Which Cruise Line is the most inclusive?

It is no doubt that all-inclusive cruising has turned out to be the most alluring way of travel with its simplicity, ease, and great value. For most of the travelers, an all-inclusive package is the best option since it wipes out the whole exercise of planning, budgeting, and caring about the cash that come up unexpectedly on board. But still, with so many cruise lines claiming to provide “all-inclusive” options, it is quite difficult to arrive at the best cruise line offering a complete experience.

The following guide will help you discover the best cruise lines with the richest inclusiveness, the real meaning of “all-inclusive”, and how to pick the one that suits your travel style and preferences best.

What “All-Inclusive” Means on a Cruise?

“All-inclusive” is a term that differs from one cruise line to another, nevertheless, the general idea is the following:

• Wi-Fi
• Gratuities
• Onboard entertainment
• Fitness classes
• Room service
• Some level of shore excursions
• Main and specialty restaurants, the main dining options.
• Drinks - both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.
• Mostly luxury brands - airport transfers or flights.

Plus the wellness treatments, premium wines, and boutique items generally come with an additional fee.

Also Read: What all is included and excluded in cruise fare?

Cruise Lines with the Most Inclusive Packages

Cruise lines are categorized into three general groups: ultra-luxury all-inclusive, value and mid-range, and other all-inclusive river cruises. This is how they compare.

Ultra-Luxury All-Inclusive Cruise Lines

The smartest ones in the market offer the fullest and finest all-inclusive experiences that one can have.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Regent Seven Seas is usually regarded as the premium option in the realm of all-inclusive cruises. This is almost like a totally wallet-less experience in the ocean.

Standard benefits:

• Unlimited land trips
• Meal for all including the best restaurants
• Top-notch drinks and free bars all over the ship
• Tips
• Free internet
• Dry cleaning
• Hotel accommodations prior to departure on cruise (in several lines)
• Transportation from/to the airport to/from the vessel
• Spacious, luxurious rooms, with the majority having terraces

Extra options are mostly spa treatments, selection of ultra-premium wines and spirits, and very unique experiences. However, in everyday life, most guests can easily sail through a Regent cruise without accumulating high extra costs.

If your main concern is the highest inclusive offer possible, Regent Seven Seas is usually right there at the top.

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Seabourn

Seabourn offers a high-end, yacht-like experience with the main focus on service and cuisine. The ships are relatively small rendering them a cozy atmosphere as well as providing a terrific guest-to-crew ratio.

Included in the rates:

• All dining experiences on the ship, specialty ones included
• The best spirits and the choicest wines
• Your own mini-bar in the suite (refilled according to your liking)
• Tips
• Entertainment and education programs on board

Also Read: Is Seabourn Cruises All Inclusive?

Silversea Cruises

The sole ultra-luxury cruise line Silversea has developed the all-inclusive model and has been gaining in power, mainly with regard to their door-to-door fares.

Key offerings:

• Butler service in every suite (yes, in every suite)
• Drinks, including some premium options
• Tips
• Wi-Fi
• Laundry services for several sailings
• One shore excursion at every port (on many itineraries)
• Free car service from your home to the airport (within a certain distance)
• Airfare included in many door-to-door packages

Some luxury extras like high-end cigars, top-range wines, or particular spa services are still payable. Nonetheless, Silversea generally provides a high level of comfort in travel without the burden of continuously reaching for your card.

Azamara

Azamara is positioned quite nicely between the ranges of premium and luxury, and it has gained popularity for organizing cruises that focus on destinations and provide longer stays at the ports.

Usually included:

• Drinks from a certain selection of international brands, spirits, and various types of wines and beers
• Tips
• Self-service laundry access
• Transportation to the town center in many places
• A free event or cultural evening related to the destination on most trips

In addition to the above, guests staying in premium suites receive a butler, special dining arrangements, in-room drinks, and onboard credit as well. Shore excursions are normally sold apart, which is a significant difference when compared to Regent or Silversea, yet, many travelers consider the cultural focus and long port stay more than the cost difference.

Viking Ocean Cruises

Viking Ocean Cruises offers a calm and cultural adult-oriented cruise which is the closest to the experience of tranquility and culture. A major part of the fleet is either adult-only or mainly adult-oriented, and there is no emphasis on slides or clubs for children at all.

Among many Viking Ocean routes the following are included:

• One shore excursion in every port of call
• Beer, wine, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
• Specialty coffees and teas
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Room services any time
• Laundry services (depending on cabin category and itinerary)
• Fitness classes
• Airport transfers provided when air booking is done through Viking

Viking's ships don't have inside cabins—every cabin has a balcony—thus even the "entry-level" rooms feel a bit more like a boutique hotel on the sea.

Also Read: Adults Only All Inclusive Cruises: Your Ultimate Guide

Scenic Ocean Cruises

Scenic's luxury ships are beautifully designed for expedition-like experiences, and they put a lot of emphasis on both adventure and luxury.

The all-inclusive plan can cover the following items:

• Specialty restaurant meals included in regular meal plan
• Premium liquor and non-alcoholic drinks of any kind
• Service charges
• Excursions to the shore, including activities like getting to the location by Zodiac, all done for you
• Personal service
• Transport on certain routes or as part of a package

Comfort is the predominant determinant still, but Scenic has practical solutions for those whose way leads to the tough to reach spots—like the Arctic or the stunning coasts.

Virgin Voyages

Even though Virgin Voyages is not a hundred percent luxury, the company is still considered one of the best mainly due to its contemporary adults-only inclusive model (18+).

In the package:

• Eating in more than 20 restaurants with a specialty-style concept
• Tipping
• Free Wi-Fi
• Yoga and fitness classes
• Entertainment and shows
• Drinks that are not alcoholic such as sodas, drip coffee, and teas

The company still charges extra for alcoholic beverages, upgraded Wi-Fi, spa services, and shore excursions, but compared to many mainstream lines, Virgin packs in quite a lot at its base fare.

Also Read: All Inclusive Vs. Non Inclusive Cruises: What's the Difference?

Value and Mid-Range Options with Inclusive Packages

In case you want many advantages but are not very strict with the luxury level, then there are the mainstream and premium cruise lines that have “inclusive-style” packages that will make you spend a lot less money on board.

Celebrity Cruises

The “All Included” package from Celebrity cruises is clear-cut and well-liked.

Typically included:

• Tips
• Basic Wi-Fi
• A classic drinks package (which includes a selection of beers, wines, and cocktails)

Such a deal relieves you from three of the largest onboard expenditures. It is a good choice if you want a modern, stylish cruise along with a fair level of inclusion, at a not too high price point.

Also Read:  Are cruise prices all inclusive?

MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises is recognized for its value fares, especially in the European market, and it provides packages that can combine:

• Beverages
• Internet
• Best service and other advantages

What exactly is included will vary depending on the current promotion or the booking level (Fantastica or Aurea), but MSC has the potential to be very attractive for the budget traveler.

Also Read: Which cruise line is best value for money?

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)

Norwegian's "Free At Sea" program is a flexible and widely recognized perk system. You can choose to pay a fixed price (or get it as a part of a promotion) and add to your list some or all of the following:

• An open bar (drinks in general)
• Specialty dining vouchers
• Internet access
• Excursion credits
• Discounts or no charge for the third and fourth guests in specific cruises

It is not a complete package in the strictest sense, but it can help cut the onboard bill considerably if you choose the options that you will really use.

Also Read: Are Norwegian Cruises All Inclusive?

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises is offering two add-on packages that are quite popular:

• Princess Plus - which covers drinks, Wi-Fi, and tips
• Princess Premier - an option that includes premium drinks, extra specialty dining, and higher-speed Wi-Fi

The packages indeed have the potential to create a significant impact. Without them, drinks, Wi-Fi, and tips would soon add up, and you would have to pay individually for those. By Princess, one major step in the direction of an all-inclusive experience at a mid-range price would be taken.

Windstar Cruises

Windstar is all about the small ships and yacht-like vessels. The basic fare does not cover everything, but you can purchase an all-inclusive package, which consists of:

• Unlimited alcoholic drinks
• Internet access
• Tips

With this add-on, Windstar is offering an extremely laid-back, nearly all-inclusive experience on small luxury ships that visit less crowded, unique ports.

What is the Meaning of All-Inclusive in a Cruise?

It’s still worth stressing that even after considering all the cruise lines, “all-inclusive” does not mean you will not have to sign a check on the ship at all. It rather means that most of the fundamental aspects of the cruise are incorporated in your base fare.

Typical inclusions:

• Food (main dining + numerous specialty options)
• Non-alcoholic drinks, and on premium lines, most alcoholic beverages
• Tips
• Internet or at the very least basic access
• Programs for onboard passengers
• Fitness training and gym use
• Room service (occasionally 24/7)
• At least a few land tours
• Transfers or even flights on some lines and routes

Typical extras:

• Spa and beauty treatments
• Gambling in the casino
• Top-end or rare wines and spirits
• Exclusive or private excursions
• Shopping at the boutique
• Medical care onboard

Aware of what is included in the price before you make the reservation is the only way to avoid disappointment or unplanned costs.

Choosing an All-Inclusive Cruise: Benefits and Trade-Offs

Benefits

• Budgeting is Predictable: Most of your costs are known beforehand and this is very useful for longer travels, world cruises or group bookings.
• Lower Stressful Situation: You’ll no longer have to constantly calculate mentally how much your cocktail or coffee is contributing to your final bill since graduations, drinks and Wi-Fi are all included.
• Premium Experience: Up-scale all-inclusive cruise lines generally offer large suites, gourmet dining and a very attentive service which makes the whole vacation a very nice one.
• Better Value: If you are a person who likes to go for special dining, drinks and excursions then an all-inclusive fare could turn out to be cheaper than paying for what you consume.

Trade-Offs

• Higher Upfront Prices: The reality of sticker shock is not to be underestimated. All-inclusive fares are higher than basic cruise fares but all the same they are one of the ways to save money.
• Paying for Things You Don’t Consume: If you are someone that rarely drinks, does not go on excursions or does not require Wi-Fi then you might be paying for facilities that you do not make full use of.
• Luxury Lines Mostly Cater to Adults: Many ultra-inclusive cruise lines consider that their target customers are adults. Families with young children may find it easier to get suitable options on mainstream lines.
• Not Really “Everything”: Even at the very top end of the scale, spa services, luxury wines and specialty experiences are usually extra charges.

Recommended Cruise Option According to Your Travel Style

Different people have different traveling styles, thus what is the all-inclusive cruise “best” really depends on what you care about most.

If You Want High-End Luxury & Maximum Comfort

Go for:

• Regent Seven Seas Cruises
• Seabourn
• Silversea Cruises

If you want to indulge yourself in an all-inclusive experience that is almost perfect, these cruise lines are the right choice, catering to your every need with excellent dining and service while leaving you with very little to spend aboard. Honeymooners will find it the best alternative and so will those who want to celebrate milestones in their lives or just pamper themselves with the best option.

In Case You Want Cultural Immersion Along with Relaxation and Boutique Feel

Consider:

• Azamara
• Viking Ocean Cruises
• Scenic Ocean Cruises

These cruise lines are very good at offering a mix of luxury and adventure with long stays, port of call rich itineraries, and a relaxed onboard atmosphere. If you prefer to spend an extra day in a European port than hurrying back to a waterslide, then these are the lines for you.

If You Want Good Value on a Mid-Range Budget

Think about:

• Celebrity Cruises
• MSC Cruises
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Princess Cruises
• Windstar Cruises

If what you want is to have the taste of all-inclusive holidays at the resorts without the luxury price tag, then these options are just perfect. Besides, you will choose the benefits that not only match your lifestyle but also fall within your budget.

Also Read: Are Honeymoon Cruise Packages All Inclusive?

Conclusion

Cruises that are all-inclusive are a great method to ease your vacation and mostly enrich your experience. Although it is true that no cruise line will guarantee that everything will be free when you are taking the cruise, some of them do really get close to that.

• Among the luxury segments, Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, Silversea, Scenic, Viking, and Azamara are the ones to get all things included, and their service will make you feel like a king.
• For great value, flexible styles of packages with inclusivity, and Celebrity, MSC, Norwegian, Princess, Windstar, and Virgin Voyages as the best options.
• In river cruises, AmaWaterways offers a comprehensive, all-inclusive program that is centered around culture and nature.

In the end, the “most inclusive” cruise line will be determined by what is most important to you—be it luxury, destination immersion, small-ship intimacy, or budget-conscious convenience. Having a good understanding of what is included and what is not will allow you to select a cruise line that suits your travel style and board with complete assurance that your vacation will be both unforgettable and hassle-free.