If you think that cruises are all-inclusive experiences, you may be surprised to learn that that’s not quite the case (at least not with most cruise lines). There are plenty of extra purchases you might want to make once you’re onboard the ship, from drink packages to specialty dining experiences to gym classes.
That said, though, you don’t have to buy any of these items, and there are loads of free things to do, eat, drink and experience on a cruise, all included within the price of your cruise fare. Some, of course, are better deals than others.
So, what are the best and top cruise freebies you should make the most of? These are our 10 favorites.
In This Article:
1. The Buffet
Who doesn’t love a cruise ship buffet? Cruise ship buffets are the place to chow down on whatever you want, whatever the time of day (breakfast, lunch or dinner) and in whatever quantities you want. Better yet, cruise ships always include dining at the buffet in the price of your cruise fare, so you never need to pay to eat there.
Sure, there are some rules you’ll need to follow at the buffet, like “don’t pile two plates high with food at once” and “don’t touch the food with your fingers,” but otherwise, the buffet is your personal culinary playground.
Pizza? You got it. Pasta? Sure. Salad and soup? Yep. Sandwiches. Mhmm. All the desserts you can eat? Absolutely. Food from every continent? Probably. Many cruise lines also offer made-to-order stations, where crew members make your food right in front of you, whether that’s an omelet or waffle at breakfast, or a savory stir fry at dinner.
Read Also: What You Should Never Do at the Cruise Ship Buffet
While the experience may not be as formal as what you’ll get in the cruise ship’s main dining room, and the food might not be the same quality as what you’ll get in a specialty restaurant, the free buffet is still a great deal.
So, for the variety and convenience, the cruise ship buffet is definitely a free experience that you shouldn’t overlook during your next cruise.
2. The Gym
While you may need to pay extra to attend certain workout classes and to get spa treatments, the fitness center on your cruise ship will still offer facilities that are free to use.
These facilities are often the main gym portion of the fitness center, where you can enjoy access to a range of high-end fitness equipment; for example, you can find Peloton equipment on Celebrity and Royal Caribbean ships. Often, cruise ship gyms are outfitted with walls of windows, too, so you get a great view along with your workout.
Additionally, while many classes do come with a minimal fee, you can find a handful of free, basic or beginner classes on many ships. Some select cruise lines, like Virgin Voyages, even offer all their fitness classes for free.
Don’t really care to sweat but would still like to relax? Many fitness centers on cruise ships are outfitted with saunas or steam rooms that you can access for free, too.
In short, if you love the gym experience, but cringe at paying high gym membership fees at home, you won’t want to miss out on using the gym on your cruise ship every day.
3. The Daily Activities
Don’t just take a gander at your cruise ship’s map and assume your sea days are only going to be filled with activities at the various venues on the ship, such as taking a dip in the pool, gambling at the casino or visiting the ice rink. There’s a whole lot more going on, on the average cruise ship, than may meet the eye.
Via your cruise line’s app, you’ll be able to see daily activities scheduled for every single day during your cruise. These daily activities range from trivia games and competitions to seminars and classes, and they’re all free.
All you have to do is show up and participate. Sometimes, the seminars and classes are led by industry experts and, sometimes, those games or competitions come with cool prizes.
While it’s unlikely that you’ll get bored while zipping down waterslides or go-karting at sea, these free activities are an excellent way to fill a few hours at no extra cost.
4. The Shows and Nighttime Entertainment
How many times have you shelled out hundreds of dollars for tickets to theater shows? Or paid hefty cover charges to see a local band at a bar? Get the same, high-quality entertainment on your cruise ship, but totally for free.
Most cruise ships have a large theater, where you can catch a few shows every night, and most cruise lines offer Broadway-style performances that range from shows you already know and love (for example, Hairspray, CATS or Mamma Mia! have all been offered on Royal Caribbean ships) to musical reviews that fit a particular theme, such as 80s or 90s rock music.
If you do want to see one of the larger shows during your cruise, just note that, while it is free, you should still probably make reservations. You can pre-reserve tickets to a show on the cruise line’s website, and then your space is reserved.
Some shows are highly popular and tickets can go quickly, so reserving them in advance ensures you get to actually see the show you want to see, when you want to see it.
Reserving your seats at a show is easy. For example, if you want to book tickets to see a show on a Royal Caribbean cruise, all you have to do is go to the My Royal Cruise and Cruise Planner pages and you’ll be able to see a list of all the shows occurring during your cruise, as well as their days, times and descriptions.
Select the shows you want to reserve and, then during your cruise, just provide your SeaPass card to enter the show. Tickets can be reserved as early as on the first day of the month before the sailing.
5. Exclusive Spaces
If you upgrade to a suite aboard some ships, you’ll automatically receive an incredible free perk: access to exclusive, VIP spaces that aren’t open to cruisers who are staying in other parts of the ship.
Often, these spaces will include a lounge with free food and drinks, a free restaurant and possibly even a sun deck with a pool, hot tubs, loungers and a bar.
Celebrity Cruises’ VIP area is The Retreat, where suite guests enjoy access to Luminae, a private and free restaurant, as well as an exclusive lounge serving free coffee, cocktails and snacks.
Similarly, Norwegian Cruise Line’s VIP area is The Haven, also outfitted with a lounge, the free Haven restaurant, a courtyard and a sundeck with a pool and hot tub.
So, if you did spring for a suite on a cruise ship, you definitely don’t want to miss out on taking full advantage of these spaces, where you can enjoy stellar, more customized service and the kind of experiences you’d expect from a VIP space.
Even if you didn’t book a suite, though, there are still more exclusive areas on many cruise ships, where you can get away from the crowds and enjoy a more relaxing vibe, and still for free.
Often, these are adults-only, outdoor spaces that sometimes include a pool or hot tub, as well as loungers and maybe a bar. On Carnival Cruise Lines, this space is simply called Serenity. On Royal Caribbean, this space is The Solarium.
6. WiFi
So you want to scroll through your social media while you’re at sea, posting all your vacation photos so you can get all those coveted likes and shares. Maybe you just want to keep in touch with the office via email. Maybe you really just want to stream your favorite shows in your cabin, before you go to bed at night.
Whatever the case may be, you’re going to need some WiFi. Unfortunately, cruise ship WiFi packages can sometimes be pricey — but then they can also sometimes be free as well. If you can snag free Wi-Fi on a cruise ship, that’s a cruise freebie you’ll want to take full advantage of!
So, how do you get that free WiFi? For starters, look for booking promotions that include it (both Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises have offered these booking incentives in the past).
Read Also: Do Cruise Ships Have Wi-Fi – 5 Things to Know
Check the perks that come with being a part of the cruise line’s loyalty program, too. Sometimes, free WiFi is offered as a perk and all you have to do is sign up to be a loyalty program member (also free).
7. Shore Excursions
While shore excursions aren’t a free perk on every single ship and with every single cruise line, if this is a cruise freebie that you absolutely have to have, it is possible to get it, if you book your cruise with the right cruise line.
Certain cruise lines offer free shore excursions, which means you can sightsee and tour on the cruise line’s dime, and never stick back on the ship during a port day just because you want to avoid spending extra cash.
Some of the cruise lines that offer free tours include Viking, which offers cruisers one free excursion at each port of call during the cruise’s itinerary, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, which offers free, unlimited shore excursions.
8. Kids Sailing Free
Like the free WiFi, kids sailing free on a cruise is usually part of some booking promotion. However, if you’ve wanted to go on a big family cruise for years, or just want to take a cruise with the grandkids, this is one cruise freebie to watch for.
Usually, these promotions allow children under 12 to cruise for free, paying no extra cruise fare, when they’re sailing with two adults. Cruise lines that have offered this option in the past include Royal Caribbean Cruises, MSC Cruises and Holland America.
While it’s not available on every single cruise, if you can find one that offers it, that’s your sign: It’s time to book that cruise with the kiddos and save some cash.
9. Room Service
Ordering room service in your bathrobe is probably one of the best parts of going on vacation. However, doing this while staying in a hotel can be pretty pricey. That’s not the case on some cruise ships, though.
While some cruise lines charge a flat service fee and/or gratuity for all room service (as is the case on Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Lines and MSC Cruises), other cruise lines offer room service totally for free (as is the case with Princess Cruises).
So, check out your cruise line’s stance and then, if the room service is free, order away.
Sure, you may miss out on dining at one of the great restaurants aboard the ship, but sometimes, after a long day of exploring in port or laying by the pool, you just want to kick back on your stateroom balcony, order a burger and some Champagne, and watch the world float by.
10. Babysitting and Childcare
Okay, so technically, babysitting services at night on any cruise ship will cost you a minimal fee. However, childcare during the day is totally free. So long as your child is around elementary age or older, there are kids clubs that can cater to them, providing fun activities designed for their age group and led by qualified childcare professionals.
Just drop your child off at the kids club, sign them in and come fetch them before the day’s end. The kiddos get to do something fun with other kids their own age, you get to enjoy a little quiet adult time and no one has to spend any extra to get it.
Worth Reading: All-Inclusive Cruises – What You Need to Know
While your older kids (think preteen and older) won’t need childcare in the same manner, they’ll still get a free place to hang out, thanks to preteen and teen clubs on cruise ships.
These offer lots of free programming and fun things to do, from video game tournaments to karaoke parties. It’s a much better, more budget-friendly alternative to paying for your teens to have their own WiFi package or allowing them to spend dollar after dollar in the ship arcade.
