What’s Not Included on a Disney Cruise: The Extras That Can Add Up Fast

A Disney cruise feels “all-inclusive” in the best way: your stateroom, main dining, shows, and lots of food and drink are wrapped into one upfront price.

And truly—you can sail without spending much beyond your cruise fare.

But there are also plenty of tempting (and common) add-ons that are not included, and those extras can add up quickly if you don’t plan for them ahead of time.

Here is a breakdown of what you’ll typically pay extra for—plus practical tips to help you decide what’s worth it for your trip.

First: what is included in your cruise fare?

Before talking about add-ons, here’s what your base price generally covers:

Your stateroom
Meals in the main rotational dining restaurants
Casual dining options (varies by ship, but you will not go hungry)
Entertainment (Broadway-style shows, movies, deck parties, etc.)
Kids Clubs (except the Nursery for aged 6 months to 3 years)
Port taxes and fees

Once gratuities are handled (more on that below), you can absolutely keep your onboard spending close to zero—if you want to.

1) Gratuities (tips): the most important “not included”

Gratuities are the #1 thing guests forget to budget for, even though they’re a normal part of cruising.

Automatic gratuities (daily service team)

Disney uses an automatic gratuities system that goes to the people who take care of you every day:

Stateroom Host
Server
Assistant Server
Head Server

You can prepay these before sailing, or have them posted to your onboard account and paid at the end. You can also adjust the amounts at Guest Services if needed.

Budget tip: Treat this like a fixed cost—similar to taxes. Decide whether you want to prepay so it doesn’t hit your account at the end of the trip.

Extra automatic gratuities you’ll see on purchases

Even if you prepay the main tips, some categories still come with automatic gratuities:

Drinks at bars/restaurants usually include an automatic tip of 18% on the receipt you sign
Spa services typically include an automatic gratuity of 18%

Budget tip: Any time you see a “service charge/gratuity” line on a receipt, assume it’s already included—then add extra only if you truly want to.

2) Adult-only dining (Palo, Remy, Enchanté)

Your rotational dining is included, but Disney’s fine dining restaurants cost extra and can be a highlight of the trip if you’re celebrating something (or just want a quieter, elevated meal).

your options:

Palo (fleet-wide)
Remy (Disney Dream & Disney Fantasy)
Enchanté (Disney Wish, Disney Treasure and Disney Destiny)

These have a set per-person price, with an additional 18% automatically included. Many guests also tip on top because the service is a big part of the experience.

Note that the automatic 18% gratuity is shared between the restaurant serving team. If you want to tip your individual Server then you need to add an additional amount to the tip.

Budget tip: If you only pick one, many guests love Palo brunch for value and atmosphere. If you’re trying to save money, skip specialty dining and you’ll still eat extremely well onboard.

3) Alcohol and specialty drinks (including coffee)

Disney includes lots of beverages—especially on the pool deck—like soda, coffee, and tea. But you’ll pay extra for:

Alcoholic drinks
Specialty coffees (like lattes/cappuccinos in adult café spaces)
Certain specialty beverages around the ship

Budget tip: If you enjoy wine at dinner, a wine package can lower the cost per bottle versus buying individually.

4) “Little extras” food-wise: snacks, treats, and select menus

You can absolutely eat without paying anything extra. Still, Disney makes it easy to splurge on:

Popcorn and candy at the theaters
Dole Whip (sold for an additional cost)
Ship-specific specialty food items in certain lounges

These are the kinds of purchases that don’t feel big in the moment—but can quietly add up over several days.

Budget tip: Decide in advance: are you a “treat every day” family or a “one special treat” family? Either choice is fine—just plan for it.

5) Port Adventures (excursions)

Disney’s excursions (called Port Adventures) are not included and can become one of the biggest extra costs—especially for families.

The good news: in many ports you can:

Explore on your own
Book a reputable third-party tour
Stay on the ship and enjoy a quieter pool deck

Castaway Cay note: Disney’s private island has tons included—beach time, food, and soft drinks—so you can have a fantastic day there without paying for extras unless you choose activities.

6) Photos and Photo Packages

Professional photographers will be everywhere, especially:

Embarkation day
Character greetings
Formal night
Special backdrops around the ship

You can view photos for free, but purchasing is extra:

Individual prints
Digital downloads/bundles
Full-sailing packages
Photo books

Budget tip: If you think you’ll buy several photos, a package can be a better deal. If not, keep taking your own—Disney photographers will often take a picture with your phone too.

7) Spa, Rainforest Room, and Paid Fitness Options

The gym is included, but you’ll pay extra for:

Massages, facials, salon services
Rainforest Room access (when offered as a paid add-on)
Certain fitness classes or personal training (varies)

disneywishrainforestpicture — The Rainforest on Disney Wish

Also remember: spa services often have an automatic gratuity, which can make the final bill higher than expected.

Budget tip: Always ask for the full total (including gratuity) before confirming your appointment.

Related: Is The Rainforest Worth It?

8) Onboard Shopping (Souvenirs + Essentials you Forgot)

Disney ship shops are fun—exclusive merch is a big draw. But this is also where budgets can blow up fast:

Clothing, pins, magnets, artwork, collectibles
“Oops, we forgot…” essentials like toiletries or diapers (usually with a noticeable markup)

Budget tip: Pack the basics and give yourself a souvenir limit (per kid/per day/per trip) before you board.

Related: Cruise Packing Made Easy

9) Special Ticketed Experiences (example: Royal Court Tea)

Some family experiences are separately priced.

One well-known example is Royal Court Tea, which is designed as a premium princess tea experience. It can be worth it for the right family—but it’s definitely not a “small add-on.”

Budget tip: If you’re deciding between a port excursion and a special onboard event, pick the one that matches your family’s “core memory” moment.

10) Internet / Wi-Fi

Cruise internet is almost always an extra cost, and Disney’s is typically sold in daily packages, by device, with tiered levels.

Budget tip: Decide ahead of time whether you’re:

Going fully unplugged
Buying internet for one person/device
Buying internet for everyone (the expensive option)

Can you still do a Disney cruise on a tight budget?

Yes. The trick is to choose your “splurges” intentionally. Many guests pick just one or two:

One excursion
One specialty meal
A photo package OR a few prints
A couple of drinks
A small souvenir budget

That way the trip still feels special—without the end-of-cruise bill feeling like a surprise.

Alison

Alison Meacham is the founder of EverythingMouse Disney Blog. For over 15 years she has shared her love of Disney Parks, Disney Cruises and Universal Orlando. In over 30 years of Disney Travel she has spent countless months in Disney Parks and has sailed on over 45 cruises. A British native and now a United States resident she splits her time between California, Florida and the UK. And spends a serious amount of time sailing the seven seas. She helps over 200,000 people per month follow their Disney travel dreams.

Bill

Sunday 14th of December 2025

All those things you show as extra are definitely not necessary and you don't have to buy them in order to really enjoy your cruise. Everything that is included is really all that is necessary, except for tips and actually the ship be paying for them. In fact there is a lot of discussion as to where these tips are actually going and money people are having them taken taken off their bill.

Dar Napar

Monday 15th of December 2025

@Bill, Disney breaks down the 4 people included in the standard cabin tip distribution. While exacts are different, depending on the cruise line, in general some positions make a small salary on top of the tips, others besides room and board receive no income beyond their tips. This system has been debated for decades but except for a few ultra luxury lines tipping is the dining staff & room host primary income. This is basically how 99% of restaurants in the US work.