Additional Coverage:
- 5 Cruise Lines That Just Aren’t Worth It Anymore (financebuzz.com)
Cruise vacations have long been celebrated as the ultimate all-inclusive getaway-one price covers your cabin, meals, nightly entertainment, and seamless travel between destinations. However, this value proposition is increasingly under pressure.
Major cruise lines are raising gratuities, scaling back drink and dining packages, and attaching fees to perks that were once complimentary. For budget-conscious travelers, the disparity between advertised fares and the final bill has never been greater.
This trend isn’t just anecdotal; it’s supported by documented fee increases, company announcements, passenger feedback, and industry analysis over recent months. Here’s a closer look at how some of the biggest cruise lines are adjusting their offerings-and what it means for travelers seeking value.
1. Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian ranked lowest among 19 cruise lines in a January 2026 survey of nearly 19,000 passengers. Specific changes have fueled dissatisfaction: main dining portions have shrunk, and ordering a second entree now costs $5-a fee introduced in late 2025.
The daily printed schedule, once delivered to cabins, has been discontinued, and show reservations were eliminated in favor of first-come, first-served seating, leading to long lines. Additionally, itinerary tweaks made to enhance vendor partnerships in October 2025 caused frustration when previously planned ports were swapped out.
These changes reflect a broader shift toward trimming inclusions, leaving loyal guests feeling nickel-and-dimed.
2. Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean also scored near the bottom in customer satisfaction. The most notable changes have hit beverage packages: as of March 15, 2026, the popular Coca-Cola Freestyle souvenir cup, once included in certain drink packages, now costs an extra $4.99. Moreover, a loophole allowing only one adult per cabin to purchase a drink package has been closed, requiring all adults in a room to buy in-even if some don’t drink-potentially pushing a couple’s beverage expenses over $1,600 per sailing.
3. Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival increased its automatic gratuities for the first time since 2023, raising daily charges from $16 to $17 per person in standard cabins and from $18 to $19 in suites, effective April 2026. The Bottomless Bubbles soda package jumped by nearly 26%, from $9.50 to $11.99 per day.
Additionally, in late 2025, Carnival quietly increased its onboard service charge on drinks and specialty dining from 18% to 20%. While these increments may seem small individually, together they add up-for example, a couple in a balcony cabin can expect to pay $238 in gratuities alone on a weeklong cruise.
4. MSC Cruises
MSC also faced low satisfaction scores and raised its “Hotel Service Charge” for Caribbean and Alaska cruises booked after May 11, 2026. Standard stateroom gratuities rose from $16 to $17 per person per night, and MSC Yacht Club suites saw a $3 increase, from $20 to $23. For families booking Yacht Club accommodations, this can add over $80 to the total cost compared to earlier bookings.
5. Holland America Line
Holland America followed Carnival’s lead with a $1 per person daily gratuity hike starting June 2026, bringing charges to $18 in standard cabins and $20 in suites. Its onboard service charge on drinks and specialty dining also rose from 18% to 20%.
For a family of four in a balcony cabin on a weeklong cruise, gratuities now total $504, up from $476 just two months earlier. This synchronization of fee increases highlights how Carnival Corporation’s brands are moving in concert.
What This Means for Travelers
These fee hikes and cutbacks are not isolated incidents but a clear, coordinated trend among major cruise lines, explaining why several-including Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and MSC-are near the bottom of satisfaction rankings. For travelers prioritizing budget, it’s critical to factor gratuities, beverage packages, and dining fees separately from the advertised fare before booking, as the base price no longer tells the full story.
Not all cruise lines are following this pattern. Luxury and more inclusive brands such as Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, Seabourn, and Explora Journeys include gratuities in their upfront pricing, providing travelers with predictable costs and no surprise daily charges. As mainstream cruise lines raise fares while reducing inclusions, more passengers are turning to these all-inclusive options for better long-term value.
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- 5 Cruise Lines That Just Aren’t Worth It Anymore (financebuzz.com)