Cruising is still one of the best-value holidays, but over the past year that “everything’s included” feeling has gotten noticeably thinner.
A lot of the little perks that used to make a cruise feel glossy, generous and surprisingly luxe have quietly disappeared or been turned into paid extras.
It’s not new – it’s been happening for a while – but it has continued.
These changes are not always shouted about by cruise lines, but regular cruisers are certainly noticing. Here are seven of the biggest freebies that are either gone in 2025 or on their way out.
1. Twice-Daily Cabin Service and Turndown
Once upon a time, your cabin steward would seemingly appear by magic. Bed made in the morning, towels refreshed in the afternoon, and a neat little turndown service with chocolates at night.
For 2026 cruises, that is no longer standard across most mainstream cruise lines.
Many ships have moved to once-daily servicing for standard cabins, with evening turndown now reserved for higher-tier suites.
Towel animals, chocolates and freshly fluffed pillows are becoming increasingly rare unless you are paying for a premium cabin.
Again, this isn’t entirely new. But it’s getting worse across the cruise lines, without a doubt. You still get a clean room, but the hotel-style pampering has very much been dialled back.
2. Shrinking Menus and Limits on How Many Entrées
Main dining rooms used to be a highlight of cruising. Large menus, adventurous dishes, and the freedom to order more than one main course if you fancied it.
For 2026 cruises, menus have become more streamlined and some lines now actively limit how much you can order without paying extra.
Norwegian Cruise Line has been particularly visible here, introducing charges for additional entrées beyond the first. Other lines have quietly reduced portion sizes or removed pricier items from everyday menus.
The result is that the “eat as much as you like” feel is fading. You can still enjoy good food, but there are more boundaries and more moments where reaching for a second dish now comes with a small fee.
That’s no good for big eaters like my husband…
3. Loopholes Being Closed on Drinks Packages
Drinks packages still exist, but they are getting tighter and less flexible. Cruise lines have been actively closing loopholes that savvy cruisers used to rely on.
A common change is requiring all adults in the same cabin to buy the same alcohol package. This makes it much harder for mixed groups where one person drinks alcohol and the other does not.
Technically this policy has been in place a long time, but you could get around it by calling the cruise line – but they’re drawing a harder line.
Fair use policies are also more strictly enforced. Expect more systems tracking how many drinks you order, longer waits between servings, and more limits on sharing.
The headline promise of “unlimited” is still there, but the reality feels more controlled and less carefree.
4. Drinks Packages Removed From Private Island Destinations
This is one of the most talked-about changes.
Norwegian Cruise Line has confirmed that its popular drinks packages will no longer be honoured on its private island, Great Stirrup Cay, starting in 2026. The change was announced in 2025 and has already made waves among loyal guests.
Private islands used to feel like a natural extension of the ship where your package simply followed you ashore.
Now, guests will need to buy a separate island drinks package or pay per drink once off the ship. It is a clear sign that cruise lines are treating even their own islands as separate profit zones rather than included parts of the holiday.
Read more: Norwegian Cruise Line Brings Back “Free at Sea” Ahead Of Black Friday Promo Period
5. Vanishing Little Luxuries
This is not about big-ticket items, but the small things that made cruising feel special.
Fresh flowers in cabins, chocolates on pillows, quality mini toiletries, complimentary canapés in lounges and little surprise treats have largely disappeared.
Many cabins now have refillable soap dispensers instead of branded miniatures and extra touches like robes, slippers and canapés often have to be requested rather than appearing automatically.
These were never essential, but they added charm. Their slow disappearance has made cruising feel more practical and less indulgent.
6. Printed Daily Planner
The printed “daily planner” or “day sheet” used to appear in your cabin every evening. It told you what was happening tomorrow, what to wear, what shows were on and what time everything started.
For 2026, most lines have moved this almost entirely to apps. If you want a paper version, you usually have to ask for it.
For many cruisers, especially older guests or those trying to switch off, this removes a simple pleasure and replaces it with a screen. It is framed as an environmental move, but it also quietly reduces printing and staffing costs.
7. Lifetime Loyalty Perks Being Watered Down
This one is more about the future than an instant loss, but it was a major 2025 announcement. Carnival revealed that it is replacing its long-running VIFP loyalty programme with a new Carnival Rewards scheme, rolling out fully in 2026.
While the concept sounds positive, the big shift is that perks become more spend-based rather than purely loyalty-based. Longtime cruisers who once relied on stable, lifetime-style benefits are worried that their status will feel less special over time.
Does it signal a move away from rewarding loyalty simply for sailing and towards rewarding spend across more cruise lines? Time will tell.
For now, a lot of Carnival cruisers feel like 2025 was the year that their loyalty was thrown back in their face.
Read more: Carnival Rewards Explained – Your Full Guide To Carnival’s New Loyalty Program
Other Subtle Cruise Freebies Disappearing
Beyond the headline changes, there are lots of small, quiet cutbacks that you will only really notice if you have cruised before.
Live lectures and enrichment talks are less common, replaced by generic game shows or pre-recorded content.
Sailaway parties are often shorter, less decorated and come with fewer complimentary snacks. Cabin extras like facecloths, extra pillows and ice buckets are more likely to be “on request” rather than stock standard.
More activities now carry small charges, too. Things like escape rooms, select fitness classes, interactive games and behind-the-scenes tours used to feel like hidden bonuses. Now they are carefully monetised experiences.
None of these changes ruin a cruise, but together they quietly chip away at the feeling that everything onboard is effortlessly included.
How to Cruise Smart in 2026
Cruising can still be excellent value, but it pays to be smarter than ever.
The first tip is to read what is actually included in your fare. Cruise lines sell very different experiences under similar-looking prices, and bundles like Princess Plus or Norwegian’s Free at Sea can completely change the onboard cost.
It is also worth doing the maths on drinks packages rather than assuming they are good value. With tighter rules and higher prices, they are no longer an automatic win for everyone.
Budget for extras in advance. Build in money for gratuities, speciality coffees, room service and WiFi so they do not come as a shock at the end of the cruise.
Finally, enjoy what is still genuinely free.
Main shows, sun loungers, basic meals, kids’ clubs and simple hot drinks are still included on most lines. If you go in knowing what has changed, you can still have a fantastic cruise without feeling nickelled and dimed.
Final Word
Cruising in 2026 is not worse than it used to be, but it is different. The big buffet, the shows and the sea views are all still there. What has changed is the number of small, thoughtful extras that once made everything feel effortless and indulgent.
The shift is clear. Cruise lines are chasing extra onboard spending rather than building loyalty through generosity. That does not mean cruising is no longer good value, but it does mean passengers need to be more aware, more prepared and a little more realistic about what “all-inclusive” really means.
If you know what has been taken away, you can plan around it. And if you plan around it, a cruise can still feel special. It just looks a little different to the golden age many of us remember.
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We used to save the chocolate to bring home for the grandkids, they got really upset about it. That was with P&O.
We asked on a Celebrity cruise and was given loads