What's included when booking a cruise?

My first cruise was a three-night college spring break trip that I booked with a friend at the last minute. As it happened, my flight to Miami cost more than the voyage itself. What a deal, right? What I didn't realize was that, although cruises offer some of the best value for your money in the travel industry, I'd end up paying more than I expected. As a newbie, I didn't know what was included in the cruise fare ... and, more importantly, what wasn't.

Because I now average roughly six cruises a year, I've come a long way since that first oceangoing adventure. With that experience under my belt, I want to help you be better prepared than I was to deal with extra costs when you set sail. So, what amenities and necessities do mainstream cruise prices actually include? Here's a rundown of what's free and what will have you racking up an onboard bill faster than you can say bon voyage .

Is food free on a cruise?

The biggest question from first-time cruisers is whether food is complimentary. The answer is yes — but only some of it.

Generally, every cruise line offers a complimentary buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as access to a sit-down restaurant known as the main dining room or MDR. As a rule, MDRs are open every night for dinner, and many are also open for breakfast, lunch or brunch, depending on the ship's schedule. (Check your daily planner for specifics.)

Many ships also include a couple of complimentary fast-food spots. You might find burgers and hot dogs at a poolside grill or gratis slices at the onboard pizza shop. Another grab-and-go option might be pastries or finger sandwiches from a specialty coffee shop. (Usually, edible cafe items are complimentary, specialty coffee beverages typically cost extra.)

Additionally, just about every mainstream ship has a few specialty restaurants where it will cost you extra to dine — steakhouses, French restaurants, pub grub, Italian dining, Asian cuisine and the like. These spots will either charge a la carte prices or a flat per-person fee for a set number of courses. If you're looking to save some cash, some open for lunch at a discounted price — be sure to check.

Is alcohol free on a cruise?

Unfortunately for travelers dreaming of endless poolside cocktails, booze isn't free unless you book a special fare that offers it as part of a promotion, or you buy a separate all-inclusive or alcohol-specific package. Even then, cruise lines often restrict top-shelf liquors and limit the total number of alcoholic drinks a passenger can order in a 24-hour period.

Are drinks free on a cruise?

It depends. All lines include tap water (which is safe to consume, thanks to onboard purification systems), drip coffee, hot tea, iced tea, lemonade and a selection of breakfast juices.

If you're hoping to sip specialty coffee, soda, energy drinks, bottled water, smoothies, milkshakes, juices or alcohol, you'll need to shell out extra. You can either purchase these drinks individually or opt for a drink package that will allow you nearly unlimited choices for a daily fee. These packages can be expensive, and if you buy one, every person sharing your cabin will need to do the same.

What else do cruise prices include?

Here's a quick list of what else you can expect to be baked into the cost of your voyage:

• Accommodations

• Transportation between ports of call

• Pool, hot tub and waterslide access

• Most daily activities like dance classes, pool deck games and sports competitions

• Most nighttime entertainment, such as live music, nightclub access, game shows and theater productions

• Daily cabin servicing and cleaning

• Fitness center access

• Supervised activities for cruisers 17 and younger

What else do you have to pay for on a cruise?

Beyond specialty dining and drinks, prepared to pay extra for these items and experiences:

• Shore excursions

• Daily crew tips or gratuities (automatically charged to each person's onboard account)

• Wi-Fi access

• Spa treatments and salon or barber services

• Thermal suite access

• Room service

• Laundry and dry-cleaning services

• Casino games

• Professional photos

• Organized fitness classes

• Select activities like art classes, bingo, cupcake decorating, behind-the-scenes tours and wine tastings

• Access to exclusive sun deck areas

• Arcade games

• After-hours group babysitting

• Purchases from onboard shops

Although many luxury cruise lines include items like crew gratuities, drinks (including alcohol), specialty dining, Wi-Fi and sometimes shore excursions in their fares, that's not the norm for mainstream lines. Among those brands — including Celebrity Cruises, Holland America, Norwegian and Princess — many offer packages that bundle some of the most popular extras into one daily charge that passengers can pre-book at a discount. 

Bottom line

Accommodations, basic food and drinks, and transportation between ports are included in your fare, so cruises offer a fantastic value for anyone looking to take the stress out of travel planning. But there are still plenty of add-ons that can quickly blow your budget. Knowing what will cost you extra — think daily gratuities, Wi-Fi, specialty dining, alcohol and shore excursions — can help you plan. After all, not much will crush your vacation bliss like a massive, unexpected bill.