Cruise Questions, Answered Honestly

Does everyone in the cabin have to buy the drink package?

On most major lines, yes: if one adult in the stateroom buys the alcohol package, the other adults of drinking age in that stateroom are generally required to buy one too. Exceptions exist and differ by line, so the line you choose changes the math.

Is the drink package actually worth it?

It's worth it when the drinks and other included beverages you'd realistically buy exceed the package's total daily cost: packages typically run $60–100+ per person per day, and the researched rule of thumb is roughly five to seven alcoholic drinks a day to break even, or four to five once specialty coffee, soda, and water add real value.

How much are cruise gratuities, and can I remove them?

Major lines add automatic service charges of roughly $16–25 per person per day, varying by line and cabin tier, suites pay more. They are charged daily to your onboard account unless you prepay. Most lines will technically adjust them at guest services; we don't recommend it, the crew who make your week live on them. Budget for them from the start: on a weeklong cruise for two they're a real line item.

What's included in a cruise fare, and what costs extra?

A standard fare commonly includes the cabin, selected dining venues, pools, and much of the scheduled entertainment: exact inclusions vary by line, ship, and fare type. Gratuities, alcohol, specialty dining, wifi, excursions, and the spa are the usual extras. Compare total trip cost, not the headline price.

Do we need cash on the ship, or can we use a credit card?

Ships are cashless: a card on file backs your onboard account, and your room key charges everything from drinks to the spa. Bring some cash anyway: for extra tips, port vendors, and taxis ashore. The casino takes both; charging chips or slot play to your room is possible on the major lines, sometimes with a fee at the tables.

Can someone under 21 cruise without a parent?

It depends on the line and the departure region. Many North American departures require an adult 21+ in the traveling party's cabin arrangement, while some lines allow guests 18 and over to sail unaccompanied on departures from other regions. Minors are a separate, stricter category on every line.

How old do you have to be to book a hotel the night before the cruise?

It is set property by property, not by the brand: many U.S. hotels accept 18, many require 21, and some resort and Las Vegas properties hold out for 25. If anyone in your group under 21 is arriving a day early without a parent, we confirm the specific hotel's rule before booking it.

How do group deposits work, and what happens if the price drops after we book?

Nothing is official and no price is locked until the deposit is paid. Once it is, your fare cannot go up, but it can go down, and until final payment we reprice you whenever it does. Friends can join later at whatever fare is available that day, which is why the first cabins should book the moment the group agrees on a date.

Can our group's cabins be near each other?

Usually, if you book early and book as a group. Adjacent and connecting cabins are the first inventory to go on any sailing, so the earlier the deposits land, the more of the block we can hold together. Book late and the honest answer is "same deck, maybe", and a discounted "guarantee" cabin can't be placed at all.

How much does a single cabin cost?

A standard cabin is priced for two, so a solo traveler generally pays a single supplement of roughly 100–200% of the per-person fare: in plain terms, close to the price of two. The workaround is a purpose-built solo cabin: Norwegian currently sells studio cabins with no supplement on several ships, and Royal Caribbean offers solo cabins on a handful of vessels.

Is cruise wifi worth buying?

If you're cruising to work, yes. If you're cruising to be on vacation, probably not, and a week of it for two can run a few hundred dollars. If you do buy it, buy it before you board; onboard pricing is higher. Texting your own group usually doesn't need it: most major lines' apps offer guest-to-guest messaging on the ship's network without the internet package.

Is formal night mandatory on a cruise?

None of the theme nights are mandatory (formal, white night, or any other. What is enforced is the dining room's minimum: no swimwear or tank tops at dinner anywhere, and whether shorts pass depends on the line) Carnival currently allows dress shorts on casual nights, Royal Caribbean's written code does not. Casual dining is generally available if you'd rather skip it entirely.

Should I book excursions through the ship or on my own?

If you've never cruised, book through the ship: it costs more and the groups are bigger, but the ship waits for its own tours if they run late. If your group is a little adventurous and wants the island rather than one beach, a private day with a driver usually costs less per person and does exactly what you want, and that's the part we arrange.

Do we need to reserve shows before the cruise?

On some lines yes, and on those the good seats go before you board. Download the line's app the day you book, build your daily planner from the ship's calendar, and reserve every show and specialty dinner that takes a reservation: before you think about excursions. For a group, pick the same night and time for everything you want to do together.

Can our whole group eat dinner together?

Yes: if the reservations are linked before sailing. We link every cabin in the group, put everyone on the same dining time, and request large tables near each other; then we brief the dining team about celebrations and dietary needs. Do it early: the dining room seats a group of twenty far more easily in March than on embarkation day.

Can I bring my own wine or alcohol on a cruise?

Most major lines allow a small amount of wine or champagne carried on at embarkation, and generally prohibit bringing your own beer or liquor. But the allowance structure varies substantially (some lines set it per eligible guest, others per stateroom, with bottle-size limits) so check your exact line before you shop.

Can I bring cannabis on a cruise if I have a medical card?

No. Every major cruise line currently prohibits cannabis in any form (flower, edibles, vapes, and on most lines CBD as well) and a medical card doesn't change it, even sailing from a state where it's legal. Ships operate under federal and international law, not the departure state's.

Is bottled water included, and can I bring a case aboard?

Tap water aboard is free and safe. It's filtered ship water, poured at every bar and the buffet. Bottled water is an extra on most lines unless a beverage package includes it. Carrying a case aboard is line-specific: some allow a dozen sealed cans or cartons per cabin, several ban outside beverages entirely, and plastic bottles are the first thing refused.

What's the drinking age on a cruise?

For major-line cruises departing from the United States, plan on 21, subject to the line's current policy and any stricter local rules. On some departures from other regions the minimum is 18, and a few itineraries run different rules. The line and the specific sailing decide together.