Ask any avid cruiser about what they love most about their vacations. Odds are, their answers will include the food and the excursions.
And these are all great aspects (I love eating on a cruise too!). However, I think overlooked perks can make your vacation even better.
Here are 10 free cruise perks that you don’t want to miss out on.
Free Behind the Scenes Talks and Demonstrations
A lot of passengers don’t realize that cruise ships often host short, free behind the scenes style sessions that give a surprising peek into how the ship actually works.
These aren’t full backstage tours (those cost money), but you can catch things like a chef giving a cooking demonstration, the entertainment team talking about how the shows come together, or a Q&A with the captain or senior officers.
They’re usually tucked into the daily planner between the trivia games and dance classes, so most cruisers walk right past them. But they’re fun, informative, and make you appreciate the ship in a whole new way.
Plus, they’re totally free and a nice way to spend an hour while waiting for lunch or a port departure.
Onboard Chat
One of the downsides of cruising is definitely not having a signal when you’re out at sea.
For this reason, most passengers believe they only have two options: buy an expensive internet package or go totally offline.
But there’s a third, lesser-known option. That would be using the line’s free messaging feature.
You see, some cruise lines will let you text other passengers through the ship’s app (like the MSC for Me). This would be great for staying in touch with travel buddies without paying for wi-fi access.
Free Laundry Offers on Long Sailings
Another interesting thing is that some lines quietly offer a free wash and fold day on cruises longer than 10 to 14 nights.
A lot of people never hear about it because it’s buried in the daily planner.
If you are going on a cruise of 10 days or more, remember to ask if any laundry service is included.
Airfare Credits
It’s possible to book your flights through the cruise line. To incentivize you to do so, some lines offer airfare credits or cover the full flight cost as a booking perk.
Take NCL and Viking, for instance. NCL offers free airfare for the second guest on select cruises, while Viking’s promotions include free and reduced fares.
Onboard Credit
Another booking perk that I love is onboard credit. You get a bigger budget just for booking your trip during a promotion period.
In addition, sales agents on the ship might hand out credit if you book your next cruise with them. Just head to the specific office on the ship, it’s usually called “future cruise” or “next cruise”.
Free Medications
Basic meds like seasickness tablets, bandages, or antacid packets are often complimentary at Guest Services or the medical desk.
Many pay for the overpriced gift shop version simply because they don’t know.
However, recently, more and more people are telling me that they are not always given out for free, but I think it depends on the line.
The last time I was on MSC and forgot my seasickness pills, they gave them to me for free on a day when the sea was rough.
Loyalty Perks
Depending on how long you’ve been cruising and on which line, your loyalty perks can range from a large water bottle to priority embarkation and unlimited wash-and-fold laundry.
You don’t have to cruise full-time and lose your “land legs” (that’s a real condition, by the way) just to gather enough loyalty points, either. For example, you’ll become a Disney Gold-tier passenger after only five sailings.
It’s a bit more complex for Royal Caribbean and Carnival, so sign up for loyalty programs as soon as possible.
Free Ice Cream
One little treat that slips under the radar is the hidden free ice cream you’ll find on several lines.
Most passengers assume anything that looks like a gelato counter must cost extra, but that isn’t always the case.
Carnival keeps its self-serve machines running nearly all day, Royal Caribbean slips complimentary scoops into the main dining room lunches, and NCL sometimes opens extra soft serve stations without advertising them.
The funny part? People walk right by them on the way to the paid ice cream bars. If you know where to look, you can cool off with a sweet treat that won’t touch your onboard budget.
Status Matching
As we’ve seen, reaching a high loyalty tier with a cruise line comes with great benefits. An important thing to note is that you might not have to give up these perks if you switch lines later.
Because some cruise lines really want your business, they’ll match your status for free. MSC and Virgin Voyages do it. The sister brands RC, Celebrity, and Silversea offer shared status, too.
If you’re going to try a new line for your next vacation, ask if they’ll match all (or at least some of) the cushy benefits you’re used to.
Free Use of Kids’ Clubs
Many parents think that the Kids’ Club is extra, but most youth programs are entirely free up to a certain hour.
Great value if you wanna enjoy your cruise and let your children have fun with other young cruise passengers.
In many cases, there is also a private babysitting service, but of course, that comes at an extra cost.
Free Ice Buckets and Unlimited Ice Delivery
People pay for cold drinks or buy drinks just because they want cold water.
But ice delivery to your cabin is unlimited and totally free.
Don’t forget to check out all the things a cabin steward can bring you for free.
Pre-Caffeinating
If you’ve checked out my list of things to get for free on a cruise by asking nicely, you’ll know it’s possible to get breakfast delivered to your cabin.
The breakfast menu usually includes yogurt, jams, a pastry, and, of course, freshly brewed coffee. So, even if you’re not up for the continental breakfast itself, you could use the room service perk just to get your morning dose of coffee.
Once you’re all nice and caffeinated, you can shower, get dressed, and start your day. You could even head to the MDR or buffet for a second (heartier) breakfast.
Free Sauna and Steam Room
As you probably know, spa access on cruise ships usually comes with a hefty price tag.
However, on some ships, the sauna and steam rooms in the gym area are completely free. No need for a pricey thermal suite pass, just head to the fitness center and unwind.
Of course, the gym is also free and is one of the things you can do to avoid gaining too much weight on a cruise.
BONUS POINT
Another thing you might get for free is drinks and cocktails. Something you will definitely enjoy, especially if you don’t have the drink package.
I explained how to get them in this article. I recommend you take a look at it.
Final Thoughts
The final thing that I wanna say is that it’s always a good idea to ask about the included perks before booking a cruise. You never know what under-advertised (but still awesome) benefit awaits!
