What Royal Caribbean charges you for and when you pay it

Royal Caribbean charges you in two stages: the cruise fare itself, which you pay upfront or on a payment plan, and onboard charges that accumulate during your voyage. The cruise fare covers your cabin, meals in the main dining room, most entertainment, and port stops. Everything else — drinks outside your cabin, specialty restaurants, shore excursions, spa services, photos, and internet — costs extra and gets added to your onboard account.

You will receive an invoice before your cruise showing the base fare, taxes, and port fees. These are non-negotiable and the same for every passenger in your cabin category. Onboard charges vary by what you actually use during the cruise. On your final night, Royal Caribbean presents a folio (bill) showing all charges, and you settle it before disembarking by credit card, cash, or onboard credit.

Understanding what is and is not included prevents surprises at the end of your voyage. Many passengers budget only for the advertised fare and find themselves facing hundreds of dollars in unexpected charges on the last evening.

Key Takeaways

  • The cruise fare covers your cabin, main dining room meals, most entertainment, and port stops, but specialty restaurants, drinks, and shore excursions cost extra.
  • You pay the base fare upfront or through a payment plan before departure, and onboard charges accumulate during your cruise and are due before you leave the ship.
  • Royal Caribbean adds a gratuity (tip) automatically to your account unless you decline it in advance, typically around $15 to $16 per person per day depending on your cabin type.
  • Beverage packages, internet plans, and specialty dining packages can be purchased before your cruise or onboard, and they reduce per-item costs if you plan to use them heavily.
  • Your onboard account is linked to your cabin key card, so charges post automatically when you use your card at bars, restaurants, and shops.

What the cruise fare includes and excludes

Your cruise fare covers accommodation in your assigned cabin, unlimited meals and snacks in the main dining room and buffet, most entertainment (shows, comedy clubs, live music, fitness classes), use of the pool deck and fitness center, and all port stops listed in your itinerary. It also includes basic internet access on some ships, though the speed is limited.

The fare does not cover alcoholic beverages, specialty coffee drinks, bottled water, room service, specialty restaurants (steakhouse, Italian, Asian fusion), shore excursions booked through Royal Caribbean, spa treatments, casino gaming, photos taken by ship photographers, or premium internet packages. If you order a drink at a bar or a specialty coffee at a café, that charge posts to your account when ready.

Gratuities (tips) are added automatically to your account at a standard rate unless you adjust or remove them before your cruise. As of 2024, the automatic rate is approximately $15.50 per person per day for inside and ocean-view cabins, and $17.50 for suites, though these amounts change periodically. You can modify this amount through your Royal Caribbean account online or by speaking to guest services onboard.

How onboard charges work and what gets added to your bill

Every passenger receives an onboard account linked to their cabin key card. When you use your key card at any Royal Caribbean venue — a bar, specialty restaurant, gift shop, or spa — the charge posts to your account in real time. You do not sign receipts or carry cash for most transactions. At the end of your cruise, Royal Caribbean totals all charges and presents your folio.

Common onboard charges include alcoholic drinks (typically $8 to $15 each), specialty dining (usually $15 to $40 per person per meal), shore excursions ($50 to $300+ depending on the activity), spa services ($100 to $400+), casino losses, laundry service, and any items purchased in the gift shop. Internet packages range from $8 per day for basic access to $20 per day for premium streaming speeds.

If you purchase a beverage package before your cruise, drinks are included and do not post to your account individually. The same applies to specialty dining packages and internet plans purchased in advance. These packages often cost less per item than paying as you go, so they make sense if you plan to use them regularly.

Beverage packages and what they cover

Royal Caribbean offers several beverage packages that you can purchase before your cruise or onboard. The Deluxe Beverage Package includes most alcoholic drinks, specialty coffees, bottled water, and energy drinks. The Refreshment Package covers non-alcoholic drinks and specialty coffees but not alcohol. Prices vary by cruise length and ship, but a Deluxe package typically costs $60 to $90 per person per day.

If you purchase a beverage package, you do not pay per drink — the package covers unlimited drinks in that category. Without a package, a beer or cocktail costs $8 to $15, so the package breaks even after roughly five to eight drinks per day depending on what you order. Passengers who drink only occasionally usually save money by paying as they go.

You can purchase a beverage package online before your cruise or at guest services onboard during the first day. If you buy it onboard, the cost is slightly higher than the pre-cruise price. You cannot purchase a package for part of your cruise; it covers the entire voyage or nothing.

Shore excursions and how Royal Caribbean prices them

Shore excursions are activities at each port — snorkeling, zip-lining, city tours, beach clubs, or cultural visits — that Royal Caribbean books on your behalf. You can reserve them through your online account before your cruise or at the shore excursion desk onboard. Prices range from $50 for a basic beach visit to $300 or more for full-day activities or water sports.

Royal Caribbean handles the logistics: the excursion operator meets you at the port, and the ship waits for all passengers to return before departing. If you book through Royal Caribbean, you have some protection if the excursion is cancelled or delayed. If you book independently with a local operator, you are responsible for getting back to the ship on time, and the ship will not delay for you.

Excursion costs post to your onboard account when you book them, whether before or during your cruise. You can cancel most excursions up to 48 hours before the port visit and receive a refund to your account. Check the cancellation policy for each excursion, as some have stricter important date.

How to manage your onboard account and avoid overspending

You can view your onboard charges in real time through the Royal Caribbean app or by visiting guest services on the ship. The app shows every drink, meal, and purchase posted to your account, updated throughout the day. This transparency lets you track spending and adjust your behavior if you are approaching a budget limit.

To prevent overspending, set a daily budget before your cruise and check your account balance each evening. If you have children in your cabin, ask guest services to restrict charges to your key card only, so your children cannot order drinks or make purchases. You can also request that guest services require a signature or PIN for charges above a certain amount.

If you dispute a charge, report it to guest services before you disembark. Royal Caribbean can usually reverse charges made in error or for services not rendered. After you leave the ship, disputing a charge becomes much harder and may require contacting your credit card company.

Payment methods and settling your bill

Royal Caribbean accepts all major credit cards, debit cards, and cash for your final bill. Most passengers use a credit card linked to their onboard account, so charges post automatically. If you prefer to pay with cash, you can do so at the end of your cruise, but you must have enough cash on hand — ATMs on the ship charge high fees.

Your final folio is presented on your cabin television or at guest services on your last night. You have until a set time (usually 8 a.m. on disembarkation day) to review and dispute any charges. After you settle your bill, you receive a receipt. If you paid by credit card, the charge appears on your statement within a few days.

If you have onboard credit from a promotion or a previous cruise, it applies automatically to your final bill. Unused onboard credit does not carry over to future cruises, so use it before you disembark or lose it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bring my own alcohol onboard?

Royal Caribbean prohibits passengers from bringing alcohol onboard. The only exception is one bottle of wine or champagne per stateroom, which you can bring in your carry-on luggage. Any other alcohol will be confiscated at embarkation and not returned. This policy applies to all Royal Caribbean ships.

What happens if I cannot pay my bill at the end of the cruise?

Royal Caribbean will not allow you to disembark until your bill is settled. If you do not have a credit card or enough cash, guest services can work with you on a payment plan or contact your emergency contact. In rare cases, the cruise line may hold your luggage until payment is received.

Do I have to pay gratuities if I do not think the service was good?

Gratuities are added automatically, but you can reduce or remove them by speaking to guest services or adjusting them in your online account before your cruise. If you remove them and later feel the service deserves a tip, you can add gratuities back onboard. Royal Caribbean does not force you to pay gratuities you do not want to pay.

Can I purchase a specialty dining package for only some meals?

No. Specialty dining packages cover all meals in specialty restaurants for the entire cruise or nothing. You cannot purchase a package for part of your voyage or select which restaurants are included. You can, however, pay per meal for specialty restaurants if you do not want a full package.

What is the difference between booking a shore excursion through Royal Caribbean versus independently?

Royal Caribbean excursions are may provide to return you to the ship on time, and the ship will wait for all booked passengers. Independent excursions are your responsibility — if you are late, the ship leaves without you. Royal Caribbean excursions also have a cancellation policy and refund option, while independent bookings depend on the local operator's terms.