Travelore Cruise Tips: 10 “Hidden” Fees Cruise Lines Are Adding in 2026

Cruise fares may appear clearer thanks to new pricing transparency rules, but 2026 brings a different challenge. Several major cruise lines are introducing new onboard charges, service limits, and booking restrictions that reshape what a base fare actually covers.

Credit: Getty Images

These confirmed changes affect dining, room service, island visits, and reservation terms, which add costs that travelers may not expect when booking next year’s sailings.

Norwegian Cruise Line is introducing a $5 fee for any entrée ordered beyond the first two in the main dining room on 2026 sailings. The company frames the policy as a measure to reduce food waste. Passengers accustomed to unlimited ordering now face direct per‑plate charges in standard dining venues.

Norwegian is also reshaping in-cabin dining. Breakfast orders include one hot and one cold item per guest. The all-day menu allows two items per order. Delivery fees stay the same. Additional food means placing another order and paying another delivery charge.

Specialty dining reservations on Norwegian cruises now come with a new consequence. A $10 per-person fee applies if guests skip a reservation without canceling in advance. Specialty restaurants already carry cover charges. This adds a reservation accountability fee on top. It mirrors airline no-show penalties and signals a more structured dining system at sea.

Cunard is adjusting a long-standing tradition. Complimentary room service will only run through breakfast hours until 10 a.m. starting in 2026. Orders later in the day will include service fees. Cunard built part of its brand on old-world luxury touches. This marks a shift toward modern cost control even in premium cruising.

Beginning March 1, 2026, Norwegian beverage packages will no longer be valid on Great Stirrup Cay. Guests with prepaid drink plans must purchase beverages separately once ashore.

Silver Cove villas on Great Stirrup Cay will cost $950 per person per day in 2026. A group of four pays $3,800 for one day of private access. The rate covers the space and exclusivity. Food, drinks, and other island services remain extra.

Princess Cruises now makes non-refundable deposits the standard choice for 2026 sailings. Guests get a lower upfront fare. They lose deposit protection if plans change. Refundable bookings still exist but cost more.

WiFi, gratuities, spa access, and specialty dining are increasingly being excluded from base fares on major lines. Advertised cruise prices may remain stable, but travelers must budget separately for services that were once included in the core fare.

Norwegian’s delivery fees stay at $4.95 for breakfast and $9.95 for the all-day menu in 2026. The new item limits mean those fees now cover fewer dishes. Guests pay the same delivery price for smaller orders and pay again for second deliveries.

Major cruise brands are expected to follow Princess by tightening refund rules for 2026 bookings. Flexible cancellation is now available only for higher-priced fare tiers. Travelers who want peace of mind must pay more up front. Budget fares come with stricter commitment.

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Travelore Tips: Another Cruise Line Is Raising Its Daily Gratuity Rate

Passengers will be charged the increased rate beginning Feb. 1.

The Islander has multiple pools. Image source: Margaritaville at Sea.

On most cruises, passengers can expect to be charged for gratuities—tips that are distributed to certain crew members like stateroom attendants and dining room servers.

Although gratuities are customary across the industry to recognize the crew members who work hard to ensure you enjoy your vacation, these added service fees often take first-time cruisers by surprise. The charges applied to some stateroom categories can be as much as $25 per passenger per day on some cruise lines, but most daily gratuity rates run between $16 and $20 per passenger.

It’s no surprise though that just as cruise lines are raising prices, they’re increasing gratuity rates too. When asked, most cruise lines say their rate adjustments are made in line with industry standards.

In November, Royal Caribbean cited industry standards as it raised its daily gratuity amount from $18 per passenger to $18.50 per passenger for most stateroom categories. More recently, Disney Cruise Line followed suit, increasing its recommended gratuity rate from $14.50 per passenger per night to $16 per passenger per night for non-concierge staterooms.

Now, another cruise line is making an adjustment to its suggested rate too. And this one is increasing its automatic gratuity charge to an amount that’s higher than either of those cruise line’s rates.

Margaritaville at Sea bumps up daily gratuity rate

Jimmy Buffett’s cruise line Margaritaville at Sea, which currently sails two cruise ships from Florida ports, is the latest cruise line to raise its gratuities. The change puts Margaritaville at Sea’s rate on par with Norwegian Cruise Line’s onboard service charge, which is higher than most mainstream cruise lines’ gratuity fees.

On its website, Margaritaville at Sea states that as of Feb. 1, gratuities of $20 per person, per night for staterooms and $24.00 per person, per night for suites will be automatically added to passengers’ stateroom accounts during their cruises. This is an increase of $2 over the cruise lines previous gratuity rates of $18 for staterooms and $22 for suites.

As of Feb. 1, Margaritaville at Sea is also raising its onboard service gratuity from 18% to 20% gratuity for all bar, drink packages, specialty dining, spa and salon tabs.

Although no one wants to pay more for their cruise, most passengers won’t notice a sizeable increase in their final cruise bill.

At the new $20 per-passenger daily gratuity rate, two passengers sailing in an inside stateroom will pay $200 in gratuities on a five-night Margaritaville at Sea cruise rather than $180 at the previous rate, an increase of $20.

You can modify cruise gratuities, if you wish

Cruise gratuity rates are suggested amounts and you are free to modify them at your discretion. Keep in mind though that those gratuities are an essential part of the compensation package for the hardworking crew members who help make your vacation special.

The majority of passengers choose to accept the cruise line’s recommended daily rate and some even reward crew members for exceptional service by providing additional tips.

For your convenience, most cruise lines will offer you the option to pre-pay gratuities at the recommended rate when booking your cruise. Many passengers like to do this so they know up front how much they’re spending on their cruise. If you pre-pay gratuities and avoid making additional purchases on board your cruise, you could potentially enjoy your vacation without spending another dime.

If you’ve already pre-paid gratuities for an upcoming cruise before a rate increase happens, you’re usually locked in at the previous, lower gratuity rate. If you’d like, you can increase your gratuities by visiting the guest services desk once on board your cruise.

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Recent Study Says Majority Of Recent Cruise Takers Would Go On A Cruise Despite The Coronavirus

THOSE WILLING TO ENGAGE IN TRAVEL AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES ARE GROWING QUICKLY SAYS “BACK-TO-NORMAL BAROMETER” SURVEY

A groundbreaking “Back-to-Normal” survey comparing travel and leisure attitudes in September 2001 and July 2009 to today finds that a majority of Americans who took a cruise in the past year would go on a cruise right now in spite of widespread health concerns from COVID-19. And the percentage who would engage in other travel and leisure activities right now if they could do so is growing dramatically.

“Looking at our tracking data, we seem to be reaching an inflection point among leisure customers, sports fans and travelers,” said Jon Last, President of Sports and Leisure Research Group, whose firm conducted the research along with Engagious and ROKK Solutions. “There are just as many people concerned about the macro economic situation as there are those concerned about the public health crisis.”

Of those Americans who have participated in these activities within the past 12 months:

• 58% would take a cruise
• 48% would attend a live sporting event
• 47% would stay at a hotel
• 46% would visit a casino
• 43% would fly commercially
• 39% would see a movie in a theater

While those who would engage in an activity that they did in the past year continues to grow, there are still a large number of Americans overall that remain hesitant to travel long distances.
The latest poll also compared the public’s willingness to engage in various travel and leisure activities now vis-à-vis the weeks after the 9/11 attacks and during the Great Recession. While engagement lags those prior two crises, the latest results shows a consistency in consumer hesitancy compared to the previous polls.

“Our ability to compare today’s findings to the prior crises of 2001 and 2009 makes our 2020 research particularly compelling,” said Rich Thau, President and co-founder of Engagious.
Exactly half the country (50%) strongly agreed in late September 2001 that “Taking a vacation 500+ miles is a priority for me and my family in the next 12 months;” only 35% strongly agreed in our first poll held on April 1, 2020. While the number jumped five points to 40% who strongly agreed April 22, 2020, it has now dipped two points to 38% in our latest poll.

“Our research takes an unprecedented review of consumer attitudes of the past compared to today’s environment, so that a vast variety of industries can make strategic business decisions to navigate the difficult terrain ahead to get back to normal,” said Ron Bonjean, Partner at ROKK Solutions.

The margin of error on the May 6, 2020 online survey is +/- 4.1%. It was fielded May 5-6, 2020, and is comprised of a random sample of Americans who self-identify as participants in sports and leisure activities.

Sports and Leisure Research Group is a market research firm specializing in the sports, travel, and leisure sectors, based in White Plains, NY. Engagious is a bicoastal research firm specializing in corporate and public policy message testing and message refinement. ROKK Solutions is a Washington, DC-based bipartisan public affairs firm specializing in strategic communications, media engagement, digital and social strategy, message amplification and crisis management.

Guidelines And Tips For Packing For Your Next Cruise Vacation From CruiseCompete

Haute Couture on the High Seas- Gucci, Fendi, Chanel, Bande Noir, Valentino or Prada?

On the glamorous ocean liners of days past, long gowns and tuxedos used to be de rigeur for dinner. While some passengers – especially on luxury liners – still opt to get all “decked out”, the rules have become significantly more relaxed, and many of the old guidelines have fallen by the wayside.

With things constantly changing in the world of cruise “fashion”, it’s often hard to determine what to pack for a cruise. What’s appropriate can vary by cruise line- and even by ship! However, no matter which ship you’re on, it’s still important to dress tastefully for every occasion, even if fashion is not your “thing”.

Plus, let’s face it – everyone likes an excuse to go shopping, and your upcoming cruise gives you the perfect opportunity to refresh your wardrobe. If you’re stumped for ideas, designers like Fendi, Prada, Bande Noir and others feature chic cruise wear, so you might want to skim through their websites for inspiration.

One thing to remember, the cruise lines will typically list what they deem appropriate dress, so be sure to reference the guidelines on their websites and confirm them with your agent when booking your cruise.

Here are some standard terms to help you decipher the cruise line dress codes:

1.  Casual - Sport shirts for men and anything casual, but no torn or cut off jeans. For women, any resort attire, including nice slacks and casual tops.

2.  Business casual, Resort casual, Cruise casual, Smart casual, Country Club casual - All mean similar things. For men, slacks and shirts are a good option. Polo shirts are fine on most lines, though some prefer button-down shirts. For ladies, skirts, dresses, nice slacks and sweaters.
Both men and women should check out the latest resort/cruise collections featured by designers such as Chanel, Fendi and Valentino.

Tip: Women should plan to mix and match separates to create different outfits and to avoid over-packing. A simple black dress can be jazzed up with a jacket, shawl, jewelry and accessories for a more formal look. Sandals with a casual skirt and an elegant blouse easily transform into cocktail attire when you add sparkly jewelry, so be sure to bring some “bling” with you.

3. Elegant Casual, Cruise Elegant, Evening Chic, Semi formal - For men, dress slacks, dress shirts and jackets are preferred. For women, chic clothing of any type, including dress slacks.

Tip: This is another case where bling can add some extra glamour.

4. Black Tie, Gala Attire & Formal - Formal attire for men refers to a tuxedo, a suit and tie or a sport coat with tie and nice slacks.

For women, formal attire means evening gowns, cocktail dresses and dressy resort wear - at a minimum. A sparkly top and black pants would also do the trick.

Some passengers relish wearing tuxedos and evening gowns on formal nights, but most opt for suits and cocktail attire. Others prefer to stick with the minimum requirement – such as slacks, a sport coat and a dress shirt. Whatever works for you is fine, as long as you’re dressing tastefully and within the guidelines. If you do decide to get all “decked out” just know that you won’t be alone as many of your fellow passengers will be doing it, too.

Tip: For some truly breath-taking cruise wear, check out Gucci’s “2020 Cruise” collection, recently showcased at Rome’s Capitoline Museums.

Should I expect to have to dress formally?

Proper dining attire varies from ship to ship, depending on the itinerary and length of the voyage. One-week cruises typically have one or two formal nights, and luxury cruise lines with longer itineraries will be more apt to have additional dressy evenings.

Ultra-luxury cruise lines include:

• Crystal Cruises
• Cunard Line
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises
• Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
• Seabourn
• Silversea Cruises

Dining room dress guidelines:

While dining room dress guidelines have relaxed over the years, there are still basic standards. Cut-off or ragged jeans and shorts (including gym and basketball shorts), flip-flops, bathing suit attire, hats, caps, and sleeveless shirts (for men) are generally not permitted. Dress requirements for children in the dining room are normally the same as for adults but do have a little more leeway.

Cruise lines offer various dining options, so - depending on where you decide to go for your meals - you may not have to dress up if you don't want to. Food is offered at buffets on deck and in cafés and restaurants throughout the ship, and most lines offer 24/7 room service.

Tip: Dining areas other than the main dining room – especially the buffet - tend to be more casual.

As with any vacation planning, check with your CruiseCompete cruise travel specialist to determine the specific dining attire requirements for your ship.

CruiseCompete member-agents are the most well-educated, forward-thinking and trusted cruise specialists in the industry. If you’d like more information or assistance planning a future cruise or a cruisetour, please visit CruiseCompete and try the Virtual Cruise Advisor™ or Live Help.
 Find CruiseCompete’s “Sea Tales 2019 Family Cruise Travel Planner” at www.cruisecompete.com/resources.php.

To see consumer feedback click here. Also see links to high quality cruise shore excursions at substantially lower prices than the cruise lines. Enjoy a more intimate tour experience away from the crowds. See by port or by ship: https://www.cruisecompete.com/shore_excursions_by_port.php or https://www.cruisecompete.com/shore_excursions/

Travelore Cruise News: Hundreds Of British Cruise Passengers Refused Entry To China

Some had to fly to Japan to await Quantum of the Seas (Image: Quantum)

Sobbing families said they were “treated like criminals” by border staff at Beijing Airport after flying in to join a 12-day Royal Caribbean cruise. They had been told they would be able to enter the country under a 144-hour visa exemption system that would allow them to spend three days sightseeing before boarding Quantum of the Seas. But families said they feared for their safety after randomly being targeted by officials. 

Many told how they were separated from their loved ones after individuals were picked out of groups and refused entry. 

Some passengers were forced to fly back to Britain immediately. 

Management consultant Alison Goldie, 56, told how she and accountant husband Allan, also 56, had spent £6,000 on the cruise to celebrate her friend Lesley McGregor’s 50th birthday. 

Lesley was travelling with husband Scott and her parents Anne and Matt Matheson. 

Wheelchair-user Mrs Matheson, 68, and her 71-year-old husband were rushed through immigration before officials ruled Alison could travel but not the rest of the party. 

Alison, who stayed behind with her husband, said: “Lesley’s parents were in a completely different country for five days. 

“It seemed to me that the Chinese were having a ball. It was just like a game. “Staff dealing with us seemed very young and were in high spirits. They were just giggling as they refused entry in a random way.” 

The group were forced to fly to Japan to await the ship and meet the elderly parents onboard. 

Clair Matthews, 46, husband Joseph, 50, and her parents-in-law Teresa, 71, and Stanley Matthews, 79, were all refused entry. They were forced to spend a night at
the airport. 

Clair said: “We had the temporary visa. They flicked through our passports and told us, ‘You’re not coming in’.”

When the family refused to pay to fly on to the boat’s first port of call in Japan, they were threatened with arrest. Clair said: “I was told that if I was still here within 24 hours of landing and didn’t have proof of onward travel, I would be taken to prison. 

“I just thought, I don’t want to be in prison in my own country, I sure as hell don’t want to be in prison in Beijing.” 

The family spent more than £3,000 on flights to Japan and four nights in a Fukuoka hotel before boarding the ship yesterday. 

It set sail from Tianjin port in China on Monday before arriving in Fukuoka yesterday morning. 

An Abta spokesman last night said: “Entry into China under a visa waiver is not guaranteed and Chinese border officials have the right to refuse entry without warning or explanation.” 

Source: https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1188687/cruise-ship-chaos-royal-caribbean-cruise-china-jail

Top 10 Cruise Line Loyalty Program Rewards For Faithful Cruise Travelers

Loyalty Has Its Rewards for Ocean & River Voyages

 – Cruise line loyalty programs are a rewards system that earn repeat cruise travelers devoted to specific cruise lines a variety of perks such as:

1. Special loyalty pricing, which can provide significant savings over time.
2. Member-only activities
3. Complimentary Wi-Fi and internet
4. Complimentary drinks
5. Complimentary specialty dining
6. Concierge service and other valuable amenities
7. Discounted room upgrades, priority check-in
8. Access to private dinners and parties
9. Merchandise discounts and in-cabin amenities
10. In some cases, complimentary cruises days or longer.

Enrollment is offered the first time you cruise with a line, so remember to provide your loyalty number to your CruiseCompete member agent when you book your next cruise for increased benefits and savings. 

CruiseCompete provides tips on how to find your cruise line loyalty number (there are a number of ways) and specific instructions by cruise line. To see full details, go to this page:
https://www.cruisecompete.com/cruise_line_loyalty_programs.php

There are some lines that may extend loyalty rewards to other brands owned by cruise line parent company as well. Recently, MSC Voyager’s Club announced MSC Cruises matches the status for guests’ existing cruise, travel or tour operator program with a similar or higher status, meaning travelers can instantly get benefits when joining the MSC Voyager’s Club.

Here are many of the cruise lines and their loyalty programs:

AmaWaterways (Privilege Reward Program)
Azamara Club Cruises (Le Club Voyage-Adventurer, Explorer, Discoverer)
Carnival Cruise Line (VIFP – Very Important Fun Person – Club)
Celebrity Cruises (Captain’s Club-Preview, Classic, Select, Elite, Elite Plus, Zenith)
Crystal Cruises (Crystal Society) 
Cunard (World Club)
Disney Cruise Line (Castaway Club)
Holland America Line (Mariner’s Society)
MSC Cruises (Voyagers Club)
Norwegian Cruise Line (Latitudes)
Oceania Cruises (Oceania Club)
Princess Cruises (Captain's Circle)
Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Seven Seas Society)
Royal Caribbean International (Crown & Anchor Society-Emerald, Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle)
Seabourn (Seabourn Club)
Silversea (Silversea Venetian Society)
Viking Ocean Cruises (Viking Explorer Society)
Viking River Cruises (Viking Explorer Society)


CruiseCompete member-agents are the most well-educated, forward-thinking and trusted cruise specialists in the industry. If you’d like more information or assistance planning a future cruise or a cruisetour, please visit CruiseCompete and try the Virtual Cruise Advisor. 

About CruiseCompete
CruiseCompete has been the premier online cruise marketplace since 2003 (see media praises). CruiseCompete CruiseTrends™ offers monthly stats for an inside look at consumer trends and what consumers want in cruise vacations.
CruiseCompete takes top honors in Travel + Leisure's “Top 60 Best Apps and Websites for Travelers” with an honorable mention. The Wall Street Journal praised CruiseCompete as “Best Cruise Travel Site,” The New York Times says, “… independent travel agents compete to offer you the best deal," and follows similar praise from Travel + Leisure, Kiplinger and The Washington Post. The Street says, “Score luxury cruises at bargain prices.”
 
For more information, please visit https://www.cruisecompete.com/ or https://www.cruisecompete.com/group_cruises/
CruiseCompete is an Iowa limited liability company, is not a travel agency or owned by a travel agency.

Holland America Cruise Line Adds Fee For Second Entree In Main Dining Room #Cruise

If you’re the type of person who brings a big appetite and orders two entrees in the main dining room, you may have to fork over a little extra money to do so in the future.

Holland America is testing a program that would see passengers charged $10 for a second entree… and if there’s one thing we’ve learned over the years, it’s that when it comes to up charges, where one of the major players goes, the others tend to follow.

Why You’ll Have To Pay For That Second Entree

According to a report on Cruise Critic, Holland America is set to begin testing a policy which would see people paying $10 for a second dinner entree in the main dining rooms.

The reason behind the move? An attempt to cut back food waste. “Over the years,” a Holland America spokesperson told the site, “we have upgraded the menu, and we have experienced that guests occasionally order additional main courses they simply can’t finish. Holland America Line has made great efforts to reduce food waste, and with this, we can better determine if guests who order a second entree will truly enjoy it.”

Passengers will still be able to order multiple appetizers and desserts without an additional fee should they wish.

For the moment, the up charge is being tested on four of the cruise line’s ships: Nieuw Amsterdam, Eurodam, Oosterdam and Zuiderdam, and the line is actually running two separate experiments.

One will offer a menu each night of the sailing offering second entrees for $10; the second will only ask for the extra $10 on Gala Night.

The tests will run from now until the end of March, at which point Holland America will look at the results — and, no doubt, the passenger feedback — and decide whether or not to continue the up charge moving forward.

Will Other Cruise Lines Follow Suit?

Nieuw Statendam via Holland America Line

Early feedback on Holland America’s Facebook page has, nor surprisingly, not been positive. Noting that the menu lists several salads as main courses, one unhappy passenger said that if they ordered one of these and were then charged an extra $10 for a “real entree,” they would never sail on the line again. Another, while admitting they never actually order a second entree, said that the up charge “cheapens the brand.”

Steak served at sea.

Currently, most cruise lines have up charge items — usually lobster or a surf-and-turf option — on the menus in their main dining rooms, but this appears to be the first time a charge has been levied for a second entree off the standard menu. And of course, it begs the question of whether this might become common practice on other lines.

By https://cruiseradio.net/author/richard-simms/

After all, whether we’re talking about raising the daily gratuity rate or adding a new type of restaurant, where one goes, the others tend to follow soon after. The most noticeable exception to this rule seems to be Virgin Voyages, which will eschew the notion of for-fee specialty restaurants in favor of having all the eateries aboard their first ship, Scarlet Lady, covered by the initial cruise fare.