A free cruise offer can be a genuinely good deal, but only once you know what it leaves out. Before you accept one, cost out the whole trip the way you would for any cruise. This page lists the usual extras in the order they hit your wallet, with no made-up numbers: every line and sailing prices them differently.
Before You Sail
| Cost | Why it applies to a free cruise |
|---|---|
| Taxes, fees and port expenses | Government taxes and port charges are passed through per guest and are excluded from nearly all comped offers. |
| Deposit | Some offers still require a deposit to hold the cabin, refunded or applied per the offer terms. |
| Additional guests | Offers often cover one or two guests; a third or fourth in the cabin may pay a fare. |
| Cabin upgrade | Want a different category than the one offered? You usually pay the difference. |
| Flights and a hotel | Most people fly in the day before; neither is part of a cabin offer. |
| Travel insurance | Worth considering on any cruise; it is priced on what you actually pay. |
On Board and in Port
- Gratuities or daily service charges, per guest per day, unless prepaid or included.
- Drinks beyond the basics, or a beverage package.
- Wi-Fi, specialty restaurants and spa treatments.
- Shore excursions, booked through the line or independently.
- Parking or transfers at the port at both ends.
For casino offers there is one more line: the play it took to earn the cabin. Add it in honestly and many free cruises turn out to be very expensive ones.
Six Questions to Ask Before You Say Yes
- Which exact ships, dates and cabin category does the offer cover, and can I change them?
- Who in the cabin is covered, and what does each additional guest pay?
- What will I be charged today, and what at final payment?
- Are gratuities, drinks or Wi-Fi included, or charged as usual?
- What happens to the offer, and to any deposit, if I cancel?
- Can I book it through my travel advisor, so someone checks the details for me?
Write the answers down next to the date and the name of whoever gave them. If the offer came from the cruise line, the answers will be consistent and easy to confirm; if they keep changing, you have learned something important.
How to Compare an Offer
Ask for the offer in writing with every charge shown. Then ask for a normal quote on the same ship, date and cabin, with any promotions you qualify for. Compare the two totals, not the headlines. Sometimes the comped cabin wins easily; sometimes a public sale, a past-guest rate or a perk-heavy promotion comes close, and a paid booking gives you more choice of dates and cabins.
Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will do that comparison for you at no charge. You can also browse live fares on Cruising for Less or watch the January-to-March sale period on Wave Season. Sign up for the Mister Cruise cruise newsletter for real offers by email.
Free Cruise Cost Questions
Do free cruise offers include taxes and port fees?
Almost never. Carnival, for example, states that its casino free and discounted rooms exclude taxes, fees, port expenses and the deposit. Expect those charges on any comped cruise.
Are gratuities included on a free cruise?
Usually not. Daily gratuities or service charges are normally charged per guest unless an offer states otherwise.
What Does Your Free Cruise Really Cost?
Send us the offer. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will show you the full cost and a regular quote for the same sailing.
Check the Real Cost