What Does a Cruise Cost on Board? Wi-Fi, Gratuities, Drink Packages and Insurance on Ten Major Cruise Lines from Published Price Lists, and Onboard Revenue per Passenger Day from Company Filings, 2010–2026

The advertised fare of a cruise excludes a set of daily charges that begin once the ship sails. We compile the prices of these extras from the published price pages of ten major cruise lines selling North American sailings, supplemented by dated market price reports where a line shows prices only after booking, and relate them to the onboard revenue reported by the three listed cruise groups in their annual Form 10-K filings. In 2026 the cheapest paid Wi-Fi plan averaged USD 23.74 per device per day (median USD 23.49; range USD 16.00–USD 30.00), and the automatic gratuity in a standard cabin averaged USD 18.60 per person per day (USD 16.00–USD 22.00). Unlimited drink packages, including the 18–20% service charge most lines add, averaged USD 101.10 per person per day on six lines with a clear all-in price and differed 2.76-fold between the cheapest and the dearest. The average gratuity and cheapest Wi-Fi plan together come to USD 42.34 per day, or USD 296.35 over seven days, before any drink. Gratuities rise in steps: Royal Caribbean's standard rate rose 58.8% from USD 11.65 in 2011 to USD 18.50, and four lines raised theirs in 2026. Comprehensive cruise insurance sold through one US comparison marketplace averaged USD 540 per policy, 6.8% of trip cost. Royal Caribbean's onboard and other revenue per passenger cruise day rose from USD 57.17 in 2010 to USD 92.60 in 2025 (62%), as onboard revenue grew 2.94-fold against 1.81-fold growth in passenger cruise days; the Norwegian group reached USD 124.21 and the Carnival group USD 90.48 in 2025.