Is everything included on a cruise?
Most cruises do not include everything. Whether something is included depends largely on the type of cruise you book: an all-inclusive package typically covers meals, drinks, and accommodation, while a standard cruise fare often includes only the cabin and basic meals. Luxury small-scale cruises sometimes use an all-in price structure that covers a surprisingly broad range of services. In this article, we answer the most frequently asked questions about what you can and cannot expect from a cruise holiday.
What are the differences between an all-inclusive and a non-all-inclusive cruise?
The biggest difference lies in what is included in the base price. With an all-inclusive cruise, meals, drinks (including alcohol), gratuities, and sometimes excursions are included in one price. With a non-all-inclusive cruise, you pay a lower entry price, but drinks, speciality restaurants, excursions, and gratuities are charged separately. The total price can vary considerably in either case.
The difference sounds straightforward, but in practice it is more nuanced. Large cruise lines often offer several packages: a basic package without drinks, a package with unlimited soft drinks, and a full drinks package. Each package comes with different terms and conditions. This makes comparison difficult.
Small-scale and boutique cruises often work differently. They use an exclusive per-person pricing structure, but include more services within that price. This means fewer additional costs on board and a clearer picture of what you are paying for upfront. That is an important advantage for travellers who dislike surprises on the final bill.
Which costs are typically included as standard on most cruises?
On virtually every cruise, the cabin, basic meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the main restaurant), and use of the shared spaces on board are included as standard in the base price. This counts as the absolute minimum you can expect from a cruise holiday, regardless of the provider.
In concrete terms, you can count on the following being included as standard on most cruises:
- Accommodation in the booked cabin or stateroom
- Three meals per day in the main restaurant
- Use of the deck, lounges, and other shared spaces
- Entertainment and activities on board (on larger ships)
- Port fees and fuel surcharges (note: these are not always listed explicitly)
Port fees and fuel surcharges are sometimes billed separately, even if they are not prominently mentioned in the advertisement. Always check the fine print before booking.
What is usually not included on a cruise?
On most cruises, alcoholic drinks, gratuities, shore excursions, speciality restaurants, spa treatments, and flights to the embarkation port are not included in the base price. These are the cost items that most often surprise travellers and can significantly increase the total price.
An overview of what you typically pay extra for:
- Alcoholic drinks and cocktails (unless you have an all-inclusive package)
- Gratuities or service charges (sometimes automatically calculated per person per day)
- Organised shore excursions
- Speciality restaurants or captain’s dinner
- Spa, sauna, or fitness treatments
- Wi-Fi on board
- Flights and hotels before or after the cruise
- Travel insurance
On large cruise ships, gratuities and service charges can add up quickly. This is a cost that is easily overlooked when comparing offers, but on a longer trip it can represent a considerable additional expense.
What is included on a luxury sailing cruise aboard the Clipper Stad Amsterdam?
On a luxury sailing cruise aboard the Clipper Stad Amsterdam, meals, drinks, and the support of the hospitality team are fully included in the price. Guests do not need to pay separately for food or drinks on board: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a selection of drinks are taken care of by the chefs on board.
In concrete terms, the following is included on our luxury cruise:
- All meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner prepared by our chefs
- Drinks, including a selection of wines, beers, soft drinks, coffee, and tea
- Accommodation in one of the 14 cabins on board
- Support from the hospitality team throughout the entire voyage
- Activities such as snorkelling and day trips
- The sailing experience itself: authentic, hands-on sailing aboard a historic three-masted clipper ship
Our cruise is small-scale: a maximum of 28 passengers share the ship, creating an intimate atmosphere that you simply will not find on large cruise ships. The pricing is exclusive and tailored to the season, cabin category, and trip duration — get in touch for a personal quote and find out what we can put together for you.
How do you fairly compare the total price of different cruises?
To compare cruises fairly, you should always calculate the total price per person per day, including all additional costs. A low entry price means little if drinks, gratuities, and excursions are charged separately. Factor everything in before drawing any conclusions about which cruise offers the best value.
Use these steps for a fair comparison:
- Calculate the price per person per day based on the total trip duration.
- Add the expected additional costs: drinks, gratuities, excursions, Wi-Fi.
- Check what is included with meals: only the main restaurant, or speciality restaurants as well?
- Factor in flights and transfers: for distant destinations, this can account for a large portion of the budget.
- Pay attention to group size: a small ship with 28 passengers offers a very different experience from a mega-ship carrying thousands of guests.
A cruise with a fully inclusive package often provides more transparency and peace of mind than an offer where you pay separately for every drink and every meal. Transparency about the total price is a sign of a trustworthy provider.
How Clipper Stad Amsterdam helps you choose the right cruise holiday
Would you like a cruise holiday where you know exactly what you are paying upfront and where there are no unpleasant surprises? Clipper Stad Amsterdam offers a clear alternative to the large cruise lines. We sail with a maximum of 28 guests aboard an iconic three-masted clipper ship through the Caribbean, and our offering is straightforward: everything you need on board is included.
What sets our luxury sailing cruise apart:
- Fully inclusive: meals, drinks, and activities are included
- Small-scale and intimate: a maximum of 28 passengers, no anonymity
- Authentic sailing: manually operated sails on a historic clipper ship
- A young, dedicated crew with a high standard of service
- Anchorage in secluded bays, far from the crowds
Would you like to know more about our voyages or do you have a specific question about what is included? Contact our team for a personalised quote, or browse the available options directly and reserve your place on board.
Frequently Asked Questions
Zijn fooien aan boord van de Clipper Stad Amsterdam ook inbegrepen?
Ja, bij een luxe zeilcruise op de Clipper Stad Amsterdam hoef je geen aparte fooien te geven. Anders dan bij grote cruisemaatschappijen, waar service charges aanzienlijk kunnen oplopen, is de service volledig verwerkt in de totaalprijs. Zo kom je niet voor onverwachte kosten te staan aan het einde van je reis.
Wat is een veelgemaakte fout bij het boeken van een cruise?
De meest voorkomende fout is focussen op de lage instapprijs zonder rekening te houden met bijkomende kosten zoals dranken, fooien, wifi en uitstapjes. Veel reizigers schrikken achteraf van de eindrekening, omdat deze posten in totaal soms meer kosten dan de basisprijs zelf. Bereken altijd de totale prijs per persoon per dag, inclusief alle verwachte extra’s, voordat je een boeking maakt.
Hoe ver op voorhand moet ik een luxe zeilcruise boeken?
Omdat de Clipper Stad Amsterdam maximaal 28 passagiers meeneemt, zijn de beschikbare plaatsen beperkt en raken populaire reizen snel volgeboekt. Het is aan te raden om minstens zes tot twaalf maanden van tevoren te boeken, zeker voor reizen in het hoogseizoen. Door vroeg te boeken verzeker je niet alleen je plek, maar heb je ook meer tijd om je reis rustig voor te bereiden.
Zijn de georganiseerde uitstapjes en snorkelactiviteiten inbegrepen bij de Clipper Stad Amsterdam?
Ja, activiteiten zoals snorkelen en daguitstapjes zijn inbegrepen in de totaalprijs van de luxe zeilcruise op de Clipper Stad Amsterdam. Dit is een belangrijk verschil met grote cruisemaatschappijen, waarbij georganiseerde landausflüge doorgaans apart worden aangerekend en snel een aanzienlijke meerkost vormen. Je kunt dus volop genieten van de activiteiten aan boord en op locatie zonder je zorgen te maken over extra kosten.
Is een reisverzekering verplicht of aanbevolen voor een cruise op de Clipper Stad Amsterdam?
Een reisverzekering is niet automatisch inbegrepen in de cruiseprijs, maar wordt sterk aanbevolen. Zeker voor een zeilcruise in het Caribisch gebied is het verstandig om een verzekering af te sluiten die medische kosten, annulering en bagageverlies dekt. Controleer ook of je huidige reisverzekering avontuurlijke of maritieme activiteiten zoals zeilen en snorkelen dekt, want niet alle standaardpolissen bieden deze dekking.
Wat als ik speciale dieetwensen of voedselallergieën heb — wordt daarmee rekening gehouden aan boord?
Bij een kleinschalige cruise zoals die op de Clipper Stad Amsterdam is het veel eenvoudiger om rekening te houden met individuele dieetwensen dan op een groot cruiseschip met duizenden gasten. Het is aan te raden om je wensen bij het boeken of ruim voor vertrek door te geven aan het team, zodat de chefs aan boord hier optimaal op kunnen inspelen. Neem bij twijfel contact op via de website om te bespreken wat mogelijk is.
Welk type reiziger past het beste bij een kleinschalige zeilcruise?
Een kleinschalige zeilcruise op de Clipper Stad Amsterdam is ideaal voor reizigers die authenticiteit, rust en persoonlijke service verkiezen boven de drukte van een megaschip. Je past goed bij dit type cruise als je houdt van avontuur op het water, afgelegen ankerplaatsen, en een intieme sfeer met maximaal 28 medegasten. Het is minder geschikt voor reizigers die op zoek zijn naar grote entertainmentshows, casino’s of de uitgebreide faciliteiten van een drijvend resort.