Quick Answer
Under Celebrity’s current U.S.-facing framework for bookings on or after October 4, 2023, All Included combines Classic Drinks and Basic Wi-Fi, while onboard staff gratuities are separate. Cruise-only omits those bundled benefits. Older confirmations may differ, so the booking date, market, ship, category, and quote control. Compare the complete room fare difference with actual drink and connectivity spending, then add gratuities to both sides.
Last Reviewed / Sources Checked
USCRUISE checked the linked official sources on August 21, 2026. Policies, prices, ship features, terminal assignments, schedules, entry rules, and package benefits can change by sailing, market, booking date, weather, and passenger eligibility.
Who This Guide Is For
This guide is for Celebrity guests comparing two live quotes, especially couples with different drinking habits, travelers who need reliable but not premium connectivity, families or multigenerational rooms checking eligibility, and guests confused by older “tips included” descriptions. It also helps Retreat and AquaClass buyers identify which benefits come from the accommodation and which come from the fare, and travelers on excluded or special products avoid a false comparison.
Key Facts Table
| Decision factor | What to know |
|---|---|
| Current scope | Use the post-October-4-2023 U.S.-facing pricing framework for a current comparison. |
| All Included core | Celebrity currently bundles Classic Drinks and Basic Wi-Fi in eligible All Included fares. |
| Gratuities | Onboard staff gratuities are separate under the current framework and belong on both cost columns. |
| Cruise-only | The base option lets guests cruise without the bundled drink and Wi-Fi package. |
| Eligibility | Availability can depend on market, ship, stateroom category, occupancy, and promotion. |
| Special products | Retreat and Galápagos products can follow different inclusions and should not be forced into this comparison. |
Best For / Not Ideal For
All Included is best for eligible guests who will use the Classic Drinks Package and Basic Wi-Fi enough to approach the full room-level fare difference and prefer a predictable bill. Cruise-only is best for light drinkers, guests satisfied with little or no internet, loyalty members with overlapping benefits, or travelers who want different add-ons. Neither is ideal when quotes use different cabin categories or cancellation terms, gratuities are counted on only one side, or an old inclusion chart is treated as current.
Detailed Comparison
Lock the date, market, and product
Before calculating anything, save both quotes with booking date, country or market, ship, sailing, room category, occupancy, deposit, cancellation terms, taxes, and promotion. Celebrity’s current U.S.-facing pages describe the framework beginning October 4, 2023, while older bookings and other markets may differ. Galápagos and Retreat pricing can have separate structures. If the All Included button does not appear for the exact room, do not assume an agent can add the same bundle later at the same price.
Value Classic Drinks from actual habits
Review current Classic Drinks terms, eligible beverage values, venues, exclusions, service charges, and upgrade rules. Estimate each guest’s realistic alcoholic and nonalcoholic purchases, excluding drinks they would not buy without a package. Room-level rules may govern eligible occupants. A light drinker should not assign brochure retail value, while a guest buying several eligible drinks daily may value predictability.
Decide whether Basic Wi-Fi is sufficient
Basic Wi-Fi should be valued for the tasks it supports under current Celebrity terms, not as unlimited premium connectivity. Identify number of users and devices, messaging, browsing, email, work, calls, streaming, and port-day usage. A guest needing video meetings or heavier service may still pay to upgrade, reducing the apparent bundle value. A traveler who disconnects or already receives internet through another benefit may assign little value. Ship connectivity remains subject to location, weather, network management, and service availability.
Put gratuities on both sides
Current All Included pricing does not make onboard staff gratuities part of the drinks-and-Wi-Fi bundle. Add the current gratuity treatment to both All Included and cruise-only calculations unless the written quote explicitly states otherwise. Do not rely on an older “tips included” article, cached FAQ, or travel-agent graphic. Also separate optional bar, dining, spa, and room-service service charges from standard daily gratuities. The booking confirmation and current onboard policy should show what is prepaid, due later, or automatically posted.
Remove overlapping accommodation and loyalty value
AquaClass, Concierge Class, The Retreat, Captain’s Club status, casino rates, and promotions can add benefits independently. Separate accommodation, fare bundle, loyalty, and credit. Retreat guests may have a different package structure; do not count it again as All Included savings. If another source supplies internet or drinks, confirm whether duplication produces any credit rather than assuming a refund.
Compare full room cost and flexibility
Subtract the cruise-only total from the All Included total for the same room and terms. Compare that difference with realistic drink purchases plus Basic Wi-Fi for all required occupants, including any upgrade likely needed. Then compare deposit, repricing, cancellation, and promotion changes. A bundle can be cheaper without being better if it reduces flexibility or includes unused products. Conversely, a moderate premium may be worthwhile for budget certainty. Keep gratuities, excursions, specialty dining, spa, transfers, insurance, and airfare visible as separate trip costs.
USCRUISE Expert Tip
Run three scenarios: low use, expected use, and high use. For drinks, count only purchases the guest would genuinely make; for Wi-Fi, use the service level actually needed. Add the same gratuity amount to both fare columns, then compare the entire room—not one guest’s advertised package price. All Included earns a recommendation only if it remains competitive in the expected scenario and its fare terms are acceptable, not merely because the high-use scenario shows a theoretical maximum saving.
Decision Matrix
| Traveler or priority | Practical action |
|---|---|
| Both guests use drinks and Basic Wi-Fi daily | Compare the room-level All Included premium with expected standalone spending. |
| One guest drinks little | Check room-level eligibility rules and calculate value for every required purchaser. |
| Premium internet is required | Add the likely upgrade cost; do not value Basic Wi-Fi as the final solution. |
| Gratuity budgeting matters | Place current staff gratuities on both columns unless the quote explicitly differs. |
| Retreat or Galápagos booking | Use that product’s own current inclusions instead of this standard comparison. |
| Flexibility is the priority | Compare deposit, cancellation, and repricing terms along with package value. |
Common Mistakes
Using an older “tips included” description for a current quote
Counting gratuities on cruise-only but not on All Included
Comparing different rooms, deposits, or cancellation terms
Valuing every package drink instead of actual purchases
Assuming Basic Wi-Fi meets premium streaming or work needs
Counting Retreat, loyalty, or promotion benefits twice
Applying the standard U.S. framework to every market or Galápagos product
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Celebrity All Included include now?
Celebrity’s current U.S.-facing framework for bookings on or after October 4, 2023 bundles Classic Drinks and Basic Wi-Fi on eligible fares. Confirm the exact market, room, ship, and quote.
Are gratuities included in All Included?
Not under the current framework described by Celebrity’s U.S.-facing fare pages. Onboard staff gratuities are separate. Older bookings or other markets may differ, so use the written confirmation.
Does cruise-only include any drinks?
The cruise fare still includes the ordinary onboard food-and-beverage baseline stated by Celebrity, but it does not bundle the Classic Drinks Package. Review current menus and fare terms for what is complimentary.
Can one guest choose All Included and the other cruise-only?
Fare and package choices can apply at the stateroom level and follow current eligibility rules. Price the complete room and ask Celebrity to confirm treatment for every occupant before purchase.
Is Basic Wi-Fi enough for work or streaming?
Do not assume so. Match the current service description with messaging, browsing, calls, meetings, and streaming needs. A premium upgrade may be required and ship connectivity can vary.
Is All Included always cheaper?
No. Value depends on the full room premium, number of eligible guests, actual drink purchases, Wi-Fi needs, overlapping benefits, and fare flexibility. Calculate the current quotes rather than using a universal threshold.
Related Guides
Is Celebrity Cruises Right for You? Ship Classes, AquaClass, and Fares
Cruise Drink Packages Explained: Inclusions, Limits, and Costs
Plan Your Cruise with USCRUISE
USCRUISE can compare current Celebrity cruise-only and All Included quotes, cabin categories, package overlap, gratuities, and the complete trip cost before you pay a deposit. Request personalized cruise help.
Sources & Methodology
USCRUISE used Celebrity’s current cruise-only, All Included, and fare FAQ pages and limited the main conclusion to the post-October-4-2023 U.S.-facing framework. We separate gratuities, accommodation benefits, loyalty, and promotions from Classic Drinks and Basic Wi-Fi. The dated quote and confirmation override legacy pages and may vary by market or special product.
Source check date: August 21, 2026. Confirm the exact ship, sailing, fare, terminal, passenger details, and current terms before purchase.
