A cruise includes everything. Well, almost everything.

When you book your first one, you assume "all inclusive" means you won't touch your wallet all week. And for the most part, you're right. But there's fine print almost nobody tells you about before you board — fine print that can turn your dream vacation into an unpleasant surprise the day you check your final onboard bill.

I've done 13 cruises, visited 18 countries, and taken a few hits to the bank account along the way. So let's go through this calmly, point by point, because I want you to know exactly where the trap is and where the real value is before you walk up the gangway.

The cruise line doesn't hold back here: your cabin, all meals throughout the day at the main restaurant and the buffet, pools, jacuzzis, gym, daytime entertainment, kids' club, and — this is the one almost nobody factors in when booking — the evening shows.

Let me tell you something that happened on my last cruise, on the Costa Toscana. One night, sitting in the theater, a rock cover band started playing. And I don't mean a hotel-lobby band doing weak covers. I mean one of the best tribute bands I've ever seen — better than plenty of paid concerts I've been to on dry land. And it was included in the price of the cruise.

That pretty much sums up my first eight cruises: I didn't spend a single extra euro (well, one spectacular Italian gelato for about three euros — roughly $3 — but not much more), and I never once felt like I was missing anything. Divide the total price by the number of days you'll be on board, with meals, pools, shows, and entertainment included, and you'll understand why this is one of the best value-for-money deals in the entire travel world.

And there's something else nobody mentions in price comparisons: the service. You're surrounded by a crew of dozens of nationalities and languages, and the level of kindness stays constant regardless. That said, it works both ways: if you're rude to a crew member, don't expect to be treated like royalty. No package fixes that.

This is where you need to pay real attention.

Alcoholic drinks, unless you buy the corresponding package, are not included. So far, nothing surprising — most people know that. What almost nobody knows is that some non-alcoholic drink packages have a catch. On my last cruise, we bought one of these packages and discovered that bottled water wasn't included, and that some basic non-alcoholic drinks weren't either. That took most of the point out of paying for it.

Another one that happened to me, this time at a specialty restaurant during a pandemic-era Christmas cruise: we had a drinks package, and they still charged us for drinks separately inside that restaurant. It's not the norm, but it happens — which is why I always recommend asking at guest services exactly what your package covers before assuming anything.

Besides that, what's normally paid separately is:

For me, yes, always. Even if you barely drink.

Look, you can pay for drinks one at a time as you order them, or you can get the package and not think about it all week. The price difference usually runs around $550–770 (500–700 euros) per person for the whole week. And yes, that's real money. But this is your vacation, damn it. You work all year to get to that sunset on deck with a drink in your hand, and I don't want that scene to be "honey, how much is this cocktail?" instead of "honey, do you want one or two?"

You can cut back at the grocery store once you're home. Not on the ship.

My concrete recommendation: the standard alcoholic drinks package — you don't need the premium one. I've never once felt like I was missing out.

This depends on your travel style, but here's my honest experience after 13 cruises.

Cruise-line-organized excursions: I normally skip these. Not because they're bad, but because in a lot of ports you don't even need them. Naples, Genoa, Venice... you can easily explore those on your own. And when I do want context or history, I'd rather book an independent free tour or a local guide than the ship's official excursion. These are people who live off tips and reviews, they pour everything into each tour, and 99% of the time the experience has been excellent.

Specialty restaurants: you don't need them for a great vacation, but if budget isn't an issue, at least one or two are worth it. A Teppanyaki dinner with a show is one of my go-to picks, especially with company — great food and you're laughing the whole time. On my last cruise we also tried a fine-dining experience with wine pairing for about $110 (100 euros) per person. It's not exactly a Michelin-starred restaurant, but it comes pretty close, and the food and pairing were spectacular.

Spa: this is the big underrated one. Spending some time in the spa every day before getting ready for dinner, with ocean-view windows, is one of the most relaxing experiences you can have on board. If I had to pick just one extra to recommend, it would be this one.

Here's something important: no cruise line actually includes alcohol in the base "all inclusive" fare. You'll always need a separate package, or in some cases, a credit system instead. Virgin Voyages, for example, doesn't even have a drinks package: you buy bar tabs of $100, $200, $400, or $600 to spend on board. It's understandable — cruise lines can't give away that margin either — but it's worth knowing before you book, thinking "all inclusive" means literally everything.

And keep in mind, the experience also varies a lot from ship to ship within the same cruise line, depending on each vessel's technology, design, and layout. So if a friend tells you about their experience on one specific ship, don't assume it'll be exactly the same on another ship from the same company.

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