Quick Answer
Windstar currently markets an All-Inclusive Fare or Package that adds unlimited Wi-Fi, select beer, wine and cocktails, plus service and bar gratuities. Its advisor page says All-Inclusive is an individual choice: each guest on a reservation can make a separate decision. Price All-In and cruise-only guest by guest, then combine the chosen result for the cabin. Use the live quote and promotion; a dated official flyer explains mechanics, not today's price.
Last Reviewed / Sources Checked
USCRUISE checked the linked official sources on October 11, 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
Windstar travelers evaluating a bundled onboard-spend option, especially couples with different habits, remote workers, and guests on port-intensive itineraries.
Key Facts Table
| Decision factor | What to know |
|---|---|
| Bundle | Official material groups Wi-Fi, select beverages, and gratuities |
| Choice | Windstar says each guest can make an individual fare choice |
| Baseline | Advisor material includes non-alcoholic drinks in cruise-only; do not count them as extra |
| Duration | It states purchase for the full cruise duration |
| Drinks | Select by-the-glass service is not every bottle or brand |
| Snapshot | Price, deadlines, tax, and service rules require a live check |
Best For / Not Ideal For
All-Inclusive works for a guest who values all three components and wants one predictable charge. Cruise-only works for restrained consumption or no internet. Because Windstar describes the choice as individual, one cabinmate can select All-In while another remains cruise-only under the current published rule; verify that split on the live reservation. Test each guest separately, then compare the combined cabin result on the same ship, date, cabin, promotion, deposit, and cancellation terms.
Detailed Comparison
Get two identical reservation totals
Price the same cabin and promotion with and without the All-Inclusive Fare. Use the full invoice difference rather than a rate copied from a flyer. Confirm whether the selection changes deposit, cancellation, onboard credit, or another promotion. The current advisor promotion page establishes the bundle offer. The advisor pricing FAQ and dated flyer show different prices and deadlines, so neither supplies today's quote.
Value internet conservatively
Decide who needs ordinary messaging, browsing, work access, or no connection. The flyer describes a device allowance, but a bundle does not guarantee speed or uninterrupted service at sea. If only one guest needs Wi-Fi, value it only for that guest and test Windstar's published individual-choice rule on the live booking. Download critical records before embarkation regardless.
Price only intended beverages
List likely select beer, wine by the glass and cocktails. Windstar's advisor FAQ lists non-alcoholic drinks as already included with cruise-only; do not count those again. Favorite bottles or premium labels may sit outside the package. Confirm current menus, minimum age, service locations, responsible-service decisions, tax, and service treatment. Port days may produce very little use. Never raise consumption simply to justify a package; the package should fit the guest's existing preferences.
Isolate the gratuity component
Ask what the live All-In offer covers and what a cruise-only guest would otherwise be charged. Do not infer that every personal tip or service charge disappears. Use the current amount for the same occupancy and voyage length. Optional recognition for exceptional service is a personal decision, not a required saving. Keep beverage service charges separate if current terms distinguish them.
Calculate guest by guest
For each guest, multiply the live increment by charged days and compare it with that person's Wi-Fi, gratuity, and eligible-drink budget. Windstar's advisor page says each guest can choose independently, so test a mixed All-In and cruise-only cabin when habits differ. Build two rows rather than one cabin average: subtract certain Wi-Fi and covered gratuities from the All-In guest's increment, and keep separate purchases under the cruise-only guest. If the booking screen does not display the mixed selection, request a written quote before assuming the published individual-choice rule applies. Confirm the split and fare basis in writing before payment.
Stress-test exclusions
Run minimal, expected, and high-use cases. Mark every uncertain label, bottle, device, or service as excluded until the live terms confirm it. Record advance-purchase and early-onboard deadlines plus amendment treatment. The dated code on the reviewed flyer is a clear reason not to reuse its price. When the expected difference is small, flexibility and billing simplicity may decide.
Recheck the live facts
Ask the booking channel to quote All-Inclusive and cruise-only side by side for each guest on the same reservation, including a mixed choice when habits differ. Confirm charged days, Wi-Fi plan, gratuity scope, select-beverage wording, promotion, and deadline. Use the dated flyer only as a checklist; the invoice and supplied terms answer today's price and rules.
Record the decision and fallback
Write three numbers beside each traveler: internet they would buy, covered gratuities they would owe, and eligible drinks they realistically expect. Sum those figures for the cabin and compare them with the invoice increment. Circle any premium label or service that remains uncertain and treat it as extra. Revisit the sheet before final payment or the package cutoff. The fallback is cruise-only with a fixed onboard budget, not an effort to increase use until the bundle appears economical.
USCRUISE Expert Tip
Subtract Wi-Fi and covered gratuities you would certainly purchase from the live All-In increment. The remainder is what realistic eligible drinks must justify. Repeat the exercise for each occupant because one guest's internet need cannot prove that the other guest gains equal bundle value.
Decision Matrix
| Traveler or priority | Practical action |
|---|---|
| Both guests value every component | Compare live All-In with separate charges |
| Guests have different habits | Test an individual mixed-fare choice |
| No internet needed | Assign Wi-Fi zero value |
| Premium labels lead | Keep a separate drinks budget |
| Totals are close | Choose simplicity or flexibility |
Common Mistakes
Using a dated price as a quote
Valuing unused Wi-Fi
Assuming all drinks qualify
Forgetting guests and days
Treating every tip as covered
Comparing different promotions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does All-In contain?
The reviewed flyer lists Wi-Fi, select beer, wine and cocktails, and gratuities; confirm the live package.
Must both guests choose it?
Windstar's advisor page says no: All-In is an individual choice, but confirm the split on the live reservation.
Are all drinks included?
No. The official snapshot uses select-brand and by-the-glass language.
Can I buy onboard?
The dated flyer describes timing, but the live reservation controls deadline and price.
Does Wi-Fi guarantee speed?
No. Connectivity at sea varies; confirm the plan and keep essentials offline.
Related Guides
Plan Your Cruise with USCRUISE
USCRUISE can build a Windstar bundle comparison from your live invoice and actual habits. Request personalized cruise help.
Sources & Methodology
Windstar's advisor promotion page supports current bundle scope; its pricing FAQ supports individual choice. That FAQ conflicts with the dated flyer on price and advance deadline, so the live quote controls. Checked October 11, 2026. Official pages support only the stated scope; the selected sailing's current terms control.
Source check date: October 11, 2026. Confirm the exact ship, sailing, fare, terminal, passenger details, and current terms before purchase.
