Promoting worry free vacations, all-inclusives have become increasingly popular in recent years. To the dismay of cruisers, most of the major cruise lines have gone in the opposite direction using more of an a la carte pricing model, with plenty of add-ons for extra fees.
Alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, speciality dining venues, and activities are usually additional costs on top of the base cruise fare, leaving some with an expected bill at the end of the cruise (or before they even board if they pre-book).
For those looking for peace of mind, there are some cruise lines that do provide an all inclusive experience. It is important to note that due to these lines more comprehensive and all inclusive models, they are often more expensive than other cruise lines that have base fare options.
Here are the top 8 most all inclusive cruise lines
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Regent is a luxury focused cruise line with sailings to 450 worldwide destinations. Owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, they have smaller ships with a maximum capacity of 750 passengers, providing more a more personalized and luxurious trip.
They are considered among the best for a true all inclusive cruise experience. Their comprehensive benefits entail free drinks that span wines, cocktails, and specialty coffees. Specialty dining, wi-fi, laundry valet service, unlimited shore excursions, gratuities, taxes, and transfers are also covered, along with a pre-cruise night at a hotel.
One of the best perks within their robust offerings is the inclusion of airfares:
- “FREE Roundtrip Air* on Domestic Flights from 29 gateway cities across the U.S. and Canada,
- Enjoy a true luxury experience across Europe, Asia, Australia, and beyond, with FREE Roundtrip Air on Intercontinental Flights, as well as complimentary ground transfers between airport and ship”
Silversea Cruises
Silversea, a luxury cruise line owned by the Royal Caribbean Group, features ships with under 300 suites serving over 900 destinations worldwide, one of the most extensive offerings in the industry. With their smaller ships, they gain entrance into more unique ports in locations such as the Arctic, Greenland, Antarctica, and the Galapagos.
One of their biggest inclusions is their door-to-door all inclusive service with a chauffeur picking guests up at their home (starting in spring 2022). Airfare (including international travel), as well as pre and post hotels and transfers, provide guests with the ultimate worry-free experience.
They also include gourmet dining, room service, drinks (even a stocked mini-bar), butler service, gratuities, and shore excursions (at least one per port).
Viking Cruises
While known for their river cruises, Viking also offers ocean and expedition cruises. It targets seasoned travelers with destination focused itineraries. Headquartered in Switzerland, it has worldwide itineraries with its 70 vessels.
They have a philosophy of “no nickel and diming,” with no pressure sales tactics and no photo sales or art auctions, for a more relaxed environment.
Fares with Viking include specialty dining, 24-hour rooms service, free wine, beer, soft drinks, and specialty coffees. They provide one free shore excursion in each port. Wi-fi, port fees, and taxes are also covered.
Occasionally, Viking will offer a special on airfare rates.
Seabourn Cruise Line
Seabourn pampers guests in their all-suite ships with no more than 600 guests per voyage. A subsidiary of Carnival, they target guests wanting the ultimate luxury experience. Their ocean facing suites provide guests with the ultimate views in exotic locations such as the Amazon, the Arctic, or world cruises.
Guests have their own personal suite host and attendant. Fares include unlimited beverages with premium spirits and wines, and a personalized in-suite stocked bar. Passengers enjoy access to all dining venues, with gratuities included. They offer a basic surf wi-fi package for 1 device per guest, complimentary watersports, and beach BBQs onshore.
Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
A relatively new entrant in cruising is the famous hotel company the Ritz Carlton, part of the Marriott group. Their yacht collection offers a comprehensive, luxury cruise experience serving popular cruise destinations such as the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and the northeast United States and Canada. Each yacht has 149 suites, that accommodate 300 guests in a relaxed, casually elegant atmosphere including a personal concierge.
Fares include specialty dining as well as in-suite dining 24 hours a day, beverages, wi-fi, non-motorized watersports, and gratuities.
Azamara
Azamara Cruises line based out of Miami, Florida, offers boutique-style ships, an intimate with a capacity of 704 passengers and 408 crew. With its smaller size, it can access more “hidden gems” the company notes. One of the best crew to passenger ratios provides personalized service. They focus on destination immersion with worldwide sailings, including a newly announced world cruise.
Guests enjoy complimentary gratuities, beverages, standard spirits, international beers and wines as well as specialty coffees and teas. Fares also include their custom AzAmazing Evenings® events, their tailor-made events to focus local culture for a truly immersive experience.
Crystal Cruises
Offering ocean, river, and expedition cruises worldwide, Crystal is owned by Genting Hong Kong, a cruise and resort business that owns brands such as Star Cruises and Dream Cruises.
Sailing with a maximum of 900 guests, their cruises offer a comprehensive beverage package including fine wines, champagne, and premium spirits. Pre-paid gratuities, unlimited Wi-Fi, and 24-hour room service are also provided.
Oceania Cruises
Another subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Oceania targets a more specific segment, promoting their brand as "the world’s leading culinary and destination-focused cruise line.” They have seven smaller ships that have no more than 1,250 guests with sailings worldwide that feature the finest cuisine at sea and destination-rich itineraries that span the globe.
Guests enjoy several free inclusions such as beverages, specialty restaurants, wi-fi, room service, and laundry.
Honorable mentions
The top all inclusive cruise lines are dominated by the smaller ships from luxury lines which focus on more personalized service. However, among the larger, more popular ships, there are three that get honorable mentions for what they include.
Princess Cruises, a global cruise company that serves 380 destinations with 15 ships, provides some added value to passengers. Their Princess Plus package (currently offered on all fares) includes a premier Beverage Package with cocktails, beer, and wine to specialty coffees, smoothies, and bottled water. Also provided is unlimited wi-fi and gratuities.
Celebrity Cruises, known for its cuisine and design, sails worldwide with its growing fleet. Offered on all sailings for all rooms types are free drinks including cocktails, spirits wine, and beers as well and specialty coffees and soft drinks. They also provide free wi-fi and gratuities as part of their fares.
Additionally, Norwegian Cruise Line has introduced their "Free at Sea" model. Guests can opt out of this and pay a lower rate, or pay extra to get included wi-fi, drink packages, speciality restaurants, and discounts on shore excursions.
Chantal McPhee
Chantal McPhee has a great passion for travel since first venturing to the Bahamas as a child with her grandparents. Today, she loves cruising with her husband and two daughters to new places and aspires one day to do a world cruise. Living on the east coast of Canada, she shares cruising tips and information with fellow Canucks seeking a reprieve from the great white north. She also teaches business studies at a university, with a focus on strategy
