dining variety.

Princess Cruises: Best for Alaska (With a Caveat)

If Alaska is on your family bucket list, Princess Cruises dominates that market — and they do it incredibly well. Their ships are built for that destination, their naturalist programming is top-notch, and their port access in Alaska is exceptional.

Here’s my honest caveat as a family travel advisor: Princess is not the most kid-focused cruise line. The vibe skews older, the kids’ programming is more limited than lines like Disney or Royal Caribbean, and the overall atmosphere is quieter and more refined. For families with young children, this can feel like a mismatch.

So what do you do if your family wants Alaska AND wants a great kids’ experience? Disney actually does Alaska sailings — and the combination of Disney’s family programming with Alaskan scenery is stunning. You’ll give up some of Princess’s deep destination expertise, but you’ll gain an experience your kids will never forget. It’s about deciding what matters most to your family.

Best for: Families with older kids or teens who are genuinely interested in the destination and natural experience over onboard entertainment.

Carnival: Best for Budget-Friendly Family Fun

Carnival gets a bad reputation in some circles, but let me be clear: for the right family, Carnival is a fantastic choice. They offer great value, fun onboard activities, and sailings from ports all over the country (including many short 3- and 4-night options that are perfect for first-time cruisers).

Carnival’s kids’ clubs are solid, their waterslides are a hit, and their casual, party-friendly atmosphere is genuinely fun for families who want to relax and have a good time without overthinking it.

Best for: Budget-conscious families, first-time cruisers, and families who just want low-key, easy fun.

Keep in mind: Carnival is not trying to be Disney. If you board expecting white-glove service and high-end dining, you’ll be disappointed. If you board expecting a fun, affordable vacation with great energy — you’ll have a blast.

The Mistake I See Families Make Over and Over Again

Here’s something I wish more families knew before they tried to book a cruise on their own: stateroom size and layout matters more than you think — especially on a short sailing.

I recently saw a family posting on Facebook, frustrated and upset during their cruise. They had booked one stateroom for themselves and their two adult children. What they didn’t realize until they boarded was that their room had a queen bed at the lower level and two pull-down single bunks above it — not the comfortable, hotel-style setup they’d imagined. The room felt cramped, the adults were uncomfortable, and what should have been a fun family trip started with frustration.

A travel advisor would have caught that. We know the difference between a standard stateroom, a deluxe stateroom, a family ocean view, a connecting stateroom situation — and we apply that knowledge to your specific family’s needs. It’s not just about knowing the information. It’s about knowing which information applies to you.

This is exactly why working with a family travel agent makes such a difference. We carry years of firsthand sailing experience, client case studies, and destination knowledge — and we apply all of it to your family’s unique situation. 

So… Which Cruise Line Is Best for YOUR Family?

Here’s my honest answer: it depends — and that’s not a cop-out. It’s the truth. The best cruise line for your family depends on:

• The ages of your kids
• Your budget and what level of service you expect
• Your destination
• Any special needs or considerations
• What you’re willing to prioritize versus give up

The Caribbean is still the most popular starting point for most families, and it’s a great one! Most major cruise lines sail from Florida ports, which gives us the most options and the easiest logistics. But even within the Caribbean, the right line and ship for your family will be different than for your neighbor’s family.

Ready to figure out which cruise line is the perfect match for your crew? I’d love to help! Reach out to our team at Living With The Magic Vacations and let’s start planning your family’s dream cruise.

Looking for more cruise inspiration? Check out our Disney Cruise Line Beginner’s Guide and our post on All Aboard the Magic: Why Disney Cruise Line is the Ultimate Family Vacation. And for our full range of family vacation planning services, visit our Family Travel Planning page. 

If Universal Orlando is on your radar, don’t miss our guide to Universal Orlando with kids — it’s packed with tips for your first family trip!