Blog / Cruise Comparisons, published , Tim Cruise Travel Agency
Ultra-Luxury Cruise Lines Compared: What Each Fare Includes
Luxury cruise and yacht fares all sound inclusive, but they draw the line in different places. Some include every restaurant and unlimited tours, others charge for lunch and dinner. This guide compares seven lines on dining, drinks, Wi-Fi, tipping and shore excursions.
Sources checked October 26, 2026. Terms can differ by booking date and fare, so we confirm the fare on your quote.
| Cruise line / fare | Dining | Drinks | Wi-Fi | Crew gratuities | Shore excursions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regent Official source | ✓ Included onboard dining | ✓ Included unlimited, including fine wines and cocktails | ✓ Included unlimited Wi-Fi | ✓ Included prepaid gratuities | ✓ Included unlimited shore excursions |
| Explora Journeys Official source | ✓ Included multiple restaurants and in-suite dining | ✓ Included unlimited, including Champagne and premium spirits | ✓ Included high-speed Wi-Fi | ✓ Included onboard gratuities | ? Confirm on quote not listed among inclusions |
| Silversea All-Inclusive / Plus Official source | ✓ Included dining onboard | ✓ Included Champagne, spirits and up to 50 wines | ✓ Included Wi-Fi | ✓ Included onboard gratuities | ~ Depends on fare Plus adds a credit on Classic voyages |
| Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Official source | ~ Depends on fare onboard meals; specialty restaurant meals extra | ✓ Included curated beer, wine and liquor | ✓ Included standard Starlink Wi-Fi | ✓ Included onboard gratuities | + Extra cost sold separately |
| Four Seasons Yachts Official source | ~ Depends on fare breakfast included; lunch and dinner a la carte | + Extra cost alcohol a la carte | ✓ Included high-speed Wi-Fi | ✓ Included tips not expected | + Extra cost Shore Experiences a la carte |
| Seabourn Official source | ✓ Included all dining venues | ✓ Included premium spirits and fine wines | ✓ Included Starlink Wi-Fi, unlimited minutes | ✓ Included tipping not required or expected | + Extra cost optional Ventures and tours |
| Crystal Official source | ✓ Included every restaurant and bar, with noted exceptions | ✓ Included premium wines and spirits | ? Confirm on quote not listed on that page | ✓ Included tipping taken care of | + Extra cost tours by Abercrombie & Kent |
Luxury fares are not all the same
The biggest differences are usually shore excursions, specialty restaurants and how air and hotels are handled. One line includes unlimited tours, another gives a credit, and a third sells every tour separately. Comparing the same suite level and itinerary first makes the rest easier.
Regent Seven Seas
Regent includes unlimited shore excursions, unlimited drinks including fine wines and craft cocktails, unlimited Wi-Fi and prepaid gratuities. Air Concierge, Regent's custom air arrangement service, is an optional extra.
Best fit: travelers who will take ship tours in most ports. If you prefer private guides, you may not use much of the tour benefit.
Explora Journeys
Explora includes a range of restaurants plus in-suite dining, unlimited drinks including fine wines, Champagne, premium spirits and specialty coffees, high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the ship and onboard gratuities. Shore experiences are not on its list of inclusions, so we price them separately.
Best fit: travelers who want everything onboard covered and like planning port days their own way.
Silversea: All-Inclusive or All-Inclusive Plus
On Classic voyages, Silversea's All-Inclusive fare covers butler service, dining, an unlimited pour of Champagne, spirits and up to 50 wines from the Silversea Cellar, onboard gratuities and Wi-Fi, with a non-refundable deposit. All-Inclusive Plus adds a shore excursion credit based on voyage length and region, and comes with a fully refundable deposit.
Expedition voyages work differently and include all landings. Best fit: the Plus fare for travelers who want tour credit and deposit flexibility, the standard fare for those who are sure of their dates and plan independent touring.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
For bookings made on or after July 1, 2025, the cruise fare includes suite accommodations, onboard meals and entertainment, non-alcoholic drinks, a curated selection of beer, wine and liquor, standard Starlink Wi-Fi, onboard gratuities and port fees. Specialty restaurant meals, private reserve wines, caviar, shore excursions, air, transfers and hotels are not included unless stated.
Best fit: travelers drawn to the yacht size and destinations who are fine paying for a special dinner or two.
Four Seasons Yachts
Four Seasons prices voyages per suite, covering all guests up to the suite's maximum occupancy. The fare includes breakfast in designated restaurants, in-suite non-alcoholic drinks and snacks, high-speed Wi-Fi, onboard entertainment and select enrichment programs, marina water sports, group fitness classes, all meals for children 5 and under, and taxes and port fees. Lunch and dinner, alcohol, in-suite dining, laundry, spa services, Shore Experiences, transfers and hotels are paid a la carte. Signature suite guests receive extra inclusions.
Tips are not expected because the crew is recognized through the voyage fare. You can add a gratuity to food, drink and spa purchases if you want to. Wi-Fi supports browsing, email, video calls and streaming, though quality can vary at sea.
Best fit: travelers who want the yacht and the Four Seasons service style and prefer to pay for meals and drinks as they go. Budget for lunch, dinner and drinks when comparing it with an all-inclusive line.
Seabourn
Seabourn includes all dining venues, premium spirits and fine wines at any time, Wi-Fi packages with unlimited minutes powered by Starlink, and a no-tipping policy onboard. Ventures by Seabourn and other shore excursions are optional extras, while expedition voyages have their own included activities.
Best fit: travelers who want a broad onboard bundle and choose tours port by port.
Crystal
Crystal describes its fare as covering every restaurant and bar, premium wines and spirits at any time of day, butler service for every suite and tipping. Crystal notes some exceptions, so we confirm specific venues and wines for your sailing. Shore experiences are curated by Abercrombie & Kent and sold separately.
Best fit: travelers who value dining variety, including Nobu's Umi Uma, and want tips handled.
Comparing two luxury quotes
Use the same destination, length, suite level and party size. Then list restaurant meals, everyday and reserve drinks, Wi-Fi, tips, tours, air, hotels and transfers for each line, and check the deposit and cancellation terms. A fully inclusive fare keeps things simple; a lighter fare can suit independent travelers. Neither is right for everyone.
Frequently asked questions
Are shore excursions included on every luxury cruise?
No. Regent includes unlimited shore excursions, Silversea's All-Inclusive Plus fare adds a shore excursion credit on Classic voyages, and most other lines sell tours separately.
What does the Four Seasons Yachts voyage fare include?
Breakfast in designated restaurants, in-suite non-alcoholic drinks and snacks, high-speed Wi-Fi, entertainment, marina water sports, group fitness classes, and taxes and port fees. Lunch, dinner, alcohol and shore experiences are paid a la carte.
Do I tip on Four Seasons Yachts?
Tips are not expected. The voyage fare recognizes the crew, and you can add a gratuity on food, drink and spa purchases outside the fare if you wish.
Is the Silversea deposit refundable?
It depends on the fare. The All-Inclusive fare uses a non-refundable deposit, while All-Inclusive Plus offers a fully refundable deposit.
Official sources
Checked October 26, 2026.
- Regent: All Included
- Explora Journeys: Journey inclusions
- Silversea: All-Inclusive fare; All-Inclusive Plus fare
- The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection: Ticket terms
- Four Seasons Yachts: FAQ; Ticket contract
- Seabourn: The Seabourn difference
- Crystal: What all-inclusive means
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