A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World
Updated on Oct. 08, 2024
Booking an all-inclusive cruise ensures nothing but smooth sailing. Your fare will include things like meals, wine and cocktails, gratuities, internet access and, in some cases, even shore excursions and airfare to and from the port city.
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For a luxurious vacation at sea that won’t deliver a shocking bill on disembarkation day, choose to take all-inclusive cruises. While most of the best cruise lines can feel all-inclusive, providing you eat in the one main dining room with everyone else and drink only soft drinks or flat water, truly all-inclusive cruises are a world apart. Why? Many of the specialty restaurants on cruise ships cost extra (anywhere from $25 to over $100 per person, per meal), and drinks like wine, beer, cocktails, sparkling water and good coffee and tea are going to make your bill bubble up every day! And if you want to try a spinning in the fitness center, attend a yoga class or log on to the internet to post photos of your cruise on Instagram, expect to see even more charges added to your folio.
All-inclusive cruises, on the other hand, provide guests with nearly everything they could need and want while at sea (and maybe even on land too). Of course, the per-person cruise fare will be higher on all-inclusive cruises, but you’ll get so much more included and will see no surprises on your credit card statement.
If you’re traveling as a family, consider one of the best cruises for kids, or maybe leave the kids at home and take an adults-only cruise or a couples cruise. If you decide that you’d prefer to be pampered on land, head over to this list of the best all-inclusive resorts.
via tripadvisor.com
Scenic delivers for travelers who want to explore Europe and Southeast Asia in style—and without a single surprise charge on their account. In fact, a credit card is not even taken at check-in! A total of 15 river cruise “Space-Ships” are in the fleet, each an understated gem, with butler service and fine food, serving as an easy gateway to some of the most exotic destinations in the world.
What’s included: Everything from airport transfers to tips for tour guides is included. Scenic offers the most all-inclusive cruises on earth because guests are fed three fine meals a day, offered beverages from soda to cocktails any time of day, and have round-the-clock coffee and tea available in the lounge, a stocked mini-bar en suite, a choice of several excursions every day and use of e-bikes in each port. All you’ll need is to know what to pack for a cruise (including these unexpected essentials!).
Where you can cruise: While Scenic’s new Eclipse is an all-inclusive expedition ship visiting the Arctic and Antarctica, their stellar river cruise ships navigate the many rivers of planet earth, along with the villages, cities, sights and wine regions set along them. From the Seine in France to the Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia, and almost everywhere in between, Scenic offers five-star, all-inclusive cruises to please any sophisticated traveler.
Courtesy Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Making the claim of having “the world’s most luxurious fleet” is bold, but year after year, Regent Seven Seas delivers on that promise on each of their five ships (with a sixth, the Seven Seas Grandeur, setting sail in 2023). The fares won’t be within everyone’s reach, but everyone who is onboard will be treated to a truly first-class experience, with practically everything covered under Regent’s expansive all-inclusive program.
What’s included: Round-trip airfare (including business class seats for intercontinental flights), pre-cruise overnight hotel stays, airport-to-ship transfers, 24-hour room service, open bar, gratuities, Wi-Fi, laundry service and unlimited shore excursions.
Where you can cruise: Regent Seven Seas cruise ships sail to exotic destinations all over the globe, from Alaska to the Caribbean in North America, plus Europe, Australia and Asia. Perhaps best of all, this cruise line offers two-for-one fares, making once-in-a-lifetime luxury possible on their all-inclusive cruises. Just be aware, though, that there are a few things you won’t see on cruises anymore.
Courtesy Silversea cruises
The pioneer of all-inclusive cruises has added new extras to build upon an already stellar program. These cruises now include door-to-door transfers, which means you’ll get picked up from your home by a private chauffeured vehicle and driven up to 50 miles to the airport or directly to the ship (and the same goes for the return home). And starting on classic voyages, shore excursions are now included too. There’s at least one free excursion in every port, but often many to choose from, including an Iditarod Dog Camp experience in Alaska and seal-watching trips in Iceland.
What’s included: Executive private transfer service, gourmet dining with local and international cuisine, butler service, onboard entertainment, premium alcoholic beverages, complimentary shore excursions, airfare, pre-cruise hotel stays and a wide array of activities at sea, including dancing and cooking lessons.
Where you can cruise: Ten small to medium cruise ships traverse the entire globe. You can sail Silversea to the Galápagos Islands and the British Isles for one week, or explore Asia, Africa, the Arctic and Greenland for longer vacations at sea. Additionally, if you book an all-inclusive World Cruises, you can sail for upward of 140 days and discover small corners of the planet at sea and on land. Whether you cruise for 7 or 140 days, it’s important to know the things polite people never do on cruises.
via tripadvisor.com
Holland offers older Americans a refined experience at sea, with fine dining, complimentary fresh fruit and ice service in their cabins, luxurious bathrobes and bath amenities, and excursions that honor the diverse interests of their guests. Thanks to a new premium package, any sailing of six days or longer can become all-inclusive cruises with food, drinks, shore excursions and Wi-Fi access included.
What’s included: Holland America has never been known for offering all-inclusive cruises, but that changed in April 2021 with the “Have It All” premium package. This Having It All now means that passengers on all itineraries of six days and longer can get everything they want in one simple cruise fare, including shore excursions (from ziplining to historical explorations), beverages, specialty dining (the number of specialty dining experiences will be determined by the length of the cruise) and unlimited Wi-Fi. The Signature Beverage Package that’s part of Have It All includes a vast array of wine, beer, spirits, cocktails, soda, coffee and more, up to a maximum of 15 drinks per day, with bar service charges included too.
Where you can cruise: Most cruise aficionados agree that Holland America offers the best cruise ships and itineraries for exploring Alaska, although Holland ships also visit Hawaii, the Mediterranean, Australia, Canada, Asia and Europe.
Via Tauck.com
The Tauck small ship and river cruise experience is an all-inclusive cruiser’s dream, with free use of bicycles while in port, pleasant pickup and drop-off at airports before and after sailing, and private, exclusive on-land events arranged and scheduled only for Tauck passengers. These cultural journeys are all-inclusive cruises that allow refined travelers to experience the world’s most fabulous, famous and still-under-explored towns and cities, with an intense focus on local history, culture, food and wine.
What’s included: Every travel expense is bundled up into the price of these all-inclusive cruises, from airport transfers, all hotel and ship accommodations, entertainment, delicious local cuisine, shore excursions, luggage handling, most all of the taxes, local guides and tour directors and all gratuities.
Where you can cruise: Small-ship cruises visit Arabia, Iceland, the Great Lakes, Antarctica and destinations in the Baltic, while Tauck river cruises sail the Danube, Rhine, Douro, Rhône and more rivers in Europe, with themed all-inclusive cruises visiting the Christmas markets of Germany and the Oberammergau Passion Play. If you find themes exciting, make sure to check out the ones that made our best themed cruises list.Â
Courtesy viking ocean cruises
There’s a lot to love about Viking River Cruises‘ globe-spanning itineraries and luxurious ships, which feature a contemporary, Scandinavian style and are small enough to gain access to some of the ports larger ocean liners simply can’t reach. Passengers love Viking all-inclusive cruises, but they most appreciate what these cruises don’t include: There are no casinos. No kids under 18. No umbrella drinks. And, best of all, no interior staterooms. Every Viking Ocean Cruise guest has a room with a view. These cruises are all about low-key luxury for adults who want culture, fine food and privacy.
What’s included: Viking offers meals and beverages, onboard activities, 24-hour room service, one shore excursion in each port, Wi-Fi, laundry services and airport transfers to and from the port. During limited promotions, your round-trip airfare will also be included. Be sure to keep your eyes open for these special offers.
Where you can cruise: Viking cruises take you nearly anywhere you’ve ever dreamed of going, whether that’s the Baltics, the Mediterranean, Chilean fjords in South America or even the Great Lakes right in the middle of the United States. Here are other affordable bucket list trips you’ll want on your radar.
Courtesy Seabourn Cruises
The most luxurious cruise line in Carnival’s collection, Seabourn offers a small fleet of six all-suite ships conceived for comfort and intimacy, with just a few hundred passengers per sailing. The all-inclusive fare includes both non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, specialty dining, onboard activities, use of water-sports equipment, certain shore excursions and gratuities. Some packages also include round-trip airfare from major gateways, as well as pre-cruise hotel stays. Want the opinion of a cruise veteran? Check out the favorites of one man who’s taken more than 145 cruises!
What’s included: Each cruise offers only oceanfront suites; an open bar serving premium wine, champagne and spirits; and world-class dining, including the most remarkable restaurant at sea, The Grill by Thomas Keller. This unique culinary concept from the famed chef is exclusive to Seabourn. Guests are treated to tableside preparations of Caesar salad and ice cream sundaes, as well as a range of other steakhouse favorites like Lobster Thermidor and creamed spinach, all presented à la carte and all included in the fare of an all-inclusive package. Furthermore, each suite includes a Personal Suite Host and Suite Attendant who can arrange for a private in-suite cocktail party and run a luxurious bath.
Where you can cruise: Seabourn ships go everywhere—from Arabia to Australia, and Canada to the Caribbean.
via tripadvisor.com
The ships are lovely, elegant and refined, and the food is fantastic, but what sets Emerald apart from other all-inclusive cruises are the EmeraldPLUS and EmeraldACTIVE experiences on offer in each and every port. Led by English-speaking locals, these shore excursions give guests the chance to dive deeper into their passions, be that wine, history, architecture, sports or fitness. In addition to multiple options for guided exploration daily, guests may choose to step off into a DIY adventure of their own, with the whole of Europe laid out before them. Finally, the once-per-sailing exclusive program will immerse guests even further into the local culture, through experiences such as dining in a local resident’s home in Bratislava or attending a private concert in the Rhine Valley.
What’s included: Elegant dining options that cover three meals a day, complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks served with lunch and dinner, fine tea and fresh coffee all day and night, bottled water restocked daily in suite and Wi-Fi are all included. In addition to that, airport transfers, port charges and all gratuities are covered, as well as multiple daily excursion options.
Where you can cruise: Emerald Star-Ships offer a cultured way for DIY travelers to explore the villages, cities and sites of Europe, as well as Southeast Asia. From the Moselle River in Germany and the fine Riesling wine found there, to wandering the streets of Budapest, Vienna and Bratislava during a river cruise on the Danube, Emerald opens the door to the best-kept secrets throughout Europe.
via tripadvisor.com
Trust us when we say this is like no other cruise you’ve ever been on. Each of SeaDream Yacht Club‘s dreamily luxurious mega-yachts accommodates just 112 passengers, in a total of 54 staterooms and two suites. They also feature an onboard staff of 95 people, for a nearly 1:1 passenger-to-crew ratio. The concept of “yachting” instead of cruising ensures that each guest feels like they are on their very own private luxury yacht.
What’s included: The fare covers a breathtaking number of things, including gourmet meals, open bar, 24-hour room service, shore excursions and gratuities. And that’s just the beginning: There are also daily yoga and tai chi classes, golf simulators offering full-round experiences on 30 world-class courses, a library with 1,200 books, laptop computers for use while onboard and mountain bikes to use on shore, plus use of an endless array of water toys like WaveRunners, kayaks, wakeboards, floating islands and banana boats. Caribbean sailings also include a decadent “Champagne and Caviar Splash,” a wildly popular alfresco beach bash at an island port of call.
Where you can cruise: While there are a number of options, including the newly added Norway, wine enthusiasts should book the SeaDream Wine Voyage. These tours of Southern Spain, the French Riviera, Northern Italy and Greece each include two complimentary wine tastings per voyage, one Winemakers dinner and two wine-related land adventures (in addition to the regular selection of excursions).
via tripadvisor.com
Ultra-premium Oceania Cruises operates six ships, with a seventh on the way in 2023, as all-inclusive cruises with packages including soft drinks, specialty dining, 24-hour room service, Wi-Fi and transfers to and from port. OLife Choice packages, available on all itineraries, also include airfare from select U.S. and Canada gateways.
What’s included: Currently, more than 380 Oceania sailings offer two-for-one cruise fares, free round-trip airfare, up to eight free shore excursions, a beverage package and up to $800 in shipboard credit (to book spa services, for example).
Where you can cruise: Oceania sails the entire globe, with itineraries touching the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and South America. If you’re bringing the kids on this trip, you’ll definitely want to look into the Oceania Alaska Explorer Youth Program on the Regatta. Geared toward children ages 5 to 12, the program is supervised by experienced youth counselors and includes games, activities and Alaska-inspired special events.
Courtesy Celebrity Cruises
Known as a high-end cruise line offering smaller ocean ships and personalized service, Celebrity has recently added larger, Edge-class ships to its fleet but has kept its intimacy and its fans. While they are not completely all-inclusive cruises, per se, Celebrity does include drinks, gratuities and Wi-Fi. Book a suite on the resplendent Apex or Beyond, and you’ll also receive unlimited access to SEA Thermal spa experiences, private restaurants and more.
What’s included: You can have a classic cruise experience on Celebrity that requires you to settle up at the end of your adventure, or you can take advantage of package deals and create an amazing all-inclusive cruise—at a starting price you can actually afford. And when you book the Celebrity Galápagos all-inclusive cruise experience, you’ll receive free round-trip airfare to South America, all meals prepared by a Michelin star chef, twice-daily shore excursions with a naturalist in Galápagos National Park and more.
Where you can cruise: You can take a Celebrity Cruise to see everything from Alaska to the Bahamas, but the cruise line’s luxury is best experienced in the Greek Islands and Croatia, where the onshore experiences and food will match the onboard amenities. Sip wine on the whitewashed rooftop terraces of Santorini, watch the sunset from the hilltop of an ancient Minoan site and take small group tours of the Acropolis in Athens.
Courtesy uncruise adventures
An UnCruise is unlike any other cruise you have experienced. Each of the ships in the fleet only accommodates between 22 and 86 passengers as you explore majestic wilderness areas in Alaska, Hawaii, the U.S. Pacific Northwest, Belize, Costa Rica and Mexico. On shore, you are often taken to places that can be reached only by inflatable kayak to view wildlife, such as whales, bears, monkeys and seals.
What’s included: Fares include onboard activities like yoga classes and off-ship activities like hiking, snorkeling and more. Also included are alcoholic beverages (including fine wine, top-drawer spirits and microbrews), a half-hour massage per guest and port transfers. Gratuities, alas, are not included, but entry fees into national parks and all necessary equipment for your adventures are.
Where you can cruise: Many people will be drawn to Alaska, but for a unique big adventure on a small ship, use UnCruise Adventures to explore Guatemala and Belize, or even the Galápagos Islands. You’ll cruise, kayak, paddleboard and snorkel the Barrier Reef in Belize, and discover the local culture through food, songs and storytelling while on land. When back on board, discover the many hidden features on cruise ships.
via tripadvisor.com
Unlike other cruise lines, even the small boutique ones and the yachts, Paul Gauguin has only one ship in the fleet. With the motto “cruise artfully” and just a single ship, the 322-passenger Paul Gauguin sails the South Pacific with an enticing air of je ne sais quoi.
What’s included: Possibly the most inclusive of all the options on our list, Paul Gauguin cruises offer passengers round-trip airfare from Los Angeles, airport/pier transfers, all shipboard meals, 24-hour room service, beverages, all entertainment on board and expert presentations. Additionally, all gratuities, even for room stewards, are included, as are water sports (at the marina or the destination) and the use of secluded beaches.
Where you can cruise: Dedicated to opening up the South Pacific for guests, the Paul Gauguin takes you to the Cook Islands, Society Islands, Tahiti, Fiji, Tonga and more. FYI, whether you’re sailing on a small ship or a big one, you’ll want to know what “bravo bravo ship” means.
Courtesy Seabourn
This ultra-luxury expedition goes to remote locations few people get to experience: the northern and southern polar regions. This cruise will have you on Zodiacs under teeming bird cliffs and along jungle rivers, kayaking among stately icebergs and tropical coral islands, and visiting ruins from the days of the Vikings. On board, you’ll find 132 ocean-front suites and top-notch services and amenities. If you prefer an ocean-front suite on dry and warmer land, check out these all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean.
What’s included: The staff includes a 26-person expedition team comprising veteran wilderness experts, scientists, historians and naturalists, all of whom use their knowledge to guide expedition experiences for guests. They’ll also interpret the passing scenes while at sea and assist guests in observing the natural beauty through the Swarovski scopes and binoculars located on the deck and in every suite. Additionally, on sailings in polar regions, each guest receives a complimentary Seabourn expedition-grade parka and day pack, and can use insulated Bogs winter boots for wet landings.
Where you can cruise: From the Arctic to the Amazon, Seabourn Expeditions will take you deep inside some of the most remote locations on earth. You’ll encounter whales, walruses and seals up close and personal, and cruise in actual submarines past vivid reef walls and towering underwater ice cliffs. These cruises are best for those who want a luxuriously rugged real wilderness experience at sea and on land.
via tripadvisor.com
The four ships of Azamara Cruises carry a maximum of 702 guests each, and they operate more like floating boutique hotels than cruise ships. In addition to standard luxury cruises, Azamara offers special golf cruises in conjunction with golf vacation provider PerryGolf. They come with escorted rounds of golf at prestigious courses around the world, including Northern Ireland’s Royal Portrush, and tickets to see The British Open.
What’s included: All guests in all stateroom classes receive a complimentary AzAmazing Evenings event (such as a cello performance in Old Town Dubrovnik or a private visit to a cultural center in Busan, South Korea) or onboard Destination Celebration. This is in addition to having all gratuities and most beverages covered (from select spirits to international wines and beers to all soda, coffee, tea and bottled water). If you like to pack light and do laundry, self-service washers and dryers are free to use as often as you’d like. You’ll also get free shuttle service to and from port. But packages are even more inclusive if you level up your stateroom; the highest is Suite level, where you’ll enjoy butler service, specialty dining seating and in-room spirits and afternoon tea service, plus a $300 onboard credit per person.
Where you can cruise: While the ships go everywhere you’d expect, the Canary Island all-inclusive cruises (which stop in Gibraltar) offer great value for a different kind of European journey, and the immersive Norwegian fjords cruises offer breathtaking scenery, Viking history and delicious local cuisine. There’s also a 14-day journey of Argentina and the Falkland Islands that is not as expensive as you’d think—starting at $7,000 for two in a veranda stateroom.
via seacloud.com
Some of the passengers cruising with German-owned Sea Cloud Cruises get really involved in the experience, including those who like to help pull the ropes to raise the sails! That’s a fair amount of exercise, but thankfully your wallet won’t get a huge workout while you’re onboard the 64-passenger Sea Cloud, 94-passenger Sea Cloud II or the newest offering, a three-mast, full-rigged ship called the Sea Cloud Spirit, which carries a maximum of 136 guests.
What’s included: Our favorite perk is a welcome bottle of champagne for every guest. Beyond that, on Caribbean sailings, shore excursions are included, so you can go off-the-beaten-tourist path to see places like Jost van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands and Bequia in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Wine and beer are complimentary at dinner, as are cocktails that are served at a couple of the captain’s parties that take place during each sailing.
Where you can cruise: What’s more iconic than a transatlantic sailing on an actual tall ship? That’s just one of the many routes available on these stunning sailboats. You’ll also find itineraries that explore the volcanic terrain of Nicaragua, the rainforests of Costa Rica and Panama’s natural masterpieces.
Courtesy Virgin Voyages
Richard Branson’s Virgin Voyages all-inclusive cruises for adults set sail from Miami and Barcelona, with a third ship servicing the Greek Islands hitting the water in 2023. These inventive, glittering ships are set on disrupting the cruise industry by providing guests with as close to an all-inclusive cruise experience as possible without actually using the words all-inclusive cruises. There are no buffets, but rather more than 20 small-scale specialty restaurants from steakhouses to Korean barbecue joints, offering the feeling of intimate, big-city dining at sea—and all at no additional cost—plus free WiFi, group fitness classes and more.
What’s included: Dining destinations created by Michelin chefs, including the plant-based Razzle Dazzle Restaurant, offer food options 24 hours a day—and it’s all included in the price of the sailing. You can also take as many group fitness classes as you wish, because there are no extra fees for those either, and see a number of theatrical productions for free. Tips are included too.
Where you can cruise: The Scarlet Lady is making stops at the Beach Club at Bimini in the Bahamas, where a luxe beach day turns into a dance party around the bonfire on the sand because back-onboard time isn’t until 11:59 p.m.! Virgin Voyages is also sailing to Cozumel, Key West, Costa Maya, San Juan and Puerto Plata in the Caribbean, and to France, Italy and Spain in the Mediterranean.
via goolets.net
Looking for something truly amazing and exclusive? Book your own super yacht. Freedom, a 24-passenger luxury vessel, features a cinema, gym, onboard pool, jacuzzi, sauna, beauty spa and massage room, plus a full menu of water toys, from simple rafts and paddleboards to a pair of JetSkis and SeaBobs. The cuisine is all fresh and local, and organic whenever possible. What sets a Goolets private yacht apart from all other all-inclusive cruises in the world is that the experience is 100% tailored to the guest’s needs, wants and desires, and most important, is nimble enough to change plans at a moment’s notice. Meaning, if the family or party chartering a yacht falls in love with one Dalmatian Island in Croatia and wants to spend an extra day docked there, that can be arranged. And if you have a craving for lobster, a call will be made and lobster will be served that evening.
What’s included: Everything you could dream of is included, from gourmet food, local wines, water sports and entertainment to port charges and tips. You’ll have your own dedicated team of chefs, servers, a masseuse, steward and captain, all working for you and your guests.
Where you can cruise: While Goolets operates yachts from Indonesia to the Caribbean, spending a week on Freedom exploring the idyllic Dalmatian islands of Croatia that dot the Adriatic Sea provides not-to-be-missed scenery.Â
via tripadvisor.com
A luxury river cruise that will delight all your senses and not dent your wallet awaits on AmaWaterways. These casually elegant all-inclusive cruises cover everything, from food to airfare, guided tours to port transfers, allowing guests to truly unwind and explore the great cities, villages, wine regions and rich history that can be found along some of the most spectacular rivers of the world.
What’s included: All meals on board the ships are included in the cruise price, as is sparkling wine and juices at breakfast; beer, soft drinks and unlimited wines at lunch and dinner; a cocktail hour with complimentary wine, beer and spirits; plus gourmet coffee, tea and bottled water all day and night. Guests will enjoy the option of an included sightseeing tour in each city or town, along with plenty of free time to explore on their own. Guided bicycle, hiking and tasting tours in select cities are also a part of these all-inclusive cruises with AmaWaterways. Of course, Wi-Fi and port transfers are complimentary as well. Additionally, to celebrate their 20th anniversary, Ama is offering free airfare from the U.S. on more than 350 itineraries in Europe and Southeast Asia in 2022.
Where you can cruise: The rivers of Europe, Vietnam, Cambodia, Egypt, Latin America and Africa.
Additional reporting by Suzanne Rowan Kelleher.
