Cruise fares have a way of looking like a great deal – right up until you realise how much of the experience now sits in the small print.
What used to feel simple has slowly turned into a mix of packages, upgrades and “enhancements” that somehow always cost a bit extra. Not always of course! But sometimes.
Specialty dining was the obvious starting point, but it didn’t stop there. Quiet spaces, premium attractions and even parts of the entertainment have already slipped into paid territory.
So what might be next? Some of these feel pretty likely, some are already creeping in, and a couple might hit a nerve.
1. Room Service Could Become Almost Entirely Paid
This one feels less like a prediction and more like something already in motion. Room service used to be one of those small touches that made your cabin feel like part of the holiday, not just somewhere to sleep.
Now it’s often limited, cut back or only free at certain times. Only a couple of cruise lines, like Disney, keep it completely free at all hours.
Breakfast might stick around longer because it’s such a classic part of cruising, but beyond that, it’s easy to see where things are heading.
Smaller menus, more delivery fees, and fewer genuinely “free” options unless you’re in a suite or sailing on a luxury line.
Read more: Cunard Makes Disappointing Change To Room Service Offering
2. Main Dining Room Menus Could Get More Restrictions
The main dining room isn’t going anywhere, but that doesn’t mean it’ll stay as generous as it once was.A subtle way to cut costs is to keep the venue free while quietly tightening what’s included.
Extra charges for premium steaks and lobster are already common. Here’s the menu from the main dining room of my recent Royal Caribbean cruise so you can see how much the extra charges are…
A small but growing number of cruise lines now charge passengers who order multiple main courses in the main dining room.
Norwegian Cruise Line charges $5 for each additional main course after the first, while MSC Cruises applies a similar $5 fee on some US-based sailings.
Carnival Cruise Line is slightly more generous, including two main courses before charging $5 for the third and any further dishes.
Other cruise lines generally still allow guests to order a second standard main course at no extra cost, but for how long?
Read more: 17 Things Carnival Cruises Quietly Removed
3. Better Theatre Seats Could Come With A Fee
This feels like it’s only a matter of time. Keep the show free, then charge for a better version of the experience.
Reserved central seats, priority entry, front rows, maybe even small VIP sections – it’s an easy upsell. It might annoy people, but it also makes sense commercially, especially on ships where popular shows already mean queuing early.
Cruise lines know people don’t love uncertainty on holiday. If they can turn “Will we get a good seat?” into something you can pay to solve, there’s a good chance they will.
4. More Onboard Shows Could Become Paid Experiences
We’re already seeing the early version of this, usually bundled with drinks, dinner or a more intimate setting. That framing helps – it feels like an “experience” rather than just paying for a show.
For example, MSC Cruises charges extra for its Carousel Productions at Sea shows, which are held in the purpose-built Carousel Lounge. These elaborate, circus-style productions come with a signature cocktail.
Virgin Voyages now charges extra for immersive dinner shows such as Another Rose and It’s a Ship Show, while its other productions are generally included. And Norwegian Cruise Line has a new adults-only show that’s priced at a whopping $45 per person!
The big headline productions will probably stay included, at least on most ships. But smaller performances, late-night shows, cabaret-style acts or immersive events could increasingly come with a charge.
That’s usually how these things spread – quietly, then all at once.
5. Poolside Loungers In Prime Spots Could Be Reserved For A Price
Finding a good lounger is already competitive enough without turning it into a paid upgrade, but it’s not hard to imagine.
Cruise lines wouldn’t need to charge for every lounger. Just ring-fence the best ones – near the pool, with the best views, or in perfect sun or shade – and suddenly there’s a premium tier.
We’ve already seen versions of this with cabanas and exclusive deck areas. A lower-level reservation system doesn’t feel like a huge leap. It wouldn’t be popular, but it would probably sell.
Read more: Cruise Lines Reportedly Trialling New Sun Lounger Reservation System
6. Adults-Only Sun Decks Could Become Even More Common As Upsells
Quiet space is one of the easiest things to monetise at sea.
On big ships, especially during sea days, a bit of peace and quiet is in short supply. Cruise lines know that, which is why adults-only areas and premium sun decks have become such reliable money-makers.
The next step might not be creating new spaces, but putting more of them behind a paywall. Instead of being a shared perk, calm becomes something you upgrade into.
Read more: Inside Norwegian Cruise Line’s VIP Vibe Beach Club: Is It Worth the Hype?
7. Kids’ Attractions Could Shift Further Towards Pay-To-Play
Family cruising is full of moments where convenience wins. Parents might not love paying extra, but if it keeps the kids entertained for an hour, plenty will do it.
Some ships already charge for things like race tracks, arcades and interactive games, so the model’s there. It wouldn’t be surprising to see more attractions move in that direction.
Not everything, of course – family-friendly fun is still a core selling point. But more “premium” add-ons? That feels very likely.
TODAY’S BEST CRUISE DEALS!
Don’t miss these offers…
8. Faster Access Could Become A Product Of Its Own
Cruise lines have got very good at selling convenience.
Instead of charging for the thing itself, they charge for skipping the hassle around it. Priority embarkation, quicker disembarkation, express tender access, reserved time slots, skip-the-line passes – it’s all part of the same idea.
You see it everywhere now, from theme parks to airlines. People will often pay more to save time than to upgrade the experience itself. Once queues get long enough, the paid shortcut almost sells itself.
Some cruise lines do already offer something a little similar to this, such at The Key by Royal Caribbean.
9. Buffet Upgrades Could Start Appearing
The buffet will probably remain one of the last big “included” areas, but that doesn’t mean every part of it stays free.
Some cruise lines like P&O Cruises, already section off an area of the buffet and transform it into a paid-for dining venue with table service.
I wouldn’t be surprised if we start to see premium stations within the buffet. Things like made-to-order breakfast items, better cuts of meat, upgraded seafood, or more elaborate desserts.
That way, cruise lines can still say the buffet is included, while quietly adding places to spend money.
10. Basic Refreshments Could Be Pushed Into Packages
Drinks have always been a key revenue driver, but it’s not just about alcohol anymore.
Coffee culture and soft drinks matter just as much to a lot of people, especially younger cruisers. Iced coffees and branded café drinks can be just as appealing as a drinks package.
So while tap water will almost certainly stay free, the line between included and extra is shifting. Recently, MSC Cruises launched Aqua by MSC – which is essentially paid-for filtered water. The machine is right next to the regular water machine. I’m not sure if it tastes any different!
11. Housekeeping Could Become More Tiered
Cruises have held onto daily cabin service more than hotels have, but even that’s started to change.
Some lines have already moved away from twice-daily service. The next step could be framing certain extras as upgrades – whether that’s for sustainability reasons, efficiency, or both.
Daily cleaning will probably remain standard. But things like evening turn-down, extra towel refreshes or more flexible service might slowly shift into higher-tier perks.
12. In-Cabin Extras Could Quietly Disappear
Not every change gets announced. Some of the most noticeable ones are the little things that just… stop appearing.
Better toiletries, printed daily programmes, chocolates at turn-down, decent stationery, even small touches like hot water delivery – these are easy to remove because they don’t look dramatic on paper.
But regular cruisers notice. And once they’re gone, they often reappear later as “premium” perks in higher cabin categories.
Suggested read: The 7 Most Annoying Cruise Line Cutbacks
13. Casual Dining Venues Could Move Behind A Partial Paywall
The bigger dining shift might not come from high-end restaurants. People already expect those to cost extra.
It’s the casual spots that feel more at risk – pizza counters, burger joints, noodle bars, pub-style food. Places that used to feel comfortably included.
A small charge here, an à la carte option there, or a venue rebranded as “elevated casual dining” – it doesn’t take much for this to build over time. And smaller charges are often the easiest ones to accept.
Suggested read: Princess Cruises Dining Options Explained
14. Gym And Wellness Access Could Be Split Into Basic And Premium
Most cruise ship gyms are still free, and that will probably stay the case in some form.
But wellness is big business now. So the likely move isn’t charging for the gym itself, but creating layers within it.
Basic access stays free, while classes, thermal suites, recovery areas, or quieter fitness spaces come at a cost. It’s not about removing access – it’s about making the better version of it something you pay for.
15. Even “Included” Food Could Get Worse To Push You Towards Upcharges
This is the one people talk about the most, and also the hardest to pin down.
Cruise lines don’t necessarily need to charge more if they can make the included options feel less appealing. Simpler menus, less variety, slightly lower quality – nothing drastic on its own, but noticeable over time.
Then specialty dining starts to feel less like a treat and more like the obvious choice. Whether that’s intentional or just a side effect of cost-cutting, the end result feels the same.
TODAY’S BEST CRUISE DEALS!
Don’t miss these offers…
Final Word
The bigger shift here isn’t that cruising suddenly becomes fully pay-as-you-go.
It’s that the gap between the basic experience and the better one keeps getting wider. There’ll still be food, entertainment, loungers and somewhere to grab a drink.
But the quieter space, the better meal, the easier seat, the shorter queue – those are increasingly treated as upgrades.
That’s really what’s changing. It’s not just about adding charges. It’s about turning more parts of the experience into tiers. And once that starts, it rarely goes the other way.
Related Posts
- 7 Cruise Freebies That Were Taken Away Last Year
- 17 Free Cabin Extras You’re Probably Not Asking For
- Score a Free Cruise: 15 Smart Hacks Every Traveller Should Know
