Sarah BretzTo offer passengers a more inclusive cruise experience, Celebrity Cruises has a fare called ‘All Included.’ With this fare, guests receive two extras that aren’t included in the Cruise Only rate: the Classic Drinks Package and the Basic WiFi Package. For many cruisers, this elevated fare is worth the price — but is it for you? Here, we’re going over exactly what the All Included rate entails and crunching the numbers to help you determine if booking with this fare is right for you.
What’s included on a Celebrity cruise?
There are a lot of things included in the base fare on a Celebrity cruise. First and foremost, your fare covers the cost of your stateroom. The type of accommodation you choose will be the main driver of your total cruise cost. Interior staterooms with no windows are generally the most inexpensive, while suites with more room to spread out are the most expensive.
Three meals a day, plus snacks, are also included in the cruise fare from several venues around the ship. These include the Oceanview Cafe buffet, the poolside Mast Grill, the Spa Café, and the main dining room(s) (also known as the Main Restaurants). Pastries and desserts from Café al Bacio are free — but you have to pay extra for beverages there! Room service continental breakfast is also included for all passengers. Standard beverages like juice, drip coffee, hot and iced tea, and lemonade are complimentary as well.
Most activities and amenities are also part of the standard cruise fare. These include use of the pools, fitness centers, and sports courts, as well as trivia, game shows, movies, and enrichment talks and lectures. A variety of entertainment like theater production shows, live music, comedy shows, and themed parties keep guests entertained throughout the day and into the night.
Further, Celebrity Cruises’ kids and teen programming, called Camp at Sea, is part of the standard cruise fare. The youngest cruisers are divided up by age into their own clubs: Shipmates (ages 3-5), Cadets (ages 6-9), Captains (ages 10-12), and Teens (ages 13-17). Each club offers age-appropriate activities and entertainment such as arts and crafts, sing-alongs, sports competitions, movie nights, scavenger hunts, and themed parties.
What’s included in the Celebrity All Included fare?
The Celebrity Cruises All Included fare allows passengers to bundle two of its most popular packages — Classic Drinks and Basic Wi-Fi — into the cruise fare at a savings vs. if you were to purchase them separately. This is called the All Included fare.
Note that this is not an add-on package that’s priced per-day like Holland America’s Have It All package or Princess’ Plus and Premier packages — it’s a separate price for the cruise fare itself. This means that if you were to do the math for the cost per day for the standard Cruise Only fare vs. the All Included fare, it will vary depending on the specific sailing you’re looking at. The ship, itinerary, and time of year all go into determining the price of a specific cruise, and that comes into play with the All Included fare as well.
The Classic Drinks Package covers beers, wines by the glass, cocktails, spirits, liqueurs, and frozen drinks worth up to $12 per serving. It also includes non-premium bottled water, specialty coffees and teas, juices, and soda. It does not include smoothies or freshly-squeezed juices.
The Basic WiFi Package includes basic browsing, email, and messaging capabilities. You may only use one device at a time with the Basic package, but can switch between devices as needed. The Basic package does not include the ability to share photos or videos on social media, video chat, or stream videos and music.
Since October 2023, gratuities are no longer a part of this All Included package.
Fine Print
The All Included pricing does not apply to Galapagos cruises, charters, or contracted groups. You also cannot choose the All Included rate when booking a suite in The Retreat because those already include the Premium Drink and Premium WiFi packages.
If one person in a stateroom is booking the All Included fare, other guests staying in the same stateroom must choose All Included as well.
What is not included in Celebrity’s All Included fare?
Essentially, everything that costs extra on a Celebrity Cruises ship besides the Classic Drink Package and the Basic WiFi package are not included in the All Included fare. This includes things like:
- Automatic daily gratuities ($18 per person/day for standard cabins, $19 per person/day for Concierge and AquaClass staterooms, $23 per person/day for The Retreat staterooms)
- Premium beverages that go beyond the $12 price cap for the Classic Drink Package
- Shore excursions
- Specialty dining
- Any internet needs beyond the Basic WiFi package (including the ability to video chat and stream videos or music)
- Spa services and access to the spa thermal suite
- Room service besides continental breakfast items
- Casino play
- Laundry services
- Photos from the ship’s photographers
- Onboard shopping
- Some entertainment (bingo, cooking classes, cocktail tastings, etc.)
Is the Celebrity All Included fare worth it?
Celebrity Cruises utilizes a dynamic pricing system for many of its inclusive packages, including the Classic Drink Package. However, you can expect that this package will start at around $90 per person, per day. Dynamic pricing is also used for the WiFi packages, but the Basic package usually costs around $18-$20 per device, per day.
Here’s a guide on beverage prices on Celebrity Cruises:
- Beer: starting at around $7
- Wine by the glass: starting at around $9
- Mixed Drinks: starting at $9
- Specialty Cocktails: $15-$18, with a few higher prices
- Soft Drinks: $3
- Specialty Coffees: $5 average price
- Energy Drinks: $6
- Water: $3.50-5.50
Since Celebrity All Included is a cruise fare and not an add-on package, there is no flat “price-per-day” for All Included that’s the same across all sailings. However, during a search across various dates, ships, and cabin categories, it appears that the average price to upgrade from the Cruise Only to the All Included rate is about $80 per person, per day. Of course, this will vary depending on the specific cruise(s) you’re looking at, as there are many factors that go into how cruises are priced.
Looking at these numbers, chances are if you were already planning to purchase an alcoholic beverage package, it’s worth it to book with the All Included fare instead. Depending on the pricing for your specific cruise, you’ll essentially be getting wifi access for free.
If you were only planning to purchase wifi, you may need to crunch the numbers and figure out if the additional cost will be worth it for you. If you plan to purchase beverages a la carte, run the numbers and determine how many you’ll drink per day — and make sure to factor in port days where you’ll probably be off the ship for a big chunk of the day. Spending some time doing the math could save you quite a bit of money in the long run.
Celebrity Cruises All Included Fare FAQs
What if I order a drink that costs more than the $12 cap for the Classic Drink Package?
If you order a beverage that exceeds the $12 cap, you’ll only be charged for the difference and the automatic gratuity. For example, if you order a $15 cocktail, you’ll be charged $3 plus an automatic 20 percent gratuity.
Can I upgrade my drink or WiFi package if I booked with the All Included fare?
Yes! If you want to upgrade to the Premium WiFi package, you can do so for $10 per person, per day. The Premium package adds the ability to share photos and videos to social media, video chat, and stream videos and music.
You can also upgrade from a Classic Beverage Package to a Premium Beverage Package for $20 per person, per day. The Premium Package includes drinks worth up to $19 each. Essentially, the Premium Beverage Package includes all beers, wines, cocktails, and top shelf liquor. It also adds unlimited premium still and sparkling bottled water, Red Bull, Vitamin Water, and Spa Café fresh juices.
Do you need to pay gratuities on beverages with the All Included fare?
No, as long as the cost does not exceed the maximum drink price for your package ($12 for the Classic or $19 if you upgraded to the Premium package), you will not be charged additional gratuities; they’re included in the Celebrity Cruises All Included fare.
Comments
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