Why an all-inclusive cruise is worth every penny

If you are tempted to save money booking a cruise without all-inclusive be warned – you may end up paying more, and you will definitely end up relaxing less, says our cruise expert Sue Bryant.

Picture the scene. Your chauffeured car whisks you from your home to the port, where your gleaming ship awaits. You raise a glass of sparkling as you set sail, while deciding which of five restaurants to choose for dinner that night. Later, you retire to a beautifully turned down cabin, where a chocolate has been laid on the pillow.

The following day, after a blissfully lazy breakfast in bed, you stop for a cappuccino in The Living Room and head out to explore on a guided tour, which might be anything from a visit to a thundering waterfall in Iceland or a scenic drive around lush, mountainous St. Lucia. Back on board, it’s gourmet fish and chips by the pool, washed down with a glass or two of chilled white wine.

At no point in this happy series of events have you had to worry about the dreaded final bill at the end of the cruise. Why? Because on an all-inclusive cruise, everything is included.

Choosing to go all-inclusive means opting for a holiday on which every detail has been thought of. Of course, the idea of paying for an all-inclusive cruise can be daunting as it may seem a lot up front. If you shop around, you can certainly find cheaper deals, probably thinking to yourself that a bottle of wine with dinner and a few excursions won’t amount to much.

The fact is, this really isn’t the case, especially if you intend to enjoy your holiday without totting up every round of drinks in your head. A lot of cruise lines have been quietly chipping away at what’s included, thinking that their guests will be lured by the cheap entry price and will then part with money for all the extras. Or you’ll see a cruise branded “all-inclusive” when it’s not, really; perhaps some drinks are included, or some credit towards shore excursions, or a limited number of meals in a speciality restaurant. From there onwards, you’ll have to put your hand in your pocket.

Let’s break down the additional costs of a temptingly affordable cruise on one of the big cruise lines. First, you must get to the port, either on public transport or by car, where you will pay for parking. The price that lured you in will most likely be for an inside cabin.

Once you’re on board, you’ll have to pay for every drink, plus a “service charge” on those drinks. Dining anywhere other than the main restaurant or the buffet will cost extra – and nowadays, a lot of cruise lines are opting for à la carte pricing in their speciality restaurants, rather than a flat cover charge. So you could end up paying as much as you would in a posh restaurant ashore.

That espresso you always enjoy with breakfast will be added to your bill. Excursions will come at a price, naturally. And if you come back from your tour and just fancy a snack in your cabin, there will be a delivery charge for that – and a cost for the food. You head to the spa, fancying a sauna and steam. But a day pass could cost a whopping £50 or more. Later, fed up with your mounting bar bill after a couple of cocktails and wine with dinner, you buy a drinks package. Another £70 or so per day per person in the cabin is immediately added to your account, for the whole cruise.

All-inclusive is suddenly beginning to look very attractive. Yes, you’ll pay more to get on board; but you’ll certainly pay far less to get off. You could very well pay nothing at all at the end of your holiday. And on a Saga cruise, other than spa treatments, the connoisseur wine list and some tours, there are no hidden costs. Wine, beer, spirits and cocktails are all included. Even travel insurance is part of the cruise fare, not to mention tips for the crew and tour guides. There certainly isn’t any relentless up-selling or penny pinching - and you won’t find packages and promotions so complex and laden with terms and conditions that they’ll boggle your mind.

Saga regulars love the different aspects of all-inclusive cruising.

The door-to-door chauffeur service makes us feel our cruise starts as soon as we leave home, and takes away the stress of travelling to the port.

Joan and Dianne West, from Wales, enthuse.

Then there’s the fact that every cabin has a private balcony; on Saga’s two boutique ships, there are no inside cabins.

The balcony was a joy and the cabin included everything we could wish for. The whole ship gives a wonderful feeling of space.

says Howard Mence, from Gloucestershire.

Each ship has five restaurants – and there’s no charge to eat in any of them.

The speciality restaurants were impressive, of an extremely high standard, and on a par with any of the Michelin-starred restaurants in the UK.

says Judith Harper, from Suffolk.

Perhaps when you’ve tried the snapper marinated in ginger, lemongrass and garlic at East to West on Spirit of Discovery, you’ll agree. Not to mention the baked lobster thermidor in Coast to Coast. Or on Spirit of Adventure, the garam masala duck in Khukuri House, or the tiramisu and cannoli in Amalfi.

If this were not enough, Saga’s included afternoon tea is a sight to behold; a magnificent array of cakes, dainty sandwiches, scones warm from the oven with jam and clotted cream and perhaps a glass of fizz.

What you’ll find included on a Saga cruise extends way beyond exceptional food. You’ll be greeted by fresh fruit and filtered water, replenished every day, in your stylish balcony cabin. Days at sea bring everything from classes to bridge sessions, wine tasting and cookery demos, all included in the price. At least two shore excursions are included in a week-long cruise, as well as a shuttle bus if the port is any distance from the nearest town. There’s no charge for yoga and Pilates in state-of-the-art fitness centre and you can wander into The Spa on each ship whenever you like to relax in the vitality pool, steam room and infrared sauna.

With a top customer score, the Which? Report on cruises published 6 March 2025 says:

Saga manages to get everything right. Catering exclusively for the over-50s, it’s a brilliant service, with almost everything included – Saga goes the extra nautical mile.

It’s not just about value; all-inclusive means peace of mind, too. A holiday should be a time to switch off, indulge yourself, and feel special. What are you waiting for?

The Saga all-inclusive difference

Crew tips

Other cruise lines: An “auto gratuity” of up to £110 per person per week will be added to your bill.
Saga Cruises: All tips are included.

Evening turndown service

Other cruise lines: Unthinkably, some cruise lines have scrapped evening turndown altogether.
Saga Cruises: Nightly turndown with a treat on the pillow.

Room service

Other cruise lines: A charge of up to £7.50 for delivery and an auto-gratuity - before you’ve even paid for the food.
Saga Cruises: Room service is included at any time of day, with an extensive menu.

Ice cream

Other cruise lines: Extra cost.
Saga Cruises: Included and available all day long from the art deco-inspired Lido Deck, a taste of the British seaside.

Wifi

Other cruise lines: At best, only basic Wifi is included and for one device per person.
Saga Cruises: Fast Starlink Wifi is included.

All cruises aboard Saga’s ships, Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Adventure are all-inclusive. Find out more.