Are cruise lines nickel and diming or just ensuring cruise prices are stable and fair?

• Cruisers are always quick to call out a ‘nickel and dime’ from cruise lines.
• The best thing cruisers can do is analyse cruise line inclusions and fare and find the best line for them.
• We’re here to help – here’s an analysis of recent cutbacks and fare changes from major lines in Australia.

Probably the most frequent and passionate complaint you’ll hear from regular cruisers is that cruise lines are ‘nickel and diming’ them. That’s to say, they’re adding charges for things that used to be included. 

It’s the waterborne equivalent of shrinkflation – when the price stays the same but the box gets smaller.

But what’s the truth? It can be difficult to cut through the noise.

Some cruisers complain that lines are charging more for experiences once included. Other cruisers will argue that everything is becoming more expensive, not just cruises, and cruising still provides one of the best value holidays out there. In fact, cruise lines removing inclusions that not all cruisers actually use, can be beneficial if it leads to lowering or more stable fares.

As often is the case, all are right in their own way.

The reality is that cruise lines are large businesses and will take your money where they can, but cruising is still a great value holiday, and has remained that way even as prices rise worldwide.

As a cruiser, the best thing you can do is analyse the different ways that cruise lines are raising their prices, and decide which offer best suits you. 

For example, some cruise lines are managing to keep cruise fares relatively steady, such as NCL, Celebrity and Carnival, but are cutting back in other areas. However, what might be a ‘nickel and dime’ to some, may be irrelevant to others, who don’t use that service or part of the ship anyway. 

Then there are other cruise lines which are seeing more rises in their fares, such as Royal Caribbean and Princess. However, they still receive some complaints of cutbacks from cruisers. 

A recent change by Norwegian – charging passengers who asked for a second entre at dinner – sounds like it could be nickel and diming. But asking for seconds – or even thirds! – could also be seen as outright greed.

At the end of the day, it’s up to you to look at a cruise fare and inclusions and decide if that cruise is for you or not.

Which lines are doing what

Norwegian Cruise Line 

• Norwegian Cruise Line has been in the news a lot lately for various cutbacks. This includes a new policy of charging for second entrees in the main dining room, a new policy that doesn’t allow their drinks package to be used on the cruise lines private island, putting on fewer large scale entertainment productions and limiting the amount that can be ordered via room service.
• For clear reasons, these changes have many cruisers upset, feeling that their cruise fare has less worth than before.
• NCL fairs are also on the rise in Australia. In 2023 you could find a 11-night Australia and New Zealand cruise from $3394, for the 2026/27 season, you’ll be looking at around $4800 for the same cruise. 
• However, for those that enjoy drinks packages, wifi and specialty dining, NCL’s More at Sea offers incredible value. They offer these packages at a fraction of the cost of other major lines.
• NCL offers status match across NCL, Regent Seven Seas and Oceania Cruises with its loyalty program and has lifetime status for all three lines.
• Verdict: NCL is definitely heavy on cutbacks at the moment, but their More at Sea offering is unique to the family cruise market.

Royal Caribbean 

• While Royal Caribbean caught attention for some post-pandemic service cuts, there haven’t been too many changes lately to have cruisers up in arms. One that stands out is a new policy that removes the ‘exception rule’ that prevented both members of a cabin from having to purchase a drinks package. Now all adult-members of a cabin will need to buy a drinks package, even if only one member wants one.
• In 2023, you could grab a Royal Caribbean 13-night cruise from $1599, or a six-night cruise from $808. Now, those will cost you around $2975 for just an 11-night cruise, or $1285 for a six-night cruise, a significant increase. 
• Royal Caribbean offers status match across Celebrity and Silversea, this is perhaps the most beneficial status match as Celebrity is a similarly priced line. It also offers the best loyalty program perks.
• Verdict: Royal Caribbean is mostly easing up on cutbacks, but fares have risen significantly for Aussies. It’s loyalty program is the best of major lines.

Carnival Cruise Line

• Carnival saw a few complaints in the switch over from P&O Australia to Carnival, for example that guests couldn’t carry over loyalty points, and inclusions that Carnival has, such as 24/7 free pizza and soft serve, weren’t carried over to the new ships.
• The biggest Carnival controversy of late has been that they are removing their lifetime loyalty program, and shifting to a rolling two-year system, that resets your points each two years. Cruisers were extremely unhappy at this change.
• However, Carnival fares are by far the best in Australia, and while they’ve increased, the increase hasn’t been too dramatic, especially when compared to other lines.
• Verdict: Carnival’s loyalty program change upset cruisers, but its fares remain by far the most competitive in Australia.

Princess Cruises

• Princess Cruises caught some heat for changes in its Princess Plus and Premier packages, with prices going up, despite perks being reduced. They also made some unpopular changes to their drinks packages, removing double pours for example.
• Princess fares are definitely on the up, particularly as they reduce their capacity in Australia. Average Princess prices are generally in the $250-300 a night mark these days, and often even more expensive if you aren’t quick to book and prices jump up. 
• Their loyalty program offers the easiest path to top tiers, but the perks aren’t as comprehensive as others.
• Verdict: Princess has seen fare rises, but it has limited its cutbacks mostly to extra inclusions, that wouldn’t be included in the cruise fare anyway.

Celebrity Cruises

• Celebrity Cruises has definitely experienced complaints of cutbacks, but they’re generally a bit less specific, revolving around reduced staff. 
• Celebrity fares have remained solid in Australia, even decreasing slightly in some aspects as they add more local capacity.
• Celebrity’s loyalty program offers lots of benefits but it takes a long time to climb through the tiers, however, they do offer status matches with Royal Caribbean and Silversea.
• Verdict: Celebrity has seen its fares remain solid in Australia without many rises, but it has some complains of service cutbacks.